Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 27

From this point on there’s likely to be a new set of dilemmas rattling around Saturday morning’s fuzzy head. The Premier League’s Ultimate game is with us from today until the end of the season – albeit in “Beta” form.

A new, sophisticated and complex mistress, it’s yet another pull on my time – a Fantasy Football distraction that will occupy my Saturday, only to rouse me on Sundays to demand that I lavish it with further attention. It’s even promising to pop round on a Monday night. This one’s high maintenance.

Am I the only one wondering if I can cope? Maybe it’s the timing – we’re at the tail end of my indifferent season and I’ve just resigned myself to slipping on the comfortable slippers of mediocrity. Ultimate is asking me for some renewed energy and inspiration and, more to the point, I have to find room for it all.

There’s no doubting the attraction. The 25-man squad, the new emphasis on statistics, the downplaying of price changes that have had a love/hate relationship with the game we all know and love. We should welcome these new twists, although I doubt I’m the only one questioning how the new demands will find a place in the routine.

My squad selected, there’s the inevitable tinkering which is pulling on my time this morning. While that task can be abandoned from today onwards, I’m well aware that I will now have to reserve part of my Sunday morning ritual to allow for me to shift players in and out and to contemplate switching the armband.

While Fantasy Football rarely drops below first, second or, heaven forbid, third on my agenda of thoughts, I already know that there’s a real danger there’ll be a Sunday that will see it slip off the radar. I can’t let that happen: that will just give me a reason to abandon the game when I find myself lost in the void of mini-league obscurity.

I will simply have to be ruthless and disciplined. Something will have to give. The Sunday morning trip to the recycle bins. The preliminary small talk with the missus. When I’m forced to venture out and forage for new milk supplies, the journey to the corner shop will have to be fully occupied with thoughts of ditching Charlie Adam in favour of a punt on Jonjo Shelvey.

In addition, I will have to ensure I’m equipped with the ability to “plug in” from all locations – particularly the café up the road – our current favoured breakfast spot. Suddenly, mapping my Sunday morning movements to 3G availability becomes a must. My holy grail will be 4G and wireless passwords – the opportunity to react to Ultimate’s requirements whilst barely breaking eye contact with my girlfriend. With practice, I’m pretty sure I can perfect that.

Forget whether you should gamble on Wayne Rooney. If you’re playing Ultimate, these are the real issues you should be pondering. By all means deliberate your squad but, from this morning onwards, prepare to start shifting your life and preparing partners as the latest tentacle of our Fantasy Football obsession wraps around us.

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

1,095 Comments Post a Comment
  1.  ⓖⓐⓩⓩⓐ™
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Which of these transfers sounds best?

    Evans & A. Johnson out:

    A.Ivanovic & Noone
    B.Azpiucueta & Snodgrass
    C.Ivanovic & Redmond

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  2. Razz1983
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Guys ufpl does it affect you're fpl team at all? Also where do you access it once signed up is it on your fpl page?

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Status tab & no.

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  3. Demí
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Share any UltimateFPL league codes you have here so people can join and others can fill the numbers they want in their leagues before the 12:30 deadline:

    FFScout: 1305-459

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    1. Mr Smith
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I've created a H2H league, please join if you want: 13846-2538..

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      1. PINKFISH (SANCTIONED AND GA…
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Bring the noise. I'm in.

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    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      1476-2625

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      1. Declan-
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Inspiring name 🙂

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    3. Spatburgunder
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Joined all, good luck guys!!!

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    4. 4-4-who?
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      This code doesn't work

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    5. ENzo_BD
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      FFPB #GalaxyUFPL Code: 3983-809

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  4. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Oh... 2 FTs.

    Ince -or- Adam -or- Snodgrass -or- Paulinho

    Paulinho will get price rise tonight and he will be out of my budget.

    But Ince with DGW in hands is tempted too.

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    1. skeptical
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      If it helps I went with Paulinho until City break is over

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    2. Benteke10
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      One of Ince and Snoddy

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    3. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      thanks!

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  5. Exilizer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    UFPL- Why you should pick Suarez of Sturridge.

    On the face of it, Sturridge has certainly been the on form player recently. However, if you take a closer look at the stats, he is mostly good at scoring and not much of a team player otherwise.
    As we get extra points for crosses and key passes and chances created, Suarez easily emerges as the stronger of the two, outscoring Sturridge in every one of those categories.
    Sturridge simply has become too selfish recently to make him someone I would want to pick. Goals aren't everything.

    So if you can't/dont want to have both I would go for Suarez.

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I have both.

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      1. Exilizer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Fair enough, my only issue with that is that they mostly play on Sundays for the next 6 GWs. So you either limit yourself by putting both in straight away, or are potentially stuck with a difficult choice if your Saturday strikers score well, and you realistically can only sub in one of them.

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    2. Evans
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Why not get both : Paulihno and Ince

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    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Good spot. I only half paid heed to the points scoring. Was thinking FPL - goals means prizes. Had RVP and Sturridge for goalrushes. Gonna go Suarez and Rooney for workrate, involvement etc and a few goals.

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  6. Ed
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Start Januzaj or Ward?
    currently starting ward

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    1. Grounderz
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Tough one but I think I'll go with Ward.

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  7. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Start eriksen or whilsher

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    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      wilshere

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  8. Smoc
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Best captain: Dzeko or Suarez?
    Please...

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    1. FPL Touches
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Suaz

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    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ha.

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  9. Ellipsis
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I have the SAS... Shipping Dzeko out after this GW... Should I dare give him the armband as a send off in an attempt to claw back on my mini league leader? Really tempted...

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  10. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I have gone from 450K to 160K rank in 3 weeks... now wondering if I should take a punt captaincy on Hazard or Adebayor or just be safe and leave it on Suarez

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    1. Declan-
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Suarez for sure

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    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      You have to think Suarez is due a big score

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    3. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all

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  11. Sheldon420
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Start Mirallas or Noone?

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    1. Smakies
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      mirallas

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  12. Smakies
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    anybody knows good replacements for jevans ? the max price is 5.3

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    1. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Can you hold on?

      GW29 and a DGW coming up

      If not, Olsson or Chambers - save a bit of cash

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    2. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      He isn't confirmed as out, Moyes just hasn't said anything. I'd say a cheapie with no blanks if you need to sell - Chambers, Olsson

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      1. Smakies
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        i dont really need to sell and forgot he had a dgw ! thanks

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  13. Gooner Kebab
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    play chambers or eriksen?

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  14. FPL Touches
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Is Punch still a solid option amidst all this Ince love?

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    1. Mile Plankton - Myth and Ch…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      He's still a good choice.

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      1. FPL Touches
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Goodo. I'm done then 🙂

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  15. Martin.S
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Ince or Snodgrass?

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    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Snoddy

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    2. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ince no question, plays off the striker

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  16. copps
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    better to start clyne or alonso?

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  17. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Everyone bringing in Ade and i've bought in Ruddy! Nice contest tomorrow.

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    1. copps
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      norwich are good at home

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      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        yup and i dont hav ade!!!

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  18. Super Silva Haze
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    451-2541

    12 minutes left to join my UFPL league

    best of luck

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    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      1 hour and 12 mins

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    2. Mr Smith
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      In

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  19. kraftwerker
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Boruc
    Terry Koscielny Coleman
    Hazard Mata Cazorla Noone
    Suarez (c) Negredo Benteke

    Puncheon Ward Bruce

    1 ft 3.3m

    Benteke > Ade or save with blanks on the horizon?

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    1. Baz
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      have just done that transfer myself

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  20. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    UFPL

    I just missed out on signing up for the othe league so thought I'd create my own.

    Anyone fancy joining a crap head to head league?

    Plenty of spaces.

    1476-2625

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    1. Evans
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I would epic but I'm crap at the normal fpl game let alone ultimate

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    2. Whitman2013
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      please 🙂
      it wont be crap!

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    3. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      When it's sold like that I can't resist.

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    4. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I am in 🙂

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    5. Mr Smith
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      In

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    6. Amateur Pundit Zan
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks epic I've joined though I can't promise to still be caring about UFPL in a few weeks time

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    7. PINKFISH (SANCTIONED AND GA…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      in

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  21. Evans
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Lads

    Paulihno in for Mirallas or Sterling ?

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    1. FPL Touches
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Kevin with Raheem at home to Swans

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    2. skeptical
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Probably Sterling by a tiny bit

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  22. Mile Plankton - Myth and Ch…
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Play Vlaar over Eriksen and Mutch?

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  23. Whitman2013
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    guys play eriksen or lambert?

    i am thinking lambert but i dont like 2 players against each other and i have nolan too haha

    and west ham are awesome at the back

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    1. skeptical
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Lambert I'm not sure how many minutes Eriksen will get with Sherwoods new love for Dembele and Bentaleb supporting Ade

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      1. Whitman2013
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        true! cheers.

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  24. DonTheSpecialOne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Morning, quick One lads, Snoddy or Noone? Currently starting Noone

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  25. Louis
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Double up Southampton defence against West Ham with Boruc and Chambers?
    Or play Jagielka?

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  26. snowman
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    suarez or sturridge captain if you are chasing?

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    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I bet you know the answer. Have a guess.

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    2. Pea Soup
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Dzeko...

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    3. SenjorBob
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      i'm in the same situation. i currently have sturridge as capt, but currently undecided. depends if willing to take the risk as the one person in front of me will def have suarez as capt

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      1. snowman
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        bottled it, suarez it is

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        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          You won't be gaining any ground this week. My brave captain choice launched me 40k last week.

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          1. snowman
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            so go on then tell, sturridge or dzeko as a risk

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  27. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Anymore tips on who to start erik or whilse???

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    1. Declan-
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Eriksen

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  28. Evans
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Captain RVP or Suarez ?

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    1. FPL Touches
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Suarez

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    2. doncastro
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Do we usually not get the team news for the early game before the deadline? Nothing yet!

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  29. SenjorBob
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    migs
    koscielny cahill shaw dawson
    hazard yaya lallana
    suarez sturridge(c) jrod

    bench:
    manonne coleman bacuna huddlestone

    good to go? or suarez as capt instead of sturridge?

    -2.3m in the bank and 1 ft, was gunna save for gw 29
    -want to get barkley after that and possibly aguero when he's match fit

    any suggestions??

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    1. snowman
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      suarez

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  30. Pea Soup
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Adrian
    Chester Koscielny Kolarov
    Mata Hazard Silva Lallana
    JRod Suarez(c) Adebayor

    Mannone Jedinak Coleman Ward

    Any need to take a hit?

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