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Preamble December 21

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 17

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This is a time for family and feasting. A time to indulge those you love and the treats and temptations around us. For Fantasy managers, however, Christmas offers us a tortuous programme that clashes with such merriment and has us break etiquette and risk the wrath of loved ones. We embrace the fixture frenzy that Christmas brings – it’s all that family and friends nonsense that gets in the way.

Every year I’m amazed by the numbers. While I’m reliably informed that, by January, the typical Fantasy Football player base has dropped off by 50%, on our pages we see no such trend. The Christmas spell is a boom period.

It leads me to ponder that, if Fantasy Football is a drug for the enthusiastic “hardcore” player, then the Christmas period is a pure and relentless hit that renders us giddy with the possibilities and often exhausts us with its outcomes. This is no time to shelve our lineups and pursue the expected Christmas agenda – our time is dictated by deadlines, kick-off times and the live television schedule. We need our fix and it’s never been so plentiful.

And yet, I know full well I will have to make concessions. I know that, come Boxing Day, my excited expectations for my teams will have to be hushed amongst company, limited to a smuggled mobile phone under the dinner table and improbably frequent toilet breaks that will have loved ones concerned about the condition of my bladder.

It’s a painful experience (not the bladder) to maintain the threads of conversation over dinner when the mind is drifting to the chances of Marko Arnautovic notching for Stoke. It’s unnatural, unnecessary and against all that Christmas stands for. And yet, for myself and doubtless other Fantasy managers, it’s become the norm.

Hands up, then. The normal service will be interrupted. Pulls and responsibilities, the magic of seeing my near two-year-old experience all that Christmas brings will distract me and those who help me to fuel your own obsession at this time. But I’ll sneak and cajole, win brownie points and trade them for time to be amongst you. Enjoy the festivities.

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

1,617 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Vpan
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Heeeelp

    a) Oscar -> Walcott for -4

    b) Oscar -> Silva for -4

    c) Brady -> Walcott, Clyne -> Ward for -8

    d) Keep Calm and Do Nothing

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    1. Demelbrush
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      do nothing.

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    2. Deulo10
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Keep calm and do nothing.

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  2. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Can't wait for GW 18 & 19 to NOT captain Suarez.

    Time to shoot up the rankings.

    🙄

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    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      If Lukaku scores today and finds some better form I will be tempted.

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    2. copps
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      i think im too scared to ever take the armband off him. he has potential to rack up massive scores against anyone

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      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        It's the only way to better ranking.

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        1. copps
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          thats what i thought last week 😛 and im down big time!

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    3. mookie
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      im doing the same, hope you are right about the last part

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  3. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Can the "Negredo is a crap player without Aguero and loses his ability to score" fan boys make themselves known this morning? 😀

    Only so I can laugh at you all today 😀

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    1. FACUPARSE
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Who said this? He won't score today though

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      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Many said this earlier in the week!

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    2. jas5sk - Youtube channel
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      (c) Negredo for me

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      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Boss

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    3. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      One away goal this season. I wouldn't captain him.

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  4. The Missing Link
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Made a bet that I wouldnt captain suarez and get more than 60 points this week with no rooney it could get very ugly 😀

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    1. copps
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      theres always chamakh (c)

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      1. The Missing Link
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Welbeck (c) is where its at 😀

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      2. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        or Henderson (c) ....someone has to be assisting all these Suarez goals. Right??

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

    Latest on Clyne please?

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    1. Spoonerism
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I'm looking to move him… If he misses this game the next fixtures are poor.

      Clyne to Bardsley seems to be the suggestion so far.

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      1. Jax
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        bardsley has two away games next

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        1. Spoonerism
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Yes, but not terrible fixtures and he's not my front line defence.

          So he might play if anyone misses a game with all the fixtures.

          Any other suggestions for a defender 4.6m or under for the next few weeks?

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  6. Beavis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    How does this sound lads?

    Terry -> Brown this week

    Migs + Amalfitano -> Mannone/Marshall + Walcott (-4) next week

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    1. Trigg ⭐️
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Not a bad plan at all.

      Migs has to go next week for me too.

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      1. Crouch Potato!
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        He is the keeper for the team 2nd from top, on the back of a cs. If he gets one this weekend will you still ditch him?

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        1. Trigg ⭐️
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Yes.

          I want a cheap rotating pair with my Jan WC!

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

      Decent

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    3. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Cheers lads

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  7. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Mark *Arnatovic notching for Stoke* priceless, 😆

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  8. Trigg ⭐️
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Shameless Repost.

    Migs

    Skrtel, Chico, Distin

    Ozil, Hazard, Ravel, Barkley

    Suarez (C), Rooney, Lukaku

    Bench: 4.0, Clyne, Burner, Brady

    Can I get through this week without a hit? Surely it's not worth taking one to get someone in for Brady, in case Rooney and Clyne don't make it?

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

      Don't take a hit for a sub, even if you may need them.

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      1. Trigg ⭐️
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Makes sense. I just needed to hear it 😆 Thanks Milanista.

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    2. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Team looks good IMO. You'd be unlucky if both of those don't feature so wouldn't be looking at a hit. You always have Burner to come in as well and it may not be a cricket score!

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      1. Trigg ⭐️
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Burner off my bench with a CS would make a Suarez blank pretty funny 😀

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  9. JT's Dog
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Morning people
      So is the early morning news from clockwise about five live podcast Ypsilanti the only Rooney news we have

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    • Andy1
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      First to 3 wins

      Jwp to Walcott for a hit? Or for free next week?

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      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        get him now

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      2. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Take the hit, be more fun

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    • Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Which 3 would you start?
      Mert
      Coleman
      Chester
      Evans
      Clyde

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      1. Beavis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Evans Mert and Coleman. Clyne 1st sub

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        1. John Nerdelbaum
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Ditto

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      2. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Start Mertesacker or Jagielka? (Already have Coleman, currently starting Mertesacker)

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    • Plagued by indecision
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      All set for this week. Going in with Ozil/Ramsey/Oscar rather than Walcott/Hazard. Got the subs right?

      Foster
      Evra Coleman Clyne
      Bannan Ozil Ramsey Oscar
      Suarez(C) Negredo(VC) Lukaku

      Subs: Szczesny RavMo Chester Baker

      Please RMT! Many thanks!

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      1. FPL Emu
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I agree on everything.

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      2. John Nerdelbaum
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Looks good

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    • FPL Emu
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Have we got any idea whether Clyne will start or not? If he doesn't play, I get Burner in defense.

      Worth going Koscielny -> JEvans for a hit?

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      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        think so westham are struggling to find the net plus united got good fixtures

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      2. Herman Toothrot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        No. Kosc may be back in a week.

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    • JT's Dog
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Ypsilanti? That was supposed to say still. Even my spellcheck has lost it

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      • Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Nice article Mark.

        Happy Xmas everyone 😛

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      • Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        @ wakey ...... it seems ruddock is back in town

        http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/ibigdan/8161099/1249464/1249464_original.jpg

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        1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Are those tumors? 😯

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        2. Mull
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          7/10 in Liverpool

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        3. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Is that a lady or a gent,,?

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          1. Mull
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I'll have a guess and say both 😀

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      • jas5sk - Youtube channel
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Drop who?

        Rooney or RAVmo or Ozil or Walcott

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        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          To bench?

          Ravlad.....

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          1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah, but I think he's going to be up for ManU

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            1. Jafooli
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Red?

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      • Wilshere Knowledge
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Is K.Davis still injured ?

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      • Hybrid.power
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Deulofeu to Welbeck? Yay or nay? No United cover

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        1. Hybrid.power
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          OR Del to Benteke?

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          1. John Nerdelbaum
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Not Benteke. Woefully short of form and confidence.

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        2. jas5sk - Youtube channel
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Yay

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      • John Nerdelbaum
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        What on earth has happened to Soccer AM?

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      • LewanGOALski
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        bench one out of:

        Clyne (TOT)
        Murner (sun)
        Ward (NEW)

        Thanks! 🙂

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        1. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          clyne

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      • rvp786
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        thoughts on mannone??

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        1. FPL Emu
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Positive thoughts. Will get him in January

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        2. John Nerdelbaum
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Decent fixtures and Gus is tightening them up. Worth a punt, Everton up next though

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          1. rvp786
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            is there chance he may get dropped? how long is westwood out for?

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            1. John Nerdelbaum
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Sunderland fan said it's his place to lose...

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      • JT's Dog
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Ok I give up my typing finger has gone rogue

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        • FACUPARSE
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Play Amalfitano (HULL) or Williams (EVERTON)

          Answer me

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          1. FPL Emu
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Amalfitano

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

            Amalf

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        • FPL Emu
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Considering goal threat, team, nailed-on-ness, saved money and fixtures - who is the best to get in for Koscielny?

          a) Evans
          b) Bardsley

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          1. boredjames
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Koscielny should be back for boxing day and has excellent fixtures.

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            1. FPL Emu
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              There is only one meager source for this though?

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              1. boredjames
                • 11 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                French media were reporting he will be available then. And Wenger hasn't even fully ruled him out for Chelsea ("80-90% out"). If you have another player who can play I would suggest you hold (that is what I am doing)

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          2. HurriKane
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            evans

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        • Matakuko
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Can't decide whether to start Shelvey or play Olsson/Ward instead!

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        • Valar(Keith)
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Gabbidon has had 1 shot on target all season! (his goal)
          Terry in comparison has managed 13 shots and 3 key passes over the season
          Ivanovic 17 shots and 11 key passes 😯

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          1. Valar(Keith)
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Maybe startin Terry for his goal threat is a bit over rated 🙂 .. Gabbidon for his clean sheet chance ahead of him this week maybe

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          2. Mull
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            An Ivanovic goal would be brilliant.

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        • ShadyGooner
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Ozil to Walcott or Rooney to Negredo or should i save the transfer?

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          1. FPL Emu
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Save probs

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        • JT's Dog
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Anyone live near a ground in play today? The rain is biblical up in Scotland, how is it there?

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          • Colonel Shoe 肝池
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            i tell you what speroni/howard is marvellous rotation

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