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. Devos
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Captain who?
    I'm chasing by 24 and my rival will use his last Free Hit.

    a) Maddison (SOU)
    b) KDB (AVL)
    c) Son (nor)
    d) Vardy (SOU)
    e) Nketiah (EVE)
    f) City, Chelsea or Liverpool defender

    Thanks in advance

    1. afsr
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Vardy from this list. You have a terrific team btw

  2. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Good to get in sessegnon now ? No last minute news

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

      do it before deadline not now

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        All guys will wait bit longer

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 10 months ago

        It's not last min yet 🙂

      • M2.0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        No harm in waiting

      • Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        If you've waited this long you might as well see if there are any leaks close to deadline

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Flashbacks to the website crashing during my freehit which cost me around 22 points

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

              This!

      • RamboRN
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Schmeichel
        Taa cancelo matip laporte james
        Kdb saka salah havertz
        nketiah

        Subs werner, puki, kdh, foster.

        1ft. 1m itb.

        A. Salah to Son
        B. Salah and saka to son and diaz for -4
        C. Salah and saka to son and Mount
        D. Salah and werner to son and vardy?

      • Mozumbus
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Who is a sure starter, please rank:
        A. Kane
        B. Diaz
        C. Mount
        D. Diaz

        1. dra_mit
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          you have Diaz twice?

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

            D. Foden

        2. Gandalf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          A the most secure

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

            Thanks

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

          Diaz will start but not twice

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

            D. Foden
            Thanks

      • Mr_Nanny
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Who is the best source for legit early team news on twitter, will be a minefield of jokers trolling today no doubt.

        Thanks

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            1 year, 10 months ago

            There's no one source really, stick around on here best bet

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

              Fingers crossed something pops up, will definitely keep an eye out on here leading up

              Cheers

          • THFC4LIFE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Sam Martin for Leicester
            Thekophq for Liverpool

            All I know tbh

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

              Nice one, I'll give them a follow
              Many thanks .

              1. THFC4LIFE
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Watch Andy LTFPL deadline stream, he sometimes gets early team news aswel

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

              Kop HQ will get team sheet at 2.45 pm at the earliest.

        2. Gandalf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Who to bench?
          A. Saka (EVE)
          B. Nketiah (EVE)
          C. Zaha (MUN)

          1. dra_mit
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Personally for me, Zaha.

            That person, from last season.. never again in my team.

          2. @persecuted_by_mods
              1 year, 10 months ago

              B

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

            Points predictions (my guesses in brackets):
            Pukki (2)
            Toney (8)
            Nketiah (6)
            Richarlison (2)
            Maddison (5)
            Barnes (6)
            Saka (5)
            Bowen (5)
            Sessegnon (6)

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

              Not sure if Richarlison will play and Saka could do better.

              They all could do better.

          4. The Yorkshire Pirlo
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            ML leader had Alonso/Mount

            Do I try get Chelsea or go diff?

            A) Maddison in for free, play Zaha

            B) Maddison/Alonso -4, bench Zaha

            C) James/Alonso -8

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

              How many points are they ahead?
              I like Barnes over Maddison but either is a punt. I’m concerned some big Chelsea names sit it out too. Bowen could be another shout?
              Oh to have access to Tuchel & Rogers thoughts on team strategy!!

          5. YEAH PITCH!
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Play

            A) Rudiger

            B) Toney

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

              Both

            2. dra_mit
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              A before B

          6. 03farmboy
            • 4 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Kane and Diaz
            Or
            Son and vardy

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

              A

            2. lets talk about 6
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Son vardy

          7. Live Lad
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Play
            (1) Ben White
            (2) Broja

            I know both won't do well.

            1. lets talk about 6
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              White

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

              White I’d say but if those were my choices I’d be looking at a -4? White -> Sessegnon or Emerson?

          8. Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            KDB or Son captain

            1. lets talk about 6
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Son

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

              I'm on KDB till now.
              Son is consensus.

            3. dra_mit
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              I would risk with KDB.

              I expect fireworks in Manchester.

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

              KDB

              They're home and don't have a stomach bug.

              Doubt they'll bottle it.

          9. rokonto
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            165k Can U make it into top 100k?

            1. COLLIN QUANER
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Yes

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

              Best of luck.
              I'm hoping the same at 142k with WC

            3. Salan
              • 14 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Don't think so.

          10. simong1
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Ramsdale
            TAA - Matip - James - Laporte - Cancelo
            Salah - Son - Kuluveski - Saka
            Jesus

            Dubravka - Gordon - Weghorst - Kamara

            Best option from below?

            A) Salah > Mane
            B) Salah & Jesus > Mount & Kane (-4)
            B) Salah & Weghorst > Bowen & Kane (-4) (bench Laporte?).

          11. lets talk about 6
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            A. Mane and madison
            B. Kdb and madison
            C. Son and Diaz
            D. Vardy and mount

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

              C

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

            Those waiting for reliable Liverpool team sheet leaks should make their own decisiona now.

            2.45 pm so the deadline is working to protect the integrity of FPL.

            https://twitter.com/TheKopHQ/status/1528119375307460609?t=mL_bCOSJNvTPfgou6pqpKQ&s=19

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

              2.45pm is the earliest I'll get it.

            2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
              • 13 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              we "might" get some news before but yes doubt anything concrete

            3. The Polymath
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Well you're not much use to us AC/DC 😉

          13. Gudjohnsen
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Leading mini league by 24 points.
            Rival has Mount

            Should I do Coutinho to

            A. Mount
            B. Diaz
            C. Raphinha
            D. Foden

            1. Gudjohnsen
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Or E Bowen

            2. lets talk about 6
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              A

            3. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              A

            4. Salan
              • 14 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              How can we advise you based on this 'only' info?

              Even we did, you really follow?

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

              B

          14. 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. 14/10/10.1 chelsea & fodder, cant fit james todo only by madds to barnes)

            1. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              A; Rudi; not sure with Liv... Jota maybe? Feel he's least likely to start the Champs League.

          15. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Hope everyone's enjoyed their seasons, as wild as it's been this year; and thanks for all the input all the way. One final question 🙂

            I know GW38 hits don't really have time to pay-off/recoup if the player doesn't go big today, but I'm well ahead of ML and 27 points off 200k. So:

            A) Play Amartey (over Coutinho)
            B) Play Pukki (over Coutinho)
            C) -4 for Coutinho --> Mane/Diaz/Jota
            D) Play Coutinho

            Thanks!

          16. dshv
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            I was my best season becsuse of your advices. 5k rank now think will be go up today. Won all my ML’s by 80pts at least
            So wishh you all the best today when somebody is fighting for something.

            Son(c) here. Good luck guys and see you in late July.

            1. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Great season, mate! Congrats. Hope you finish as high as possible!

              What's gone well for you this season?

              1. dshv
                • 6 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                2 hits for all season. Stick to the plan and believe in my players not switching my mid price players every single week.. most of the times hit good captain. And my biggest mistake when ronaldo came to PL at the same moment did hit a gave him armband during this time lost around 50+ points from salah captain..

                And most important mate playied all my chips at the right time and chose good ones at the chips… 108 value team also. On second WC chose who I want.. and pretty much thi is

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

              I’d like to think it was ‘our’ best season Sir DSHV.

              1. dshv
                • 6 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Yes sir..

          17. Nemanja Vidic
            • 13 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            1FT 2.5ITB

            Scmeichel
            Cancelo Matip Laporte Robertson
            Son (C) Foden Mount (vc) Coutinho
            Nketian Richarlison
            Foster Gordon Waktins Holgate

            A) Coutinho -> Diaz
            B) Gordon -> Kulml
            C) Watkins, Coutinho -> Kane, KDH (-4pts)
            D) Watkins, Holgate -> Diaz, Sessegnon (-4pts)
            E) Something else

            Thanks in advance

            1. Nemanja Vidic
              • 13 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Gordon->Kulusevski

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

                This and bench coutinho

            2. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Team looks good!

              A for me - or maybe to Jota? My guess is he's least likely to start CL final out of Diaz, Mane, Salah, & Jota.

          18. TanN
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Schmeichel
            James Matip Trent Cancelo
            Saka Kulu Son (C) KDB (VC) Mount
            Richarlison

            Foster Mateta Broja Williams

            Am I right to start Richarlison over Mateta? Any other changes ?

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

              Hmm, id be tempted by mateta, but hard to know what kind of Everton turn up.
              On the beach, or fired up after staying up.

          19. jason_ni
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Good to go?
            6k OR, and 39 point ml leader, so not looking for hail marys

            Schmeichel
            Taa - son - Cancelo - alonso - Davies
            Son - mount - kulu - kdb
            Richarlison
            Pukkk - elanga - dennis

            1. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Yer, looks good. Congrats on the excellent season!

            2. Killitzer
              • 14 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Rich ➡️ Toney ?

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

                I guess my only concern is his mins.

                Will we know leak before deadline though?!

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

                  Toney should be fine.

                  Leaks likely not reliable.

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

                    Not toneys mind, Richas.

                    I'm happy enough to start him if I knew he is fine.

                    I think he'll be fired up!

          20. dra_mit
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            1. Schmeichel
            2. Cancelo 3. James 4. TAA 5. Amartay
            6. Luis Diaz 7. KDB 8. Maddison
            9. Kane (C) 10. Nketiah 11. Weghorst

            bench: Ramsdale, Kulusevski, Gordon, Holgate

            Weghorst OUT - Tony IN
            Is it worth -4

            Good luck to everyone in the last round!
            Cheers.

            1. Killitzer
              • 14 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Weg has been utter crap for weeks. I’m considering the move to Toney for -4

            2. jason_ni
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Why are you starting weghorst over kulu?!
              Play kulu, no hit

              1. dra_mit
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Yea, that would work too.
                Cheers

          21. Killitzer
            • 14 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Morning all

            A bit of a crap season but have TC left at least.

            Dub
            Matip Rudiger Cash
            Son Saka Maddison Kulu Zaha
            Rich KaneTC
            Subs Sa Digne Weg Myko
            £2m

            1. TC Kane or Son
            2. Kulu➡️ Diaz (-4)
            3. Weg ➡️ Toney (-4)
            4. Cash ➡️ Cancello (-4)
            5. Go crazy and take -8

            Cheers for any input.

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

              Kane
              Reply fail below

            2. dra_mit
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              I did Diaz in..
              And considering Weg ➡️ Toney (-4)

            3. jason_ni
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Kane, wouldn't sell kulu personally.

              From those maybe cancelo option, you'd expect city to turn it on, but stranger things have happened.

              1. dra_mit
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Yea, that would work too.
                Cheers

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

            Kane

          23. madmafc
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Who to add to this team?

            Ramsdale
            TAA, Robertson, James, Cancelo
            Saka, Maddison, Mount, Son
            Kane

            A) Barnes
            B) Bowen
            C) Toney

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

              C

          24. No Kane No Gain
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Who gets more points this week.

            Richarlison
            Matip -4
            Sessengnon -4

            Thinking of doing another defensive switch, to bench Richi. Any thoughts?!

            Cheers!

            1. JT11fc
              • 5 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Sess

            2. No Kane No Gain
              • 5 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Already on a -4 so would make it a -8. And I am not really chasing but have quite a few rivals up my backside !

            3. Visionaries
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              I'd choose Rich over both of those options easily tbh.
              All it takes is one assist/pen and you're down

              1. No Kane No Gain
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Do you think rich will start?! If he starts I’m happy with that

          25. JT11fc
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            FH decisions, thoughts appreciated
            Which draft?
            1.
            Kepa
            Robbo Sessegnon James
            Son Mount Diaz Barnes Mane
            Kane Toney

            Sanchez Amartey 3.8 4.4

            B.
            Ederson
            Robbo Sessegnon Trent
            Son Mount Diaz Havertz Saka
            Kane Toney

            3.9 Tavares Amartey 4.4

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

              First option looks more enticing to me.

          26. jay01
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Barnes or Bowen?

            1. JT11fc
              • 5 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Barnes for me