[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. Lecky Legs FC
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Come on Nolito be my differential

  2. makaveli70
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    I think that Rashford will shin

  3. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Which respective wings are lingard and Mkhitaryan playing on?

    1. Clump
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Lin left, id imagine

    2. Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      They aren't....

  4. Ghost86
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Ozil (c)
    Anybody else?

  5. glufs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    So, I did 32 transfers to catch the prices rices during the national break. How do I play the wildcard before gameweek 4 starts?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Course you did.

    2. Teddy Brewski
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Lol

    3. Hurrikane
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      terrible gag but did giggle

    4. La Vida Latte
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      My rival actually did this one year...

    5. squits
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      lol

  6. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    No Hart, Kompany, Aguero, Zabaleta or Yaya today for city...times are a changing indeed

  7. AnotherBareBum
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Heaton (Pickford)
    Bains,Valencia,Galloway(Friend,Amat)
    Haz,Ozil,Payet,Lallana,(Fletcher)
    Defoe,Ibra,Benteke

    on WC what you think peeps

    1. AnotherBareBum
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      so scared

  8. For Fuchs Sake
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Plenty of pace in that United team!

  9. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Just been told Alexis not starting. Not confirmed 100% but we'll see at 2pm

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      didn't you say he would 100% start?

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 11 days ago

        I did but theres been a change. I can't say 100% though. Wait and see, people are saying different things.

        1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 17 Years
          10 years, 11 days ago

          Why are folk having a go. I've got sanchez and I don't want to hear this but he's obviously passing on info not to troll but to let us know what he's heard.

          1. Count of Monte Hristo
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 11 days ago

            You basically know as little about it as the rest of us.

            1. Qaiss
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 11 days ago

              I have sanchez and would have taken him out. Why would I go round telling people he's starting and pick him myself too? I would have taken him out if I was trolling.

            2. Qaiss
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 11 days ago

              Lets just wait and see. Start or no start, he can make an impact. Im annoyed too seeing as I was told he was starting so I picked him.

    2. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      I've been told he is starting.

      1. TheBusDriver
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 days ago

        I've been told he's starting and he's not.

        1. Epic Fail
          • 16 Years
          10 years, 11 days ago

          Must be true if you've been told that then, but how 😮

          1. Qaiss
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 11 days ago

            I hope he does start. Lets wait and see. Ive also been told he is and he isn't as well.

    3. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      First of many trolling posts 🙂

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 11 days ago

        I have Sanchez mate

        1. dcarlito
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 11 days ago

          Good for you mate. So Wenger was on the blower to you? 😉

  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Who your cappers?

    1. Arteta
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Left it on Sanchez.

    2. Teddy Brewski
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Haz. Was Sanchez but the uncertainty put me off

    3. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Eden

    4. Sponge-worthy
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Lukaku!!

    5. Syd.
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Antonio on the FPL App

      Hazard on the FPL site

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 11 days ago

        😀

    6. Rolls-Royce
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Lukakaka .. 😆

    7. Licky
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Mesut.

    8. Clump
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Mane ! 🙂

    9. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Alexis. Just got him in, have to go hard or go home.

    10. thunder_mike
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Haz

    11. squits
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Hazard. Looked at Costa but scared of a red card!

    12. Supersonic
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Lukaku! Bottled it last minute and took it off Sanchez

  11. threeputt
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Martial was the problem I had all week, decided to stick unfortunately.......now I need a no show or a late goal as a sub

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      I got rid, he was terrible last time against Hull, no surprise he got dropped, being subbed on 59 minutes last time out was enough for me

  12. Syd.
    • 17 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Ive got a stinking cold 🙁

  13. Vinyl78LP
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Bugger, found the team at 11.28 - FPL then rejected my Martial OUT change.

  14. Davido989
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    11:28 Sanchez, Antonio, Iheanacho, McAuley, Capoue to Ozil, Lanzini, Lukaku, Evans, Meyler

    *saw Iheanacho starts*

    11:29 Ozil, Lanzini, Lukaku to Sanchez, Antonio, Iheanacho. Couldn't afford McAuley and Capoue back so lost 0.2.

    11:30 Game updated. I don't know who my captain is?

    😎

    1. Hurrikane
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      hahhaahh

    2. Cojiro
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Brilliant

  15. TheBusDriver
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    I knew as soon as the transfer window shut he would drop Mata

    1. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      I know

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Sad little man

  16. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    man how funny was big train 😆

  17. faver
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    GL lads!
    Wish you high scores!

  18. rdamjan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Mkhitaryan and Lingard starts...

    1. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Mata and Martial dropped. Spells a big change in tactics for Mourinho

  19. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Would have had Mkhi over Martial but not Lingaard over Mata, suggests counter attack with some serious pace from Maureen team today

    1. SW6
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Rooney will do his best to slow down all counter attacks no doubt.

    2. ChampChomp
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Would you not have had just Mikhi over Mata then. Martial is probably our quickest attacker

    3. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Early season big game. Mou always plays tight, no loss is 1st priority.

  20. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Well done those who picked a Hammer def. CS locked in.....

    1. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      ?

  21. Arceus
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Rashford to score the winner again in injury time. 1-0

  22. Sandy Ravage
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Valencia, Ibra & Sterling. Predicting 2-1 to Man U, hoping for an Ibra brace with Valencia & Sterling assist to get the GW off to a good start.

  23. Johnny Drama
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Thought the deadline was at 1 pm, didn't activate my WC.
    -40 points

    I'm cryint

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      why did you do that anyway?

      1. Johnny Drama
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 11 days ago

        Logged in to activate it but it was to late

    2. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      only have yourself to blame if this is true

    3. Rolls-Royce
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Damn! Feel sorry for ya.

    4. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Still no link...

      1. Ziro
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 days ago

        this.

    5. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Why did you not activate the Wildcard 2 weeks ago? Have you ever seen a 1pm deadline for FPL before!

    6. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Proof?

    7. Chrissy Waddle - 2025/26
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Your need for attention needs addressing.

      You're not crying.

  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    rashford to start the europa league game with ibra rested then?

    1. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Rashford will start all midweek games this season

    2. Chrissy Waddle - 2025/26
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      This was always going to happen.

  25. AnotherBareBum
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Jesse go on son

  26. Captain Vantastic™
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    How long does the new update takes?

  27. KP02
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Anyone else have that horrible feeling that they made a poor last minute change....

    Got Ozil and Lukaku for Sanchez and Iheanacho......

    Hope it doesn't come back to bite me!

  28. BB-8
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    Costa (C). Lets do this!

  29. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    These teams stink of a 0-0 imo

    1. Syd.
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Maureen parking the bus

    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Both teams are pretty exciting

    3. For Fuchs Sake
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 days ago

      With Jesse and Mik in the team?

  30. Dušan Citizen
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 days ago

    City bench please?

    1. AA33
      10 years, 11 days ago

      Caballero, Zabaleta, Fernando, Sane, Clichy, Navas, A.Garcia