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. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Worst of all I've got that Paddy Power advert of a cartoon Sturridge doing his celebration dance looking straight at me

  2. Johnny Drama
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Pls pick one:

    A) Payet-Barkley-Januzaj
    B)Antonio-Mane-6.8 mid

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

      A

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

      B

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

      A

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

      B with either Mirallas or Snoddy/Januzaj

    5. meerlight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      not obvious. with B you end up with money burning a hole in your pocket, but that's what I'm going to say anyway. you could get januzaj anyway, or snoddy, or redmond

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

    Heaton or Foster? (have Evans)

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

      Same dilemma. Foster will give me 0.1m profit, but has better fixtures. Can't choose!

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

        Don't want to play double brom and Heaton has great save potential but still the fixtures are pretty bad

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

          I have premium defence and McAuley is 5th choice. So I'm in Foster since I want to cover their defence. If I was planning to start McAuley every week I'd take Heaton.

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

            Heaton/Robinson combo offers a more reliable backup keeper than Foster/Pickford. Which makes me think twice, if I were you I'd take Heaton/Robinson.

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

              10 mins to think about it. Cheers 🙂

    2. Cantonas Demons
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      A

    3. Johnny Drama
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Foster

    4. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Heaton if you have Evans

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    lamela or redmond out for alexis?

    redmond's fixtures tighten up after swansea, lamela likely to be rested today but I have a bench if that happens. Also has sunderland next and kinder fixtures.

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Red out

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        thanks, I just realised southampton have europa too

        1. Defcons are for Kinnear
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Rule 23: Never touch a EL team

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

      Red

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

      Latest on Sanchez please Bemba?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        no idea, people saying he will be benched. However let's see

    4. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      You were panicking about Sanchez not starting now you want to get him in??

    5. Prison Mike
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I'm taking Lamela out as he may be rested today and will likely face competition going forward with Sissoko in the mix. I think people are taking Redmond out too early he is good value playing OOP imo and plays SWA next week

  5. leo123
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Who for Aguero :
    A. Costa
    B. Benteke
    C. Lukaku
    D. Other

    2nd transfer
    1. Mahrez to Sanchez/Ozil
    2, Lamela/Redmond to Antonio
    3. Kone/Stones to Baines
    4. Other

    1. Ange Ball
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. Arse Craic
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      A
      and
      1, 2 or 3 really.

    3. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      C if you have Haz. Otherwise A.

      1 - Ozil

  6. Jasoooooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    PVA and Baines OR Williams and Walker??

    1. Volley127
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      A for me

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

      Pva and Bains

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Willams + Walker ( More Baps there for sure )

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

      PVAB

  7. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Play Stones (mun) or Kone (EVE)?

    Thanks

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Kone for me.

      1. Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Logic behind this?

  8. Ange Ball
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    IBRA or COSTA cap

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Costa easily

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Looks like you've got both on CAPS

      1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Haha.

        Ibra

  9. liiusions
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    How reliable is this 'AFCAMDEN'?

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Never heard of the Goon before so no doubt it's uneccessary panic

    2. Ange Ball
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Sanchez will start don't listen to all this talk.

  10. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Lamela or Antonio for long term?

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Lamela. Great returns per £m. Season keeper

  11. Le _ Professeur
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Deadline in 20 min, correct ?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Aye.

  12. Christina.
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    worst thing that could happen is Lolkaku going on one of his 5 weeks scoring runs...

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Not really. Low ownership

      1. Christina.
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        140k nti so far this week...price hike shortly...will bugger up my lans...

        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Better change your lan then.

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

      Bring him in for whoever you have. Mine would be vardy to Lukaku.

    3. Sylas
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      *Best

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

        This

    4. Krul Runnings
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      *Best thing

    5. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      That's selfish 🙂

  13. Futbol Heritage
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Play Smith (WBA H) over Valencia (MCI H)?

    1. Le _ Professeur
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Valencia

    2. Dušan Citizen
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      smith

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

      Smith, wba can score

    4. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Smith

  14. N00B
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    What to choose guys ?

    A) Collins, Antonio
    B) Masuaku, Lanzin

    1. N00B
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Lanzini*

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

      B

    3. Arse Craic
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I've got A

  15. Sandy Ravage
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Hello Vardy

  16. superpav
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    For those with both Heaton and Foster, whom are you starting?

    Heaton is more obvious, but it seems Foster typically gets his points in exactly these kind of away games.

    1. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Yep tough one. I have gone for Heaton over Foster for this game though.

  17. Norfolk&Chance
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Double up on eve def? Williams & Baines or bench Williams and play Puncheon?

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

      Double up. Sunderlands attacking stats are shocking

      1. Norfolk&Chance
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks mate. Good luck.

  18. Fishy-o
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Morning guys

    Slow start so far and debating -

    Aguero + tadic > Costa + ozil but I will -4
    Then wc to get aguero back in?
    Cheers

  19. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Tick Tock
    Tick Tock
    Tick Tock
    Tick Tock
    Tick Tock

  20. Niemi
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Best midfielder below 6.1? It's Redmond, right?

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

      Fer actually

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

      Bolasie

    3. Le _ Professeur
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Bolasie Fixture wise ... Redmond long term

  21. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Any good last minute pre-deadline rumours then?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Strong rumours that he definitely won't start.

  22. Test Eagles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Can anyone confirm if Sanchez is actually on the bench please??

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Wenger

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

      No one knows for sure but he's most likely going to start.

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      He will play, he won't play full 90 as Arsenal have PSG away midweek too

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

    WC team-

    Heaton/pickford
    Valencia/Mcauley/Baines/Amat/Love
    Hazard/Barkley/Sterling/Sanchez/Fletcher
    Ibra/Defoe/Negredo

    0.9 ITB

    What changes would you suggest? quick!!!

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

      Change Negrado for either Zaza, Bony or Benteke or Defoe.

    2. Jigger & Pony
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Ozil for Sanch

  24. Puyol Pants Up
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone with me on Gray (C) \o/

  25. XABI 15
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Will Payet or Long start today?

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Payet confirmed start from Bilic. Haven't read anything re Long.

  26. Seb Wassell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Coleman or Baines?

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

      Bains

    2. Le _ Professeur
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Baines

    3. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Baines.

    4. Seb Wassell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks both

  27. Mohit20
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Heaton

    Morgan friend stones

    Mirralas hazard ozil mane silva

    Ibra stuani

    Good to go??

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Mirallas? Punty Why not Ross?

  28. RuudVanNistelrooney
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Why no Giroud love?? he will start correct??

    1. Le _ Professeur
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Yes Probably

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

    Chances Sterling gets benched vs Bournemouth?

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Low if no injury today. High if injured 😉

  30. Z
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Who to bench?

    PVA (EVE)
    McAuley (bou)
    Snodgrasa (bur)

    Playing Baines and Heaton if that changes anything

    1. Le _ Professeur
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Tough .. PVA for me 🙂

    2. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      McAuley