[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. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who went with Kane(C)? You confident?

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

      o/ Yes.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Hatrick incoming.

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

          this

    2. Orange Roughy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Went with it, but not confident

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

        Very 🙂

    3. Duffy Dunk
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Even if he wasted my triple captain earlier n the season (3*2 vs Burnley), he'll be carrying my hopes again tomorrow

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

    Free WC incoming for FPL massive ineptitude.....

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

      What happened ?

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

    LOL .. Ibrahimovic still the most captained.

  4. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    ML rival captained Coutinho :O

  5. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    time to ACTIVATE

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

    WC active circle jerk 😛

  7. karvs155
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Im WCing, do I keep Alonso?

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

      I got rid and it was a sad, sad, sad moment.

    2. Bullet Eder
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      100%. Why on earth would you get rid with those fixtures?

    3. Prøfeßör …
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Keep for sure.

    4. matiakez
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I bought him on mine.

      Those fixtures.

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

    FPL still on last week fixtures......WC'ing now will become null & void, when updates 😆

    1. tm245
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      We've entered the twilight zone.

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

      Updated fine for me 😎

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

        Still bugggggered for me.....

  9. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    update not actually updated?

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

      Yup and those pressing WC now, will lose it. In the rules 😮

      1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        is it? that could be handy

      2. enrico.palazzo
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Flag this. Bs

  10. tm245
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    FPL still showing gw35 fixtures for me.

  11. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Closest rival who is 80 points away used his WC this week. Should I just mess with his head and copy his team. It's actually pretty good.

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Do it.

    2. Martial Law
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    3. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Do it!

    4. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Do it.

    5. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      If ur aim is to win the ML go ahead!,what is the team btw?

    6. Prøfeßör …
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      80 points is a big lead - you've already won. Focus on OR instead.

    7. karvs155
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Do it! If your goal is to win your ML.

  12. Rover
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Quick Prediction Poll! Who scores more this GW35?

    A) Caballero, Blind, Daniels, Yoshida, Firmino, Kane, Gabbi (C)
    B) Lloris, Alonso, Walker, Jagielka, Herrera, Lukaku, Aguero (C)

    1. karvs155
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I think A

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

      A

  13. tambourineman
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Overall top 100 captains:
    Kane 26
    Benteke 21
    Aguero 14
    Gabbi 11
    Firmino 5
    Coutinho, Lukaku & King 3
    Ali, Costa, Rashford & Sane 2
    KDB, Defoe, Hazard, Sanchez, Tadic & Zaha 1

    1. tm245
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I need stats for top 50,960

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

        subtle...
        non-brag 😉

  14. mojoindojo
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Afobe(C) 😎

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

      Edgy.

  15. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    No Pieters... disaster

    1. karvs155
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Omg, didnt even notice! 🙁

  16. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Been making massive ground on my main rival over last few GWs, Spencer of this very site, simply by getting captain right. Gap only 10 points now.

    Yet again its split. He has Gabbi (C), I have Kane (C).

    1. Martial Law
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      For both our sakes I hope Kane murders ARS defence today

      1. karvs155
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        He won't.... Tomorrow tho!

  17. Chris_White
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one:

    Brunt(bur)
    Baines(swa)
    Valencia(ars)

  18. Orange Roughy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Let the tinkering begin

  19. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Activate WC now or wait?

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

      Wait incase you've a nothing player in these games who goes mad at 3pm and gets a double rise.

    2. Bullet Eder
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Wait as long as possible. I did mine this week and the tinkering kills you. You'll never be happy.

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Just rack up the penalty points, as long as you press the WC by by the end of the GW you will be fine (some on here have forgot in the past !)

  20. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    So many different captains across mini leagues. Love it.

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

      Benteke, Gabbi and Kane at the top of mine. Hoping for a quiet day 🙂

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

    Sanchez with two fixtures, the armband and that star beside him just looks so right!

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Straight red card this week

      1. Fred54
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        You do realise that would make WC36 team so easy.

    2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Would look even better with TC 😉

    3. Rover
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Exactly!

  22. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Rival captained gabbi, i captained kane. We both have those players. I have to hope Gabbi does nothing now!

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Same here.

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Gabbi doing nothing hurt you as well, something like 4 goals from Kane, 2 form Gabbi would be better IMO.

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Me too

  23. LarryDuff
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Gabbi captain anyone? 😉

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

      Me! Last hour change from Benteke.

  24. matiakez
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Uh last minute WC left a right bench head ache for next week...

    Stephens
    Kmpany
    Gabriel
    Alonso
    JWP
    King

  25. BALOOO
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Amat in Dream Team for this GW, damn.

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

      Lol

    2. Rover
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      And Ake

  26. FPL Maldini
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Is there a chance JWP will now play both games in DGW?

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Probably more chance now he's having a rest.

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

    WC Played

  28. Niemi
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I'm so looking forward to this GW. Could me massive. Aguero (C) and Arnautovic my big differential. I see loads have captained Benteke and Gabbiadini. I own neither and I don't own King. Could end up with a massive green or a massive red.

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

      Massive red likely

  29. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who gets the boot for Sanchez?

    A. Alli
    B. Erisken
    C. Coutinho

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

      Coutinho is gone this week for me.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Even with his fixtures and form? :O

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

          Too expensive for no doubles.

          1. Make United Great Again
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Ahh, forgot Liverpool have no doubles. Think that makes my mind up

  30. purple.emu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Wildcard active!