[sbu_large_image] Opinion
10 September 2016 1920 comments
Mark Mark
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Spiderman (or was it Spiderm4tt?) once said – “with great power comes great responsibility”.

That definitely chimes for any Fantasy Premier League manager with a Wildcard active.

The seemingly endless possibilities in front of us is dazzling and confusing but the burden is almost too much.

The gut wrenching feeling when a Wildcard is played and is perceived as “wasted” is an emotion that lingers in memory.

When it hits, we look for anything, any crumb of comfort that will help us justify decisions in order to ensure we leap a pit of despair.

Initially, the excitement and the sheer relief granted by the opportunity to refresh our squad mask these doubts.

It’s only now, hours before committing our decisions, that the doubts creep towards us. That we remember, with dread, how it feels when a Wildcard backfires.

In previous seasons I have likened it to a supermarket dash. That analogy still rings true.

You speed through, giggling at the choice and freedom you have been granted. Only to look back when the opportunity is gone and immediately begin to wonder what has been missed, what opening has been passed up.

For me, the pressure has been intensified. I’ll be sharing the fallout from my Wildcard with a bigger audience than ever. Revealing my errors and forcing myself to justify decisions and back-peddling.

Already that’s having an impact. I’m perhaps putting too much stock in bandwagons like Raheem Sterling – afraid that I’m missing the obvious, I’m backing these players for fear I’ll be exposed.

I’ve seen posts this morning questioning those still debating Wildcard decisions.

But I’m firmly in that camp.

Such is the power of the Wildcard, no decision can ever be finalised, even at this late stage.

We give ourselves the chance to deliberate every position right to the end. It stands to reason that we will keep doing that – we will keep replaying and rebalancing player vs player scenarios until the bell tolls.

It’s a tortuous process that absorbs us but one of the key pleasures of playing this game, particularly when we can share the agony on these pages.

I’ve enjoyed reading through the deliberation over the international break. I’m still reading now, adding your opinions to my own in order to finish this process once and for all.

There’s an expectation from myself and others that I’ll overcome my mediocre start to the season and a successful Wildcard is likely key to that.

My spider senses are tingling – I’m not sure I’m up to bearing all this responsibility.

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

1,920 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Capoue (whm) or Stones (mun) first sub?

    Thanks

    1. Dark_Mata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Capoue for me

  2. kalmoffit
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez (c)> Ibra (c)> Sanchez (c)
    Any more changes needed?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I just did Sanchez (c) > Hazard (c) > Sanchez (c) haha

  3. Ayew Holding Mee Cork
    10 years, 1 month ago

    My final WC team. Good luck everyone!

    Heaton
    Baines Valencia Friend
    Ozil Hazard(C) Sterling Antonio
    Lukaku Defoe Ibra

    Sub: Pickford, Evans, Capoue, Amat

  4. RAFA THE GAFFA
    10 years, 1 month ago

    ALEXIS

    ZLATAN

    EDEN

    If Alexis starts that's my preference! Best player in the league behind Kun for me

    1. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Why are you shouting?

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      10 years, 1 month ago

      COS I'M AFRAID!!! Hah

  5. Torres76
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone buying Payet? Will he play this gameweek?

    1. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      25k transfers in.

  6. Syd.
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Does anyone know anything about fantasy football?

    I need a bit of advice

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

      not sure you have come to the right place

    2. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      No on here. Have you tried Brazzers?

    3. kalmoffit
      10 years, 1 month ago

      You've come to the wrong place

  7. Chaps Before Baps
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Start which one?

    A)Capoue
    B) Diomande
    C) Stones

    1. Le _ Professeur
      10 years, 1 month ago

      B

  8. Mr. Recruiter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Currently have Giroud up front, bit of a differential.

    Any chance he doesnt start?

    1. SweeSwee
      10 years, 1 month ago

      There's always a chance Giroud doesn't start in my opinion

    2. Le _ Professeur
      10 years, 1 month ago

      He probably will 🙂

    3. Mr. Recruiter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks, now I'm panicking!

  9. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 1 month ago

    No gundogan

    1. Syd.
      10 years, 1 month ago

      No surprise

  10. Doar1986
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you captain

    A. Hazard
    B. Costa
    C. Sanchez
    D. Lukaku

    Thinking Costa as Hazard is away from home?

  11. SweeSwee
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard away from home
    Sanchez maybe benched
    Might just captain Firminho

    1. James H
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thinking the same!

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I'm tempted by Cazorla tbh....why not

  12. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Play Stones (mun) or Kone (EVE)?

    Really struggling to choose.

  13. LE GOD(C)-AMERICAN DYCHO-(1…
    10 years, 1 month ago

    On WC

    A - Sanchez and Cazorla

    Or

    B - Ozil and Mane

    1. Prison Mike
      10 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. Redalert
      10 years, 1 month ago

      B

  14. FearGorm
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Status of Lamela - likely to play or not?

    Away past couple of days so not up to date on rumours of him being dropped?

  15. Coffee
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I'm on WC and have Sanchez, but considering downgrading to Ozil to free up cash and upgrade defence a bit.... sanity check please...

    1. CERVELO
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I've done that

    2. Christina.
      10 years, 1 month ago

      ofc

    3. CERVELO
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Gone Ozil & Mane rather than previously having Sanchez & Antonio

  16. CERVELO
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Which of these 3

    1) Baines
    2) Valencia
    3) McAuley
    4) Collins
    5) Amat

  17. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Gray(C)

    might as well

    1. Ghost86
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I see a gray hatrick

  18. FDMS All Starz
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Last call for captain poll, HAZARD OR LUKAKU

  19. Hobolicious
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Norwegian PL commentator saying there is a rumour Zlatan is injured and that Lingard and Mkhitaryan starts. This place would go mental, haha.

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

      more likely Mkhitaryan is injured imo

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      10 years, 1 month ago

      0-0 confirmed

  20. Bushido
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Bains to outscore Lukaku?

  21. 404_FC
    10 years, 1 month ago

    this maybe help ?

    cs odd

    ars, bou 1.3
    liv 1.375
    mid 1.4
    tot 1.45
    whm 1.5
    bur, che, eve 1.625
    mun, hul 1.875
    cpa 2.1
    wba 2.4

    GL

  22. Christina.
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Is Robson Kanu nailed?

    1. Syd.
      10 years, 1 month ago

      He's not fit and also he is crap

  23. Dr Dream
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Crikey...I didn't expect that.

    Little lad brought in Costa and Vardy....Mmmmm....

  24. For Fuchs Sake
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Start Souare or Kone?

  25. RuudVanNistelrooney
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Giroud or Lukaku

  26. Rolls-Royce
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Guys, Any truth in these Sanchez rumors? Mahrez-> Sanchez for -4 looks dumb now.

    1. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      What rumours?

      1. Rolls-Royce
        10 years, 1 month ago

        rumors that he has not travelled.., not in starting XI...

        1. Nabs Kebabs
          10 years, 1 month ago

          I'd hope he hasn't travelled anywhere

        2. Count of Monte Hristo
          10 years, 1 month ago

          No need to travel, Arsenal are at home

  27. goran
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Heaton or de Gea for this GW?

    1. Bushido
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Heaton

  28. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 1 month ago

    West ham team out. Wont post it as its not official but lanzini and antonio are in it

    1. Chrissy Waddle - 2025/26
      10 years, 1 month ago

      404 Official Team Not Found.

    2. Bushido
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Are you sure??

    3. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Are you trolling?

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 years, 1 month ago

        No

    4. Le _ Professeur
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Zaza ?

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Starts

    5. QPR expects... glory!
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Collins?

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Starts

  29. Chrissy Waddle - 2025/26
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Playing AOA chip.

    7 out of 8 of my attackers are playing away.

    No home comforts for me this week. 😕

  30. KISSES
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Love that volley game on Soccer AM!