[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. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    I was joking around and captained Quaner for a joke. Will FPL let me change it

    1. Yellin' in my Ear
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Why would you want to change? Guaranteed double digit return....

    2. Pasqualinho
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Yep. Next week. But you might not want to.

  2. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Times up

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Me too.

  3. Waynoo
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Pens down ladies

  4. Greko82
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    No pogba? Is he injured?

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Injured in training yesterday

      1. Greko82
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Banged on his head on barbers door frame.

  5. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Hazard captain locked in. Anyone with me?

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Search party still looking for him in Manchester from last weekend

    2. Wardinator
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Not me, wont play 90 mins with Barca looming and CPL are fighting for points and no pushovers. 1 - 0 Chelsea I reckon

    3. Kasper the ghost keeper
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Hazard has a big ego and last week would have bruised it. He'll be back this week

  6. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Fancy a Liverpool win even more now with that Utd line-up

    1. Wardinator
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      1 - 1 I reckon, both teams will be content with a draw

  7. Yellin' in my Ear
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Gomez really has been a terrible purchase, have to hold for next week though now, if he plays that then all is forgiven.

  8. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Milner & Young starting

    Is it 2009?

  9. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Everyone has Wally now. Hope Coleman gets some points if Wally gets some returns

    1. doy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      I got Siggy - had a good feeling a few wks ago.

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Not me.

      Don’t trust Everton.

  10. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    I am addicted to Simple Minds.

    1. Pasqualinho
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Did they promise you anything?

      1. threeputt
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        a miracle ?

      2. Old Wulfrunian
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Probably a miracle because Phillips is my transfer.You too?

  11. Yellin' in my Ear
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone else with Wally and Siggy? Definitely fixtures over form.

    1. doy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Decided to get Siggy instead of Theo

    2. TheRealDog
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Yep. Doesn't feel right with the form they are in but at least they are better at home and Brighton usually concede

    3. SUPERMAN
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Here

  12. Zilla
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Young v Salah, well that will be interesting..

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Was almost tempted to cap Salah over Kane. But EO and all that.

  13. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Does McTommie cover Lukaku for the doubles?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Yes.

  14. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    I’d be surprised if we win this...

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      You'll hammer them 0-0. DDG to make 9 saves

  15. JustPark
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Things have been distracting me these past few weeks 🙁

  16. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    How many times will the following question be asked on FFS for the next week?
    "How many players should I get for BGW?"
    My guess is 5,000 times. If any of you tech geeks can find a way to count that would be great

  17. Feloh
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    lingaard ffs

  18. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Salah running at Young, Sanchez at those Liverpool full backs... could be big goals in this

    1. ZeBestee
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Dont think so.. Mou will make it tight as usual, and a bit boring

    2. DAZZ
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Those liverpool full backs? Robertson is solid like, can handle Alexis i reckon

  19. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Is Sanchez in behind kaku then?
    Rashford on wing?

    1. Zilla
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Mata CAM, Rash & Alexis on the wings I guess.

      1. RashFraud
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        No. Mata and Rashford on the wings. Sanchez behind kaku

    2. Rash
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Mata Sanchez rashford
      Kaku

  20. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Hate Mourinho’s obsession with Young at left back.

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Don't worry , Bale will play there next season

      1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        😆

    2. Tazah
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      he's easing alexis into that role

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Lol

    3. JustPark
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      And get fresh Shaw in against tired legs fullback whoever that is after an hour mark .

  21. Pachi
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Who to bench?
    A) VVD
    B) Schindler

  22. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Mikhi differential the week I sell him for David Silva.

    This is going to be fun!

  23. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Right into this shower of shite ya reds

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      I agree 3 - 0 United

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      United fan?

  24. Tazah
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    just for people capping hazard, he'll kill it this week.
    chelsea want to play on the counter v barca so it'll be willian, hazard, pedro...... which means morata/giroud will play today

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      not if they go Morata Pedro Willian he won't

    2. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      I had the armband on Hazard all week. I had to switch it to Kane after reading captain sensible last night. I simply had no choice.

      1. Wardinator
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        You simply did have a choice

    3. Kasper the ghost keeper
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      I've gone for it. Time to live a little

  25. GreenArrows
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Can see my full bench coming on for Sterling Son and Bavies

    Pope
    Otamendi VVD Bavies
    Salah Son Sterling Walcott Shaqiri
    Kane (C) Firmino

    Elliot Ogbonna Duffy Quaner

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Worrying ... I sold Son this week for similar concerns

      1. GreenArrows
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        As a Spurs fan it would have hurt me more if I sold Son and he did score, should believe in my team, so decided to hold, same reason for sterling really

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 11 months ago

          Sold Sterling last week 😉

          1. GreenArrows
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 11 months ago

            Could hurt my 76K rank 🙁 aiming to beat last years PB of 82K, this is my third year

  26. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    Sold a GK who got me 20 points in the last 3 gameweeks for one without a clean sheet in all of 2018... Ah the lure of a blank gameweek 🙂

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      BGW fever starting to take hold 🙂

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      I refuse to be drawn into it for this very reason.

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Had to be done.

    4. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      I have only just got rid of Adrian today after being lured in by the last DGW...

  27. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    That is one woeful United bench

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Lingard scores in big games.

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Starting 11 isn't great either.

    3. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      More than 500 million spent since Ferguson left and that’s what it buys you. And yet Mourinho whines about City.

  28. JustPark
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    United with focus on European competition.

    1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      How do you figure? This is their strongest line up ex Pogba who was injured in training yesterday. Apparently. Or maybe he’s just one of a long list of players Mourinho feuds with and ruins.

  29. Fantasy Gold
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    I played RLC over Alonso.

    Oops 🙁

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Elliot over DDG 🙁

    2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Don't worry mate I made a crap joke yesterday too . Thankfully it we will move onto a new page soon 😉

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        😆

  30. adam28193
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    started JWP instead of Wilson.. late call probably foolish