The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 37

As a Fantasy manager, I set out to learn at least one lesson each season.

This has arrived late in this campaign, with Gameweek 36 confirming what I suspected: I’m a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) manager who needs to bank his transfers in order to take risks.

I’ve often used this article to bleat on about my inability to commit to gambling at the right time. I have a habit of sitting tight on failing assets, in fear that they will wake from slumber and outscore any potential replacements; it’s proved my major downfall.

However, I’ve been missing the obvious: the ability to bank transfers is a feature tailor-made to help me overcome such hesitancy.

Last weekend I took my second points hit in three Gameweeks – only my third of the season. It worked it’s magic – a 15-point profit was a handsome return, particularly when it also helped capture Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal’s double.

For once, I allowed myself to take a risk. The trio of departed assets – Branislav Ivanovic, Cesc Fabregas and Raheem Sterling – could have easily outscored their replacements. The difference this time was that, because I was able to make three trades, I could commit with far more comfort.

The logic of signing David Silva and Alexis Sanchez was clear – they had obvious potential to score heavily. Meanwhile, I just couldn’t see an impotent West Ham scoring past Ron Vlaar – and so it proved.

Because I was able to make three trades, at the cost of just four points, I was able to build a scenario that made the gamble palatable; I was able to convince myself. I only needed one of my three transfers to deliver in order to justify the hit. In the end, David Silva was that player.

The point hit can be a powerful weapon in FPL but caution is the safety catch. Banking transfers and combining a hit to allow yourself three trades can flick back the safety. It can allow you to create a package of transfers that’s just too convincing to ignore.

Whether such gambles come off is another matter. The strategy can’t guarantee results. However, it can help overcome hesitancy and, if that’s your failing, it’s a tactic worth exploring.

Of course, to some, this will be stating the obvious. However, not all Fantasy managers are the same. Some have the balls to throw points hits about and back their conviction.

This Fantasy manager needs the reassurance offered by the three-trade set-up. I only regret taking this long to realise it.