[sbu_large_image] Preamble
9 May 2015 1163 comments
Mark Mark
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This has been a week of tough decisions.

You won’t be surprised to know, however, that despite being charged to make a choice that would contribute to the selection of my Government, my most troublesome dilemma has been my Fantasy line-up.

While I successfully pencilled a cross and popped my vote into a ballot box without any real degree of anxiety, I know that my final decision this morning will be riddled with doubt and concern for what is to follow.

I can choose the wrong Government, but God help those around me if I sell Eden Hazard and he scores.

Even now, I’m not clear on what route to take. Like so many other Fantasy managers, I find myself at the mercy of Jose’s whims and Chelsea’s motivation. They return from the beach, stinking of Factor 10, to compete for pride against a Liverpool outfit somehow still within reach of a Champions League spot. I’m struggling to recall a more uncertain scenario.

Having decided a week ago that it would be Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho for the chop, suddenly things have been turned on their head by United’s stuttering run of defeats and the Chelsea unknowns.

Liverpool have to score at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea just have to put on a show for their supporters. Just how that’s going to transpire in terms of results and Fantasy points is anyone’s guess.

Most of us will have had somewhere between four and six players in that contest going into today’s deadline. We now have to deal with those players and make trades that will earn us profit, all against a backdrop of such confusion.

I’m fearful about the prospect of swapping out Hazard. Troubled about spending four points just to acquire Arsenal assets that will likely be rotated over the next three Gameweeks. Apprehensive that any investment in Sunderland will be fruitless.

As a 43-year-old family man, I should find time to consider what Thursday’s result will mean for my country and my loved ones.

I’ll promise to do that once I’ve decided if Jack Wilshere’s worth a punt.

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

  1. Bob.
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Last time asking!

    Coutinho -> Ozil or Hazard -> Sanchez

    Currently thinking Haz -> Sanchez. 40 pts ahead of rival and I think he will get in Sanchez this week

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      The latter or both

    2. Marcus Aurelius
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I'd rather have Sanchez than Ozil.

      1. Bob.
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah Im going to take a chance on Haz to Sanchez as thats the only way I can get him in! Cheers

  2. sinik
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Doos,

    Team News seems to think things will remain unchanged
    "Following the 1-0 win against Burnley, West Ham could field an unchanged lineup for their trip to Villa Park with no new injury concerns to contend with."

  3. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Crikey....I ditched Hazard last night, and then dreaming that he did indeed start on the bench but came on to score a hat trick ang get an assist....BLOODY HELL.

    1. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Blimey

    2. Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Sorry about the grammar...how do I switch off auto fill on this iPad ?...anybody know ?

      1. Ziro Becomes One
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Just tap the optional word that appears.

        1. Dr Dream
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          I don't want it at all, it drives me nuts.

    3. Flynniesta
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I so don't want that to happen

      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        He assisted Ivanovic who was playing as striker btw...

    4. nevertrustbony
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      yeah I decided to stick the armband on sanchez over agureo, then dreamt two nights ago that aguero scored 3 goals and got 3 assists...

      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Blimey...

    5. Gideons Rolling Another One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Dreams do come true you know.

  4. Tommy J
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    FPL playing up.....

  5. Gideons Rolling Another One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Play Bertrand or take a -4 for Vlaar?

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

      Bertrand. Not sure a hit for a Villa defender is worth it at this stage. Unless you really need the cash for a dgw player...

      1. Gideons Rolling Another One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah I know. Just Saints defence is awfull of late.

        1. Camp No No
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          Not really. Their conceding expectations are still third lowest in the league. You'd play on the expectation that Vlaar will outscore Berty by 4. I'd say it' likelier the other way round.

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

      Play, silly

      1. Gideons Rolling Another One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers Doos

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

      Play Bert

      1. Gideons Rolling Another One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers

  6. Barry Woj
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    PVA or Boyd as first sub?? They'll likely be coming in for Ramsey.

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

      Boyd

  7. Buck The Trent
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Start one from

    A Coutinho
    B Albrighton

    And from

    C Moreno
    D Berti

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

      A
      B

    2. Rains of Castamere
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      B and D, even more fun as they'll be up against each other 😀

    3. Shiner
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Serious ground to make up on first spot.

      Who to captain...?;
      * Aguero
      * Sanchez
      * Benteke

      My rival has aguero and sanchez so will likely captain one of those. I need to make up ground but is not putting the armband on aguero just suicide...??

      1. Shiner
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        How did this even happen...? Lol

  8. Nemanja Vidic
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Who to pick?
    Schmeichel or Myhill?
    Duff, Skrtel or PVA?
    Henderson or Cambiaso?

    1. Bingo
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I have schmeichal and hendo in at the mo out of those, with the same choices

    2. Rabbinton
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Ive gone:
      schmeichel but over panti
      Skrtel
      Hendo

  9. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    would love it if haz punished the sellers

    1. Flynniesta
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      You sound like Kevin Keegan on a rant 🙂

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

        i like kevin keegan

        1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          me too 😀

          1. Camp No No
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 11 months ago

            Come on. Nobody likes Kevin Keegan.

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

              Wrong. I do.

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

        i will laugh even more maniacally than that if hazard scores a big total

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

    A Fabs to ozil
    B hazard, vardy = caz, tekkers (-4)
    C hazard, vardy, ivan => tekkers, ozil, kos (-8)
    D fabs, vardy, ivan => tekker, ozil, PVA (-8)

    shmeichel (panti)
    cresswell ivan skrtel (bertie hutton)
    fabs ALEXIS hendo hazard (boyd)
    vardy aguero kane
    1 FT, 0.9

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. krzys
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

    This is the first time I've ever owned Kolarov...I sense a disturbance in the force

  12. krzys
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Ospina
    Terry Ivanović Skrtel
    Cambiasso Hazard Silva Sanchez
    Vardy Aguero Kane

    Myhill, Henderson, Duff, PVA

    1FT 0.7m in the bank

    Good to go?
    Cheers!

  13. Les Bleus
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    One of the funniest preambles to date 😀

  14. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Shameless repost:

    Sanchez in for Hazard or Silva? If Hazard, for a hit this week? If it's Silva I'll wait till next week.

    1. LE GOD(C)-AMERICAN DYCHO-(1…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Wait

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Dump Silva for him next week? I have Aguero so that's the way I'm leaning.

    2. Pointsonthebench
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Don't sell Hazard for a hit.

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        I know it's crazy talk. 😀

  15. Rains of Castamere
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    I feel like it's gonna be a real challenge to field 11 hungry players on GW38.

    The problem I, and probably many others are facing, is having 5 or 6 Arsenal and Sunderland players for GW37 but then the risk of those ARS players being rested in GW38 ahead of the cup final (i.e. Bellerin, Sanchez, Giroud, Cazorla) and the Sunderland ones (PVA, Panty, Gomez etc) facing Chelsea away.

    That's half a team in a precarious position going into a critical GW. Add to that that Benteke, a key target for GW38, may also be rested ahead of the cup final if Villa are already safe and there are several issues to navigate. Elsewhere, rotation and a lack of motivation will continue to reap havoc IMO.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Ars players won't be rested

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Really? I can see Welbeck, Walcott, Debuchy, Ox etc getting minutes vs WBA on the last day.

  16. Snapes on a Plane
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Bench Mignolet or Davis ?

    1. Mr Tin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Same question here. Currently benched Migs.

  17. Tokenbod
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Chasing, captain,

    A. Vardy
    B. NDoye
    C. Benteke

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

      Benteke

    2. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      C

    3. LOCO ABREU
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      c

    4. whitters_2014
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      c

    5. Pointsonthebench
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Tekkers

    6. Hic Sunt Leones
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Ndoye Hattrick today

  18. Who Ate All Depays?
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Would yo play?
    A) both Skrtel & Mignolet

    B) spread the risk with

    1) Skrtel & Krul or
    2) Pva & Mignolet

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

      Skrtel and Krul

      1. Who Ate All Depays?
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        thanx mate

  19. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Is it true that Ozil plays better from FPL point of view when Ramsey is out? I remember he got a streak when Rambo was our right?

    1. Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Looked like they played pretty damned good together the last time they played. Showboating at one point.

      1. Camp No No
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Agree with this. The Giroud-Özil-Rambo axis has worked wonderfully.

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      your transfers this week?

  20. Robben Mee Blind
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Great preamble Mark. Is being Conservative the way to go this week in fantasy terms too?

    1. Tommy J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I think Mark should be Independent of any political bias so please don't labour the point, he's allowed to be liberal with his advice-I think you are just Green with envy and should avoid any national fervour and focus on what's important-ffs...

  21. thunder_mike
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Play

    A) Skrtel
    B) PVA
    C) Trippier

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

      Trippier

  22. Emp
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    bench one of vardy coutinho or sterling?

    1. skeanos
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Sterling. Coutinho in form.

  23. skeanos
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Albrighton or Coutinho?

    1. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Coutinho after Chelsea imo

  24. JonnyAFC
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    OUT : Clyne & Lukaku
    IN : Kos & Benteke

    For -4 points??

    Worth a punt?

    1. Tokenbod
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Keep Lukaka

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

        + 1

    2. whitters_2014
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      why would you get rid of lukaku for a hit?

  25. jdogg
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Worth-4 to do raheem to cazorla or wait till next week.x

    1. Declan
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Wait imo

    2. Pointsonthebench
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Close one. Will you be doing a hit next week to get more Arsenal players in?

      1. jdogg
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        I have no money itb so will do it for free next week.already go giroud and sanchez.x

  26. Zizou
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Should i play toby or schlupp have schmeichel also

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

      schlupp

  27. FPL Gossip Blogger
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    I've just done a 4 point hit with a change of plans.

    Hazard --> Sanchez (c)
    Sterling --> Cazorla

    Got two questions to ask you folks:

    1) Play Mignolet or Krul?
    2) Who should be 1st on bench? Alderweireld or Phillips?

    Thanks all

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

      id play migs actually, newcastle are that bad

      phillips

      1. FPL Gossip Blogger
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks.

  28. whitters_2014
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    who is the better shout over the season, lukaku or tekkers?

    tekkers may be rested 38 and away to soton 37.

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

    Which one, chasing:

    A. Haz to Sanchez
    B. Haz to Ramsey and Kane to Benteke

    Thanks

    1. whitters_2014
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      a.... or b with ozil/caz?

  30. sinik
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    @Doos,

    As a Hammer, would your gut tell you to captain Aguero over Benteke, even if chasing (57k)?

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

      I was on Bentekke, but:

      http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/my-stats-tables/view/939/

      So, I have changed to Aguero

      1. Tommy J
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        +1

      2. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        But Doos, West Ham are conceding more in the box last 6 matches (marginally, by 1)

        also does the chance creation differential sway you in any way?