Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 4

I’m having humble pie for breakfast.

A thick crust and generous filling, it’s not my preferred Saturday morning bacon sarnie but I’m tucking it away hungrily, nonetheless.

Last season I realised that this was the secret: when Fantasy Football rubs your nose in your mistakes, you’ve got to own up.

After opening the door for a player to punish me post-Wildcard in last week’s Preamble, Callum Wilson duly obliged with an unexpected hat-trick and maximum bonus return.

I knew it was coming. The important thing now was to act accordingly.

Having sold on Wilson with the Wildcard, I could have shown the usual stubborn attitude and convinced myself that my plans remained valid. That I knew best.

According to Wildcard blueprint v23 I should have been bringing Matt Ritchie in for Marc Albrighton this morning, benching Troy Deeney for his likely spell of spectating at the Etihad but reserving him as my budget striker.

Instead, I had to admit the error, forgive Callum for embarrassing me and snap him up before his price rose back to 5.5.

That could be another mistake. Ritchie may take his turn to run riot and Deeney may even come good in weeks to come; I had to ignore those fears. I also had to banish concerns of the template team forming and drown out the nagging “chasing points” argument in my head.

When a 5.4 striker demonstrates the ability to score a hat-trick, you don’t hesitate and cling to a plan.

I’d fancied Wilson as a prospect from the get-go but those beliefs were abandoned amongst the noise of the Wildcard scramble. Despite the pain of witnessing last weekend’s points haul, I can justify going back for Wilson and swallow some pride.

Above all, I fear that, if Wilson notches against Leicester, we’re going to be looking at a relentless bandwagon over the break and that would make any future portion of humble pie a lot less palatable.

I can’t risk that. I need that whiff of fried rashers to help me wake from the inevitable international slumber.

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

1,914 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Most have triple captained Aguero in my ML...

    1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      all these people chipping in their pants...

    2. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Sounds like a strong league.

      1. Every Dog Has Its Day
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Yup; I'm at the top by 30 points but even though I have captained Kun I'm worried.

    3. Puyol Pants Up
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yup, my H2H opponent triple (C) Aguero.

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

      A lot in my ML don't even own him so I happy with double points

    5. copps
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      should be used ina dgw

      1. RVP fc
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Only one triple captain in my league and its on Mahrez

    6. BendingFCs
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Are people forgetting double gameweeks?

      1. Every Dog Has Its Day
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        I believe so.

    7. No Luck
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Looks like you've won your ML already

  2. Khalico
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Lol, have Ozil starting 11 but have Payet as my first sub on my bench. Was stuck between who should start at beginning.

    1. Pointsonthebench
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Could be a blessing 🙂

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

    Anyone got Sanchez (c)?

    1. Redhulkster
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Nope but owning him is good in itself imo

      Dead teams with Walcott captain will go magic

      1. the cromulent one
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Not that many dead teams with Walcott. Walcott was the "FFS insider's" pick.

    2. OliverK
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

      Got Agüero and Silva in team aswell

  4. Redhulkster
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Arsenal's Premier League record vs. Newcastle over the past 7 matches: WWWWWWW Goals: 20 Conceded: 6

    Sanchez (vc)

    1. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      It was pretty similar with West Ham

  5. Puyol Pants Up
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Sanchez (C) next GW looks tempting.

    1. RVP fc
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Looking at that myself. Will see how he performs today. Although an Aguero brace and he will be my captain

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

      Hate gameweeks after international breaks and it's before a set of Champions league games too

    3. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      He's captain for me; he destroyed Stokealona last year.

  6. makaveli70
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Is Ozil injured?

    1. Breadbin
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes.

  7. Tadic is the new Eriksen
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Captaining Sanchez next week definately

  8. Cheltnamshire LaLaLa
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Ozil Solved my dilemma of how to get rotchie in my team in ultimate....which was nice

  9. viciousrumour
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Got Mane coming in for Ozil.

    1. Will he start
    2. Is he OOP up front?

    1. Lucy.
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      1. Probably.
      2. Depends on formation. He would if we played 3-5-2. After the problems with 3-5-2 in Europa League, we may opt to go back to 4-2-3-1, probably meaning he goes in at no. 10.

      1. The Pretender
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        either way hes in a spot to maximise points so dw !

  10. bialk
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Next week play Butland (ars) or McCarthy (MCI)?

    1. RVP fc
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Butland for me. Makes alot of saves

  11. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    20.5% of all players have activated their wildcard

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

      What percentage won't even use them? Probably 50%?

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

      Thought it be a lot higher, do there will be a lot of dead teams who will never use that first wildcard by GW19 I assume

  12. Too Mane Men
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    So you get Giroud in because you're certain he'll score against Liverpool or Newcastle...

    Wenger takes him off just he's looking like finishing the winning goal against LPool and then benches him against a club he has scored 8 goals against in the past 3 seasons.

    You senile old man Wenger. When will you realise that Theo will NEVER be a proper striker and that Giroud is an incredible player who deserves consistent games to maintain his VERY consist ant scoring record.

    1. Breadbin
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Lol, so bitter.

  13. Parm
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Great start to my Payet & Giroud ➡ Alexis & Wilson hit.

    1. Lucy.
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Just need a Sanchez brace. 🙂

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        That would be nice.

  14. BendingFCs
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Hoping this team does the business for me this week:

    Schmeichel
    Cedric, Kolarov, Gomez
    Sanchez, Y.Toure, Payet, Mahrez
    Pelle, Aguero (C), Wilson

    Adrian, Richards, Darmian, Ibe

  15. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    got adebayor, such a dumb, but fun, gamble

    1. Obi Wan Elokobi
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Just out of interest why?

      1. applebonkers
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        gambling he goes to west ham, if he does he then has 2 weeks to get fit for NEW, or a month to get fit for NOR.
        if nothing happens he solves the front 8 benching dilemma

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

    Biggest reason I wanted 2 FTs next week is to get anyone big in I probably need to make 3. Too late now, but maybe something to have considered.

  17. U-jin King™
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Walcott the ultimate troll

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

    What was the plugin for Chrome that showed everyone's captains etc without having to manually check all?

    1. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Greasymonkey.

      I think it only works for Firefox.

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

        Ah okay! Nevermind then, prefer Chrome. Cheers.

  19. Rasping Drive
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    After Mark sold Wilson on his WC before last week's hatrick, now it's Mane's turn. It's written in the stars.

  20. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    wenger on ozil:

    "yeah it's a slight injury but he's not available"
    long time out?
    "no, no,i think one week"

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

      That's him done for the season then

      1. Djerbil
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        acute plan to rest him during Internationals : pre-Internationalitis

    2. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      3 months then.

    3. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Thank goodness. I was gutted for a while there that I hadn't managed to sub him out in time. I guess that will happen automatically now.

    4. No Luck
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Ozil transfer incoming

    5. the cromulent one
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Being protected for the Fenerbahce move?
      😉

  21. Gargamel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    It's a design flaw in this season's game that they moved the deadline imo. Those of us who couldn't be around for the deadline now missed an opportunity to transfer Walcott in because team news were out before. Some who were around actually made the transfer and might now benefit from it.

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

      From what I could see it didn't go down at 11:45 either, could still see my team after a refresh at 11:46.

      I suppose my clock might not be right but at 11:30 it was always down before

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

        There's comments at 11:44:14

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

      It's been the same with evening deadlines forever and it is annoying.

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

        Yes, it really is. As AB says blow evening deadlines should too be earlier.

    3. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      100% agree. in general a big part of the game is guessing lineups. i also dont like the midweek deadlines in past seasons. i'd have all deadlines at least 1 hour 15mins before the first kickoff

    4. johnbarnes
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      for real? that's so unfair.

      1. applebonkers
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        dont get why they changed it either, odd addition

        1. applebonkers
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          COZ AXFORD WANTED AN EXTRA 15MINS IN BED M8 LOL

          1. applebonkers
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            #sleepLAD

    5. Mull
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Every deadline is now an hour before kick off so it's fine now.

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

        That's exactly what I think is not fine.

    6. Too Mane Men
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Personally, I think transferring in a player who we know is never going to get consistent games just because he's playing one game up front and we can adjust to it is utter madness. You're just risking a huge uncertainty of starts for what is essentially one game. Giroud will be back in now time.

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

        You may be right, but I don't think it affects my general point. I don't think you should give players the chance to benefit from being online at a certain set time.

        1. Too Mane Men
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          You're not wrong. Should have mentioned I agree with that before mouthing off really. Completely depends on availability and the deadline being at 11:30 allowed no one to have that option which made it more of a level playing field. I agree.

  22. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Monreal seems pretty nailed at LB now. Gibbs doesn't seem as much of a threat as people thought. Will this change much when CL starts?

    1. No Luck
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Gibbs more likely to play with Debuchy, Bellerin with Monreal.

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Bellerin is a RB? Gibbs a LB.

        1. No Luck
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          What I mean is: as long as Bellerin is playing, Gibbs will never play. Wenger likes having a full back who is good in the air such as Debuchy and Monreal.

  23. Back on the horse
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Walcott Hatty 110%

    1. GREENDREAMS11
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      As long as he gets the 1st I'll be a happy man.

  24. jlorgill1
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Gone for this team for this week?
    McCarthy (I had a nightmare and forgot to sub him for my other keeper)
    Kompany Darmian Richards
    Yaya Sanchez Depay Coutinho Mahrez
    Aguero (Triple Captain) Wilson

  25. Squires FC
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Walcott sellers in for a long afternoon.

    1. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Are there any left on here that still own him? he's dropped 0.5

      1. Squires FC
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        I hope not! He will be itching to make an impression

  26. copps
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    im behind someone who just captained redmond away at southampton

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

    As a Arsenal fan it delightful to see both the Ox and Wally starting

    1. No Luck
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Ox especially!

  28. Qubit
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Trolcott alert. Nailed on for a double digit haul.

  29. Spectator
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Sunchez on team Coquelin benched o_0