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. Messsiaah
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Instead of a free WC they should give us 2 FT.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      This

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

    Damn think Musa might do better than vardy now if only it would have let me log in to debate the change

  3. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I had hoped Leicester would be unchanged. Let's hope Musa and Gray don't steal Mahrez's thunder.

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I'm alright with that

    2. Sess!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I must admit I started to contemplate musa in the lead up to deadline.

    3. fiveyears
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Seems like they definitely want to hit them on the counter

      I too hope Mahrez has a good un

  4. davies
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Did anyone go with Kone?

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

      Was going to, but punted on Love for the extra 0.5 in the bank.

      1. Sess!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Love won't be first choice. Might play today but won't be first choice.

    2. Sess!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Me. Happy with him at Sunderland.

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

        Reckon he'll stay?

    3. Coaly
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah

  5. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Gluck Peeps!

    Hope this isn't how the FPL site's behaviour gonna be all season!

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      It was always going to be like that this morning. Some people won't even visit the site for the rest of the season now

  6. Yolo Toure
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I made my transfers after the deadline, am I going to -40 for next week?...

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

    I tried to warn you 4 hours ago...Sorry if you wasn't around

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2016/08/13/the-scoutcast-episode-193/?hc_page=16#hc_comment_13782806

  8. Vratislaviensis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Mark, this is the best site, blog, community (you name it) about fantasy premier league. No question about it, no doubt - 100%. I'm also pretty sure that your beast 😉 contributed to popularity of this game big time. For me, as I'm playing my 7th season now it's simple: no Premier League without Fantasy League, no Fantasy league without FF Scout. I would never thought that this game would become such popular to get to main stream TV but... we're not always right unfortunately 🙂 BIG THANK YOU! Keep doing great job.

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Agreed

    2. BooYaKasha
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      +1

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

    Musa is going to troll us now

  10. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Fpl gotta do something right.
    I couldn't get on the site for since 9 this morning

  11. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Everyone who wishes for a free WC GW2 understands the implication that they already think there team is useless.....

    before a ball has been kicked.

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

      A lot of FPL players change their team endlessly before finally deciding at the death.

  12. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Did Townsend + Valencia + Ibe to Firmino + Mee + Capoue just to see what it looked like about 35 mins ago.. Never got to change it back 🙁 .. sigh. anyway, good luck all

    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Not asking for a free WC btw.. ruined the 2011 season it did. i'm just laughing at my stupidity 😆

      1. tommo75
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Reckon it will be a free WC, was before. Loads of casuals have missed a whole weeks points trying to set up teams this morning. Not sure how you make up for that.

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      lol why did you confirm it then?

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

    I was on the transfer page 5 mins before deadline and didn't have any issues. I'm in UK.

  14. RᴀᴄɪɴɢTᴏᴀᴅ
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Musa and Gray will troll everyone.

  15. Clump
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Gray & Musa.
    Rolling, rolling, rolling. Keep those wagons rolling, Rawhide.

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

    I don't think I have any Leicester players...grrrr....

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

      Relax..it will be 1-1 draw

  17. Darth_Newdar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Went with Vardy in the end, bit scared of Mahrez in this match!

  18. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I just woke up. I had Lenihan (c) just for a laugh

  19. arthadox
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    #HCAFC XI to face #LCFC: Jakupovic, Robertson, Davies, Elmohamady, Meyler, Huddlestone, Snodgrass, Clucas, Livermore, Diomande, Hernandez.

    1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Solid

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

      4.5 nailed on striker

  20. Basil1977
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Musa starts

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

    I really prefer this site when it's season break.

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      It'll all calm down now. The madness is now over

  22. Clumsy Sakho
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    So Musa and gray start - damn it

  23. Junior ⚽
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Website turned to the shitter hope for a free wildcard.

  24. Jscott85
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Doing some last minute tinkering and the website crashed. Don't know what teams gone through, for fuchs sake!!!

    1. flipthebuzzard
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Ditto! That will teach me to keep tinkering - i'll probably have captained Dawson or something ridiculous!?

      1. Jscott85
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Was doing some great changes, well what I thought were great changes. Probably gone in with 8 players.... aaarrrgghhh

  25. George Sillett
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Good luck to everyone today. Enjoy the footie and may all your selections be inspired.

  26. Mull
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Hull: Jakupovic, Mummy, Livermore, Davies, Robertson, Snodgrass, Huddlestone, Meyler, Clucas, Diomande, Hernandez

  27. Spab
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Hull name 3 substitutes...

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

      Embarrasing!

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

    So happy I kept Musa after everyone telling me to upgrade to Vardy.. But I cant speak too soon he could get 2pts and Vardy 10

  29. djenzio
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    love how people have talked themselves into Musa already outscoring their entire team, we all knew he would start but Vardy is still a better option and also better long term option. Musa will see rotation

  30. thepopo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Wildcard activated