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. Soopaboonch'o'lad…
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Tissues in the office

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

    Valencia to score, I benched Shaw for Evans. So a clean sheet is no good for Utd.

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

      Costa is where the points are at

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

        Reply fail

  3. 24hrstudent
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Stones 89th minute goal and clean sheet incoming - dropped to my bench so almost guaranteed he performs this week.

    1. AA33
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Haha

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

      That team screams capt Zlatan. Bring it on Cant wait.

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

        I'm in the same boat.

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

      If Sanchez a no show - ive got Puncheon 1st sub. So its all gravy.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Highly doubt he won't get minutes

    4. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Pep on Sterling and Gundogan:

      "I think he [Sterling] can play as a striker if we need. If you need a striker for the crosses, no. If you need a striker to move between the lines - movements behind the back four - he can do that."

      "Ilkay is a player that when he is fit, he is quick with the ball, he can pass with one or two touches, he is so intelligent. He is an attacking central defender or midfielder on the ball, he can arrive in the second line in the box. He has a lot of personality. With penalties, he can shoot. He had a lot of injuries in the past."

      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3782510/Pep-Guardiola-reveals-Raheem-Sterling-play-Manchester-City-s-striker-Sergio-Aguero-s-absence.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

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

      Mkhitaryan you beauty 😎 Got him in my WC team 😎

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

        Nice punt.

      2. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Nice one.

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

        great pick

      4. Rolls-Royce
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        points coming.

      5. Ryan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Not bad, I hope the risk pays off for you

      6. Ayew Serious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        If you had longer to think about it you wouldn't have picked him

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

          Reading this comment with your name first gives it an extra edge

      7. dcarlito
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Brave, well done.

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

        Thanks lads

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

      I had a dream yesterday that United won 6-2
      Nolito 2 goals
      Ibra 1 goal
      Rooney 4 assists

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

        Valencia 1 goal and an assist.

      2. Ayew Serious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Mkhi five goals I presume

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

          I checked on FPL and that's all I remember. My captain was Aguero which is when I woke up from the nightmare

          1. Ayew Serious
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            😆

      3. threeputt
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        that would do me fine

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

        4 own goals?

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

        actually dreamed 2 nil Zlatan double

      6. Give The Todd Some Love
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Did Brook win?

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

      Heaton Pickford
      Valencia Baines Masuaku Evans Amat
      Hazard Sanchez Payet Antonio Sterling
      Costa Defoe Diomande

      Fully Confident! Costa(C)

      1. Pub Crawl to the Townsend
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Agreed. My captain too

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

      RMT

      DDG

      Valencia Friend Terry McCauley

      Payet Hazard(C) Barkley

      Vardy Giroud Gray

      Bench: Jaku, Kone, Redmond, Hojbjerg

      Should I have started Redmond?

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

        Nope

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

      Switched from Ibra (c) to Costa (c) at the last minute. Idk if it was confirmed though.

      1. Ayew Serious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Bus driver should be on time

      2. Pub Crawl to the Townsend
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Good move

      3. DantheManinaPan
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        You'll seriously regret that. Mark my words...

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

      Rashford will come on for Lingard and score... you heard it here first 😉

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

      2-2

      2x Zlatan
      Own goal Valencia
      Own Goal Shaw

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        I'd take that

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

        Why not have Valencia and Shaw get a red card each too

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

        I need Valencia to perform and maybe Shaw if sanchez doesn't play 🙁

    12. PlayON
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Killian here from PlayON,

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

        Spam.

        Reported.

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

          reported the report.

      2. Ayew Serious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Killian
        Killi
        Kill
        Kill m
        Kill me

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

      i benched stones............0-0 locked in now

    14. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Rumour going round OT Ibra is injured. Who made that crap up ?

      1. Give The Todd Some Love
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Rashford

      2. Fitzy.
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Pep

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

        I think Zlatan would need to be dead not to play v pep

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

        Apple coming up with ibra 2.0

      5. Ryan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        A rumour at Old Trafford? maybe they saw him wince in a warm up?

      6. Jimmy Boy
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        He's in the team, and wouldn't miss playing against Pep for anything

    15. CREAM
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      untied 3 - 2 city
      Ibra x2
      rashford

      sterling
      nolito

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

      Team Sweden - look on the bright side. You still have your WC.

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

        *Wild side

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

        🙂

      3. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        What's the dull side?

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

        😆

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

      Fellaini to get first booking looks easy money

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

        Rooney for diving

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

          Well it is Clattenburg in the middle so Utd won't be getting any penalties then

    18. Mark-O
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      City 4231 or 433?

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

        11 men only.

      2. Respect My Authoritah
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        433

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

        4141 it seems

    19. ElDaddy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Lingard over Rashford? (Presuming Lingard plays on the left flank) Mou's got some balls.

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Agreed

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

      POGBA the forgotten man

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

        Who?

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

      Come on Giroud, hattrick. That low ownership 🙂

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

        Ozil's ownership is remarkably low too

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

          Yup, went Payet over Ozil. I´m afraid :/

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

      Updated

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

        cheers Jaf.. upvoted.

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

          Here to serve 😎

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

        Thanks

    23. Nabs Kebabs
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      UPDATED

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

        cave paintings?

    24. Squires FC
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Got a feeling this is the game where the casuals get to see what Mkhitaryan is all about. Such a classy player.

      1. George Sillett
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Most people know that - serious , football fan or less serious player.

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

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/10038/event/4

      For you who don't believe me...

      Rip my FPL season

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

        Oh no..........

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

        Disaster mate

    26. A Moon Shaped Pool
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Nearly change this in the last min:
      Zaza > Benteke
      Barkley > Snoddy

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

      So...I went differential with Cazorla (c)!

      WC team is:
      Adrian Heaton
      Shaw Williams walker Pieters Amat
      Hazard Cazorla Antonio sterling capoue
      Ibra lukaku Defoe
      0.9itb

      Good, bad or otherwise?

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

      Beast mode United versus a fairy flower puff city