Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 38

Ten fixtures, 20 teams, no doubles, no blanks, no postponements (touch wood), and everyone’s pretty much used all their chips.

Gameweek 38 is Fantasy Premier League (FPL) stripped back to its basics, how we used to play it way back when.

I’ve seen plenty of commenters within our own weird little corner of the internet saying how much they’re ready for the summer now, how the endless procession of last-minute cancellations and short-notice rearrangements and blanks and doubles and catastrophic points swings has taken its toll. Thinking back to my journalism studies days, it’s felt akin to one of those live newsroom exercises where you’re repeatedly being fed absurd new nuggets of information and having to constantly rewrite your intro.

I share the jaded feeling to some extent but I do wonder whether we’ll look back with more fondness on a rollercoaster 2021/22 in years to come.

It goes without saying that the circumstances of how the week-to-week bedlam came about aren’t to be celebrated in the slightest, with Covid’s impact on our daft wee game small fry compared to the death and disruption it has caused in real life.

But chaos is part of the reason why we love football in the first place, so why shouldn’t our pre-conceived chip strategies and transfer plans be challenged once in a while?

We’ll likely soon be back to how things were, with maybe two or three Blank Gameweeks a season and as many Double Gameweeks following in their wake. They’ll be relatively easy to plan for in advance, as they’ll be around FA Cup/EFL Cup weekends, and we’ll not have nearly as much reactionary, short-term firefighting that has been a feature of 2021/22. It’ll all be very familiar, the cream will rise to the top again barring the usual luck/variance and we’ll be back to the ‘snooker player’ approach to FPL of thinking four to six shots/weeks/moves ahead.

How comforting, how rewarding, how… boring?

How many times in the past have we bemoaned medium-term templates forming and seasons stagnating? And with the rise of algorithms, points projections and automated team recommendations, you could easily get away without any manual ‘thinking’ in a routine campaign and still rank highly.

This season has been exhilarating, frustrating and agonising in equal measure, with beautifully-laid plans obliterated by a lateral flow test or three and so, so many 50/50 decisions rewarded handsomely or punished unimaginably.

Commanding mini-league leads have been overturned in the space of a Gameweek or two, entire seasons’ works have been undone with one red arrow. It’s been more snakes and ladders than Risk, with a big fat serpent catching many on square 99.

But it has seldom been dull and I think, over time, the short-term scars will heal and we’ll be left with some more positive memories of Double Gameweek hauls for the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Bruno Fernandes, Mohamed Salah, Kai Havertz, Philippe Coutinho, Marcos Alonso, Kevin De Bruyne and James Maddison.

FPL anecdotes are made from such points bonanzas and we’ve had about a decade’s worth in one year.


Just as a post-script, longer-term readers of the site will remember the Pre-Match Preamble being very much Mark Sutherns’ baby.

When David Munday and I joined the team four years ago, we made a concerted decision not to continue with these articles as they were so utterly associated with Mark and, quite frankly, who would give a toss about what we thought? Reading this, you’re probably wishing I’d stuck to my guns…

But the Pre-Match Preamble continues to be fondly remembered even now, so a final-day reflection seemed like a good excuse to resurrect it. Do let us know in the comments below if it’s a series you’d like to see revived in future, perhaps with a ‘Have I Got News For You’-style rotating writer.

Good luck with your Gameweeks, thanks for reading, and the very best for the summer.

2,367 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Who scores most from these options?

    A) Pukki + 4 pts
    B) Coutinho + 4 pts
    C) Toney
    D) Diaz

    Cheers!

    1. Pegboy
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      D

    2. DF
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A or D. I'd play A

  2. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Best option to complete the defence? Budget 5.1m

    Schmeichel dubravka
    Robertson cancelo XXXX Tavares schar

    1. Mozumbus
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Jansson

    2. Heisenberg W. W.
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Sessegnon?

    3. Tartan Brazilians
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Sessegnon

    4. Marjie
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Trippier

  3. BillsterP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Love the Pre-match Preamble, it’s been sorely missed. Please bring it back

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I much prefer the gambling material myself

      1. Hangman Page
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Lol

  4. SDC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    When I saw title of the article was The Pre-Match Preamble, I immediately jumped with excitement thinking it was Mark. Being a long term reader, I definitely associate the Preamble Being Mark's baby and hope The Preamble continues and Mark does it 🙂 His writing skills are exceptional and really miss the Preamble from Mark. Hope FFS listens to this request and brings back the Preamble from Mark 🙂

    1. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      To be fair I thought the above was very well written too.

      1. SDC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Yes no doubting this piece by Neale. It's just that Mark and The Preamble have a separate fanbase 🙂

    2. Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      THIS.

      I soooo miss it.

  5. Hangman Page
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I think the preamble should make a return next year alongside line up lessons. That’d be cool.

  6. Mozumbus
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Who will score more, different formations:
    A. Kane + Bruno Guimarães
    B. Mount + Cancelo
    Have Son and KDB, if that matters
    Thanks

    1. Tartan Brazilians
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      B

      1. Mozumbus
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Thanks. Do you think Mount is nailed?

  7. Goodfeathers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Havertz a decent differential this week or madness? Will need to take a -4 to get rid

    1. Mozumbus
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Keep, not a decent differential though

  8. ebb2sparky
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Is anyone on here keeping Salah this week?

    1. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      no

    2. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I was going to but now the bandwagon is getting tempting

  9. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Luka c an option?

    1. Mozumbus
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      If starts he can be disruptive against Watford

  10. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Do y'all think both Mateta and Che Adams start today? Chances?

  11. Crazy RedDevil
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Whom to captain, foden/ Maddison/ Son/Kane/Alonso/ Cancelo?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Fodenfreude!

    2. SuperG
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Son
      Kane
      Maddi

      In that order.

  12. AIRMILES
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Skonto Rigga, I really enjoyed the prose! A concise and thoughtful summary of an unforgiving season. Nice to see your journalism studies put to good use. And nice to read an article that doesn't lazily draw the ending paragraph back into the first one with some weak metaphor.

    Best of luck on the final day.

  13. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Is official fpl site down or I am the only one having issues with it?

    1. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I logged in now. Worked fine for me

    2. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Working okay for me too

  14. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Bench 1

    A) Zaha
    B) Jesus
    C) Nketiah
    D) Kuku

    1. Tartan Brazilians
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Zaha

  15. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Salah + Weghorst -> Barnes + Kane
    leaves me with

    Pope
    Trent Cancelo James Laporte
    Son Mount Saka Kulusevski Barnes
    Kane

    (Pickford Tsimikas Pukki Broja)

    Good to go?

  16. Tsssst
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    What are Jota owners doing?

    1. Prinzhorn
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Can you get Diaz for free?

    2. Tartan Brazilians
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Think he could score big. Keep

    3. DF
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Keeping. Gutted though. Don't think he'll start but a hit would be folly

  17. Prinzhorn
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Is is worth doing Richarlison -> Toney for a -4 ?

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I expect him to outscore Richarlison by 4+ points.

  18. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Best combo here...

    A: KDB + Nketiah
    B: Mane + Toney (-4)
    C: Diaz + Vardy (-4)...nketiah sub incase both james/alonso are rested
    D: Eriksen + Kane (-4)..nketiah sub incase both james/alonso are rested

    1. Prinzhorn
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I like C and B.

      I am a Nketiah owner and very unsure about him this GW.

      1. UnitednationsXI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        yeah same mate...my easy move is Salah >> KDB but nketiah is my only striker so if he is out, don't even have a sub for Nketiah

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Best wait for pressers, as always.

  19. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Predictions please. Mine are

    Arsenal v Everton 3-1
    Brentford v Leeds 3-2
    Brighton v West Ham 1-2
    Burnley v Newcastle 1-0
    Chelsea v Watford 3-0
    Crystal Palace v Man Utd 2-1
    Leicester v Southampton 4-0
    Liverpool v Wolves 3-0
    Man City v Aston Villa 3-1
    Norwich v Tottenham 2-1

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Apart from the Brentford and Norwich results, I think I'd concur with you.

    2. OneArseneWenger32
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Arsenal fan I see 🙂

    3. Tartan Brazilians
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      3-1
      3-1
      1-1
      1-1
      5-0
      2-1
      3-0
      4-1
      5-1
      1-3

  20. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I've the preamble so much. Like for real it used to be one of the best things to read before the deadline.

    But @Neale, it would be lovely if you decide to continue it.

    1. Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Missed*

  21. The Nuttman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Sell Mateta for which non Toney striker?

    1. Giovanni Giorgio
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I'm starting him. He's playing ManUtd. Probably fine

  22. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Those chasing - you can’t ask for a better differential than Salah!

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      No thanks. Just an expensive asset who is unlikely to haul this week

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I want him to do to others what he did to me when I didn’t own him GW3-7!
        Only fair

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Captain Salah?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Tempted, waiting til last minute hoping for team news

  23. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    FH team which ?

    a) alison 3.9
    robo rudi/azpi james sess 3.8
    mount jota/diaz son (luiz brownhill)
    kane toney vardy

    b) alison 4.0
    alonso james robo sess amartey
    mane son mount madds 4.3
    kane toney 4.4

    c) kepa 3.9/4.0/raya
    X X tsi sess robo
    mount son mads diaz son
    toney kane 4.4
    (itb for 2 defs. 10.1/10/14)

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      b

  24. n14mul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Little help please...

    Best def 4.3 as bench cover??

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Sess, Sanchez, Veltman

      1. n14mul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Got sess. 3 spurs done

        1. n14mul
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Also have cucu

        2. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Veltman then

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Ses or Tsimikas

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Cedric?
      Collins?
      Fofaana?
      D. sanchez if you have room for Spurs.

  25. KANTEnders
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    21 points of 100k. Play Laporte or Nketiah?

    1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I’m playing Nket

  26. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    A) Diaz and Kane (-4)
    B) Toney and KDB
    C) Jesus and KDB

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      B I think. A is probably marginally better but not worth a hit

  27. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Why is everyone binning nketiah? I fancy arsenal to roll Everton over after they secured safety.

    Or there's a chance he's rotated?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Doubt he would be rotated, doubt they would roll over

  28. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Best moves here? Im 17 points ahead.

    1 FT 1.5 ITB
    My team:
    Ramsdale Foster
    TAA Robbo Cancelo Dias Alonso
    Martinelli Kulu Son Gordon Zaha
    Ings Watkins Rich

    His team:
    Pickford Ramsdale
    TAA Rudiger Cancelo Amartey Schär
    Saka Son Zaha Coutinho Maddison
    Kane Nketiah Broja

    1. phrampton534
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      How much have they got ITB? He’s likely to swap Coutinho I’d say? If I was him I’d be looking at Diaz or maybe Foden and I think that would make his team the stronger - 17pts might be too much.
      Might need to take a hit to improve your team and I’d be looking at losing 2 of your front 3.
      Targeting Vardy or Kane if you can stretch it or maybe toney if not.

  29. Pegboy
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    A) Kane + Barnes/Saka
    B) Mane + Toney
    C) Diaz + Vardy

    Will probably captain Son. I'm both chasing and leading, so a bit irrelevant.

    1. Mozumbus
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      B

      1. Pegboy
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Thanks. My preference had been ACB, but I've asked a few times and got the same answer of B.

        1. Mozumbus
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          You're welcome

  30. Mozumbus
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    A. Mount
    B. Foden
    C. Diaz
    Have Rudiger, KDB, Cancelo, and no Liverpool (except for Tsmiskas on the bench), from these teams.
    Higher chances to start also matter.
    Thanks