Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 1

I’m not sure it has sunk in yet.

Two weeks ago I left a secure, well paid job producing videogames to dedicate my day-to-day existence to Fantasy Football. Now it matters more than ever.

Of course I’m incredibly blessed to be in that position. To be handed opportunities to write, speak and gesticulate on matters Fantasy Football for a living is something I’d wistfully dreamt about, but never quite believed would materialise.

But Fantasy Football just seems to be on a relentless and quickening path into the mainstream.

The big daily game providers from the US have arrived.

The Premier League are determined to keep the growth of their game accelerating across the world. Other games will react to keep pace. Radio and TV are catching on.

While it would be nice to hunker down and keep our little secret on the dark web, we have to accept that Fantasy Football is being brought to the masses.

I’m now utterly convinced it’s acceptable to open a conversation at family function with an enquiry on who got the assist for Callum Wilson’s goal. I think that’s now permitted and even appreciated by at least another three other people in the room.

However, soon we may not need those incredibly enlightening conversations.

Soon those assists, and perhaps even bonus points, will be fed to us along with the classifieds by an Alexander Gordon. Later today you’ll see that Fantasy Football has become part of the Saturday results service – another step I never thought I’d witness.

My role in spreading Fantasy Football to a wider audience has already been questioned and that’s understandable.

But I don’t think I can fight it. The growth of Fantasy Football either happens with or without us and it seemed I committed my involvement the moment I wrote that first blog post.

Since then, you’ve all played a huge part in getting me to this point. I’m really not sure how to thank you for that – for the support and loyalty you’ve shown (except perhaps by introducing a full desktop view for mobile users).

When things do finally settle and sink in, I’ll have more time to reflect.

For now all I know is that those 15 names on my screen are important to me. More important than ever before.

There’s new responsibility, new pressure and with it an even bigger sense of anticipation and excitement.

Enjoy the kick-off.

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

2,824 Comments Post a Comment
  1. RᴀᴄɪɴɢTᴏᴀᴅ
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Here we fu**ing go!!!!!

  2. Whazza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    musa starts

    1. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      And vaardy and mahrez too

  3. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    The game is being updated.

  4. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    When the site gave everybody a free WC in GW2 a couple of years ago, was it a case of use it this GW - or was there the option to save it and essentially have 2 WC's until January?

    1. Kroos Kontrol
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      An extra WC for GW2 to restructure teams. GW1 points were added. Though that time the website didn't work the entire day as opposed to last 15 mins.

    2. Eton Rifles
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      use immediately

    3. FPL Notebook (John)
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Wildcard for gameweek 2. Points from 1 included. Mini league admins has option to leave out week 1 points

  5. thep025
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Could anyone explain what the free wilcard stuff is about?

    1. MDK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I can't remember exactly but I think one season because the website crashed prior to the first deadline they gave people a free wildcard .....I think

    2. The Royal Robin
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      See above.

  6. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    MUSA STARTS

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    The game is being updated.

  8. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Vardy bench. Wow...

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      You had me then...

  9. faver
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    its over, its done! GL PEOPLE

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

    Well...

  11. Qubit
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    christ can you imagine 3 WCs. Not happy with your team? Dont worry, just play another WC and draft in the same players as everyone else.

  12. Jönny
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I really wasn't sure whether to change my team until I couldn't get into FPL, now I'm utterly convinced that Musa, Oscar and Alli are ESSENTIAL.

  13. kraftwerker
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Here we go.

    Have a good season lads.

  14. Nabs Kebabs
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Musa starts

  15. Guy Demel
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Savage, hours of error messages then straight into game updating without a hitch.

  16. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Musa starts YESSS#

  17. Tinydancer
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    NOOO I HAD MUSA PLANS IF HE STARTED

    1. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      😆

  18. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Okay. I think it's safe to say bomba clot!

  19. Sp0rting
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    #NoFreeWildcard

    #BePrepared

    #WhatHaveYouBeenDoingForTheLastMonthOrSo

    #BembaLovesDaniel

  20. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 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.

  21. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    How come the first match is at 12.30 as opposed to 12.45?

  22. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Dear fpl, can I have an extra bench boost instead of a wildcard please?
    Ta

    1. Guy Demel
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      AOA for all

  23. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    FAAAAAHK, website messed up...couldnt choose captain or do the transfers:(((

    Such an idiot for leaving it so late

  24. thepeen555
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Well that's it's closed not that I been able to get on, luckily I sneaked in a bit earlier and did vardy as my captain and put ramierz back in for now instead of Januzaj

  25. Ziro
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    who get the first lol@vardy in?

  26. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Congratulation to FPL on the appointment of the new tech guys this summer and the revamp of the site...

    "IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT"

    sorry about the shouting.

  27. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Starting XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Hernandez, Morgan (c), Fuchs, Mahrez, King, Drinkwater, Gray, Musa, Vardy.
    Subs: Zieler, Chilwell, Albrighton, Amartey, Kapustka, Okazaki, Ulloa.

    1. Francescoli
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      hulk it

  28. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    @LCFC 17s18 seconds ago

    Starting XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Hernandez, Morgan (c), Fuchs, Mahrez, King, Drinkwater, Gray, Musa, Vardy. #HulLei

  29. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Leicester City ‏@LCFC 11s12 seconds ago
    Starting XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Hernandez, Morgan (c), Fuchs, Mahrez, King, Drinkwater, Gray, Musa, Vardy. #HulLei

  30. Hands Guber
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I see the knobs are out in force ALREADY with the 'you had plenty of time to do it'/'serves you right' like mothers scolding their kids.

    These boards are so toxic on match days.

    Good luck to all.