634x258 Preamble
25 October 2014 1876 comments
Mark Mark
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How do you follow a 114-point Gameweek? You don’t. You just hope that you can muster a reasonable tally the week after and avoid an anti-climatic red arrow. Such is the roller-coaster of a Fantasy season.

Realistically, my moment in the sun will have passed within the next hour. I’ll probably never hit that kind of haul again outside of the double Gameweek and it’s feasible that my rank will never trouble the top 500 once as , almost inevitably, I slip out of that exclusive club this evening.

Why so negative? I think it’s because, having gone for broke by laying down the Wildcard in Gameweek 7, I’ve since regressed into my shell and blown an opportunity – I’ve failed to “grasp the nettle”.

If you listened to this week’s ScoutCast, you’ll know that an opportunity to jettison Diego Costa came up, with the option to buy the coveted Graziano Pelle in his place, whilst welcoming the luxurious brilliance of Eden Hazard into my dressing room for the hot-and-cold Gylfi Sigurdsson.

My heart said that this was the right move – bold and decisive: a set of trades that would promise immediate rewards from Gameweek 9. Sadly, my head said “show caution” – wait for Jose Mourinho’s words and hold on to Costa just another 24 hours. Listening to that guarded mantra meant that the prices shifted out of line, blocking off the option. I let the opportunity slip and I think I’m going to regret that. This season’s Fantasy Premier League (FPL) winner will have gone for it.

This morning I’m optimistic that Costa will be on the pitch at some point at Old Trafford but not confident that he’ll come away with points to compensate for what Pelle and Hazard would have offered me. I can only hope that Gylfi decides to carve open the Foxes at the Liberty to bridge the gap. I’m not convinced.

This continual shifting of opportunities and the crossroads they create as we approach Saturday’s deadline are, in essence, what can make the FPL game so compelling.

There was talk criticising the price change mechanic in the game and, while I acknowledge that it’s been tempered (a good thing to my mind), it’s still a factor that can cruelly remove transfer scenarios from you like a thief in the night. That sinking feeling in the morning when you realise that your hesitancy has cost you is not pleasant but I have respect for it: I curse my own failings, not those of the game.

Now I haven’t a clue what to do next. I’ve two free transfers and no obvious route to take – plus the potential of watching Pelle and Hazard rain on my Gameweek 8 parade. It offers a timely reminder: last week is gone, you’re only as good as the current Gameweek.

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

  1. theoldgit
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero 2pts. Costa 6 pts. Can feel it in me water.

    1. Pigvig
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Bound to happen

    2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Playing with toilet water is a bad idea

    3. Jax
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      this i'd like

  2. Pablitto
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    finito... good luck to all

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck to you too

  3. Mohit20
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    captained aguero hope he dosent blanks!!

  4. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Couldn't decide between Sterling or Pelle for captaincy so I alternated between them until the deadline.. I think I'm captaining Sterling haha.

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

      I had done it several times. Quite fun, but nervous to know who I actually ended up with.

      1. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Time will tell.. To be fair, they're both good choices so it could end up they both blank or both have returns

  5. NATSTER
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck to you all.

    Btw, Costa is set for another -0.1m

    Price wise, most of the sellers can buy him at the price you sold or even cheaper.

    Point wise, wait & see.

    1. Rabbinton
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      So far the drop of 0.3 has only cost 0.1 in transfer value and when he comes back into most teams the price will rise again

  6. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Just got to avoid hauls from Di Maria, Fabregas, Baines and Costa and I'll be fine 😆

  7. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Just a thought for those with Pelle(C) , I have followed the Stoke defense very closely (because I have played Bego every week) , inspite of the fact they have only kept 2 CS , they don't concede many shots on Target .. I think in only 2/3 instances Bego has got Save points

    he kept a CS in that Man City game and didn't get a Save point

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

      Sunderland were a top defence 168hrs ago.

      1. Djerbil
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        that happens once every five years

  8. Super PVA - Small Spuds
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Can I better my 112 point haul?

    Naughty

  9. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Two frees for next GW! Now Costa please save the fireworks for QPR.

  10. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Another early kick off with Ageuro goals incoming

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Hope so

      1. NorwichCityLad
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        I hope not 2 points for him

  11. Penang Sandman
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    good luck,have fun everyone

  12. Pablitto
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling C show your damage !

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      You want him to be get damaged

      1. Pablitto
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        the point haul is what I mean asa damage - no physical destruction of course 🙂

  13. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    No Kun..Saved transfer..Pelle (c)

    See ye next week!

    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Why next week? Is there no internet behind your sofa?

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        😆

    2. Dier Straits
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      No Aguero either, this should be a nerve wracking weekend.

  14. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Just threw together a wildcard in 45 mins after not making a transfer for 6 weeks 😆

    Foster
    Bertrand Chambers Alcaraz
    ADM Sterling Eriksen Mane
    Aguero (C) Pelle (VC) Welbeck

    Jakupovic, Mason Dawson STaylor

    1. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Not keeping Rooney?

      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        It was tempt-- no

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Hello, lovely boy! Good luck! 🙂

          1. isacki: full casual
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Thank you Doos and you too matey! Met Milanista and Pepin in a London bar to watch Chelsea v Arsenal - we were thinking of repeating the feat with you. Send me an email to say when you're free

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 1 month ago

              Will do - but it may have to be a lunch-time thing, rather. 😀

              1. isacki: full casual
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 1 month ago

                Oh yes we met at lunchtime on a Saturday. As it is now!

                1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 16 Years
                  11 years, 1 month ago

                  Ah! OK - I will sort it somehow. Or Sunday, at Beric's, London Bridge.

                  1. isacki: full casual
                    • 14 Years
                    11 years, 1 month ago

                    Yep they mentioned him being at London Bridge too - anything is good.

                    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 16 Years
                      11 years, 1 month ago

                      Alright! I will mail you this week. 😀

            2. Dier Straits
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 1 month ago

              Damn, I'm envious of you guys in the UK doing that. Cheers

              1. isacki: full casual
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 1 month ago

                You wouldn't be if you met them 😉 LOL seriously though they were a great bunch. We just all happen to be in London.

                Have met quite a few FFSers now. All started a year ago when I met JKisthe1 in Manchester where I lived then and saw ENR out in Singapore!

    2. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      A bench I and Aldi would be proud of 🙂

      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        😆 average cost 1 mars bar.

  15. Van Klinkert Delarosa
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Why I can't changed my team anymore? 🙁

    1. Zep
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Eh, the deadline...

      In fairness you should be pretty well versed by now...

      1. Van Klinkert Delarosa
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        😉

    2. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      why I wonder??

    3. JedJez
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      11:30 GMT cutoff - GW starts now

    4. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Lol

  16. Zep
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Did Marney > Boyd and rolled the other FT over... 😕

    How completely unenthused I am about it...

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Wow that is one hell of a tranafer. Boyd brace incoming 🙂

      1. Zep
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Oh great, he's on my bench...

    2. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      #dullard

    3. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Glad you did it.

      #Flair 😎

  17. Jax
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    QPR v villa on monday night draw all the way

  18. Tim Canterbury
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Reports indicate Aguero won't be at the Etihad today.

    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      😀

    2. Jax
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      true dat

    3. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I hope Pellegrini wrap him up inside those bubbles

    4. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      It's always empty anyway

      1. Tim Canterbury
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Ouch baby ouch

    5. Zep
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      The weekend just isn't complete without these little snippets of wisdom...

  19. Aditya K
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Let's go boys!

  20. rohan
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Alright, let's see those teams.

    Mannone

    Wisdom Bertrand Baines

    Sterling Siggy Hazard ADM

    Welbeck Aguero Pelle (C)

    you?

    1. NIGHTHIKER - I Kane, I Shaw…
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      McCarthy

      Clyne // Bertrand // Chambers

      ADM // Silva // Sterling // Siggy (VC)

      Aguero (C) // Falcao // Welbeck

      (Mannone, Boyd, Hutton, Moore)

  21. Demí
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    West Ham unchanged btw

    1. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      brilliant 2 strikers , open game

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      No Kouyate??? 😐

    3. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Still no Tomkins? What a disaster he's been

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        He is still injured, apparently. Sorry - v. bad luck.

  22. pundit of punts
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    2 FTs. 😀

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Believe me had 2 ft's this week nd couldnr get my head around to which transfers to do - .options was endless. 🙂

  23. super zlatan
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone tempted by Rooney from next week?

    10.2

    Just sayin..

  24. The Finnisher
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Berisha > David Villa

  25. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    I always pencil in loads of moves mid GW, and throughout the week, adding up to -4, -8 hits etc and always end up saving 😀

    1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I always plan to save transfers and end up taking hits!

      1. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        I planned to get in Baines and Tadic before last GW but bottled it and did more defensive moves. Swings and roundabouts.

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I am now following your example, trimming everything down to what I hope are the beer essentials!

      1. A.
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        The beer essentials are my favourite!

  26. NeymarJR11
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Bottled it and went for ADM (C)

    1. johnbarnes
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I don't believe you.

    2. Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      How is that bottling it

  27. Mr.Irwin
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    So Mark bottled it. Pity that, bringing in Pele and Hazard sounded brilliant to me.

    1. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      sometimes injuries are a boon

      those Ramsey->ADM transfers

    2. QPR expects... glory!
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Normally I find myself pulling for Mark. But as someone who has Pelle and Hazard I'm hoping he is made to pay heavily for his dithering this weekend 😆

  28. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Have yet to take hit this season thus so far, anyone else in the same boat?

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I've taken one and had a massive green arrow

      1. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Who did you transfer?

        1. Davido989
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Had bought in Sakho ADM Wisdom

          1. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Well played. Last year I probably took too many hits, but when they pay off they're brilliant. Have got relatively lucky with injuries and suspensions this year.

    2. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      o/

      Almost did this week multiple times but ended up saving. Usually end up doing nothing or several moves each week.

    3. Brian (Not the Messiah)
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      no hits here 🙂

  29. galway77
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Won't b long now till the first teamsheets will b in

  30. OptimusBlack
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Pelle C here Who is with me ?

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

      o/

    2. rohan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 1 month ago

      O/

      1. super zlatan
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Kun for me.

        Pelle (vc)

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Same. Pellè (C) felt right last week.

          Kun this week! Hope it pays off

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

      O/