Winston Churchill once said that “an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” While it’s not in my nature to quote jingoistic rhetoric or, indeed, eagerly put myself forward as an “optimist” in everyday life, my Fantasy season has found me clinging to such pearls of wisdom.
This morning, faced with two stricken high value midfielders, I recognise the opportunity to turn things around. Having displayed stubborn stupidity all season, resisting points hits at all turns, suddenly it feels like a weight has been lifted. The injuries to Michu and David Silva have handed me the freedom to gamble points and grab the chance to make changes that can pay me back in the short-term, whilst strengthening my squad for the long game.
Up until now, I’ve been loathed to throw points away. I’ve never really been handed a scenario that didn’t come with a healthy slice of risk – the chance that a points hit would not only fail to break even but would actually cost me points by seeing me bench a more profitable asset.
This morning the situation seems slightly different. I can ill afford to hold either David Silva or Michu over the international break and watch their value plummet further. Equally, the prospect of relying on points from Stephane Sessegnon at Chelsea or Marko Arnautovic at Swansea seems a forlorn hope.
I feel I have to trade my injured players and try to find replacements that offer the potential of earning me at least four points back. While I could stop at that, when I’m spending four, I always consider whether my chances of recouping losses and, crucially, making a difference in the long-term, can be boosted by actually spending more points. It takes a combination of fixtures and a mix of players that not only provide opportunity for the weekend in question, but also fit my plans for the next month and beyond. In this way, even if my points hit is not fully recouped, I can clutch at straws and convince myself that, beyond the immediate Gameweek, the moves will eventually see profit and help form my “master plan”.
This is the thought process I go through when I consider points hits. I fight a battle with myself – posing questions and seeking answers that can offer assurance or at least a get-out clause, should disaster strike and the decision fall flat in the short-term.
Hovering over the transfer button, I’m conscious that my proposed moves are knee jerks created by the malaise of my season and that, given the opportunity to spend points, I’m doing so with reckless abandon. Somewhere the logic I’m using to convince myself is deeply flawed but, for some reason, I don’t seem to care all that much.
For me, I need to start playing Fantasy football again, not confining my decision making by rules and guidelines that I’ve set myself to this point. As Churchill said, the “problems” have offered me “opportunity” and while I could easily be left red-faced and parrying more blows from Granville in the next ScoutCast, I’m going to grasp the situation and trust my instincts. Fantasy football has been playing me to this point – suddenly, I feel I’ve been given the chance to turn the tables.
