Opinion

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 28

It comes to something when captaining Harry Kane is seen as a gamble.

We spent weeks justifying his existence in our squads on the basis that he would be our permanent skipper, and successive hat-tricks against the backdrop of the original #Kanexit movement convinced us that we’d never looked back.

But even the most proven and big-scoring assets struggle to convince when compared with the relentless tide of points produced by Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian has now split the Fantasy Football community, as each Gameweek the debate reopens on if and when we can afford to overlook him with the armband.

Kane will always provide the tempting alternative, but with his record of a goal or an assist in 16 of 18 Gameweek appearances, the logic clearly points to Salah.

Twelve double-figure returns to Kane’s eight also diffuses the “explosive” argument.

However, arguably Kane’s “ceiling” of points remains the higher. The devastation of his away day performances at Leicester City and Hull last season still linger. He defines the term “heavy-hitter”: while Salah’s blows are unrelenting, if Kane hits, more often than not, he hits hard.

At this point, turning to Kane is not denying Salah’s status as the go-to option, it’s merely playing the mechanics of the game. When an established path is laid, there is always the opportunity to take a detour.

Salah is the sat nav, Kane the hand-drawn short-cut on the back of the beer mat. At various points over the final 11 Gameweeks, local knowledge will win out.

Gameweek 28 might just be one of those, with the case for the Spurs striker firming up in the last 24-hours.

His opponent Crystal Palace are deep in the midst of an injury crisis, with Roy Hodgson set to turn to Damien Delaney and James Tomkins to silence the Premier League’s most feared striker.

With this in mind, Fantasy managers are acquiring Christian Eriksen in midfield, seemingly backing him for points, but playing down Kane’s potential to outscore Salah.

That said, I still don’t know if I have that kahunas to take that route again. I’ve probably already done enough to separate my line-up from those around me.

My plan was clear some days ago, but doubts surrounding Raheem Sterling’s fitness prompted a reappraisal.

Nursing a muscular injury, believed to be hamstring related, Sterling was omitted from Monday’s shock FA Cup defeat at Wigan by Pep Guardiola.

Clearly, that was designed to prepare the winger for Sunday’s Wembley Final so you have to imagine that every step will be taken to get Sterling on the pitch.

If that proves the case, there is every chance that Guardiola will then take him out of the firing line come Thursday’s league re-match with the Gunners.

With Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane fit and Bernardo Silva now settled and proven, he no longer needs to flog his first choice XI.

Should United drop more points to Chelsea on Sunday, I imagine even Pep will consider compromising at the Emirates with City’s own home clash with the champions to come just three days later.

There were just too many possibilities swirling with Sterling, and while profit has been lost, by the time I reconsider Sterling with the Wildcard, his price may have dropped considerably.

Even then, given the likely rotation to come in the late season from Guardiola, I’m not certain I’ll be back for Sterling.

He served me well and got me 26 points as my captain back in Gameweek 19.

But then, I even captained Salah once.

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

1,151 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I'm frozen by inaction and uncertainty .... HELP! 🙁

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Save ft

    2. andymck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      When in doubt, do nothing

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Good shout

    3. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Captain Kane already

  2. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I have triple pool and double spurs

    C Kane or Salah?

    1. SuperMario
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Wow

    2. andymck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Salah, the other players on your team shouldn’t be a factor

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Hmm, somehow makes me very exposed to Liverpool, but you’re right. My GW will probably be a write off if they don’t score well.

    3. SuperMario
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

  3. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Captain who?

    A) Salah
    B) Kane

    1. SuperMario
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      The Egyptian

  4. Will
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Kun to Kane for a hit? (Second of the week)

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      For sure.

  5. christoff
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    My morbid pre-match preamble-

    Why do I make so many plans that never follow through? Why did I care so much about what that pretty girl at the register thought of me, when she was clearly a b*tch? Are Doctors really experts or just well-read pill-pushers / referral system / common-sense advice givers?

    I sometimes wonder how the world is still intact with idiot politicians running so many countries. What is worse, when the bad do bad things or when the good fail to do good things??

    Sometimes I like the aftertaste of chocolate more than the chocolate itself.

    I hate when dudes don't wash their hands after using urinal.

    Also hate when I travel to a country and then realise the culture is not in fact magical but barbaric. Puts me off travelling to some places. But at least other places are the opposite. Especially poor places but the people are full of warmth. Lets end this on a high note. Malaysia is nice.

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Kiko

    2. pjomara
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      so you had a bad experience in Scotland?

      1. christoff
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        I won't say the place.

        It may be different for others 🙂 And it has its good points too ofc, which will be glossed over by framing an entire country as Barbaric.

        But it wasn't Scotland lol

  6. SuperMario
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Play Lingard or Fernandez of Swansea defense....

  7. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Otamendi or Lingard first sub?

  8. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck everyone and may the odds be ever in your favour!

  9. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Depoitre or chilwell first on bench

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Depoitre

  10. Ed
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling > Mahrez (-4)?

    Kenny first sub.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I did it, so probably not a good idea

    2. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      hot topics

  11. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Captain?

    a. Kane.

    b Salah

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        thats what I am on cheers

  12. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    drop 1
    a. son
    b. sterling
    c. Wilson
    d. Walcott

  13. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Kane!
    Good Luck all.

  14. WhatIfPeterFearWasA...
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Start Otamendi or Wes Morgan? Thanks!

  15. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Imagine Mahrez is on the bench..

  16. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Kane or Salah cap?!

  17. drughi
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I have 3 city players, yikes

  18. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Argghh do I change C to salah from Kane?!

    1. andymck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Don’t change last minute

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Trying not to aha

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      No

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Go on then.

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Who's your cap

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    5. Alex_thekid
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I've Captained Kane over Salah the last twice and got it wrong been on Salah all week changed it to Kane then back to Salah just before the deadline I'm now worried that Kane punishes me and scores 3 or 4 🙁

  19. mcrayeps
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    play Shaqiri or Ibe guys?

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Shaq

    2. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Shaq

  20. Snapes on a Plane
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Who to captain?
    Salah or Kane ?

  21. ILOVEBAPS
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    If u have Ota and JLingz and want rid should I take the hit this week on one of them instead of taking the hit next week?

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Bit late now. Save for next week.

      1. ILOVEBAPS
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Is time up already?

  22. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Chasing so captain:

    1. Salah
    2. Kane .

    Thanks.

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Chasing what?

    3. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Chasing 80 pts

  23. andrinho
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Start Stanislas (NEW) or Niasse (WAT)?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Niasse

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Niasse

    3. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Stan

    4. pjomara
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Stan. if in doubt pick team at home

  24. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Liverpool defense versus Arnie and Lanzini :O

  25. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone thinking changing Salah to Kane as captain last minute... That Palace team is decimated with injuries?

  26. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    will niasse start?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Think certain to

  27. money face bandwagon
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Firmino salah mane lets go

    1. Oscar Slater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah, VVD will only get two points in a 6-1 win.

  28. Oscar Slater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Wildcard Activated.

  29. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling is only a doubt for the cup final (may even play). He has 5 more days for the game next week. Am I missing something?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      No but will play 3 games in week

    2. DLL18
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Will he play 3 games in 8 days after coming back from a knock though?

  30. HD7
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?

    De Gea
    Ota Vert Alonso
    Sterling Shaq Salah(C) Deloufeu
    Firmino Kane Wilson

    Subs: Elliot, Ogbona, Obiang, Mbemba