Opinion

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 35

Pregnant with huge expectation of our own making, Gameweek 34 cluttered our thinking and dominated our strategy.

To varying degrees, most of us emerged from Thursday’s final act content with the end results of a six-day points-fest.

But once totals were tallied and as we began to pick through the bones, the regrets and doubts started to mount. We almost had to stop for fear of further punishing revelations as we analysed deeper.

Hindsight – that wonderful weapon wielded by Saturday evening gloaters – certainly starts to nag at those who, like me, threw down their Bench Boost chip.

Through fresh eyes it’s clear that I had two prime Triple Captain candidates on offer in Aguero and Sanchez, but chose instead to recruit and back a cast of mediocrity from our bench.

My raggy doll lineup will now limp over the line for Gameweek 35, somewhat revived by a shot of quality as I sheepishly open the door for Harry Kane to return.

I openly admit that I was somewhat carried away with the Wildcard/Bench Boost scenario in a double Gameweek. It stacked up to provide a heightened level of excitement and anticipation that I found just too difficult to resist; new exotic forbidden fruit in a troubled season.

In the end, I’ve got enough out of the six days to convince myself that I “won”. I’ve enjoyed a significant rank hike, but it was perhaps a pyrrhic victory at best.

Urgent repairs are required and I look ahead to Gameweek 37’s fixtures bewildered as to how I can squeeze some worth from my remaining Triple Captain chip.

I’m worried that I’ve sold the soul of my squad for the promised treasures of Gameweek 34 and, as the final weekends go by, the real cost of that dramatic Wildcard surgery will reveal itself.

Harry Kane comes in this morning, partly as a Captain choice but also as a reassuring figure that represents the pedigree of my pre-Gameweek 33 lineup.

I can look on him in my forward line and keep my gaze locked, preventing it from wandering over to Mitrovic, or looking up and catching sight of Lanzini’s boyish grin.

A couple of weeks ago these figures prompted excitement and hope. Now they’re reminders of how easily I was seduced by the allure of an easy three-figure Gameweek. That cheap thrill may well prove costly.

I got what I wanted, now I want to forget: removing all the traces that act as reminders and hope that I get away with it.

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

1,990 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mickey Tyrion™
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Would really love for a chelsea mid to have haul this week... KDB > chelsea mid and Mitrovic > Sturridge would feel great.

  2. matiakez
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    so I've gone Pele over Kane (-4) gulp

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Pele in his prime is better than Kane

      1. Hamilton's Academicals
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Can't find him anywhere. Maybe he'll appear after the update.

      2. Boo Ya Ka Sha
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Pele in his prime is better than Pelle.

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Good joke.

  3. Swan - Villa Proud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    So barring a very last minute transfer, ML leader will only be fielding 9 men, as he had Sagna. Could be 8 if he kept KDB.

    Suddenly, my -8 seems better.

    1. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Same with my ML rival. Was leading by 23 but took a -8 to get Firmino and Alli for Cout and Kdb

  4. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Midday and still haven't seen anyone post the Stoke team 😀

    1. MarkyMarkovic
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      1. Not Butland.

    2. Richd
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lol great point

      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Arnie + ???

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Shakira?

    3. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Given their last couple of performances I think it's better they don't bother fielding a team.

    4. Pasqualinho
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      They still haven't on @mcfcespanyol

  5. MarkyMarkovic
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    It's been a while since I bought one but are lineups not printed onto the match day programmes?

      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No, squad is printed and you get to tick the players who start in little check boxes.

  6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    doubt kdb will come on

    that's a big fat 0 for a 10m+ player. well done, well done indeed

    1. ARKANOIIDE
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      why are you so salty today about city players? dont own any?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I own them and they keep letting me down

        1. ARKANOIIDE
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Stay positive, or your heart will explode, its a game :> Own both too

          1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            🙁

    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He'll come on for Silva at some point, who's only just fit again

      1. Boo Ya Ka Sha
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        we can only hope.

  7. SouthCoastSaint
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    all KDB owners pray for a decent Stoke to show up...

    1. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      with Aguero(c)? 😉

      1. ARKANOIIDE
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        ^ this guy will get a green arrow this GW

        1. Reedy
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          😀

  8. The Wise Owl
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Payet going down in price, interesting.

    1. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He'll rise again this week

      1. Ally - Killie Til I Die
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Dirty Payet

      2. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        On current form he may not even rise for the double!

  9. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I bottled it, lads.

    Planned Siggy to Mané all week with my pre wildcard FT.

    But paranoid about Migs being rested and not being able to field XI so did Migs to Lloris.

    1. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He may well be rested. And Lloris will get you 6

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Don't trust Pool to keep CS today anyway. Toon need to win and will need to score.

  10. Fergietime
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hopefully Iheanacho scores a hatrick allowing Aguero to come off at half time.

  11. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Bingo

  12. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Well, i hope for everyone's sake that like GW 34, the two primary captain candidates score similar points & those who own both reap the rewards

    a 10 pointer from both would be satisfactory

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Well aren't you the diplomat.

      1. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        honestly, i'm scared i went kane over aguero, specially now looking after that stoke lineup, next 2.5 hours will be scary

        1. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Hang tight. I have both but i sense that Kane will do well. Wba are poor. That being said so are stoke.
          Spurs are playing a different kind of football though!

    2. Fi_fpl addict
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I felt which ever I went for was the wrong one lol

  13. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone know any decent Championship fantasy football sites?

    Love from a Villa fan.

    1. SouthCoastSaint
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Laughing a lot 😉

      I played one when my mate was in the championship for Boro. Kept captaining himself haha

      1. Ally - Killie Til I Die
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Who was your mate??

    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Football League fantasy football is terrible. I've never found a site that does Champ only

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah a quick Google hasn't come up with anything decent looking. Thought I'd give it a go to give myself a bit more interest and get to know the teams.

    3. rozzo
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      There was a football league fantasy site I played last season but I couldnt find it at the start of this season.

      Alli, Antonio, Ighalo, Deeney and Ritchie were legends.

      Flint for Bristol City, a centre back, got about 12 goals including a hat trick on the final day.

      It was like every week was a dgw. Points galore.

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        The season we went up as Champions I played the Texaco Championship game.

        Basically captained Taarabt every week and Kenny in goal.

        Happy days.

    4. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lescott(c) GW1

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Pick Villa players? Don't be daft 😀

        1. Les Bleus
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          😉

    5. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      😥

    6. Birdman77
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Your username is bang on for a Villa fan, at least you have a top sense of humour 🙂

  14. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Clichy has been a huge fail

  15. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I've never wanted a player to score 2 or 3 goals, more than I do Sergio aguero at this moment.
    Don't let me down little man.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      this

  16. Maarrrr17
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I was worried about my kdb-alli Lukaku - aguero but feel great now ;p

  17. Lizard Lips
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Was set on this all week:

    Martial + Lukaku + KDB > Kane + Sturridge + Alli

    Then decided KDB would start 🙁

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      same here 🙁

      on paper that move looks incredible

    2. The Raging Bull
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Sturridge may not start

      1. Lizard Lips
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        That's another reason I resisted. Every time I resist the moves prove to be good ones, so Sturridge will start and no doubt run riot!

    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Manchester City : Hart, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Fernando, Otamendi, Mangala, Navas, Touré, Agüero, Iheanacho, Silva,
    [Subs] : Sterling, Caballero, Bony, De Bruyne, Delph, Clichy, Demichelis,

    Stoke City : Given, Bardsley, Muniesa, Whelan, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Diouf, Cameron, Joselu, Imbula, Arnautovic,
    [Subs] : Adam, Teixeira, Crouch, Bojan, Haugaard, Moha, Shenton,

    1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Shay Given gives Kun (c) plenty of optimism

      1. Fi_fpl addict
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Surely Stoke will not ship 3 or 4 goals again !

  18. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Stoke team is not looking good. Fill your boots Kun.

    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Shame Haugaard isn't playing

      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        As long as they defend like they did against Spurs all will be well 😉

    2. Pasqualinho
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      They have Haugaard, Moha and Shenton to come on to strengthen things, though.

      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        😯 Serious depth.

    3. Ally - Killie Til I Die
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I have a horrible feeling he will blank

      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Well if he does I'm coming after you

    4. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      So much this right now

  19. ۩۞۩Tommo727™۩۞۩
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    How long until we can see rivals teams??

    1. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      10-15mins

  20. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    KDB to score the winner

  21. John t penguin
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    So do us non kun captainers want him to do anything today?

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Only 1 goal plz.
      Brace for Kane.

    2. Hamilton's Academicals
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'd take a blank tbh

    3. Dead Cat Bounce
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      2 points please
      I own him but my ML rival (C) him and I did Kane

  22. Ayew Serious
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I think I might just not check my team until this evening.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      lol

    2. SomewhatPleasing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Be serious

    3. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lunatic

    4. ARKANOIIDE
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Mane is the new Tettey

    5. Dead Cat Bounce
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Crazy comment

  23. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Navas always starts

    Pity he is hopeless at crossing the ball

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Take out his pace, he would have never been even an amateur player.

  24. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    So KDB turned out to be a worse buy on the WC than the Liverpool players. 7 points in 3 games. That's Lukaku territory.

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      It was that goal in the CL that suckered me in.
      Glad I dumped him.now

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yup.

    3. The Raging Bull
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Avoid anything with a sticker 'Made in Belgium'

    4. Jazz!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Never even considered him.

    5. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Really suprised about the bandwagon that formed for him, I was a previous owner, prior to injury and was gonna sell him at the time anyway and far from happy with his points for cost and certainly couldn't afford such a heavy investment in such an inconsistent player.

  25. @persecuted_by_mods
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I completely forgot that Butland was out, if i had remembered it would have been the easiest C choice ever. Enjoy the points Kun cappers, just hope Kane can match it

      1. Fi_fpl addict
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        It could be a long wait till Monday

    • Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Oh man the Stoke def makes me vomit.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Probably makes Sparky vomit too ... 😉

    • El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yesss.. Mangala starts.. Now plz Milner and Flanagan, get some minute..

      1. Ally - Killie Til I Die
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Milner will start I think

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Great.. thanks.. leave me with Flanno..

    • Your Mum's Athletic
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Imbula playing number 10 role today according to team sheet/formation? 😯

    • Puntillimon
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone foreseeing pool to fire to a 3-0 lead in the first half before Newcastle peg them back 3-3 in the second to bring back those years for benitez's return? 😛

      1. Fi_fpl addict
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        As long as Townsend and courtingho bag a couple

      2. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yess.. Milner 3 assists and townsend a brace.
        Gone Townsend instead of Alli for differential.