Preamble

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 14

I was never one to keep a diary. The only time I’ve really wavered is back in pre-pubescent years and, quite frankly, I’m thankful that my Clearasil-coated days of unrequited love never made it onto a page for posterity.

Inadvertently, the Pre-match Preamble has morphed into a diary of sorts: these Saturday morning entries are a journal, telling the tale of my season to look back on. Today’s is certainly written with that in mind.

I want to put this on record as an experiment, just to see how long it takes before I find myself referring to these statements and cringing, almost as if I’d stumbled upon that poem I wrote for the girl in 5C, scrawled on the entry page for September 12, 1987.

I want to declare that I’m happy turning my back on Sergio Aguero.

I want to confirm that I believe I can do without his goals and that my team wil be better off without his genius.

I’d also like to add that I don’t intend to come knocking for the Argentine until my winter Wildcard arrives – maybe not even then.

There, it’s done. I’m outed.

There have been several scenarios built in my head to help justify such statements.

I fully expect Harry Kane to maintain his streak, for Romelu Lukaku to go on bullying back fours and delivering on his promise. As for Jamie Vardy, I’ve convinced myself that he’ll remain unstoppable and undroppable.

Similarly, while there’s no logic to back this up – I’m hoping that we’ve already seen Aguero at his destructive best. Does he have another 25-point haul in him? I can live in hope.

I’ve another more rational reason for going without. Aguero’s hefty 13.1 can take a big bite out of squad resources, just as we enter the Christmas period when the bench is needed most. Turn my back on Sergio and I’m able to stock up on reserves who can deliver festive cheer.

Predictably, Granville believes I’ll pay the price and revert to type.

He’s immediately rounded up the cash to swoop and is slapping the armband on Aguero, even with the promise of curtailed minutes against a Southampton side with a strong defence on the road.

It’s a no-lose situation for Granville. Aguero can defy fixtures and form, and he’s already proven he can punish non-believers with merciless efficiency. I’m cruising for a bruising – laying down the foundations for a clear opportunity for my Manc rival to tie me in knots when I’m inevitably forced to back down.

But then that’s half the fun. Going without Aguero feels dangerous. It’s almost maverick management by proxy, and if it helps differentiate my team from Granville’s, perpetuating our rivalry, it’s an added bonus.

The question is, when will I get to return to these words to prep and season them as the filling in my humble pie?

Next week? Next month? Next year? Five past three today?

I just sense that Granville can hardly wait.

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

1,798 Comments Post a Comment
  1. bdwhite91
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Lukaku for leaders, Ozi for chasers? I'm leading by 6. 2nd place going Sanchez cap

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

      Go lukaku.

    2. Sjaugen
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Lukaku for getting more points'ers

      1. bdwhite91
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        lol cheers

    3. FPL Mentor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      good lad.. top choice.

  2. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    https://youtu.be/U6xtPV8LfPY

    Cmon U big boy

  3. Denis Tueart on the wing
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Bench Ayew (LIV a) or Bolaise (NEW h) ?

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Ayew

      1. Denis Tueart on the wing
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        done - thanks I think 😀

  4. The Raging Bull
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Sanchez (c)

    who's with me?

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Me

      1. The Raging Bull
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        it's Norwich afterall!

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

      Not me

    3. Venom Snake
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I'm in!
      Lukaku(vc)

    4. Evasivo
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Looking for support, call samaritans

    5. squ1rrel
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!

    6. smash
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Me!

    7. tambourineman
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      With the mass sell-off, owning him is enough differential

      1. The Raging Bull
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Starting an entourage here!

  5. TheFootballHub
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    benteke to lukaku

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Benteke a good differentail

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

        but I'm chasing and its a very tight league

    2. Evasivo
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Stick with Benteke

  6. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Aguero captainers, please raise your hand.

    o/

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

      Why?

    2. sentagoda
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      HAND

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

      People with telekinesis... Raise my hand

  7. kumast
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    play a defence of:

    Dawson Dier Dann

    or

    Sagna Dier Dann

    ?

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

        Thanks. Anyone else-...?

    2. Sailboats
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

        im benching Sagna

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

          Thanks.

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

    Ready?

    Gomes
    Mertesacker Moreno Kaboul
    Sanchez Ozil Firminho Mahrez
    Aguero Kane Lukaku

    Subs: Hennessey, Stanislas, Ake, Simpson

  9. One Terry Hurlock
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Start Azpi or Bertrand?

    1. squ1rrel
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Azpi

    2. S.Kuqi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Azpi.

      Kane's inevitable blank coming

  10. How I met your Mata
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    I know this is probably been posted a lot but is couitiniho fit? Any news about him from the bib theory

    1. How I met your Mata
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      *coutinho

    2. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Looks set to at least make bench

  11. Carcetti
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Bolasie or Mahrez for the bench?

    1. squ1rrel
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Mahrez

  12. squ1rrel
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Pick three to start:

    A) Smalling
    B) Dann
    C) Kolarov
    D) Monreal
    E) Simpson

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

      The last 3

  13. Snapes on a Plane
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Benchine dilemma;

    A) Start Ake or ALder?

    B) Start Couthino or Cabaye?

    1. Snapes on a Plane
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Benching*

    2. squ1rrel
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Alder and Coutinho, if Coutinho doesn't play Cabaye should automatically subsitute.

  14. Littlefish92
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    has put Sanchez Capitan over aguero made my choice after so much time swapping between them all week could be a risk but will see 🙂

  15. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Few questions for y'all:

    1. DDG or Butland in goal?

    2. Any word on whether Coutinho is going to play?

    3. Should I bench Mitrovic away at Palace (just lost at home to Sunderland) or Willian away at Spurs?

    1. squ1rrel
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Butland

      Coutinho...still no word.

      Willian

  16. FootballFanatic365
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    GTG ?

    Lloris

    Dann Moreno Kolarov

    Mahrez Sánchez Coutinho Özil

    Vardy Lukaku (c)Ighalo

  17. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Good to go with WC squad?

    https://copy.com/nNhRyoCfVOpaQcJk

    4.7m ITB
    ??

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      can do better for a WC

    2. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Gomes > Hennessey
      Cathcart > Bennett
      Toby > Rose / Walker

  18. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    With one transfer down, do I stick or tinker further?

    Butland
    Rojo Moreno Van Dijk
    Sanchez Ozil KdB Mahrez
    Lukaku [c] Vardy Kun
    (Morgan MVilla Richards Hennesy)

  19. 50pipsDaily
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Kane or Kun?

  20. Lyonnais
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Myhill
    Bellerin, Moreno, Nyom
    Sanchez, de Bruyne, Mane, Mahrez
    Lukaku (C), Kane (VC), Vardy

    McCarthy | Gosling, van Dijk, Muniesa

    Good to go ?
    Or maybe Mane ---> Özil/Coutinho/Firmino for a last minute -4 hit ?

  21. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Benching dilemma, Eriksen, KDB or Mahrez?

  22. Sjaugen
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Rate my Agueroooooooooooooooooooooo gif from 1-10 pls
    http://i.imgur.com/Z2wCuKQ.gif

    1. GREENDREAMS11
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      lol

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

      Brilliant....10/10

  23. Ziro Becomes One
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    What was that Twitter link to the official premier league listing of all the clubs' tweets?

    Anyone have it handy?

      1. Ziro Becomes One
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Top, man. You just went to the top of my FFS Christmas presents list. What would you like for Christmas?

  24. squ1rrel
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Is Mahrez playing?

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

      is it 2pm? no.

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

        Wont find out at 2pm

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

          *4.30

          my bad

  25. GREENDREAMS11
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Is there anyone, and I mean anyone else who has captained Giroud this week ?

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

      o/

      1. GREENDREAMS11
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Weyyyheyyy Nice One Declan. I thought I was all alone with this.

        I have to try something different as I am chasing down leaders in my M/L's

        Here's hoping mate. Good Luck

  26. Özilla Firefox
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    C'mon Odion Iguero

  27. Cristi@no R7
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Why are you benching mahrez?

  28. Studgie G
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Should I play AOA this gwk my team looks great for it

    Butland
    Moreno Bellerin
    Sanchez Ozil Hazard KDB Mahrez
    Ighalo Lukaku Vardy

    I was saving my chips for DGWks so I not sure what you guys think?

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

      Yeah - it's the worst chip anyway!

  29. stilicho
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone posting pre-deadline team news please state your source or it'll likely be removed.

  30. Gideons Rolling Another One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Play Mane over Mahrez this GW?

    No Hart or Kompany got to be worth a punt?

    Or bench Deulofeu?

    1. GREENDREAMS11
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I was thinking this earlier, City a bit short in defence....