[sbu_large_image] Opinion
10 March 2018 1237 comments
Mark Mark
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This season will go down as one of my most unremarkable of an 11-campaign Fantasy Premier League career.

Ironically, it has been my own ambition and arrogance that has inflicted the damage and prompted frustration.

Slow and steady could have given me the opportunity to creep into the top 10,000 several Gameweeks ago. Instead, once I’d hit the top 20,000 off the back of a triumphant run of green arrows, I tried to ride the momentum.

I reached for the stars and overstretched.

A couple of transfer errors along with a captain policy that has seen me overlook Salah during his dominant spell (Gameweeks 25-29), have ensured a gradual decline.

But it’s not too late to rescue a credible achievement from the Gameweeks that remain. This, after all, is a period where planning and study can translate to a real advantage.

The revelation that 40% of those managers above me are without the Free Hit chip is also sobering. Clearly, there is the opportunity for me to close ground, aim for the top 10,000 and see what can be achieved.

But perhaps I should learn my lesson and forgo such a target.

I believe the real problem with my season lies with the fact that I’ve forgotten how my best ranks have been achieved.

Having threatened the top 100 twice in three seasons, an unhealthy self-belief and arrogance has crept in.

I’ve convinced myself that I can find the decisions to inspire another similar campaign when actually, I should have just revisited the methods that achieved those finishes.

Granville’s rise up the ranks to go 15 points above me is perhaps the biggest wake-up call. It’s a reminder that, back in the day, my season was built around our duel.

I was never pre-occupied with rank, the top 10,000 and certainly not the top 100. Those targets seemed unachievable and, as a result, ambition to hit them never influenced my decisions.

A high-rank was a by-product of our mini-league tussle. I’d achieve it almost by accident by simply pursuing the prize that really mattered – beating Granville.

Somewhere along the line I lost sight of that, and perhaps a desire and pressure to try a live up to increased expectations took over.

Over the remaining Gameweeks, I will relax that ambition. Granville will become my new target, and in attempting to close that gap, I’ll hopefully be content with how my season ends.

Then come 2018/19, I’ll make efforts to remain humble and, in doing so, perhaps end up touching those stars without trying.

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

  1. jazzy30
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    pope or pickford????

  2. weaver93
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Play Lingard or Sterling??

    Thanks guys

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

      Just start Sterling

      1. weaver93
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

    2. lasmons
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Difficult. Sterling could explode if he starts. He could also get 5 min from the bench.
      Lingard should start and then anything can happen.

      1. weaver93
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Other bench could be Walcott,Son, Mounie or Salah _

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

    Would you start Mane if you had Salah and Firmino and leave Shaq on the bench.

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes certainly

    2. NATSTER
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Start Mane

    3. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yep.

    4. lasmons
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Start Mane 100%

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

    any chance of ben davies starting?

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

      Yes, a decent chance imo

    2. lasmons
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yep.

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

      I'm starting him

    4. NATSTER
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. But I think it's Rose to start.

  5. N00B
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who to play between Doucoure and Kenedy ?

  6. Shultan
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Sod it just did sterling to walcott

    1. manutd99
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I did siggy

  7. NATSTER
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Play Shaqiri (MCI) or Iwobi (WAT) ?

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Iwobi likely to be on the bench. Better Shaqiri's 2 pts

      1. NATSTER
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks. If it's 1-point difference, I might bet with Iwobi.

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

    Bench one

    A) VVD (mun)
    B) Mee (whu)
    C) Zanka (SWA)

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

      Mee.

  9. manutd99
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Bench

    A) Mee
    B) Quaner

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

    Bench 1
    A) VVD
    B) Chilwell
    C) Lingard

    1. weaver93
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

  11. Game of Throw_ins
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso+Adrian âž¡ Coleman+Losal for free ?

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

      It's a risk, but I can see why you're considering it.
      Alonso could score big this week though

    2. Yellin' in my Ear
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Just the latter?

    3. weaver93
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Only Lossl

  12. The Red Devil
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 1
    Duffy
    Ogbonna
    Maguire
    VVD
    TIA!

    1. weaver93
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ogbonna

  13. james 101
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    GTG / Set up right?

    Pickford.
    Alonso. Bavies. Azpil.
    Salah. Sterling. Willian. Walcott. Son(VC)
    Kane(C). Firmino.

    (Elliot. TAA. Ogbonna. Quaner.)

    Thanks!!!

  14. as33
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Ericsen>Sane or Son>D.Silva?

  15. GuillermoDickero
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Why Schindler over Zanka?

    Bonus points?

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

      seems it

    2. NATSTER
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes.

    3. lasmons
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I went with Zanka because his name is cooler. Think Sch more in line for BP`s but not much between them imo.

  16. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone joining me captaining Hazard?

  17. Snapes on a Plane
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Start Quaner or Dunk?

    1. weaver93
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Dunk

  18. AnfieldLad
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Play 2:
    VVD Niasse Ogbo Hegazi Shaq

    1. Srv210
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      VvD ogbo

    2. AnfieldLad
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I’m on VVD and Niasse atm

  19. purple.emu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Play Robertson Shaq or Wilson?

    1. Srv210
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Robbo

  20. doy
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    tough looking gw.....wot do u think the avg will be?

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      46

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Kane hat trick so will make average at least 60

  21. Srv210
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Anybody planning to get D.Silva instead of sterling or sane for DGW34 or it's just me being maverick??

    Reason being that I think silva is less of a rotation risk in DGW & can also offer consistent returns ,it's just he's less explosive. I'll really like to know what am I missing??

  22. el polako
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Are we LOL-ing yet ?

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

      Wait till next week when casuals play Free-hit chip and pick players who don't even have a game

  23. andrinho
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Start:
    a Duffy (EVE A)
    b Mee (WHU A)

  24. as33
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Ericsen>Sterling?

  25. Gimli son of Gloin
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hey guys, few votes on this would help me out. Tight call.

    Mawson (hud) or Mee (whu) ?

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      M

      1. Defcons are for Kinnear
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Ee

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

      I'm playing Mawson over Ogbonna. Mawson always a set piece threat

  26. jazzy30
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    pope or pickford?

  27. The Red Devil
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Repost
    Bench 1
    Duffy
    Ogbonna
    Maguire
    VVD
    TA!

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

      Duffy

  28. RomeluAndJuliet
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Play

    A: VVD
    B: Oscar Schindler

  29. Vatroslav
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Which Huddersfield midfielder for the next two? Mooy or Van La Parra?

    1. Keyser Jose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      pritchard

    2. John Nerdelbaum
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      i went pritchard

    3. faux_C
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I went VLP.

  30. RESULT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Son likely to start?

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

      Nope