[sbu_large_image] Opinion
3 March 2018 1564 comments
Mark Mark
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Distracted by the tendrils of a cold and with two toddlers to care for this morning, I make no apology for the curtailed Pre-amble, or indeed the typos that creep in.

In a week where we asked ourselves whether the season had become “dull”, I felt compelled to write more on the decision that, according to accepted thinking, is already made for us.

I should captain Mohamed Salah.

No thought is required. The numbers back it up, the logic is clear and to even entertain the idea of an alternative is an unnecessary and foolhardy risk.

But harking back to that Hot Topic, I do wonder if Salah is contributing to the malaise.

The captaincy is probably the most important decision we make. More than any single transfer, it should have the ability to make or break our Gameweek.

But Salah has not only killed the need to make a choice, he’s also reduced its impact.

I can see myself handing the Egyptian the armband for his evening clash with Newcastle, but I can’t envisage fist pumping the air in jubilation when he scores.

Instead, there might be a wry smile of relief, but how wide can it be?

My captain would have ensured that I’ve kept pace and not given up ground.

But I want my decision to be more than that, I want it to have real consequence should it prove “correct”.

Salah’s talent deserves to make him a difference maker, but he’s become anything but in Fantasy Football.

This all harks back to the floor and ceiling theory.

While this can be applied to Salah and Harry Kane, it can be extended further to our perception of our Gameweek as a whole.

Captaining Salah feels like we guarantee a high floor. Our minimum score is raised, and we protect our rank, ensuring that any drop should be minor.

By turning to an alternative, even when it is Kane with six goals in six Gameweeks, we’re risking that.

Instead, we are perhaps attempting to achieve a higher ceiling. Taking the chance that our captain can outscore Salah and help lift our Gameweek above the norm.

As Jonty pointed out in this week’s ScoutCast, the scale of that ceiling can depend on our degree of risk.

Is Kane really enough? To find a real differential do we not need to look to Sadio Mane or Eden Hazard?

There’s logic here, though that scenario really relies on both Salah and Kane failing as the majority captains, and that seems very unlikely.

That pair are extraordinary players. I suspect that the duel between them for the Golden Boot is very real, with both hell-bent on scoring as many goals as possible from here on in.

They almost deserve better than to have a million plus Fantasy managers hoping they fail. But that’s the scenario that has developed.

Captaining Salah offers me a modest prize and the inclination to cheer every Kane miss.

The reverse is not much better and ensures that I’ll spend my evening willing Salah to fail. But at least the jackpot just might be bigger.

Either way, I can’t help but wish I could just celebrate both.

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

  1. Ruinenlust
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    I can see Davies being rested with the CL game coming up midweek

    1. Baz
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Just had his rest

    2. George James
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Would mean no game in 10 days. Can’t see it

    3. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Was rested vs Rochdale

      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Might not be rested, just rotated.

    4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Will play today and rested vs bou imo

  2. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Is it daft to play Milijovecic (MUN), with Sterling first sub?

    1. Baz
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Depends how many penalties you think man U will concede

      1. Paul Psychic Octopus
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Hopefully, quite a few

  3. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Walcott to Ramsey ? 2 good fixtures v Brighton away and Watford home

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Only if you're playing your Free Hit in GW31

  4. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Starting Adrian over Ryan is sensible right?

  5. King Sheep
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Quick one, Fernandinho >> Tom Davies for free ????

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Waste of a transfer

  6. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Bench 1 : walcot ogbona

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Oggy

    2. King Sheep
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Og

    3. Judders
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Ogbonna

    4. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Looks like Spelling has been benched....

  7. Judders
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    G2g? Last minute jitters.

    Pope
    Alonso Bavies VVD
    Shaq Sterling Salah Walcott Pogba
    Kane (c) Firmino

    Elliot Niasse Kenny Ogbonna

  8. FPLShaqiri
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Is Micheal Keane nailed?

  9. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    😮

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      This, incredible really.....

  10. Ed
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Davies or Aurier for next two weeks?

    1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Aurier

  11. JurgenRodgers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Coleman starts
    Great news for Walcott managers

    1. Source?

    2. Tazah
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      source

    3. threeputt
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      ketchup ?

    4. che
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Source?

  12. borat
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Play 2 out of Mariappa, Mee, alonso

    1. SoShy
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Mariappa.. Mee

      1. borat
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Got it

  13. threeputt
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    taking a massive risk and leaving my 3 city (sterling aguero kdb) intact for 2 ft's next week, that means no Kane - behind the sofa time

  14. dhamphiir
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    What to do with Sterling? Have 1 FT
    A. Eriksen (Have Kane)
    B. Mane
    C. Mahrez
    D. Keep Sterling

    1. Tatty Bojangles
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      My dilemma also. Think I may just keep him and have 2FT next week

    2. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Mane

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      C

  15. andrinho
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Transfer in:
    a Mahrez
    or
    b Eriksen

  16. dezille
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Who to play, Pope or Mccarthy?

  17. Arctic monkeys
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Kane (C), let's do this mate

  18. Totalfootball
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Bavies to miss BOU

    Yes or No ?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully.

      1. Totalfootball
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Aurora it is then..

        1. Totalfootball
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 2 months ago

          Aurier*

    2. Totalfootball
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Will help me decide the transfer
      quick !!!

    3. Arctic monkeys
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Juve midweek, one would think so.

      1. Totalfootball
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        cool

  19. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Will Lingard start??

  20. Zenith UK
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    I'm thinking;
    A) Alonso > Robertson
    B) Alonso & Azpi > Robertson & Davies (will Davies play?)
    C) Alonso & Azpi > Robertson & Morgan
    D) Alonso, Azpi & Lingard > Robertson, Morgan & Arnie/Antonio (-4)
    E) Other... Please let me know your thoughts.

  21. Grand Maester Juan
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one
    a) Wilson
    b) Sterling
    c)Naughton

    Thanks 🙂

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      a

  22. Jeremy Corbyn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling saw naked at home

    1. borat
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      😆

    2. Jeremy Corbyn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I'm getting crazy

  23. Scotty B
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Adrian
    TAA Otamendi Alonso
    Walcott Shaqiri Eriksen Salah
    Firmino Kane Quaner

    Elliot Ibe Duffy Schindler

    1.8m ITB.

    Quaner > Deeney for-4?

  24. thunder_mike
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    A) Sterling .> Alli
    B) Sterling > Arnie
    C) keep

  25. Ballistics
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Had a dream last night Rafa Benitez on Mersey Ferry eating a Salad.

    Captain Kane

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Same here

    2. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Rafa eating a salad show prove how crazy this dream is!

  26. Garlana
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Just switched to Kane...later tonight I'm gonna wonder why I didn't go with Salah.

    1. Arctic monkeys
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully Kane scores a hattrick and Salah blanks

    2. Sponge-worthy
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Me too!

  27. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling transfer:
    A) Keep & Save FT.
    B) Ramsey
    C) Mahrez

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      C but i have both

    2. HonestBlatter
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      C

    3. Killitzer
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      i went Eriksen as do not have Kane

  28. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    repost help pls 🙂

    last ditch peeps?

    Stirling > Sane for free?

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  29. Yogi_mike
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Lingard or Murray?

  30. acidicleo
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    play one:

    a) hegazi
    b) kiko
    ....