634x258 Preamble
18 January 2014 1714 comments
Mark Mark
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I think there’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 hasn’t helped matters. Last weekend provided yet more evidence that it’s almost suicidal to peel the armband from the Uruguayan’s bicep. The option to take a risk with the captaincy doesn’t look a viable strategy for the straggling Fantasy manager. I’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 I’ve mentioned, Granville doesn’t have any apparent chinks in his armour. His squad looks settled, his budget far in advance of my own – if anything the Wildcard will hand him further advantage. I’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. I’ve gradually climbed the ranks and so, naturally, I have to conclude that I’m on a gradual path of progress. It feels cosy and safe but, equally, I can’t help thinking that Granville’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 – Mesut Ozil being my latest – I will ensure an ascent up the ranks and I may yet even avoid my lowest ever Fantasy Premier League finish. However, I can’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 I’ve been subdued with the risk taking. I’ve veered off to take an occasional hit, taken the Edin Dzeko detour – nothing too outlandish. Clearly, it’s had little effect.

My latest half-baked plan is to use my third forward slot in rotation – 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, I’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. I’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. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Hehe, how times change 🙂

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

      Brilliant pity the horse doesn't post as much ,
      Where you get the link Gb ?

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      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        I googled for "Smarty Pants fantasy football scout" trying to find a post so I could see if he's been banned. This page popped up 🙂

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    3. GTS
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      and the fact that Demi said it was a very strong team then. 😯

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  1. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Should I play eriksen (swa) or sterling (AVL) ?
    Will sterling even start??

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  2. avfcaidan10
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Kos + Zab or Mert + Kolarov?

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  3. GSP.
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Tinkering the WC:
    Neg + Erikson
    Aug + 5m mid (Routledge)

    Fonte or Shaw?

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  4. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    1) start distin or coutinho? coutinho might make a late sub apperance
    2) distin >> kolorav (-4)?
    3) lukaku >> negredo/aguero (-4)?

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  5. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Currently have a Hudson / Ward rotation but a bit worried about Hudson's playing time

    Don't suppose there is a better 3.9 to pair him with?

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    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I'm going with Declan John.

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

    Any good hot topics where people make predictions with their players scoring lots of points?

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    1. r0nh
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Anything less than 70 points this week is a massive failure

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    2. Pasqualinho
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Not from me. All I have is a picture of a badger wearing a hat.

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  7. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Wildcarding next GW, is this team good to go this week?

    Howard
    Mert, Ward, Zabaleta
    Cabaye, Gerrard, Özil, Sterling
    Aguero, Giroud (VC), Suarez (c)

    Lewis, Evra, Chester, JWP

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  8. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    I was hoping for part II of 50 Shades of Mark 🙂

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  9. rozzo
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on this team??

    Szczesny
    Coleman Clyne Koscielny
    Hazard Yaya Lallana Sterling
    Negredo Suarez Ageuro

    Davis Pozuelo Ward Chester

    Bank = 0.2

    On a wildcard, Sterling can become Januzaj, thoughts??

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  10. CarrollEFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Is Parr of crystal palace nailed on?

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    1. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Not completely.

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    2. Tricky
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Seems to be

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  11. Robe Wan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    I'm sticking with lukaku at the Hawthornes

    Incoming hatty

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    1. Pinoche
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Need to be patient with that man. I'm keeping as well 🙂

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      1. Robe Wan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        🙂

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    2. Noble England
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      He makes me nervous!

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    3. Jake Donahue
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Last chance saloon or he is gone in the WC

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  12. Mak_Gold
      11 years, 11 months ago

      RMWCT:

      Boruc, Mannone,
      Coleman, Koscielny, Kolarov, Chester, Ward,
      Hazard, Silva, Eriksen, Januzaj, Alex Pozuelo,
      Suarez, Aguero, Giroud.

      £0.1m in the bank.

      I know it's a weak midfield, but I have a low TV so it's the best I can do. Thoughts?

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

        Looks good, not overly convinced with Januzaj as a 4th mid. How about downgrading mannone

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

        Why Pozuelo? Ki instead?

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      3. good biashara
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        You could get Navas for Silva and a slightly better MF than Pozuelo

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        1. Mak_Gold
            11 years, 11 months ago

            Hmm, thanks for your thoughts, guys.

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      4. Jimbo123
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Chaps,

        Last part of the wc jigsaw.........

        Azpi? Or double up on So'ton defence?

        Or other 5.4 defender that's not City or Ars........???

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

          No stick with Azpilicueta

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        2. The_Colonel
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Azpi

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      5. get_in
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        No love for Routledge round these parts? I'm picking him over Ki - Better fixtures, better team, good value and has a decent track record.

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      6. Noble England
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Lukaku >Negredo or Giroud worth -4?

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

          No not for a hit. Lakaku due a goal soon

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      7. La Roja
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Start ward ( have speroni)

        Or

        Pozuelo

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        1. mipola
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Pozuelo

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      8. FantaCity
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        "the foamy bath of victory . . ." 🙂

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        1. FantaCity
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          . . . this is always my favourite article of the week

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      9. Al Bundy
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Good day to you all!

        I am feeling punty today, and feel there are several spots worth taking a hit for today.
        Nailed starters for me are Suarez, Aguero, Hazard, Sterling and Eriksen. If i sell Lukaku Ki will also play, if i sell Whittingham Ki will be benched.

        A) Lukaku -> Giroud
        B) Lukaku -> Negredo
        C) Whitt -> Navas
        D) Luk/Whitt -> ?

        Any thoughts?

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      10. drughi
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Sturridge as captain, crazy ?

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

          No, if you don't have any better options.

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          1. drughi
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 11 months ago

            Well I have suarez but gutfeeling is to C sturr

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        2. Tricky
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Yes, given no guarantee he'll start

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

        Has anyone ever read the pre-amble and found they have a cup of tea in their hand but have no idea how it got there?
        Strange.

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      12. jlut
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Boruc or Mannone for this week?

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        1. EWH2020
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          I'm going Mannone

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      13. EWH2020
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Mert and Silva

        Or

        Kosc and Yaya

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        1. Jimbo123
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          A

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          1. Noble England
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 11 months ago

            A

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        2. white lightning
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers boys.

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      14. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Play one:

        A - eriksen (swa)
        B - sterling (AVL)

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        1. Pinoche
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Tough one. I'd go for Eriksen just cuz he is playing a day later 🙂

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        2. GTS
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          a

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        3. Lord Flashheart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers

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      15. krzys
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Last decision to make:

        A. Hooper
        B. Bony
        C. Carroll
        D. Welbeck
        E. Another striker max. 7.4m ?

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        1. hillbillypete
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          B

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

          B going in my WC

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        3. GTS
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          b

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

        Ward or Ki first sub?

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        1. hillbillypete
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          KI for me

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        2. Orion
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Ward for me

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      17. Orion
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        on WC Coleman or Baines? Currently on Baines... Thnx in advance 🙂

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

          If you are buying both at current price Baines

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

        Any reason not to get Navas for 8.4?

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        1. hillbillypete
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          I got him

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

          James Milner.

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        3. Tricky
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          No, should be good shout. Will start in place of Nasri

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      19. white lightning
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Kosc & Y. Toure

        or

        Mert & Silva

        Last decision for wc

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        1. ManTree(v2!) or just JAY!
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Kosc and Silva

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          1. Indrandro
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 11 months ago

            This!

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        2. GTS
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          2nd

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      20. Thomass
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Morning guys! 🙂

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        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          *hides

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