The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Preamble
27 February 2016 1243 comments
Mark Mark
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We are all united in hoping for the great divide.

There has long been this theory that missing fixtures and double Gameweeks drive a wedge between the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player base. That blissful ignorance or the distractions of “everyday life” mean that a section of FPL managers are left ill-prepared.

This season, that wedge could be thicker than ever.

The new “Chips” introduced, presumably to maintain interest and offer a route back for trailing managers, are now ours to exploit to the fullest.

From the very start of the season we have earmarked them as weapons to be preserved for the situations that are now looming.

We see them as potential gamechangers, conjuring visions of triple captain hat-tricks and bench boost double Gameweeks that bring 40+ points from the timber.

Similarly, we hope that those around us are left scratching their heads and cursing the day they wasted their “triple C” on Harry Kane’s blank earlier in the season.

Yet all this feels just a little bit wrong.

It is bad enough that the machinations of double Gameweeks may well be lost on a proportion of FPL managers. It feels worse that we now have the tools to punish them further.

Talk of “casual” FPL managers is often shouted down on these pages. While I argue that it is futile to claim that there aren’t more “casual” players of FPL, I also reject an elitist approach to playing the game.

I want to welcome new players, I want more to play and enjoy it. And yes, hands up, of course I want more people in our community and reading our pages.

That leaves me torn on this current situation where we are left revelling in the potential that, as FPL managers wise to double Gameweeks and the use of Chips, we now hope to have the opportunity to gain a huge advantage on others.

I want the points and the climb in rank, but I don’t want to feel I’ve somehow gained that through the complexities and exploits created by the game.

Maybe a level playing field is a foolishly optimistic utopia: there will always be those who take FPL management that little bit further. Again, this site exists to embrace that.

Perhaps I should snatch at these opportunities to exploit the time we invest in absorbing information and sharing knowledge.

But part of me is hoping that, with Chips in play, the double Gameweeks don’t prove quite so devastating.

Part of me is worried that that scenario could drive a wedge between FPL managers, which we could struggle to remove.

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

  1. Odikostar
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    DINGDINGDING

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I'll have a sambuca!

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

    Vardy has won 6 penalties this season - more than any other team

      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      😆

    1. Manamongst
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      he may not get another...

  3. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Bingo 😎

  4. Egg noodle
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Antonio, Payet, Lanzini, Emenike #WHUFC #WHUSUN

    1. Egg noodle
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      WEST HAM UNITED SUBS: Randolph (GK), Henry, Oxford, Song, Obiang, Moses, Carroll #WHUFC #WHUSUN

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Where's Valencia?

        1. Fitzy.
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Spain

          1. beric
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 9 months ago

            haha

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

          haha

    2. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Strong team.

      1. Tatty Bojangles
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Strong bench as well actually. West Ham have a pretty decent squad!

    3. Tatty Bojangles
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Too late for some 😀

    4. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Payet at '10 then?

    5. Manamongst
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Almost captained Emenike...

  5. Elijah's Wood
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Antonio starting

  6. Ayew Serious
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Antonio, Payet, Lanzini, Emenike #WHUFC #WHUSUN
    11:45am - 27 Feb 16

  7. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Gentlemen.......Start your Engines

  8. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Antonio, Payet, Lanzini, Emenike #WHUFC #WHUSUN

  9. BellsOfFreedom
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    pants down

  10. Sjaugen
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Just ditched Antonio for a hit for Arnie

    1. Sjaugen
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Lol at me

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

      told u;)

  11. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Antonio starts!

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Juuuhuuuuuuuuuuuuu :))))))

  12. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Antonio, Payet, Lanzini, Emenike #WHUFC #WHUSUN

  13. Egg noodle
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, O'Shea (c), van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M'Vila, Khazri, N'Doye, Defoe #WHUFC #WHUSUN

    SUNDERLAND SUBS: Pickford (GK), Jones, Rodwell, Kaboul, Toivonen, Larsson, Borini #WHUFC #WHUSUN

  14. Eden Hazardous
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    SUNDERLAND
    Mannone, Yedlin, O’Shea, Kone, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M’Vila, Khazri, N’Doye, Defoe.
    Substitutes: Pickford, Larsson, Rodwell, Borini, Kaboul, Toivonen, Jones.

    WEST HAM
    WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Antonio, Payet, Lanzini, Emenike
    SUBS: Randolph (GK), Henry, Oxford, Song, Obiang, Moses, Carroll

    1. Pochecinno
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      lol@Bilic - he captained Noble

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

        😛

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

        🙂

      3. Lone Wolf FPL
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        hehe 🙂

      4. Back on the horse
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        on pens

  15. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, O'Shea (c), van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M'Vila, Khazri, N'Doye, Defoe #WHUFC #WHUSUN

  16. Jones Town
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Pretty sure my mate forgot to do his team and only has 8 players playing!! 😀

    Bet he still scores more than me 🙁

    1. Garlana
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Lol, it generally happens this way!

    2. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Frustrating when that happens isn't it?

    3. che
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Might have played his WC as it doesn't show up as active any more

      1. Jones Town
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        That is a good point! May well have done actually

  17. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    #SAFC XI v #WHUFC: Mannone, Yedlin, O’Shea, Kone, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M’Vila, Khazri, N’Doye, Defoe.

  18. Ayew Serious
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    #SAFC XI v #WHUFC: Mannone, Yedlin, O’Shea, Kone, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M’Vila, Khazri, N’Doye, Defoe. pic.twitter.com/pmI4y4kaHm
    11:44am - 27 Feb 16

  19. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Juhuuuuuuuuu now give us that brace man!!!!

  20. Richd
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    ******GW27 HATH BEGUN******

    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    /West Ham vs. Sunderland/ Full Teams:

    West Ham XI: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Antonio, Payet, Lanzini, Emenike
    Bench: Randolph (GK), Henry, Oxford, Song, Obiang, Moses, Carroll

    Sunderland XI: Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, O'Shea (c), van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M'Vila, Khazri, N'Doye, Defoe
    Bench: Pickford (GK), Jones, Rodwell, Kaboul, Toivonen, Larsson, Borini

      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Mods delete 😀

  21. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    In Antonio we trust!!!

    1. Sjaugen
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Hold my hand, I scare sold him for a hit

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Holding it

  22. Jazz!
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Adrian
    Byram - Collins - Ogbonna - Cresswell
    Kouyate - Noble
    Antonio - Payet - Lanzini
    Emenike

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Lovely. This means Antonio is longer nailed with Lanzini starting

      1. Jazz!
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Unless he screws up. Moses lurking

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Moses is too wasteful. Never impresed me and he is Chelsea dude

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Payet number 10!! Get in

      1. Jazz!
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Payet (c) here 😀

      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Mannone
      Yedlin Kone O'Shea PVA
      Kirchoff
      Cattermole M'Vila
      N'Doye Defoe Khazri

    3. Eden Hazardous
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Weak midfield

      1. Jazz!
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Think Song and Noble with Kouyate on the right would've been better for the team balance imo

        1. Jazz!
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          But very strong lineup nonetheless

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

            Agreed. One simply cant play Noble and Kouyate in a pivot , both are very attacking

  23. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    I can't believe Doos was wrong

    1. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      It was his predicted lineup. No idea why Song isn't starting, he's a vital defensive asset

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

      why so?

    3. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah, first time ever.

  24. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Jamie Vardy is the leading goalscorer in the BPL.

    1. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      could you wipe uor shoes sherlock

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      so?

  25. RÏɠBY
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    WOOHOO! an hour t go before fantasy travails kick off again!

  26. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone have the teams? 😉

  27. MagicMessi
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Its over team locked !!!

  28. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    You had time to get Antonio in after the team news, game was still open ;0

    1. Arteta
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I did!

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Nice

    2. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      don't .. just don't!

  29. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Payet in the middle

    1. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      hole*

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Payet in the hole

        1. Chucky
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Good boi

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

      is this good or bad for payet?

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Very good