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. tm245
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    I miss the Bench Boost.

    1. tm245
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I am crushing totp posts right now. Definitely on my game today.

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

      i think i got a massive haul of 12pts with mine..

  2. Jazz!
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Would be funny if there's no Lukaku. Even so, only 2 less points than what he'd get anyway.

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

      are you a Norwich fan?

      1. Jazz!
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        No ...

    2. Slam
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      You forgot a 0 after that 2

    3. Arteta
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      You called it!

  3. Clumsy Sakho
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Last minute niasse punt?

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

    Aguero to Lukaku for -4 , tempted 😀

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

      Just NO

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

      yes!!!

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Drunk?

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

      Lukaku doesnt appear to be starting

      1. Hurricane Gilbert
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        What?

    5. nevins84
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Do it

    6. Fergietime
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I just did it, ha, dont know what came over me, and now I hear he is benched, glorious!

  5. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    #SSNSANCHEZ

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

      OMG!

  6. Spurs Go MaddiSon
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Play Dann or Lovren?

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

      Lovern

  7. Numb
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Oh God, here we go again!!

  8. Whazza
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Chris Waugh ‏@ChrisDHWaugh 50s50 seconds ago
    Hearing Gini in for Perez for #nufc - but team news will be confirmed imminently

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

    Start Darlow or de Gea?

  10. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    EVERYONE BUY NIASSE

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

      I don't know who he is or where he plays 😀

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        cheap Everton striker, whats not to like

  11. tm245
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Lineups out and lineups lock at the same time is great.

  12. Jazz!
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    NIASSE PUNT

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

    my wc team with 1 or 2 transfers next gw if necessary 3.2m itb. please advice me with any changes u would do

    DDG gomes
    smalling bellerin azpi lovern pva
    sanchez payet fab mahrez lanzini
    carroll defoe lukaku

  14. Hurricane Gilbert
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    I really feel that Lukaku will burn us all today, and we will regret holding players like Aguero

    1. Andy1
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Fail

    2. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Hahaha biggest fail

    3. Fergietime
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Just did it for -4 pray for me.

  15. Clumsy Sakho
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    ITS TOO LATE NOW PEOPLE

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      We will regret the moment we all didn't buy Niasse

  16. Ramseys Rovers
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Sanchez(TC)
    Hatrick incoming

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

      as my captain I will take this

  17. Slam
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    No Lukaku 🙁

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

      For fuchs ake

    2. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Seriously??

  18. Whazza
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    No Lukaku

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

    Lukaku bench lol

  20. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    #watfordfc line-up v @AVFCOfficial: Gomes (GK); Paredes, Cathcart, Britos, Anya; Abdi, Suarez, Watson, Jurado; Deeney (c), Ighalo.

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

      #watfordfc subs v @AVFCOfficial: Pantilimon (GK), Nyom, Prödl, Ake, Guedioura, Berghuis, Amrabat.

    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Urghhh rubbish team

      Also I said Cathcart was the only one nailed 😎

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

    Anyone hearing Gabriel starts for Arsenal,

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

      game is at 5.30pm haha

    2. beglee
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Bib theory suggests he won't start this week

  22. Whazza
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Townsend, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Cisse #nufc

  23. Whazza
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    PALACE XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Jedinak (c), Cabaye; Puncheon, McArthur, Bolasie; Wickham.

  24. Les Bleus
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    NO LUKAKU

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

      😆

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

    Updating...

    I've officially captained Ozil. Lords of FPL, please be gentle to my rank.

  26. Whazza
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Sunderland unchanged

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

      West Ham too

  27. Ayew Serious
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Everton : Howard, Besic, Baines, Gibson, Stones, Pennington, Lennon, McCarthy, Niasse, Barkley, Cleverley,
    [Subs] : Robles, Hibbert, Oviedo, Lukaku, Mirallas, Osman, Dowell,

    Bournemouth : Boruc, Francis, Daniels, Surman, Elphick, Cook, Arter, Pugh, King, Wilson, Ritchie,
    [Subs] : Gosling, Stanislas, Afobe, Federici, Grabban, Wiggins, O'Kane,

    Newcastle United : Darlow, Anita, Dummett, Colback, Mbemba, Lascelles, Townsend, Tioté, Cissé, Sissoko, Wijnaldum,
    [Subs] : de Jong, Shelvey, Ayoze Pérez, Taylor, Woodman, Mbabu, Mitrovic,

    Crystal Palace : Hennessey, Ward, Souaré, Cabaye, Dann, Delaney, McArthur, Jedinak, Wickham, Bolasie, Puncheon,
    [Subs] : Mariappa, McCarthy, Gayle, Adebayor, Sako, Ledley, Kelly,

    Stoke City : Haugaard, Bardsley, Pieters, Imbula, Cameron, Shawcross, Shaqiri, Whelan, Crouch, Adam, Arnautovic,
    [Subs] : Muniesa, Joselu, Diouf, Walters, Wollscheid, Bojan, Bachmann,

    Sunderland : Mannone, Yedlin, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Koné, Kaboul, Borini, Cattermole, Defoe, M'Vila, Khazri,
    [Subs] : Jones, Larsson, Rodwell, N'Doye, Pickford, O'Shea, Watmore,

    Watford : Gomes, Paredes, Anya, Suárez, Cathcart, Britos, Abdi, Watson, Ighalo, Deeney, Jurado,
    [Subs] : Nyom, Prödl, Amrabat, Aké, Guédioura, Pantilimon, Berghuis,

    Aston Villa : Bunn, Hutton, Cissokho, Gueye, Clark, Lescott, Westwood, Toner, Gestede, Bacuna, Ayew,
    [Subs] : Guzan, Richards, Sinclair, Veretout, Sánchez, Carles Gil, Grealish,

    West Bromwich Albion : Foster, Dawson, Evans, Fletcher, McAuley, Olsson, Leko, Yacob, Rondón, Gardner, McClean,
    [Subs] : Chester, Myhill, Lambert, Berahino, Sessegnon, Sandro, Roberts,

    West Ham United : Adrián, Antonio, Cresswell, Kouyaté, Reid, Ogbonna, Noble, Lanzini, Carroll, Sakho, Payet,
    [Subs] : Randolph, Tomkins, Collins, Moses, Byram, Emenike, Oxford,

    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      all lineup at 2PM???

    2. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Defoe, Lanzini and Payet check

    3. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Lol Richards can't even get in the Villa side

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

      Thank you!

  28. Hyperion
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Mitrovic -> Defoe done, good luck all

    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Everton : Howard, Besic, Baines, Gibson, Stones, Pennington, Lennon, McCarthy, Niasse, Barkley, Cleverley,
    [Subs] : Robles, Hibbert, Oviedo, Lukaku, Mirallas, Osman, Dowell,

    Bournemouth : Boruc, Francis, Daniels, Surman, Elphick, Cook, Arter, Pugh, King, Wilson, Ritchie,
    [Subs] : Gosling, Stanislas, Afobe, Federici, Grabban, Wiggins, O'Kane,

    Newcastle United : Darlow, Anita, Dummett, Colback, Mbemba, Lascelles, Townsend, Tioté, Cissé, Sissoko, Wijnaldum,
    [Subs] : de Jong, Shelvey, Ayoze Pérez, Taylor, Woodman, Mbabu, Mitrovic,

    Crystal Palace : Hennessey, Ward, Souaré, Cabaye, Dann, Delaney, McArthur, Jedinak, Wickham, Bolasie, Puncheon,
    [Subs] : Mariappa, McCarthy, Gayle, Adebayor, Sako, Ledley, Kelly,

    Stoke City : Haugaard, Bardsley, Pieters, Imbula, Cameron, Shawcross, Shaqiri, Whelan, Crouch, Adam, Arnautovic,
    [Subs] : Muniesa, Joselu, Diouf, Walters, Wollscheid, Bojan, Bachmann,

    Sunderland : Mannone, Yedlin, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Koné, Kaboul, Borini, Cattermole, Defoe, M'Vila, Khazri,
    [Subs] : Jones, Larsson, Rodwell, N'Doye, Pickford, O'Shea, Watmore,

    Watford : Gomes, Paredes, Anya, Suárez, Cathcart, Britos, Abdi, Watson, Ighalo, Deeney, Jurado,
    [Subs] : Nyom, Prödl, Amrabat, Aké, Guédioura, Pantilimon, Berghuis,

    Aston Villa : Bunn, Hutton, Cissokho, Gueye, Clark, Lescott, Westwood, Toner, Gestede, Bacuna, Ayew,
    [Subs] : Guzan, Richards, Sinclair, Veretout, Sánchez, Carles Gil, Grealish,

    West Bromwich Albion : Foster, Dawson, Evans, Fletcher, McAuley, Olsson, Leko, Yacob, Rondón, Gardner, McClean,
    [Subs] : Chester, Myhill, Lambert, Berahino, Sessegnon, Sandro, Roberts,

    West Ham United : Adrián, Antonio, Cresswell, Kouyaté, Reid, Ogbonna, Noble, Lanzini, Carroll, Sakho, Payet,
    [Subs] : Randolph, Tomkins, Collins, Moses, Byram, Emenike, Oxford,

  29. SirStevieG
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    San(C)hez captain fail.