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. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Whats wrong with Rojo? He is causing me last minute sweats!
    Likely hood to play considering all the rest of United defenders are injured?

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

      he is not playing they are playing mcnair instead

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

      Sky Sports said he wasn't playing and McNair was in. I don't know where they got this from, but they said it.

    3. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Ahhh!
      Only just looked!

    4. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Forget it, play him and got Simpson as next sub. United will not score anyway. 3 draws in a row...

  2. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    drum roll please

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

      6 min drum roll?

  3. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

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

      OH YEAH BABY!

    2. Sp0rting
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Source?

      1. Whazza
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        read

        1. Sp0rting
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          I mean a real source not a crappy app.

          1. Sp0rting
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            See,I told you so Whazza,

            1. Every Dog Has Its Day
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Well it's the official City one.

    3. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Now they removed it so feel free to delete this MODS it normally comes out one minute early but never 10 mins early.

      1. Mr. Grv
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This

      2. Mark
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 17 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Have done.

        Probably correct but let's not risk folk acting on it.

        1. Every Dog Has Its Day
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers Mark.

    4. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      i trust on this

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

      Thanks mate

    6. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Sorry, let's not post pre 2pm lineups without links.

      We don't want folk acting on info that can't be confirmed.

  4. Sponge-worthy
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Time to go bonkers!!

  5. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Cheers Rodallega for the grav 🙂

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

      That's class

    2. The Nuttmxn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Quality

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

    GW 15 captaincy poll:

    Currently on Sanchez. GtG?

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

      YEEHAH!

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

      Might be injured

  7. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

    1. Whazza
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      hilarious

      1. The Machine
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks

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

          haha banned.

          1. KOLASINA(C)
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            lol

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      No source = purge

    3. Sp0rting
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      MOTD app is buggered then.

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

    Sub bench order

    Simpson MUN ahead of Bertie Citeh

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

      May need it as have lingard and Alli

  9. the grinder
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Play Vardy op Bolassie?

    1. Sponge-worthy
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Vardy

    2. the grinder
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Or Mahrez?

      I have to bench one of them

  10. Pulis Ki Vardy
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    KDB

    or

    MAHREZ

    1. KOLASINA(C)
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      kdb

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

    Lukaku or Kane C?

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

      Sanchez.

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

    Play Wollscheid or Smalling this week?

    Stoke have 5 clean sheets in their last 6 games and are away to a lackluster Sunderland so seems foolish to bench Wollscheid

    Smalling is part of the best defense in the league but is playing away to Leic who have scored in every game. Leic do however defend poorly from set pieces and so a goal isn't out of the question for Smalling.

    Thoughts?

  13. Kase II
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    I often see people going to a lot of trouble to compile a lot of statistical information and write some great pieces regarding fantasy football statistics. Recently we had the 'one stat to rule them all' article (http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2015/10/01/one-stat-to-rule-them-all/) and a great article looking at the average number of goals per game varying between kick-off times (cna't find the link but it this week). However, one thing that strikes me is that these databases, that are so laborious to construct, have so much more data within them that could be analysed using more advanced statistical methods.

    STATS 101 (an aside):

    There are two forms of statistics; descriptive and inferential. Descriptive statistics (like the 'average' or 'mean') can only describe data, inferential statistics (such as a t-test or regression) allow you to make (very careful) inferences about data. For example, with the data set in hand you could calculate the probability that more goals are scored at 3.00pm than at 12.30pm. If this probability was high (typically more than 95%) we could conclude that there are more goals scored at a specific time and plan accordingly. Other ideas include:

    Do teams really have a Europa hangover?

    What is the 'one stat to rule them all' regarding the previous four weeks statistics? (a more complicated version of the previous 'one stat to rule them all' project by using regression instead of correlation and assessing the last four weeks at a time, not the season overall)

    I've always wanted to look at these problems but as I don't have the time to mine so much data. But as a community we could do loads. Plus there seems to be a wealth of data already out there mined that could be used anyway. What I'm suggesting is creating a statisticians team to mine data, create ideas and run analyses. No formal experience would be required, I could take on all the statistical tests (although any help would be welcome), just enthusiasm and a bit of time to gather some data. If 5 people could give 2 hours a week we could complete all the projects listed above in a month. Certainly it would be great if those who have already mined data could join in and make those data sets available. I'd love to get my hands on them and would be happy to report back as an article for all.

    What do people think? Any ideas for analyses? Myths to bust?

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

      Bad time to post this 4 minutes before lineups. try again later 🙂

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Post later

    2. Obi Wan Elokobi
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Worse time to post an in depth. Post copy paste and save for later.

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

      Statistics on statistics. The world is getting messed up today, ya know.

    4. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Never bench never captain.

    5. Silky_Smooth ~
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      lol no one is going to read this 5mins before the deadline! will come back to it though...

    6. Mr. Grv
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Come back in dz

    7. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      It's a very good idea. However, it might not be the best time to ask this.

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

      Not great timing

    9. Kase II
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Fair enough. Thought this'd be the best time to post as everyone is on.

      Will post again.

  14. Black Panther
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Darmian and Kolorov to start?

  15. noMoreInternationalBreaks
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Just did rojo out moreno in for -4

    Good or bad?

    1. El Patron
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Facepalm 🙁

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

        Rojo is injured..

  16. Takedog1
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    sanchez starting??

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

      home to watford i'd say so.

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

        XD

    2. Sz21
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Sure

  17. Gazpilicueta
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Good luck this weekend everyone!

    Team FFS for the win!!!

    Lukaku Hatrick, Sanchez brace and vardy to break the record pleeeeease!

  18. John t penguin
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Stilichio drew the short straw at mods shift meeting then

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Haha. Lol

  19. Djerbil
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    https://twitter.com/MCFC/lists/premier-league-clubs

    For all Official News

  20. goodday there mate
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    ozil captain?? i have aguero and sanchez ...

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

      :thumbsup

  21. Whazza
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Mark Ritson ‏@MR_LWMedia 2m2 minutes ago
    Sounds like Palace unchanged from Monday night. Another chance for Connor Wickham up top. #CPFC

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

    Ozil (C) again it is.

    1. Takedog1
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      i like it

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

    Apologies to all for my Mahrez post, I thought with the 3pm and the big smiley face at the end, that it would be obviously a joke. I got caught by the one a few weeks ago, so I know how it feels, hence why to try and make it obviously a joke!

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

      Ban

    2. Sp0rting
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Don't worry, the smart ones got it.

      That group doesn't include the mods though.

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

      Apologie accepted

    4. Obi Wan Elokobi
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Don't worry about it. Only the cry babies get offended around here.

  24. Erdinger
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    butland
    galloway aspi toby bellerin
    kdb mahrez sanchez
    kun vardy lukaku(c)
    current lineup
    play mane for mahrez/a def
    or keep? cheers

    1. Top 210 Club
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      mane for azpi may be dropped again

  25. Alittude
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Going all in and benching Smalling and playing VAHREZ

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

      Thumbs up!

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

      United are pretty resolute. I'm playing smalling but hard to predict how it might go as Leicester are hot.

  26. Tansey
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Sanchez or Luaku (C)

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

      Panic typing

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

    Sanchez starting against Norwich? *sweating*

    1. Jay_
        8 years, 11 months ago

        25 hours of sweat

      • Jax
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        game on sunday ffs

      • Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Keep drinking water or you'll be dead before the Arsenal lineup.

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

          Got...to..get..water!*crawling over to sink*

    2. some witty pun
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      bottomed, who to start?
      A) Mahrez , home vs man utd
      B) Lanzini , home vs WBA

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

        (C)

      2. FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Nice. Goes back captain

      3. Mark
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 17 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Yep. Good spot.

      4. Djerbil
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        also OX back

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

        White bib... bench?

      6. Sz21
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        CAPTAIN!!

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

      Time to panic!!