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

    Updated

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

    Will Lingard, Baines & Daniels cover my Salah* - Stanislas* - Firmino*?

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

    Update already.

    Need to check rivals...

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

    I’m FPL Virgin and this is my unwildcarded team. I work here with my old man and my son, Big Walcott, and in 23 years I’ve learned one thing. You never know what is gonna come through that door.

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

    UPDATED
    BB TIME 😎

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

      DGW34 looks cancelled.....single fixies only 😮

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

      Love the look of my team

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

    VR has triple Brighton defence 😆

  7. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Lol housemate has Salah cap, Firm vice and is now so annoyed he forgot to change his team

  8. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    *fishing emoji*

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

    Updated.

  10. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Maybe keeping Salah, Firmino and Robertson wasn't such a good idea

  11. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Woah, wait, why is FPL showing a bunch of my players have two games this week? What’s that about?

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

      It shows all my players as no fixtures this week 😛

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

    ffs fixtures are not updated 🙁

  13. DAZZ
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Had Robertson since christmas when Moreno picked up the injury, got rid for VVD this morning, anyone feel its a good move, will likely keep untill the end of the season now. Are we anticipating Robertson to out score VVD in the remaining 6 games?

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

      VVD due a goal. To be fair he's always there in the box and looking like he will score soon

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

    Updated - but still on this weeks fixtures?

    Free WC?

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

      😛 You get Mane back....

  15. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Hope Liverpool lose heavily.

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

      Table salt or Himalayan rock?

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Local Spurs salt

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

          😀 😀

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

    Play Salah or Gudmundsson/Lowton?

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

      Lol, wrong post

    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      You either play or sell salah.

  17. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Bench boost locked in.

  18. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    With dgw34 in mind.
    Current team
    Ddg, ryan
    Alonso, mustafi, mee, tarkowski, Morgan
    Alli, willian, Mahrez, gross, king
    Kane, vardy, auba

    Auba and mustafi to lukaku and ?????? To give hopefully 14 dgwers.

    Any suggestions please for filling in the ??????

    TH in 35, B&B in 34 and TC 37.

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

      Sorry FH not TH.

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

    Well done to all those who sold Mane and kept Salah and Firmino... Salah and Booby massive haul and Baps inc...

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

      Naughty Chlucky.......

  20. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    None of my players have a fixture this GW........worst GW ever...

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Same here.

  21. A Team Of James McCleans
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Wasn’t feeling great about a -8 but now feeling better about having sold Salah and Firmino and keeping Mane

    1. Powers106
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Same thing here

  22. COLLIN QUANER
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Hi guys, what team do you think scores more points this week?

    Ederson
    VVD, Mustafi, Davies, Schindler
    Alli, Sterling, Willian, Shaqiri
    Vardy, Auba(c)

    Pope
    Azpi, Lascelles, Maguire
    Son(c), Mane, Hazard, Albrighton
    Kane, Wilson, Quaner

    Thanks

  23. Rik Waller
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Jonty made a good point that selling Salah now, means you'll lose over 0.5m for your Free Hit team in 35 (depending on his sell value).
    I didn't think about that.

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

      Looking like losing maximum of 0.5m tbh, probably will be less.

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

      Ya but is that true?

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      So? Lots of teams offer cheap alternatives that GW

      1. Rik Waller
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        It all counts when you're trying to squeeze in the best team possible.

        How often do you end up 0.1 short of your desired team?

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

      Yeah but you can have the cheapest players possible on the bench so money shouldn't be much of an issue

    5. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      You don’t need an expensive bench for a FH team

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

      I have (had) à fairly high TV so it's not really an issue.

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

      I dropped 0.8m 😎

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

      Oh no, 0.5. Season over for everyone.

  24. Woy of the Wovers
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Don't like my GW34 team. DDG playing MCI again!!

  25. Mackans
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    What a view when you see everyone in your team have double fixtures next week:)

  26. The Mastermind
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Thoughts on this?

    DDG
    Vertonghen - Zanka - Fernandez
    Hazard - Son - Ki - Ramsey
    Lukaku - Kane (C) - Mounie

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

      5 players that don't look great

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

    Now it is updated, nice feeling seeing two fixtures

  28. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Fully expecting a Walcott brace today!

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

    Overall Top 100 captains:
    Aubameyang 56
    Kane 21
    Mahrez 7
    Salah 5 (VCs on Aubameyang, Hazard, Mahrez, Jesus and Firmino)
    Son 4
    Alli 3
    Hazard 2
    Sterling & Willian 1

  30. Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Damn. Wasn't aware daylight saving time in the uk had started. thought i had 20 minutes.... I hate DST so much. Whats the point of it?