[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. AnfieldLad
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Had Sanchez on captain all week but put off now by talk of him not starting
    Don't like hazard or ibra for some reason so might go mane. Madness?

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      10 years, 1 month ago

      No I'm a Kopite and I'm gonna be biased and say Mane (C) he's a key player risky but could be gold.

    2. Fingerspitzengefühl
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Talk of him not starting - link?

      1. AnfieldLad
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Just word on here

    3. thunder_mike
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Liverpool and Mane are inconsistent, but it is a decent shout though

  2. Fred54
    10 years, 1 month ago

    May have already been mentioned but Spiderman never said line that it was his uncle, wasn't it?

    1. Ghost Ship
      10 years, 1 month ago

      and Voltaire (an obscure French right back).

  3. thunder_mike
    10 years, 1 month ago

    What is this about Sanchez not playing? Do I need a last minute WC?

    1. FDMS All Starz
      10 years, 1 month ago

      lol no, even a sanchez that comes off the bench is dangerous

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

      This is no time for a toilet break?

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

    A lot of press speculation that Sanchez on bench

  5. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Start Jaku or Heaton this week?

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

      Heaton

  6. MANOMANO
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Is coutinho gonna start today?

    1. JayBomb
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I'm ignoring the rumers and starting him just make sure your subs are in order in case he doesn't?

      1. MANOMANO
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks mate.

  7. WDT
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Not feeling much comfort in numbers on this one, anyone else going for it with Payet (C) ?

    Balls. Out.

    1. BB-8
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Would if I had him. Costa for me

    2. KISSES
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Decent

  8. The Tinkerman
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Start Valencia (MCI) or McAuley (bou)?

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

      Valencia

    2. Lumberjack
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I'm on Valencia

    3. AnotherBareBum
      10 years, 1 month ago

      6 points for both

  9. brett
    10 years, 1 month ago

    What's all this I keep reading about Sanchez not starting? Any one know anything about that?

    A) Sanchez & Lukaku
    B) Ozil & Costa

  10. BB-8
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Enough of this Sanchez nonsense. Help me pick one 😛

    A. Lukaku Puncheon Williams
    B. Benteke Mirallas Baines

    1. Jonny HOW SON?
      10 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

    What's the deal with people not liking Jakupovic?

  12. Flush_Fraser
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Hello chaps, nervous wildcarder here. Have it on good authority Sturridge will start today, so if so would you go:

    A.) Sturridge & Barkley
    B.) Lukaku & Firm
    C.) Lukaku & Mane

    If you could let me know as a matter of urgency I'd be most grateful 😉

    1. Flush_Fraser
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks for the help, you shits.

      😉

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

    I've currently got Cazorla and Sanchez on WC Worth getting Mane and Ozil?

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

    Which one would you go with out of:

    A. Cazorla

    Or

    B. Ozil

    ?

    1. Fingerspitzengefühl
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ozil

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

      Ozil

  15. Differentiator
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Didn't want to be asking this at this hour, but....

    best 4.5 midfielders xD?

  16. The Red Devil
    10 years, 1 month ago

    on a WC-

    Barkley or antonio (no lukaku)
    Sanchez or ozil?
    which 2 out of
    negredo/bony/benteke/defoe?

    1. Flush_Fraser
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio, Sanchez (though be wary of game time as we've PSG on Tuesday) & for me I'd go Tekkers + ......literally can't decide between Negredo and Bony. Possibly Negredo as the Spurs defence is better.

  17. DameCorp
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Field one of these guys? (not really ideal I know)

    A) Morgan (liv)
    B) Pieters (TOT)
    C) Stones (mun)

    1. Donblaster
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Probably B

    2. kalmoffit
      10 years, 1 month ago

      C

  18. Weeb Kakashi
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one

    A Cech Williams Collins

    B Foster Baines Masuaku

    1. Donblaster
      10 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. F4L
      10 years, 1 month ago

      a

  19. JayBomb
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Will Coutinho start?

  20. Donblaster
    10 years, 1 month ago

    A) Shaw (MCI)
    B) McAuley (bou)

    Who to play?

  21. Jafooli
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Is Cleverly enough Everton cover?

    1. Ginola14
      10 years, 1 month ago

      is hibbert still there?

  22. Arteta
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Play de Gea or Jakupovic?

    1. BB-8
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ddg

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

    Sane false nine would be interesting

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Pep seems to like Sterling . He said as much

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

        More than likely to be this

    2. Davido989
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Source?

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

        Just a thought Berb

  24. Sting
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Difficult choices:

    A) Coutinho, Mane or Firmino

    B) Benteke or Bony

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

    Bench Stones (mun) or McAuley (bou)??

    1. Hobolicious
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Stones for me.

    2. kalmoffit
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Stones

  26. Luca Toni
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Captain ?????

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

    Really need some help guys.

    Lamela or Antonio? On WC atm.

    1. Luca Toni
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio seems slightly better considering fixtures..

  28. teki0s
    10 years, 1 month ago

    A) Cazorla - Capoue - Lukaku
    B) Barkley - Hojbjerg - Costa

    1. teki0s
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Have Ozil already

  29. Trentminator
    10 years, 1 month ago

    A Lukaku, B Benteke, C Costa
    Best one to go with?

  30. Kip
    10 years, 1 month ago

    My Fire and forget defense:

    Heaton (robinson)
    Shaw Valencia McAuley (Friend, Amat)

    Smart, stupid or just lazy? 🙂

    1. Elijah's Wood
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldnt want so much depending on United, maybe swap one out for an Everton def? But a fire and forget defence is the best one