What the thoughts on the bonus being increase from 5% to 10%?
Nick S
As someone mentioned earlier, it seems odd that people with cash are unsure where to spend..
Chris
Really pleased they’ve done this, more incentive to keep money in the Index without football, and to invest further to “beat the masses to 2019-2020”.
It feels like no single segment of market is on trend right now; season hasn’t totally ended, transfer season not fully started, media madness not started yet... people talking about buying for 2019-2020 already.
Nick S
Not that much movement so far given that they've increased a bonus, do we think money is more likely to come in closer to the end of the summer?
Chris
The market definitely got a bump last night post announcement? Nothing like previous ones but I got a good 0.5%, Footie was up 500pts too.
Nick S
Oh yeah it got a bump but it wasn't as we've seen before. Could be people maxed out with the amount they are willing to put in I guess.
Tetleys
My only gripe is that be it a coincidence or not, it feels like they have thrown another bone to appease the masses after another week of tech fuck-ups. That concerns me a little. Save your cash and pump it into tech. You will grow the business quicker when twitter isn't full of poison because somethings broken again.
Chris
Yeah, this is why I like this style bonus though, tends to create slower and more sustainable growth.
Tetleys
Yeah, definitely a better form of bonus, but timing is suspect to me and I'd rather they allocated their cash elsewhere.
Chris
Good point on allocation of funds, hopefully they’ve still done this and prioritised tech even further than ever before. But they probably needed to do something to appease traders.
James
Maybe this 10% will work in reverse to other bonuses....usually the cash comes in early and dissipates, maybe this time people will be going in late giving them more time to get funds together and to coincide with (almost) start of season?
WengerKnew
I tend to agree. I think people will hold back a little to see who’s going to dominate the daily top media spot before going in.
Chris
Yeah it’s almost no rush with this bonus
SamF
I'd rather have a steady increase until July than 6% in one day and then nothing.
Adam Cole said the focus was firmly on the UK market and Football Index at the moment (rather than Tennis Index, NFL Index etc. Surely a good thing for everyone?
Tetleys
Damn straight. Get own house in order first. Stop dicking around with new concepts, just get he bloody basics right and it will rocket.
Chris
100%
WengerKnew
For sure. Sort the tech and comms first. Sadly we’ll all have to wait for Tennis Index!
Nick S
Have to admit. An NFL index sounds great to me, just because I’m a fan! But 100% right to focus on UK and football for me.
FI Mane For Nothin'
100% agree on focussing on the basics. The main priorities have to be the technology and the UX (user experience). The tech is the product.
Any other form of index will never work I dont think. Hope they're not getting a bit over confident in their echo chamber. Look at how thin the current market is on the most popular sport in the UK.
Tetleys
Get the house in order, get into the US, introduce NFL *lots of rocket emojis*
FI Mane For Nothin'
NFL index could work as it's so data heavy but only if they launched in the states as you say. But would require a shitload of marcomms (marketing communication) cash.
Order books have no date for completion and is seemingly a huge project. Is anyone that bothered about order books?
Nick S
The only feature I’d particularly like is to know where you are In the queue.
Tetleys
Pro traders would love the order books I'd imagine.
WengerKnew
I think order books will attract more traditional traders but it can wait for the market to be more liquid. And sort existing tech first.
FI Mane For Nothin'
I really cant get with order books. Think they need to can it. Platform is so complex as it is. Folks dont even know they can market sell. Better off keeping it simple and chasing recreational money.
IPDs are to be reviewed at the end of the season along with the PB Matrix. Is that Good? Bad? Are either risky?
FI Mane For Nothin'
Not keen on them pissing about with PB matrix.
Nick S
I’m a big believer that for long term growth we’ve got to have the best players in the world at the top of the index. Current system doesn’t cater for that so much I don’t think.
FI Mane For Nothin'
But they already are?
Chris
I want a PB matrix tweak, nothing more than adding in dribble attempts and successful dribbles. Keep GWG for me, maybe increase assists slightly. But nothing major.
I'd keep IPDs 100%.
FI Mane For Nothin'
The top 9 feels intuitive to me. The top 50 is more baffling. But the very best players are at the top of the Index.
Chris
I remember reviewing top dribblers earlier in season and it isn’t going to fundamentally alter PB as much as everyone suspects. If FI do their research, they could tweak matrix and confirm it isn’t suddenly going to distort PB scores like they did with opening media.
FI Mane For Nothin'
MB ensures the top players do rise to the top.
Tetleys
But you could argue that whilst the top 9 is intuitive, the likes of Mbappe shouldn't be there because price doesnt reflect returns under the current matrix.
FI Mane For Nothin'
But Mbappe is there for his long term MB potential. So I wouldn't say hes illogically priced. Eventually he will be tearing it up for a bigger team than PSG winning the Ballon d'or regularly and getting loads of buzz.
Tetleys
He's already won everything there is to win and 20 years old. Other than a major move he's not hitting the headlines. For that price I'd want:
a) a semi-regular PB winner and MB winner, or
b) a consistent PB / MB winner with the other thrown in occasionally such as Pogba.
Mbappe, for all of his talents and achievements to day, is neither
FI Mane For Nothin'
Not a fan of altering the PB matrix because of a few anomalies. There will always be anomalies under any system.
Tetleys
I'd rather they added a bonus for either multiple goals in a game, or consecutive games scoring. Not a fan of changing the matrix too much though, thats a massive can of worms
FI Mane For Nothin'
Multiple goals in a game I like, but you would also have to scrap GWG.
They've said it before and reitterated it last night. Tiered PB unlikely to ever make it.
Nick S
I know SamF and MDJ were keen on that when chatting last night. Would be nice, but I can see why they aren't going for it.
Tetleys
Yeah I'm not a fan of it personally, they want to encourage trading whereas I think this will encourage hoarding and make it less exciting.
Whilst a large portion of the increased volume of dividends dished out will possibly go back into the Index, I can see it more appealing to take some out when your probably going to win more the next game day.
They have created an issue with so many players potentially able to win and therefore diluting our chances of a win. I'd probably make it Top 2 per position and increase in dividends.
It's the only way I can see that they will regain the focus of the platform being PB driven and not resemble a bloody creche.
Nick S
It's probably a struggle to gauge how these things would really work without just biting the bullet and going for it. It might increase trading for gamedays, it might encourage people to hold longer.
If their tech was up to it, it's the sort of thing I'd like them to trial over a 'promotional month' - they could easily do it in a month with a low amount of eligible fixtures. Try it out, see how it works. If you don't carry it on, you've given people a bonus of extra divs, if it creates trading volume (and in turn commission) then you can carry it on.
FI Mane For Nothin'
Rather than tiered PB it would be better to have a threshold where everyone gets paid out. Over 225 gets an automatic 2p regardless of game day.
DesiBallers
I feel their MB system is broken although we are all making money from it. But it has to be changed someday, why not sooner than later? Not sure about when though, as it would affect a LOT of traders.
If they just scrap "United" getting more points on MB I'm sure many City players may come into the mix a lot more.
FI Mane For Nothin'
The MB system is a real bloody bug bear of mine. The names thing and the sentiment thing is such undeniable bollocks.
James
I think pushing more into IPD makes sense for them as a business than triple PB which is great the the Big Dons of this world but they aren't making money from those types of traders.
SamF
If I were them I do three things:
1) Tier PB - stop it being such a lottery - a good player might not win all year because of luck
2) Give dividends on any pre-midnight trade to encourage PB trading as well as IPD
3) Increase IPD hold to 2 or even 3 months. That would balance making the platform a little more predictable but also boost trading.
Tetleys
IPD for 2 months would be the sweet spot I think.
TC
I think it’d be better if they just increased IPDs rather than increasing time.
SamF
Time is more important to me, TC. In 30 days most players play 4/5 matches and with rotation might only play 3 or so - too unpredictable to trade on. Give me 60 or 90 days and I'll trade much more.
Chris
60 days and IPD becomes absolutely golden. But that would massively upset balance of the index? People would kick off about distortion away from PB.
SamF
Chris, that's why you need to do the whole package together. I think they will just increase IPD which risks exactly what you describe.
TC
60-90 days and you would only trade every 60-90 days rather than every month though? I trade in and out of IPDs quite regularly and 30 days would be less fun.
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What did you think to the announcement and Q&A? Was it helpful? Did you read between any lines and come up with a strategy going forward? Let us know @_FIBT on Twitter.