The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Opinion
24 September 2016 1938 comments
Mark Mark
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I’ve got results but I think I may have just lost the dressing room.

There have been several turning points.

Firstly, my continual underestimation of Etienne Capoue’s ability has caused dissenting murmurings since week one.

I bought the guy for one job and one job only.

He’s meant to be there when I need him – springing to life to deliver me a handy two points when my big signings are in the stands.

Somewhere along the line, he’s missed a meeting or his misread the job description. Either way, he seems intent on embarrassing me with his unfeasible and unsustainable strike rate.

I’ve stuck to my guns. He’s benched again today but nobody, including me, is very happy about it.

There’s talk of changing formation – of switching to all-out-attack just so that Capoue can get minutes.

In truth, I’m tempted. At least to get an incentive to drop in on a floodlit Turf Moor on Monday night.

As it is, Burnley against Watford sounds like x-certificate stuff, made all the more chilling by the prospect that Capoue will undermine my judgement further with another sublimely taken goal.

On top of this, my transfer policy is now in question.

I’ve managed to get away with ushering Eden Hazard quietly out of the back door.

There’s hardly been a whisper about that – those opening three Gameweeks now seem forgotten.

Clearly, the lads remember how he let us down last season. I think they were thankful that I’d not fallen under his spell again.

But my other Gameweek 6 move has provoked a much bigger reaction.

There’s talk that my decision to eject Zlatan Ibrahimovic is personal. Accusations that there wasn’t room enough in the dressing room for two swollen egos.

He didn’t go quietly, either.

“Zlatan is not happy. Zlatan says that your blind faith in Aguero and your concept that Lukaku will show consistency is ridiculous. You will see that he will blank at Bournemouth. You are a fool to turn your back on Zlatan.”

Yeah. Whatever. There’s the door, don’t forget your hair bands.

I fully accept that it would be just like Zlatan to punish me.

Today’s early kick-off will be another 90 minutes of flinching and fidgeting. The forthcoming Old Trafford meetings with Stoke and Burnley also look to be terrifying prospects.

But I’m in a decision-making business and, as I’ve said before, this season is forcing me to make some big ones.

Lukaku and Sanchez had to stay. As for Aguero – he’s just Aguero and he comes tattooed with the captain’s armband.

But I admit – “Mark might have made an error.”

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

  1. bring_on _the_fantasy
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Good to go? On WC

    Foster (pickford)
    Stones Holebas Coleman (amat lenihan)
    Firm Antonio Sterling Capoue (iwobi)
    Zlatan Kun kaku

    1. bring_on _the_fantasy
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      or should i swap Zlatan for Rashford and Iwobi for Sanchez???

  2. zizoo10
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    current cheap defender in my wildcard is pieters (4.4). i have 0.1 itb, any worthy 4.5ers? or stick with pieters

    1. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Holebas?

      1. zizoo10
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        i thought he's injured

    2. Winks Club
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      stick

    3. ANDER.
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I'm sticking atm.

  3. The one and last
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Play Iwobi or Capoue? Best to 5 wins!

    1. Gerci
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      capoue

    2. JurgenRocks
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Capoue

    3. Winks Club
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      capo

  4. Cocky Spaniel Alves
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    For bench fodder:
    A) Carrick & Kingsley
    B) Fletcher & M Wilson / Love

    ?

    1. The one and last
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Go Carrick and Kingsley, carrick will rise when casuals will buy him after tonight

      1. Cocky Spaniel Alves
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Is he playing?

  5. Tmel
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Pickford Jaku
    Kosc Williams Lovren Holebas Lenihan
    Sanchez Sterling Antonio Firmino Capoue
    Kun Lukaku Deeney

    /10?

  6. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    The 20 most exciting minutes coming up. Where are the regulars

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I tried to post this quickly on the previous post to avoid getting bottomed 😆

  7. Gerci
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Best 4th/5th MID choice? (Currently have Sanchez Firmino Sterling Capoue and Deeney upfront)

    And would also Need a DEF (Clyne Coleman Holebas Amat) for 5.5 MAX

  8. Winks Club
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Best WC defence??

    1. Gegenpress
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I've got Baines Lovren Holebas McAuley Amat.

      Will do Baines to a arsenal defender this week or next

  9. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Holebas > Evans?

    Thoughts?

  10. Shaikh91
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Play redmond or diamonde?

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Dio is a useless donkey

    2. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Redmond

  11. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Fosu-Mensah was with the #mufc squad that left the Lowry today

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Valencia dropped?

    2. keano
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Start Collins or Evans(wba)?

      1. Belsunz
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Evans

    3. Pariße
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      KDB > Sanchez:
      A) Do it now to save a transfer
      B) Planned transfer

      1. ImTheDude
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        B

        1. Pariße
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah? Well that's just like your opinion man 😛

          Thanks!

    4. Ibralicious
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Cech or Pickford??

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Pech or chickford

      2. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        I swear if I don't get 11 starters this weekend after wildcarding

        1. Plebby
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Same

      3. Samwise the Brave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Lovern or mcauley to start (playing foster)

        1. Gegenpress
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Lovren

        2. The Nuttmxn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Lovren

      4. Worzel Gummidge
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Playing Stones and Williams. Would you start Valencia or McAuley?

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Think both will concede, McCauley more likely to get his head on something and score over a Valencia cross and assist imo

            • Clump
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Seems decent.

          2. che
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Last decision on WC, Deeney or Defoe?

            1. Team Cruel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Deeney because Moyes

            2. Bullet Eder
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Deeney

            3. Twiggy SRFC
              • 9 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Rashford

          3. Twiggy SRFC
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Antonio - 20 shots
            Capoue - 7 shots

            Guess I'll have to play Antonio then.

            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Guess you read my post 😉

              1. Twiggy SRFC
                • 9 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Haha yeah, then I went onto BPL stats

          4. theBoose
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Who to bench?

            Antonio / Firmino / Sterling / Capoue / Cazorla
            Agüero / Deeney / Lukaku

            1. The Nuttmxn
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Cazorla.

            2. Plebby
              • 9 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Caz

              1. dennis the menace
                • 14 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                On pens. No way. Bench capoue

            3. Worzel Gummidge
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Capoue.

              • El-Kloppico
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Almost same team.. am benching Caz.

            4. FCSB
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Bottomed...

              I need help please:

              1. McAuley (stk)
              2. Valencia (LEI)

              A. Foster (stk)
              B. Heaton (WAT)

              PS. Capoue in my midfield...

              Thanks guys!!

            5. Shrimpy
              • 9 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Best 4.6 midfielder?

            6. palace ash
              • 16 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Jakupovic or Boric?

            7. Back on the horse
              • 15 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Aguero or Firmino for captain

              1. Guru Mediation
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                rumours are Firm won't start

                1. the dom 1
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  9 years, 4 months ago

                  source please!

              2. ImTheDude
                • 15 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Aguero

                1. tm370
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  9 years, 4 months ago

                  why claim a rumour without a source?

            8. For Fuchs Sake
              • 16 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Ahhhhhhhh everyone telling me to bench Capoue!

              1. Plebby
                • 9 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Noooo

                1. dennis the menace
                  • 14 Years
                  9 years, 4 months ago

                  Bench capoue

            9. WE GO FOR IT
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Long or Austin who will start?

              1. Pigsinblankets
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Austin surely on form?

            10. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
              • 15 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man ?

              1. Dr Dream
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                42

                1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
                  • 15 Years
                  9 years, 4 months ago

                  Thanks Doos 🙂

              2. Jafooli
                • 14 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Lovren

              3. toerag
                • 15 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Lukaku or Messi

            11. Pigsinblankets
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              A) Foster & Williams
              B) Pickford & Baines

            12. Guru Mediation
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Play Pickford or Cech?
              Cheers

              1. Hurricane Gilbert
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Pick

            13. MY DJ NAME IS PIMP CURRY
              • 15 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Pickford Mandanda
              Baines McAuley Daniels Amat Holebas
              Antonio Sterling Mane Capoue Fletcher
              Aguero(c) Ibra Lukaku

              0.3m ITB. On WC