Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 9

Rarely have fortunes shifted so dramatically between Gameweeks.

Looking at my array of injury flags in midweek, sitting alongside my previous 103-point tally, the phrase “from the sublime to the ridiculous” seemed to fit rather well.

Sergio Aguero’s snapped hamstring was like the first domino: the butterfly flapping its wings that led to complete chaos. Things just won’t be the same without the City striker.

Just when I thought I could shut down the part of my brain dedicated to deciding the destination of the FPL captaincy, he’s forced me to wake it up again and torment it with a choice from an array of hot and cold midfielders.

To compound matters, with my five-man defence reduced to the pair of loose cannons that are Kurt Zouma and Micah Richards, I’ve actually had to turn to my chips for help.

I had hoped that I could park these decisions: safe in the knowledge that double Gameweeks were incoming, I’d reserved the thinking time for those little baubles until 2016.

Instead, I’ve had to put one in play and switch my team to “All out Attack” – not as a result of a crafty strategy, but out of pure desperation. I’m not sure that’s what the FPL boffins had in mind.

This morning I’m beckoning my boys out of the dressing room with the clear remit to score more goals than Zouma and Richards concede at the other end. There’s no guarantees.

With Eden Hazard my current captain and my entire defence on the pitch alongside him, today’s encounter is going to be an interesting and confusing affair for me.

In truth, that’s in keeping with what has been a surreal international break.

We watched while players fell one by one, as fifty shades of red developed in our squads and now we collectively go forward, praying that the points hits we’ve fired out into the ether come back with profit.

All of this followed a Gameweek 8 which seemed to have restored parity.

The majority of folk on our pages had cashed in on Sanchez and Aguero and, suddenly, the Fantasy Football Scout’s community were on top of the world. A week on, we’re all tipped into turmoil by the reverberating twang of Aguero’s hamstring.

From champagne and caviar, to hits and chips.

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

2,108 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ChildishFirmino&Lallana…
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    tweet from 3 mins ago: looking forward for the first start of origi this season in the PL. reliable source

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Sturridge not fit then.

    2. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Spurs fan tweet?

      1. ChildishFirmino&Lallana…
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        no. analyst

  2. Samwise the Brave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Marehez to mane -4

  3. hannesdela
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Mané or Walcott, who should I transfer in?

    1. TD Champ
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      If you have Sanchez then Mane. If you have Pelle, then maybe Walcott. If both or none, then i don't know.

      1. hannesdela
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        I have both Sanchez and Pellé haha so harsh to choose.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Mané

    3. ppp
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Mane a safer option overall, saves you an inevitable transfer later on

      1. hannesdela
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Hmm thanks good argument, Giroud will get his chances too. Okay, will go for Mané although it's hard to leave out Walcott as an Arsenal fan.

  4. TD Champ
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    WC defense sound good?

    Have money itb. if necessary
    Bellerin - Dawson - Ward (!) - Moreno - Richards

    Silly keeping an injured Ward? Just know i'll get him when he comes back anyway

    1. ppp
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      why so keen on ward? I wouldn't have an injured defender, there will be issues to resolve soon enough even if your team is perfectly set up..

      1. TD Champ
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        I like the CP defense. So Souare instead then?

        1. ppp
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          I think so (that's who I've got)

  5. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    "No team with eight points from their opening eight games has finished the season above fifth in the Premier League, meaning Chelsea will have to make history to even qualify for next season's Champions League, let alone defend their title"
    BBC

    1. ACCOUNTING ON CHRIS
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Crikey. 8/8 is awful

      1. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Relegation form if it continues...

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I have been saying this for days.

    3. Stephen - Robot Daniels
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      They'll come good..

      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        i hope so.. Just bought Hazard in.
        Oh.. and i'm a Chelsea fan 🙂

    4. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      They'll be fine. As soon as they pick up form, they'll climb the table.

      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Yup.. hoping it's this week. the losses cant go on any longer

    5. Hamstergod
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Once Jose gets sacked they'll turn it around

    6. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      The rest of the PL is poor as p*ss. It's only going to take 1 run of wins and they'll be back in the top 4.

    7. Francescoli
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      great news.

    8. jdoyle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I've doubled down and brought in Costa today (already had Hazard).

      If Mourinho can't beat Villa at Stamford Bridge then I'm done with Chelsea players for a long time.

    9. Adams6
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      They will. The "history" of the premier league on began in 92 don't forget

  6. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Which to play?

    A)mahrez
    B)pelle(-4)

  7. goran
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    pls help!
    moreno or souare?

    1. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      moreno

    2. Gaffa914
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Moreno

  8. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Spurs team sheet?

  9. Blue Gaffer
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Zabaleta, Kompany or neither?

    1. trequartista
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Kompany

      1. Blue Gaffer
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Will he start?

        1. Lone Wolf FPL
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          yes

  10. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Start Cedric or Cresswell?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Cedric

    2. ACCOUNTING ON CHRIS
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      @Poseidon, nah not his boyfriend haha. It's just really helpful to get the lineups pre deadline. Imagine if we got them for every team!

    3. trequartista
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Walcott / Mane / Ayew, help guys!

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Mane
        Mane
        Mane

      2. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Mane

      3. Hamstergod
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Mane

      4. Root
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Walcott

        1. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          walcott

          1. Root
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Yes

      5. GreatCarragherReef
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        i had the same, went mane, wish i'd gone walcott

    4. Niemi
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Last call.

      A) AOA
      B) Bench Mahrez and play Richards

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        B, don't waste it

      2. Lizard Lips
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        A. It's an awful chip and this is the perfect week to play it.

    5. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Now then, that extra time has led me to 4-5-1. So there.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        😯

        1. In Like Flynn.
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Didn't expect that didja?

          1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            No. 😆

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Oooh. I'm an inch away playing 253 and benching Davies.

      3. Mílanista
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        But this is AOA week 😯

        1. In Like Flynn.
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Not with my WC it ain't.

    6. Only1KunAgüero
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Jagielka or Richards?

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Jags

    7. Slam
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Go Kane Go. Go Kane Go 🙂

    8. Snapes on a Plane
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Butland or hennesy as 2 nd choice keeper to Begovic?

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Henn

      2. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Probably Butland.

      3. Hamstergod
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Butland

    9. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      On WC G2G?

      Begovic-(Elliott)
      Sagna-Janmaat-Gabriel-(Moreno)-(Simpson)
      KdB(c)-Walcott-Haz-Cabaye-Sanchez
      Pelle-Vardy-(Ighalo)

      ITB 0.1M

    10. cricketmad787
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Really stuck. Need some help

      1) Richards or Francis
      2) Pelle, Mane, Sanchez or Pedro captain

      1. cricketmad787
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Richards or Francis on-field*

      2. Lone Wolf FPL
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        1) a
        2) sanchez (pedro on bench)

    11. Gerci
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Kolarov to (for a hit):

      A) Janmaat
      B) Kompany
      C) Dawson
      D) other

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        C

    12. Sting
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      A) Costa

      B) Lukaku

      C) Bony

      D) Sturridge

      E) Kane

      Speak now or forever hold your peace

      1. Slam
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        EEEEEEEEE

      2. Kevtheotter
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        E

      3. Hamstergod
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        B

      4. Francescoli
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        definitely not D

      5. Root
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        C

    13. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Should I bring in YYT or Walcott?

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Wally if you have KdB already.

        1. The Man Pastore
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          i dont...

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

        Wally

    14. JamieLfc
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      If your rival who is in front of you captained Sanchez would you?

      A) Captain Sanchez and block his captain
      OR
      B) Captain Walcott

      1. Gaffa914
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Wally

    15. ElDaddy
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Pelle or Sanchez for the armband?

    16. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Bench Ighalo or Mahrez ?

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Mahrez

      2. Aurora
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Please help! Already done a -4.

        Myhill
        Williams -KOLAROV -Francis
        Sanchez -Payet -De Bruyne -Mahrez
        Pelle -Martial -Vardy

        Subs: Sako, STaylor, Targett

        A. Stick and play a sub for Kolarov
        B. Kolarov -> Bellerin for -8
        C. All out attack chip (will Sako play?)

      3. @persecuted_by_mods
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Predictions?
          Chelsea 6- 1 Villa
          Palace 2- 1 West Ham
          Everton 1- 1 Man Utd
          Man City 2- 0 Bournemouth
          Southampton 1- 0 Leicester
          Wba 0- 0 Sunderland

          1. Slam
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Chelsea 0-1 Villa
            Palace 1-2 West Ham
            Everton 3-1 Man Utd
            Man City 1-1 Bournemouth
            Southampton 2-0 Leicester
            WBA 1-2 Sunerland

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                8 years, 8 months ago

                Haha some might say, you're the reverse flash

            2. @ocprodigy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              8 years, 8 months ago

              Chelsea fan?

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  8 years, 8 months ago

                  Haha nope, hate em actually

              2. Hamstergod
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                1:1
                3:1
                1:0
                4:1
                2:1
                1:0

              3. Gr3g
                • 12 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                6-1 been my prediction since last week 😀

              4. Chenku╰☆╮
                • 9 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                4-0 chelsea win...

            3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
              • 15 Years
              8 years, 8 months ago

              Howard kendall died..

              1. Twisted Saltergater
                • 14 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                RIP 🙁

              2. In Like Flynn.
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 13 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                R.I.P. Howard.

              3. In Like Flynn.
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 13 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                Though in fairness he could have hung on till after the deadline.

              4. Pasqualinho
                • 15 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                What a great manager he was.

            4. Wild Rover
              • 13 Years
              8 years, 8 months ago

              The carnage when Studge is confirmed out 1 minute before deadline 😀

              1. Francescoli
                • 9 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                did many trade him in? didn't seem like a popular choice on here. hazard a guess that doos is the only one with him.

                1. Fitzy.
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  8 years, 8 months ago

                  Doos doesn't have him.

            5. ppp
              • 14 Years
              8 years, 8 months ago

              Play Bertrand (WHM) or Souare (LEI)?

              1. Francescoli
                • 9 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                tough one. I'd play Souare