[sbu_large_image] 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. tabby98
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Bench Two:
    Moreno
    Daniels
    Wimmer
    Williams
    Targett

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Daniels and Targett

      1. Hybrid.power
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        or Daniels and Moreno

    2. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      moreno tagatt

  2. Jönny
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    So,this guy at number one could end up with 9dgw players, and still has his triple captain? Clearly odds are a little against him, but he could be in a worse position! Hope he wins it.

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      He could do

      He's number 1 for a reason

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Snobbery on Mark's part.

      The guy is having a blinder of a season.

      1. Je suis le chat
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Exactly, I'd much prefer to be in his position than in mine; 180k and chips in hand.

      2. Jönny
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Yeah, I have to say, NOT my favourite article of the week.

        Don't know if it's snobbery, or maybe false hope. I suspect there'll be a lot of disappointed people come then end of GW34 (myself included!) when this one week doesn't suddenly turn the whole season upside down!

      3. Mark
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 19 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        It certainly wasn't intended to come across snobbery - apologies if it did.

        I was using Ryan's case simply as a way of illustrating the likely impact of the chips in this GW34 scenario.

        As I've said in an earlier comment, I sympathise with Ryan because I don't believe he could have foreseen just how badly GW34 would fall - just as those with a WC and Chips couldn't really have hoped for a better situation.

        Ten teams with DGWs and the announcement of the fixtures with a break to follow to give folk time to plan - that really is convenient.

        I hope he does have a plan and stays in the race - he deserves to; the point of my article was to stress that I hope the chips don't transform things too much to the detriment of players who gambled on playing the WC and Chips before GW34 unfolded.

    3. SweeSwee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Wild carding for 15 DGWers has always struck me as a very risky strategy over picking a strong team for the week before and after while keeping the best DGWers who will actually score points.

    4. Je suis le chat
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Hope he does, a few strategic hits and nailed captains could get him over the line.

    5. Flynniesta
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      I wouldn't mind swopping places!

  3. The Wise Owl
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    These pages are going down more often than Tulisa.

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Speaking from experience?

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        😉

    2. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      giggity

    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      How often does she go down?

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Check the video.

        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 12 days ago

          Oh. 3 times.

  4. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Play Williams, Toby, Fuchs and bench Fonte, Wollscheid. Correct decision?

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      yep

    2. the cromulent one
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Absolutely.

    3. Arteta
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Thanks both!

  5. Snapes on a Plane
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Bench one:
    A) Vardy
    B) Silva
    C) Ozil

    1. the cromulent one
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      I have the same decision - I'm benching Vardy.

      1. FPL Panda
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Would u bench payet over vardy??

  6. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    "....bask in the greenest of green arrows."

  7. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    If you think Leicester and Arsenal will both concede, you gotta play Bellerin for assist potential no?

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Whose leicester player?

      1. Your Mum's Athletic
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Simpson

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Or Huth for his goal.

    3. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Simpson vs Bellerin

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Bellerin buy simpson has more chance of cs imo

    4. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      LEI may not concede

    5. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Well I don't think Leicester will concede if that helps

    6. SweeSwee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      I'm playing Bellerin purely for that reason

    7. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Perhaps...I think Lei will keep a cleansheet though and Arsenal will let in 2 or more. 🙂

      But if you think they will both concede, then yes.

      1. Arvin-ation
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        P.S. Any recommended bets for the weekend? 🙂

        1. Your Mum's Athletic
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 12 days ago

          just researching now Arv

    8. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      *back to Simpson* 😉

  8. flippetyflop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Play Yaya or Arnie??

    1. Flynniesta
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      I was in the same dilemma & had Yaya benched all week. Changed my mind when I read the scout picks talking about Watfords clean sheet potential

  9. M.I.A.
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Currently set on:

    Forster
    VVD/Sagna/Simpson
    Mahrez/Eriksen/Ozil/Siggy(C)
    Kane/Vardy/Aguero

    Bench: Myhill/Payet/Bellerin/Wollshcied

    Benching Payet feels wrong though but not sure who to drop!

    Thoughts please guys?

    1. Ed
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      I'm benching Vardy instead of Payet. Tough decision

  10. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Bench One:

    A -Arnautivic
    M- Mahrez
    V- Vardy

    1. Dante
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Arnie I think

      1. Samwise the Brave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        agreed

        1. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 12 days ago

          Thanks guys. I think so. Reluctantly.

  11. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Any news on Dier or Dawson?

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Dawson may play after a foot injury.

  12. GHB
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Vardy > pelle done! First time for a while I am a little excited by a differential!

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Well damn

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Good luck, very interesting punt

      1. GHB
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Cheers BD. Just think he's a very streaky player, nobody has mentioned him and mainly on gut. Plus WC in wk 33 so can afford to do the move

  13. Puzzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Silva or Simpson first sub? Really strange question, when I think about it...

  14. skodaole2
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    All set? Worried for not having a SWA player but dont think its worth a hit since they have no DGW.

    Hart (Hennessey)
    Dann, Dier, Moreno (Daniels, Martin)
    Yaya, Sanchez(C), Alli, Wijnaldum (Arnautovic)
    Aguero, Kane, Rondon

    0 FT, 2,6 itb

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      All set except you seem to have left the captain on Sanchez by mistake

      1. skodaole2
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        🙂 need a diffrential to cover 50 pts lead. Between Rondon, Wijnaldum and Sanchez i believe the latter vs EVE defence could score more than once. Who would you captain?

  15. tabby98
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Pick one to bench from the front 8:
    Mahrez
    Alli
    Firmino
    Payet
    Ozil
    Vardy
    Kane
    Aguero

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Same decision as everyone

      Jamie or Ali for me. But not sure Firmino will do much today either

  16. jfxm
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    G2G or should I go AOA to include Eriksen?

    ---------

    Hart

    Huth, Azpi, Williams

    Yaya Toure, Firmino, Mahrez, Alli

    Kane (C), Aguero, Vardy

    Bench: Hennessey, Eriksen, Van Dijk, Wollscheid.

    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      AOA

      1. jfxm
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        What two defenders would you play?

    2. Puzzle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Id definitely play Eriksen over Toure anyway.

    3. edfiasco
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      AOA bench azpi

    4. the cromulent one
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      I'd bench Vardy before I'd bench Eriksen this week. The AOA is up to you...

  17. Performance Series
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Play Payet or Arnautovic?

    1. edfiasco
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Payet

    2. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      payet

  18. RicardoAVFC
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Please help HELP me!

    Who to transfer in (-4)

    A) Williams
    B) Fuchs

    My mini league leader has Williams and Schmeichel so need to cover one of the teams off! I am 14 points behind!

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      neither, no hits for DEF

      1. RicardoAVFC
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Thank you. Who's your target for gameweek 32? And who's your captain this week? Best way to cut down his lead - which team you going to triple up on for DGW 34?

    2. Gerci
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      you will make 4 points less than him anyway, regardless of how many points they will score

  19. Performance Series
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Wiliams or Lukaku for my free transfer?

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      coin toss good luck.

      I have Williams already FYI

    2. edfiasco
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Williams

    3. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Willy

  20. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    play Ozil or Payet???

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Ozil

  21. kbaptiste
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Siggy or Sanchez?

    1. edfiasco
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Siggy

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      play siggy!

    3. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Siggy obviously

  22. JimmyCoop
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Help please guys:

    A) Sanchez to Siggy
    B) Silva to Siggy
    C) Save FT

    1. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      B

    2. edfiasco
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      b or c

  23. Pariße
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Sell Konpany or play Simpson/Targett and save a FT?

    1. edfiasco
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Play Simpson

      1. thattreblefeeling
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Play Simpson

      2. Yankee Toffee
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        This.

      3. Pariße
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        thank you!

  24. SAINTS
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Is Ward to S Taylor a terrible idea?

    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      It's Steve Taylor

    2. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      both bad ideas

    3. BabyB
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      will be dropped when colo and mbemba are back. Don't do it imo.

  25. super zlatan
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Morning lads

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Morning Zlat

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Herro

    3. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      giggity

  26. Samwise the Brave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Anyone please (my mavrick side is trying to come out)

    A -Wijnaldum (bench alli or payet) or
    B -Dawson??

  27. SweeSwee
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    West Ham, Leicester and Swansea to win @25/1

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      West Ham won't win

      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Nonsense....

        Great odds for them alone at 4-1

    2. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      I think its good, might as well be 25/1 on west ham win

      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 12 days ago

        Leicester will slip up today

  28. jfxm
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Balls. Typed wrong player in midfield so reposting. G2G or should I go AOA to include Eriksen? If so, what two defenders?

    ---------

    Hart

    Huth, Azpi, Williams

    Siggy, Firmino, Mahrez, Alli

    Kane (C), Aguero, Vardy

    Bench: Hennessey, Eriksen, Van Dijk, Wollscheid.

  29. tisza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    hart or butland??

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      Butters for me

  30. Aladdin Sané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 12 days ago

    Play VVD or Dawson?

    1. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      dawson

    2. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 12 days ago

      dawson