[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. McSauce
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    A or B

    Eriken & Benteke

    Sane & Jesus

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

      A

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

        For this week that is, maybe not long term but monitor Jesus minutes

        1. McSauce
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Ye agreed

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A A

  2. Optimus.
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Has anyone got that 5 way defensive rotation spreadsheet?(I'm on a wc)

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      😆

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Alonso Monreal Bailly Yoshi Holgatr

      1. Optimus.
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Too late 🙁

  3. bring_on _the_fantasy
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    bookies anytime goal odds

    Kane 1.72
    Gabbi 2.00

    They know more than me..... kane captain

    1. Licious Lizard
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero 1.57 😉

      1. bring_on _the_fantasy
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        haha dont have him

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm chasing so going Gabbi

    3. 824545201
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      The fallacy that many people fall under when making decisions based on bookie odds is that they think that the odds represent the chances of someone scoring/clean sheet/whatever. It's wrong, the bookies change odds based on amount of bets and the amount that is bet, not the actual chances of an event happening.

  4. Aubaaaaa
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Captain king or gabbi?

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      King

  5. Alnair
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Is Hazard (c) madness?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Never

    2. The60ftoctopus
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I've done it.

      So many Kane (C) and I need the differential.

  6. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who's worse away???

    Burnley, who are safe
    Hull, who are not

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Hull

      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Too late

  7. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Lukaku > jesus (-4)?

    1. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      noooo

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Save

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    any late team news?

  9. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I made all my transfers but forgot to activate WC, can I write to FPL to get them to fix it?

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Press it now

    2. Licious Lizard
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      no

  10. EDEN THE MAN
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    A)Bench Zaha( Have Benteke

    B)AOA and bench Alonso or Pieters

    PLEASE

    1. Sliver
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      B

  11. Prison Mike
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Bring in King for a -4 hit ?

    1. JabbaWookiee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes - do it NOOOOW!!!

  12. JabbaWookiee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Just changed captain from Gabbiadini to Kane. Bottled it...

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Stupid move

      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Don't hold back

      2. JabbaWookiee
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Or stroke of genius?

    2. Moose™
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Kane is Kane.

    3. Fillet-o-fish
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      good choice tho

  13. Gatsby
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one

    A) Vardy
    B) Sane

    ?

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Sane

    2. JabbaWookiee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Vardy

    3. Gatsby
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Eek

  14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    just pressed wc ready for gw 36 😎

    any good picks?

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      😛

    2. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Too early

  15. :
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    WILDCARD ACTIVATED!

  16. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    BINGOO

  17. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Pens down

    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      you don't tell my what to do.

  18. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    VINGO 😎

  19. Scotch Jock
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Dingo!

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Winner, winner.....chicken dinner....enjoy!

  20. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    WC active in 20 minutes 🙂

  21. Somalion
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Gabbi hasn't traveled to the KC Stadium 😯

    1. Tansey
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Where'd you see this

    2. greghammer95
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Troll

      1. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        100% accurate

    3. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      makes sense. isn't there

    4. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Just saw him driving up to Saint Mary's in his car

    5. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'd hope not either

    6. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      joking arent you lol

    7. :
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      That's 100% true folks.

    8. makaveli123
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ban

      1. makaveli123
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        For giving me a heartattack

      2. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        ter

    9. Optimus.
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Phew

  22. Tansey
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Benched Sanchez.

  23. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Just changed captain last minute :O Kun to kane

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I did the opposite.lol

  24. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    BINGO

  25. Gooner97
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    rip

  26. greghammer95
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck lads! Always the most positive time until our game weeks are ruined by the first lineups!

  27. Clifford☯
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Good Luck Everyone !

  28. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck all!

    1. Gatsby
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      You too, sir.

  29. sminkypinky
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Well it's all in the hands of the creator now...

  30. fusen
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    https://anewpla.net/fpl/lineups/

    Southampton: Forster, Alves Soares, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Davis, Romeu Vidal, Boufal, Tadic, Redmond, Gabbiadini,
    Subs: Højbjerg (23), Rodriguez (9), Hassen (40), Sims (39), Ward-Prowse (16), Cáceres (12), Long (7)

    Hull City: Jakupovic, Elmohamady, Ranocchia, Maguire, Robertson, N'Diaye, Clucas, Markovic, Goebel, Grosicki, Niasse,
    Subs: Henriksen (22), Marshall (23), Hernández (9), Bowen (29), Huddlestone (8), Dawson (21), Maloney (15)

    Stoke City: Butland, Johnson, Muniesa, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Cameron, Whelan, Shaqiri, Allen, Arnautovic, Berahino,
    Subs: Bardsley (2), Grant (33), Adam (16), Sobhy Ahmed (32), Crouch (25), Pieters (3), Diouf (18)

    West Ham United: Adrian, da Rocha Fonte, Reid, Collins, Fernandes, Kouyaté, Nordtveit, Masuaku, Lanzini, Ayew, Calleri,
    Subs: Snodgrass (11), Feghouli (7), Fletcher (24), Randolph (1), Byram (22), Cresswell (3), Noble (16)

    Sunderland: Pickford, Manquillo, O'Shea, Koné, Love, Ndong, Khazri, Pienaar, Borini, Defoe, Anichebe,
    Subs: Januzaj (44), Gooch (46), Lescott (15), Mannone (1), Djilobodji (5), Honeyman (39), Embleton (40)

    AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Fraser, Arter, Cook, Pugh, King, Afobe,
    Subs: Smith (14), Stanislas (19), Mousset (31), Mings (26), Gradel (10), Ibe (33), Allsop (21)

    West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom, Morrison, Livermore, Yacob, Chadli, Rondón, Brunt,
    Subs: Fletcher (24), Wilson (12), Leko (45), Harper (34), Myhill (13), McClean (14), Field (47)

    Leicester City: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy,
    Subs: Chilwell (3), Slimani (19), King (10), Ulloa (23), Amartey (13), Gray (22), Zieler (21)