[sbu_large_image] Preamble
30 November 2013 2232 comments
Mark Mark
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I’m not too good at keeping secrets. Those of you who allow me assault your ears via the ScoutCast will know that I’m currently adopting a media blackout when it comes to my Fantasy Premier League lineup.

While that’s proved fun for a while, it makes bearing my soul in this article on a Saturday morning rather tricky. With an hour to go, then, it’s time to disperse the fog of war and reveal all. Not least because I’m panicking that I’ve made another error in a season seemingly littered with them.

I’ve sold Wayne Rooney.

There it is – it’s out there. Stuck out in a paragraph all on its own it looks just as scary as I thought it would. Let’s try to fix that…

I’ve bought Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez.

There. I feel slightly better.

Are my fears totally banished, though? Far from it. I slept restlessly in my bed last night, with Granville’s Mancunian drawl haunting my thoughts – he was adamant that selling Rooney was an error. Once again, I may soon have to admit that he’s right. That’s becoming a habit.

There was clearly an element of knee-jerk involved in my decision. I’d just seen Aguero and Suarez hit double figures again and, while Rooney did the business for me at Cardiff, in the long-term, I just don’t see him keeping pace with the South American pair, or indeed wearing my armband with the same degree of comfort.

Admittedly, David Moyes’ recent claims that a rest for Rooney was imminent played their part. As does Robin van Persie’s inevitable return to the team and the scoresheet. Then there’s Rooney’s likely suspension before the New Year. Can he possibly go seven, maybe eight domestic matches without another yellow? I very much doubt it.

Even so, while all these factors had me reach for the eject button, I know full well that December could see United step up, which will surely mean further returns for Rooney. Equally, I’m slightly concerned that the form of Suarez and Aguero may not be maintained, certainly not at their current improbable rate of goals and Fantasy returns.

I can probably accept some regression from Suarez and Aguero. I could probably stand to watch Rooney rack up more goals. However, I’m not sure I could face Granville if my four point hit and Rooney rejection plays into his hands and has him ride off into the mini-league distance.

A few weeks ago I declared that I’d start “playing” Fantasy Football again. A few weeks, points hits and several skin-of-my-teeth decisions later, I’m kind of craving the safe existence of my early season. Sure, perhaps I was doomed to failure, but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t destined to crash and burn quite so spectacularly.

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

2,232 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FORCA INTER
    12 years, 10 months ago

    where are team news?

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Should start any minute now. They don't all come immediately.

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      1. Crouch Potato!
        12 years, 10 months ago

        There's a bad sex joke there somewhere!

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    2. Crouch Potato!
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Your team is rubbish! Is that enough news for ya?

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  2. Declan
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Demi?

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  3. Demí
    12 years, 10 months ago

    jagielka oviedo deulofeu distin mccarthy lukaku barry osman pienaar coleman howard

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    1. isacki: full casual
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Deulofeu over Mirallas. Holy hell this happened even sooner than I expected.

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      1. Smarty Pants
        12 years, 10 months ago

        scout picks curse

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    2. La Roja
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Deulofeu! Hmmm

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    3. Mr Smith
      12 years, 10 months ago

      No Mirallas?

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    4. Sarnab
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Again no barkley 🙁

      kill me

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    5. LewanGOALski
      12 years, 10 months ago

      what!? no Barkley !? 😯

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    6. Del Monte
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 10 months ago

      no barkley or mirallas

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    7. Harry (C)ane
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Barkley on the bench, hmmm

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    8. Dr Dream
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Dodged a bullet....

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    9. Mull
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Howard up front 😯

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    10. FORCA INTER
      12 years, 10 months ago

      somone at this site get Deulofue in 😯

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      1. isacki: full casual
        12 years, 10 months ago

        Yep. Legend.

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    11. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Howard uptop again 🙂

      This defalulu chap looked good when he came on last week. Hmmm....

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    12. HuttonDressedasLahm
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Nearly took a hit to get Mirallas! Phew!

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    13. Doosra - ☭BowenOfRice☭
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 10 months ago

      *ducking and diving*

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  4. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Barkley n& Mirallas benched

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  5. Demí
    12 years, 10 months ago

    CPFC: Ruddy; Martin, R Bennett, Bassong (c), Olsson; Fer, Howson, Redmond, Hoolahan, Elmander, Hooper.

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    1. isacki: full casual
      12 years, 10 months ago

      No Murner. FECK.

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    2. LewanGOALski
      12 years, 10 months ago

      no Murner 🙁

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    3. Scottys Army
      12 years, 10 months ago

      turner benched

      LOL

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    4. FORCA INTER
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Osson , get in!

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    5. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 10 months ago

      No Murner, crap

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    6. La Roja
      12 years, 10 months ago

      No murner

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  6. SuperOsçarBaby
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Everton IX
    http://t.co/Jls2EPYNpL

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    1. JJO
      12 years, 10 months ago

      and the other 2?

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    2. JFHasselbaink
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Really weird thumb

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  7. BOOM XHAKALACA
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Mirallas and Barkley on the bench

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  8. #CaptainVitoMannone
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Everton Howard Coleman Oviedo Distin Jagielka McCarthy Lukaku Barry Defoleu

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  9. Louis
    12 years, 10 months ago

    No Barkley

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  10. Milner4eva
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Barkley benched again? WTF?

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  11. BigManBakar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Barkley benched!

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  12. Demí
    12 years, 10 months ago

    begovic pieters muniesa whelan nzonzi adam shawcross cameron assaidi crouch

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Wow!

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    2. Chrissy Waddle - 2025/26
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Adam on my radar if he keeps up these starts.

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    3. La Roja
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Muniesa bandwagon!

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    4. isacki: full casual
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Assaidi in for Arnie I guess - N'Zonzi or Whelan playing at CB?

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    5. FORCA INTER
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Pieters , nice one

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      1. Jax
        12 years, 10 months ago

        they're still going to concede more than once so not a good pick.

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    6. Konig Luther
      12 years, 10 months ago

      pieters... check

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  13. #CaptainVitoMannone
    12 years, 10 months ago

    #NCFC team v @Official_CPFC: Ruddy; Martin, R Bennett, Bassong (c), Olsson; Fer, Howson, Redmond, Hoolahan, Elmander, Hooper.

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  14. DRIZ ✅
    12 years, 10 months ago

    ROTATION has begun.

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  15. #CaptainVitoMannone
    12 years, 10 months ago

    .@CardiffCityFC XI: Marshall, Taylor, Caulker, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Campbell, Kim, Mutch, Cowie, Theophile-Catherine.

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    1. SuperOsçarBaby
      12 years, 10 months ago

      congrats you beat demi

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      1. Jax
        12 years, 10 months ago

        his isn't green though...

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  16. Demí
    12 years, 10 months ago

    CardiffCityFC XI: Marshall, Taylor, Caulker, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Campbell, Kim, Mutch, Cowie, Theophile-Catherine.

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    1. Scottys Army
      12 years, 10 months ago

      whits

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  17. Demí
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Palace XI: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Bannan, Puncheon, Chamakh, Jerome

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    1. DRIZ ✅
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Moxey!

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      1. isacki: full casual
        12 years, 10 months ago

        Thank feck.

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  18. #CaptainVitoMannone
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Palace XI: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Bannan, Puncheon, Chamakh, Jerome.

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  19. LewanGOALski
    12 years, 10 months ago

    no Murner nor Barkley for me already :O

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  20. SuperOsçarBaby
    12 years, 10 months ago

    damn no ireland

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 10 months ago

      😆

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  21. Declan
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Mirallas gets his retrospective red card 😆

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  22. Demí
    12 years, 10 months ago

    MORRISON BENCHED

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    1. Scottys Army
      12 years, 10 months ago

      BOOMMMMMMMMM

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    2. La Roja
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Fecked

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    3. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      12 years, 10 months ago

      No emoticon for a stifled chuckle?

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    4. Smarty Pants
      12 years, 10 months ago

      🙁

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    5. Chu Young Ping Pong
      12 years, 10 months ago

      wtf?!

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    6. SW6
      12 years, 10 months ago

      😯

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    7. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      12 years, 10 months ago

      😯

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    8. isacki: full casual
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Dammit.

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    9. Jax
      12 years, 10 months ago

      seriously wtf is sam doing

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  23. #CaptainVitoMannone
    12 years, 10 months ago

    subs v @Official_CPFC: Nash (GK), Whittaker, Johnson, Turner, Garrido, Becchio, Josh Murphy.

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  24. Chrisitis
    12 years, 10 months ago

    murner, morrison, coutinho, mirallas.. love this game

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    1. Top 210 Club
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Coutinho will play Wtf

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  25. #CaptainVitoMannone
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Cardiff Bench: Lewis; Hudson, Cornelius, Odemwingie, Noone, Gunnarsson, Bellamy.

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  26. Demí
    12 years, 10 months ago

    YoungSunEcho 8s
    Three changes for Sunderland: Gardner, Borini and Dossena in for Colback, Johnson and Celustka

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  27. Demí
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Guzan, Bacuna, Vlaar, Clark, Luna, Delph, Westwood, El Ahmadi, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Weiman

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Luna,tick.

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      1. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        12 years, 10 months ago

        +1

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      2. Jax
        12 years, 10 months ago

        can see them conceding

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    2. Sarnab
      12 years, 10 months ago

      No baker too

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    3. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 10 months ago

      No Baker. His owners must be devastated

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    4. FantaCity
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Luna in for Baker - thought so

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    5. Transient Anus
      12 years, 10 months ago

      the trio back together. Tekkers brace coming up

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    6. Harry (C)ane
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Benteke with Agbonlahor and Weimann 😀
      Nice

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    7. Defcons are for Kinnear
      12 years, 10 months ago

      Yes. Tekkers has his boys, fire away

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  28. Liastro ⭐️
    12 years, 10 months ago

    What a load of shite

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  29. GREENDREAMS11
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Barkley and Miralles out. Oopsey

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  30. SuperOsçarBaby
    12 years, 10 months ago

    Bentekeeeeeeeeeeee

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