Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 4

I’m having humble pie for breakfast.

A thick crust and generous filling, it’s not my preferred Saturday morning bacon sarnie but I’m tucking it away hungrily, nonetheless.

Last season I realised that this was the secret: when Fantasy Football rubs your nose in your mistakes, you’ve got to own up.

After opening the door for a player to punish me post-Wildcard in last week’s Preamble, Callum Wilson duly obliged with an unexpected hat-trick and maximum bonus return.

I knew it was coming. The important thing now was to act accordingly.

Having sold on Wilson with the Wildcard, I could have shown the usual stubborn attitude and convinced myself that my plans remained valid. That I knew best.

According to Wildcard blueprint v23 I should have been bringing Matt Ritchie in for Marc Albrighton this morning, benching Troy Deeney for his likely spell of spectating at the Etihad but reserving him as my budget striker.

Instead, I had to admit the error, forgive Callum for embarrassing me and snap him up before his price rose back to 5.5.

That could be another mistake. Ritchie may take his turn to run riot and Deeney may even come good in weeks to come; I had to ignore those fears. I also had to banish concerns of the template team forming and drown out the nagging “chasing points” argument in my head.

When a 5.4 striker demonstrates the ability to score a hat-trick, you don’t hesitate and cling to a plan.

I’d fancied Wilson as a prospect from the get-go but those beliefs were abandoned amongst the noise of the Wildcard scramble. Despite the pain of witnessing last weekend’s points haul, I can justify going back for Wilson and swallow some pride.

Above all, I fear that, if Wilson notches against Leicester, we’re going to be looking at a relentless bandwagon over the break and that would make any future portion of humble pie a lot less palatable.

I can’t risk that. I need that whiff of fried rashers to help me wake from the inevitable international slumber.

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

1,914 Comments Post a Comment
  1. C_G
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    who were the risers last night?

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Gomez Costa Mahrez Wilson

      1. C_G
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        diouf too?

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Sorry ye

          1. C_G
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            thanks mate, mahrez is rising too fast

  2. banskt
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Ozil benched? That Arsenal midfield is a minefield to touch. Apart from Alexis, I hope.

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Alexis will never be benched and has a 7 pts average without Ozil

    2. Seb Wassell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      He's not benched. He's injured. When fit, he plays.

      1. banskt
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Didn't know that. Ignorance.

        1. Jax
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          not ignorant at all mate!

  3. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    FPL starts today

    1. Touré De Force
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      We're already 11.5% of the way through

      1. Seb Wassell
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        No we're not. 3/38 = 0.0789 -> rounded up to 8%

        1. Touré De Force
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah I was counting GW4 as well

          1. Seb Wassell
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Fair enough. 10.5% though 😛

      2. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        That is so not true

    2. johnbarnes
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I said that before the 2 previous gws and I'm still sh!te. Hope you're right

  4. Obi Wan Elokobi
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Just seen Son added to the game as a forward 8 million and Toivonen for Sunderland as a midfielder at 6.5 both could be decent options.

    1. Seb Wassell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Feel Son should be a midfielder really

      1. 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Yep, gonna be a winger most of the time, occasionally no.10 if Eriksen out I imagine.

    2. Ayew Serious
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      This my exact comment on the last page!

    3. Tadic is the new Eriksen
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Son being a forward destroys him for me. Sun dont score enough goals and I'd rather have Lens thne Toivonen anyway.

  5. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Just seen the team news

    Wozzers

    We all know what's going to happen

    1. Hairy Potter
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      0-0?

    2. Nice1Cyrille
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Walcott hat-trick

    3. Jax
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      only captain hindsight does

  6. johnbarnes
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    1-0 Arsenal, Koscielny header....come on I need this way too much!

    1. Breadbin
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Bit selfish mate.

      1. johnbarnes
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        haha, you reckon?

    2. No Luck
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I'd take 2 for Koscielny also

  7. CrouchDown
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    9 home players this week, let's go!

  8. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    That League table stats extension, thankyou thankyou

    1. SW6
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      link?

      1. Your Mum's Athletic
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        few pages back mate

    2. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Dosen't work me; I'm unable to download it.

      1. Puyol Pants Up
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        same.

  9. ZTF
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I captained Silva... Oh yeah....

  10. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Evans at 4.8m would be a nice WBA option if the move goes ahead

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I would wait and see if he was even nailed

    2. Tadic is the new Eriksen
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      true, looks like it's gonna too. Should be nailed, from the quotes it sounds like pulis likes him

    3. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Their fixtures are sublime.

    4. Al_Fresco
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Olsson 4.5?

    5. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      ye great option, hopefully will drop to 4.7 over international break...

  11. Djerbil
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Carrying on with the sentiment of previous posts:

    There is a flaw in deciding the player positions in FPL:

    By FPL logic like Pedro , if Messi/Neymar comes to England , they ought to be classified as a midfielder as well

    Son is predominantly a Left Midfielder , yet classified as a forward

    I think they are mixing up the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1.. the 3 in the former are Forwards , but the 3 in the latter are midfielders

    1. Van Klinkert Delarosa
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      They are not that bright.

      Suarez as Forward (Liverpool), if he comes back to Liverpool he would be classified as Midfielder.

  12. Al_Fresco
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    It's time for all of us to welcome back Alexis Sanchez. He's cherry ripe for today

    1. Tadic is the new Eriksen
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Brace incoming.

  13. Touré De Force
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Arsenal to be substantially better with no Mesut Fraud running away from the ball.

  14. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I put Sinclair as 3rd sub because I thought he won't start. With Grealish, Agbonlahor and probably Traore, it seems like he will be starter. 🙁

    1. Jax
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      He got a hat trick in midweek. Of course he'll start.

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Francis coming off te bench for Ozil. 🙁

        1. 50 Shades Oshea
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          done this with huth...

    2. Al_Fresco
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      He punked me already. Started with him. Sold him at 4.9
      If he scores I'll need a new phone.

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        I am still stuck with him. 🙁

    3. Psychos got ya number
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      In most predicted starting line ups in the press. Hope he tears Sunderland a new one today if he plays!

  15. Moin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Ozil's price to be protected right?

    1. Breadbin
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Just the threshold.

  16. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Had left the armband on Giroud in the Sky game from last Monday's fixture..Grrrrrr

    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      You still have time to change

  17. sagewatson
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Why is the deadline still have 15 minutes, but when i try pick my team it's for game week 5. I have done my team yet!

    1. Jax
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Doesn't make sense

    2. Tadic is the new Eriksen
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      youre one hour late im afraid

    3. FPL_Gyarados
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Deadline was 50 mins ago. You can make changes for next week now only

      1. sagewatson
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Oh wow. Well this has been a disaster...

    4. Djerbil
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      the deadline is BST not GMT

  18. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Giroud to get in sec half and score Two Goaaalsssssssssssssssss

    Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

    1. Touré De Force
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Not impossible

    2. Breadbin
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Stop writing crap.

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        🙁

  19. Piggs Boson
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Alexis and Walcott will probably swap positions throughout the game.

    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Could score and assist each other too 🙂

  20. Slumdog Mignolet.
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Bookmark this for the LOLs

    http://imgur.com/H0fufZy

    1. Jax
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      noted

    2. Seb Wassell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Fair play. I was tempted but decided against it. Good luck.

    3. Slumdog Mignolet.
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Mih, could have gone a lot worse

  21. Eden Hazardous
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I hope Bentaleb starts tonight

    1. Jax
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      he won't

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Mason was crap last week

    2. Tadic is the new Eriksen
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      ozil owner?

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Yup

  22. FPL_Gyarados
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Great, no Ozil. Sakho my first sub (yellow) and Coates my next one. Great :/

    1. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      better then most, got huth as mine...

  23. 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Pages going pretty slowly for this time of the week.
    All Walcott sellers crying their eyes out?
    P.S I sold him too 😀

    1. Eden Hazardous
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I am getting him in for Ozil for next week

      1. 50 Shades Oshea
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        very sideways... ozil should be priced protected... would never trust wally... i am thinking sanchez

    2. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      mertz, wally, ozil owner in past 4 weeks, like you say i think must people have done this

  24. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    money on wally and sanchez to score...

  25. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I hope Arsenal lose 6-0. That would make me feel better.

    1. Chrissy Waddle - 2024/25
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Strange request. Especially as it's never gonna happen.

    2. FPL_Gyarados
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      0-0 is probably the best we can hope for.

  26. Game of Stones
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Captains top 100 overall:

    Yaya Toure: 35
    Kompany: 20
    Costa: 9
    Mahrez: 9
    Silva: 7
    Lukaku: 4
    Hazard: 2
    Hart: 2
    Rooney: 1
    Darmian: 1
    Skrtel: 1
    Coutinho: 1
    Diouf: 1
    Pelle: 1
    Sterling: 1

    1. Eden Hazardous
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Where is Aguero?

      1. Game of Stones
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Sorry, forgot him. Aguero: 5.

        1. La Décima Chaser
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Was going to say! Surely some have Aguero!

        2. Eden Hazardous
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Whoops! Aguero hatty coming up!

        3. Djerbil
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          jesus

    2. Tadic is the new Eriksen
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Lol.

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      da fuq

      1. Jax
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        5 people have aguero (c)? crazy.

    4. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      not one aguero.. good!

      1. Jax
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        aguero = 5 if you'd look

      2. Game of Stones
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Forgot to add him here: Aguero, 5.

    5. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Errr ...

    6. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      The casual bar stewards

    7. The Chosen One...
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Current top 100 are casuals and dead teams

    8. Van Klinkert Delarosa
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Hart, ffs.

  27. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Mane or Chadli?

    1. Jax
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      bit early

  28. UnitedFan
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Any 4.5 keeper that rotates with Schmeichel?
    Is it worth -4 to do that and get Wilson for his run of fixtures?

  29. The Train Driver
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Another 4-4?

    1. Jax
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      sanchez gets an assist at least i'd be happy