[sbu_large_image] Opinion
26 November 2016 1339 comments
Mark Mark
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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. v12w12
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Kingsley -
    A: McAuley
    B: Fuchs

    cheers

    1. Darth_Newdar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      McAuley

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

        cheers

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

    Yaya c

    Loves playing Burnley

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

    Heaton
    McAuley - Fuchs - Holebas
    Coutinho - Hazard - Sanchez - Capoue
    Kun - Austin - C. Wilson

    Hold transfer? Got Lallana injured on bench. Alternative is Lallana and Kun to Firmino and Kane/Ibra, for -4. Benching Capoue in that case.

    1. Le _ Professeur
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Hold

  4. RubeRx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Not sure if this has been posted yet but

    Firmino or Coutiho?

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

      flip a coin

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

      Cout for me

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

        +1

    3. Darth_Newdar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      I'm on Coutinho because Firmino has missed out on points in the past, but some on here think Sturridge will start, in which case Firmino may be the better option. It's a lottery really between the two, just pick one and hope for the best.

    4. ★Kuntheman★
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Mane. 🙂

      Coutinho for the leaders, Firmino for the chasers. Mane for the gamblers.

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

        Love it

  5. Winks Club
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Aguero starting?? where can I see the starters first?

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

      Not until 11.30

    2. box of horses
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Here. But after deadline.

  6. JabbaWookiee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Right. Decided on keeping Kun.

    So my move would be Chadli and VVD to Siggy and Barragan (great rotation in coming weeks).

    Yay or nay? Quick quick!

    1. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      No

    1. PvA
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Hulk this

    2. RubeRx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Everyone benched

    3. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Wow. They dropped everyone.

    4. ★Kuntheman★
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      No Aguero! 😮

    5. MTPockets
      9 years, 7 months ago

      ha

    6. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Lol, that's helped settle my nerves.

    7. Arteta
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      😆

  7. andymck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Quick one, Coutinho or Firmino captain? On Coutinho atm.

    Also who to play from Vertonghen / Williams / Holebas / Evans / Amat - benching the first two as it stands.

  8. PvA
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    c change 8 mins before deadline oh no

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

      You out it back on Cout?

      1. PvA
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Yh

  9. TheBusDriver
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    What's this BS about KDB not starting?

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

      Twitter team just posted

  10. drughi
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    If heaton is out and aguero starts he is by far the best captain pick

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

      Yep

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

    Guys start Coleman or Amat?

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

      Coleman

  12. Ravager
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Bench one: (Foster in goal)

    Walker
    Amat
    Nyom
    Fuchs
    Mustafi

  13. Gastar
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Morning all,

    Which source typically has teamsheets up first? Is it the teams' twitter pages?

    Thanks!

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

        Thought so! Cheers dude!

  14. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Damn Aguero to Sturridge (-4) nit looking like one of my finer moves 🙁

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Surely not.

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

      still time to reverse the transfer for -8

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

        Good call 😎

  15. GreatCarragherReef
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    lukaku to kane? for free

    1. Darth_Newdar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Tricky fixture for Kane, but yes probably

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

      not this week

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

      or costa... wary of the suspension though

  16. Jumping Jurgen
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Aguero out for Costa or Giroud? -4pt hit...

    OR neither?

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

      neither

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

    gundogan > yaya? FT

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

    kun to ibra done....sigh sooo scared

    1. Karan_G14
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Same her.

  19. The Rock
    • 17 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Play McAuley or Amat? Have Foster in goals.

    1. Chris_H
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Same, i have benched McAuley, WBA away not as solid as at home

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

    Heaton out = kun triple c?

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

      aye

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

      Is he confirmed out ?

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

        Someone posted he might be out

      2. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        No

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

      yup

    4. TOPCAT1960
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      if he plays ???

    5. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Why is Heaton out?

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

        Someone posted he might be out of the game

        Nothing confirmed

  21. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    PANIC STATIONS!!!!!!

  22. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Aguero or coutinho captain?! Help!

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

      Go with the one who isn't flagged.

      1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        This

  23. Rains of Castamere
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Coutinho (C)
    Firmino (C)
    Coutinho (C)
    Firmino (C)
    Coutinho (C)
    Firmino (C)
    Coutinho (C)
    Firmino (C)

    Guaranteed to choose the wrong one. Currently on Firm.

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      If you're chasing, pick Firmino. If you're leading, pick Coutinho.

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

    Flipped a coin. Firmino won. I'm locked in.

  25. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Playing AOA with following team.
    Zeiler
    Lovren-mccauley,
    Hazard,de bruyne,firmino, couthino,capuoe
    Costa,lukaku,Austin

    Any useful comments

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

      goodluck

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

      Hard to say if AOA is worth it without knowing your others defs

      1. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Williams,amat and chambers.

  26. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Play Gundagon or Amat? Thanks

  27. SMOOTH
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    hasnt anyone got the video of the city players coming off their bus?

  28. TOPCAT1960
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Any thoughts on last minute

    Sanchez>Firmino
    Kun > Costa

    for a -4

  29. John t penguin
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    One minute left to post fake city team to give people enough time to panic transfer

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

      This.