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. Gregor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone Schlupping?

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

      Next week ready for the DGW!

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

      2 games 1 schlupp in dgw

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

      Schlupp !! It reminds me of the sound that is made in a certain activity

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

        children around here keep it pg

        1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Bog snorkelling isn't pg?

    4. Flynniesta
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      He's in my starting 11

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

    Will Baines play this week? Struggling who to choose between him or PvA as I have Krul in goal (conflicting).

  3. Balitelivision
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Last minute Ozil to Mata for free?

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

      Or indeed Eriksen to Mata? No over United cover, two Spurs players and three Arsenal ones (Bellerin out next week)

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

        Would've said Erik out instead but maybe Ozil still 'cos of his fixtures.

  4. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Wollsc dropped! nooooooo

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

      How do you know this?

  5. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    i think mata is a good punt for this week, easy fixture, always does well against villa! villa under sherwood would attack, fancy rooney & mata to score.
    & after scoring a brace & being MOM, LVG would be crazy to drop him. & anyway, if di maria had to start, i think young would be benched. against liverpool, di maria came on for young, surely a sign of who would be benched out of young or mata, once di maria starts.
    he ought not to blank!

  6. andres
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    A Giroud to tekke (c)
    B save and kane (c)

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

      B

  7. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    My wife asked me what my plans are for Easter?
    The same as Jesus', disappear Friday, show up Monday.

    1. Pap Le Cissier
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      😆

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

      Navas ftw

  8. Concrete
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Any of Austin, Kane or Aguero for captain this week then?

  9. DeadStarComing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Ahhh Kane or Austin for captain!? Where is the article stating clearly which one to choose!? What have you all been doing for 2 weeks!? 🙂

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

      austin easy!

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

        Have you capt Austin?

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

      Same here.....I'm in Aguero. I think Austin will blank today.

  10. Jimbo123
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Kane or Hazard for skipper?

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

      Kane if leading Haz if chasing

  11. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    who would you play pva or baird and why ?

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

    Ignoring the DGW.

    Allows me to get 11 out GW33 with my next two transfers (Was>Schlupp + Sanchez>Haz) even if Liverpool go through to the semi as I can bench Sterling if I sell Sanchez. This will set me up with 3 DGW players for DGW34 hit-free...

    DDG
    Naughton Kos Bertrand
    Sterling Fellaini Sanchez Mane
    Aguero Costa Kane(c)

    Boydinho PvA Was

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

      gru is sick 🙂

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

      no hazard?

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

        No, historically I always had Costa and Fab. Need to get him in though.

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

    Schlupp PVA or Moreno??

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

      Schlupp

  14. ANDYC311
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    who to bench?
    A) sanchez
    B) cazorla
    C) Mane
    D) Sinclair
    E) Eriksen

  15. Eric Banternaaa
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Guzan
    Terry | Walker | Naughton
    Silva | Ozil | Hazard | Eriksen
    Aguero | Giroud | Kane

    Hamer | Bellerin | Boyd | Haidara

    0.3ITB 1FT

    GW 31 Ozil > Siggy?

    Thougts?

  16. Ed
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else going for Haz(C) over Austin?

    1. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Considering Haz over Kane

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

        I'm same as you at the moment

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

      Me. I think Austin will score ok, but Hazard will do better.

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

      I think Stoke will beat Chelsea

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

        I don't. But I don't really care as long as it's high scoring.

    4. Pointsonthebench
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I've gone Austin but it could easily go either way.

  17. Sid07
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Who would u ditch to get silva
    1) sanchz
    2) eriksn

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

      If you have Kane , eriksen

  18. adammc
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Downing >> Siggy look good ?

    1. Ole Gunnar Kush
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      hold for another week?

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

        Think siggy will definitely get more than downing this week though

  19. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Who to bench Bertrand, PVA or Rose?

    1. For Fuchs Sake
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      PVA

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

      Pva

  20. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    WC Team good to go?

    Myhill

    Naughton Hutton Ivan

    Phillips Haz Silva Siggy

    Kun Austin (upgrade after DGW) Kane

    Subs: Davis Mane Bertie Dawson

  21. Venom Snake
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Captaincy;
    Austin, Kane, Aguero or Hazard??

    Finding it very difficult and very different opinions

    1. Ole Gunnar Kush
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Aguero

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

      Austin, he has 2 games. Take advantage of the double gw mate.

      I am stuck between Kane, Aguero, Hazard

    3. adammc
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I'm at hazard at the moment just over Kane

    4. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      head says kane because of 50% ownership, heart says aguero

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

        thing is if they both fail today you still have austin on tuesday to get some points.

    5. For Fuchs Sake
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      It's impossible! Just go with your gut, I have the same dilemma !

  22. Flying Assassins
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling to Mata or save FT?

  23. Mohit20
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Punch to siggi??
    Have austin for the dgw or should i do punch to sinclair
    Or just save??

    My team
    Pants
    Bert terry moreno
    Cazorla hazard silva mane
    Aguero kane austin

    Foster bellerin punch baird

  24. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Can't decide if I should do Di Maria and Pelle to Mata and Benteke in UFPL for -8 or not.. Big decision as that would mean I captain Tekkers instead of Austin.. Could be genius or could go really bad..

    I'm 25th overall, so any thoughts lads? Worth the risk?

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Di Maria to Mata defo. -8 could hurt you more than not having tekers

  25. Ole Gunnar Kush
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Panti or Krul??

  26. Giovanni Giorgio
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Start Bertrand (eve) or van Arnholt (NEW)????

    1. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      PVA

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

      Bertrand

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

      defo pva

  27. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    If Lloris is fit for the next GW, would you keep him, or sell to Myhill?

    1. money face bandwagon
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      U shldnt really have a spurs defensive player

    2. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Keep. Myhill only has a few good games left after this week.

  28. Miro
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Argh this week is tough.
    Which one to play : Rose Kos or Toby ?

    Also would you sell Ozil for the likes of Mata/Fellaini or Siggy for free ?

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Rose or Toby.

      No.

  29. FootballFanatic365
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    pva or clyne?

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

      PVA glued to your team

  30. DeadStarComing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Austin already has 5 goals against West Brom and Villa this year...

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

      Info like this is best left at the bottom of the page 😉

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

      this season you mean. he scored those goals before christmas.