[sbu_large_image] Opinion
21 May 2017 3279 comments
Mark Mark
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The final day is such a bittersweet experience.

The anticipation and excitement can go off the scale on days like this but, equally, we know that an almighty comedown looms once the whistle has blown and the final set of bonus points drop in.

For all the frustrations that Fantasy Football can inflict, in a matter of hours, we will be lamenting the end of another season and already chattering in anticipation of the next, as we begin the process of burning time till August.

Today has so much in store. At the very top of the FPL we could well be treated to one of the most thrilling finales in memory.

While we’ve witnessed tense conclusions to the season before – most notably Tom Fenley’s one-point victory in 2013/14 – I can’t recall us heading into Gameweek 38 with just two points separating the top two managers.

Many of us are experienced Fantasy managers, and, at various times we’ve doubtless flirted with the upper reaches of the FPL rankings. But we can only imagine how it must feel this morning to ponder the decisions that could make or break an entire season. No pressure.

My best wishes to go out to Uwais Ahmed and Ben Crabtree at the very top – and to the chasing pack that gives chase.

Closer to home, I’m dealing with my own agonising choices.

I’m in reach of a top 100 finish – just five points adrift. But now I must decide on what it will take to carry me over the line, while at the same time hold off Torres Magic who continues to breathe down my neck in the Mods and Contributors league.

Since nudging into the top 500, I’ve calmed my aggressive transfer policy and, in the main, it’s worked.

Slowly but surely I’ve cautiously edged up the rankings to be close to my target, but now I’m wondering if there’s merit in ending the season with one last hurrah.

I’ve felt subdued in recent weeks. It’s felt like my fire has gone out and that I’m simply plodding over the line without any degree of flair.

But today’s heady mix of sunshine, tension and ten concurrent fixtures may just tempt my maverick tendencies. I might just commit to a hit and see if I can’t find a more spectacular route over the line.

Regardless of the outcome and the inevitable feeling of flatness when the final ball is kicked, I will look back on this season with much fondness.

We’ve all be tested and challenged, and I can’t recall a campaign that has demanded more “management”. We’ve rarely been able to settle on our squads: Harry Kane aside, at one time or another, the merits of each and every heavy-hitter has been questioned. There’s been no “fire and forget” options, no essential bargains that offered us a lengthy shelf life.

While luck – rough or smooth – has played its part, I believe the experienced and studied Fantasy managers have had the opportunities to prevail, but we’ve had to work to call this season a success.

For me, that’s how it should be. Looking back, I can’t help but think that Messrs Vardy, Mahrez and Alli were too easy on us last season; it felt more satisfying this time around.

Now we can look ahead. Prepare for new names. Make lists, study numbers and swear that we will never repeat this season’s mistakes.

Only one thing is certain – I’ll be back here with the flame burning once again. I hope to see you too.

Enjoy the day.

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

3,279 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Getting Cahill over Azpi a few weeks ago has worked well

    1. Jayv807
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I share your pain. 1pt cameo?

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        He'll come on for Terry in the 90th I reckon

    2. zizoo10
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      no it hasn't

  2. zizoo10
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    anybody else have zero liverpool cover?

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

      +1

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

      Yeah

      They might conjure a way to donk it up though

    3. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Dont buy koppites

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

    Giroud on the bench!!!
    Went for Haz+Fab!!!
    Got in Barnes for Gabbi to enable King to Fab for -4 and Barnes on bench... 🙁

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

      Don't own Gitoud btw.

  4. Lizard Lips
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Have we actually sold one of the world's best players, at home, on trophy day, against one of the worst teams the Premiership has ever seen?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yep indeed.

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

      No

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

      We though C*nte would rest him.

    4. Pierce34
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No 😛

      1. Pierce34
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Sorry, couldn't resist. If it's any consolation, Hazard's ppg in my team is 3.9 😀

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

      Nah we kept him bruv

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

      No, I haven't

    7. willgriggsonfire
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No...
      Haz+Fab

    8. Lizard Lips
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I thought he may well start, but I needed to get King to Coutinho so he had to go. Just hope he doesn't outscore Sane, here's hoping. The real annoyance is Gabbi not starting who was bound for the exit before King wimped out!

    9. jason_ni
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Nope held him.. was mob mentality with hazard on here.. more ppl that say something easier it is to convince yourself that it's gonna be true

    10. Lizard Lips
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Well played those who kept him, smart moves!

      1. nonprophet
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Strong bench enabled me to do gabbi to llorente and keep haz

  5. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    How is it looking?

    Caballero
    Yoshida - Alonso
    Hazard - Milner - Wijnaldum - Hazard - Alli
    Kane - Jesus - Costa(c)

    Cech - Vertonghen - Amat - Holgate

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

      Benched the wrong keeper.

      1. jason_ni
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Watford not scored for 3 gws..

      2. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        That's why I did it - go against the crowd

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      You should have got hazard if I'm honest....

  6. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Brought in Jay rodriguez in for king using my FT, atleast it wasnt for a hit

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

      Wow I was the only one shouting Jrod here I thought 😀

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

    When's the right time to use my bench boost and Tc?

    1. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Save them until next week mate

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

      Gw39

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

    No DDG, Mustafi, Pedro, King.
    Then Willy, Yoshida, Vert, Llorente come from my sub.
    Good luck everyone..!!

  9. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Why are lollers assuming that everyone got rid of Hazard because they thought he wouldn't start? I sold him because I thought Coutinho would get more points 🙄

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Exactly, Haz will only play 60 as well

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        59 😉

        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          nah, he walks too slow 😛

    2. Ligdon
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      This

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

      I did the same thing Hazard better blank!

    4. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      True that, Hazard is 2 pointer

    5. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      This. He's also not guaranteed to get more than 1...

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

      I sold him because Fabregas would get more points 🙂

      And Coutinho..

    7. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I sold him to release funds to upgrade King.

      1. Jam0sh
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        This

      2. MTPockets
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Same. To Pedro

      3. The Legend Squad
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        This.

        Hazard and King to Coutinho and Fabregas (-4). Hazard helped me fund these moves, and I think even with the -4 the latter pairing is a better bet!

      4. Lizard Lips
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Same. Coutinho and Sane in for Hazard and King, feeling pretty good. Would be feeling a lot better had Hazard been dropped and Gabbi started mind you.

      5. Ready Manager One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        This

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

      This. The Watford game is still very fresh in my memory!

    9. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Because loads said they were getting rid of him because he wouldn't start?

    10. Brap.
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Sure that's cool, but only if you have no other issues needing a transfer whatsoever

    11. I Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Best player in the league at home to the worst team in the league.

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

      Glad he starts ... he'll help my 3 Chelsea players get assists and goals

      Didn't we have all this last week - Hazard sellers for KDB

  10. F4L
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    That Watford line up 😆 (K)DB go get me 40 points son

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Swtiched captain from KDB to Cout last minute. Regretting already

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        you will, you will....

    2. KLOPPS GLASSES
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Kind of wish I captained Jesus now

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

      KBD(c), Jesus and Kompany ... lot of goals please

  11. Holmes
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Was struggling to field 11, now I have 14 starters... Bench pts incoming 😳

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

      This. I even got in Crouch to fund King > Cout and even he's starting. Damn...

      1. @FPL_liverbird (liverpoolfa…
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        same exact transfer! would love a crouchie hattrick

  12. Mick J
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Panicked and got Zaha in for King, even though he Zaha’s only gotten me one pointers previously. Bound to fail this time also, right?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Think he might do k this week.
      Cos I ditched him

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

      good choice ... Palace will be up for the game

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

    God bless Josh King for tipping us off

    #fpl legend

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

      Good luck ogie. #Top10.

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

        Thanks EliteserienDreams

        *fingers crossed

    2. Pep says
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Lol. True. Siggy patiently waiting to take his place on my bench! I'm actually relieved I won't have any attacking points on the bench this week

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

        I got Siggy in for King 😎

    3. Ready Manager One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      This

    4. Point-one short
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Agreed, FPL hero

  14. Sp0rting
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Just imagine Rooney and Pogba looking around the dressing room right now.

  15. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I needed all 3 of my Chelsea def to start to have a chance of closing the gap. Cahill out mean a sub appearance of Stephens off the bench. My rival has Yoshi, and Stephens is basically the same, so that's him and Cech my only non-differentials, but I can't see it being enough to make up 62 points -12

    1. Sp0rting
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It won't be

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I agree, but it's not impossible. Rival's team ain't great

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

      did you not go with azpi?

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Yeh! But I already had Cahill and Alonso!

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

      But what if Cahill is subbed on for Terry, passing the armband over?

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Are there armband points on FPL?

    4. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I need to find 38 points this week. I doubt I can do it. KDB, Cech, Alonso and Llorente are my differentials.

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Good diffs, not probably too few. I figured 10 diffs were too few for me, but I couldn't justify plying Pickford over Cech or taking a hit for a keeper

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          but probably too few*

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

    Players not being rested because there's no more games to rest them for #mindblown

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

      Manchester United says hello...

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

      *except for Chelsea of course

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

    There were actually people here recommending you captain gabbiadini this week 😆

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

      😆

      Name and shame

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

        I can't re-call exactly who at this time, one has an aguero grav

        apparently they were giving the "he is due" nonsence

    2. Sp0rting
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Did you?

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

      Seriously??

    4. BRFC1883
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Link?

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

      Captain….on the Costa Concordia

  18. Xenq
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck all 🙂 That King news really saved me. Ended up using the 2FT for Hazard, King out and Coutinho and Willian in.

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Save the thank you until afterwards 😛

    2. Ligdon
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Willian ?

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

      Uhh...

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

        Nice! Hope Willian scores well for you.

  19. Lav
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Was happy with everything until no Josh King 🙁

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

      Should have been half an hour before the deadline man. I was posting it left right & Centre 😉

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

        I know I missed it 🙁

    2. Ravager
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah. I logged in earlier, just to see if any news broke and he broke it himself.

  20. JÆKS ⭐
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard scoring big when most sold him would be so typical for him, considering the troll he has been this season

  21. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hope Gabbi stays on the bench were he belongs.

  22. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    King's injury messed up things.I had thought King+Jesus->Coutinho+Liorente but i found it wrong.Right choice?

  23. dogtanion
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Supremely confident about every one of my players today... 38 point red arrow let's have ya

  24. Sánchez
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Sat trying to decide who to put on my bench for a fair while this week.

    Defoe Gibbs and Pedro got chosen for me in the end anyway it seems 😆

  25. HD7
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Giroud really needs to go in and score a brace! 🙂

  26. Dušan Citizen
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Ended up getting Coutinho (C) and Lallana for Hazard and King...

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

      Good luck!

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks. It will be awkard supporting the club I hate the most 😀

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

      Good luck. I needed a -8 to get lallana in too much hurt and i skipped it..

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks mate, same to u

  27. Son of Rambo
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    King to J.Rod went well

  28. MikeHawk Pulauwin
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    ok..

    woah its flooding even more, help i can breath, King is out!!

    lol calm down folks im sure you all have a good bench and you just want to confirm you will be OK. Moreover people like me who want to take a hit that actually come to this site for suggestions, not just RMT!!! but more. thank you anyone who wants to help out? ill be surprised if any one knows what to do. Lady Luck.

    a. fab
    b. sig
    c. sane
    d. son

    a b c or d? not that difficult.

  29. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Great, no King, and my first 2 subs are Origi (bench) and Mustafi(Not in the squad) =(

  30. Luton_Fan
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    damn it. did king to pedro -4 last min after hearing he was out rather than just playing albrighton, thanks alot scout for breaking that news :(.