The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Preamble
7 November 2015 2115 comments
Mark Mark
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Granville’s recent calamitous transfers galvanised some navel gazing this week.

I was intrigued by the theory that transfer tinkering, particularly when accompanied by a points hit, was severely damaging our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) prospects.

My investigations were fuelled, not only by Granville’s recent transfer tragedy, but also the fortunes of a certain Sharon Brading – an FPL manager who had hit the heights of 17th in the world without making a single change to her squad.

An innocent in all this, Sharon’s season nonetheless presents an extraordinary case study, forcing us to question the merits of our decision-making.

It became clear that Sharon no longer had her hands on the wheel – her Ashley All Star squad is a “Ghostship” – drifting without guidance, pursuing the same course that was set back in Gameweek one.

That course has beat us all.

On the face of it, she made some canny early decisions. The faith in Leicester’s attacking assets has been key, along with the capture of high performing mid-price midfield options – Nathan Redmond and Yohan Cabaye. Meanwhile, Sharon has suffered injuries, but, as yet, none have presented the iceberg to sink her season.

While her campaign is a slap in the face for those deliberating points hits on a weekly basis, there is one big reason for her prosperity: Jamie Vardy.

The armband has been tattooed on Vardy from Gameweek 1 and Sharon has subsequently surfed the 144 points he’s gained her.

Meanwhile, Granville and I have been switching week-to-week, relying too much on Sergio Aguero and have mustered just 102 and 106 points in response.

Couple that with some questionable transfer decisions – Granville’s Gameweek 11, my punt on an early Eden Hazard revival – and suddenly a yawning gap has opened up. Our hands-on efforts have proved futile.

While Granville and I neglect family to dedicate hours to reclusive tinkering, Sharon has doubtless been interacting with human beings and pondering matters other than the merits of Anthony Martial strike rate.

Everything is wrong.

How do we put things straight? For starters, both Granville and I have to start finding the right captain – we have to stumble upon an antidote to Sharon’s intoxicating Vardy potion.

Digging deeper, it was clear that our failure to find points with the armband doesn’t just pale next to Sharon’s example.

Andy, top of the FFS contributors league and ranked 73 in the world, has gained 26% of his points from his captain. Ironically, that’s the same percentage gained by the current overall FPL leader, Ryan Grzegowski.

Back on 18%, Granville and I can’t cite failing transfers for reason why we’re treading water – our squads have lacked leadership.

Quite simply, we need some goals from our captains and Granville has to apologise to Riyad Mahrez.

Only then can we hope to force Sharon into abandoning her social life, coaxing her into the indignity of actually logging back in to her squad.

Enjoy your Saturday mornings while you can, Sharon.

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

  1. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Swapped Yaya to the bench and starting Ighalo and switched captaincy from Vardy to KDB.. this is gonna be fun 🙂

    1. Demel
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Cue Yaya brace and KDB blank.

      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Probably.. A knackered Yaya and a rested KDB has got me thinking 🙂

  2. EWH2020
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Play Kane or pelle? I have Mane

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      pelle

      Kane got lucky last game and if he hadn't have scored that , your decision would have been a no brainer

  3. Cristi@no R7
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    This is it.. It's KDB(c) in the end.. Who is yours?

    1. dul
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy or Sanchez!

    2. McQueen
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez for me, more bonus points. Good luck.

    3. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I've gone mane over him, and both the below

    4. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez.

  4. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    (C)

    Dunno.

    Still on Vardy.

    Still tempted by Mahrez

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      mahrez

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Mahrez. The stats don't lie

    2. Spike ⚽️
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez subbed at 70 mins ?

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        maybe if they are winning by a margin, by then he will have done the damage. Certainly will not take him off if the game is close. everything goes through him

    3. Cristi@no R7
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      KDB

    4. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez. Pens, BAPS, Extra point for goal, out scored Vardy every time they both played 90min, brace last week, habit of double digit hauls. Set pieces too.

      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        You put forward a compelling business case I must say....

        1. Jazz!
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Vardy also due a blank, Watford will be obviously seeing him as the main man only so maybe a 2 on 1 situation only for Mahrez to slip in behind and boom!

        2. Spike ⚽️
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Vardy will be on pens until he blanks a GW to ensure his record scoring bid

      2. dcarlito
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Nice Jazz, need that validation.

        1. Jazz!
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          🙂

      3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        no brainer isn't it Jazz. The least of all punts out of all the options imo

        1. Jazz!
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Yep.

    5. Numb
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Wow, you're leaving this late!

      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        I know, who you got as (c) ?

        1. Numb
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          The Ginja Ninja

          Rationale - I think City are more likely to score a few

          1. Numb
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 2 months ago

            Bit of a lottery tho

    6. Lord Mayor's Croupier
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Been on Vardy all week. Just panic-switched to Mahrez ... please don't get tinkered, Mazza 🙁

    7. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez has been involved in 12 goals this season (7 goals 5 assist) Vardy the same who has been involved in 12 goals (scoring 11 assisting 1). Both have also scored or assisted 6 goals at home this season. But here is where it starts to show Mahrez has hit double digit scores 6 times this season compared to Vardys 2. I also looked at to see there goals/assists per minute ratio and Mahrez sits at scoring or assisting every 64.6 minutes compared to Vardys 81.75 minutes so all arrows seem to point at Mahrez.

    8. The Mandalorian
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy playing for an England cap along with Kane

    9. Rolls-Royce
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Why not Lukaka?

    10. sleecc
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez.

  5. dehat
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Dropped payet for ozil. Payets hattie incoming

    1. Aladdin Sané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Same here.

      1. dehat
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        whos your captain ?

        1. Aladdin Sané
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Currently on Mahrez, viced Vardy. Might switch it at the last though.

  6. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    play kolarov/cedric
    or aoa and play pelle

  7. Gooner97
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    I think this GW could either be the best or the worst GW ever.

    1. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed.all players captain choices yet will likely all blank

    2. Odikostar
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed

  8. Jazz!
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Man Utd 0 - 1 West Brom (Evans 89')

    Rooney gets a penalty early in the first half, Myhill gets his fingertips on it. Evans 3 BAPS, Myhill 2.

    Perfecto

    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      in fake world...

      1. Jazz!
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        🙁

    2. King Kav. QC at law
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I hope my players score well.

      1. Jazz!
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        I hope so too 😉

    3. Jonny HOW SON?
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Should I start Evans then?

      1. Jazz!
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Of course 😉

      2. King Kav. QC at law
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        He's just saying scenarios that suit his team. Boring.

        1. Jazz!
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Obviously.

      3. fickle
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Captain by the sound of it

    4. Mark-O
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Plotting against your own supporting team (MU) is terrible.

    5. Pariße
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Have no other option but to start Evans, but I am excited about it.

    6. Rolls-Royce
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      What a tw@t United supporter. Disgrace.

      1. Mark-O
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        A good example of what it means to be plastic.

      2. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        🙄

  9. Zero
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Bench Sanchez or Payet? or AOA?

    1. Zombie
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      AoA

    2. Jax
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      never ever bench sanchez.

    3. jackluhg
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      payet

  10. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Bench 1 - cheers
    A) Pelle
    B) Payet

  11. ZULU23
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    To play Myhill or Hennessey?

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Myhill

    2. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      To have that luxury 🙁

  12. Judeksi
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Butland
    Dawson - Kolarov - Simpson

    as my defensive line, but I will have 2FT for Int break which matters the most to me.

  13. FPL Puppy
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Maybe a weird question, but will McCarthy start?

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Unlikely

      1. FPL Puppy
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Thought I might start him, just for fun. And then Butland will come on as an autosub. Nice bonus at the end of the GW.

    2. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Weirdo

      1. FPL Puppy
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Haha!

    3. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      No 😉

      1. FPL Puppy
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Thought I might start him, just for fun. And then Butland will come on as an autosub. Nice bonus at the end of the GW. 😉

  14. Stacy
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Who should I get Ozil or de Bruyne

    1. Tokenbod
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      De Bryune

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Nothing like planning ahead 🙂 KDB for me, others will say Ozil

  15. Tokenbod
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Who to captain:

    A. Lukaku
    B. Vardy
    C. Bony

    1. Ten Season Wonder
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I've just switched to bony for a few reasons

      sunday game
      the fact that he flunked last week

  16. fickle
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    It would be hilarious if sharon won FPL after GW38

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn't play this game anymore

      1. Mark-O
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Bookmarked.

    2. Numb
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      She wont

    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      She'll start dropping like a stone when she logs on and makes transfers.

  17. WWW.
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Who to bench from this front 8?

    Sanchez Mahrez Mane De Bruyne Payet
    Kane Ighalo Martial

    Payet or Martial I guess?

    1. Shrimp On The Barb
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Martial

    2. Tokenbod
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Marial

    3. King Kav. QC at law
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      AOA.

      1. WWW.
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        is available...

  18. Ten Season Wonder
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Switched the armband from Mahrez to Bony in a last minute strategic move that will NOT pay off knowing my luck.

    Bony is gone in the next 2 GWs anyway so may as well try and get what i can from him

    1. Shifty
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      similar thoughts. lol

      1. Ten Season Wonder
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        I'm worried about Villa (Garde) new manager usually tends to start off solid / okay.

  19. Studgie G
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    (c) Mane last gwk didn't work out so I've had it on KDB all week. Call me crazy but I've switched back, everybody went with him last wk and he didn't deliver so I'm thinking not many are going with him. so I'll stick with him and hope I'm rewarded

  20. mahone24
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    KDB or Mahrez - think it coin flip time

    1. mahone24
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      And its KDB - in the hands of the FF gods now

  21. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Mahez(C) .. AOA .. this better be good

  22. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Play which two please

    1. Mane
    2. Pelle
    3. Van Diyk
    4. Kane

    Cheers

  23. Elijah's Wood
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Lukaku (C)!

  24. fijuhmon
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Bench Barkley or Martial?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Ross Barko

    2. FISSH
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      martial

  25. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Kasper S
    Dawson Dier Cedric
    Manè Mahrez (C) KDB Sanchez Payet
    Lukaku Vardy

    Butland. Ighalo, Francis, Bellerin

    G2G?

    Good luck all

  26. Lizard Lips
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Play:

    (A) Moreno
    (B) AOA with Payet?

  27. So Klose
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one:

    a) Pelle

    b) Payet

    c) Mane

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Pelle

  28. Zareos
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Captain?

    A. Vardy
    B. Bony
    C. Pelle
    D. Sanchez
    E. KDB
    F. Mahrez

    No matter who I go for, I have a feeling one of the others will do better!

  29. Boydinho
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Pelle (C), lets do this!

  30. KuttiBunja
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    QUICK! Who shall I put in: Pelle or Lukaku??

    1. Zareos
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Lukaku

    2. Mark-O
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Pelle. Sunderland...