Opinion

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 27

Inactivity always leaves me feeling uneasy. No matter how favourable the assessment of my squad at the time, the decision to sit on my hands and “let things be” never comes easy.

It’s even more difficult ahead of today’s deadline. There are obvious blemishes to address, but the landscape created by the FA fifth round and Gameweek 31 promotes a stoic patient approach.

I’ve looked long and hard, but weighing up the percentages, I still can’t convince myself to use a transfer.

Nicolas Otamendi probably has a 50% chance of starting, Ogbonna has roughly 30% (being kind) of providing some points as his replacement from the bench. My proposed transfer – Virgil van Dijk in for the City defender – could beat them both, though he has a 98% chance of making a calamitous error with the boos of the St Mary’s faithful ringing in his ears.

It’s the value of the potential short-term gain, versus the value of more information on form, injuries and, crucially, Gameweek 31. As the latest subscriber to the Gameweek 35 Free Hit, it just doesn’t seem worth it.

The accepted thinking is to attempt to navigate through the impact of the FA Cup fifth round, but use the results and information prior to Gameweek 28 to guide transfers. Having two free trades at this point looks advisable and possibly a key advantage.

The theory is that there is enough opportunity in this tactic to set up an “acceptable” line-up for what remains of Gameweek 31.

As soon as the new chip arrived in our armoury, it was presumed that we’d deploy it for the diminished FA Cup Quarter-Final weekend.

But the ability to use the Wildcard – most likely in Gameweek 32 – to load up early on the teams confirmed to have double Gameweeks to come, could prove powerful.

In addition, the benefits of fielding a full XI in Gameweek 31 may yet be minimal, certainly compared with the impact of having to navigate out of Gameweek 35 – when the semi-final blanks will occur – with assets for double Gameweek 37 still intact.

For all the planning we devise at this point, there are still so many unknowns that could rip up our theories.

But one thing is certain; we need all this planning to pay off.

The strategies above, while seemingly sound, are far from straightforward to explain or execute. Because of that, we will try to convince ourselves that, as studied and meticulous Fantasy managers, this is a time when our efforts pay off.

We look forward to this part of the season, presuming that we can make up ground or stretch our lead over the Gameweeks that remain.

But perhaps this remains a dangerous assumption.

If I do stick with the Gameweek 35 Free Hit, I’ll be fascinated to look back and assess just how much of an advantage was gained.

If ever we needed a stark reminder that our tactics can sometimes be counter-productive, then Fusen’s latest analysis tool provides it.

Revealing our points tallies had we taken our hands off the wheel and made no transfers, it shows that I am just 11 points better off having made nine changes since Gameweek 20.

On that basis, I could have spared you a lot of Saturday morning wittering and myself hours of anguish and anxiety.

Maybe I should start being more relaxed about doing nothing.

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

1,342 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Releasebreaks
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Who to play this GW?

    A - Niasse (CRY)

    B - Ramsey (tot)

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Ramsey obviously!

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      B

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      B

    4. Make United Great Again
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Seriously? Has to be Ramsey

  2. QuintonFortune25
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    G2G? Not sure on benching Mee as Lingard might not start and get a 1 pointer off the bench. Also captain Kane or Salah and Why?

    DDG
    Alonso - Ota - Jones
    Salah - Sterling - Walcott - Lingard
    Kane - Firmino - Wilson

    Speroni - Mee - Marriappa - Albrighton
    1FT and 0.0ITB

    1. Releasebreaks
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Play mee and captain kane

      1. QuintonFortune25
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Mee over Lingard?

        1. Releasebreaks
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Yes

  3. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Which 2 English teams have champions league games next week?

    Liverpool and City?

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Arsenal also has problematic away game in EL

    2. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      correct.plus spurs

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Spurs away at Juve on Tuesday

  4. VDiesel26
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    BBC SPORT
    10:24
    Early team news
    Man City v Leicester (17:30 GMT)
    John Stones also misses the game following a knee problem.

    Anyone heard any more about this?

    1. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Oh no sold ota to stones for -12..

  5. pablospicks
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Which one to leave out?
    A) Alonso
    B) Jones
    C) VVD
    D) Bauer

    1. Weasel51
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      D. Easily

    2. Hairy Potter
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      D

  6. Patches O Hoolahan
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Play one:

    Son (Ars H)
    Niasse (Cry H
    Lingard (New A)

    ?

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Son

    2. Releasebreaks
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Son

    3. Qubit
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Im struggling with similar (niasse vs lingard), currently on Niasse. NLD could be high scoring affair though

    4. Make United Great Again
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Son

    5. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      son without doubt

  7. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    lingard to walcott for free or save a transfer

    1. There's Always One!
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Do it

  8. FPL ElasticO
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Who will score most points & so as to be captain??

    A. Kane
    B. Salah
    C. Kun

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Gotta be Kane

  9. #Swish41
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Why does otamendi have a 50% chance of playing according to this article?

    1. Whazza
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I'm no expert, but I think it means he has a 50% chance of starting the game and 50% chance of being rested.

    2. Rostah
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Team are exhausted and he has played every game for a while now, due a rest with CL coming up which is more important than a game against Leicester with the league all but won

    3. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Mark just making up stuff to tamper with the game

      1. #Swish41
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Lol, sounds about right!

    4. #Swish41
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks both, but with Stones out and Mangala sold...I’m not sure. Defenders don’t exactly do the running of full backs or wingers

      1. DeadStarComing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Personally I don't think he will get rested. However, Stones is available and they have Kompany and the new guy (Lap..?).

        1. #Swish41
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          BBC have just said Stones is out

          1. DeadStarComing
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Oh right. I'm pretty sure he's returned to training and other sources say he is available.

    5. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      This article is Mark's opinion. He thinks, given the Champions league is back, that Otamendi may get a rest this weekend.

  10. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    It’s almost as though GW31 and GW35 are the defining GWs of the season

  11. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Bench one pls all

    Shaqiri
    J.Ayew
    Milivojevic

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      C

    2. justmatt
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Mili

    3. Siggy Azalea
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Milo

    4. wulfrunian
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      M

  12. DeadStarComing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Morning all! Question regarding the blanks and I've done little research so far. With the GW31 blanks I see we are all assuming again that these fixtures are to be moved to a future GW, but why could they just stay in GW31? There is actually a big window between GW31 and GW32.

    It happened a couple of weeks ago with the Arsenal Man City "blank". Most thought this would be moved but it's actually now just on a Thursday night. Could this be the case for some GW31 games?

    1. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I haven’t checked but is there European footy on that week?

      1. DeadStarComing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I'm not sure but there's actually two weeks (and a weekend) in between GW31 and GW32. Is it still the case Premier league matches can't take place in a european week?

        1. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Maybe international footy if it’s 2 weeks. Fine for playing during European football

      2. DeadStarComing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Think I've just seen CL quarters are in April.

    2. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      International break.

      1. DeadStarComing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Ah! That's it then. Cheers,

  13. louisds
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    Alonso Ota Mee
    Hazard (c) Sterling Shaqiri Pogba Kane Firmino Wilson
    1Ft. 1WC.

    Hazard > Salah (c)?

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

    2. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      That’s one long midfield

  14. Qubit
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Lingard to Ramsey for a free worth it?

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Save

      1. Qubit
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  15. Patches O Hoolahan
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Play Two*:

    Son (Ars H)
    Niasse (Cry H
    Lingard (New A)

    ?

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A&C

  16. Ask Yourself
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Whose defence is worse arsenal or southampton

    1. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Arsenal

  17. drughi
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    A or B ?

    A. Klavan>Naughton
    B. Gomez>Mee

  18. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Martial -> Walcott worth a FT?

    1. There's Always One!
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Only if Martial doesn't play

    2. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

    3. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      im thinking martial to son

    4. Visionaries
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Not this week, I'm doing it next week

  19. Gustavo
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    DDG

    Otamendi - Jones - Alonso

    Salah(c) - Sterling - Shaqiri - Lingard - Son

    Kane - Firmino

    Elliot - Fernandez - Mee - Quaner

    Gtg? Right bench order?

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Mee above fernandez

  20. JaydenLFC87
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Currently chasing in my ML by some margin. Who is the best Captain pick this week to make up points?? 

    A) Aguero

    B) Kane

    C) Salah

    D) Shaqiri

    1. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      D

    2. FPL Jogger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A

  21. whatsgoingon
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Please start one

    A) Niasse
    B) Mee
    C) Duffy

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Mee

    2. Swans4life
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A

    3. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Bca

  22. Swans4life
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Coleman worth a punt expensive but playing in the blanks let me know guys

    1. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      K

  23. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Which Jordan to play this week?

    A. Ayew
    B. Ibe

    Cheers and good luck all

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Ibe

    2. Swans4life
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A

  24. Fresh_From_Desh
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Harry Kane has scored six goals in six Premier League games against Arsenal, only failing to score in one those games - the reverse fixture this season. The England striker has scored four times in three home Premier League games against Arsenal.

    He's gona score. Arsenal ain't kept a clean sheet in 8 Premier league games!

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      😯

    2. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Don’t jinx it

      1. Fresh_From_Desh
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I'm sorry!

        Kun has an a great record at home this season as well but city have champs league so pep may take him off.

        Once again I'm overlooking Salah lol

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      If you say so

  25. Siggy Azalea
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Ibe

    1. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      U be wot?

  26. NachoMan
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    I really want to start enjoying my weekend now!

    1) Adrian to Fab
    2) Ling to Deulo
    3) Both (-4)
    4) Neither (Save FT)

    Aaaaaand go!

    1. Non-template FPL is for Kin…
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      3

  27. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Any injury news on Gomez for Liverpool? He is still flagged but hoping he plays!

  28. Pique Blinder
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Play 2 of 3:
    Bauer
    Lingard
    J. Ayew

  29. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    New community article - here's Top Marx with a look at how the Career Hall of Fame Top 5 are geared up for Gameweek 27

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2018/02/10/top-5-career-hall-of-fame-gameweek-2526-review/

  30. Fantasy Gold
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Now that Stones is confirmed out, I’m very confident about Otamendi starting 🙂

    Only other option is Kompany and he got roasted by Vardy in the away fixture. Can’t see Pep risking him again.