The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Opinion
30 April 2016 1256 comments
Mark Mark
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Let’s savour these moments.

With just under an hour to go before we start tapping F5 having sent our boys over the line, let us put things into perspective.

Few of us have found this season plain sailing. I actually think this is a campaign by which Fantasy Football managers will be judged for years to come.

We may want to wipe it from memory but our ability to cope with the unpredictable chicanery of 2015/16 has proved a rare test.

For all the anguish, we’ll be sorry to see the back of it. Whilst we have Euro 16 to scratch the itch, we’ll miss these Saturday’s toying with transfers and soon be hankering for the headaches that distract us from everyday tedium.

In a few weeks we will be shopping for a strimmer not Kevin Wimmer.

We will be dreading the weekend barbecue amongst “friends” who barely acknowledge the merits of the beautiful game, let alone a complex meta game layered over the top that involves imaginary teams and yards of statistics.

We will crave concerns over Jurgen Klopp’s rotation when you’re forced instead to indulge in small talk with relative strangers, who politely humour your unhealthy obsession with a token opening line – “what about Leicester, then, eh?”

They really don’t want to hear your thoughts on the likely price of Riyad Mahrez next season. They just want you to acknowledge their gesture and allow them to quickly jolt the conversation back to talk of their safari holiday and their plans for the kitchen extension.

Think on this when you’re next driven to quitting Fantasy Football by the non-appearance of Philippe Coutinho. We really can’t afford to do without such anxieties; we miss them when they’re not occupying our headspace or wrecking our mood.

Admittedly, it’s been tough. The tortuous trials we have put ourselves through have combined to create a season of discontent for Fantasy Football managers.

Now this nine-month tale of the unexpected looks set to conclude in remarkable fashion.

Leicester’s fairy tale could be completed on Sunday. Their incredible achievement will surely touch even non-football fans, offering our friends and associates handy ice-breakers when they’re forced to engage us in conversation over that half-cooked burger.

As you nod courteously at their failed attempts to bluff their way through a stilted football chat, think back at that time you missed out on Sergio Aguero’s points and realise that without that unique brand of agony, your life just wouldn’t be the same.

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

  1. Rolls-Royce
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Big question,

    Kane or Sturridge for rest of the season?

    1. boombaba
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Studge if chasing

    2. Son of Rambo
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Daniel S

    3. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Decide after this GW if you can.

    4. CunkOnFPL
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      studge

    5. nonprophet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      studge as he will have better service , spurs lost ali and he is a huge part of their structure going forward.. also studge and players behind him are playing for starting berths next year and spurs pretty much have champions league in the bag and i dont think they can honestly win title

  2. CunkOnFPL
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Alli to antonio/lingard/watson to cover kdb/milner possible no show worth a hit?
    have lanzini

    1. boombaba
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I wouldn't

  3. Son of Rambo
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Asking again If you have Clyne and Firmino and Delaney is your only playing sub is it worth taking a hit to shift Gabriel or Alli? Thanks

    1. Heels_Over_Head
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      shift allí

    2. Kevtheotter
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      What's the rest of your team?

  4. Kevtheotter
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    One last time

    Darlow
    PVA Bellerin Gabriel
    Milner Sanchez Lanzini KDB
    Mitrovic Kun Kane

    Robles Coutinho Simpson Delaney -4

    A) Good to go
    B) Mitrovic --> Defoe -8

    Is it worth it?

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

      B). Yes!

      1. Kevtheotter
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Mitrovic could only play 35 over the next 2 weeks and Defoe 270. That pays for itself right?

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

          Yep

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      A. You have good bench cover and Mitro might get time vs a juicy opp.

      1. ILOVEBAPS
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Simpson before Coutinho

        1. Kevtheotter
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          I don't know about that

          1. ILOVEBAPS
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            0-0
            Mark it down

    3. nonprophet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      b easy

  5. Weeb Kakashi
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Start

    A Hazard
    B Firmino

    1. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Hazard by a distance

    2. Heels_Over_Head
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      A).

    4. VS10_
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Again?

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Lol......Sorry mate =D

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

    I think I've made up my mind on keeping KdB and not tetting Fabrègas for an additional 4 point hit. Cue Fabrègas double digit haul

  7. semiconductor
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    lovrern (with no liverpool players) or cathcart (with gomes). with wc here

    1. Suarezista
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I've gone for Lovren with Gomes but will have a Liverpool attacker or two.

      1. semiconductor
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        i want sturidge butwithbenteke and europa, ill wait

        but lovern is ur choice then

  8. FPL ElasticO
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Who to bench??

    a) Milner
    b) KDB

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Kdb

  9. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Chief ‏@FPLHints · 5m5 minutes ago

    1% of #FPL managers own both Robles and Mignolet. 13% of the top 1000 own both. That should make things a bit fun.

  10. juicewagz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    What would you do with this team? Happy to take 1/2 hits. 0FT 0.5ITB

    Gomes

    Gabriel, Smalling, Delaney

    Mahrez, Iwobi, Ozil, Payet

    Ageuro, Pelle, Kane

    Bench: Robles, Coutinho, Evans, Sakho.

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Pelle + Sakho > Carrol and Cresswell

    2. Takedog1
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      pelle sakho> deeney bellerin

  11. Back on the horse
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    rp on right post - - Any changes you'd do to this WC? Been dealing with the kids all morning

    Gomes (de Gea)
    Cresswell Moreno Smalling (Azpi PVA)
    Mahrez Hazard Sánchez(C) Payet (Firmino )
    Defoe Carroll Kane
    0.6

    Then look to do Kane to Sturridge depending on next week

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Well, yes. But you won't like it. 🙁

      1. Back on the horse
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Cathcart over Azpi? 🙂

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Not exactly, no:

          Gomes (de Gea)
          Cresswell Moreno Cresswell (Walker Cathcart)
          Mahrez Fabregas Sánchez(C) Payet (Lallana)
          Sturridge Carroll Kane

          1. Back on the horse
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            Yeah, similar then. you have 2 cresswells but I think they would have similar scores. not sure on lallana- you think he will get more minutes than firmino?

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              9 years, 8 months ago

              I do - sorry, in my haste, I missed Cresswell.

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

      looks good

  12. boombaba
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    De gea and Manonne

    Smalling and PVA

    Which two to play today ?

    1. Daaf
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I would go with PvA. The other one I dont really know. I'm choosing between Mignolet and DDG?

  13. Ravager
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Repost

    Darlow (Robles)
    Simpson Rose PVA Cresswell (Fosu)
    Payet Sanchez Mahrez (Alli, Coutinho)
    Aguero Kane Defoe

    G2G? Anthing to do a -8 for?

  14. Boyd to Sven
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Would you start Fabregas or Mortial this week?

    1. boombaba
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Martial probably

  15. Zombie
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    @Doos: http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/public-stats-tables/view/13189/

    Your table, and it has served me well. You still say Wat & Stoke are tough fixtures?

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      See my Spreadsheet. I don't say, the algorithm does.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        You, and everybody else, clearly have no idea how crap Sunderland are. 😕

        1. Zombie
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          It's between Fab+Defoe vs. Willian+Carroll

          Do you think Carroll will start all 4? (if he stays fit)

          1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            No, I think that he may be sub in 1.

            1. Zombie
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 8 months ago

              Understood

              Thanks a lot, really 🙂

      2. Zombie
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        If you have to choose one for fixture difficulty for attackers, will choose your table above or the spreadsheet?

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          I never, ever pay attention to fixture difficulty. Only to this:

          http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/my-stats-tables/view/939/

          1. Zombie
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            Nothing on goal attempts and shots in the box

            Carroll ahead on shots on target...So if opponents are bad (which is true for Sunderland in next 4 fixtures), Defoe will have a bit more time and hence more of those attempts should be on target

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              9 years, 8 months ago

              OK. You're the manager.

              But that table is set up like that for a reason.

              1. Zombie
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 8 months ago

                Haha...I know what you mean Doos. It's just that I'm on WC and leading my ML by 14 points so playing just a bit of devil's advocate 🙂

          1. Zombie
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            All of them tells me Watford, VIlla and Stoke have been really horrible defensively!

  16. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Mark sounds like he's FPL institutionalised 😀

  17. Blue Moon Rising
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    WC Team

    Mignolet Gomez

    PvA Bellerni Aldeweireld Creswell Fuchs

    Mahrez Payet Sanchez King Iwobi

    Aguero Kane Defoe

    Good to go?

    1. The Gambler.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Mignolet?

      1. Blue Moon Rising
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        He a risk?

        1. The Gambler.
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Yeah prob wont play tomrw and if we progress in ECL

        2. boombaba
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Ward is playing this week klopp said and may play more

    2. boombaba
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Sell Ming

    3. BellsOfFreedom
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      8 sgw players in 37 + Migs?

    4. OneTwo
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      If chasing it might be time to drop Kun...

    5. Jigger & Pony
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Back to drawing board. Get at least 11 DGWers for 37.

  18. The Gambler.
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Pleeeease help!!

    Ddg - Lloris
    Bellerin - GABRIEL- smalling - lovren - SAKHO
    COUTINHO - KDB - Payet - Lingard - Sanchez
    Aguero - MITROVIC - Kane

    Right guys I dont normally do this but am stuck. £0.0m in bank. What do i do?

    1. Suarezista
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Mitro & Sakho -> Defoe/Deeney & PVA

    2. Takedog1
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      cout out for a start

      followed by mitro

      1. The Gambler.
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Not better to ditch Alli and Sakho first?

        If we lose to villareal Coutinho could play last 3?

  19. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Who to start?

    A) Lanzini

    Or

    B) Milner

    1. boombaba
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      A

  20. manutd99
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    No response last time i asked. Few replies appreciated.

    Have the following suspended/rotation players

    Sakho
    Alli
    Gabriel
    KDB
    Milner

    Will only have one player on the bench. Gonna have to take a hit to take one out

    A) Sakho to PVA - 2 players on bench
    B) KDB to Hazard - 1 Player on bench

    Not much value in A but handy if 2 dont play but B seems better dependent on KDB minutes as a chance he'll play.

  21. Mickey Tyrion™
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Worth a -4 to get in Cresswell and play over Rose with this lot or GTG? leading ML by 16 points atm. Rival has Adrian.

    DDG
    Bellerin - Rose - Simpson (Gabriel, Sakho*)
    KDB* - Sanchez(C) - Payet - Lanzini (Alli*)
    Kane - Kun - Deeney

    1. I Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I would do it. None of your subs are likely to play. Might need one with the KDB risk.

      1. Mickey Tyrion™
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Would you sort out Alli or KDB then? lot of risk in the midfield.

  22. Teahupo'o
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Mignolet and Robles, should I leave it be or take a hit?

    1. Tommy J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Hit

      1. Teahupo'o
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks. Gomes or Mannone?

    2. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I'm dumping migs, who for is another matter

      1. Teahupo'o
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Gomes or Mannone then?

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Neither will play this weekend, take a hit for a DGW goalie for sure

  23. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Chasing 40 points. Sturridge (c), am I being insane?

    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      not if your chasing, he will start this week

    2. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Nah, I like it. Would be my captain if I'd bought him.

  24. juicewagz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Who's more important to get rid of:

    A) Pelle
    B) Coutinho

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Coutinho probably. Pelle will get minutes.

  25. Samwise the Brave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Adrián or Mannone?
    Pedro or Fab??

  26. nkhoughton
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Welbeck sturridge martial got 1FT
    Swap either for

    A) ighalo/Deeney
    B) Defoe
    C) Carrol
    D) Keep my front free

  27. Siggy Azalea
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hi guys, what would you do...
    a) Alli to Townsend for a -4 hit who I would play over Firmino
    or
    b) Firmino to Payet for a -4 hit

    Thanks!

    1. I Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      B

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      B

      1. Siggy Azalea
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks, going for that i think

  28. Gravless wonder
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Good to go?

    Foster

    Bellerin Kosc PVA

    Sanchez (c) Wijnaldum Mahrez Payet

    Ighalo Lukaku Defoe

    Subs: DDG, Firmino, Fuchs, Coleman

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

      DDG over Foster

      Rest looks good

    2. boombaba
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      WC?

      1. La Roja
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Right side

      2. Gravless wonder
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        No

  29. Tshelby
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Bench KdB or Lingard?

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      bench lingard

  30. FPL ElasticO
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Who will you bench ??? Not much time left quick Guys...

    a) KDB
    b) Milner

    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      both ! kdb has had longer rest since semi final, so maybe bench milner

    2. Siggy Azalea
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      milner