[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. Soopaboonch'o'lad…
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Tissues in the office

  2. Bushido
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Valencia to score, I benched Shaw for Evans. So a clean sheet is no good for Utd.

    1. BB-8
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Costa is where the points are at

      1. BB-8
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Reply fail

  3. 24hrstudent
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Stones 89th minute goal and clean sheet incoming - dropped to my bench so almost guaranteed he performs this week.

    1. AA33
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Haha

  4. AnotherBareBum
    10 years, 1 month ago

    That team screams capt Zlatan. Bring it on Cant wait.

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

      I'm in the same boat.

  5. Norfolk&Chance
    10 years, 1 month ago

    If Sanchez a no show - ive got Puncheon 1st sub. So its all gravy.

    1. Make United Great Again
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Highly doubt he won't get minutes

  6. Bøwstring The Carp
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Pep on Sterling and Gundogan:

    "I think he [Sterling] can play as a striker if we need. If you need a striker for the crosses, no. If you need a striker to move between the lines - movements behind the back four - he can do that."

    "Ilkay is a player that when he is fit, he is quick with the ball, he can pass with one or two touches, he is so intelligent. He is an attacking central defender or midfielder on the ball, he can arrive in the second line in the box. He has a lot of personality. With penalties, he can shoot. He had a lot of injuries in the past."

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3782510/Pep-Guardiola-reveals-Raheem-Sterling-play-Manchester-City-s-striker-Sergio-Aguero-s-absence.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

  7. Jazz!
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Mkhitaryan you beauty 😎 Got him in my WC team 😎

    1. TheBusDriver
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Nice punt.

    2. Make United Great Again
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Nice one.

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      10 years, 1 month ago

      great pick

    4. Rolls-Royce
      10 years, 1 month ago

      points coming.

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

      Not bad, I hope the risk pays off for you

    6. Ayew Serious
      10 years, 1 month ago

      If you had longer to think about it you wouldn't have picked him

      1. Puntillimon
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Reading this comment with your name first gives it an extra edge

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

      Brave, well done.

    8. Jazz!
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks lads

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

    I had a dream yesterday that United won 6-2
    Nolito 2 goals
    Ibra 1 goal
    Rooney 4 assists

    1. Bushido
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Valencia 1 goal and an assist.

    2. Ayew Serious
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Mkhi five goals I presume

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

        I checked on FPL and that's all I remember. My captain was Aguero which is when I woke up from the nightmare

        1. Ayew Serious
          10 years, 1 month ago

          😆

    3. threeputt
      10 years, 1 month ago

      that would do me fine

    4. AnotherBareBum
      10 years, 1 month ago

      4 own goals?

    5. AnotherBareBum
      10 years, 1 month ago

      actually dreamed 2 nil Zlatan double

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

      Did Brook win?

  9. Weeb Kakashi
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Heaton Pickford
    Valencia Baines Masuaku Evans Amat
    Hazard Sanchez Payet Antonio Sterling
    Costa Defoe Diomande

    Fully Confident! Costa(C)

    1. Pub Crawl to the Townsend
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Agreed. My captain too

  10. El Patron
    10 years, 1 month ago

    RMT

    DDG

    Valencia Friend Terry McCauley

    Payet Hazard(C) Barkley

    Vardy Giroud Gray

    Bench: Jaku, Kone, Redmond, Hojbjerg

    Should I have started Redmond?

    1. Bushido
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

  11. TheBusDriver
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Switched from Ibra (c) to Costa (c) at the last minute. Idk if it was confirmed though.

    1. Ayew Serious
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Bus driver should be on time

    2. Pub Crawl to the Townsend
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Good move

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

      You'll seriously regret that. Mark my words...

  12. CREAM
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Rashford will come on for Lingard and score... you heard it here first 😉

  13. XLNC
    10 years, 1 month ago

    2-2

    2x Zlatan
    Own goal Valencia
    Own Goal Shaw

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I'd take that

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

      Why not have Valencia and Shaw get a red card each too

    3. Bushido
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I need Valencia to perform and maybe Shaw if sanchez doesn't play 🙁

  14. PlayON
    10 years, 1 month ago

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    1. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Spam.

      Reported.

      1. Ziro
        10 years, 1 month ago

        reported the report.

    2. Ayew Serious
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Killian
      Killi
      Kill
      Kill m
      Kill me

  15. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    10 years, 1 month ago

    i benched stones............0-0 locked in now

  16. George Sillett
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Rumour going round OT Ibra is injured. Who made that crap up ?

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

      Rashford

    2. Fitzy.
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Pep

    3. AnotherBareBum
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I think Zlatan would need to be dead not to play v pep

    4. Ziro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Apple coming up with ibra 2.0

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

      A rumour at Old Trafford? maybe they saw him wince in a warm up?

    6. Jimmy Boy
      10 years, 1 month ago

      He's in the team, and wouldn't miss playing against Pep for anything

  17. CREAM
    10 years, 1 month ago

    untied 3 - 2 city
    Ibra x2
    rashford

    sterling
    nolito

  18. Jafooli
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Team Sweden - look on the bright side. You still have your WC.

    1. Ziro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      *Wild side

    2. Clump
      10 years, 1 month ago

      🙂

    3. EmreCan Hustle
      10 years, 1 month ago

      What's the dull side?

    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      10 years, 1 month ago

      😆

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

    Fellaini to get first booking looks easy money

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

      Rooney for diving

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

        Well it is Clattenburg in the middle so Utd won't be getting any penalties then

  20. Mark-O
    10 years, 1 month ago

    City 4231 or 433?

    1. Ziro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      11 men only.

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      10 years, 1 month ago

      433

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

      4141 it seems

  21. ElDaddy
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Lingard over Rashford? (Presuming Lingard plays on the left flank) Mou's got some balls.

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Agreed

  22. AnotherBareBum
    10 years, 1 month ago

    POGBA the forgotten man

    1. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Who?

  23. El Patron
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Come on Giroud, hattrick. That low ownership 🙂

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

      Ozil's ownership is remarkably low too

      1. El Patron
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Yup, went Payet over Ozil. I´m afraid :/

  24. Jafooli
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Updated

    1. Ziro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      cheers Jaf.. upvoted.

      1. Jafooli
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Here to serve 😎

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

      Thanks

  25. Nabs Kebabs
    10 years, 1 month ago

    UPDATED

    1. Ziro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      cave paintings?

  26. Squires FC
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Got a feeling this is the game where the casuals get to see what Mkhitaryan is all about. Such a classy player.

    1. George Sillett
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Most people know that - serious , football fan or less serious player.

  27. Johnny Drama
    10 years, 1 month ago

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/10038/event/4

    For you who don't believe me...

    Rip my FPL season

    1. Jasoooooooo
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Oh no..........

    2. Supersonic
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Disaster mate

  28. A Moon Shaped Pool
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Nearly change this in the last min:
    Zaza > Benteke
    Barkley > Snoddy

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

    So...I went differential with Cazorla (c)!

    WC team is:
    Adrian Heaton
    Shaw Williams walker Pieters Amat
    Hazard Cazorla Antonio sterling capoue
    Ibra lukaku Defoe
    0.9itb

    Good, bad or otherwise?

  30. AnotherBareBum
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Beast mode United versus a fairy flower puff city