634x258 Preamble
29 August 2015 1914 comments
Mark Mark
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I’m having humble pie for breakfast.

A thick crust and generous filling, it’s not my preferred Saturday morning bacon sarnie but I’m tucking it away hungrily, nonetheless.

Last season I realised that this was the secret: when Fantasy Football rubs your nose in your mistakes, you’ve got to own up.

After opening the door for a player to punish me post-Wildcard in last week’s Preamble, Callum Wilson duly obliged with an unexpected hat-trick and maximum bonus return.

I knew it was coming. The important thing now was to act accordingly.

Having sold on Wilson with the Wildcard, I could have shown the usual stubborn attitude and convinced myself that my plans remained valid. That I knew best.

According to Wildcard blueprint v23 I should have been bringing Matt Ritchie in for Marc Albrighton this morning, benching Troy Deeney for his likely spell of spectating at the Etihad but reserving him as my budget striker.

Instead, I had to admit the error, forgive Callum for embarrassing me and snap him up before his price rose back to 5.5.

That could be another mistake. Ritchie may take his turn to run riot and Deeney may even come good in weeks to come; I had to ignore those fears. I also had to banish concerns of the template team forming and drown out the nagging “chasing points” argument in my head.

When a 5.4 striker demonstrates the ability to score a hat-trick, you don’t hesitate and cling to a plan.

I’d fancied Wilson as a prospect from the get-go but those beliefs were abandoned amongst the noise of the Wildcard scramble. Despite the pain of witnessing last weekend’s points haul, I can justify going back for Wilson and swallow some pride.

Above all, I fear that, if Wilson notches against Leicester, we’re going to be looking at a relentless bandwagon over the break and that would make any future portion of humble pie a lot less palatable.

I can’t risk that. I need that whiff of fried rashers to help me wake from the inevitable international slumber.

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

  1. Ten Season Wonder
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    is Kos playing today?

    1. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Trained yesterday according to an arsenal forum so hopefully

    2. Mata-Is-The-Juan
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Looking like he should be. Kos owner here and am starting him. Just have a good sub ready to come on.

  2. Super Frank8
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Should I leave Mert in my XI hoping for a start (unlikely I know) or just start with Coates?

    1. The Darkest Knight
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Keep mert if you think Arsenal will have CS.
      If he don't start then coets 1st sub will come

  3. Van Klinkert Delarosa
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Do people actually captaining Kolarov?

    Or just a smokescreen?

    1. Alan Hansen's Emu
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Smokier than bob marley's bedroom.

  4. Chuba
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Double up on Stoke defence with Muniesa (have butland) or start Darmian?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Double

  5. FC Tinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Walked past the beach this morning and saw a massive Arsenal towel stuck on the rocks.

    This is a sign.

    Walcott will score a hatty today.

  6. Sponge-worthy
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Play targett (NOR) or Francis (LEI)?

    1. skodaole2
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Francis

    2. Harry (C)ane
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Francis.

    3. Tabasco
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Francis

  7. skodaole2
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Play Shaw or Muniesa?
    Play McCarthy or Myhill?

  8. Harry (C)ane
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Play 2.

    a) Shaw (SWA H)
    b) Francis (LEI H)
    c) Huth (BOU A)
    d) Payet (LIV A)

  9. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Aleksander the Captain ... 😀

    1. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I dare you to triple captain Kolarov.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Don't do dares ... 😉

        1. Every Dog Has Its Day
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          You rebel...

    2. andy85wsm
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Yes!....in UFPL 🙂

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

    Anyone benching both United and Swansea defence?

    1. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Benching Naughton and playing Richards ahead of him.

    2. bialk
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Me. Darmian and Williams

  11. Torres76
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    1. Kompany or kolorov?

    2. Is Sanchez really worth 2.5m more than Pedro?

  12. Whazza
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Quick heads up - Mane isn't fit enough to start

    1. JMH
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Says who?

  13. Andre W
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Help
    Who do I play ?

    Deeney (mci)
    O Shea (ast)
    Martin (sou)

    1. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      C

  14. screamer73
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Play one

    A. Francis
    B. Bellerin
    C. Cedric

    1. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      A

  15. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Play Francis or Cedric?

  16. sminkypinky
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Good for you Mark. Humble pie it is.

    I took your advice from last seasons end to not be afraid of taking hits early on to jump on "bandwagons" you think are going to do well. Hence i've taken three hits this season already and not ashamed of it. Let's hope i works.

  17. DoctorMotorcycle
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Tough decision for my lineup:
    A) Ayew vs. Man U
    B) Yoshida vs. Norwich
    C) Targett vs. Norwich

    Who to bench, who to start?
    ?

    1. Beautiful Game
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Ayew

      1. DoctorMotorcycle
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        I'm thinking Southampton will go for back to back clean sheet, but then again, Swansea are good against United.

  18. Beautiful Game
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Good luck to all of you!!!

    Cmon Kompany!!!

    1. Tabasco
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      You too

  19. WhySoSerious?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Mane to Silva whit a hit?
    Yes or No?

    Thanks!

    1. Beautiful Game
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      No hit

    2. Whazza
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Yes mane not starting i think

      1. sminkypinky
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Why not? Surely not injured still?

  20. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    start two of these/

    A) muniesa

    B) gomes

    C) payet

    D) shaw

    E) richards

    very tempted by bench boost...

    thanks

    1. Beautiful Game
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      A B

      1. 50 Shades Oshea
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        thanks hermione

  21. Tmel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Start Richards (SUN) or Francis (LEI)?

    1. ADucksBehind
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Rich

    2. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      francis

  22. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    **Football Focus BBC1 alarm**

    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks GB. You've reminded me to avoid it.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Bertie's Bloodhound has acquired Hazard ... 😉

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Oh i love it.

    3. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks for reminding me - I've got Corrie on.

  23. ZTF
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I'm panicking! Shall i captain Silva?

  24. Lord Bendtner, TGSTEL
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    a. Huth played and Francis on the bench
    b. Francis played and Huth on the bench?

    Have only Mahrez form lei/Bou

    1. Meinhoff
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      B probably

  25. Khalico
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Who should I choose in my starting 11, Payet vs Liverpool or Ozil vs Newcastle both away?

    1. mbrucie
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Ozil by a CM

  26. KayteeStark
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Play Williams or Darmian?

    1. The Darkest Knight
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Darmian

  27. Rolls-Royce
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Myhill or Butland on a WC?

    Cheers and Goodluck all.

  28. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling or Yaya?

  29. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Walcott hatrick

    Bookshelf this.....

    1. copps
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      im hoping he continues to drop in price until later. he will have a period where he bosses it

    2. Elvy
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I'll put it next to my Harry Potter box set.

  30. BenDavies
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Any early Arsenal team lineup?