The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Preamble
23 January 2016 1911 comments
Mark Mark
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Sure enough, it didn’t take long for Sergio to punish my lack of faith.

I’m still not budging, though. Despite taking a good hiding during this week’s rather heated ScoutCast, I’ve got to stick to my guns. For now.

I still think there’s “another way” – that I shouldn’t feel compelled to gut my squad and shift it towards another template, just to cater for the Argentine’s undoubted talent.

I want to be able to field a three or even four-man defence I can believe in. I want to make transfers in midfield that can transform my Gameweek, not just plug a hole in my squad: another 4.5 defender acquired in the hope that he’ll shore up a cheap backline. I want to keep having choices that excite me just a little.

In fairness, the recent emergence of Charlie Daniels (4.6) and Matt Targett (3.8) have helped to facilitate those willing to sacrifice spreading funds in order to welcome Aguero.

I can see plenty of merit in this. In some ways I’m a little frustrated that these full-backs have timed their run onto the radar to coincide with Aguero’s return to prominence.

Even so, I’ve been there before – I’ve seen budget defenders come and go, briefly flirting with the possibility that you can scatter them amongst a cast of heavy hitters. They can often turn out to be “fools gold”, left to depreciate, week by week on the bench.

There’s also lots of talk of Aguero’s rise ahead of double Gameweeks. That’s fair enough, there’s little doubt that the “triple C” looks ready-made for the City striker’s bicep. There are all kinds of permutations surrounding double Gameweeks buzzing around our heads – I won’t go into them here.

However, we do know that should City overcome Everton in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup semi, Aguero will face a Gameweek 27 blank. Throw Kevin De Bruyne into that mix and suddenly you’ve got yourself two very expensive reserves. It will be interesting to see how squads adjust to that.

It seems unlikely that anyone will be selling City assets should they book that double Gameweek – but those who time their acquisitions prior to the two fixtures could avoid some damage and still gain the benefits.

It’s easy to forget that Double Gameweeks come coupled with a blank. Just as it’s easy to point out Aguero’s obvious potential for points, whilst ignoring or downplaying the compromises made to get there.

There’s no doubt that Aguero offers a degree of comfort – certain goal returns, spectacular hauls.

In contrast, I’m currently putting faith in a transient cast of mid-price midfield differentials and the theory that, eventually, investment in a strong defence and squad will balance things out.

It’s a gamble and probably a huge error but it’s definitely more “interesting”.

Perversely, I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

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

  1. money face bandwagon
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    lol@

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Fools still asking questions

  2. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    WC activated

    1. KingOllie
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Quick!

    2. KUN+10
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      lol

    3. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      😀

  3. Whazza
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Liverpool FC ‏@LFC 7s7 seconds ago
    Confirmed #LFC team to face @NorwichCityFC: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Henderson, Can, Milner, Ibe, Firmino.

    1. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Just in time to transfer Milner in

      1. Whazza
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        lol

    2. Whazza
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Norwich City FC ‏@NorwichCityFC 2m2 minutes ago
      TEAM: Rudd; Pinto, Martin (c), Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Dorrans, Howson, Hoolahan; Naismith; Mbokani. #ncfc

      1. Whazza
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        Debutes for Pinto and Naismith

    3. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Why Milner?? 🙁

    4. Pedram
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Moreno check

    5. Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Liverpool look weaker by the week.

      That's not a CL team.

      1. Whazza
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        They certainly look a bit mid-table

        1. Dr Dream
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 16 days ago

          Yep. Very average looking.

  4. Ziro Becomes One
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Everybody Calm down and Panic!!

  5. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    PENS DOWN.

  6. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    GAME OVER. RETURN TO ENERGISER.

  7. Sz21
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    has the bell rang?

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      No, but it has been rung.

  8. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Player x fail

  9. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    This weeks red card will be.......

    1. Pap Le Cissier
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Colo

    2. Bobbydhino - ⚒ Saint Slav…
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      WBA defender
      Sunderland player

    3. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Lukaku

  10. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Confirmed #LFC team to face @NorwichCityFC: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Henderson, Can, Milner, Ibe, Firmino.

    TEAM: Rudd; Pinto, Martin (c), Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Dorrans, Howson, Hoolahan; Naismith; Mbokani. #ncfc

    1. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Yawn!

    2. Yome
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Pinto and Naismith debut

    3. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Red card for Naismith

    4. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Naismith and Hoolahan? Didn't expect that

    5. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Bennett owners in trouble

  11. Ziro Becomes One
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    BINGO!!!

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      8 secs, looser

  12. Rolls-Royce
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Pens down.

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Where's Jafooli? I won

  13. ver_sparda
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Bench
    A) Ozil
    B) Payet

  14. FootballFanatic365
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

  15. Holy See
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Ah I enjoy the preamble. "Sticking to your guns" is all fine & admirable, just hope they're loaded. The boring option is generally the most sensible - Book of Jonty ch2 v17.

  16. Epic Fail
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Pages back to being full of gravs.

    1. InBetweenDreams
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Orly? 🙂

      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        What is this witchcraft?

        1. InBetweenDreams
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 16 days ago

          😉

    2. Eden Hazardous
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      True

    3. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      What a time to be alive

  17. jurgenizer | TRIPEIROS
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    have a good one!

  18. KingOllie
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Lol @ howson captainers

  19. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Carrier pigeons down!

  20. Trae44
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Changed Mahrez from my second sub to my first seconds after the deadline; such a maverick

  21. Debauchy
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Ummmmmm

  22. In Like Flynn.
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Good Luck all.

  23. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 16 days ago

    Confirmed #LFC team to face @NorwichCityFC: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Henderson, Can, Milner, Ibe, Firmino.

    TEAM: Rudd; Pinto, Martin (c), Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Dorrans, Howson, Hoolahan; Naismith; Mbokani. #ncfc

    Confirmed #LFC substitutes against @NorwichCityFC: Ward, Caulker, Flanagan, Allen, Teixeira, Lallana, Benteke.

    @NorwichCityFC 1m1 minute ago

    SUBS: Ruddy (GK), Jerome, Jarvis, Klose, Mulumbu, Olsson, Odjidja.

    1. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Firmino and Moreno. CHECK.

    2. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Delete this monstrosity.

    3. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Teixeira signing confirmed. 50 million dollars.

      1. Bobbydhino - ⚒ Saint Slav…
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        source?

      2. Worzel Gummidge
          10 years, 16 days ago

          You already have him. On the bench today.

      3. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        The new Deco on the bench....mmmm. He'll get a start soon.

      4. Scotch Jock
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        Flanagan and Allen among the subs (for those of a certain age!)

    4. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      I love the smell of fear

      1. InBetweenDreams
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        Aguero (c) is like blood in the water

      2. Holy See
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        Prefer coffee, but fear's good too.

    5. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Norwich: Rudd; Pinto, Martin, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Dorrans, Howson, Hoolahan; Naismith; Mbokani.

      Subs: Ruddy, Jerome, Jarvis, Klose, Mulumbu, Olsson, Odjidja.

      Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Henderson, Can, Milner, Ibe, Firmino.

      Subs: Ward, Caulker, Flanagan, Allen, Teixeira, Lallana, Benteke.

    6. Arteta
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Good luck all! 🙂

    7. SirStevieG
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Aguero (c) fail

    8. InBetweenDreams
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      Grealish (c).

      Good luck everyone.

    9. jurgenizer | TRIPEIROS
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      bennet droped 🙁

      1. 32chickens
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        gordon..

      2. Yome
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        yes no longer an option

    10. zizoo10
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 16 days ago

      LADS! i had to bench one of mahrez or payet, decided to bench mahrez last second.

      am i doomed?

      1. 32chickens
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        nope

        1. zizoo10
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 16 days ago

          you absolute lej

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

        You were doomed either way

      3. Surgical Attack
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        likely

      4. zizoo10
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 16 days ago

        if this moves work out, i should see myself in the top 1k end of this gw