Preamble

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 16

For some reason I’ve got it into my head that I always prosper at Christmas. That somehow my decision making, fuelled by sentimental movies and mince pies, clicks into groove and brings in a run of green arrows. I cling to it every year, point to it as a boom period that will see me push up the ranks.

In truth, there’s little or no proof to back up this theory. I seem to remember one season where I found festive fortune with a few armbands which suddenly transformed my campaign; ever since I’ve convinced myself that Christmas is “my time”.

I do wonder if there’s something in it, though – whether Christmas is a period that can suit a certain type of Fantasy manager. After all, with the quick-fire Gameweeks offering little time to ponder and procrastinate, it can favour those who go with their gut; those who ignore player prices and let instant decisions guide their transfer and armband strategies.

If a regular Gameweek is the equivalent of a striker having too much room and time with the goal gaping, the Christmas spell snaps like a centre-back pincer movement – Adams and Keown – breathing down our necks and giving us little option but to act on instinct.

That all means that, in football terms, I’m perhaps more Stephane Sessegnon than Sergio Aguero. Give me time to dwell on things and pick my spot and I’ll spoon it. Let’s face it, I’ve missed some sitters this season – Aaron Ramsey and Luis Suarez, to name just two. However, perhaps I’m now due a thirty-yard volley? An improbable, athletic scissor-kick from nowhere.

Ironically, Sessegnon’s manager has recently backed him for goals and, with bigger priorities elsewhere in my squad, I’ve also been forced to keep the faith. Maybe the Baggies man can still make my Christmas? Or perhaps I’m just heading for the inevitable – the indignity of buying myself a Ramsey and faking a grateful smile when he pops in yet another goal on Boxing Day.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

1,957 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Aurora
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Morning lads! Need some last minute help here!
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Team for this week is...
    Marshall
    Coleman Turner Ivanovic
    Barkley Ramsey RavMo Hazard
    Rooney Suarez Aguero

    subs: Migs, Sess, Williams Baker
    -----------------------------------------------------
    A) Who to Captain?
    B) Should I play Sess (car) in that midfield, which has amazing fixtures this week?

    CHEERS!

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      A) Rooney
      B) bench Sess IMO

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    2. AntiLampard
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Play Sess over RavMo

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      1. Aurora
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        with sunderland at home????

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      2. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        And he is playing in the hole probably

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  2. tw
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    do I hope vorm plays or ship either vorm/boruc for a hit?

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    1. Thomass
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Ship Vorm or Boruc for Guzan?

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      1. tw
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        why guzan?

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    2. Hitman
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      i did vorm to krul.

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  3. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Hello! I'm new here. Can anyone give me suggestion on my team:
    Snyz
    Colman Maculy Collins
    Fer Nasri Hazard Ramsey
    Rooney(c) Suarez Ageuro(vc)

    Bench: Harper Dawson Ward-prowse Clyne

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    1. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Switsh the C to the right. One or two spaces is up for debate but definitely right.

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    2. rdpx
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Looks very good.

      (C) looks fine to me as well, I would probably pick that one as well.

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  4. TG32
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Right guys, who will I captain?

    A. Rooney
    B. Suarez
    C. Hazard
    D. Aguero

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    1. Bridge
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Have the same four, going for Rooney

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    2. Yome
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      A, trust me he will be on fire with RVP out

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    3. tw
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      one of the strikers..... at that point maybe just roll a die 1-2 = roo, 3-4 = luiz 5-6 = kun

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    4. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I dunno. I'm happy to just wait till 12pm to find out.

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  5. Jela Polkadot Borini
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Just checked Mark's team..

    Mine's worth over 10m more 😎

    Shopping at Harrods >>> shopping at Lidl

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    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      the game is based on points not TV 🙂

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      1. Jela Polkadot Borini
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Okay, it's also worth 79 points more. Better? 🙂

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        1. kennethrhcp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          yes 😉

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    2. MCH
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Safe to say Lidl has a much higher value than Harrods so if anything your Lidl to his Harrods. Also probably best just to compare team value and not ranking history.

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  6. ZULU23
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    2 of the 3 to play in this gameweek:

    G. Johnson, Zabaleta, Chester...

    Maybe this is not the most reasonable move, but I plan to bench Chester...
    what do you think?
    Thanks!

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  7. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Less than 15 minutes, time flies.

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    1. Scottys Army
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Havnt bottled it yet .....

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Matter of 13 minutes.

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    2. Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      This is an exciting one...so many options

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    3. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Lucky I haven't tinkered with my team since last night then. I just set it and left it for once

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  8. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    It it appears I was wrong, and it's not just JT, sorry Lampard and Cashley owners

    Chelsea trio Ashley Cole, John Terry and Frank Lampard are all out....

    of contract in the summer.

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    1. Scottys Army
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Lol

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    2. tw
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      😆

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    3. Thomass
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Errrr, all 3 will get there contract renewed but good joke

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      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        you missed the point Thomass

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    4. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      My heart 🙂

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  9. Super Zlatan8
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Rooney or Suarez captain?

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  10. tw
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    silva over nasri right?

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    1. Specialist
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Definitely

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    2. Absinthe Minded
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      yes
      next week

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  11. Djerbil
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Monreal, Walcott, Ramsey, Wilshere, Sagna(late fitness test) will be changes from the Napoli game for Arsenal..
    Gibbs, Cazorla, Rosicky, Arteta, Jenkinson drops out

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      😯 walcott starts

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      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        fancied him to catch cites high line. Etihad is a big pitch and those spaces will suit him well

        Anyone know if Demichelis is playing? I'd love to see him vs Theo over 15-20 yards!

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      2. Djerbil
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        why is that a surprise??

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    2. Djerbil
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      source : John Cross

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    3. jas5sk - Youtube channel
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Damn, need Jenkinson to play

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    4. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Cazorla :O

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  12. Scratch
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Play Barkley or Whittingham? Have been benching Barkley recently since he's no longer a certain starter but with McCarthy suspended do peeps reckon himself and Osman will start today?

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    1. Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgri…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Play Barkley.

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    2. # Young Gun SEAMUS #
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      same dilemma is here .. i think today is barkely's day

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  13. Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgri…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Exciting that I will have 2 FT for a change shortly. 🙂

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  14. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Who else in benching Ramsey? 😐

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    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      *is

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    2. Bridge
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Thinking about benching him instead of Sess...

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    3. Qubit
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Im really tempted to bench him in favour of Coutinho. Difficult call.

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    4. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Only the foolish and the insane.

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      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Count me in 🙂

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      2. Qubit
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Yep, that sounds like me alright!

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    5. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Just benched him for Ravel. But thinking about changing again!

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    6. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I can't do it.. Que Brady to start and get a penalty

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    7. rdpx
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I have him 2nd sub after Aguero 1st sub.

      Captaining Amalfitano.

      😉

      (bench Ramsey hahahahhaha no chance.)

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  15. drughi
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    I'm trying to picture how the city Arsenal game will look like. A tight affair and a score of 1-1 or a goalfest with a 3-2 score hmm. Cant really decide

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    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I had a dream last night that the ref pointed to the spot but woke up before seeing which team had the pen 😀

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      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        City hopefully 🙂

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    2. Hay Number 2
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      2-0 city I reckon

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      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        I reckon Arsenal will score atleast one goal

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  16. Hay Number 2
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Just a quick one lads, I'm saving my transfer...wise move?!

    Mcgregor
    Coleman Williamson Collins
    Hazard c ozil Brady Ramsey
    Suarez aguero lukaku

    Vorm mertersacker ward prowse moxey

    Cheers

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    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Nothing needs changing there

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      1. Hay Number 2
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks mate

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  17. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Whats the rumours this week guys?

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  18. snowman
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Lukaku or Hazard captain?

    Sess or Burner to start?

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    1. Hay Number 2
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I've gone hazard

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  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    not happy with 3 attacking players in man city v arsenal game

    will be big problem if boring game for me

    thinking of benching ozil to ease the pain

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  20. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Walcott starting 😯

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    1. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Where?

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    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      😯

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  21. Tim
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Dawson (l'pool h) or Fonte (new a)??

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  22. James12345
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Shelvey, Barkley, Morrison can only play 2 of the 3. Who to bench?

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  23. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Another random stat to mess with the Lukaku or Aguero heads....Lukaku has a goal conversion rate of 33% per chance at home...a full 10% higher than Aguero at 23% at home.

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    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      thought we'd see something like that, given those attempts.

      Kun is very 'involved" all game, Lukaku picks his moments. Will be an interesting week!

      Nice work Wakey

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  24. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    How often do you base your decisions on others in your ML? Pretty sure both number 1 and 2 in mine will captain Suarez and I can't decide if I should captain him aswell or go Lukaku bearing in mind number 1 doesn't even have him. Don't wan't to lose ground if Suarez goes mental

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    1. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      All the time...my brother willC Aguero for certain..and so will I...

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    2. Del Griffith
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      then captain Suarez and hope to make up ground on your other players

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  25. Bridge
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    I dreamt that Sessegnon scored. Incredibly sad I know, but perhaps it's a good omen!

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  26. Super Zlatan8
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Rooney or Suarez captain??

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  27. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Common lads. Need help

    Bench Ravel or Ramsey. FINAL CALL 🙁

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    1. theluckiest
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Bench Ravel.

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    2. Aurora
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Toughie. Bench Ramsey, he might play a bit deeper to prevent City on the break.

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  28. theluckiest
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Ozil --> Hazard (c) worth it for a free transfer as a one week punt. Lukaku would be my (c) otherwise.

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    1. Del Griffith
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      yes, do it

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  29. LJJM Duckies
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Play Ramsay (mci) or Amalfitano (car) ??

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    1. Aurora
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      rambo

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      1. LJJM Duckies
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        My first instinct too

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  30. Aurora
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Sess or RavMo

    Final decision before deadline. Promise.

    Sess has got to score sometime....but Ravmo will play high up with sunderland a home!

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    1. Bridge
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Ravel is the sensible choice there.

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