The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Preamble
19 March 2016 1790 comments
Mark Mark
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Tuesday afternoon was like a feeding frenzy, as the Premier League finally let us off the leash to feast on the carcass of the inevitable fixture pile-up.

I can’t quite remember such anticipation for a fixture announcement – such enthusiasm for an opportunity to exploit a crowded calendar and turn it into beautiful FPL points.

Of course, it’s all fuelled by the fact that most of us have been handed a huge advantage.

As I first mentioned back in my previous rant discussion on the subject, the “Chips”, not least the flexibility with the second Wildcard, has set up the most bizarre end-of-season scenario.

Hordes of baffled FPL managers will log in on Sunday April 17 and wonder why their overall and mini-league rank has fallen through the floor. They’ll have no choice but to sit and wave through a procession of FPL managers, fully prepared for Gameweek 34 and well versed in how to exploit it.

While we doubtless deserve some credit for our foresight, it’s almost like we’ve been gifted this opportunity; the Premier League and FA have even combined to hand us the chance to collect our thoughts.

The forthcoming international break is perfectly placed for us to assess our budget, mock up Gameweek 33 Wildcard squads and have our plans well and truly defined. It’s all so perfect but it just feels dirty.

Spare a thought for Ryan Grzegowski. There he is, top of the FPL rankings but, presumably, fully aware that his chances of withstanding the incoming Gameweek 34 storm are slim to none. He’s sitting on a temporary throne, watching this huge twister of FPL managers slowly approach, destined to blow him away.

His friends and family will be completely baffled. No doubt enthused by his current rank and surely confused as to why Ryan is so downbeat.

I almost want to be there to help him explain to them that it’s because he played his second Wildcard back in Gameweek 21 in order to bring in Sergio Aguero (who duly blanked against Everton). And how he frittered his Bench Boost chip back in Gameweek 11, earning just ten points from his four subs.

Now, because of those two ill-fated judgement calls, he’s set to be overwhelmed by those who watched and waited for Gameweek 34 to arrive. He’s consistently outscored all comers to claim the top spot but will now be powerless to avoid relinquishing it when Gameweek 34 has its wicked way with our seasons.

Maybe I’m being too charitable. Maybe I just need to sit back, rub my hands with glee and thank the Fantasy gods for this perfect opportunity to bask in the greenest of green arrows. No doubt I’ll come around to that way of thinking as I press the button on my Gameweek 33 Wildcard.

However, for Ryan’s sake and for all the others who have spent their Chips with cheery frivolity, I kind of hope that the Gameweek 34 twister is not quite as devastating as we all expect.

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

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

    2nd place in my ML has got Lloris, Dier and Alderweireld (C) :-O

    1. KING_ZLATAN
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      All u need is a Bournemouth goal then .. But no I have alderweireld too

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

        Yeah I played Toby, so I'll still be happy with a CS. He's not that close behind me and has burned all his chips, so I'll be alright.

        1. KING_ZLATAN
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          No chips = no threat. He can't catch you if u play it right

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

            Agreed 🙂

            Just a shame it's not a money league.

            1. KING_ZLATAN
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 9 months ago

              Taunting rights though

    2. Stephen - Robot Daniels
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Don't worry, Josh King brace tomorrow

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

    World top 50 captains:
    Kane 31
    Sigurdsson 8
    Aguero 6
    Vardy 3
    Lukaku and Paloschi 1

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

      😯 Aguero so low 😮

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

      Paloschi 😯

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

        Villa

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

      Top 10k?

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

        https://fpldiscovery.wordpress.com/2016/03/19/1516-gw31-team-selection-and-stats/

        Kane 66.9%
        Aguero 13.0%
        Siggy 8.6%
        Mahrez 3.1%
        Vardy 2.3%

  3. Stephen - Robot Daniels
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    This was the real manager of my FPL team this week making the crucial decisions.......

    https://www.random.org/coins/?num=1&cur=60-gbp.1pound

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

    Baps check?

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

      Williams 3

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

      I have two hairy ones

    3. Saniul
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Simpson 3

      1. Reedy
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Machine! 🙂

    4. Stephen - Robot Daniels
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Daniels 3
      Josh King 2
      Ritchie 1

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

        None for Afobe 🙁

        1. Stephen - Robot Daniels
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Assist the assister, crucial for holding the ball up for our third

    5. KING_ZLATAN
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Williams 3
      Kane 3
      Ozil 3

    6. Jøssy ⭐
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Firm and shapely

    7. Jøssy ⭐
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Williams 3
      Sigurdsson 2
      Kane 3
      Ozil 2
      Mahrez 2
      Vardy 3
      Firmino 2

  5. Saniul
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Me and HVT both decided to play their AOA chip this week. Now, interestingly:

    ***I played Bellerin and Huth (benched Otamendi and van DIjk)
    ***He played Otamendi and van Dijk (benched Bellerin and Fuchs)

    ... This is going to be fun!

    1. Reedy
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Ha. There were some tight calls at the back this week. I don't think Fuchs on the bench was the right call though, sorry HVT.

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

        He went with the home players though, can't argue his logic...

        1. Reedy
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          I'd have played Ota and a Lei def I think.

    2. KING_ZLATAN
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I say he wins ..

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

        Not a H2H, just that he is leading by 4 points in the ML. 😀

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

          and I am 6 points behind ya...It's tight up there

    3. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I like his moves.

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

        I like his moves too, including Kane (C).

        1. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Who's yours?

  6. Gregor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    GW32; AOA, Traore (C).

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Good move altough depends on your defs

      1. Gregor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Thninking of playing Daniels and benching VVD, Dawson and Nyom.

  7. RoyaleBlue
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Ozil + Arnie vs Payet + Vardy

    Bigger score ?

    1. Reedy
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      B I think

      1. RoyaleBlue
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Awesome, that's what I've got

  8. Rolls-Royce
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Ville Ronka benched Vardy.

    Casual.

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Red arrow for him this week.

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

      😆

  9. Swan - Villa Proud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    2 of the top 5 in my ML wildcarded, but brought in only 8 and 9 DGWers respectively. They are playing for 11 in 34 instead of 15.

    I can do this.

    1. KING_ZLATAN
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      15 DGW might give u a weak lineup for 35 and 36

      1. Swan - Villa Proud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Yep, it's why I saving WC til 36. I can get 11 in 34 with a -8 and now think it's worth it.

        1. KING_ZLATAN
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Same as my plan .. Getting 10 DGWers for GW 34 , a better lineup with Spurs and lei players for 35 and 36 is more worth

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

    Which do you think scores more?

    1. Fuchs, Siggy, Lukaku

    2. Koscielny, Silva, Vardy

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      1 by miles probably.

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

        Hope you're right. For the Frequent Posters cup 🙂

        1. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Looks loads better,

  11. Rinseboy
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Ive captained Siggy by mistake over Kane. Damn cant see this going well at all!

    1. Reedy
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      By mistake? I see this trotted out a lot but I still don't understand how it can happen 🙂

    2. Hakchak
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I did it on purpose

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

    Top 10k captains:
    Kane 66.9%
    Aguero 13.0%
    Siggy 8.6%
    Mahrez 3.1%
    Vardy 2.3%

    Only one player with EO > 100% - Kane (156.6), Mahrez (99.6) and Aguero (98.0) just short

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

      How Mahrez so high with only 3.1%? Because of overall ownership?

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

        Owned by 97.8% of the top 10k

        1. Bucky Barnes
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          I'm in the 2.2%, feels good to be different

          Until he scores, then it feels bad

          Really bad

        2. RedLightning
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          96.5% actually.

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

      Where do I get the stats?

    3. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Just me? Or has stuff like this ruined a large part of the game? 😕

      1. Milner4eva
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        It's not just you.

        People are making the game far too complicated - pick your XI, and cheer them on. Forget this EO nonsense.

        1. Mull
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          You're on a site dedicated to making this game more complicated than that...

      2. milanista10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        I think it did.. I started ignoring it and focusing mainly on UFPL, way more entertaining!

      3. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Only for those who take too much notice of it.

        They often seem to forget that a player's high EO is only beneficial if he outscores his rivals.

  13. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Looking forward to Paloschi(c) later 😎

  14. the cromulent one
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    It's sad, but my red/green arrow depends entirely on the difference between Tottenham and Chelsea conceding. (I have no Spurs Def, and I started Azpi). The rest of my team is templaterrific.

  15. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Ok went with Alexis (C) in UFPL !! Let's go Sancheeeez

  16. Bellerinmondo
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    new post guys

  17. Saniul
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Which site has top 1k ownership stats?

  18. New Article
  19. FFSbet.com
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Gabriel nailed for DGW ?

    1. Ten Season Wonder
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      no way

  20. Ten Season Wonder
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    For those WCing GW33;

    - Iwobi is surely a 1 week punt for next week!

  21. Kent girl
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Hello,

    I'm new to all this being my first FPL season but have surprised myself and currently 3rd in my work league and just 1 point behind 2nd.

    My current team is:

    Butland / Hennessy
    Daniels / Toby / Huth / Sagna / Targett
    Ozil / Yaya / Alli / Mahrez / Barkley
    Augero / Vardy / Kane

    I am lucky enough to still have a WC, BB, AAO, and TC still to use. Just after any tips for when you think I should play them? My team isn't great and going to have a big change around when I use my WC which I presume will probably have to be GW33? And then maybe AAO or BB on GW34 although think I'm gonna leave myself screwed for GW35.

    Initial ideas are to swap Vardy for Martial and to get rid of Alli and Barkley for Antonio and a Utd midfielder?

    Any help would be great Thanks 🙂