[sbu_large_image] Opinion
7 April 2018 1845 comments
Mark Mark
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Keep it to low tones, but a late-season surge might be on.

This time last year I was all about consolidation to grind a route into the top 100 (and ultimately failing), but risks are still on the agenda now.

It’s akin to my 2014/115 campaign which, famously featured the “Waitrose hat-trick” from Sadio Mane, powering me to a dramatic final sprint to accompany my pots of organic hummus.

It’s impossible to reach those heights, but I can claw back some places in a few mini-leagues and perhaps still reclaim my top five status in the Hall of Fame. I’d file that under “a successful season”.

My differentials have to go on delivering. They need to take inspiration from Marko Arnautovic. In fact, Arnautovic needs to repeat last weekend’s heroics and I need to conjure a soft Southampton penalty or a Harry Maguire deflection off his sizeable backside.

I’ve already enough in place to keep the momentum going, but I need to resist any rash moves in an attempt to force it.

There’s certainly been plenty of temptation.

The combination of Harry Kane’s return and Mohamed Salah’s likely absence from today’s teamsheet is a seductive mix.

Believe me, I’ve all explored the options, checked all possible routes to welcoming Kane back a week ahead of schedule.

If I had the extra 0.1 required to do Salah to Son Heung-min and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Kane, then I would have committed.

As it is, I’m putting faith in Charlie Austin to replace the Egyptian, and in Aubameyang to keep pace with the Kane captains.

Belatedly Son arrives today, offering some cover of Spurs’ potential at Stoke as the Henrikh Mkhitaryan experiment is officially classified as a failure. His injury is unfortunate, but I can hardly bleat when Arnautovic has covered over the cracks so effectively.

Funds permitting, I might have opted for Dele Alli.

I have some concerns that Son will miss starts, but he should still get minutes in each of the seven matches, and with Spurs likely to emphasise attack to help Kane’s passage to the Golden Boot, Son is capable of confirming his status as the most explosive and consistent Spurs midfielder.

Salah’s a far bigger dilemma, and by holding him for now, I’m giving myself much-needed thinking time.

If I could move him without a hit, again it’s likely I would have reached for the button. But I want to see how Tuesday evening unfolds and how that impacts the landscape.

Salah dodging is a dangerous past-time, but one which dangles some intriguing possibilities.

Many high-rank managers will likely be mirroring my low-risk policy of last season; they won’t welcome the option for the chasing pack to roll the dice.

But in my end of season dash, the Salah exit is the equivalent the final kick – it’s going to empty the tank so it’s all about timing.

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

  1. ☻ Jon Snow ☻
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Start:

    Salah
    VVD

    ? 🙂

    1. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Salah won't play today imo

  2. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Transferred in Ings! (Draft) 😀

  3. Fuchs Mane Kante
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Atomic Bomberyang cappo.

    Roberto Robertson benched.

  4. VFORVANDETA
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Ryan or Hennessey?

    1. FPL_DON
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      hen

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Ryan will get more save points over 2 games

  5. Catastrophe
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Firmino -> Vardy (-4)? Was hoping to keep hold of Firmino as no FH in BGW35.

    Cheers

    1. FPL_DON
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      yes

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Same here and keeping as Ings cannot play 90 minutes and can see Firmino coming off bench and scoring particularly as he was brought off early v City

  6. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Ryan
    Morgan lowotn christensen
    Mahrez salah wilain
    Auba barnes kane

    The rest of the team which ??
    A) ddg mustafi verto lingard Lcook
    B) loris smaling simspon son king
    C) ddg triper simpson son king
    D) ddg morgan dunk(or hoorn/tarko/arnold) son king

    1. eskild
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      C

  7. Mr_Barbs
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Gtg? Slightly worried about playing Robertson in case he comes on for a 1pt cameo

    Ryan
    Alonso, Morgan, Robertson
    Salah*, Son(vc), Mahrez, Gross, Willian
    Aubameyang(c), Vardy

    DeGea, Barnes, Lowton, Bailly

    1. subhojit123
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Play lowton

    2. The_FF_King
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I’ve benched Robertson for same reason

    3. Mr_Barbs
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Cheers! Just swapped them!

  8. Sponge-worthy
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Kane captain right, he's gonna start?

  9. seanie3
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    any leaked or early news if salah is starting or on the bench today before line ups come out at 11.30

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      All but confirmed he won't play

    2. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Apparently not even in the squad

    3. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Karius, Clyne, Van Dijk, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mané, Ings, Solanke

      1. seanie3
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        thanks all..

  10. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Ali
    Or
    Son?

    Thanks

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Alli

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I went Alli. Soon is better for FPL if nailed but Alli has more guaranteed minutes over the next three.

    3. VFORVANDETA
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Alli

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Alli was last week. Son or Eriksen this week

    5. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I went both

  11. iCon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Mo Salah, Salah
    Whatever will be, will be
    I’ve swapped you for Dele Alli
    Mo Salah, T’rah!

  12. TLF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Salah likely to be rested in 34 ?

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      He's being rested today

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I would think so

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        seller eh? 😉

        1. TLF
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 1 day ago

          I've kept him for 34 🙂

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

      Wiahful thinking lool

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Very unlikely

    5. seanie3
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Why rest him in gw34?

      Rested today

  13. Playing_the_Numbers
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Which one to play?

    A) Lingard
    B) Lowton

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      A

  14. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Bench one from each pair:

    A)ddg
    B)fab

    1)morgan
    2)fernandez

    X)Albrighton
    Y)Kenedy

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      A 2 Y

    2. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      A2Y

  15. Dobswell55
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Ryan
    Alonso / Lowton / Morgan
    Mahrez / Willian / Son / Groß
    Kane (C) / Aubamayeng / Barnes

    De Gea / Albrighton / Tarkowski / Baily

    G2G?

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Yes

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      No Salah will kikk your run in

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        *kill

        1. Dobswell55
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 1 day ago

          Happy to go without for GW 34 as I will have 15 DGW players, can Free Hit back in for GW35, more than likely will be rested for GW 36 as it falls in between Champions League Semi Final matches, and I'm gonna captain Kane Watford (H) anyway. And I can get back in for GW 37/38 if I really want to. So you're wrong, actually.

  16. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    A) Cork & Smalling/Monreal (which one?)

    Or

    B) Ibe & Christensen

    (Alonso in the team too)

  17. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Is Lowton nailed for the remaining games?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Think so yeah

    2. subhojit123
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Mostly

    3. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Yeah

  18. eskild
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Who to start?

    A: Ben Davies (stk)
    B: Andy Robertson (eve)

    1. Torres76
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Davies

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      A. B not playing anyway

  19. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    So.... Kane (C) or Auba (C)?

    1. Torres76
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Auba

    2. Pigsinblankets
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Kane a differential this week anyway, Auba if playing safe

  20. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Here’s my WC defence

    Ryan | De Gaea
    Mustafi | Christiansen | Chilwell | Lowton | ??

    Thinking of Dunk for the last place? Anyone else i could consider?

    Cheers

  21. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Barnes on penos for Bun?

  22. Gizmo13
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Best midfielder under 7.2 to replace Salah? Funds taken by Firmino to Kane.

  23. NOMONEY
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    firmino not playing??

  24. Moose™
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Anyone WC this week?

    1. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Oh yeah

  25. FPL_DON
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    firmino dropped?

    1. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I believe so

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Noone knows until team sheets are out

  26. Mr. Clueless
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    1) Vardy and Valencia

    or

    2) Aub and Dunk GW 34 Aub ---> Lukaku

  27. Tomas Brolin ate all Depays
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Bench boost 34 or 37 ?

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Totally depends on team

    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I'm going with 37

    3. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      If Wc now then 34

  28. Business Cat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Just sold Salah for Alli...YIKES! :-O

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Except for last week, Alli hasn’t done much this year. Think it’s A bad move

      1. Sylas
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        I'm not sure if he was asking for any advice.

      2. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Double-digit scores in successive weeks...2 extra games over Salah...well 3 assuming a Salah no-show...2 doubles.

        Will have Salah back on FH35 assuming he's fit

        The 1m+ saving means less cutting to get Kane in for Auba

        Will have more DGW players for BB34

        I didn't see much downside TBH.

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      It'll be fine.

      This week anyway.

  29. SheBangsTheDrums
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    A) Gudmonsson to Ibe
    B) Save FT

  30. Pigsinblankets
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Finishing touches on the WC:

    Ryan DDG
    Alonso Vert Mustafi Chilwell Lowton
    Mahrez Willian Son Gross Lingard
    Kane Auba Barnes

    Have enough ITB for Auba to Lukaku next week and hopefully Salah back in 38.

    G2G or swap Son and Mustafi for Alli and Kiko?

    1. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I'd swap out Alonso and use funds elsewhere