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. Gazpilicueta
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    UPDATED

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

    UPDATED 🙂

  3. fickle
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    I started Aguero and Moreno top have autosubs come on as many here are doing. Had a dream that i also accidentally left the triple C on Aguero (C) Moreno (VC)

  4. the axolotl
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    useful stat of the day to wow your friends 🙂 ;
    In 14 of the past 20 Premier League seasons (the seasons with 20 teams), the team top after 26 games have won the title.
    Four times in last 20 yrs, team in second after 26 games have won PL title. 3rd place: once. 4th place: once (arsenal 01/02). Outside top 4 not happened

  5. TheBusDriver
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Worst gw ever. I'm on 0 points.

    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Going to offer your Aguero predictions this week? Might get it right for once 😛

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

        😀 🙂

  6. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Has it been updated yet for fuchs sake?

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

    That whole RyRy thread removed. Probably right in fairness.

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

      RyRy?

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

        dont ask.

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

        A poster who started a thread claiming Mahrez was injured according to a tweet he saw before the deadline, but no source.

        Things kind of moved on from there, in all different directions...

  8. SomewhatPleasing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Hmmm 0 from 11

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

      What do you think

  9. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Is Dawson expected to be fit play today?

  10. Slartibartfast
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    2nd and 3rd in my ML both captained Vardy and I don't even own him.

    Squeaky bum time.

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

      sorry bro! i also captained him, so I hope he does amazingly well 🙂

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

        😆 cheers

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

          whod u captain?

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

            Mahrez to theoretically cover myself in the even of Vardy doing well...

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

              *event

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

              hmmm, gl

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

                Thanks

  11. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Looking at next GWs fixtures. How many will bench Alli and Toby again and get burnt again?

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

      im benching Alli

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

      I benched alli the first week i got him......and not since. He is a first team player whatever the fixtures are doing

    3. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Benching one of Toby (whu) or Daniels (SOT) as part of AOA

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

    When does FPL discovery usually update? I want to check Vardy's EO 🙂

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

      15 mins after update roughly.

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

        Cheers

    2. Porkchops Johnson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      10-15 mins after update

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

      GW DAY Post TIME (appr.)
      27 SAT gameweek stats 15 minutes after FPL update
      27 SAT intermediate results after last game
      27 SUN final results after last game

      1. Eden Azzzar
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Mines working fine now

  13. Porkchops Johnson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So who do we captain for next GW?

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

      Whoa there 😉

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

      Ozil/Vardy/Mahrez/Lukaku

      1. Porkchops Johnson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        I miss the days of Suarez, when we didn't have this many players to choose from

    3. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Shaqiri again

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

      Arnie for me maybe

    5. drughi
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sanchez

    6. Porkchops Johnson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Many good suggestions. It's like this GW all over again

    7. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      (C)osta

    8. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Kun (c)

  14. mattyrobinson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    I might be an overly optimistic Sunderland fan, but West Ham only managed to scrape a draw against Norwich, and got beaten by Newcastle. They only turn up for the big games it seems.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Meh. It's only Sunderland. They could win without turning up

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

    lineups will be a bit more intense today. considering many wont have autosubs this week (or very few), any player missing out this weekend equates to a 0.

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

      not quite, i mean sure lineups will be more important, but its not auto 0

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

        it is for a lot of people. everton are owned a lot, liverpool, city too

  16. super zlatan
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    world number 3 played his wildcard.
    Lol

    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      * number 2

      1. Konig Luther
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        number 2 had gomez on bench until this week

  17. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Good luck lads: http://i.imgur.com/KYvdBrr.png

    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      RIP Parm

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

        I died a few months back.

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

      good luck mate......

      odd team.

    3. Robben Mee Blind
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Ozil eyes!
      Good luck

  18. Eden Azzzar
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Number 2 overall has fabregas interesting pick I've been considering him or sigh for Antonio

    1. tambourineman
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      He's just wildcarded and has three non-playing GW30 mids

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

    anyone else wishing they captained payet?

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Why? He already scored a brace ??

    2. Red Star Toro
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      seeing the line-up? no

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

        Very attacking lineup...

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

      whats wrong with the line up? I think hes gonna set MOTD on fire tonight.

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

      had him captain earlier but Sunderland is struggling to stay in the league , cant trust the total weakness of Sunderland as they defeated ManUnited last gwk ,, anyways i'd be happy if he scores

  20. tambourineman
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    World top 50 captains:
    Vardy 21
    Payet 12
    Mahrez 10
    Kane 5
    Aguero & Ighalo 1

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

      Aguero :O

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

        lol, the year of the

        "forget my team and it makes top 50"

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

          Surely not, 100% a troller with Vardy (VC)

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

            lol, could be!

            1. tambourineman
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 9 months ago

              He's VC'd Ozil despite owning Vardy, Mahrez and Payet. Also only has 9 players this week so should be dropping from current 20th.

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

            With the way this season has gone I'd be terrified in case my VC got a warm-up injury

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

              Still loads that do it in blank GW's

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

        Bench w*nker 😉

      3. Billy Gilmore
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Probably some proper benchwankery going on

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

        He's done it for the craic.

  21. Robben Mee Blind
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Guy in my mini-league played his wildcard to make just 3 transfers ( and still has 6 players with no fixture gw30 & 2 Arsenal) 🙂

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

      well played.....

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

      photo or it didnt happen

    3. fickle
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      good week already then, and a ball hasnt even been kicked 🙂

      1. Robben Mee Blind
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Indeed 🙂

  22. BenjaniMwaruwari
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    I disagree with most on here and think Big Sam will go home with 3 points. 1-2 would be my guess. WHM to concede at least once with that lineup

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

      Big Sam manages Sunderland now not West Ham

      1. Eden Azzzar
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        I chuckled more than I should at this

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

        Your comments always make me chuckle like a girl. Thanks for your input as always

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

      Predicted the same.

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

      They'll probably concede but whu will win in a high scoring affair imo

  23. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    27,000 transferred Arnautovic OUT this week

    Ahead of a home game against Aston Villa.

    I must say I am surprised.

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

      I transferred him in and ate his price drop a few days later lol.

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

      weird

    3. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      All getting Shaqiri innit.

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

      I am not. In crap form , and an injury doubt

      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        His "injury" was illness, cold or flu most likely.

        I think it could end up biting those 27,000 on the arse

    5. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      He didn't play last week and was flagged the entire fortnight. Not exactly surprising

      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        He was lightly yellow flagged for illness and Stoke had no games over this period

        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah, but a doubt in a blank week where every player is crucial? I can see every reason to sell if you need someone closer to 100%

  24. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Payet to have the game of his life and only go home with an assist. Seems like the sort of thing he'd do.

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

      as long as its good to watch

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

      😮

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

      whats EO?

      1. VS10_
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Ownership including captaincy and triple captaincy.

      2. Bobbydhino - ⚒ Saint Slav…
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        effective ownership

      3. mojoindojo
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Effing owners

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

    I am currently 117,577 OR

    do you think its possible to finish the season in the top 50-20 or even 10k?

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

      Yes

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

        DGWs and blanks will make the difference

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

          how are we gonna decide which DGW to TC and which to BB?

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

      Yep.

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

      yep

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

      thanks guys! just need some support to get there 🙂

    5. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      In the top 15-20 no chance..Top 10k is possible

      1. Billy Gilmore
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        🙂

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

        15-20 in the world u mean?

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

      Yes.

    7. Robben Mee Blind
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Defo!

  26. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Play one for next gameweek

    A) Daniels (Sou home)
    B) VVD (Bou away)
    C) Dier (WHU away)

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

      VVD

    2. Bobbydhino - ⚒ Saint Slav…
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      vvd

  27. Flying Assassins
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    My only real rival in my ML has brought in and captained Okazaki... bold!

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

      could work

      1. Flying Assassins
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Knowing my season so far, probably. He only has 10 players though so I'm happy

  28. The Red Devil
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    one in my ML has-

    Aguero (C)
    Firmino(VC)

    Casual!