The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Preamble
23 January 2016 1911 comments
Mark Mark
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Sure enough, it didn’t take long for Sergio to punish my lack of faith.

I’m still not budging, though. Despite taking a good hiding during this week’s rather heated ScoutCast, I’ve got to stick to my guns. For now.

I still think there’s “another way” – that I shouldn’t feel compelled to gut my squad and shift it towards another template, just to cater for the Argentine’s undoubted talent.

I want to be able to field a three or even four-man defence I can believe in. I want to make transfers in midfield that can transform my Gameweek, not just plug a hole in my squad: another 4.5 defender acquired in the hope that he’ll shore up a cheap backline. I want to keep having choices that excite me just a little.

In fairness, the recent emergence of Charlie Daniels (4.6) and Matt Targett (3.8) have helped to facilitate those willing to sacrifice spreading funds in order to welcome Aguero.

I can see plenty of merit in this. In some ways I’m a little frustrated that these full-backs have timed their run onto the radar to coincide with Aguero’s return to prominence.

Even so, I’ve been there before – I’ve seen budget defenders come and go, briefly flirting with the possibility that you can scatter them amongst a cast of heavy hitters. They can often turn out to be “fools gold”, left to depreciate, week by week on the bench.

There’s also lots of talk of Aguero’s rise ahead of double Gameweeks. That’s fair enough, there’s little doubt that the “triple C” looks ready-made for the City striker’s bicep. There are all kinds of permutations surrounding double Gameweeks buzzing around our heads – I won’t go into them here.

However, we do know that should City overcome Everton in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup semi, Aguero will face a Gameweek 27 blank. Throw Kevin De Bruyne into that mix and suddenly you’ve got yourself two very expensive reserves. It will be interesting to see how squads adjust to that.

It seems unlikely that anyone will be selling City assets should they book that double Gameweek – but those who time their acquisitions prior to the two fixtures could avoid some damage and still gain the benefits.

It’s easy to forget that Double Gameweeks come coupled with a blank. Just as it’s easy to point out Aguero’s obvious potential for points, whilst ignoring or downplaying the compromises made to get there.

There’s no doubt that Aguero offers a degree of comfort – certain goal returns, spectacular hauls.

In contrast, I’m currently putting faith in a transient cast of mid-price midfield differentials and the theory that, eventually, investment in a strong defence and squad will balance things out.

It’s a gamble and probably a huge error but it’s definitely more “interesting”.

Perversely, I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

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

  1. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Hey guys is Giroud to Lukaku for a hit worth a move? I'm scared not owning him when you look at his EO.

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      no

    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      I'd do it

    3. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      not for a hit no

    4. InBetweenDreams
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Not worth it

    5. wilsonito
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      It's only really a move for this GW

    6. Brazooka
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      i'll keep Girru one more week!

    7. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Thanks guys.

  2. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    On the next page I'll try to answer all questions

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      🙂

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      That's ages away.

    3. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      *this

    4. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      You're there...or here

    5. InBetweenDreams
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Impossible, i have tried. Pages moving at the speed of light

  3. Pedram
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    How long until pens down ?

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      your pen is down?

    2. Ziro Becomes One
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      It already is in an alternate future.

    3. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      7.5 minutes

    4. InBetweenDreams
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      My pants are already down

    5. TeamSteam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      5 minutes turkish

  4. wilsonito
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Hi guys
    Who would you bench out of:

    Payet
    Arnautovic
    Willian

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      willian

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Will

    3. Pennywise
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Willy

    4. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Arnie

    5. InBetweenDreams
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Willian

    6. Brazooka
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Willian

    7. TeamSteam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Arnie

  5. FPL Emu
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Dunno if you are still here, Demi, but if you are: How do you reckon the chances are of Mirallas starting a couple on the trot now?

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      not good

      1. TeamSteam
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        I believe you are mistaken.

  6. Shrimp On The Barb
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Hi guys,

    Favourite thing to put on the barbie?

    Thanks.

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Reported.

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Lamb.

    3. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Ken

    4. Pennywise
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      All things flesh 😈

    5. KingOllie
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Witches

    6. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      fish

    7. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Ken

    8. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Hair extensions

  7. RubeRx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    A rested Mahrez with motivation to make amends hmmmm

    1. Yome
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      His head is elsewhere, no penalties, no form...

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      yes

    3. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Against a tight Stoke defence

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Predicted Lukaku minutes?

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      69:43

    2. Shrimp On The Barb
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      59

    3. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      He usually plays 90

    4. Yome
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      93

    5. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      90

    6. InBetweenDreams
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      90+4

  9. WWW.
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Am I right to bench Mahrez in this front 8?

    Ozil . Payet . Wijnaldum . Firmino . Mahrez
    Aguero . Kane . Ighalo

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Yes

    2. Springbank
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      I would bench Firmino or Wijnaldum

    3. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      NO

      bench wincantscoreaway or payer against city over him

    4. wilsonito
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Winj for me personally

    5. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      yes

  10. awgJose
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Tomorrow he will be back.

    And he will fool you all.

    Beware the Trollkaku!

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      go away

    2. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Agueeerrroooo

      1. awgJose
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        Pulls his hamstring

  11. Springbank
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    I apologise in advance for the question has been asked 100 time this morning but really cant make up my mind and need help. First to three wins it!

    Ozil Payet Mahrez Alli Barkley
    Lukaku Aguero Ighalo

    Bench one?
    Thanks

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Alli

      1. Springbank
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        Thanks

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      alli

      1. Springbank
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        And thanks. First to two will do it!

    3. Flynniesta
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      I have the same front 8 apart from Yaya for Barkley & ivevreluctantly benched Ali

    4. DaddyPig
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 17 days ago

      Did you bench Alli? Ouch.

  12. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    7 minutes and counting.

    PANIC.

  13. ZULU23
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    KDB to Firmino, right move?

    1. TeamSteam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Only time will tell, young padawan. Follow the path that lies within.

  14. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Play Bellerin or Huth? Thanks

    1. Ravager
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Playing Huth myself.

  15. Tshelby
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    G2G?

    Myhill
    Bellerin, Dann, Toby
    Payet, Ozil, Alli, Mahrez
    Kane, Lukaku (c), Ighalo

    Butland-, Walcott, Cresswell, Bennett

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Need more mancity cover

  16. Snapes on a Plane
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Who to make ca

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      *ptain

  17. Epic Fail
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Ignore this post.

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Can't. Gotta reply.

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      😛

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      I read that as 'Ighalo hits the post'. Dugout mode is already active in my mind 🙂

  18. hossmo
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Cech
    Bellerin Targett Toby
    Alli Barkley Mahrez Ozil
    Lukaku Kane Ighalo

    Schwarzer Arnie vanDijk Dann

    Who to captain and vc please?!

    1. Garlana
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Lukaku and Kane safe bets

      1. hossmo
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        that's what I was thinking great stuff

  19. Ninja Škrtel
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Ighalo Cappers, calm me down.

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      No

    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Are there any

  20. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    I'm excited to be disappointed.

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Sadist.

    2. KingOllie
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Yep. Every week

  21. Garlana
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Thoughts on playing dier or Daniels today and why? I've no other Bournemouth or spurs defence playing

    1. TeamSteam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Im sorry your guns are too huge for me to take you seriously

      1. TeamSteam
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        jk please dont squash me

  22. SweeSwee
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    A) Moreno
    B) Bellerin
    C) Daniels

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      A

    2. InBetweenDreams
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Bench or play?

  23. Neymar JR
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Shall I sell the following four or keep it need help

    Kosicelny for sagna
    Lloris for hart or de gea
    Vardy for giroud
    De bruyne for eriksen

  24. Gerci
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Walker Moreno Bellerin, Zouma, Rose

    Which one to downgrade ? And then to whom?

  25. KingOllie
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Help me

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Aguero

  26. FPL_Sponge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Got 2FTs and with 7mins still don't know what to do! Any any advice appreciated. Myhill going to start over Foster? Not happy with my goalies but don't really have funds to upgrade... 0.0itb.

    Myhill (Hennesey)
    Moreno, Daniels,Dawson (Nyom, Williams)
    Ozil, KDB, Payet, Gosling (Mahrez)
    Kun, Lukaku, Kane

    1. Trae44
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Wouldn't be benching Mahrez for Gosling

    2. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      play mahrez PLEASE I BEG YOU for starters

      then do Myhill to a keeper who isn't going to be dropped either today or next week

      rest of team fine

  27. The Hindu Monkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Mahrez is going to burn SO many people this game week who have benched him. SO many people. I can't wait.

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Me too, I replaced him with firmino 😎

    2. MagicMessi
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Mahrez goal and 2 assists 😉

    3. TeamSteam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Right. Cus 5 games in a row without scoring just invites for optimism. The laws of probability seem wasted on you my son.

  28. La Roja
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Just moved the armband from Lukaku to Aguero (c)

    Oh dear

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Wrong

    2. MagicMessi
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      no waaaaay !!

    3. Garlana
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      I'm right with you on the kun over Lukaku, but that is incredibility bold last minute.

    4. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      this is going to end in tears

      1. Garlana
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        Of joy!? 🙂

    5. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      A last minute captain change once cost me £15,000 first prize in a FF game

  29. Ninja Škrtel
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Kun or Ighalo?? who to CAP???

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Kun

  30. tabby98
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Play Hennessey or Schmeichel

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Scmeichel