The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 27

The biggest, most heinous crimes I’ve committed as a Fantasy Football manager, the decisions that have haunted me the most, have come as a result of inactivity – the act of sitting still.

I find it far easier to forgive my mistakes if they are made under the guise of positive moves; if there is logic and reason I can call upon to help justify the choice made.

In contrast, I find there is nothing more painful than missing out on a points haul through indecision, hesitation and caution. Those mistakes tend to linger.

So I intend to fully embrace the gift of Manchester City’s double Gameweek.

I have snapped up Pep Guardiola’s front three, putting my trust in the most unpredictable of managers in hope that he will leave them to run riot over City’s two matches – that he will maintain the current momentum.

For all the trepidation surrounding Pep’s teamsheets, we have seen more consistency of late.

He has stayed loyal to his key players – Kevin De Bruyne has started the last 12, Raheem Sterling the last 10 and, ever since the emergence of Leroy Sane, the starlet has started and completed 90 minutes each time.

It’s just possible that Pep feels that his players are now conditioned and settled in his system, and that rotation of key assets is no longer on his agenda.

He is making the right noises – “focusing game by game ”, “guarding against complacency” and talking up the newfound efficiency of his attacking players.

Maybe, just maybe, he won’t risk disrupting the flow by tinkering unnecessarily.

Having tentatively talked myself into playing down concerns of rotation, I then look at City’s situation.

Eleven points behind Chelsea, they have the opportunity to close that gap to eight or even fewer with these two league matches, knowing that they meet head-on in early April.

Equally, City have a goal difference that is currently dwarfed by both Chelsea and Spurs.

For me, that suggests that Guardiola will not only be forced to go out and win both matches, he will charge his side to pulverise the opposition should they offer any sign of weakness or capitulation.

Will Sunderland or Stoke cave in to an early goal? Both lost 4-0 last time out: recent evidence suggests that they are vulnerable.

If City’s victories and goals arrive, that will surely deliver points across that front three, and Aguero will be expected to be the major benefactor.

It’s, therefore, difficult to ignore the prospect of trusting him with the Triple Captain chip. Again, this harks back to my opening statement.

Aguero facing Sunderland and Stoke in a single Gameweek, on the back of four goals in two outings and in a more settled City attacking unit, in need of wins and goals – this is surely stuff of dreams?

I don’t feel mentally prepared to lay down the chip in Gameweek 27, but I have real fear that should I ignore this perfect storm, I will struggle to forgive myself if Aguero delivers.

True enough, both Harry Kane and Alexis Sanchez could be handed equally obliging situations. Both are explosive assets, although arguably not quite as incendiary as the Argentine.

But we don’t know anything of those Kane and Sanchez scenarios.

We don’t know if they will be fit and in form, we don’t know anything of Spurs and Arsenal’s motivation at that time and we don’t know their opponents.

In three to four weeks time, with the relegation scrap intensifying further, there may well be no gimmes, with the form book totally irrelevant.

Should Aguero falter. Should the hamstring twang or Pep suddenly decide to tinker once again, then I’ll have to deal with the agony. But I’ll deal with it knowing that the argument to back the City striker was so convincing.

If I ignore this opportunity and he delivers, I fear it would inflict a telling blow that could overhang the remainder of my season.

There’s a lot at stake. I will need calm on Wednesday before the teamsheets arrive. A darkened room. A few scented candles. Enya on pause.

But I’m willing to go through that anxiety for the possibilities that Aguero and City present. I’m happy to chase the dream to avoid the nightmare.