[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. OldBenKenobi
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 months ago

    LAST MINUTE DOUBT

    Otamendi > Vertongen -4

    Already on -4

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

      yes

    2. MFC86
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Save

    3. AA33
        7 years, 11 months ago

        No

      • Phil's Stamps
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        no

    4. AdamJ91
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Play 1 from;;

      A) Gross
      B) Simpson
      C) Dummett

      1. Urchin
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        A

      2. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        A surely?

      3. Krafty Werks
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        A easy.

      4. SheBangsTheDrums
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        9 times out of 10 start the attacking player

    5. Nightf0x
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Start loris or ryan

      1. Jonny HOW SON?
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Ryan

      2. Bubbles1985
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Lloris as I have Dunk

    6. Dilzy
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      WCT good to go?

      DDG
      Mustafi Christensen Morgan
      Son Willian Gross Mahrez
      Barnes Auba Kane (c)

      2.9 ITB
      Dubravka Tarkowski Kennedy Lowton

    7. United10
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      captain Mahrez or Son?

      1. Phil's Stamps
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Mahrez

    8. Dirty Harry
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Who to start:
      1. DDG
      2. Karnezis

      A. Lowton
      B. Zanka
      C. Mariappa

      1. Jonny HOW SON?
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        1
        c

        1. Dirty Harry
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 11 months ago

          Thanks

    9. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Salah not starting right?

    10. invertebrate
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Should I start Lingard, Austin or Kenedy?

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

      Not enough people posting. I'll add one in.

      1. Evasivo
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        I'm happy to help

    12. Gilles
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Salah starting ?

      1. United10
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        no

      2. Bubbles1985
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Yes

    13. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      G2G?

      Ryan
      Alonso Mustafi Robertson
      Salah Mahrez Hazard Ibe
      Auba (c) Lukaku Murray

      DDG Morgan Lowton AKing

      1. Torres76
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Robbo not playing.

    14. Torres76
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      WC team all set

      Ryan DDG
      Christiansen Morgan Mustafi Chilwell Lowton
      Mahrez Willian Son Alli Lingard
      Kane Auba Barnes

      2.4m leftover

    15. Ed
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      De gea or ryan to start?

      1. Torres76
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Ryan

    16. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Attack of the graveless

    17. SkipperTG
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Auba rested for Europe?

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Ineligible

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

          Amazing. Should have know.

          Thank you.

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

        4-1 innit?

      3. Evasivo
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Lol

      4. ZakAFC_
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        He's cup tied

    18. FPLEL
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Lingard or Mili this week?

    19. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Scenes if Salah starts or even on the bench

      1. Torres76
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Didn’t even travel

      2. Dirty Harry
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        I will swallow my transfers with way too many beers

      3. FDMS All Starz
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Scenes when this scene doesn't happen

    20. Jimmy Boy
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Captain Son (sto), Auba (SOU), or Alonso (WHU)?

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

        Auba

      2. FDMS All Starz
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Auba

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

      YOLO

    22. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      The 'sell Salah?' question kind off boils down to whether Lowton is likely to outscore Alli this week.

      Better to save so have 2FTs and more information for DGW34, with (slim) chance Salah plays and you don't lose 0.8m (yet) on selling him

    23. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      CAPTAIN VARDY???

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Aubamavagine

    24. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Guyssss please

      A) Ibe & Christensen

      Or

      B) Cork & Smalling/monreal

      (Already got Alonso)

      1. Homer21
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        A

      2. Kane-harry Island
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        A

      3. Kasparov
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        I went with A

    25. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      3 mins left peeps

    26. Champions united
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Any Sugestions

      Salah to alli(-8)
      For How many weeks salah is out
      Or play kennedy

    27. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Play Lowton or Morgan ?

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

        Mort

    28. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      3 mins to detonation

    29. KingOllie
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      Listen.
      People here are sheep. So afraid to make their own decisions. Many kept firmino on WC and are now wasting a FT to remove him.
      Do not make the same mistake with salah.
      Be greedy when others are fearful. Klopp will prioritise champs league, salah will remain an injury/rotation concern for weeks, playing less games than other good options. If you have free hit for 35 think now about your actions. In 5 mins itl be too late

      1. Evasivo
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Wrong

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

        Every chance Salah is fit to destroy Bournemouth.

        Selling now is crazy imo.

        Wait a week and use the squad you should have built on WC.

        1. Torres76
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 11 months ago

          If they get to the champs final he will be rested and wrapped up in cotton wool. I guess he gets 30mins here and there

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

            A chance but unlikely.

            Close timing of games and slight injury is what has caused this.

    30. Kane-harry Island
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      What is the chance Ramsay starts?

    31. Total Foot 5
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      aubeyang or kane for capotain?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 11 months ago

        Toss A coin

        1. Total Foot 5
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 11 months ago

          went with the pimp

    32. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 11 months ago

      That tweet about Auba....