The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Opinion
10 September 2016 1920 comments
Mark Mark
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Spiderman (or was it Spiderm4tt?) once said – “with great power comes great responsibility”.

That definitely chimes for any Fantasy Premier League manager with a Wildcard active.

The seemingly endless possibilities in front of us is dazzling and confusing but the burden is almost too much.

The gut wrenching feeling when a Wildcard is played and is perceived as “wasted” is an emotion that lingers in memory.

When it hits, we look for anything, any crumb of comfort that will help us justify decisions in order to ensure we leap a pit of despair.

Initially, the excitement and the sheer relief granted by the opportunity to refresh our squad mask these doubts.

It’s only now, hours before committing our decisions, that the doubts creep towards us. That we remember, with dread, how it feels when a Wildcard backfires.

In previous seasons I have likened it to a supermarket dash. That analogy still rings true.

You speed through, giggling at the choice and freedom you have been granted. Only to look back when the opportunity is gone and immediately begin to wonder what has been missed, what opening has been passed up.

For me, the pressure has been intensified. I’ll be sharing the fallout from my Wildcard with a bigger audience than ever. Revealing my errors and forcing myself to justify decisions and back-peddling.

Already that’s having an impact. I’m perhaps putting too much stock in bandwagons like Raheem Sterling – afraid that I’m missing the obvious, I’m backing these players for fear I’ll be exposed.

I’ve seen posts this morning questioning those still debating Wildcard decisions.

But I’m firmly in that camp.

Such is the power of the Wildcard, no decision can ever be finalised, even at this late stage.

We give ourselves the chance to deliberate every position right to the end. It stands to reason that we will keep doing that – we will keep replaying and rebalancing player vs player scenarios until the bell tolls.

It’s a tortuous process that absorbs us but one of the key pleasures of playing this game, particularly when we can share the agony on these pages.

I’ve enjoyed reading through the deliberation over the international break. I’m still reading now, adding your opinions to my own in order to finish this process once and for all.

There’s an expectation from myself and others that I’ll overcome my mediocre start to the season and a successful Wildcard is likely key to that.

My spider senses are tingling – I’m not sure I’m up to bearing all this responsibility.

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

  1. AnfieldLad
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Had Sanchez on captain all week but put off now by talk of him not starting
    Don't like hazard or ibra for some reason so might go mane. Madness?

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      No I'm a Kopite and I'm gonna be biased and say Mane (C) he's a key player risky but could be gold.

    2. Fingerspitzengefühl
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Talk of him not starting - link?

      1. AnfieldLad
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Just word on here

    3. thunder_mike
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Liverpool and Mane are inconsistent, but it is a decent shout though

  2. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    May have already been mentioned but Spiderman never said line that it was his uncle, wasn't it?

    1. Ghost Ship
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      and Voltaire (an obscure French right back).

  3. thunder_mike
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    What is this about Sanchez not playing? Do I need a last minute WC?

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      lol no, even a sanchez that comes off the bench is dangerous

    2. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      This is no time for a toilet break?

  4. Dark_Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    A lot of press speculation that Sanchez on bench

  5. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Start Jaku or Heaton this week?

    1. Swanny18
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Heaton

  6. MANOMANO
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Is coutinho gonna start today?

    1. JayBomb
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I'm ignoring the rumers and starting him just make sure your subs are in order in case he doesn't?

      1. MANOMANO
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks mate.

  7. WDT
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Not feeling much comfort in numbers on this one, anyone else going for it with Payet (C) ?

    Balls. Out.

    1. BB-8
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Would if I had him. Costa for me

    2. KISSES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Decent

  8. The Tinkerman
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Start Valencia (MCI) or McAuley (bou)?

    1. Swanny18
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Valencia

    2. Lumberjack
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I'm on Valencia

    3. AnotherBareBum
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      6 points for both

  9. brett
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    What's all this I keep reading about Sanchez not starting? Any one know anything about that?

    A) Sanchez & Lukaku
    B) Ozil & Costa

  10. BB-8
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Enough of this Sanchez nonsense. Help me pick one 😛

    A. Lukaku Puncheon Williams
    B. Benteke Mirallas Baines

    1. Jonny HOW SON?
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      A

  11. Daywalker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    What's the deal with people not liking Jakupovic?

  12. Flush_Fraser
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Hello chaps, nervous wildcarder here. Have it on good authority Sturridge will start today, so if so would you go:

    A.) Sturridge & Barkley
    B.) Lukaku & Firm
    C.) Lukaku & Mane

    If you could let me know as a matter of urgency I'd be most grateful 😉

    1. Flush_Fraser
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks for the help, you shits.

      😉

  13. LE GOD(C)-AMERICAN DYCHO-(1…
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    I've currently got Cazorla and Sanchez on WC Worth getting Mane and Ozil?

  14. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Which one would you go with out of:

    A. Cazorla

    Or

    B. Ozil

    ?

    1. Fingerspitzengefühl
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Ozil

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Ozil

  15. Differentiator
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Didn't want to be asking this at this hour, but....

    best 4.5 midfielders xD?

  16. The Red Devil
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    on a WC-

    Barkley or antonio (no lukaku)
    Sanchez or ozil?
    which 2 out of
    negredo/bony/benteke/defoe?

    1. Flush_Fraser
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Antonio, Sanchez (though be wary of game time as we've PSG on Tuesday) & for me I'd go Tekkers + ......literally can't decide between Negredo and Bony. Possibly Negredo as the Spurs defence is better.

  17. DameCorp
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Field one of these guys? (not really ideal I know)

    A) Morgan (liv)
    B) Pieters (TOT)
    C) Stones (mun)

    1. Donblaster
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Probably B

    2. kalmoffit
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      C

  18. Weeb Kakashi
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Pick one

    A Cech Williams Collins

    B Foster Baines Masuaku

    1. Donblaster
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      a

  19. JayBomb
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Will Coutinho start?

  20. Donblaster
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    A) Shaw (MCI)
    B) McAuley (bou)

    Who to play?

  21. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Is Cleverly enough Everton cover?

    1. Ginola14
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      is hibbert still there?

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

    Play de Gea or Jakupovic?

    1. BB-8
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Ddg

  23. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Sane false nine would be interesting

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Pep seems to like Sterling . He said as much

      1. Your Mum's Athletic
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        More than likely to be this

    2. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Source?

      1. Your Mum's Athletic
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Just a thought Berb

  24. Sting
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Difficult choices:

    A) Coutinho, Mane or Firmino

    B) Benteke or Bony

  25. Tsumo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Bench Stones (mun) or McAuley (bou)??

    1. Hobolicious
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Stones for me.

    2. kalmoffit
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Stones

  26. Luca Toni
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Captain ?????

  27. Ayew Holding Mee Cork
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Really need some help guys.

    Lamela or Antonio? On WC atm.

    1. Luca Toni
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Antonio seems slightly better considering fixtures..

  28. teki0s
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    A) Cazorla - Capoue - Lukaku
    B) Barkley - Hojbjerg - Costa

    1. teki0s
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Have Ozil already

  29. Trentminator
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    A Lukaku, B Benteke, C Costa
    Best one to go with?

  30. Kip
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    My Fire and forget defense:

    Heaton (robinson)
    Shaw Valencia McAuley (Friend, Amat)

    Smart, stupid or just lazy? 🙂

    1. Elijah's Wood
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Wouldnt want so much depending on United, maybe swap one out for an Everton def? But a fire and forget defence is the best one