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

    Giroud owners... Unit.... do we cry or we get to laugh last in the 2nd half hopefully

    1. FP El Wonky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I thought he'd start! Super-Sub maybe.

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

      He will score, when he is substituted.

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

      Fingers crossed. At least it wasn't a hit, Gabby didn't start either, and that AOA can't be used again... though I've left BDavies on bench for him, hope that doesn't bite me

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

    Is Pedro on the bench?

    1. FP El Wonky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes he is, Willian got the nod instead.

    2. MTPockets
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yeah

    3. ZeBestee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yes. we are together mate

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

      Yup, too bad.

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

      yes

  3. PEP G
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who TC Harry Kane? Anyone else?

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

      TC Alonso 🙂

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

        Good luck!

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

      Yep.

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

      Me

    4. MFC86
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Me

  4. mattzkn
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Everyone getting ready for that sad moment when the game stops updating and you click on 'my team'...

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

      And you see you accidentally captained Caballero

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

      🙁

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

      **** exciting moment where you pile in and see what your rivals have done

    4. FP El Wonky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      F5 F5 F5 hahaha oh the joy of seeing what the others have done.

  5. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Beautiful preamble.

    1. FP El Wonky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      tapping that home button with that funny feeling of "what's it gonna' be?"

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

    And it will all start again in the small matter of 3 months

  7. Moose™
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Matiiippp (C) !!!

  8. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    No king? Gabby first bench, good start 😆

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

      What rank are you expecting to finish at YMA?

      1. Your Mum's Athletic
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Top 10k was the aim, currently 40k atm, hopeful for 30k

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

          Still a decent finish!

          Top 10K was my aim as well, current on 27K, but will miss going under 10K...aiming for under 20K now.

          1. Moose™
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Same target! Currently 23k, hopefully Matip(c) will bring me inside 20k.

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

      Hard lesson learned, to wait for news till the last moments before deadline.

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

    Goodbye to the 95 % of you who have been on here this afternoon. See you again in August!

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

      Where are you going?

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

      They've already gone.

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

      Thanks Team Cruel will visit over the summer to see your articles of Norway FPL

    4. b✪mber
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Dude, you forgot your car keys!

      1. WE ARE RANGERS
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        To be honest some ppl watch the games instead of posting on here

    5. Creedey
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      See you over in eliteseriefantasy, m8!

    6. ZeBestee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      are you going to be around during the break?

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

        Ofc. I'm going nowhere :p

    7. FP El Wonky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Its been a pleasure! Enjoy the summer and that funny old eliteserien malarky

  10. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I have bench boost with 3 nin starters gutting ....

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

      Effective.

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

      Ello Ello?

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

      You may still beat most people's GW37 BB score.

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

    I am seeing lots of people went Haz to Cesc, did anyone else ignore Cesc and go Sane?

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

      Just you.

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

      Someone on a previous page did.

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

      Knew those replies were coming! I know others did, just wondering what fellow forumites did! Was a sort of unite Sane moment! 🙂

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

        I do have Sane though so I'm with you in wanting a haul 😉

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

      Nope

    5. #23
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Went Siggy, looking at Watford lineup Sane might be the best option. Chelsea forum thought Fab would get rested since he now key player for final.

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

      Yes (haz, king -> cout, sane)

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

    can someone else say that they did king to pedro -4 to make me feel better please 🙁

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

      At least you didn't do Pedro to King for -4

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

      Me

  13. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I'm legit excited and optimistic today.

    1. super zlatan
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      GL pal

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

      Good stuff. The illegit excited is not family-friendly

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

    I'm hoping for Boro to break the deadlock.

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

    I've had Yoshida and Cedric since GW30.

    I've always played Cedric every time I've needed one of them and benched Yoshida.

    This week I've played Yoshida over Cedric as I thought the latter was out injured.

    I think you all know the rest of the story...

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

    Hit free held Hazard, did Alli>Coutinho instead.

    Let's go!

  17. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    What happens if you make transfers after the final week? I never tried it..

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

      Try it.

    2. b✪mber
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      minus points at the start of next season (if you take hits)

    3. mattzkn
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      you win

    4. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Be funny if it uses your ft for gw2 next year lol

  18. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    All the best everyone, a very emotional day indeed.

  19. Liastro ⭐️
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    There's one positive about the season ending.

    You cannot beat the quiet weeks in pre-season composing a draft with endless discussion on FFS and pages lasting hours rather than seconds.

    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      This

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

      This is just my second season on this forum and it truthfully never crossed my mind to come here during Summer *oops*

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

      And the complex spreadsheets full of players we don't know prices for.

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

        😆 This!

    4. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      OK, but what are we supposed to do before FPL starts?

      Go outside?!

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

      Yeah. The best thing about the site is bringing people together for discussions, but it rarely happens. The last 2 hours here have been pointless, except for injury announcements like King.

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

    It's taking a while...

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

      patience mate..

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

    is Austin starting? good hit..

  22. Uncle Gamst
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Kane missing for Bournemouth prompted me to make 3 transfers for -4

    Hazard > Fabregas
    Alli > Silva
    King > Coutinho

    Hope I've not lost my ML as I'm 15 points ahead of my rival who has made 1 unknown transfer and had:

    Hazard
    Costa
    Eriksen

  23. MFC86
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I bottled it and sold Hazard last minute now I am very scared !!

  24. Deeney-is-a-god
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Took a punt on Giroud... But hey, is is more lethal of the bench

  25. Ryan Naysmith
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck all

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

    Should have gone Cesc over Sane. I just wasn't 100% he would start, this is going to hurt big league!

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

      I thought Sane was God 2 minutes ago?

    2. Atom&Humber
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Couldn't you have managed to get both in?

  27. Sims
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Spare a thought for the guy that did Hazard > King last night

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

      low-key that was you wasn't it?

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

        No

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

      No.

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

    How long does it take for a page to go by in the summer on here? lol

  29. Marv87
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    How long does fpl take to update?

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

      Half an hour