[sbu_large_image] Opinion
17 September 2016 1329 comments
Mark Mark
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This season just won’t allow us to settle.

From one Gameweek to another, our priorities are shifting with our plans forced back to the drawing board by new doubts and concerns.

The last campaign was testing but for a whole different reason.

It delivered the unexpected and some, including myself, took time to adjust to that being the norm.

We were found out by Leicester’s ascent, and it punished those who were slow to seize on the value offered by Dele Alli and Harry Kane.

Equally, when Eden Hazard flopped, and Mesut Ozil engaged his long grind of assists, some like myself, were taken by surprise.

But once you latched on to those trends, you could almost rest easy.

It felt like there were five, maybe six or seven slots in our team safely designated, leaving us to concentrate on managing the peripheral players around them according to form and fixture.

So far, this season is very different.

It feels like the stabilisers are off and, wobbling along from Gameweek to Gameweeek, we have to re-learn the real skill involved in Fantasy Football.

I don’t think we can yet bank on a set of consistent points scorers. Sergio Aguero aside, all bets are off elsewhere in our squad.

Eden Hazard has swung from near essential to disposable in a fortnight; even Zlatan Ibrahimovic will come under pressure should he blank on Sunday.

There is no comfort zone.

Each 0.1 feels precious, each transfer a significant opportunity to swap one midfield heavy hitter for another.

Loyalty and faith in players can pay off but the temptation to be fickle and act swiftly feels greater than ever.

In this week’s ScoutCast I discussed this very subject – the fact that I believe there’s a viable tactic in swapping heavy-hitters week to week, rather than settle them in and trade mid-price and budget assets.

Phillipe Coutinho, Riyad Mahrez, and Eden Hazard have already shown that we can expect runs of blanks and, usually, we’re quite happy to absorb them.

But with so much of our funds tied up in attack, can we afford to accept it? Can we expect to make up the shortfall for their failings by trading with sub 7.5 assets?

I suspect this season demands unparalleled flexibility, pushing us to explore the idea of trading big name midfielders in and out on a weekly basis, absorbing the price losses but attempting to exploit short-term form and fixtures.

It feels like we’ve been able to trundle for the last few seasons, relying heavily on a solid spine and making transfer decisions that influence our Gameweek tally, without threatening to make or break it.

But this feels different – this feels like there are constant risks and rewards to consider.

There’s a thrill to it – there is more excitement and expectation, but it also feels precarious and dangerous.

Like the day the stabilisers came off, I’m taking things steady but aware that, if I move too slowly, I may just come a cropper.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

1,329 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Big Sum
    10 years, 1 month ago

    be right back

    1. Jimmy Boy
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Like Antonio?

      1. FPL Mentor
        10 years, 1 month ago

        LoL, unfortunately 🙁

  2. zizoo10
    10 years, 1 month ago

    praying for sterling hatty *fingers crossed*

  3. Fowler23
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Pep confirms Stones rested not dropped

    1. Worzel Gummidge
      10 years, 1 month ago

      This was obvious. I will be keeping.

    2. Dacra
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Indefinitely rested.

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

    All I want is a load of goals

  5. Alton E.
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Came up with this WC team. Any thoughts?

    Pickford
    Williams Shaw Evans
    Firmino Hazard Bolasie Antonio
    Zlatan Kun Defoe

    Heaton Holebas Amat Capoue

    1. Yankee Toffee
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Defoe good for today, see how he does

  6. TheBusDriver
    10 years, 1 month ago

    So happy Ziro bought Stones for a hit.

    1. Ziro
      10 years, 1 month ago

      +1

      1. Epic Fail
        10 years, 1 month ago

        This

    2. TheSteel
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Your happiness depends on someone elses shortcomings. I think thats a sign of being a complete lunatic.

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        10 years, 1 month ago

        This site is full of them. The people who lol at xxxx owners probably enjoy people missing out more than scoring points. But ff does bring players off all ages even the kiddies I guess

      2. TheBusDriver
        10 years, 1 month ago

        At least 8 people agree with me. So 8 complete lunatics?

  7. Eden Azzzar
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Acordion to my sources, 99.99999987% sure Antonio will play right wing. 95.5678 wouldn't of realised I started the sentence with a musical instrument.

    1. Eden Azzzar
      10 years, 1 month ago

      95.5678 percent of people*

      1. Les Bleus
        10 years, 1 month ago

        So close.

    2. zizoo10
      10 years, 1 month ago

      i thought i that read wrong. you read that wrong..

  8. FPL Mentor
    10 years, 1 month ago

    My current team

    Heaton Pickford
    Shaw Baines PvA McAuley Amat
    Sanchez Hazard Antonio Bolasie Capoue
    Ibrahimovic Costa Benteke

    2FTs

    Looking to do:
    Costa 》 Aguero
    Hazard 》 Firmino
    Sanchez 》 Ozil
    for -4pts

    Hows that look for next week?

    Leaves me with this.

    Heaton
    Shaw Baines PvA
    Ozil Firminho Antonion Bolasie
    Ibrahimovic Aguero Benteke

    (Pickford, Capoue, McAuley, Amat)

    Shall i do it?

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

      yep looks worth a -4

    2. Yankee Toffee
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Can you do Benteke > Kun instead?

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

      I don't know why people would drop Costa. He has scored attacking points in every game he's started.

    4. Birds of Prey
      10 years, 1 month ago

      def, but i'm gonna go coutinho instead.

  9. Birds of Prey
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I went Soare > Hernandez does Simpson now have me hosed?

  10. PvA
    10 years, 1 month ago

    *insert hope for silly situation where a bad player scores massively here*

    1. VS10_
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Capoue? 😉

      1. Jimmy Boy
        10 years, 1 month ago

        I've started Capoue for the first time today so he will most likely blank. Had him on my bench for every single GW so far.

        1. Tangerine
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Same!

      2. PvA
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Hope Capoue gets a red card to be honest

    2. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Insert it yourself you lazy git.

      1. Rogue Todd
        10 years, 1 month ago

        That's what she said

        1. PvA
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Zing

    3. Jay_
      10 years, 1 month ago

      *Ravel Morrisson gets high of 2 oz of Crack. High as a kite, on top of the world

      1. PvA
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Hahahaha

  11. Jimmy Boy
    10 years, 1 month ago

    How does this look for a -4 hit.

    Zlatan > Aguero
    Hazard > Snodgrass
    Stuani > Lukaku

    Two upgrades for one downgrade.

    1. Birds of Prey
      10 years, 1 month ago

      man yur killin 2 capts for one, if u have Sanchez, yes.

      1. Jimmy Boy
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Got Sanchez, is that a yes then?

        1. Birds of Prey
          10 years, 1 month ago

          yep still got 2 options good luck.

  12. PvA
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Here you go everyone, template for you to use:

    Hope *insert player name here* gets a triple hat-trick today!11!1!!

    1. AK ⭐
      10 years, 1 month ago

      When you try to be funny but actually come out as lame.

  13. FPL Mentor
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Is Costa likely to rise this week?

    Need just 0.1m to do

    Sanchez》 Ozil
    Hazard》 Firmino
    Costa 》 Aguero

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

    Antonio is playing RW? What's all the fuss about

  15. Kaneyonero
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Imagine hull v ars ending 0 - 0

    1. TheSteel
      10 years, 1 month ago

      1-1 Cazorla (pen), Snodgrass (pen). Sanchez RC

      1. Yankee Toffee
        10 years, 1 month ago

        he's never got a RC in the poem

        1. TheSteel
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Well due 😛

    2. Grand Thibauto
      10 years, 1 month ago

      4-4 would be great

  16. devils advocate
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Antonio is playing...........

    That is all.

  17. Net Gains
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Nearly there now... good luck all!!!

    1. devils advocate
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck!

      1. thepoet85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Good luck all 🙂

  18. Belsunz
    10 years, 1 month ago

    we must talk about Antonio's position...

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Should he be promoted?

    2. Sánchez
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Before kickoff? Why?

  19. PvA
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Surprised to see so many people doing transfers when there are 9 games in the week to be played

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

    Both Bournemount and Burnley going for the Xmas tree formation today

    1. Yankee Toffee
      10 years, 1 month ago

      maybe they'll get pressies?

  21. Worzel Gummidge
    10 years, 1 month ago

    A) Snodgrass/Zaha + Sanchez
    B) Lallana + Ozil

    Will have Firmino but I think Pool double up could pay off. Waiting to see how Ozil v Sanchez looks. Pools next 2 fixtures scream goals.

    1. Birds of Prey
      10 years, 1 month ago

      B LIV on a good fixture.

  22. devils advocate
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Snoddy just winked at me through the tv and said watch this.

    I knew I should have got him this gw.

  23. Count of Monte Hristo
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Who is getting rid of Hazard?

    1. Worzel Gummidge
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Probably me and Costa. Will reassess after their cr@p run of fixtures and to see if they regain some form.

    2. Karan_G14
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Don't feel like. But have to get rid of either Sanchez or Hazard.

    3. Rogue Todd
      10 years, 1 month ago

      o/

    4. Epic Fail
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Worzel Gummidge.

    5. devils advocate
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Depends if Antonio is playing RB.

  24. Karan_G14
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Choose one :

    A) Sanchez & 7.8m mid

    B) Hazrad & Firmino

    Appreciate your thoughts!

    1. Birds of Prey
      10 years, 1 month ago

      B w/Coutinho. imo gl

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

    Sanchez up front and Antonio RB.

    Two players I have playing not playing in their best position 🙁

    1. Yankee Toffee
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Anton on the wing

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

      The theory of Sanchez not being as good up front is why I transferred him out pre gw3 haul!

  26. FPL Mentor
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Costa likely to rise this week?

    1. Worzel Gummidge
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I would say so. I am keeping for it and then dropping for Aguero.

  27. devils advocate
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone remember ex player Michael Bridges?

    Fun fact:

    He now lives in Australia and is one of our match day premier league presenters, lol.

  28. Camp No No
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Is Dembelé back already? Kane's stats are disgraceful. Janssen's got more shots inside the box, ffs.