[sbu_large_image] Preamble
7 November 2015 2115 comments
Mark Mark
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Granville’s recent calamitous transfers galvanised some navel gazing this week.

I was intrigued by the theory that transfer tinkering, particularly when accompanied by a points hit, was severely damaging our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) prospects.

My investigations were fuelled, not only by Granville’s recent transfer tragedy, but also the fortunes of a certain Sharon Brading – an FPL manager who had hit the heights of 17th in the world without making a single change to her squad.

An innocent in all this, Sharon’s season nonetheless presents an extraordinary case study, forcing us to question the merits of our decision-making.

It became clear that Sharon no longer had her hands on the wheel – her Ashley All Star squad is a “Ghostship” – drifting without guidance, pursuing the same course that was set back in Gameweek one.

That course has beat us all.

On the face of it, she made some canny early decisions. The faith in Leicester’s attacking assets has been key, along with the capture of high performing mid-price midfield options – Nathan Redmond and Yohan Cabaye. Meanwhile, Sharon has suffered injuries, but, as yet, none have presented the iceberg to sink her season.

While her campaign is a slap in the face for those deliberating points hits on a weekly basis, there is one big reason for her prosperity: Jamie Vardy.

The armband has been tattooed on Vardy from Gameweek 1 and Sharon has subsequently surfed the 144 points he’s gained her.

Meanwhile, Granville and I have been switching week-to-week, relying too much on Sergio Aguero and have mustered just 102 and 106 points in response.

Couple that with some questionable transfer decisions – Granville’s Gameweek 11, my punt on an early Eden Hazard revival – and suddenly a yawning gap has opened up. Our hands-on efforts have proved futile.

While Granville and I neglect family to dedicate hours to reclusive tinkering, Sharon has doubtless been interacting with human beings and pondering matters other than the merits of Anthony Martial strike rate.

Everything is wrong.

How do we put things straight? For starters, both Granville and I have to start finding the right captain – we have to stumble upon an antidote to Sharon’s intoxicating Vardy potion.

Digging deeper, it was clear that our failure to find points with the armband doesn’t just pale next to Sharon’s example.

Andy, top of the FFS contributors league and ranked 73 in the world, has gained 26% of his points from his captain. Ironically, that’s the same percentage gained by the current overall FPL leader, Ryan Grzegowski.

Back on 18%, Granville and I can’t cite failing transfers for reason why we’re treading water – our squads have lacked leadership.

Quite simply, we need some goals from our captains and Granville has to apologise to Riyad Mahrez.

Only then can we hope to force Sharon into abandoning her social life, coaxing her into the indignity of actually logging back in to her squad.

Enjoy your Saturday mornings while you can, Sharon.

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

  1. Chuba
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Janmaat to Moreno done! :s

    1. SweeSwee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      :s is correct

    2. The Chosen One...
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Bournemouth are gash..

  2. toerag
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    player in my ml had 3 city def last week.

    heh heh heh that'll learn him 🙂

  3. mayofc2000
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I currently have Mahrez, Sanchez, Sterling, Mane, Payet, Vardy, Pelle and Kane.

    (a) Who will you bench of all those? (b) Captain?

    Thanks.

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      kane
      mahrez

    2. King Kav. QC at law
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Vardy/Sterling.

    3. grandemessi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Not touching that...

  4. Lizard Lips
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    How many transfers will it take for you to bring Kun in?

    1. SweeSwee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      1

    2. King Kav. QC at law
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      1.

    3. krzys
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      2

    4. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I think 3

    5. Trigg ⭐️
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Sharon already has him!

    6. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      2

    7. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      2, I still have Hazard so he the obvious downgrade to get the funds

    8. zizoo10
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      1

    9. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      ...or 9, still have a WC

    10. toerag
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      1

    11. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      1

    12. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      3

    13. Bob.
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      1

  5. Trigg ⭐️
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    If I bench a 2 pointer this week, I'll be fist pumping!

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      me2

  6. Jazz!
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Playing Rose and benching Monreal 🙂 Got a soft spot for Danny

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      There isn't much in this call imo, Monreal is in my starting 11 though.

  7. snowman
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    huth to moreno for -4?

    1. krzys
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I wouldn't

    2. zizoo10
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      no way

    3. The Royal Robin
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Ohhhh Adam Le Fondre......

      1. snowman
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        miss him

  8. ebow14
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Firmino, wijnaldum or ayew as a 1 week punt?

    1. krzys
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Wijnaldum

  9. ElDaddy
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry repost
    Keep Martial or get Ighalo for a FT?

    1. zizoo10
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      keep

    2. Siggy in the Middle
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Do the FT

    3. grandemessi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I did Martial-->Lukaku this week but I bet I'm gonna regret it..

  10. the german
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    bench pelle..awful away record ..captain mane

  11. Ings on the up
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Play Cech (TOT) or Myhil (mun)?

    1. krzys
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Cech

    2. Arteta
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Cech

      1. Ings on the up
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Great - thanks

  12. zizoo10
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    lolp

    g2g?

    ...........................Butland
    ............Kolarov - Moreno - Morgan
    Sanchez - KDB(C) - Payet - Mané - Mahrez
    .......................Pelle - Vardy

    McCarthy - Ighalo - Bellerin - Targett

    1. Carcetti
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      AOA?

      1. zizoo10
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        no aoa unfortunately

    2. Chinchinnati
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      G2G - I have the same line up as you, except Huth -> Morgan and Mahrez (c). Bench for me Mcc, Ig, Azpi and Cedric.

  13. Back on the horse
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I haven't really thought about this but my gut says
    Sánchez (C)

    any reason not to?
    Seems a bit of a lottery this week
    Its all luck, this game anyway

    1. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Who is your alternative ?

      1. Back on the horse
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Um. Mahrez?

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Wenger surely putting more emphasis on the league now and a high scoring NLD

  14. La Roja
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Bench Pelle or Martial?

    1. Rinseboy
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Payet?!

      1. La Roja
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Starting him

  15. AcquiringSteak
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    just swapped my captain back to KDB from Vardy, oh lawd what to do

    1. King Kav. QC at law
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Up to you.

    2. zizoo10
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      haha same

  16. Toast
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Van Dijk or Rojo?

    I know nothing about Rojo is he first choice? Van Dijk seems a big goal threat. Thanks

    1. Creamy Camembert
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      VVD

  17. snowman
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    vardy or mahrez captain?

    1. krzys
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Mahrez

    2. Red Star Toro
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      same boat bro no idea

      1. snowman
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        vardy atm

  18. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    A. Play Nyom(lei)

    or

    B. Targett ➡ Simpson(WAT) -4

    1. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Easily A

    2. Red Star Toro
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. krzys
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      A

    4. BellsOfFreedom
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      nyom

  19. Alan Hansen's Emu
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Benching Mane over Pelle and Lukaku...

    Sane? None of my rivals have Mane

    1. Creamy Camembert
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I'd definitely bench Pelle over Mane

  20. The Royal Robin
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Really struggling with who to captain, any help?

    A) Vardy
    B) Lukaku
    C) KDB

  21. Costa in Wengerland
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Hahah nice Article Mark !
    Sharon is seriously giving everyone a hard time

    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      innuendo?

  22. Sp0rting
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    As Roy Orbison once sang: "Only the Bony".

    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      no it was called only the lonely. get it right.

  23. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I'm panicking now...

    Play Mane or Costa?

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Sell Costa

  24. Red Star Toro
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Last poll. Captain:
    A) Mahrez
    B) Vardy
    C) KDB
    D) Alexis

    first to 3 wins

    1. FPL Puppy
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      C

    2. DameCorp
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      K
      D
      B

    3. EWH2020
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Vard

    4. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      A

  25. Numb
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    With meaningless international friendlies next week, I expect some early substitutions with dubious minor injuries this weekend.

    Ranieri has already paved the way with his Vardy Achilles issue.

  26. TheEgyptianKing
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I need a quick reply , as i'm leaving to go to the pub for the newcastle game (dont know why it will be boring)
    Who should i play

    A- EVANS
    B- ALDERWERIELD

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. FPL Puppy
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. Carcetti
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      A

  27. Viprin
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Pages are forwarding fast..

    1. King Kav. QC at law
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Nothing interesting being said either.

  28. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Who is everyone captaining? I'm on Bony atm. Thinking I might go Ozil?

    1. VS10_
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I was on Özil, now on Mahrez. Would go Bony if I had him.

  29. flippetyflop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Who is going to get more points this week, KDB or Bony??

    1. FPL Puppy
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Nobody knows.

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Bony

  30. EWH2020
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Bench who?

    Kane
    Pelle

    1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Both