[sbu_large_image] Opinion
26 November 2016 1339 comments
Mark Mark
Share:

Maybe it’s just me, but Pep is starting to wear a little thin.

I get all the bits about revolutionary, expansive football. The off-kilter formations and high pressing. At times, watching Manchester City play football it seems that Pep Guardiola has somehow changed the rules. I get it. It’s a good thing.

But for us Fantasy Football managers, Pep’s visionary methods are problematic.

I’d quite like to back City’s exciting and modern take on attacking football with a few of their players. Certainly Sergio Aguero, maybe even Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne or even John Stones.

But Pep is not our friend.

When Yaya Toure stroked home his brace at Crystal Palace, it would have been nice to have looked upon the Ivorian’s return as a gift: another legitimate midfield target to consider.

Instead, Pep immediately moved to douse those possibilities, rolling out the “R” word minutes after the final whistle to make it abundantly clear where we all stand.

This very morning a report hammers home the latest chilling chapter from Guardiola, featuring a quote that no Fantasy Football manager want’s to read…

“Everyone is droppable”

This is all kinds of bad.

With doubts currently swimming around our heads on Sergio Aguero’s minutes at Burnley, we do not need Pep reminding us of his ruthless approach to rotation.

I found yesterday’s comments on Aguero’s “foot problem” troubling.

Pep avoided stating that Aguero was injured, and yet went on to build a scenario which created doubt surrounding the availability of a key player.

Foolishly, I have been lured into trying to second guess his intentions.

I fail to see anything to be gained from this latest move.

Perhaps it’s just honesty – a policy of truth. Or perhaps, like Arsene Wenger and Theo Walcott’s toe, Pep is creating a scenario which legitimises limiting Aguero’s pitch time.

Sergio needs to play and score today, but with the Chelsea fixture beckoning and Pep sewing seeds, I wonder if he’ll be given the opportunity.

That would be the latest chapter in my turbulent affair with Pep.

Already betrayed on Stones and Sterling, should Guardiola curtail Aguero’s Turf Moor appearance, he’s in danger of forcing me into a bold and brave decision.

I don’t want that. I want an easy ride. I want Aguero to get his goal and provide me with a reason to keep him forever locked in my squad, sitting there as my captaincy comfort blanket.

Pep’s own dicey decision making with his rotating teamsheet could yet force us to follow suit – to take undesirable risks.

We don’t want everyone to be “droppable”. Certainly, we want and need Aguero to be untouched.

I was already toying with the idea of shunning the Argentine in a week’s time, now, thanks to Pep’s latest intervention, I’m teetering on the edge a week early.

This modern football, with its high energy pressing and data analysts warning of players in the red zone is rubbish.

Where’s the 4-4-2 and the “untouchables” when you need them?

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

1,339 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Shultan
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Who else captaning hazard?

    1. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      My vc

      1. Beavis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        +1

    2. ChrisHXS
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Yup

  2. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Friend > Holebas or save FT and start Pieters?

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      save

    2. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Save

    3. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Cheers

  3. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    So if we could have some breaking Kun news about 3-5 minutes before the deadline, that would be perfect 🙂

    1. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      really need it

    2. Dirty Harry
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      what would you do if ruled out?

  4. shady4revr
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Play Ashley Williams Or Eric Pieters?

    Nobody knows the answer of this question so i am making Williams triple captain so that you all suffer.

  5. Cocky Spaniel Alves
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    A) Amat (CRY)
    B) Chambers (lei)
    C) Pieters (wat)

    1. Jonny HOW SON?
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      A

  6. skodaole2
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Cant find a reliable source about Heaton.. is he injured or was that just trolling?

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Bits and bobs on Burnley forums. Unconfirmed.

  7. @persecuted_by_mods
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton out lads?

  8. mash
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    (Bottomed)

    Grant
    Holebas Walker Williams
    Sanchez Hazard Firmino(C) Capoue Allen*
    Aguero Lukaku

    Pickford Amat Anichebe Pieters

    1FT £2.7m ITB

    Willing to take a hit!

    Williams and Allen to:

    A) McAuley and Sigurdsson (leaves £0.8m to play with)
    B) Alonso and Zaha (leaves £1.5m to play with)
    C) Something else

    What do you reckon?

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      B

  9. FootballFanatic365
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Kun starting?

  10. Dirty Harry
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Best 4.5m mid?

    Looking at a bench fodder Oriol Romeu - fantastic set of fixtures.

    Allows me to bring in Costa/Kane over the coming weeks.

    1. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      De Roon

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        thanks

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Roon

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        thanks

  11. Flying Assassins
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    A) Aguero --> Kane
    Or
    B) Lukaku --> Benteke/Defoe

    1. FPL_DON
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      neither

    2. Prison Mike
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Save FT

  12. Prison Mike
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    A or B lads ???

    A) Sanchez & Allen > Firmino (c) & Sigurdsson (-4)

    B) Lukaku & Walker > Zlatan (c) & Nyom (-4)

    1. justmatt
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      I'd probably just save this week,

      1. Prison Mike
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Alright cheers just feel like taking a risk but not sure which would pay off

  13. Gruu
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Play Capou or Anichebe?

  14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    What's this about heaton?

  15. Cantona90
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Worth a -4 for ageuro to Ibra? If Aguero plays he may not play the full match (obviously he doesn't need to). He's going after this game anyway...

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Risk but one I took

    2. Artorias
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Exactly my thinking..

    3. ChristoBisto
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      I'm going to wait. You want to drop him risking him playing against Burnley with Heaton possibly out?

      1. Cantona90
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        I think I'll wait. Got two defenders on my bench with good CS chance should he not play.

  16. Snapes on a Plane
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Best Replacement for Allen??
    A) Snodgrass
    B) Phillips
    C) Zaha

    1. Fowler23
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      C

    2. v12w12
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      a for me

  17. Fowler23
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Captain hazard , alexis or Coutinho ?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Cout

    2. v12w12
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Cout

  18. Grand Thibauto
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton what happened to him?

  19. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Didn't realise Mane was 15% owned. i thought he was a big differential lol

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      When Coutinho is outscoring him for less, pride says keep quiet. 😉

  20. Lizard Lips
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling:
    A) To Sigurdson
    B) To Walcott
    C) Keep

    1. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      A but should have done it last night before the drop.

    2. Fowler23
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      C

    3. v12w12
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      A for me

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

      Sterling needs a goal today to stop this falling value nonsense! Thinks it's his last week in my team otherwise.

  21. Fergietime
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    seen this on twitter, make of it what you will
    @ManCityPT Bravo,Sagna,Otamendi,Stones,Kolarov,Gündogan,Silva,Yaya,Nolito,Sterling e Aguero

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      no KDB?

    2. Numb
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Official?

    3. some witty pun
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      i doubt that kdb dosent feature, but thanks anyway 🙂

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

      Never mind, it was their preferred line up.

      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        ffs

      2. Fergietime
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        It was in response to Man Citys tweet, who would you like to see starting. My Bad

  22. AYEW KI-EDEN MEE
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    I have a sneaky feeling Origi will start up top. A change of formation 4-2-3-1.
    Karius
    Clyne Matip Lovren Milner
    Henderson Can
    Mane Firmino Coutinho
    Origi

    1. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Nah if ain't broke don't fix it. Firmino is Klopp's boy up top

      1. AYEW KI-EDEN MEE
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        No Lallana really affects the team. I think it's quite possible that this will be the lineup

    2. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      What has Wijnaldum done wrong?

      1. AYEW KI-EDEN MEE
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Hasn't really impressed

        1. Get up ya bum
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          Rubbish

          1. AYEW KI-EDEN MEE
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 7 months ago

            Bet you i'm right.

  23. Mainoo Magic
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Play three defenders from:
    A)walker
    B)mcauley
    C)amat
    D)holebas
    E)fuchs

    1. faver
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      im starting with holebas amat and evans which for you means mcauley

    2. tambourineman
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      B D E

  24. jackothedon
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Amat or Coleman?

  25. hustler7
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Lost on last page...

    KDB > Coutinho for free? Have Firm + Kun already...

    1. I Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      I would.

  26. Feed tha Sheep
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Play Walker or Amat??

  27. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    If Heaton is out I have to captain Aguero

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      ..and hope he starts

      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        I feel like he either starts or doesnt play at all

  28. Zareos
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Which one should I play?

    A. Walker (Chelsea away)
    B. Amat (Palace home)

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Same on Amat at min

  29. KUNingas
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Start Redmond (EVE) or Holebas (STK) ???

    1. Conk
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      redmond

  30. Conk
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    is sturridge actually out or is it more rubbish twitter talk?

    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Hes out