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

    Bench:

    A) Silva
    B) Arnautovic
    C) Payet

    Kompany replacement:

    A)Dawson
    B) Liverpool def
    C) Funes Mori

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

      A or B

      A

    2. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Liverpool def, which one did you have in mind?

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

        One out of Clyne, Sakho or Lovren obv.

        Clyne the best pick but the latter two would raise small funds

  2. Old
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Some advice would be highly appreciated 🙂

    1) Any news on Dawson?
    2) Will Alli start?
    3) Bench Alli, Ozil or Arnatovic?
    4) Play Butland or Courtios?

    Thank you

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

      1) 75% 2) Yes 3) Arnie 4) Butland

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

    A) Play one of Azpi, Bellerin, VVD
    B) AOA and play Arnie

    1. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      B

    2. edfiasco
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      B

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

    Siggy captainers unite!

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

      I've bottled it

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

        Ahhh tskkk, i'm taking the gamble.

  5. niloh1
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    vvd or azpi?

    1. the cromulent one
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Azpi.

  6. temo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Play
    A Elliot (SUN)
    B Butland (wat)

    1. the cromulent one
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Butland.
      Mind you, I've been getting that one wrong most weeks.

  7. Higuita
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    This article just screams arrogance on FFS' part

    1. stilicho
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Confidence based on fact is not arrogance

    2. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      I understand Mark's point. Dont think it is arrogant at all.

      I think that just because someone has used a different tactic (played a chip to get up the leaderboard early) doesnt mean it is the wrong tactic though. We shall see. We have to remember that the FFS community is just a small part of the FPL game.

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

      Yeah. I'm at least 30 to 50 points behind all the casuals in my league. They can all just take hits to negate my "careful planning" anyway. It's the season of the casual, and I applaud them for that

      The guy top of my mini league is in his fourth season and his rankings have been
      1.5m
      1.7m
      1.1m
      And this year? Currently 342...

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

        He has absolutely torn me apart for using this site this season. I'm 200k and he's a hundred ahead of me!!!

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

      Agree
      DGW and bench boost will end up failing probably as well

  8. The Tinkerman
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Play Silva or Firmino?

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

      Firmino

  9. Ibracadebruyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Play one...

    A. Özil
    B. Arnie
    C.Traore

    ???

    1. Backup Dancer
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      C

  10. Gideons Rolling Another One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Who to score more this GW:

    A: Alli
    B: Wijnaldum -4 (Bench Alli)
    C: Antonio - 4 (Bench Alli)

    1. temo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      A

      1. Gideons Rolling Another One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        It's the sensible move isn't it.

  11. S.Kuqi
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Will rise to top10K this evening 😎 I can feel it in my balls

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      That might be syphilis I fear

    2. stilicho
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Stop feeling your balls, this is a family site

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        Ha 😀

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

    Siggy or Sanchez. Please help

    1. temo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Siggy

    2. M.I.A.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Siggy

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

      Siggy

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

      Both will go massive today. There has to be someone else. Has to be.

  13. Squires FC
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Play alli over vardy? Currently have alli on the bench.

    1. M.I.A.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Do you own Kane?

  14. Pea Soup
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Pick one for the next couple of weeks:

    Vardy
    Berahino
    Rondon
    Mitrovic
    Defoe

    1. Weasel51
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Defoe

  15. M.I.A.
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Brought Eriksen in a few GW's ago and he does absolutely nothing. This his last chance this week before I ship him BUT it would mean benching Payet to keep him in the team.

    Surely that's not a good enough reason right? Seeing as Payet is in form at the moment...

  16. BMox81
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Who is joining me in wildcarding in the international break?

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Count me in in half an hour or so.

  17. Gianfranco Zola
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Strange that nobody is considering Mahrez (C)

    1. Gideons Rolling Another One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Did at the beginning of the week.

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

      Are you?

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        clearly not, otherwise sombody would be

      2. Gianfranco Zola
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        Nobody except me

    3. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      did that last week
      wont be doing that again any day soon.

  18. jfxm
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Going AOA, what two defenders to play?

    A) Azpi (WHU H)
    B) Williams (AVI H)
    C) Huth (CRY A)
    D) Van Dijk (LIV H)
    E) Wollschied (WAT A)

    1. Puzzle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      AB

    2. the cromulent one
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      B & C.

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

      BC

  19. Gr3g
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Best defender for next two weeks! I want some differential punt that will score me a lot of points! 🙂
    No boring players please, chasing in ML

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Janmaat

      1. Gr3g
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        Got him already

    2. Backup Dancer
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Van Aanholt

      1. Gr3g
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 19 days ago

        Good shout 🙂

  20. Feed tha Sheep
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Is Dawson fit to play this weekend? Or just go with McAuley instead?

  21. Je suis le chat
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Least favourite article of the week, "spare a though,,"

  22. Puzzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    1. Simpson or Silva 1st sub?

    2. Butland or Hennessey?

  23. SANTACLAUS
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    90% of questions people ask here have been answered akready on previous pages if they read it lol

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

      Yep. Though the ones that will be asking won't see this post either 😉

    2. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      yeah, but mine hasn't 🙂

  24. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    "Eden Hazard ruled out of Chelsea's clash with West Ham."

    He was ruled out for the season long time ago...

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      They play better without him this season

  25. 50pipsDaily
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Elliot
    Toby, Williams
    Sanchez, Mahrez, Alli, Siggy, Yaya*
    Kun, Vardy, Kane

    Hennessy, Bellerin, VVD, Simpson

    Play my AOA this week, stick with Yaya and save FT or switch to:

    A) Traore
    B) Firmino
    C) Payet

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      If you don't play for WC in 33, Firmino from those (for obvious reasons)
      if you will, then punt on Traore! with Costa and Haz out he will play

  26. jfxm
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    When is the best week to use AOA?

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

      Back in GW23 😉

  27. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Is it worth AoA to use Alli over Wolly?

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

      Yes Bournemouth at Home, should do well

  28. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    siggy or vardy?

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      Siggy obviously

  29. The Tinkerman
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Captain still changing now, between:

    A) Kane
    B) Siggy
    C) Mahrez

    Help!

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 19 days ago

      I think it should be between A and B tbh
      But that's stressing everyone out

      If you're leading, go A, if you're chasing go B
      I'm chasing so have gone B

  30. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 19 days ago

    Just deciding whether to put the armband on Siggy or Kane this week has me stressed out, imagine the panic on confirming my wildcard just before the gameweek 33 deadline