Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 33

I always like to draw parallels between Fantasy Football and the real task of football management.

This perhaps springs from the days of investing hours watching stick men edge around the screen in Football Manager, eventually graduating through the iterations of Championship Manager – all the time convincing myself of my credentials as a real-life gaffer.

It’s nonsense, of course, but when Arsene Wenger recently revealed his process of team selection, I couldn’t help but identify with one of his statements…

“…you always have your team in your head, for the whole week. You never go to bed without thinking about what the next line-up will be. You live with that always. That can create uncertainties, because you think about it every day. If you don’t know on Friday night, you will not know on Saturday morning so you have to decide in your head early, and go for it.”

It takes no effort to apply this to Fantasy Football.

My own team selection undoubtedly lives “in my head” and, granted, normally, by Friday night, my mind is pretty much made up.

However, this week has been riddled with uncertainty. It’s hard to remember a Gameweek that throws so many variables our way.

Missing fixtures for six teams. An immediate double Gameweek for two genuine heavy-hitting sides. Three fixtures for the Champions elect to consider. Three fixtures for an unlikely budget source to mull over. Then we can throw in the usual factors – points hits, rising prices, falling prices and injuries.

It’s a head-spinning scenario and, while I think I’ve resolved my own moves, I’m far from convinced that I’ve settled on the optimum solution.

When there are this many factors involved, I find myself analysing deeper than ever, attempting to see if the order of my transfers and the potential use of points can be improved. I’m sure I’ve missed a trick.

Part of me is worried that plundering future double Gameweek assets seems just too simple. While we’ve seen the likes of QPR and Villa deliver very recently, there’s always a nagging doubt that prioritising targets on this basis can be dangerous.

Cesc Fabregas vs David Silva has been my major conundrum. While the former has the two fixtures to come, Chelsea’s desire to score goals and therefore his ability to play a part in them is a concern. Silva’s own goalscoring rate has accelerated and while City’s season is in danger of fizzling to Europa League nothingness, their Etihad match-ups with West Ham and Villa appear to offer Silva the platform to outperform his compatriot, even with one fewer fixture.

Looking back at Mr Wenger, he has his own midfield dilemmas but seems able to just put his best players on the pitch and get results.

I reckon I could have the Arsenal teamsheet picked by Friday night, probably even Tuesday morning. However, throw in blanks and double Gameweeks and my decision-making is far more muddled.

But Wenger would probably pick Fabregas. He’s been getting things right lately and I’ve been fortunate enough to do the same. I’ll go with Fabregas.

Having tirelessly trawled statistics and form, this is crazy logic that should never influence my decision. But sometimes 11.30 is not time enough and it takes such a ridiculous theory to tip the balance.

I shouldn’t beat myself up about it: the parallels with real-life management may still remain intact.

In a few years a “sophisticated” Sam Allardyce will probably reveal how he picked his Saturday teamsheet based on what his players had for breakfast.

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

2,121 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Marty McFly
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Considering Coutinho, Sterling and Henderson for the DGW!! Am I mad?

    1. The Machine
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

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

      Yep. I blame the flux capacitor. Or the whole incest thing.

      1. 1966 was a great year for E…
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        How do you pronounce your username? On the Scoutcast, they said 'Somalian', as in from Somalia, didn't sound right to me 🙂

        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          That's how I've always imagined it 😯

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

          Yeah they had it right! I didn't realise I was mentioned?? (been to busy studying) 😯

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

            *too

            1. Billy Gilmore
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              Was gonna say I hope it wasn't English you were studying for 😉

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

                Not at all, though I believe spotting one's mistakes is the best way to learn 😉

    3. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      id probably bring in one defender instead of cout or hendo. skrtel back should help tighten up the backline somewhat

    4. mipola
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Would prefer a defender as the 3rd payer.

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

      Not really...

  2. Exeter Gently
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    so who captained whom? and who are you afraid of not having this wk?

    kun C, worried about murray

    1. ACCOUNTING ON CHRIS
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ditto

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

      Vardy(c)

      Afraid of not having Nugent

      1. Exeter Gently
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        vardy C, nice one. hope it works out for you

        1. Camp No No
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Hope it doesn't, to be honest.

  3. ACCOUNTING ON CHRIS
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Woops. Forgot to wake up before the deadline

    Have only got 11 players and pretty sure I left c on Aguero so it's alright 🙂

    Also....

    No early kick off but the fa cup clashes with the only other game on TV? Ffs

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      At least you finally remembered to wake up 😯

      1. ACCOUNTING ON CHRIS
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Yea.

        Could have been asleep forever.

  4. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    It's gone very quiet since the lockout.

    Bunch of users.

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

      yup

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

      I feel so dirty and degraded.

      Standard Saturday morning.

  5. kirwy
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Update the site alreadyyyyy

    1. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      im sure there's some guy at FPL who is a sadist and loves making people have to wait when all it takes is the click of a mouse

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

        There sure is.

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

        Tell him the pubs are open

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

      You can't talk to a database with millions of queries to process like that.

  6. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    whos gonna be the first douchey B to put a RMWCT up

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

      It's already happened, you missed it

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It's been done on the last page.

    3. Trigg ⭐️
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm not the first douche, at least.

  7. Still Unsure
      9 years, 1 month ago

      The update seems to take longer and longer each week.

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

        More points to count.....

    • davies
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Did anyone find the bib theory I posted helpful? Should I do it every week?

      1. The Machine
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        how are we supposed to know until the teams are out?

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

          If it's correct, I mean.

          1. The Machine
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Yes that would be nice if it works

      2. A.T
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        That would be lovely. If it works.

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

          It did last week. Here's hoping.

          1. A.T
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Nice one.

        2. Mark
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 17 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          I think there's a place for it - it's speculative but a bit of fun too. It's also fairly unique to Fantasy Football as a point of interest which is what I look for.

          1. A.T
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Absolutely. I'm amazed clubs don't keep it more secret tbh. They won't name the team but they allow the pics to go out.

            1. Billy Gilmore
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              Liverpool have been forced to train at Anfield to stop the team being leaked and are planning on building a big fence around the training pitch for the same purpose.

              1. A.T
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 1 month ago

                Are they? that's interesting. There are lots of houses that overlook Melwood so I'm not suprised security is difficult.

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

              Maybe that's why they do it...Bluff and counter bluff.

      3. Mark
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 17 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Yes I love bib theory speculation - drop me a line via support@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk

      4. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Link?

      5. Breadbin
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Not when Leicester don't have a double.

    • Somalion
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Perhaps the update is taking long because the system has crashed and all our season's data has been erased.

      1. Exeter Gently
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        blessing for some, curse for others

      2. Trigg ⭐️
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Hopefully just last weeks data ...

      3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        as long as it lost last weeks data i dont mind

        1. Trigg ⭐️
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          😆

      4. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Kane's pts deduction would be great

    • Trigg ⭐️
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Hull GK
      Ivan, Fab, Haz
      Skrtel, Cout, Studge
      Schlupp, Mahrez, Vardy
      Then Giroud as my non-DGW

      That's my original plan, probably to be ripped up later.

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

        Not knowing Hull's first choice keeper is a problem

    • A.T
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      😀

      1. super zlatan
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        😎

      2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        😛

      3. Billy Gilmore
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        😯

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

        This is a nice thread

        🙂

      5. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        👿

        1. A.T
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          🙁

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

            😉

    • 20LEGEND
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Gave Seamie Coleman the armband, COME ON!!

      1. A.T
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Now you tell me.

    • Mr Arsenal
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Remy will start today. Chelsea have the best medical team in the country. They've managed to get Costa back in contention for the Dgw despite what looked like a hammy injury. That''s unheard of.

      Bitter...

      1. 1966 was a great year for E…
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        His hammys seem to break easily, and repair themselves quickly.

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

        The same medical tea which cleared him to play when he clearly wasn't ready ?

      3. Breadbin
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Where to start with this statement.

    • Shifty
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Wildcards take 5 years off life expectancy im sure of it

    • super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Hello wildcard.

      1. Puzzle
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        +1

    • goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Updated.

      1. A.T
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

    • bialk
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Updated! It's Wild card time now...

    • Still Unsure
        9 years, 1 month ago

        FINALLY. Updated...

      • Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        'Wildcard played'

        Don't remember that 😕

      • Holmes
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        GW34 team done 😎

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

          What about the injuries and suspensions you get this week?

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

            Unlikely plus have backups

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

              For your entire strike force?

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

                Kane for Remy. Wollscheid for Kun. Simple.

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

                  Kane injured too.

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

                    I'm not that unlucky. Injuries/suspension rarely strikes my team. Have been following plan since GW31 and team is set till GW37.

      • Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Hazard (c)

        *Logs out

      • Judeksi
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        yesss, finally I can start planning on my double gameweek team with wildcard activated!!

      • ASR11
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        World number one brought in Yaya!

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

          He's an excellent punt for this week. The sheep just get whoever scored well last week as their punt before WC.

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

          World number 57 bought in Cambiasso lol

      • Billy Gilmore
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        *sells entire team

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

          Reported

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

          You should buy Hazard.

          1. Billy Gilmore
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            He's one of two remaining on my WC

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

        Activate WC now!

      • Sz21
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        100% this the best week for the WC then for those still in possession..?

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

          Depends on your team. GW35 is also good shout

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

          Definitely. Unless you fancy triple Sunderland...

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

        Template WC team please?

        3 Reds, 3 Chelsea, 1 Arsenal

        + 1 Everton player + 1 Soton defender + 2 keepers
        + 1 cheapie mid + 1 cheapie def

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

          Yeah that'll do.

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

            cheers mate

      • 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        When did John Terrys price go up??

        Had him as a planned transfer instead of Dawson for the DGW and now im short by 0.1

      • Brian (Not the Messiah)
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        So Mourninho says thats it's easy FOR HIM when they play a big game like United because he doesn't need to motivate his players. So BBC puts up the head line: "Manchester United game easy for Chelsea - Jose Mourinho" which is not what he said at all and just a lie. I really expect more from BBC.

        http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32355462

        1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          *Mourinho

        2. Sz21
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Sounds the same to me!

          1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            there is a big difference between easy for the coaching staff to prepare and it being an easy game for chelsea overall.

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

          A news agency playing word games....who'd have thought it.

          1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            I expect it of the Dailyfail. Not the BBC.

        4. Breadbin
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Try listening to 5Live in the last 6 months compared to before. It's terrible now, as is the sport content on their website. Read the John Barnes story in the features if you want the best example of terrible sports journalism.

          1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            so irritating.

        1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          😆 I posted this exact link above! 😉