634x258 Preamble
18 January 2014 1714 comments
Mark Mark
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I think thereโ€™s a danger I could run out of ideas. Seven green arrows in eight Gameweeks should indicate progress but, looking at the gap in the contributors league and the chasm between myself and Granville, it seems that my efforts have been little more than powder puff. I need to find a boost in a season which, to this point, has offered few opportunities for those looking to make up ground.

Much as I like the fella, Luis Suarez hasnโ€™t helped matters. Last weekend provided yet more evidence that itโ€™s almost suicidal to peel the armband from the Uruguayan’s bicep. The option to take a risk with the captaincy doesnโ€™t look a viable strategy for the straggling Fantasy manager. Iโ€™ve tried that route and, while Luis let me get away with it by drawing two blanks, even that gamble had little impact.

So where do I turn next? As Iโ€™ve mentioned, Granville doesnโ€™t have any apparent chinks in his armour. His squad looks settled, his budget far in advance of my own โ€“ย if anything the Wildcard will hand him further advantage. Iโ€™m faced with having to take some calculated risks but, such a decision also threatens to derail my run of green arrows and begs the question, when do you allow mini-league rivalries to influence your overall decision making?

A few weeks back I decided to don the blinkers, ignore the mini-league scenario and set about saving face. Iโ€™ve gradually climbed the ranks and so, naturally, I have to conclude that Iโ€™m on a gradual path of progress. It feels cosy and safe but, equally, I can’t help thinking that Granvilleโ€™s has his slippers on and is running the foamy bath of victory.

Should I continue to look at the bigger picture? Maybe if I continue to play safe and go with template signings โ€“ Mesut Ozil being my latest โ€“ I will ensure an ascent up the ranks and I may yet even avoid my lowest ever Fantasy Premier League finish. However, I canโ€™t help consider that, if I allow the Fantasy Sat Nav to keep me on this comfortable path, Granville has it won. I swear when it advised me to turn to Ozil there was a Manchester twang in its voice.

To this point Iโ€™ve been subdued with the risk taking. Iโ€™ve veered off to take an occasional hit, taken the Edin Dzeko detour โ€“ nothing too outlandish. Clearly, it’s had little effect.

My latest half-baked plan is to use my third forward slot in rotation โ€“ attempting to hit a Gameweek sweet spot and find some double-figure differentials. It will be hatched later today but, if this also fails to make an instant impression, Iโ€™m faced with having to decide to either stay on this path of safety and effectively concede or go for broke and risk inviting the red arrows.

Sooner or later the Sat Nav will tell me to turn to Ramsey. Iโ€™ve a feeling that, by then, my season will be at the crossroads.

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

  1. Plagued by indecision
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    3 players in the lunchtime game! Come on Clyne, Lallana and Ki!

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    1. Schürrle Class
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      You have lunch at 12.45?

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      1. Plagued by indecision
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        any time between 12pm and 2pm, it varies.

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      2. AIRMILES
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Is that weird?

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  2. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Szczesny
    Coleman - ward - Dawson - Kolarov (Turner)
    Ozil - YaYa - Hazard(V) (WP, Barkly)
    Suarez(C) - Negredo - Lukaku

    4 at the back for the 1st time in a while, bring on the WC nextweek ๐Ÿ˜€ good luck all

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  3. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    29

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  4. Shipstontrev
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    J-Rod has been quiet recently. Wakey Wakey, you're playing Sunderland!

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  5. Breadbin
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Check your mails guys.

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    1. Fitzy.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Got it, thanks mate.

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    2. Evans
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Just did ๐Ÿ™

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    3. Crouch Potato!
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Have done, empty!

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    4. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Pffffft nothing.

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    5. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Sorry guys, my mail is in the outbox and isn't working.

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  6. GlasgowFF
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Shocked that so many people are getting Sturridge when they already have Suarez.

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Why? It's not even really doubling up.

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      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Aye. Suarez doesn't count any more. Only captaining him or not is where it differs.

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      2. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Is it not? By my reckoning it is

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Suarez is owned by every man and his dog, so if Liverpool have an off week EVERYONE has an off week with him. FPL is now a 14 man game really.

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          1. Jimmers
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 11 months ago

            yes but Suarez and Sturridge will have to share the goals/assists - better to go for the main striker at a different club

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            1. Billy Gilmore
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 11 months ago

              Each to their own, but doubling up on the second highest scoring team in the league, whose strikers have a monopoly (duopoly) on the goals and assists seemed like a no brainer to me.

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            2. Mr Pink
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 11 months ago

              If you believe that Sturridge will outscore those strikers, then including him alongside Suarez makes perfect sense. His sharing of goals/assists with Suarez is not affected by someone including him in their FPL team or not.

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              1. Mr Pink
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 11 months ago

                Negredo will have to share goals/assists AND gametime with Aguero/Dzeko. Adebayor and Soldado are sharing points as well.

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        2. MCH
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Its not because its an 10 man team game now no point including Suarez due to his ownership.

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    2. sneif4
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I had both earlier in the season and it went well

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    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Why? It can work wonderfully well!!! Back in the early 1990s I had Sutton and Shearer - they assisted each other and I ended with goal+assist points from one goal. You have to be selective with this type of choice - but S&S are an excellent, greedy, incestuous partnership. I only took Sturridge out this morning because I couldn't afford Clyne in my WC. You watch - S&S will do well.

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    4. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Shocked that you're shocked.

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    5. Peggi
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      worked for many earlier in the season

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  7. Plagued by indecision
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    5 minutes til wildcard time.

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

    Clyne on the bench

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

    Clyne benched

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    1. NATSTER
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      ๐Ÿ˜ฏ

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    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      ๐Ÿ˜ณ

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      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        i mean ๐Ÿ˜ฏ

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        1. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          ๐Ÿ˜ณ

          amateur emoticon poster

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    3. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Here we go.

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  10. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Clyne = Bench

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  11. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    TM, what do you mean?

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  12. Mumm-Ra
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Played wc, took a gamble due to lack of $$$$. Guess where?
    Mannone
    Zabaleta Koscielny Azpilicueta
    Lallana Yaya Hazard Cabaye
    Negredo Suarez Berahino

    Davis Januzaj Ward Chester

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    1. Jereme Halliday
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      nice!

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  13. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Clyne chaired.

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  14. Jereme Halliday
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    My final WC team

    Boruc/KD
    kosclny/Kolarov/Ward/Chester/Coleman
    Lallana/Eriksen/Silva/Hazard/Alvera
    Suarez/Aguero/Studge

    No Arsenal Attacking backup..but all in on SAS

    Here we go!!!

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  15. GreennRed
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Schillaci Smithwicks. Best ad ever ๐Ÿ˜‰

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxJeYY-VI-8

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  16. SuperOsçarBaby
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Chambers ๐Ÿ˜ฏ

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  17. Chris_White
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Chambers in on WC? ๐Ÿ˜‰

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    1. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Save WC brother in arms.

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  18. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Clyne dropped

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  19. Alaric
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Fascinating, Chambers over Clyne.

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  20. Mak_Gold
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Clyne benched? LOL! The decision to wildcard is already proving to be a success! ๐Ÿ˜Ž

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      1. Fitzy.
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        The decision to not wildcard will be even more successful if Chambers is an option at his low price. Plenty will grab him next week or the one after if he's named again (and we'll know before deadline next week).

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    • Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Clyne 1st casuality of the Week

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    • Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Clyne fail

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    • SW6
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Clyne ๐Ÿ˜ก

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    • AIRMILES
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Nice to see Chambers getting games.

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      1. Chris_White
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        He was injured last week. Wondering if he actually is preferred over Clyne now...

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    • Plagued by indecision
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Well, that's Clyne gone on the wildcard then.

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    • GlasgowFF
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Clyne better not come on as a sub now!

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    • Somalion
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      So apparently Soton want to lose...

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    • Alton E.
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Ki lad

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      1. Woy of the Wovers
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Ki player.

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      2. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        2 goals.

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    • GlasgowFF
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I am not going to have 11 players this week.

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