The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Opinion
1 April 2017 1657 comments
Mark Mark
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For all the noise surrounding double Gameweeks and chips, perhaps it’s weekends like this that really decide our season.

There’s no question that Gameweek 30 is a problem child. The usual methods just don’t apply. We have injuries and fatigue, the uncertainty of rotation ahead of a midweek programme and, on top of that, the fixtures conspire to reveal no obvious candidate for the captaincy.

It seems likely that we will see a sizeable split among the Fantasy Premier League managers – the armband is set to be thrown far and wide and, should one potential target break out with a haul, Gameweek 30 could be seismic.

I’m finding this troubling. While my decision making has been sound of late, it’s been founded on a wild, almost scatter gun approach to transfers – bring in 3-4 players and one has delivered big. For all its success, it’s not a particularly clever tactic and, to be honest, I’ve been riding my luck.

My natural instinct for Gameweek 30 is to regress back into the shell, hunker down and let it pass overhead. While some can say that this is a time to take risks, I see it from another perspective.

The β€œgamble” appears to be tied up in the armband – spending points on transfers alongside it seems somewhat unsound. I have to hope that, even if I get the captaincy wrong, I have the big scorers covered and can cushion the impact should one of them explode.

Maybe that helps make the key decision.

Those assets most capable of delivering double figure hauls are surely the most likely to create a sea change in Gameweek 30. Diego Costa, for all his consistency, has not demonstrated the output to wound his non-owners with a 20-point haul. Alexis Sanchez seems a more likely executioner.

Currently, that’s guiding my thoughts. I have Sanchez and, while I recognise City as a more than capable opponent, I also see a player with an insatiable hunger to impress – a talent that can override Arsenal’s current misery.

Gylfi Sigurdsson is my other contender. A different animal entirely; while he’s not as combustible as Sanchez, he has provided three double-digit returns at home and against β€œweaker” opponents. Middlesbrough fit that profile nicely.

Swansea City have to target three points and the visitors, under their new regime, have to start to show some ambition rather than revert to Aitor Karanka’s turgid tactics of the past. It will be edgy, but an early goal might open it up for Sigurdsson.

I’m pretty sure that he takes the corners, penalties free-kicks, announces the line-ups over the PA system and takes the nets down at the end of the day. Sigurdsson is Swansea – if there’s goals for Clement’s men, I surely have to get points from it.

Both Sanchez and Sigurdsson have delivered in seven of their last eight Gameweeks, which tells me that rewards are on the cards, regardless of where my dart lands at 11.29.

Owning both, along with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Aguero, could just be vital to the damage limitation process.

It’s perhaps not one decision that will see my through Gameweek 30 intact; it’s all those previous moves that have helped me acquire a cast of heavy-hitters than can hopefully cover the weekend’s big scorer.

But if Liverpool go mad, I’m done for. The problem child will have thrown a vicious tantrum to wreck my weekend within the first few hours.

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

  1. Lizard Lips
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Will Aguero definitely start?

  2. Kun Tozser
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Benching Valencia crazy? Long flight etc

    Bench ONE

    1. Valencia (WBA)
    2. Fuchs (STO)
    3. Walker (bur)
    4. JWP (BOU)

  3. Flynny
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Had the armband on Kun all week.

    Just switched to siggy.

    Good move?

    Or quickly back to kun?

    Ta

  4. FPL Pillars
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Andy Carroll you beauty, hat trick in the bag πŸ˜€

    1. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      +17

    2. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Possible!

    3. squits
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Sticking with the big man! Come on Andy!

  5. _Gunner
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Mane (c)

    Here we go

    1. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Braver then me

  6. asquishypotato
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Siggy or Tadic for captain

    1. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Siggy

    2. _Gunner
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Siggy safer pick I think

      both good options but I went Mane over Tadic

  7. The Wise Owl
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Siggy (C) don't let me down!

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Chickened out and went Costa (C) with Siggy (VC)

  8. Blue Gaffer
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Llorente & Aguero----Costa & Vardy -8 yes or no?

    1. FISSH
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      no

    2. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      no

    3. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      No

  9. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Let's have a deep discussion on the merits of GW37 WC

    1. red devil 7
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      no

    2. Fuchs Mane Kante
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      No brainer. Discussion ended. Lol

  10. andymck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Mane captain over Kun?

  11. Unsuccessful
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Captain Vardy, Siggy or Alli?
    Kaku ruled out for me I think

  12. mash
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Best for first on bench:

    A) McAuley
    B) T. Carroll

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      A

  13. The Red Devil
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    help

    Start who-
    A-Olsson
    B-Mccauley

    Capain who-
    1-Siggy
    2-Lukaku
    3-Mane
    4-Alonso
    5-Valencia
    6-Aguero
    7-Alli

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      A1 for me

  14. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Last one...for those considering Heaton or Jaku...I have Heaton on the basis of save points as both will concede (hammers a great away record for scoring)

  15. Lizard Lips
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else captaining Aguero over Siggy and Mane?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Probably.

      1. Lizard Lips
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Who you doing

        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Costa

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I'm going Siggy over Agueroooo

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes.

    4. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Was but changed to siggy

  16. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    So who is panicking?

    1. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Not me.

      1. DaddyPig
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Me

  17. FISSH
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Come on SIGGGYYY!!

  18. JRO093
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Play Davies away to Burnley or JWP home vs Bournemouth!?

    1. FISSH
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      jwp

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Davies

    3. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      JwP by a country mile

    4. Emp
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      davues

    5. JRO093
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Haha. Nice 50-50 split. Ended w Davies just cuz Spurs are strong defensively and apparently Burnley concede a lot of attacks down their own right..

  19. Dele
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Vaarrrddyyyyyyy

  20. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Siggy (c)

    Oh dear

  21. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Changed C from.Costa to Sanchez??? Good move?????

    1. Dele
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Good move

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Soon find out.

    3. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I'll tell you tomorrow πŸ™‚

    4. Jayv807
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I did the same

    5. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Just too late, unlucky mate

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        I did the same at 11:29 regret it already though

  22. The Red Devil
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Start who-
    A-Olsson
    B-Mccauley

    Capain who-
    1-Siggy
    2-Lukaku
    3-Mane
    4-Alonso
    5-Valencia
    6-Aguero
    7-Alli

    Cheerio

    1. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      A - 1

  23. FISSH
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Someone help haha

    Siggy or Costa (C)!?!!

    1. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Siggy here.

  24. Dele
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy captain? Or Sanchez?

  25. Junior ⚽
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Mane starts

  26. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Bingo 😎

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      PE

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Fail

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        This

  27. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    I think I just followed through

  28. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Where is Demba? come on lad πŸ™‚

  29. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Deadline gone

  30. Numb
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    ORIGI!!!!