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. ZULU23
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Lose Redmond or Lamela?

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

      Lamela

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

      That's a hard one

      (That's what she said)

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

    Start:
    Heaton or foster
    Valencia or evans

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

      All help is much appreciated!

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

      Heaton + Valencia

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

      HV

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

      Alright man. Shall go with that makes for exciting watching

  3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    mornin all

    play stones (mun) or friend (CRY) ?

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

      Friend

    2. Sergeant Garcia
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Friend

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      cheers

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

    I wish lunchtime would hurry up

    I am starving

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      go have more brekkie

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

        Missus is out shopping so theres no one here to make it

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

          That's lame

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

    deadline Bingo reminder in 15.....

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

      I'm in the lead 😎

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

        You are currently 😛

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

    **HELP**

    Is this madness to have a back line of:

    Valencia | Baines | Masuaku | Amat | Love/Kingsley

    Can't see myself wanting to bench any of Valencia/Baines/Masuaku for the next 4 weeks, would just be worried of an injury!

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

      I have every one of those players bar Baines it's fine and if they don't start or you struggle you can always replace them.

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

      Just got to hope for no injuries but its a good backline, wouldnt want to rotate with a 4.5m anyway, just handy having a backup

    3. Twiggy SRFC
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Go for it

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

      Thanks guys, think I'll take the plunge and go for it!

  7. tm370
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    So I've heard Sanchez is benched today from an ITK.

    Swap him for Ozil in the wildcard?

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

      ofc

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

      Yes

    3. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      *ITK = this site 2 pages ago

      1. tm370
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        ITK = guy I have tracked on twitter for 2 years who is fantastic with Arsenal news, especially re. transfers.

        Even if he messed up 'the madness' this summer.

        Is someone else saying it on here or the same source?

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

      Really, is that definitely the case....!

  8. adey70
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Who to bench, please:
    Stones (mun), Shaw (MCI), Walker (stk), Friend (CRY)?

    Currently benching Friend as I have Benteke playing against him. But if Friend's not getting a game at home to Palace, what's he for?

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

      Stones for me

  9. Kileman
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    A) Jagielka

    B) Williams

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

      B - Baps monster

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

      B

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

    Im sure its all rubbish anyway but stick with Sanchez (C) or switch to Hazard?

  11. cboulos97
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Valencia Stones Amat Masuaku McAuley
    Good to go?

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

      Mcauley to Evans if your on a WC that way you'll have more cash in the bank

      1. cboulos97
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        okay, thanks, done, sorted now? i've also swapped stones for williams for this GW

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

    Guys is holebas nailed?

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

      😯

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

        😀

  13. Rex Lapis
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Lamela to Ozil for a hit?

    Yay or Nay?

    1. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Yay.

    2. adey70
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Nay.

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

      I'm doing it so yay

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

      Yes

    5. blue book
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Just did it myself.

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

    Collins or Pieters? On WC so more of a long-ish term pick

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

    Costa or Ibra captain? Fast please.

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

      How fast?

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

        Now.

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

          Oh sorry, too late. 🙁

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

            😡

    2. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Costa

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

      Ibra

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

      ibra

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

      Costa

    6. TheBusDriver
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks guys.

  16. Knallie
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    I need help wuth who to bench?

    Valencia (MCI)
    Williams (eve)
    Collins (WAT)
    Redmond (ars)

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

      R

  17. Psojkee
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Valencia or Mcauley to start? (Have Foster)

    1. HEY DUMDUM, GIMME GUMGUM
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Same last minute crisis here lol. Valencia to start at the moment.

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

      V

  18. HEY DUMDUM, GIMME GUMGUM
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Last minute changes.

    Play Valencia or double up on WBA defence?

    thanks 🙂

  19. El Patron
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Giroud or Perez?

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

      Perez

      1. El Patron
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Really? Wont play on the wing?

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

      Giroud.

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

      Giroud Definitely

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

    Who's the best 6.5 mid?

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

      I'd punt on Lanzini

  21. stefankiknun
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Just learned that Holgate is benched since return of Coleman.

    Do
    Holgate -> Kingsley (as a cheap 5th defender)
    so I can do
    Collins -> Jagielka?

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

    Any changes or g2g on this WC?

    Foster
    Shaw - Williams - Valencia
    San(c)hez - Hazard - Antonio - Redmond
    Gray - Ibra - Lukaku

    Pickford, Capoue, McAuley, Amat

    Thanks

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

      Sanchez definitely starting..?

  23. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Choose one to replace Redmond please

    1. Sanchez
    2. Ozil
    3. Payet
    4. Cazorla

    Thanks

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

      A easily

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

      In this order
      1
      2
      3
      4

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

    Thoughts on this defence

    Cech Pickford
    Valencia Williams Kone Collins Amat

  25. Sergeant Garcia
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Januzaj or Chadli?

  26. MFPL
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Which option?
    A) Heaton, Collins and Baines
    B) Foster, Masuaku and Williams

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

      B

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

      I'm wondering the same! Currently on B since Collins might not start, really want to keep Baines though

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

      b

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

    Captain if you had both?

    A) Costa
    B) Hazard

    1. Torres76
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Haz

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

      Have both but I'm doing B, A is VC

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

      Same problem. Think I'll go safe with Hazard.

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

      Cheers!

    5. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      IBRA if u have

    6. Kileman
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      b

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

    A) Baines + Collins
    B) Williams + Masuaku

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

      B

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

      B

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

    Wildcard PANIC! Which 4.5 defender to get for rotation with Evans?

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

      Kone or Holebas

    2. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      kone

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

        H A same week so doesn't rotate

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

      Friend

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

    Oh christ, finger is more than twitching for Sachez to Ozil swap, getting more and more worried he won't start..... Help!?