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

    Leaked lineup spot on

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Gotta follow that person

    2. Evil Genius
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      As usual.

    3. Dirty Harry
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Bloke in the know is actually in the flaming know!

    4. Kane-harry Island
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I made last minute Firmino Sallah transfer out. When I saw that leak. Just happy I did

  2. Evil Genius
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Morgan coming in for Salah.
    I can live with that.

  3. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Games updating

  4. Waynoo
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    the leak was correcto

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

    And my wild card is over, that went quickly.
    And by causals, see you nest Saturday.

    1. Evil Genius
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Cynical horse.

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

    pens down. i benched cristensen for morgan

  7. Dele
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    11:29 I JUST SOLD SALAH

    1. Kane-harry Island
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Same here. Sallah and Firmino. Leak was spot on!!!!!!

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

        link please

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

    salah not even on bench.

    Did Salah -> Alli last minute. Praying to FPL gods.

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

      This

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

    The leaked team news was perfect.

  10. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    What's the Liverpool bench?

    1. NATSTER
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Firmino, Moreno, Ox, TAA, Jones, Masterson, Mignolet

  11. makaveli123
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    No Salah 😮

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Flagged player rested :O

      1. makaveli123
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        😮

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

    Barnes in for Salah. Hatty incoming

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

      Jones in, CS and a goal.

  13. FPL Pillars
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Come on Mane and VVD 🙂

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

    Leak is always correct. Thing is, how the f they knew it 17 hours before?!!!

    1. dark91
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Most likely someone from the staff

    2. Dirty Harry
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      So early, it's crazy!

  15. Duffy Dunk
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Who's your Salah autosub then?

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

      Nobody. Sold him

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

      Wood 😎

    3. makaveli123
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Barnes

    4. Respect My Authoritah
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Gross

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

      Barnessss

    6. klavan
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Kenedy

    7. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Murray 😎

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

      Barnes...happy enough.

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

      Mili

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

      Morgan

  16. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Did last minute swap on WC of Gudmundsson to Izquierdo

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

      Nice punt. Hopefully he's scoring/assisting along with Gross 😉

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

    ...and breathe. Most exciting deadline of the season so far for me!

  18. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Can't wait to see my updated team. Doubles everywhere!

    1. Fresh_From_Desh
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Yes!

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

      This

  19. red devil 7
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Why no Sala?

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

      You need to visit this site before AFTER the deadline 😀

      He is injured/rested. Liverpool leaked the stating 11 whole 16 hours ago.

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

      visit anfield express twitter handle. They post leaked lineups which are 100% accurate

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

        But thats not why.

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

      Really?????

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

        Ha, I know right.

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

      Ahahahahaha

    5. Somalion
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Dropped due to bad form

  20. Ruud van Kane
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Good day lads,

    Start 2 from: Davies, Smalling, Ward(Burnley)

    Think Rose might start and got feeling Smalling might get something today.

    1. Mini Mane Mo
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Too late for this week

      1. Ruud van Kane
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Realised I got my times wrong. We in South Africa. Got Smalling on bench.

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

          Sensible.

  21. Dirty Harry
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Sold Firmino and Salah all based on the leaked info. My word.

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

      Good job.
      no avoid stress around Liv UCL semis. bring back for gw 35 with FH and then gw 38 salah C

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Thats the plan my man. Dodged a bullet tonight, probably shift Mane out for Alli next week as well.

  22. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    I like the way Mark causally slipped in that Maguire has got a big bum...

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

      No one beats Hazard

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

    Transferred in Ings this week (Draft) 😀

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

      Why repeat this over and over again? 🙄

  24. LIARS POKER
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Lol @ everyone who thought they were geniuses keeping Firmino on WC instead of Vardy

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

      I have both.

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

    left the armband on willian instead of alli?

    watch him get benched

  26. TerryVenables
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Lmao at Salah owners.

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

      Why?

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

      Lool y. They can get better replacements if he is out for next match and an xtra transfer and that means they have a better bench. Lol@ u

    3. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      A post of supreme quality.

    4. Naboo
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Why? Barnes this week and Salah hattie next

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

        I love to needle people.

  27. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Son (c) good luck fellas

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

      Left him VC, Auba C, hope both will do well.

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Me too

    3. HNI
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Mum (c)ups

  28. La Roja
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Sir Leighton Baines comes on for Salah.

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

    So nobody cares what Everton team is......................

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

      Except La Roja

      1. La Roja
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        lol

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

      Except La roja. Heard he bet 1mn dirhams on Everton win

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

    Still was no point in selling Salah for a hit when I have super Charlie Daniels coming off the bench.

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

      Except he's also out AFAIK 😀

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

      Atleast it will help you make feel good.
      P.S Daniels and Bou as a whole are terrible since a month now. Plus enjoy Salah managed minutes around UCL Semis