The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Preamble
27 February 2016 1243 comments
Mark Mark
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We are all united in hoping for the great divide.

There has long been this theory that missing fixtures and double Gameweeks drive a wedge between the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player base. That blissful ignorance or the distractions of “everyday life” mean that a section of FPL managers are left ill-prepared.

This season, that wedge could be thicker than ever.

The new “Chips” introduced, presumably to maintain interest and offer a route back for trailing managers, are now ours to exploit to the fullest.

From the very start of the season we have earmarked them as weapons to be preserved for the situations that are now looming.

We see them as potential gamechangers, conjuring visions of triple captain hat-tricks and bench boost double Gameweeks that bring 40+ points from the timber.

Similarly, we hope that those around us are left scratching their heads and cursing the day they wasted their “triple C” on Harry Kane’s blank earlier in the season.

Yet all this feels just a little bit wrong.

It is bad enough that the machinations of double Gameweeks may well be lost on a proportion of FPL managers. It feels worse that we now have the tools to punish them further.

Talk of “casual” FPL managers is often shouted down on these pages. While I argue that it is futile to claim that there aren’t more “casual” players of FPL, I also reject an elitist approach to playing the game.

I want to welcome new players, I want more to play and enjoy it. And yes, hands up, of course I want more people in our community and reading our pages.

That leaves me torn on this current situation where we are left revelling in the potential that, as FPL managers wise to double Gameweeks and the use of Chips, we now hope to have the opportunity to gain a huge advantage on others.

I want the points and the climb in rank, but I don’t want to feel I’ve somehow gained that through the complexities and exploits created by the game.

Maybe a level playing field is a foolishly optimistic utopia: there will always be those who take FPL management that little bit further. Again, this site exists to embrace that.

Perhaps I should snatch at these opportunities to exploit the time we invest in absorbing information and sharing knowledge.

But part of me is hoping that, with Chips in play, the double Gameweeks don’t prove quite so devastating.

Part of me is worried that that scenario could drive a wedge between FPL managers, which we could struggle to remove.

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

  1. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    BAPS Out?

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Gameweek 28 nearly started?

    2. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah. Juicy Payet 6 BAPS for me here 🙂 😉

      1. Gazpilicueta
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Hope so, although he will only get me 3 if he does.

        COME ON DMITRI!

  2. The Red Devil
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    well, the first captain pick will be under the scanner!

  3. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    GW rank?

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Dropped from 30k to 200k

      Payet captain fail 🙁

    2. Prøphet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      top 50k

    3. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      1738

  4. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Score prediction for West Ham v Sunderland?

    1. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      2-2

    2. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      3-1

      1. Gazpilicueta
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        hey bubz, hows the whitey sale this year?

    3. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      3-0 or 3-1 if WH get slack

    4. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      1-2

    5. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      4-2 stunner

    6. Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      4-1

    7. MagicMessi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      3-1

    8. Prøphet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      15-0

      Payet 10 goals 2 assists

      1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Wow poor performance from Payet . Usually my captain does alot better in imaginary results

    9. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      5-0

    10. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      3-1

    11. ry ry
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      sunderland are much improved at the back and have been scoring, so i'd fancy WH to take it 2-1 or something?

      1. ry ry
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        obviously 'much improved' is all relative to how dreadful they were previously....

    12. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      2-1

  5. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    The game is being updated.

    The game is currently being updated. Please try again later when the updated scores / teams will be available.

    Weekend ruined 🙁

    1. Odikostar
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      rip

    2. SomewhatPleasing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Very annoying. Can't get access to delete my account

  6. Slartibartfast
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Updated!

  7. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Updated.

  8. Gazpilicueta
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    UPDATED

  9. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    UPDATED 🙂

  10. fickle
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    I started Aguero and Moreno top have autosubs come on as many here are doing. Had a dream that i also accidentally left the triple C on Aguero (C) Moreno (VC)

  11. the axolotl
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    useful stat of the day to wow your friends 🙂 ;
    In 14 of the past 20 Premier League seasons (the seasons with 20 teams), the team top after 26 games have won the title.
    Four times in last 20 yrs, team in second after 26 games have won PL title. 3rd place: once. 4th place: once (arsenal 01/02). Outside top 4 not happened

  12. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Has it been updated yet for fuchs sake?

  13. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    That whole RyRy thread removed. Probably right in fairness.

    1. TheBusDriver
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      RyRy?

      1. Gazpilicueta
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        dont ask.

      2. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        A poster who started a thread claiming Mahrez was injured according to a tweet he saw before the deadline, but no source.

        Things kind of moved on from there, in all different directions...

  14. SomewhatPleasing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Hmmm 0 from 11

    1. Slam
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      What do you think

  15. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Is Dawson expected to be fit play today?

  16. Slartibartfast
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    2nd and 3rd in my ML both captained Vardy and I don't even own him.

    Squeaky bum time.

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      sorry bro! i also captained him, so I hope he does amazingly well 🙂

      1. Slartibartfast
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        😆 cheers

        1. Gazpilicueta
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          whod u captain?

          1. Slartibartfast
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 9 months ago

            Mahrez to theoretically cover myself in the even of Vardy doing well...

            1. Slartibartfast
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 9 months ago

              *event

            2. Gazpilicueta
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 9 months ago

              hmmm, gl

              1. Slartibartfast
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 9 months ago

                Thanks

  17. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Looking at next GWs fixtures. How many will bench Alli and Toby again and get burnt again?

    1. fickle
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      im benching Alli

    2. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I benched alli the first week i got him......and not since. He is a first team player whatever the fixtures are doing

    3. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Benching one of Toby (whu) or Daniels (SOT) as part of AOA

  18. Slam
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    When does FPL discovery usually update? I want to check Vardy's EO 🙂

    1. BabyB
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      15 mins after update roughly.

      1. Slam
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Porkchops Johnson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      10-15 mins after update

    3. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      GW DAY Post TIME (appr.)
      27 SAT gameweek stats 15 minutes after FPL update
      27 SAT intermediate results after last game
      27 SUN final results after last game

      1. Eden Azzzar
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Mines working fine now

  19. Porkchops Johnson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So who do we captain for next GW?

    1. Slam
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Whoa there 😉

    2. TheBusDriver
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Ozil/Vardy/Mahrez/Lukaku

      1. Porkchops Johnson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        I miss the days of Suarez, when we didn't have this many players to choose from

    3. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Shaqiri again

    4. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Arnie for me maybe

    5. drughi
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sanchez

    6. Porkchops Johnson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Many good suggestions. It's like this GW all over again

    7. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      (C)osta

    8. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Kun (c)

  20. mattyrobinson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    I might be an overly optimistic Sunderland fan, but West Ham only managed to scrape a draw against Norwich, and got beaten by Newcastle. They only turn up for the big games it seems.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Meh. It's only Sunderland. They could win without turning up

  21. fickle
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    lineups will be a bit more intense today. considering many wont have autosubs this week (or very few), any player missing out this weekend equates to a 0.

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      not quite, i mean sure lineups will be more important, but its not auto 0

      1. fickle
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        it is for a lot of people. everton are owned a lot, liverpool, city too

  22. Eden Azzzar
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Number 2 overall has fabregas interesting pick I've been considering him or sigh for Antonio

    1. tambourineman
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      He's just wildcarded and has three non-playing GW30 mids

  23. Gazpilicueta
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    anyone else wishing they captained payet?

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Why? He already scored a brace ??

    2. Red Star Toro
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      seeing the line-up? no

      1. Jazz!
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Very attacking lineup...

    3. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      whats wrong with the line up? I think hes gonna set MOTD on fire tonight.

    4. MagicMessi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      had him captain earlier but Sunderland is struggling to stay in the league , cant trust the total weakness of Sunderland as they defeated ManUnited last gwk ,, anyways i'd be happy if he scores

  24. Robben Mee Blind
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Guy in my mini-league played his wildcard to make just 3 transfers ( and still has 6 players with no fixture gw30 & 2 Arsenal) 🙂

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      well played.....

    2. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      photo or it didnt happen

    3. fickle
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      good week already then, and a ball hasnt even been kicked 🙂

      1. Robben Mee Blind
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Indeed 🙂

  25. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    27,000 transferred Arnautovic OUT this week

    Ahead of a home game against Aston Villa.

    I must say I am surprised.

    1. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I transferred him in and ate his price drop a few days later lol.

    2. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      weird

    3. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      All getting Shaqiri innit.

    4. Eden Hazardous
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I am not. In crap form , and an injury doubt

      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        His "injury" was illness, cold or flu most likely.

        I think it could end up biting those 27,000 on the arse

    5. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      He didn't play last week and was flagged the entire fortnight. Not exactly surprising

      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        He was lightly yellow flagged for illness and Stoke had no games over this period

        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah, but a doubt in a blank week where every player is crucial? I can see every reason to sell if you need someone closer to 100%

  26. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Payet to have the game of his life and only go home with an assist. Seems like the sort of thing he'd do.

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      as long as its good to watch

  27. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Play one for next gameweek

    A) Daniels (Sou home)
    B) VVD (Bou away)
    C) Dier (WHU away)

    1. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      VVD

    2. Bobbydhino - ⚒ Saint Slav…
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      vvd

  28. Flying Assassins
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    My only real rival in my ML has brought in and captained Okazaki... bold!

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      could work

      1. Flying Assassins
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Knowing my season so far, probably. He only has 10 players though so I'm happy

  29. The Red Devil
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    one in my ML has-

    Aguero (C)
    Firmino(VC)

    Casual!