[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, 1 month ago

    Come on Nolito be my differential

  2. makaveli70
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I think that Rashford will shin

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

    Which respective wings are lingard and Mkhitaryan playing on?

    1. Clump
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Lin left, id imagine

    2. Dr Dream
      10 years, 1 month ago

      They aren't....

  4. Ghost86
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Ozil (c)
    Anybody else?

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

      Course you did.

    2. Teddy Brewski
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Lol

    3. Hurrikane
      10 years, 1 month ago

      terrible gag but did giggle

    4. La Vida Latte
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

      My rival actually did this one year...

    5. squits
      10 years, 1 month ago

      lol

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

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

  7. AnotherBareBum
    10 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      so scared

  8. For Fuchs Sake
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Plenty of pace in that United team!

  9. Qaiss
    10 years, 1 month ago

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

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      10 years, 1 month ago

      didn't you say he would 100% start?

      1. Qaiss
        10 years, 1 month 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 …
          10 years, 1 month 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
            10 years, 1 month ago

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

            1. Qaiss
              10 years, 1 month 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, 1 month 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
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I've been told he is starting.

      1. TheBusDriver
        10 years, 1 month ago

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

        1. Epic Fail
          10 years, 1 month ago

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

          1. Qaiss
            10 years, 1 month 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
      10 years, 1 month ago

      First of many trolling posts 🙂

      1. Qaiss
        10 years, 1 month ago

        I have Sanchez mate

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

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

  10. Jafooli
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Who your cappers?

    1. Arteta
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Left it on Sanchez.

    2. Teddy Brewski
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Haz. Was Sanchez but the uncertainty put me off

    3. Give The Todd Some Love
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Eden

    4. Sponge-worthy
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Lukaku!!

    5. Syd.
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio on the FPL App

      Hazard on the FPL site

      1. Jafooli
        10 years, 1 month ago

        😀

    6. Rolls-Royce
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Lukakaka .. 😆

    7. Licky
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Mesut.

    8. Clump
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Mane ! 🙂

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

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

    10. thunder_mike
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Haz

    11. squits
      10 years, 1 month ago

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

    12. Supersonic
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Lukaku! Bottled it last minute and took it off Sanchez

  11. threeputt
    10 years, 1 month 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
      10 years, 1 month 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.
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Ive got a stinking cold 🙁

  13. Vinyl78LP
    10 years, 1 month ago

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

  14. Davido989
    10 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      hahhaahh

    2. Cojiro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Brilliant

  15. TheBusDriver
    10 years, 1 month ago

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

    1. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I know

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

      Sad little man

  16. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    10 years, 1 month ago

    man how funny was big train 😆

  17. faver
    10 years, 1 month ago

    GL lads!
    Wish you high scores!

  18. rdamjan
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Mkhitaryan and Lingard starts...

    1. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      10 years, 1 month ago

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

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

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

    2. ChampChomp
      10 years, 1 month ago

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

    3. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 1 month ago

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

  20. Jafooli
    10 years, 1 month ago

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

    1. Give The Todd Some Love
      10 years, 1 month ago

      ?

  21. Arceus
    10 years, 1 month ago

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

  22. Sandy Ravage
    10 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

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

    I'm cryint

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      10 years, 1 month ago

      why did you do that anyway?

      1. Johnny Drama
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Logged in to activate it but it was to late

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

      only have yourself to blame if this is true

    3. Rolls-Royce
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Damn! Feel sorry for ya.

    4. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Still no link...

      1. Ziro
        10 years, 1 month ago

        this.

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

      Proof?

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

      Your need for attention needs addressing.

      You're not crying.

  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    10 years, 1 month ago

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

    1. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Rashford will start all midweek games this season

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

      This was always going to happen.

  25. AnotherBareBum
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Jesse go on son

  26. Captain Vantastic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 1 month ago

    How long does the new update takes?

  27. KP02
    10 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

    Costa (C). Lets do this!

  29. Bøwstring The Carp
    10 years, 1 month ago

    These teams stink of a 0-0 imo

    1. Syd.
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Maureen parking the bus

    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Both teams are pretty exciting

    3. For Fuchs Sake
      10 years, 1 month ago

      With Jesse and Mik in the team?

  30. Dušan Citizen
    10 years, 1 month ago

    City bench please?

    1. AA33
      10 years, 1 month ago

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