[sbu_large_image] Preamble
13 August 2016 2824 comments
Mark Mark
Share:

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.

  1. foley_fd
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Template:

    Foster or Heaton
    Stones / Friend / Valencia or Shaw
    Firmino / Hazard / Mahrez / Redmond
    Aguero / Vardy or Ibra / Gray

    4.5 / 4.0 / 4.5

    Sound about right?

    1. waldo666
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Hazard over Mahrez I would say

      1. foley_fd
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        I've got both.

        Who is missing? Or are you downgrading one to upgrade the defence?

    2. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      You cant aford ibra kun and that mid

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

      Not seen too many with Mahrez on this site, but aside from that you nailed it.

      1. foley_fd
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Who are you guys going with instead of Mahrez?

    4. Morbius
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Sounds right.

      I've got 10/15.

      Foster, Heaton, Stones, Valencia, 4.5, 4.0, Firm, 4.5, Aguero, Vardy.

  2. Dark_Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Good luck all. Here we go

  3. Mumm-Ra
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Morning morning!

    Forster
    Bailly Stones Walker
    Townsend De Bruyne Hazard Firmino
    Negredo Aguero (c) Carroll

    GTG?

    1. Dark_Mata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Excellent

    2. Lazarus Star
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      You have no choice now

      1. Mumm-Ra
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Lol, i know!!

  4. Basil1977
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    No last minute tinkering for me, can't get logged on the FPL site.

    Really hope the Souare starts now, if not auto sub Friend it is

  5. Fowler23
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    FFS.
    FPL has crashed. Free wildcard pls

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

      With 9 minutes to go? You've had weeks to do your team.

      1. Grounderz
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Not the same for new joiners who are new to the game, who was also seemed to be urged to join by friends and acquaintances... all last day.

  6. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Don't forget - deadline bingo - free WC for the winner.

    1. Ziro
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      I never forgot. I am winning it this week.

      1. Ziro
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Err, the site doesn't show seconds now šŸ™

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          I know, big issue that, I'll just guess the winner...

  7. Lazarus Star
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Ibra > Vardy

    Computer says "No".

  8. Bobmarley121
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Ali or firmino

    1. Red Devil Swede
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Just did Alli to Firmino

      1. Bobmarley121
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Is that due to first 3 fixtures?

  9. RomeluStormzy
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Best 4 mill defender?

    Argh 10 minutes?!

    1. myboycharlie
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Amat

  10. FISSH
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Yep... FPL is broken.

  11. The Royal Robin
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    The net is down but you can still use the app. Chill people.

  12. woody3260
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    vardy and oscar

    musa and hazard?

    1. Red Devil Swede
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      The first

  13. Bucky Barnes
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Looks like the FPL sites crashed

  14. Ruth_NZ
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    "Maximum threads for service reached".

    Lovely. šŸ™

    1. Bucky Barnes
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Need a couple more web servers and learn to load balance correctly

  15. Francescoli
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Hello Oscar šŸ™‚

  16. Clump
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    They seriously need a kick up the backside for not coping with gw1.
    In terms of brand damage, that's over 3 million miffed people!

  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    good luck all

    1. Clump
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      GL

  18. MDK
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    It's times like this I'm glad I set my team an hour ago

  19. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    My own fault but still have Gray but want Wilson, come on!

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      I went Wilson! 2 Sunday televised games in a row helps haha

    2. Clump
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Watch Gray catch fire!

    3. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Probably for the best I own him and that is never a good start

    4. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      to you all, I want Wilson so we can bask in the glory!

  20. Niemi
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Did some knee jerk transfer. This defence is way to weak, right?

    Heaton - Jakupovic
    Valencia - Friend - Evans - McNair - Amat
    Hazard - Mahrez - Tadic - Townsend - Capoue
    Aguero - Kane - Gray

  21. Tiamani Warrior
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    wow I'm going to be so peeved if there is another free wildcard

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Won't happen

  22. Repetive Expletive
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Asked the wife will Coq be getting played tomorrow...she said no to both...

    1. French Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      hahahhaha

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      šŸ˜†

  23. Mickey Tyrion™
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Is the mobile app working? I dont want to mess my team up and risk a transfer if its shaky too right now

  24. 1zverGGademN
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    last second changes...

    Who is more likely to score?

    A) Diouf
    B) Joselu
    C) Nugent
    D) Vokes

    Thanks!

  25. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Mark, you sir are a legend !

    Always loved the Pre-Match -Preamble

    Good luck everyone !

  26. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Poor Optimum can't blow his WC in GW2

  27. NUFCAndrew
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Tadic and Lamela

    or

    Alli/Eriksen and Redmond

  28. Puyol Pants Up
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    imagine if we all get a free WC šŸ™‚

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

      We do.

      READ THE RULES MAN!

    2. Baby Cuties
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      did that actually happen a few seasons back when there was a crash?

      1. myboycharlie
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah it did I remember everyone was getting vorm as keeper after making about 16 saves against city,

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

    I have no sympathy for those who are now trying to log in to FPL.

    They should have been prepared, well researched and on their game and had their panic team sorted about an hour ago, like me.

    1. El Patron
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      F OFF

  30. smash
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Feghouli or Antonio (playing the Sun Game, europa league games count) who will get more minutes?

    Thanks