Preamble

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 31

There’s nothing like the exhilaration of a double Gameweek to wake us from the slumber of an international break.

Sadly, Gameweek 31 looks far from exhilarating.

For the second time in the matter of weeks, we’re destined to root through Chris Ramsey’s QPR squad like grappling grannies at a jumble sale, desperately trying to find something of value other than the chipped china teapot that is Charlie Austin.

Seeking cheap thrills, we’re even eyeing up Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke and Gabby Agbonlahor like tickets in the tom-bola. If we’re lucky, our numbers might come up and we’ll get to claim some lavender bath salts. Such is the scale of the double Gameweek prize that awaits us.

We all know that the potential is limited, particularly with a blank looming but we’re internationally broken: craving Fantasy Football excitement from any possible source, however unlikely.

We don’t want to return to our squads and save our transfers. We don’t want to bring in Kyle Naughton. We’re looking for something that can relight the fire and, if we’re not careful, we can make careless errors trying to find it.

I’m fighting the urge and pondering the most subdued and ineffectual of all transfers – swapping my goalkeeper, albeit for Brad Guzan, a double Gameweek asset.

I’d love to gamble on Benteke and slap the armband on his bicep, but I know all too well that this compulsion is fuelled by a fortnight of inactivity. I know that international football can be just as damaging to my Fantasy thinking as it is the weary legs of my players.

On that note, an article this week revealed that Arsene Wenger’s Gunners haven’t won a single match following internationals this season. Interestingly, the same article highlighted that QPR have suffered most from such breaks. They’ve been consigned to three straight defeats, scoring just two goals in the process.

Suddenly I’m reconsidering that china teapot.

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

1,305 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Demí
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Can still get 11/1 on Sterling fgs. Too big

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      They think he is playing wing back

    2. Silent Vuvuzela
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Good for Emre but what about us?

    3. Lizard Lips
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      not that big for an away team at circa 5.0, probably should be 11.0 so 12.0 is very thin value (if at all).

      1. Demí
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Not sure what calculations you use, but i wouldn't have it any bigger than 9/1

  2. MadridistaRants
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck everyone!

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Luck is what it is all about

  3. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    There is always a lot of strange people at airports

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      don't be racist

  4. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Mert and Sterling is a right old miss match for pace. It could get messy.

  5. PGR
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Whats the consensus on the best week to use WC?

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Around GW4

      1. Konig Luther
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Gw7/8 in second international break

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Yes, or that. My point was, early in the season.

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      gw2.

    3. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It's not a consensus.

    4. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      gw34

  6. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Tis our year

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      #ynwa

  7. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Piers Morgan chats so much crap

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It's his job

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Reminds me of a few on here

        1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          but it's my job 😉

  8. whitters_2014
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I do feel for non English players, its not exactly clear.

  9. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I always scan arsenal lineup and have a moments panic when I don't see sanchez.

    Then find this alexis fellow.

    Phew 2 pts bagged already.

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah, but he's not really been doing it recently. I'm considering selling him. But then of course, he's the leading goalscorer in midfield, so seems crazy to sell him.

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      🙂

    2. Beaker
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Matamatamtalicly 😆

    3. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I can't say it in dutch to be fair!

  10. World XI
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Henderson playing CAM!

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Kind of. It's a 3-4-3 diamond used in second half vs Swansea

      1. World XI
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Hmm unless Markovic is CAM and Hendo is ROB 🙁

        1. World XI
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          RWB*

        2. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          I doubt that mate. We'll see soon I guess 🙂 good luck for the gameweek

          1. World XI
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            You too! Come on Liverpool!

  11. Zombie
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I sold Sterling 🙁

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I kept Sturridge 🙁

      1. Zombie
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Who is your first sub?

        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          S.Ameobi...but I am sure..he will come off the bench at some point in the game

          1. Zombie
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah, very likely

  12. ebow14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who has the best chances of a clean sheet this week? Thinking Man U, swansea and chelsea

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yup

  13. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Liverpools good run of form started just after playing Man Utd and ended just before playing Man Utd

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      well done

    2. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I don't think they played particularly well against Blackburn or Swansea either

  14. The92nd
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone else feel they've overplayed their hand? At 10.9k trying to break in to the top 10k and brought in phillips and benteke and slapped the armband on the latter, feeling nervous to say the least.

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I considered bringing in Phillips, but they're up against a tight WBA defence, so thought it not really worthwhile. Benteke may be a good move.

    2. whitters_2014
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yeah I regret slapping the armband on tekkers -_- lol

    3. Silent Vuvuzela
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Fortune favours the tekkers

  15. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Comeee oooooon Sinclaaaaaiiiiirrrrr!!!!!

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I was close to getting him but just didn't have the bottle. Good luck

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      C5

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      😯

  16. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Come on Arsenal do us a favour! We can go 8 points clear today of scouse... A nice cushion for the next two games.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      but your captain is scouse xx

      1. CHANCING PUNT
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Liverpool fan?

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Customer* 😉

        2. CHANCING PUNT
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Is your avatar of 2 time Premiership winner and 2010/11 Premiership top goalscorer, Dimitar Berbatov?

          1. CHANCING PUNT
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Odd choice for a Liverpool fan.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BqMIXg1PQs

          2. goriuanx
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            You obviously haven't been on here long enough to understand my grav

      2. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Blue scouse.

    2. CHANCING PUNT
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Essentially 9 with goal difference.

  17. djenzio
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Come oooooon you Pooooool

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Quite like our starting 11. Sterling needs to perform today

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I predict a comfortable Arsenal win

        1. Jax
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          1-1 imo

        2. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Strangely enough, so do I

        3. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          I think you could be right

      2. Jax
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        really? dodgy defence

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Skrtel isn't that good. Defence is protected with more mids than usual today

      3. djenzio
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        yeah and nice to have super sub Sturridge on the bench.

    2. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I thought that was an exclamation mark at the end for a minute.

  18. Ludo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Ramsey, Cazorla AND Ozil start.

    Think I might have to pick up the Welshman for the run in, after the blank and Chelsea game are out of the way.

    1. whitters_2014
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      he will probs be playing alongside coq though?

  19. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal are going to stuff this Liverpool team

    Glad I kept Ozil now along with Sanchez

  20. ebow14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Ramsey or cazorla playing deeper with coquelin?

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Bit of both I reckon

    2. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Should be Ramsey. Cazorla and Ozil popping up in space ahead of them- not sure either will be fixed to the flank.

  21. World XI
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    No Liverpool and 1 arsenal in the scout picks. This game has got goals In it. Suprised.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      And he's on the bench

    2. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      doubt it. tough game to call. better picks elsewhere.

  22. ebow14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Sun Dream Team weekly- giroud and fellaini/sterling or berhaino and cazorla/sterling

  23. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Updated

  24. A-VB
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Has anyone seen this one though from Jon Walters ? 😉

    https://twitter.com/JonWalters19/status/584001054733373440

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yep.

    2. Demí
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      funny bloke

  25. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    That took a while to update.

  26. Saniul
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    -------------Coquelin-------------Ramsey
    --Sanchez--------------Ozil--------------Cazorla

    That is some midfield. Compact and solid.

    Wish we started Gabriel ahead of Mertesacker, though.

  27. ONSIDE 9
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    ML Rival brought in Benteke (C) but I did same so looks like he wont be catching me this week

  28. Ludo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Scored all his points from that position last season/start of this one. The attacking midfielders do the tippy tappy, Giroud or Ramsey apply the finishing touch.

    1. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Reply fail to Whitters...

      1. whitters_2014
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        yeah he is a decent punt, him and giroud are excellent together, he is a good option for sure.

  29. whitters_2014
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    having seen my rivals teams, come on aggy and kane blanks 😛