[sbu_large_image] Preamble
19 December 2015 1964 comments
Mark Mark
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Intent on milking further controversy from Jose Mourinho’s departure, it seems every football manager has been asked to give their views on the “Special One’s” exit.

They have yet to get around to asking me, so I’ll put things on record by saying that I’ll miss the old so-and-so.

Us Fantasy Football managers have a love/hate relationship with the cast of Premier League bosses, with the dial normally leaning towards the latter.

Like bad referees, we only really air our views on managers when they draw our ire.

Whether it is vague or misleading team news, or the ill-timed application of a rotation policy, a Premier League manager can upset our equilibrium and have us vent our frustration.

Jose certainly walked the line.

For me, he was a constant menace. I approached his press conference in much the same way as the man himself – I saw them as a game.

I’m convinced that Mourinho revelled in the intellectual joust with the press, where ambiguous words were loaded and designed to play with the minds of peers, players and officials.

Things came to head with Jose and me over Diego Costa.

The Spaniard was a player I once loved but now keep at arms length, partly due to Costa’s own insistence on running his studs up the back of defenders, but also because of Mourinho’s vague and sometimes misleading perspective on his fitness and form.

Then there was Jose’s recent decision to bench Eden Hazard – the player of the year and the spark that carried Chelsea to the title for much of last season.

It is assumed that Mourinho has somehow broken Hazard – I only know that he chose to bench him just as I had taken the gamble on the Belgian’s revival. It may have been personal, but I wasn’t going to let Jose get to me.

Mourinho and Chelsea have played a leading role in making these last sixteen Gameweeks the most volatile and unpredictable in memory.

Littered with intrigue and incident, Jose has banished doctors from his bench, broken records for on-air rants and pin-pointed almost his entire squad for criticism, whilst ignoring Branislav Ivanovic’s comical take on defending.

I have to thank Jose for the ride and admit that I’ll miss his influence on our weekends from this point on.

Maybe we’ll see him back. Maybe it will be at Old Trafford – wouldn’t that be fun.

In the meantime, I’ll go back to my own squad and try to learn some lessons from Jose.

Today I’m benching a £58 million midfielder and two of the four top-scoring defenders in the game. Decisions like that are undeniably a bit “special”.

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

  1. King H
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    .@ChelseaFC can confirm Guus Hiddink has been appointed first-team manager until the end of the season. https://t.co/ysm9lCR0jF

  2. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Not sure on this Hiddink appointment

    He hasn't actually done anything since he left the last time, aside from make teams worse.

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Perfect 🙂

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

      Well he'll have a job on his hands making them any worse.

    3. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      time to get chelsea assets?

      1. Studgie G
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        haha

      2. The Nuttmxn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        100%, you go first.

    4. Reeker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      He's supposed to be good at creating a good atmosphere which would be beneficial in the short term

  3. Kroos69
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    How many wild cards do u get over the season?

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      1 for 2015, another for 2016 this season.

      1. Kroos69
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Oh right thanks I thought tithe second one could only be used in January

        1. Reeker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          They changed the rule this year so you weren't completely off

        2. Jøssy ⭐
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          That was true until this year

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      2 another one after Christmas I believe

    3. Kroos69
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Like if I use the January one will I still have one left?

      1. Costa's Counsellor
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        It's not a January one.

        1. Kroos69
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Grand thanks

  4. Gooner Kebab
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hi, away in Hamburg, quick question : is firmino starting? Thanks guys!

    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      game's on sunday so obviously no team news.

    2. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Probably, no concrete

    3. Gooner Kebab
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Bahhhh...thanks, will play stanilas ahead of firmino then..

  5. birdosworld
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hazard > Coutinho or Barkley?

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Wijnaldum?

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

      leave him in

  6. Thomas Magnum
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hazard minutes and points prediction?

    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      90,90

      1. Thomas Magnum
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        90 points?

        1. Jax
          • 16 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          you asked

    2. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      0 and 20

    3. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      0 mins, 0 points.

  7. bahaa.k
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Am i over doing it by captaining Ayew?

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Probably but not necessarily

      1. bahaa.k
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        My other best (C) options r mahrez, lukaku and coutinho. So idk if id punt it with Ayew

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

      nice captain this week

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

      I wouldn't do it but good luck!

  8. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Bench ONE;

    A) Coleman
    B) Bertrand

    (Have Mahrez, Kane and Vardy)

    Thanks.

    1. bahaa.k
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      B.
      Coleman is better attackingwise

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers.

    2. Keep calm and hoof me the b…
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      B i think. Cant see a cs for coleman

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Bench B?

  9. Keep calm and hoof me the b…
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Play Barkley or Ayew?

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

      Ayew

    2. bahaa.k
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Ayew

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

    Courtois bandwagon is on the wayyyyy

  11. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Got a sneaky suspicion Chelsea and leicester reverse form 🙁

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Possibly but unlikely

  12. Pierce34
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Who is it with the reliable line-up reports here?

  13. The Fantastic Mr Fox
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    @ChelseaFC can confirm Guus Hiddink has been appointed first-team manager until the end of the season.

    1. The Fantastic Mr Fox
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      repost 😀

  14. @Bryan
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    So anyone else still got their WC? Would be handy if Hazard and Aguero did something very soon as I'd have a reason to actually do something with it! As it stands, looks my WC will just be for making minor changes as money isn't much of an issue this season.

    Stupid rule that you have to spend it by Dec 26th though. Players should get to play their WC whenever and get rid of this extra one in the new year nonsense!

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Agreed but it could be abused so how some way

    2. 1zverGGademN
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I've played it this week 😉 Really delighted with my 8 transfers at all :p

    3. The Fantastic Mr Fox
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      since you want only one, feel free to not use the first one 🙂

      1. @Bryan
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        A WC to get rid of Bassong at this rate, the stuff of dreams!

  15. FootballFanatic365
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    coutino or iggy?

    1. bahaa.k
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Same dimena with me, stuck with Cou

  16. #WinterIsNotComing
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Anytime left to make transfer for this GW? I have 2 FT :

    1. Siggy in the Middle
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Til 2 o clock

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

      24 mins

      1. #WinterIsNotComing
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks 🙂

    3. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      no go to sleep.

  17. allaboutthemagic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Lukaku mahrez or countino captain?

    Who would people go for? I'm behind 60 points - players above both have lukaku and mahrez. Want to be different but then again don't want to be left behind! Any advice appreciated!

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      60 is nothing at this stage - lukaku or mahrez is a coin flip, but choose one of them

    2. bahaa.k
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Id go with lukaka over mahrez, but i think coutinho should do something big this game coz he was subbed early last week so i think he has to prove to klopp he cant sub him off like that again.

    3. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      The players above are more likely to go Lukaku (c) this week, judging by what people are saying on here, so go Mahrez!

    1. King H
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Check top post

  18. Cak Juris
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Will Phil Jones be starter?

  19. King H
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hazard lost all respect from me. Imo his antics vs Leicester were just shocking. They get so much money and act like kids.

    Hope he goes to La liga.

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

      Just because he could walk off doesn't mean he wasn't injured.

  20. JackG55
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Bench D.Alli or Yaya or Kolarov?

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Dalli imo

    2. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      kolarov

      no chance of city clean sheet

    3. bahaa.k
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Kola

  21. Thomas Magnum
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    If Hazard doesn't play King will come in is this good enough?

    1. Les Majesteux
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I have Eriksen that will come in. Happy with that. I doubt King will score

      1. Thomas Magnum
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah same

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I have Alderweild

    3. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      yeah fine

    4. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      King is a good bench warmer for the next few weeks, so I wouldn't worry.

  22. Les Majesteux
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I transfered in Haz before the Leicster game.
    #FML

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I did it the week before haha

      1. Les Majesteux
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        That sucks too. I had a feeling he would change. Ant the nice fixtures. Typical. I guess he is out today too

  23. Test Eagles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Who to play:

    1) Bellerin (MCI)
    2) Dann (stk)

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

      2

    2. bahaa.k
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Dann

  24. RoysCallerAnne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Pulled the trigger. Yet another hit.

    Hazard, Bony -> Coutinho, Aguero.

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      risky bringing in two sick notes who will only play fifty percent of the festive four balls!

      but good players obviously...

      1. RoysCallerAnne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Not what I wanted to hear 🙂

        🙁

  25. #WinterIsNotComing
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Smalling or Kolarov?

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

      Smallin

  26. Pierce34
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Can we expect line-ups before 2pm?

    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      no.

    2. King Kav. QC at law
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah, fake ones.

  27. jimbobmij
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Start Bellerin or Moreno?

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

      Moreno

  28. Tom
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    What do you think are the chances of Phil Jones starting today?

  29. pompeyfan
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    please can someone link where on twitter the Chelsea lineup will appear first.

    1. King Kav. QC at law
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Not on Twitter, but search for Chelsea FC and you'll find the Chelsea account.

      1. pompeyfan
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        ok thanks