634x258 Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 24

1 February 2014 1965 comments
Mark Mark
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Iā€™m partial to a flutter but Iā€™m hardly a seasoned gambler. Even so, I’m aware of the concept of ā€œchasing lossesā€ ā€“Ā I also know that any experienced punter will tell you that itā€™s a mugā€™s game.

Until Tuesday night, I wasnā€™t really sure just how this applied to Fantasy Football. How, when desperation kicks in, your better judgement can go out the window as you ignore the obvious option and search out the long shot.

Letā€™s face it, handing Wilfred Bony my Gameweek 23 armband was a travesty. I can and will point to the logic behind the decision ā€“ I can talk about about the Ivorianā€™s form, of Fulhamā€™s fragility. Even so, that doesnā€™t detract from the fact that, deep down, I knew that Luis Suarez would punish me.

As I mentioned in this weekā€™s ScoutCast, I stood for a full thirty seconds at my front door at 7.28, key in hand, ready to burst back in and correct my madness. Foolishly, I chose to turn and head to Tesco. Those pizzas might have been buy one, get one free but they cost me dearly.

Such outlandish decision-making is in stark contrast to the methods employed by our own Jonty ā€“ a Fantasy manager who has profited from backing the favourite. Jonty has reveled in his ā€œdullardā€ moniker and can point to an impressive ranking and a profitable Wildcard that has leftĀ evenĀ Hall of Fame legend, Evs, in his wake.

In Thursdayā€™s ScoutCast I was asked what Iā€™ve learned this season. Jontyā€™s campaign, coupled with my season-long failed quest to seek out effective differentials has taught me that my enthusiasm to look for the spectacular long ball, rather than settle for the sideways pass, has hurt me the most. Iā€™m constantly trying to be Glenn Hoddle and Jonty, pulling off his best Ray Wilkins impression, is making me look silly.

Iā€™d like to think Iā€™ve learned a lesson but, only this week, I was fully contemplating tossing four points into the air and backing Robin van Persie at Stoke. There I was, listening to Granville spelling out the obvious move ā€“ Edin Dzeko in for the injured Sergio Aguero to keep the City cover ā€“ and I was plotting another foolish 60-yard “Hail Mary”.

While this may disappoint those who listened in, I think Iā€™m going to have to rethink. I darenā€™t try another Hollywood pass for a while.

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

1,965 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Master Kane
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Morning Guys,

    Probably been asked multiple times - so sorry:

    What are peoples thoughts on RVP starting/playing today?

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  2. r0scr0w
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Please vote on the below guys:

    A. Lallana & Rooney

    B. Mata & Sturridge

    Already have silva, eriksen, hazard, no one, Suarez, dzeko

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    1. tw
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      mata and sturridge

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      1. Master Kane
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        yep - mata & sturridge

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  3. SMOOTH
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Is it worth a -4 to bring in dzeko for aguero or should I just start januzaj and have no bench.

    Probably makes sense to not take a hit as it's unlikely that dzeko will out score janu by 4 but just a bit worried with having no bench and janu and kolarov in my starting 11

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  4. JK - Cønt ā­
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    wc finalised šŸ˜€

    Adrian (Mannone)

    Evans, MOlsson, Shaw (Azpi, Ward)

    Mata, Yaya, Hazard, Noone (Punch)

    Suarez, RvP, Tekkers

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    1. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Nice team

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  5. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Last decision, Bruce or Ward to play?

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  6. palalmas
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Is Fabio ready for the Norwich match? I have £4,1M for a defender and allready have Palace cover...

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    1. ā­ Bemba_Da ā­
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      go for it

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  7. Gigging Order
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone considering captaining Sturridge over Suarez to catch ground?

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  8. karankachiefs
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Team good to go? Feeling confidentish this week!

    Boruc
    Kos Cahill Evans (Bruce, Ward)
    Mata Hazard Mirallas Cazorla (Noone)
    Suarez (c) Sturridge Adebayor

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  9. For Fuchs Sake
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Great thing about WHU vs Swan being on live is I can watch Bony score a hattrick.................. hmmmmmm

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    1. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      bony hattie +1000000

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  10. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    A) Kim & Aguero -> Mirallas & Tekkers

    B) Kolarov & Aguero -> Chambers & RVP

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    1. Avon Barksdale
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      B)

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    2. tw
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      B, just

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    3. Benteke10
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      A)

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  11. Mile Plankton - Myth and Ch…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    You guys think Fabio will straight into Cardiff starting XI?

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    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    My New and Improved šŸ™‚ Rate My Wildcard (On A Budget)?

    Rate mine and I'll rate yours. šŸ˜‰

    _________Davis__Boruc__________

    Kosc_JEvans_Demel_Fabio_McShane

    Yaya_Hazard_Cazorla_Lallana_Noone

    ______Suarez_Ade_Sturridge_______

    (with Silva coming in for Caz after this week)

    Really appreciate any opinions, remembering I haven't got loads of cash like you lot. šŸ˜‰ Thanks.

    ***I've done Boruc and Demel in for Adrian and Shaw. (Couldn't afford Winston Reid) Good improvement? šŸ™‚ .

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    1. Solenya
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      I'd rather have Adrian and shaw

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        • 12 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        don't do this to me - first time I posted it, people said the exact opposite! "can't rely on Adrian" etc šŸ˜‰

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        1. Solenya
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          have Mannone as backup

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    2. Rödallegabomb į“æį“®
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      8/10 considering you're on a budget. Wouldn't do Cazorla to Silva. If you get rid, it should be for Mata. What do you make of mine? This is not a WC team by the way...

      Boruc | Mannone

      Koscielny | Azpilicueta | Ward | Olsson | Chester

      Yaya | Hazard | Mata | Lallana | Noone

      Suárez | Adebayor | RVP

      +0.2M

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  13. Chris_White
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Good to go?

    Adrián
    Kos Evans Yoshida
    Haz Mata AJ Noone
    Suárez(C) Sturridge Benteke

    Mannone Oscar Bruce Ward

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    1. tw
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      oscar benched? šŸ˜•
      and I might start mannone over adrian

      but yeah overall looks solid

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    2. Avon Barksdale
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah what's the reasoning of yoshida over chambers?

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      1. Chris_White
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Nailed on, at least until Lovren is back.

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        1. Avon Barksdale
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          U sure hooiveld won't take minutes off him? He's played just one game. Chambers was first choice at the start of the season made a few sloppy errors and was dropped for Clyne for a few games, I think it's his position for the season now with obvious attacking threat.

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      2. snowman
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        i have gone chambers over yosh but think yosh is nailed on until lovren back

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    3. Avon Barksdale
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Oscar is a brave call,

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  14. Solenya
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Thoughts on Scot Dann.
    Goes straight in imo.

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  15. Deulo10
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    A) Aguero + Oscar -> RvP + Mirallas (-4)

    B) Aguero -> Sturridge/Dzeko/Rooney

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    1. PGR
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      B. Rooney

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    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      A every day mate!

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  16. Twisted Saltergater
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Those pizzas might have been buy one, get one free but they cost me dearly. šŸ˜†

    Unlucky, Mark, sometimes we can convince ourselves we need to take a punt. I'm all too guilty of this too.

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  17. snowman
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    A.Yaya & Gnabry
    or
    B.Silva/Barkley

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    1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      B

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  18. uzbeque
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard, Lallana, Johnson, Mata, Cazorla

    should I change my midfield?

    (on wildcard)

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

    Will parr start when fit?

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    1. ā­ Bemba_Da ā­
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      I think so

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

        cheers.

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        1. ā­ Bemba_Da ā­
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 10 months ago

          ward dann gabbidon/delaney parr/mariappa

          prob parr over mariappa

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  20. Master Kane
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    report - sorry:

    What are peoples thoughts on RVP starting/playing today?

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    1. JoeJitzu +42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      I hope so.... I brought him in!!

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  21. jas5sk - Youtube channel
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Mark, don't give up the hollywood ball!

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  22. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Play Ward or azpili?
    Speroni or Mannone?

    Thanks šŸ™‚

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

      play azpi and speroni IMO. Sunderland could get messy.

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      1. Chucky
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        cheers

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  23. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    What do people think of

    Stones
    Yoshida
    Ward

    as cheap defenders

    Instead of Bruce, Chambers, Moxey, Burner, Fabio, Dann, RBennett, Collins??

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    1. don parcheesi
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      I went Burner on my WC, and would have happily gone Yoshida except I had plenty of funds for Fonte. Ward is a cult hero around here. Stones will get returned to the bench very shortly

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  24. Jimbo123
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Is Kim going to start for Cardiff?

    Dunno whether to play him or Januzaj? Got Mata.

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  25. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Morning.. šŸ™‚

    .............Mannone
    Koscielny Terry McNaughton
    ...Hazard Yaya Silva Mata
    ......Rvp Suarez Dzeko

    Davis Mariappa Pozuelo Chester

    It seems last night i decided to make things hard for myself gw 28 by bringing in..

    Rvp/Dzeko for Aguero/Lukaku

    Sturridge/Benteke was the safe option but..........http://www.iywib.com/funny_animated_gif_big_lebowski.gif

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    1. Solenya
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Damn you and your TV šŸ˜€

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      1. Optimus.
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Haha šŸ˜€

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  26. Twisted Saltergater
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Just logged in fellas. Are many going for RVP(c) over Suarez? Is it a case of leading = Suarez(c), chasing = RVP(c) or is RVP just too much of a punt so soon after injury?

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

    Much or noone lads?

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    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      I thought Mutch picked up an injury or at least a knock

      http://news.rotowire.com/Jordon-Mutch-googid21461-spsoccer.htm

      They think he'll play though.

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  28. Gadonkadonk
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Should I bench Januzaj (stk) or McCartney (SWA) and why?

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  29. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Why is everyone ignoring Negredo and going Dzeko? :O

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  30. Thomass
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Going to play Jonjo but who for? Shall I just bench for this GW, caz will be benched next GW

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