[sbu_large_image] Opinion
7 April 2018 1845 comments
Mark Mark
Share:

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. Urchin
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Selling Salah
    Buying kane

    Stop me?

    1. Richd
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      One of us
      One of us

    2. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      why? good moves!

      1. Urchin
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Yay, Done then!!!

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

      Go for it

    4. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I did it. Iborra? DGW, etc ...

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

        Iborra better pick than Albrighton?

      2. Urchin
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Iborra?

  2. AdamJ91
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    A) Lingard + Kennedy
    B) Gross + Young

    1. Urchin
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      A in long term

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

      B

      I’m actually considering Young if Gudmundson misses the double.

  3. Balotellitubbies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Gea - Hennessy
    Christensen - Smalling - Lowton - Chilwell - XXX
    Salah - Mahrez - Son - Willian - A. King
    Aub(C) - Kane - Barnes

    Keeping Aub for captaincy this week. Next week I will swap him for Lukaku or Vardy (if Vardy I can get Lingard or Alonso for -4 if i want to).

    Who should get the last def spot? (BB34)
    A. Tarkowski (double 34)
    B. Kiko (playing in the attacking 3 and plays woeful Huddersfield away in 34)
    C. Swansea def (Everton at home in 34 & 37 planning)

  4. The Red Devil
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Bench order correct?
    Kennedy lowton Stephen
    Captain Kane or aubameyang?
    Ta!

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

      Yep, auba cap for me

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

      Thats how I would arrange it!

      Have the same dilemma, I'm going for Auba. Soton are rubbish, Arsenal smash such teams at home. Feel he's actually safer than Kane this GW.

    3. FPL Laurenzo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I went Kane with the Vice to Aub.

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

    Salah and Firmino to Kane and Lingard- yes or no?

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

      yes

      1. FPL Laurenzo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        yes

  6. pjomara
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    One thing I don't understand with the price drop predictions, Salah is -160 and Lukaku -190 but usually a few hours later they're back over (or should that be under) -100.

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

      WC factored in after deadline.

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

      After 11:30, GW 34 open and people start buying

    3. MTPockets
        8 years, 1 day ago

        It's an estimation model that resets each day. Plus impact of wildcards.

      • bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Player price predictions are reset if they don't go up. Tonight is also a DGW where thresholds seem to be doubled.

    4. Tekkerslovakiaftw
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Probably been asked already but who should I play De Gea or Ryan ?

      1. Richd
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Ryan. But both have merits.

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

          I could see De Gea getting like 10 saves though

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

      Choose one

      1) Vardy and Valencia

      or

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

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

      Transfer in a or b for Shaqiri:
      a) Gros or b) Lingard
      Thanks

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

        A

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

      A) Mustafi and Son
      B) kiko and Alli

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

        A

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

          Cheers, sticking with that as it gives me an extra dgw player for 37

    8. Valar(Keith)
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      On WC would you rather go for
      BB next week with Ryan , Lowton, Ibe..
      Plan long term and BB in GW 37 with Fabianski, Dummett, Kenedy

    9. ZakAFC_
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Start Salah or Murray?

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

        Murray

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

      Salah & Vardy -> Gross & Kane(c)?

      1. n-doggg
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        No

    11. n-doggg
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Play one. I have Ryan in goal

      A. Morgan (NEW)
      B. Dunk (HUD)

      1. Lone Wolf FPL
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        A

      2. AB.
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        B

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

      Kane or aubameyang?

      1. n-doggg
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Kane

      2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Kane if you took a hit.

      3. FPL Laurenzo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        C Kane

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

      Son+Auba or Alli+Morata, leaning towards the latter for differential... If i go auba i can ft to morata and bench boost the dgw.

    14. Richd
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I dropped my pen.

      So my pens down

    15. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      arghh slow down

    16. FantasyFan
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Jones or Smalling for the DGW?

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

      want to captain someone playing today... so that rules out Auba and Hazard... CAPTAIN VARDY OR SON?

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

      Quick some help?!?!

      A) Ibe and Christensen

      Or

      B) Cork and Smalling/Monreal(who?)

    19. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      A. Vertonghen Christensen Willian Barnes

      B. Morgan Tarkowski Alli Austin
      ?

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

        A easily

      2. AB.
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        A

      3. Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Cheers guys

    20. Borisalandoris
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Salah to Hazard Yolo

    21. Galza
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I’m really tempted by captaining Hazard.
      Gut feeling....
      Not got a massive amount to play for and I like the fact it’s the last game of the week.
      Shall I have a go....?
      Or go with Auba....?

    22. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      a) Dunk + Lingard

      b) Vert + King

      Midfielders will be benched this week, BB next

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

      Loris smaling or ddg triper

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

        L&S

    24. The Yorkshire Pirlo
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Salah gonna be out?

      1. n-doggg
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Find out in 2mins

    25. sunzip14
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      To keep the excitement until tomorrow I am giving Auba the Captaincy over Kane. Right decision?

    26. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Just realised how cheap my defence is.
      Stephens - Lowton - Tark - Morgan - Bong.
      Most expensive player, 4.5.

      1. n-doggg
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        The rest must be good!

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 1 day ago

          Sort of, poor TV.

    27. Bleach †
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Pages flying 😆

      Start Lingard or Tark/Lowton?

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

        Lingard

        1. Bleach †
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 day ago

          Thanks