[sbu_large_image] Opinion
4 November 2017 1397 comments
Mark Mark
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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.

1,397 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Messsiaah
    9 years, 6 days ago

    sell hazard for alli/sane? have 1 ft

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      9 years, 6 days ago

      No

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Nope, save it

    3. Delph & Safety
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Not with hazards upcoming fixtures

    4. F4L
      9 years, 6 days ago

      aye don't do that

  2. zon
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Captain Sterling or Vardy?

    Or even Bavies? Don't have Kane.

    1. Champione
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Sterling but would find someone else. Richardson, Spurs mid, Liverpool mid

    2. @NF_Janner
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Anyone else?

    3. Fpldonny
      9 years, 6 days ago

      salah?

  3. hannesdela
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Lukaku, Morata or Vardy on a WC?

    1. Champione
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Lukaku. Captain next week

    2. Stats Don\'t Lie
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Morata

    3. Lone Wolf FPL
      9 years, 6 days ago

      luk

    4. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Definitely not Vardy

    5. Adams6
      9 years, 6 days ago

      All totally different price brackets. It's a bit late for a question like that?!?!?!

  4. teki0s
    9 years, 6 days ago

    play

    A) Cedric
    B) Mee

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      9 years, 6 days ago

      A

    2. ELO
      9 years, 6 days ago

      A

    3. Sharkytect
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Cedric.

    4. Ange Ball
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Mee

    5. teki0s
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Cheers. What i was thinking! thanks

  5. Sharkytect
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Otamendi (ARS) or jones (che) to start?

    Other two defenders are Duffy (swa) and cedric (BUR).

    1. Siggy in the Middle
      9 years, 6 days ago

      I've gone for Ota

  6. Ange Ball
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Have feeling Kane blank. Please pick Captain.

    A) Kane
    B) Salah
    C) Aguero
    D) Alli

    Thanks

    1. asif316uk
      9 years, 6 days ago

      I'm going Alli

    2. Sharkytect
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Kane. Haha

    3. Darth_Newdar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Salah is my vc behind Kane, I fancy Liverpool to beat West Ham quite easily

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      9 years, 6 days ago

      A

  7. TheCurseOfRaheem
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Tottenham fans, B.Davies very little chance of playing today, right?

    1. Ange Ball
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Defo he wont play.

      Aurier Rose to start

    2. Sharkytect
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Gotta be 50/50. Hood game for rose to get some game time, but other defensive injuries might mean Poch tries to maintain continuity at left back

    3. Fpldonny
      9 years, 5 days ago

      i think he'll play cb

  8. Pariße
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Benching Löwe and Foster (WBA vs Huddersfield) and hoping this isn't a bore draw it's likely to be.

  9. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    9 years, 6 days ago

    PANIC STATIONS

    Come.on guys, make your minds up

  10. Konig Luther
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Otamendi or Kolasinac for bench?

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Kola

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      9 years, 6 days ago

      K

    3. Konig Luther
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Thanks both

  11. Salarrivederci
    9 years, 6 days ago

    0-0 at St James' Park please!!!!

  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    9 years, 6 days ago

    g2g?

    Fabianski
    Otamendi • Cédric • Yedlin
    Mo Salah • E. Hazard • Richarlison • Carroll
    Mr.Kane© • Aguero • Vardy
    (Elliot / Ward / Duffy / RLC)

  13. andymck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Elliot (Foster)
    Jones Stones Cedric Mee (Daniels)
    Salah Eriksen Sterling (RLC Carroll)
    Kane (c) Lukaku Abraham

    gtg?

    1. Sharkytect
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Looks very good

  14. Weeb Kakashi
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Bench one
    A Sterling
    B Tarkowski
    C Otamendi

    1. The Overthinker
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Ota

    2. Ange Ball
      9 years, 6 days ago

      B

  15. @NF_Janner
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Play Gross or Ward?

    1. Ange Ball
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Gross

  16. Siggy in the Middle
    9 years, 6 days ago

    After Poch's comments about it being a risk to play certain players against CP, is there a chance Kane gets benched?

  17. Messsiaah
    9 years, 6 days ago

    good to go?

    Elliot
    jones otamendi ward
    salah hazard richarliason choupo
    kane (c) vardy jesus

    1. LucasD
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Gtg

  18. ELO
    9 years, 6 days ago

    ..
    Bench one of the following:

    1) Otamendi (ARS)
    2) Jones (che)
    3) Joe Gomez (whu)

    1. Gaz_b
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Gomez

    2. MAVER!CK
      9 years, 6 days ago

      ota

    3. Spurred_On
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Gomez

    4. Konig Luther
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Otamendi

  19. Luton_Fan
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Mee and Jones i will continue to swap until deadline. if in doubt thats the tactic to deploy.

    1. MAVER!CK
      9 years, 6 days ago

      let us know who you end up with

  20. Gaz_b
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Play Gomez or Dunk?

  21. LucasD
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Morning folks

    Elliot
    Jones / Ward / Fernandez
    Gross / Sterling / Silva / Eriksen
    Kun / Kane(c) / Morata

    Speroni / Loftus-Cheek / Zanka / Mbemba

    1 FT 0.3 itb

    Gtg? Or anything that needs changing?

    Thanks

  22. Emp
    9 years, 6 days ago

    cap kun salah or alli?
    Just worried aboutn kun starting

  23. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Captain firmino or Salah ?

    1. Siggy in the Middle
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Salah

    2. Ange Ball
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Salah

    3. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Salah

  24. TTIrwin
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Danny Simpson or tom carrol??

  25. James Sykes
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Start

    A) De Gea
    B) Elliott

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      9 years, 6 days ago

      De Gea

  26. jackothedon
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Kola or Cresswell to Anyone for a -4?

    1. Siggy in the Middle
      9 years, 6 days ago

      No

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      9 years, 6 days ago

      No

  27. MAVER!CK
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Bench one
    Azpi
    Morata

    1. Ange Ball
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Azi

  28. Gerci
    9 years, 6 days ago

    Play Groß or Calver-Lewin?

    1. Siggy in the Middle
      9 years, 6 days ago

      Groß

  29. fusen
    9 years, 6 days ago

    According to FPLStats, Kane is only in 12 of the top 50 teams o.O

    1. The Overthinker
      9 years, 6 days ago

      That's why they have a better rank?

  30. Bonus magnet
    9 years, 6 days ago

    quick one
    sanchez-> Eriksen/salah?