[sbu_large_image] Opinion
29 April 2017 2051 comments
Mark Mark
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Another double Gameweek and another example of how our quest for the spectacular can backfire.

The majority of the chatter seven days ago surrounded the “potential” of strikers Benteke, Rashford and Negredo, backed by investment in Zaha in midfield.

And yet, while three of that four failed miserably, it was again a steady goalkeeper and a defender – David De Gea and Daley Blind – who provided the bigger hauls.

We saw the same just weeks earlier.

We moved mountains to invest in Sergio Aguero and Manchester City’s exciting wingers in Gameweek 27, only for Pep Guardiola’s attack to be frustrated by Stoke City, as Lee Grant and Erik Pieters top scored with 13 and 14 points.

It seems we can’t help ourselves. When a double Gameweek rumbles into view, our priority is to aim big – go for the Hail Mary.

We become dazzled by the potential for three digits and to find it; we covet a collection of attacking options which may just provide the “mother load” of returns.

Pinning the tail on that particular unicorn is a thankless task. This time it was Benteke, but with a cast of mediocre imposters, it turned out that our Gameweek 34 investment was better spent on the reliability of Manchester United’s defence.

With just seven days to go before we again plunge into a Double Gameweek scenario, I find myself wandering into the same trap.

My Wildcard line-up is currently constructed around retaining Alexis Sanchez and acquiring Eden Hazard alongside my three Spurs attackers.

I’m making changes at the back, but the idea of sacrificing an expensive attacker in order to bolster the defence hasn’t really been considered.

Sanchez and Hazard could well deliver big over their Gameweek 37 fixtures, but, arguably, it’s far easier to isolate defenders and keepers who will safely edge into double figures.

Willy Cabellero, Laurent Koscielny, Marcus Alonso, Jan Vertonghen – these are all assured assets who could and perhaps should produce 10+ hauls and, if we can possibly find a secure starter in the United and City backline, they provide additional names for that list.

I’m one of many settling on two knock-off Southampton centre-backs, alongside a cast of budget single Gameweek assets.

Fearful of missing out on a key attacker, I’m obsessed with chasing expensive targets who could well be destined to follow Negredo and Zaha down a 4-point cul-de-sac.

Double Gameweeks dangle the spectacular but often allow the steady and unfashionable to prevail.

Maybe I need to show some restraint, so in a bid to wean myself off “Hollywood moves”, I’m bringing in Martin Kelly today. Transfers don’t come more unspectacular than that.

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

  1. Clifford☯
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Vertonghen Or Blind ?

    Cheers.

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      B

  2. JJO
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Aguero or Gabbi captain?

    1. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Gabby

    2. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Aguero if you think he'll start.

    3. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Gabbi

    4. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Gabbi

    5. JJO
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks guys
      Gabbi it is

    6. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Gabster

  3. Snapes on a Plane
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Who to Captain?
    A) Kane
    B) Coutinho
    C) King

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      A

    2. Mickey Tyrion™
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Went B and it feels good.

    3. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Coutinho

    4. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      A

    5. jam
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Kane for me

    6. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      A

  4. Mickey Tyrion™
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Lakaku > Aguero -4 for 1 week?

    1. sminkypinky
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Nah

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Nope.

    3. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Toss a coin. Leaning toward no.

  5. ILOVEBAPS
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Captains anyone??

    Kane!!

    1. sminkypinky
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Same

    2. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Costa for me

    3. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      The saviour

    4. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Kane

    5. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Kane, because arsenal will be without mustafi and maybe also kosc

    6. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Gabbiadini !!

    7. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Drogba

    8. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

    9. Martial Law
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Gabbi

  6. Distinctly Average
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    How's this for the WC team for next week?

    Pickford, Cech
    Alonso, monreal, vert, stones, yoshida
    Sanchez, hazard, JWP, Alli, king
    Costa, Kane, Gabbi

    1. trinzoo
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Pickford to Willy and Stones to Holgate maybe ?

  7. NeedleInDeGeaStack
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Coutinho or Afobe? Already have King, but let's be honest - Sunderland is sh*te

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Coutinho

  8. Bullet Eder
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone going with KDB before bringing Sanchez in next week?

    1. RADOAFC
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      I'm currently debating it!

  9. Slip it like Stevie
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Play
    A) heaton vs palace
    B) jaku vs saints

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      A

  10. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Rangers -> Celtic for a -4? 😛

    1. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      No point, you'll go break even

  11. Gooner97
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Holebas or Mawson?

  12. EDEN THE MAN
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    A)AOA
    B)Bench Lukaku
    C)Bench Zaha
    Please!!!!

    1. jam
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      A unless you have Benteke & depends on your defs!

    2. JoroBG
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      C

    3. korbendallas82
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Bench zaha

  13. Top 210 Club
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    If u have Jesus and Sane and u want to bench one u obviously got him in thinking he is due a start so likely at the expense of Sane

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Id say instead of sterling

      1. Top 210 Club
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 10 months ago

        He's had rest for Cups and he looked sharper vs utd

      2. Top 210 Club
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 10 months ago

        but ye is 50:50

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

    siggy to sane/martial/arnie or any other mid for a (-4)?
    Budget not an issue
    1 week punt, WC next week
    TA!

    1. Top 210 Club
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      u already have answers from the last time u posted this

  15. SirStevieG
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Bench Alonso or Davies???

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      D

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

      davies, easy

  16. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    To Kun or not to Kun

    1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Think I leaving captaincy on him

  17. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Which option? On WC
    A. Willy Cab and Gabriel (the defender)

    B. Cech and Evans

    Thanks

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      A easy

  18. general_franco
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Start Hennessy or Cab today?

    1. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      caba

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Hennessy IMO

  19. PM
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    QUICK POLL:

    1. Negredo

    2. Benteke, -4 pt hit

    3. Gabbiadini, -4 pt hit

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      3

    2. jam
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      3

    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      2 or 3

    4. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      2

    5. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      3

    6. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      3

    7. liiusions
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      2

    8. Martial Law
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Just did 3

      1. PM
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 10 months ago

        Thanks to all, good luck this GW

  20. Tansey
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Bench one of
    Sanchez
    Hazard
    Alli
    Tadic
    King
    Kane
    Gabbi
    Afobe

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      1/4/8

    2. NeedleInDeGeaStack
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Tadic. I see Afobe getting a couple tap-ins today

  21. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    is jesus going to play?

    1. jam
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Jesus knows

    2. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Probably

    3. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      The tambourine?

    4. korbendallas82
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      I hope so. My rival has aguero.

    5. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Only Pep knows. I think Sane looked so tired after ManU that he will play Kun and Jesus and bring Sane on later for Jesus

  22. Sanguinista
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Bench Lukaku or Sane?

  23. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    bit worried about gabbi(C)... wont get 90??

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      He'll get 75+

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      I'd settle for 30pts, let alone 90....

    3. bring_on _the_fantasy
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      long will be on for him at 70mins

  24. Jones Town
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Gone for Rooney as a 1 week punt - would you captain?

    Other options: Gabbi, Kane, Coutinho, King?

    1. korbendallas82
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Kane

  25. Lallana_
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Hopefully Arsenal continue with a three back. It'll give Gabriel a good chance to start at least 3/4 of these upcoming games.

  26. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Would I be Abel to play Kane and Jesus?

  27. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Those with WC, BB & TC left, might want consider playing WC this week.

    1. VS10_
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      🙂

    2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      😆

    3. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      plenty of time so a big yes

    4. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      #horse
      #bolted

  28. liiusions
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Cab
    Alonso Yosh Stephens
    Hazard Eriksen Alli King
    Kane(c) Gabbi Jesus
    (Pickford, Sanchez, Gabriel, Holgate)

    G2G? Good luck everyone 🙂

  29. JoroBG
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    GABBI VS BENTEKE FOR THE ARMBAND???

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Benteke

    2. Prøfeßör …
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Gabbi.

  30. ILOVEBAPS
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone worth a -4 over Lukaku?
    Gabbi? Tekkers? Jesus?

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

      Nope, this has got 6 points for Lukaku written all over it

    2. Prøfeßör …
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      No.

    3. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 10 months ago

      Doubt it