Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 22

The obvious thing to do was to swoop for Sergio Aguero immediately. That would have ensured that there was little chance of a couple of price rises working as factors to persuade me to ignore Aguero come today’s 11.30 gong.

Predictably, that was far too straightforward for me. Readers of these words on a regular basis will know that, when presented with a crossroads, the path signposted the “Blatantly Obvious Avenue” never quite looks as welcoming as the heady sights offered by “Too Clever By Half Street”, even though I suspect the latter is a cul-de-sac.

This morning, having watched Aguero rise in price twice this week, my Fantasy Sat Nav is again suggesting I take an unexpected turn. Instead of trading Diego Costa at Swansea with his questionable away form for the undoubted and essential talents of Aguero at home to Arsenal, I’m exploring unwise alternatives.

Aaron Cresswell’s clean sheet for West Ham at home to Hull looks fairly assured and that’s tempted me to consider bringing him into my back three. The method to my madness suggests that Cresswell’s clean sheet would allow me to retain Costa at Swansea: Aguero would have to outscore Cresswell’s return against Hull, while I suspect Costa has a good chance of bettering Alan Hutton’s tally against Liverpool: the Villa man is my only defensive option should I make the Costa to Aguero trade.

If that sounds convoluted, it’s probably because it is. I’m overthinking a situation which, in reality, is a simple case of trading like for like. Get Costa out and get the superior Aguero in my frontline. More significantly, that would allow me to put the armband on the Argentine. Job done. Let’s watch the points roll in.

Instead, I’m about to rely on Costa’s ropey away form, allow a budget striker to wear my armband and, once again, risk my sanity on one of Big Sam’s charges.

As always, I’ve found a way to justify it. Aguero couldn’t inflict any damage on a tired and obliging Everton defence in 24 minutes – why would he blitz Arsenal with a two-goal salvo a week later? Wenger surely won’t allow his side to ship six goals this time?

Cresswell is up against a wounded Hull outfit who are likely to rely on the deadly pair of Gaston Ramirez and Sone Aluko for goals. Only this week, Big Sam was talking up the Hammers’ quest for clean sheets: a shut-out is brewing down in East London.

Then there’s Harry Kane – he will surely produce at home to a Sunderland side who appear to be bereft of a midfield enforcer. The Black Cats’ back four could be largely unprotected and Kane has the form and ability to punish that. The armband is safe with Harry.

Finally, there’s Costa. My dear old Diego. He’s served me well – scoring just frequently enough for me to ward off those claims that my investment has been wasted, my faith misplaced. He could do a job at Swansea, coupled with Cresswell’s returns, to outperform Aguero and Hutton.

I’ve talked myself into this. I’ve watched Aguero’s price rise to 12.5, almost to help justify taking this route. If I get it right, the rewards will likely be a handful of points and the smug satisfaction that I’d avoided doing the obvious. Get it wrong and the punishment could potentially be catastrophic – a severe spanking that even my Wildcard will struggle to salve.

I seem to openly invite “Mr Disappointment” into my weekends through the medium of my Fantasy Football team. I leave the door ajar, make his bed and put the kettle on. Let’s see if he comes knocking this time.

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

3,489 Comments Post a Comment
  1. palace ash
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    I like the look of that a palace lineup. Really fancy or chances of the points today!

  2. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So everyone plays??

    1. SPorting
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Players gonna play.

    2. Prime
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Not Gerrard, Cameron, Shawcross, Courtois and RvP.

  3. davies
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Cameron > who?

    1. Rafa is a Geordie
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Chester for me

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Wollschied

    3. Lucy.
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I got this wrong too. 🙁

  4. Gooner97
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Rooney again in midfield...

  5. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Please hamer and Hutton get me cleanies.

  6. Jimbo123
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    No crouch?

    1. Demí
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Appears not. Walters or Bojan upfront

      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        any word of Shawcross Demi? Seems an odd one to leave out unless he's injured

    2. Whazza
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      bench

  7. The ghost of a Pug's g…
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    What's on your miracle list?

    Mine is:

    Kane not scoring
    Hull scoring
    West ham losing and downing taking no part in any goals.

    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Wasilweski cleansheet and brace

      1. Prime
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        tbf he scored a couple goals a season for Anderlecht.

    2. Az
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      This all sounds great to me

      1. BeachBadger
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        ditto

    3. stephenl15
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Haz (C) outscoring Kane and Jun

    4. Woy of the Wovers
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sterling hat trick

    5. Green Arrow
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Aguero not getting attacking points

    6. BeachBadger
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Arsenal City goalfest

      As for today, Costa to blank

    7. Lukey27
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      100+

  8. Qubit
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Im probably alone in this, but I would much prefer not to have captains with double points, i dont think it adds to the game.

    It would be much better to have just 11 players. It might even result in a more diverse selection of 11 with the selection pressure off the captain and managers forced to look elsewhere if they want a differential.

    1. Les Bleus
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      No way. Captains can make or break a GW. It's much better IMO

      1. Qubit
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Exactly, the over reliance on them makes the game slightly duller. But each to their own 🙂 I knew id be more or less alone. 😀

    2. stephenl15
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Couldn't disagree more

    3. Vardy Gras PBFC
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      It's fun! The day when you get the captain right is a great day.

    4. BeachBadger
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I agree a bit but then, the game becomes a bit too simple and boring if youre not making a transfer you basically have nothing to do but wait.

  9. Mr. Grv
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    kane with soldado 😀 😀

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      soldado to outscore kane

      1. BeachBadger
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        1pt and 0?

  10. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Parm, where's the line-up summary sunbeam 🙂 ?

  11. Demí
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Why are people selling Cameron. I thought he was nailed on having starting the last dozen due to whelan and bardsley injuries?

    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      IMD I bought him when he was nailed and was saying this to people this week.

    2. Les Bleus
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      It's very hard to sense sarcasm over the internet, but I'm pretty sure this is it 😀

    3. davies
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      lol

    4. Lucy.
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I knew it was a risk. Not the end of the world.

      1. Demí
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Fair play to you, you weren't one of the ones convinced he was nailed just because of his recent run of starts. I did try to warn, but some werent having it

        1. SPorting
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Have it!

  12. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Thanks Sparky

    I've been debating Hutton v Cameron for a bit

    You've swayed me to Hutton

    1. BeachBadger
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      The Lord always finds a way

  13. Feanor
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Why is there no early game today?

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

      These things happen in life

    2. Les Bleus
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Longest morning EVER!

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      There isn't always

    4. For Fuchs Sake
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Forest vs Derby was on

      1. BeachBadger
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        😆

  14. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    jesus anyone see the notts player rugby tackling fans??

  15. AIRMILES
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Formation something like this? Or switch Rojo and Blind? Or other switches?

    ----------------De Gea,
    -------Jones, Smalling, Rojo,
    Valencia, -----------------------Blind,
    -----------------Carrick,
    --------Mata, ------------Di Maria,
    -----------------Rooney,
    ------------------Falcao

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

      Swap Rooney and Maria

    2. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Switch rooney and Dai Maria.

    3. AIRMILES
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Or more like?

      -----------------Carrick,
      --------Mata, Rooney, Di Maria,
      -----------------Falcao

    4. JJO
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Would love it but doubt it

    5. Make United Great Again
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      No. Just the normal 3-5-2 im afraid 🙁

  16. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So 352 for United again?

    Will probably be terrible so...

    1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Charlie Austin field day coming up

  17. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Ocprodigy
    Get a move on

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      No laptop 🙁

  18. Lallana_
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    FFS Derby. Terrible performance today. Defending looked worse than Liverpool's.

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Why do you care?

      1. Lallana_
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Have some family from there. And I have a soft-spot after QPR undeservedly got promoted over them last season. In the playoff game Derby dominated.

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Should have scored then, innit.

          All the possession in the world is pointless if you can't score.

  19. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Defoe bound to score v Spurs today.

    £sssss 😉

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

      I still can't believe 'Arry didn't sign him. Must be saving up for Peter Crouch.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Boo

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

          He's already got Krancjar...

      2. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        said they couldn't afford him

  20. drughi
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Falcao brace incoming

    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Nothing like a public flogging to encourage effort.

  21. Wouter
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Anybody see the Derby "supporter" punch the Forest player?

    1. SPorting
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Punch is hardly the word.

      Handbags leading to a lifetime ban hopefully.

    2. davies
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Just seen it. What a twat.

  22. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Took my lad to see some animals yesterday. Only one there was a little dog in a cage.

    it was a shitzu....

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      🙂

  23. Plymouth
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Do we expect ADM playing up front even though it didnt work out very well last match?

    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Yes, LvG is a stubborn bar steward

    2. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Philosophy. It's getting frustrating.

      1. Plymouth
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Allright

    3. Legendary!
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      LVG s stubborn like that

  24. Lallana_
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Sunderland wasting no time. Surprised Defoe is starting right away.

  25. davies
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Best defender for 4.2?

    1. Lucy.
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      PVA

    2. BeachBadger
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      NOt Cameron

  26. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    No Aguero, Kane, Di Maria or Fabregas. I'm going to set up camp behind my couch now.

    1. Randy_Marsh
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      And so you should

  27. SneakyPete
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Not Parm

    But Line ups

    Palace team to play @BurnleyOfficial: Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Puncheon, McArthur, Ledley, Zaha, Sanogo, Gayle.

    Confirmed #BFC starting XI: Heaton; Trippier, Shackell (c), Keane, Mee; Boyd, Marney, Jones, Arfield; Barnes, Ings. #ClaretsLIVE

    #AVFC (v @LFC): Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Baker, Cissokho, Sanchez, Westwood, Delph, Cleverley, Agbonlahor, Benteke. #AVFCLIVE

    #Spurs: Lloris (c); Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Dembele, Stambouli; Chadli, Kane, Eriksen; Soldado

    United XI: De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Valencia, Carrick, Mata, Blind, Rooney, Di Maria, Falcao.

    #SAFC: Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, Brown, O'Shea (c), Vergini, Larsson, Rodwell, Johnson, Fletcher, Defoe. #TOTSUN

    City: Hamer, Simpson, Morgan, Wasilewski, Konchesky, Knockaert, Drinkwater, King, Schlupp, Nugent, Vardy. #LeiSto

    Chelsea Team to play Swansea City: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa. #CFC

    Liverpool XI vs Villa: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Markovic, Moreno, Lucas, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Borini

    Swansea team: Fabianski, Tiendalli, Fernandez, Williams (C), Taylor, Carroll, Sigurdsson, Dyer, Oliveira, Routledge, Gomis

    Stoke XI vs Leicester: Begovic; Bardsley, Wilson, Wollscheid, Muniesa; Whelan, Nzonzi; Arnautovic, Bojan, Moses; Walters

    QPR XI vs United: Green, Isla, Dunne, Onouha, Hill, Vargas, Barton, Henry, Fer, Zamora, Austin.

    1. Lallana_
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers!

    2. Parm
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks.

      1. SPorting
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        No, thank you.

        1. SneakyPete
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          😀

          1. SPorting
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 9 months ago

            Don't worry, you got the +1 sir.

    3. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks for these MI.

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Nice one.
      But Parm does subs too.

      1. SneakyPete
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        He is Parm for a reason 😉

    5. tm245
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers.

  28. Captain Shirokov
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Booooooooojan

    Also, lol @ 352

    1. Dr Dream
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Rooting for you...hope it works.

      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers wakey 🙂

  29. Cheggers v2
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Benched fabregas for Boyd, wtf have I done

    1. Prime
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      well at least Cesc isn't in the hole.

    2. drughi
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      what was the thinking behind that decision ?

      1. Cheggers v2
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Wanted to play Boyd, have hazard and Costa playing already

    3. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      last time i benched he got 14 pts at Stoke. Lesson learnt.

  30. Qubit
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Im going to regret playing Chadli over Austin aren't I. Theres no way that spurs line up ends well for all 3 of Chadli, Soldado and Kane.