Opinion
3 December 2016 4777 comments
Mark Mark
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And so the power shifts once again.

I can barely remember witnessing such upheaval: where we’ve had to re-consider where our big-money is spent and switch our sights, not only due to form, but simply availability.

We started the season coveting Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Then Diego Costa emerged, followed swiftly by Eden Hazard as Chelsea blossomed. Now Harry Kane, with seven goals in five, becomes a priority.

While these players battle for recognition in our squads, Sergio Aguero was considered by most as a mainstay: a factor that required little consideration.

That theory wavered back in Gameweek 3 but today’s events may have changed it for good.

Aguero had not served a suspension until this season. Now he is set to miss at least seven weeks of this campaign before the turn of the year. Few, if any, could have anticipated that.

Hours after the bombshell at the Etihad, Alexis Sanchez then provided his own explosion.

We always knew the dangers: deployed up front by Arsene Wenger, he has always been part of the heavy-hitter debate.

But, with heads turned by Chelsea’s faultless form and the promise from Eden Hazard, some, including this Fantasy manager, chose to lose Sanchez’ special talent, keeping Aguero locked into our attacks.

Now, with the City striker being ejected from squads throughout the land, the sacrifices required to gain the likes of Hazard, Costa and Marcos Alonso – all so alluring with Chelsea’s form and fixtures – no longer apply.

When I showed Sanchez the exit ahead of Gameweek 12, opting to sell Aguero was something I pondered, but quickly dismissed.

Today’s events punished that particular decision. They also force us re-examine the established thinking.

We are so set on Aguero. His place is so cemented in Fantasy Football folkore, the prospect of progressing through a season, or even a period of Gameweeks without him almost seems unthinkable.

But while a saintly Costa is scoring goals and avoiding the booking that will see him serve a one-match ban, we’ve seen Aguero inexplicably become an unreliable hothead.

We can’t begin to fathom how those roles have been reversed. We can only react to what we’ve now been dealt.

While those without Sanchez are denied the convenience of carrying out a like-for-like swap for Aguero, even with the cost of an additional transfer, it will likely prove a popular route.

Acquiring Sanchez no longer comes packaged with such sacrifice now that Aguero is out of the equation, his millions available to us.

In Gameweek 4 we formed plans to sell a suspended Aguero and bring him back two weeks later. This time around the landscape may have changed.

As of today, it seems likely that few will be forgoing Sanchez for Aguero should that decision ever arise again.

Although it’s almost folly to make such predictions in a season that refuses to allow us to settle in our thinking.

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

  1. Differentiator
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Yee or Knee?
    Mane + Aguero + Arnie - 8 -> Costa + Eriksen + Sanchez

    1. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Just Aguero to Costa

    2. ANON.
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe leave mane to Sanchez

    3. Junior ⚽
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      1st and last.

  2. ANON.
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Heaton, Pickford
    VVD, Williams, Holebas, Evans, Amat
    Hazard, Mane, Firmino, Walcott, Fletcher
    Ibra, Kane, Austin

    1ft, 0.7 in the bank.
    Should I just save or try and get Costa or Sanchez in?

    1. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Williams to Lovren

    2. ronty
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Sanchez is not possible for you to get in without -4

      I myself was happy with Theo even tho he blanked till Sanchez wreaked havoc on my week

    3. Toure The Route
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Get a defender?

  3. PMz
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Lukaku + Aguero > Kane + Costa/Ibra for free?

    Heaton (Pickford)

    Holebas Amat Cedric

    Allen Firmino Sanchez Haz

    Lukaku Aguero Austin

    Subs: Evans Hojberg Pieters

    1. ANON.
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Aguero to Kane now. Maybe keep Lukaku for 1 more week then get get Ibra. It just get Costa now

      1. ANON.
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Or just get Costa now

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      😀

    2. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Lulz

  4. MTPockets
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Are Man City likely to bother putting out full strength team vs Celtic?
      (just wondering re. Gundogan)

      1. CABAYE4
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        No Yaya in Europe so I'd bet Gundogan will play.

        1. MTPockets
            9 years, 2 months ago

            hmmm thanks.

      2. CABAYE4
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Costa's bound to pick up his yellow next week now...

        1. the axolotl
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          i really hope he does, or it will get very boring

      3. BigAsGiroud_
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Lukaku >Kane worth a hit?? though Lukaku face WAT next game while Kane against MU

        1. ANON.
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Not this week

        2. n-doggg
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Depends if you can stomachs the price rise and falls

          1. Toure The Route
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            +1

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

        Is this worth -8points in your opinion guys?
        Walcott > Sanchez
        Morgan > Friend (Fund Sanchez move)
        Worried about Sanchez price rise to make it difficulty to get in a couple weeks.

      5. Iceball
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Kun to Kane seems obvious, then what for a hit?
        A) Allen to Walcott/Eriksen
        B) Diomande to Defoe/Iheanacho
        C) Austin to Costa

      6. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        West Brom's fixtures look awful from here on in.

        Are people still getting Brunt in?

        Are people holding onto their cheap West Brom defenders?

        1. ANON.
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Wouldn't get anyone in. Happy to keep 1 cheap defender

        2. *sigh*
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Yup

        3. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Brunt is a midfielder who takes set pieces for a team that score a lot of set piece goals. I just wildcarded him into my team.

          At 4.9m you're getting a MF who gets 6 pts for every goal he scores. Good value even with the rough fixtures.

          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Great point. The fixtures make me nervous, however.

          2. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Actually that is a brilliant way of looking at it

        4. King Kohli
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Transferring Evans out but can't think of a good 4.3m defender

      7. Lone Wolf FPL
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Hit spree all over the place

      8. F4L
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Get rid of Evans or Holebas?

        1. Junior ⚽
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Hole

        2. Swan - Villa Proud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Arseholebas

      9. Bruno Bruno!!
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        the guy with highest GW score triple captained sanchez, take a bow son.

        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          He'll be gutted when Sanchez gets a triple double hat trick for everyone else in a DGW 😉

      10. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Nothing less than 4 goals from Firmino will stop me transferring him to Sanchez for -4

      11. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Wildcard activated.

        Kun and Lukaku gone. Hello Costa and Kane. And Austin too.

        1. Unsuccessful
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Nice week for a WC

        2. Swan - Villa Proud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Well done Nomar, perfect week to use it. Enjoy the rises.

        3. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks guys. Was going to do it last week but dallied and missed price rises so decided to hold off till this week.

          Just a shame I can't afford Defoe, but Austin has great fixtures for ages now.

      12. Swan - Villa Proud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Willing to go without Hazard for a week to avoid a -8; feel Alonso more essential onthe road. Then GW16, would look at FIrmino+Walcott->Hazard+Lallana/Son. Looks good on paper.

        1. Swan - Villa Proud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Sorry, meant at home to WBA

      13. n-doggg
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        I can't see how anyone can look past these front 6

        Sanchez, hazard, firmino, siggy
        Costa, Kane

        A party from maybe a spurs mid

        1. Junior ⚽
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          I can do this for -4 but I want to keep Austin.
          Questioning to sell Firmino or not depending on tomorrow.

        2. Kip
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Almost impossible for me to afford those + austin&alonso... :/

        3. walkman666
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Right, I just mortgaged my apartment to ensure that I have them. I had 5 (well, Kun instead of Costa), but had to rearrange the roster to get Sanchez back into the mix.

          Firmino and Siggy are not necessarily keepers, but for now, they seem like the right guys to have, points per pound, to go along with Sanchez, Kane, Costa and Hazard.

      14. adey70
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Aguero and Austin to Kane and Costa...
        Or Aguero and Pedro (rotation risk due to Willian return) to Kane and Hazard? Cheers...

        1. The Tinkerman
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Kane and Hazard for me, playing it safe. Austin is still a good pick for the next 10 is GW's, good value. Who is your other striker?

          1. adey70
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Other striker Benteke. Seems to have remembered how to score. I think Pedro and Gundogan have got to go soon...

        2. JogaSemmedo
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          The latter

        3. Unsuccessful
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          I don't know the answer but with Costa on the tightrope, you'd be gaining a second 0 mins risk.

        4. Bees4Lyf
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          kane and hazard, keep austin

        5. walkman666
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Aguero ad Pedro to Kane and Hazard

      15. King Kohli
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Ake nailed on for Bournemouth?

      16. Z
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Current defence: McAuley, Brunt, Holebas, Cameron, Amat

        A. McAuley > Alonso
        B. Cameron > Luiz
        C. Cameron, McAuley > Rose/Valencia, Cedric

      17. Tronity
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        I'm sure this question has been asked and will be asked a more thousand times but best Aguero replacement?

        A) Costa
        B) Kane

      18. Limbo
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Swansea's next four:

        Defoe
        Rondon
        Negredo
        Carrol

        Would be a fun experiment. Week 1 done

      19. Flynny
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Hi....is is worth rem9ving any of the following for alonso for a hit?

        Pieters
        Holebas
        Amat
        Evans

        Currently playing defence of cedric amat and holebas next week.

        Thinking of Pieters to alonso for a hit....any views?....thanks

        1. MTPockets
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Not sure I've ever had a (playing) defender hit return more than breakeven.

        2. FAITHNOMORENO
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Costa is injured,no?

          1. Junior ⚽
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Tired

          2. n-doggg
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Cramp

          3. the Penman
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            No.

        3. JogaSemmedo
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Kun, Gundogan & Fuchs too > Costa, Firmino & Cedrix for -8?

          Makes sense doesn't it?

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

          What time do the prices usually change?

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            4 hours time.

            1. Isboo
              • 9 Years
              9 years, 2 months ago

              thanks mate

        5. kalk
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          A. Defoe
          B. Austin
          C. Iheanacho

          Thanks

          1. Limbo
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Defoe got me. Swansea so so bad.

        6. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          GW rank done.

          1. Junior ⚽
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Sharp. Check 30 seconds ago.

        7. *sigh*
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Aguero money will make this game easier for a few weeks

          1. n-doggg
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah, and bring the template together unfortunately

            1. *sigh*
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 2 months ago

              Gutted mate.Im going to make it easy to bring Kun back in only 2 transfers rather than spread the cash all over the squad.Kun to Costa and Lenihan to Alonso.

        8. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Swansea looked truly awful today.

          Fixtures look promising, but wish I'd thought harder on my Cout to SIggy transfer last week

          1. Z
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Give the lad a chance, we weren't expecting much from the game against Spurs

            1. how now brown cow
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 2 months ago

              It's no reflection on Siggy - I'm a big fan. But they offered nothing today as a team.