Preamble

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 31

There’s nothing like the exhilaration of a double Gameweek to wake us from the slumber of an international break.

Sadly, Gameweek 31 looks far from exhilarating.

For the second time in the matter of weeks, we’re destined to root through Chris Ramsey’s QPR squad like grappling grannies at a jumble sale, desperately trying to find something of value other than the chipped china teapot that is Charlie Austin.

Seeking cheap thrills, we’re even eyeing up Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke and Gabby Agbonlahor like tickets in the tom-bola. If we’re lucky, our numbers might come up and we’ll get to claim some lavender bath salts. Such is the scale of the double Gameweek prize that awaits us.

We all know that the potential is limited, particularly with a blank looming but we’re internationally broken: craving Fantasy Football excitement from any possible source, however unlikely.

We don’t want to return to our squads and save our transfers. We don’t want to bring in Kyle Naughton. We’re looking for something that can relight the fire and, if we’re not careful, we can make careless errors trying to find it.

I’m fighting the urge and pondering the most subdued and ineffectual of all transfers – swapping my goalkeeper, albeit for Brad Guzan, a double Gameweek asset.

I’d love to gamble on Benteke and slap the armband on his bicep, but I know all too well that this compulsion is fuelled by a fortnight of inactivity. I know that international football can be just as damaging to my Fantasy thinking as it is the weary legs of my players.

On that note, an article this week revealed that Arsene Wenger’s Gunners haven’t won a single match following internationals this season. Interestingly, the same article highlighted that QPR have suffered most from such breaks. They’ve been consigned to three straight defeats, scoring just two goals in the process.

Suddenly I’m reconsidering that china teapot.

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

1,305 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Demí
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Can still get 11/1 on Sterling fgs. Too big

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      They think he is playing wing back

    2. Silent Vuvuzela
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Good for Emre but what about us?

    3. Lizard Lips
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      not that big for an away team at circa 5.0, probably should be 11.0 so 12.0 is very thin value (if at all).

      1. Demí
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Not sure what calculations you use, but i wouldn't have it any bigger than 9/1

  2. MadridistaRants
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Good luck everyone!

    1. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Luck is what it is all about

  3. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    There is always a lot of strange people at airports

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      don't be racist

  4. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Mert and Sterling is a right old miss match for pace. It could get messy.

  5. PGR
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Whats the consensus on the best week to use WC?

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Around GW4

      1. Konig Luther
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Gw7/8 in second international break

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Yes, or that. My point was, early in the season.

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      gw2.

    3. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      It's not a consensus.

    4. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      gw34

  6. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Tis our year

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      #ynwa

  7. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Piers Morgan chats so much crap

    1. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      It's his job

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Reminds me of a few on here

        1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          but it's my job 😉

  8. whitters_2014
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I do feel for non English players, its not exactly clear.

  9. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I always scan arsenal lineup and have a moments panic when I don't see sanchez.

    Then find this alexis fellow.

    Phew 2 pts bagged already.

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, but he's not really been doing it recently. I'm considering selling him. But then of course, he's the leading goalscorer in midfield, so seems crazy to sell him.

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      🙂

    2. Beaker
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Matamatamtalicly 😆

    3. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I can't say it in dutch to be fair!

  10. World XI
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Henderson playing CAM!

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Kind of. It's a 3-4-3 diamond used in second half vs Swansea

      1. World XI
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Hmm unless Markovic is CAM and Hendo is ROB 🙁

        1. World XI
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          RWB*

        2. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          I doubt that mate. We'll see soon I guess 🙂 good luck for the gameweek

          1. World XI
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            You too! Come on Liverpool!

  11. Zombie
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I sold Sterling 🙁

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I kept Sturridge 🙁

      1. Zombie
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Who is your first sub?

        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          S.Ameobi...but I am sure..he will come off the bench at some point in the game

          1. Zombie
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah, very likely

  12. ebow14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Who has the best chances of a clean sheet this week? Thinking Man U, swansea and chelsea

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      yup

  13. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Liverpools good run of form started just after playing Man Utd and ended just before playing Man Utd

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      well done

    2. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I don't think they played particularly well against Blackburn or Swansea either

  14. The92nd
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else feel they've overplayed their hand? At 10.9k trying to break in to the top 10k and brought in phillips and benteke and slapped the armband on the latter, feeling nervous to say the least.

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I considered bringing in Phillips, but they're up against a tight WBA defence, so thought it not really worthwhile. Benteke may be a good move.

    2. whitters_2014
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      yeah I regret slapping the armband on tekkers -_- lol

    3. Silent Vuvuzela
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Fortune favours the tekkers

  15. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Comeee oooooon Sinclaaaaaiiiiirrrrr!!!!!

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I was close to getting him but just didn't have the bottle. Good luck

    2. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      C5

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      😯

  16. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Arsenal do us a favour! We can go 8 points clear today of scouse... A nice cushion for the next two games.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      but your captain is scouse xx

      1. CHANCING PUNT
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Liverpool fan?

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Customer* 😉

        2. CHANCING PUNT
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Is your avatar of 2 time Premiership winner and 2010/11 Premiership top goalscorer, Dimitar Berbatov?

          1. CHANCING PUNT
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Odd choice for a Liverpool fan.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BqMIXg1PQs

          2. goriuanx
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            You obviously haven't been on here long enough to understand my grav

      2. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Blue scouse.

    2. CHANCING PUNT
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Essentially 9 with goal difference.

  17. djenzio
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Come oooooon you Pooooool

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Quite like our starting 11. Sterling needs to perform today

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        I predict a comfortable Arsenal win

        1. Jax
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          1-1 imo

        2. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Strangely enough, so do I

        3. Syd.
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          I think you could be right

      2. Jax
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        really? dodgy defence

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Skrtel isn't that good. Defence is protected with more mids than usual today

      3. djenzio
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        yeah and nice to have super sub Sturridge on the bench.

    2. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I thought that was an exclamation mark at the end for a minute.

  18. Ludo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Ramsey, Cazorla AND Ozil start.

    Think I might have to pick up the Welshman for the run in, after the blank and Chelsea game are out of the way.

    1. whitters_2014
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      he will probs be playing alongside coq though?

  19. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Arsenal are going to stuff this Liverpool team

    Glad I kept Ozil now along with Sanchez

  20. ebow14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Ramsey or cazorla playing deeper with coquelin?

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Bit of both I reckon

    2. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Should be Ramsey. Cazorla and Ozil popping up in space ahead of them- not sure either will be fixed to the flank.

  21. World XI
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    No Liverpool and 1 arsenal in the scout picks. This game has got goals In it. Suprised.

    1. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      And he's on the bench

    2. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      doubt it. tough game to call. better picks elsewhere.

  22. ebow14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Sun Dream Team weekly- giroud and fellaini/sterling or berhaino and cazorla/sterling

  23. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Updated

  24. A-VB
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Has anyone seen this one though from Jon Walters ? 😉

    https://twitter.com/JonWalters19/status/584001054733373440

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      yep.

    2. Demí
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      funny bloke

  25. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    That took a while to update.

  26. Saniul
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    -------------Coquelin-------------Ramsey
    --Sanchez--------------Ozil--------------Cazorla

    That is some midfield. Compact and solid.

    Wish we started Gabriel ahead of Mertesacker, though.

  27. ONSIDE 9
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    ML Rival brought in Benteke (C) but I did same so looks like he wont be catching me this week

  28. Ludo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Scored all his points from that position last season/start of this one. The attacking midfielders do the tippy tappy, Giroud or Ramsey apply the finishing touch.

    1. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Reply fail to Whitters...

      1. whitters_2014
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        yeah he is a decent punt, him and giroud are excellent together, he is a good option for sure.

  29. whitters_2014
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    having seen my rivals teams, come on aggy and kane blanks 😛