Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 38

What a difference a year makes.

Just under twelve months ago I was lamenting my worst ever campaign in eight years of playing the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game. I’d limped over the line, recording a rank of 192,837 – a pretty miserable result for someone who sleeps with the fixture list etched onto the back of his eyelids.

While there was no obvious excuse, it’s fascinating to reflect on the lessons I’d identified back then. It’s even more enlightening to see if I’ve really learnt anything from those struggles, and whether that’s helped me turn things around.

React as quickly as possible to form players and don’t be shy to use hits.
The stubbornness which prompted the slow reaction to the form of Aaron Ramsey and Yaya Toure last season was well documented. This term I’ve been fortunate in that there have been no real equivalents.

I got on Harry Kane in Gameweek 15 and he scored 17 goals in the following 14 weeks. I guess I can take some credit for that. Other than Kane, it’s difficult to identify a bandwagon that got close to surprising us by maintaining form over a long spell. Charlie Austin is probably one I missed for a while – more on him in a moment.

It would have been interesting if, for some reason, I’d resisted Kane, missed the early goals and then allowed my stubborn nature to keep me from acquiring him. That might still be a weakness of mine – this season didn’t really test that too much, although the Austin situation hints that I’ve still got work to do.

As for hits, I’ve certainly used them sparingly, taking just three all season. I’ve no doubt that they can be effective and, as I wrote last weekend, coupling them with a banked transfer to make three changes will be a tactic I will definitely take into next season.

Apply that rule to bandwagaons and hunches alike – if there’s form, back it.
I have had more conviction with my hunches. I backed Sadio Mane the moment he arrived and, while it took me some weeks to acquire him, once he was in, he stayed in. We know how that worked out.

Similarly, I adopted his team-mate Dusan Tadic off the back of his impressive early season statistics and held him long enough to ride out that Gameweek 8 haul.

These were both major turning points in the season but behind all that, my conviction that Eden Hazard would eventually surpass Cesc Fabregas and faith in Branisalv Ivanovic, Diego Costa and early investment in Kane, meant that I ticked over.

I still bought Aleks Kolarov for one Gameweek – just as a Christmas treat.

Don’t beat yourself up about chasing points when signing form players you’ve missed.
For a few weeks, I thought I’d made the wrong decision on Fabregas but Hazard did, by Christmas, emerge as the better option.

I missed some opportunities but, in the main, I jumped on bandwagons around the right time and never really suffered from missing huge hauls.

Charlie Austin hurt me for a while – I was slow on that one, mainly because I felt that, eventually, he and QPR would be worked out. I was right to an extent, but I still missed out on some value hauls that would have probably benefited my season.

I’m not convinced I’ve learnt this lesson yet, then.

Don’t take unnecessary gambles with the captaincy in a bid to make ground.
I think this made an impact. The Gargatron tells me that I used just 10 different captains this time around, indicating that I’ve been more cautious.

For weeks I kept the armband with Diego Costa, lured in by his consistency. It hurt me on occasions and benefited me on others. Following his departure, I’ve largely turned to Sergio Aguero and Eden Hazard.

I think I’ve taken risks two or three times with the armband – it’s hard to say if that’s been a factor in the turnaround. Despite lacking the Luis Suarez option, I’ve been surprised that the captaincy has seemed to be a straightforward decision in the main. With Hazard around, it may well be even easier next season.

Sign dominant centre-backs who win headers
Sign full-backs if they have an outstanding statistic in their favour – normally, crosses or tackles.
These two combine and, in many ways, highlight how a subtle change in rules can change the FPL landscape.

For a good part of last season, I’d backed the attacking full-back over the dominant centre-back and was punished by the bonus system which clearly favoured the latter. I actually doubled on Southampton (Calum Chambers and Luke Shaw), only to eject that tactic when it was clear it was failing miserably.

A year on, the double Southampton full-back has undoubtedly been one of the key strategies when forming our defences. For a good portion of this season, having both Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand proved a mini-league game changer.

Overall, the bonus point system was tweaked, raiding full-backs no longer suffered heavily from failed dribbles and, suddenly, there was bonus balance at the back.

I didn’t have to adjust my tactics – the FPL put things right on my behalf.

There’s the new lesson to consider: if there are rule changes for next season, don’t underestimate how they can influence our strategies – however subtle they appear to be.

Don’t be shy spending money on defenders if they also offer goal threat.
Defenders scored 104 goals last season, which has declined to 90 so far this term.

The Chelsea pairing of John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic have benefited most from their attacking menace at set-plays and, by owning the latter all season, I guess I put this one straight.

By prioritising full-backs last season, I turned my back on the points earned from set-piece threat. Given that Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines have declined in goal output this season, there’s good reason to say that this has been more important than ever.

Arguably I made the right choice. Ivanovic has had that threat at set-plays, whilst also being an attacking full-back providing crosses. With Terry ageing, the Serb will be one of the first names in my 2015/16 squad.

If you think a player is injury prone, he’s likely to eventually live up to that tag.
I need to remind myself of this one over the summer: my Diego Costa habit almost de-railed my season at one point. Eventually, the Chelsea man repaid my faith but, at several stages, I questioned whether I was making a fatal error by holding him too long. I got away with it. Just.

I’ll resist Costa next season. I certainly won’t touch Daniel Sturridge.

Of course, as I also stated this time last year, every season hands us a set of different challenges that will ultimately decide the fate of our campaigns.

Sometimes single transfers like Mane and Tadic can make a major difference, sometimes it’s having conviction in a player like Ivanovic or Hazard that tips the balance. Alongside this, we have to enjoy some fortune – the right injuries at the right time, penalty saves, points from the bench. These can all conspire for and against us and sometimes, they just fall in place.

I’m not sure how much of my season has been down to this luck over my own judgment. I do know that it’s followed on from my worst ever campaign and that, in some ways, that may have helped. Perhaps this will come as some comfort to those who look on this season’s rank and flinch.

While I’ve spent this morning reflecting on the story of my own campaign, much of my focus today will be on the very top of the FPL rankings. Once again, we’re blessed with seeing members of our community competing for the top prize.

Simon March, aka “Dufflinks”, looks well placed to seal the title as he seeks to protect a 34-point lead. The likes of Kev Gleave, Jack Wain, Jon Sumner, Stuart Greenacre and AbuBakar Siddiq give chase – all either members of the FFS Leagues, posters on our pages or both.

It’s this that makes me most proud and convinces me that 2014/15 has been a season to savour.

I’ll be pre-ambling your way again in August.

Good luck to all.

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

3,813 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DLL18
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    All 11 players playing. 8)

  2. Heydudes13
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    No Benteke?

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      No

    2. Pinky and Brain
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Starts

    3. Hamstergod
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      starting from what I saw

    4. DLL18
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yes Benteke.

    5. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Aston Villa FC @AVFCOfficial · 7m 7 minutes ago
      #AVFC (v @BurnleyOfficial): Steer, Baker, Vlaar, Bacuna, Cleverley, Agbonlahor, Westwood, Delph, Benteke,

      1. Wilshere Knowledge
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Aston Villa FC @AVFCOfficial · 7m 7 minutes ago
        #AVFC (v @BurnleyOfficial): Steer, Baker, Vlaar, Bacuna, Cleverley, Agbonlahor, Westwood, Delph, Benteke, N’Zogbia, Grealish. #AVFCLIVE

    6. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      He starts

    7. Jax
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      the team was posted. yes ok.

  3. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Can someone do a parm before I smash my screen

    1. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Lool

    2. Santi sensei
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Haha thiss

  4. AIRMILES
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    *waiting for someone to do full list of line-ups*

  5. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    UFPL question

    Captain

    A)Wally
    B)Haz
    C)Aguero?

    1. Hamstergod
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Aguero > Haz > Wally

    2. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      A

  6. Pinky and Brain
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Feck No Vardy

    1. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      He's there!

    2. 4vets
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Eh?

    3. Viper
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      He is playing..

    4. Pinky and Brain
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      My bad move on

  7. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    15/15 starts 😎

    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      11/15 😎

  8. RoysCallerAnne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Seriously. Why wasn't the Hazard training on Saturday put in the FFS tweets. Gurrr.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      It was only an unsubstantiated tweet

    2. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      this ffs

    3. Punty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Most important information of the season

  9. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Theo walcott last match ??

  10. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    WHAT

    WHO

    WHERE

    WHEN

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Hattrick
      Theo
      Emerates
      Soon

  11. ianp1970
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Who to captain? Silva, Sanchez, Hazard or Benteke

  12. Viper
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    PVA in for Koscielny. Gonna need an assist for any points..

    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      1-0 Hazard with 2 for PVA will do me nicely.

  13. FPLEL
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Hendo in for Kosc - I'm ok with that.

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      You played 4 at the back?

      1. FPLEL
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, 2 Chels, Kosc and Schlupp. Kind of expected 4 CS.

  14. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    lets go benteke!!

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Thank goodness, he's my captan today.

  15. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Hmm. I've got giroud+Kosc. Sold haz

    Oops

  16. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone already playing with 10 men?

    Koscielny (rose, Baird) here

    1. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      No Giroud.

    2. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      8 here.
      Subs are Boyd, PvA, Baird. 🙁

    3. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yep, only the keeper missing though.

  17. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Sunderland CS to save my bacon once again? Jones and PvA vs Hazard!

    1. Tiki-Taka
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      PVA 15 pointer incoming 😉

  18. Saniul
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Where's @OCProdigy? :3

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Timing.

    2. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Timing 😉

  19. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    FULL END OF SEASON 3PM KICK OFF SQUADS

    Arsenal v West Brom

    @Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Wilshere, Ozil, Alexis, Walcott
    @Arsenal subs: Szczesny, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud

    @WBAFCofficial: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Lescott, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison, McManaman, Brunt, Berahino
    @WBAFCofficial subs: Palmer, Baird, Gamboa, Gardner, Anichebe, Ideye, Roberts

    Aston Villa v Burnley

    @AVFCOfficial: Steer, Baker, Vlaar, Bacuna, Cleverley, Agbonlahor, Westwood, Delph, Benteke, N’Zogbia, Grealish
    @AVFCOfficial subs: Guzan, Sinclair, Weimann, Hutton, Sanchez, Robinson, Green

    @BurnleyOfficial: Heaton; Trippier, Shackell (c), Keane, Mee; Arfield, Jones, Ulvestad, Boyd; Barnes; Ings
    @BurnleyOfficial subs: Gilks, Duff, Kightly, Taylor, Jutkiewicz, Vokes, Reid

    Chelsea v Sunderland

    @ChelseaFC: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Cuadrado, Willian, Hazard; Drogba (c)
    @ChelseaFC subs: Courtois, Filipe Luis, Christensen, Boga, Remy, D Costa, Solanke

    @SunderlandAFC: Mannone, Jones, van Aanholt, O’Shea (c), Coates, Larsson, Rodwell, Johnson, Fletcher, Wickham, Defoe
    @SunderlandAFC subs: Cattermole, Reveillere, Graham, Giaccherini, Vergini, Buckley, Pickford

    Crystal Palace v Swansea

    @CPFC: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Hangeland, Souare; Zaha, Jedinak (C), McArthur, Bolasie; Puncheon; Chamakh
    @CPFC subs: Speroni, Delaney, Kelly, Lee, Mutch, Murray, Campbell.

    @SwansOfficial: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Bartley, Richards, Britton (capt), Cork, Emnes, Dyer, Montero, Gomis
    @SwansOfficial subs: Tremmel, Hanley, Rangel, Fulton, Grimes, Gorre, Barrow

    Everton v Tottenham Hotspurs

    @Everton: Howard, Coleman, Galloway, Stones, Jagielka, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas, Barkley, Osman, Lukaku
    @Everton subs: Robles, Distin, Besic, Naismith, Atsu, McGeady, Kone

    @SpursOfficial: Lloris, Dier, Vertonghen, Fazio, Mason, Benteleb, Dembele, Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela, Kane
    @SpursOfficial subs: Vorm, Yedlin, Stambouli, Soldado, Winks, Onomah, Townsend

    Hull City v Manchester United

    @HullCity: Harper, Dawson, Chester, McShane, Elmohamady, Brady, Huddlestone, Meyler, Quinn, N’Doye, Jelavić
    @HullCity subs: McGregor, Rosenior, Bruce, Robertson, Hernández, Aluko, Sagbo

    @ManUtd: Valdes, Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Blind, Herrera, Di Maria, Mata, Young, Rooney
    @ManUtd subs: Lindegaard, McNair, Blackett, Fellaini, Januzaj, van Persie, Wilson

    Leicester v QPR

    @OfficialFOXES: Schmeichel, Morgan, Vardy, King, Albrighton, Huth, Schlupp, Cambiasso, Ulloa, Mahrez, Wasilewski
    @OfficialFOXES subs: Schwarzer, De Laet, Konchesky, Drinkwater, Hammond, Wood, Kramarić

    @QPRFC: McCarthy; Suk-Young, Dunne, Hill, Onuoha; Fer, Barton, Henry, Phillips; Grego-Cox, Austin.
    @QPRFC subs: Murphy, Doughty, Kpekawa, Furlong, Petrasso, Comley, Hoilett

    Manchester City v Southampton

    @MCFC: Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Milner, Lampard (C), Toure, Silva, Aguero
    @MCFC subs: Cabellero, Sagna, Kompany, Navas, Jovetic, Dzeko, Bony

    @SouthamptonFC: K. Davis, Clyne, Fonte (c), Alderweireld, Bertrand, Wanyama, S. Davis, Djuričić, Mané, Long, Pellè
    @SouthamptonFC subs: Gazzaniga (GK), Yoshida, Gardos, Ward-Prowse, Elia, Reed, Targett

    Newcastle v West Ham

    @NUFC: Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Gutierrez, Rivière, Cissé
    @NUFC subs: Woodman, R.Taylor, Gouffran, Ameobi, Cabella, de Jong, Perez.

    @whufc_official: Adrian, Jenkinson, Burke, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Nolan (c), Kouyate, Downing, Valencia, Cole
    @whufc_official subs: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Tomkins, Amalfitano, Jarvis, Lee, Nene

    Stoke City v Liverpool

    @stokecity: Begovic; Pieters, Muniesa, Shawcross, Cameron; Whelan, N'Zonzi; Arnautovic, Adam, Walters; Diouf
    @stokecity subs: Butland, Ireland, Odemwingie, Wilson, Sidwell, Crouch, Wollscheid

    @LFC: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Lallana, Coutinho
    @LFC subs: Ward, Toure, Lovren, Lambert, Sterling, Ibe, Markovic

    That hurt, really badly.
    Btw, Sterling dropped to bench.

    1. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      CHEERS PARM
      WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU 🙁

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks Berbilly

    3. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Nice one parm

    4. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks.

    5. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks man!

    6. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks, Parm

    7. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers

    8. davies
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Vardy vs Dunne and Hill.

      Wish I captained.

    9. Santi sensei
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Parm , You legendd !!

      1. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        You are all so brutal on the last day of the season...

    10. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers OC

    11. Hamstergod
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Great Job!!!

    12. Numb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks Demi

    13. Cojiro
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Love this

  20. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    This has not gone to plan

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      🙁 Sorry Jins. Great season anyway, and deffo worth going for it! 🙂

  21. Baa
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Posting team news is fun! 😀

    See you next year!

  22. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Feck you mourinho

    1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      This

  23. Joga Bonito®
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Hazard starting is a nightmare. Took him out at about 10 today just before the reports came through. Hopefully he's still in agony with his teeth and comes off at half time.

  24. Towsor44
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Only Kosc missing out for me and with Punch first on bench (playing 4 at the back) my deliberating and indecision on team selection was irrelevant anyway!

  25. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    9 players starting with a -4. GREEEAAAAAATTT

    1. Van Klinkert Delarosa
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Who is your unlucky 2?

  26. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Hazard 🙁

  27. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    No Ramsey or Giroud and Hazard starts after I got rid of him. Ah well, lucky I've won all my mini leagues!

  28. Red Star Toro
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    If Lukaku outscores Kun I have a good chance of catching up this 19 points 😎

  29. davies
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Ramsey rested.... Kane off the bench.

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Ramsey will probably come on mate.

      1. luke
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Went Ramsey to Punch, pleased as!

  30. da Beeeez
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Some of us are still in games that haven't hit the deadline..... Thinking, thinking, thinking....

    1. da Beeeez
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Drogba OR Lukaku????