The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Opinion
4 November 2017 1397 comments
Mark Mark
Share:

I’d like to think that my season is now in “The Recovery Position”.

Ranked just above 330,000, it’s a comfortable spot that puts me in sight of respectability.

Now I can look to build on the three successive green arrows and perhaps start to gradually reel in some of those ahead of me, edging towards something more preferable than just plain “respectable”.

That’s if all goes to plan.

I’m still feeling somewhat on edge looking at my squad. Eden Hazard, in particular, is already proving a troublesome asset.

He almost defines the term “luxury item”; a player that possesses two very dangerous traits for Fantasy managers.

For starters, Hazard is on penalty kicks. An almost random benefit that can pay off at any time, even when form falters.

Secondly, he is arguably a world-class talent. He has the ability to score goals from nothing, akin to his solo effort against Arsenal last season – a wonder strike that I actually did benefit from.

But that day proved a rarity.

When, at the end of last season, I was asked to nominate my most frustrating player, I opted for Hazard. This despite his 224 points.

For some reason, whenever I welcome the Belgian into the fold, he does just enough to retain his place, while reserving the big scores to coincide with the time that I finally give up and trade him in.

Even the penalties stung me last season. I held him for the Southampton away trip, only for Chelsea to earn a spot-kick in the dying minutes with Hazard hooked.

While he’s returned in both matches for me so far, delivering 11-points in Gameweek 10, I’m still expecting another bumpy ride.

Man City’s midfielders provide a conveyor belt of cheaper “on-fire” options, so the lure of cashing in Hazard’s lofty price tag is strong.

The switch to Sane, pocketing some handy spare change, is an obvious and perhaps wise move to explore.

But my strategy with City assets is decided for now.

I refuse to go near the two strikers until Pep Guardiola gives us more assurance on Sergio Aguero as his first choice.

That leaves me assessing the midfield candidates, with Sterling my chosen poison.

A cheap recruit at 8.0 at the time, he hardly needs time to impact on matches so can contribute in a 20-minute cameo. And when starting, I believe he can match the output of the other City assets. The numbers certainly suggest that’s the case.

Having just a single member of Pep’s attack can leave my squad less exposed to his whims, providing the replacements keep pace.

Doubling on Sane will remain an obvious temptation, and I’m relying on Hazard to help me fight that urge.

A beguiling player; he is an asset who can tease and almost please his owners even when blanking.

But this time he will need to prove me wrong. Hazard needs to save his best for me.

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

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

    who gets more this week?

    A) Choupo Moting and Aguero

    B) Lukaku and Richarlsion

    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

      Wait until Sunday evening to find out

    3. VFORVANDETA
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Richarlsion 15 pointer.So B.

    4. BERGKOP
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

  2. The Overthinker
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    WC active finally !!

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

      +1

  3. HD7
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Choose Simpson and benched Kola... Hope its the right choice. Go on Leicester, have a cleanie!

  4. VFORVANDETA
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hünemeier this week?

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

      rising*

      1. Gooner97
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        How come?

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

          No idea.But already 99.8%.

  5. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A) Pizza
    B) Kebab
    C) Burger

    Hungover as hell.

    1. ChampChomp
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. The Overthinker
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A,B,Ç

      Gotta get em all

    3. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A, but only from an Italian pizzeria.

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

      all

    5. PocketZola
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      MacDonalds breakfast x 2 for the win

    6. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      CAB

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

    Updated

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

      BAN

    2. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      GW12?

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

      you say? 😉

  7. d3bug
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    All I want this week is a Kane blank

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

      S.A.D

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      You have a 50% chance

      1. d3bug
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        That's exactly the chance of getting green arrow... How coincidental!

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Looking very likely as he’s my captain

  8. The Overthinker
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Lukaku should fall tonight

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Asleep?

  9. Crouching Tiger
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    When is Pogba coming back?

    1. d3bug
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      After International break

    2. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ask Mourhino he hasn't shut up about it all weekend

    3. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      There's been some talk of a potential bench appearence this weekend.

  10. Fred54
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Kane ownership:

    GW9: 2.1M
    GW10 1.5M
    GW11: 2.03M

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

      Crazy

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

      poor 0.7M forgot to get him back..

    3. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Cute.

    4. Dreams
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      The player who decides the team structure of most of the Fpl players.

    5. Fred54
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      *2.06M last one.

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

        *poor 0.4 forgot to get him back than 🙂

    6. The Overthinker
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Will be in my team finally

    7. d3bug
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      GW 12: 1.4M

  11. Patch
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Is there a user guide for how to activate the WC...when I go in Transfers and click WC...it still shows a shedload of negative hits!!

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

      You have to make a transfer or two first

      1. Patch
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Oh OK was expecting the negative hits to turn to zero given I had clicked WC tick box. Cheers

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Do as much transfers as you wish, forget the points..
      When you activate it, the negative points will get erased,

    3. Cake by the pound
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Do another transfer and should give the option to hit the WC button

      1. Patch
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks guys, I am playing via the FPL app...rather than from site. I will do that via the website shortly

  12. El-Kloppico
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Scottish voodoo on the pitch..
    Calling the spirit for Vardy to get his brace!

  13. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Let the games begin!

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

    2-1 with Diouf, Vardy(2) is good enough for me.

  15. Hymie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I'm often somewhat perplexed at the choices of those "in the know" on this site who have seen and done it all. For example, at what point this season, Mark, did Hazard rate as a viable transfer in option?

    The form (points and stats in equal measure) and fixtures have never quite married up for mine against those other midfielders who've had an abundance of either the former or the later, or better, both (Sane, Sterling, Silva, Salah, Richarlison, Sanchez, Gross, Choupo Moting, Zaha, Ramsey, Eriksen, Alli all come to mind).

    Why is it that the underlying statistics that goes underappreciated at the sight of a former FPL star?