[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.

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  1. Whazza
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Jonathan Shrager ‏@JonathanShrager 3 min
    I've just been informed Mkhitaryan and Lingard are starting for #MUFC

    1. TheBusDriver
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ahead of Martial and Mata

  2. Your Mum's Athletic
    10 years, 1 month ago

    @JonathanShrager 2m2 minutes ago

    I've just been informed Mkhitaryan and Lingard are starting for #MUFC

    1. Ziro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      *Drafts in Mkhitaryan

    2. Jafooli
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Da faq.....

    3. Lawrø
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ibrahimovic benched? Would make sense against Pep's high line

      1. Whazza
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Would make no sense

        1. Lawrø
          10 years, 1 month ago

          😉

    4. Jazz!
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Mkhi punt?

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

      Shrager. 😆

    6. Ziro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      IBRA BENCHED???

    7. tambourineman
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Mata and Martial dropped?

  3. OPTA FPL
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Where are you Giroud owners, show your hands!

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

      Raises hand

    2. Konig Luther
      10 years, 1 month ago

      worried about Giroud bench

  4. Ziro
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Was it Christina who said Everton away to Sunderland only 1 goal in 4 matches?

    1. Hurrikane
      10 years, 1 month ago

      think so

    2. Christina.
      10 years, 1 month ago

      maybe

      1. Christina.
        10 years, 1 month ago

        *2 in last 4

        1. Ziro
          10 years, 1 month ago

          god enough. thx.

      2. Ziro
        10 years, 1 month ago

        definitely then.

    3. kalmoffit
      10 years, 1 month ago

      History

    4. ☻ Jon Snow ☻
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Was it also mentioned they have Koeman now

      1. Christina.
        10 years, 1 month ago

        ...and Sunderland now have Moyes....that record was when Big Sam/Di canio/Dick were at the helm...

        lol

  5. Another Hoops
    10 years, 1 month ago

    After at least 17 drafts my WC team is done

  6. faver
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Eden is seriously that weak away?

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Nah

  7. SweeSwee
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Firminho (c) confirmed.
    Leicester/Liverpoool to be a goalfest

    1. threeputt
      10 years, 1 month ago

      yeah was tempted martial to firmino, until i saw firmino could drop so I wait

    2. Natas
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I've gone off deep end and captained mane

    3. Dr Dream
      10 years, 1 month ago

      My lad brought Vardy in for the same reason....

  8. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Any starting 4mil defender other than Amat?

    1. Swanny18
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Possibly Love for Sunderland, don't think he's nailed though

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

    Thingy has picked up a last minute injury and will miss todays game

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      10 years, 1 month ago

      So not a Chelsea player...

  10. The Tinkerman
    10 years, 1 month ago

    WC Snodgrass or Puncheon

    1. Jasoooooooo
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Snodgrass

    2. George Sillett
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Puncheon.

  11. Dušan Citizen
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Will Lamela start?

    1. Whazza
      10 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. Prison Mike
      10 years, 1 month ago

      50/50 id say, I shipped him for Ozil

    3. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

      Who knows

    4. Jebiga
      10 years, 1 month ago

      yes. 100%. he is the best player in spurs team last 6 months

  12. Arteta
    10 years, 1 month ago

    https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/774553063042392064

    Anyone dare to take a punt on Perez?

  13. ☻ Jon Snow ☻
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck everyone. Just an hour left for kick off 🙂

  14. Syd.
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Bravooooooooooo

  15. stefankiknun
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Keep Collins this week or transfer to Jagielka? (Free)

    1. Jasoooooooo
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Keep Collins

      1. stefankiknun
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers!

  16. FPLEL
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Lukaku or Costa?

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Too late.

      But lukaku if you have haz otherwise costa

      Too late.

  17. PlayON
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Killian here from PlayON,

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    Gameweek 4 - 12.30 UK time deadline:

    £1,000 Guaranteed (£22 entry) - 22 entries
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    Daily Sat 10th Sept - 15.00 UK time deadline:

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    1. Jafooli
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Not now Killian....deadline bingo in 2 mins....

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

        He always pops up at this time 😆

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

      Just in time

    3. Your Mum's Athletic
      10 years, 1 month ago

      NOT NOW

  18. Bushido
    10 years, 1 month ago

    You should give up now, there's only 4 minutes left.

    1. George Sillett
      10 years, 1 month ago

      What ?

    2. kalmoffit
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Time for one more captaincy change

  19. Sihproma
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Foster

    Baines mcauley Masuaku

    Erriksen hazzard redmond payet

    Ibra benteke lukaku

    Sub: pickford valencia hoijberg amat

    No sanchez

  20. Epic Fail
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Everyone asking questions, nobody answering. Best time on the site 😎

    1. Jafooli
      10 years, 1 month ago

      😆

    2. Jasoooooooo
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Hahaha lol

    3. Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Token answer

    4. Hurrikane
      10 years, 1 month ago

      love seeing it hit the fan.
      Repost after Repost

    5. Lawrø
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I love the chaos

    6. George Sillett
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Fabulous . Same old questions too.

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

    play redmond or stones?

    1. william prunier
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Benched both

  22. The Royal Robin
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez or Haz for (c)?

    1. Jasoooooooo
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Haz

    2. Le _ Professeur
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Haz more safe

  23. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    10 years, 1 month ago

    i dont use the fpl app but i love the fact it reminds you about the deadline

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

    No Zlatan means WE RIOT

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      10 years, 1 month ago

      ?

    2. Jasoooooooo
      10 years, 1 month ago

      ????

    3. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Yes Zlatan

  25. Mohit20
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Van djik or friend??

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

      Friend

    2. william prunier
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Friend

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

    Gibson (MID) nailed?

  27. Hantakun
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Barkley or sterling?

    Have lukaku

    1. F4L
      10 years, 1 month ago

      barkley

    2. william prunier
      10 years, 1 month ago

      The dog

    3. Rolls-Royce
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling. Why so late?

      1. Hantakun
        10 years, 1 month ago

        I know, the distractions of parenting is affecting my FPL responsibilities.

    4. Hantakun
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks, all. Went with Barkley.

  28. Whazza
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Sam Wallace ‏@SamWallaceTel 1 min
    Jesse Lingard and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to start for MUFC ...

  29. LeicesterA
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Foster or Jaku? Aaaah!

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

    Iheanachooooo