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

    It feels wrong benching VVD .... Play Lascelles,VVD or Naughtie ?

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

      Obviously VVD.

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

    Keep or sell Sterling?

  3. Rik Waller
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso gonna start?

    1. Digital-Real
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      50:50

      I think he should, Chelsea need to focus on the PL. Champions League exit is imminent

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

    Wilson to King?

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

    Any changes needed for my line up/bench order? Important with the doubts for Davies, Sterling and Wilson this week:

    Pickford
    Alonso Davies Schindler
    Salah Sterling Arnautovic Walcott
    Kane Firmino Wilson

    Fabianski VVD T.Carroll Duffy

  6. JohnnyMagrinho
      8 years, 1 month ago

      First off bench:

      a) VVD
      b) Lingard
      c) Trent Alexander-Arnold

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

        I would play Lingard

    • Tshelby
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone playing Wilson?

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

        this week...yeah I fancy both teams to score

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

          Someone said earlier on that Defoe might start?

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

      Play Quaner (Swa) or Dunk( Eve)?

      1. Scotch Jock
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Dunk

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

      Wally or Siggy,

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

        Siggy

    • ooooo
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Bench 1
      A) VVD
      B) Chilwell
      C) Lingard.

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

        Chilwell

    • Schwarzer
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Who would you start?

      A) Shaq (MCI)
      B) Wilson (TOT)

      Cheers

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        ??

    • andrinho
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Start:
      a Shaqiri (CITY)
      or
      b Niasse (BRIGHTON)

      Thanks

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

        Shaq

    • Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Play one:

      Ogbonna (BUR)
      Mee (whm)
      Niasse (BRI)

      Opinions appreciated! Thanks!!!

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

      When are you playing chips?

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

        34,35 & 37

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

          Pages flying

    • Stokelona
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Bench one:

      A) Kane
      B) Salah
      C) KDB

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

        Stop

    • dhamphiir
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Which defender to buy?
      Robertson or VVD

      1. Krafty Werks
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        VVD unless you need the extra money elsewhere?

    • andrinho
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

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

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

        I’d go Mee

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

      Is Pogba out?

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        yes

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

        Apparently he pulled up injured in training yesterday

    • Shack
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Play VVD or Daniels? Cheers

      1. Krafty Werks
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        VVD

    • Fantasyfootballer
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Play quaner or Wilson?

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

      Niasse or Benteke?

    • Tazah
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      End Of An Era: John Motson To Provide Final Live BBC Commentary This Weekend

    • George James
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Salah non cappers what do we want?

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

        Just a goal I think..

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

        My capt to score more. Simples

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

        A brace

      4. Pasqualinho
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        A kane hat-trick

      5. Duka
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        for him not to score more than my captain

      6. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Our captain to score more than Salah?

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

        Most will have gone Kane captain anyway I assume, so a big haul will do me fine

      8. JohnnyMagrinho
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Kane blank and Mahrez 10 pointer again.

          Would be wonderful.

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

        (C)ap one:

        A) Salah
        B) Kane
        C) Aguero
        D) Ramsey
        E) Firmino

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

          I'm on Kun

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

            Me 2 atm 😀 Let's GO (K)un!!!

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

        Bench which 1
        Duffy
        Ogbonna
        Maguire
        VVD
        TA!

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

          Og

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

          Oggy

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

        help!!! Pope or pickford?

        1. Krafty Werks
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Pick 4 31

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

          Pickie

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

        You're not supposed to reply. Only ask

        1. Scotch Jock
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          OK, I won't reply.

      13. Over Midwicket
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Am I GTG lads?

        Pickford.
        Alonso. Davies. Lowton. Robbo.
        Salah. Stan. Walcott. Sterling.
        Kun(c). Kane.

      14. Prøfeßör …
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        No Pogba for Man Utd, Rashford in #MUFC @MirrorFootball

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

        Start :
        A) Doucoure
        B) Kenedy