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

    Protecting 16 pts OR with templatish team, do I start
    1) Zaha (high ownership)
    2) Sessegnon

    1. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Both really, but A if you must

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

        TAA, Cancelo, James, Alonso
        C Son, KdB, Mount, Maddison
        Kane

        I don't think I can drop anyone^ of them.

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

      About 100k teams have sold Zaha and bought Sess...

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

        Zaha, home to man utd based on their form it could be a blood bath.
        Palace fans up for it.
        Utd dressing room is a joke and they aren't playing for badge or the manager.

        I can see the conference looming for utd after palace win!

  2. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Start Mateta or White?

    1. The Movement
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Mateta

  3. Catalan Rangers
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Eriksen and Toney or
    Bowen and Nketiah

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

      ET

    2. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      ET

    3. artvandelay316
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A

    4. Catalan Rangers
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Thanks guys!

      1. Catalan Rangers
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        As Clark would say: let the party begin!

  4. artvandelay316
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Have done KDB to Son, which has given me 1M in the bank. I view Saka as a weak link in mid now and want to take a hit to swap him out for a better option.
    Currently view my options as this:
    A) Richarlison to Toney + Saka to Luis Diaz (-8)
    B) Saka to Maddison (-4) - but this seems risky because Maddison might not start
    C) Saka to Barnes (-4)
    D) Saka to a City mid (Rodrigo, Berhardo, Gundo, Grealish)
    E) Saka to Wissa/Eriksen (bit of a punt)

    I have already won the ML I am in by a large margin and am currently in low 30K overall. So my main aim is to see if I can get to 20K (I was last week, so not far off I imagine).

    Overall squad is
    Dubravka (Ramsdale)
    TAA; Alonso, Cancelo (Cash, Andersen)
    Son (C), Mount, Kulu, Zaha, Saka
    Kane (VC), Richarlison (Broja)

    Cheers.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Just play Saka

      1. artvandelay316
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Not an option for me, but thanks anyway.

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

      Everton nothing to play for so saka is good option this week and Everton will be rotated.
      If still not convinced saka to brentford mid is Good too

      1. artvandelay316
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Cheers. I've been reading different views on Everton - some seem to think Rich won't be rotated because they can still climb a spot in the league and others think he will.

  5. Luggy10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Transfer dilemma....
    Bring in
    A. Rudiger
    Or
    B. Tobey.

    1. Luggy10
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Toney!!!

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      B

  6. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I’m in 3rd place in a ML (top 5 get prizes), I’m 10 off second and 20 off first but also 10 off 4th and 10 off 5th…

    Do I play safe with Son (c) or bring in Kane for Salah and go Kane (c)?

    1. Son
    2. Kane

    Thanks for all your help!!

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

      2. Gotta have a bit of fun and go for gold!

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

        This

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

    Might sell Zaha for -4 (chasing rival):
    A) Dias
    B) Havertz
    C) Mount
    D) Mahrez
    E) Foden
    F) Barnes

    1. artvandelay316
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A (if you mean Luis Diaz) or C

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

        Haha cheers yes I did. Always spell his name wrong.

    2. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      C but I don't think its worth a hit, Zaha could easily haul

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

        Somewhat agree, although not been impressed by Zaha's stats & in hope the recent fixture congestion vs. United's rest goes against Palace.

    3. CROWLEY NOT CRAWLEY
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A

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

    Salah->Son for free.

    Is either of these worth a hit:

    Dennis->Toney
    Coutinho->Bowen

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

    Eriksen or Wissa for this gameweek?

  10. Tim2012
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Any ideas what do do with 1 free transfer

    Schmeichel
    Trent Robertson Cancelo
    Maddison Son (c) Kulu Saka
    Watkins Richarlison Jesus

    1. Tim2012
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Any hits needed?

    2. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Watkins to Toney/Vardy depending on itb

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

      Richarlison > Toney

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

      Watkins to Toney

  11. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Right question, I am in a bench boost and only have 0.1m ITB.

    Which is best;

    A) Ait-N —> Sanchez (1FT)
    B) Ait-N & Richarlison —> Sess & Toney (-4)

    1. artvandelay316
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A

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

      B

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

      B

  12. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Play Gordon or Gelhardt?

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

      Gelhardt

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

        Ge

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

      The Witcher of course

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

        Will he start? Tempted to buy

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

          Looks likely yeah

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

            Thanks

    3. Flynniesta
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Gelhardt

  13. daniellechers
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I am top of my head to head league by 2 points. My team:

    Guaita-Foster
    TAA-Matip-Alonso-Cancelo-Laporte
    KDB-Son-Saka-Mount-Gordon
    Richarlison-Mateta-Ings

    Opponents team (before any changes):
    Dubravka-Sa
    Laporte-Coady-Jonny-Burn-Van Dijk
    Maddison-Saka-Coutinho-Havertz-Bernardo
    Kane-Nketiah-Werner

    Do I try and match his potential high scorers… so
    1)Take a -4 and swap KDB&Ings -> Maddison&Kane
    Or
    2) Swap Saka -> Maddison/Diaz (which one?)
    3) Swap Ings -> Toney

    Guaita probably won’t play but doesn’t seem worth a -4 to get someone else in

    Thanks

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

      Mateta Ings out if u want to win

  14. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Start Matip, KDH or Pukki?

    Also have TAA and Diaz, so leaning towards KDH

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

      Matip. 2nd choice Pukki

  15. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Madness to do kdb + weghorst -> l. Diaz + vardy -4 ??

    1. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I wouldn't for a hit

  16. klopptimusprime
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Last move of the season!

    a) Salah to Son
    b) Salah to Mane
    c) KDB to Son

    Schmeichel
    TAA Matip Cancelo James Davies
    Salah KDB Mount Saka
    Nketiah

    Foster Watkins Pukki KDH

    a) Salah to Son
    b)

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

      a or b

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

        Cheers,

        Guess its either protect or attack rank

  17. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Ramsdale
    TAA, James, Alonso, Cancelo
    Salah, L Diaz, Son, Saka, Havertz
    Nketiah

    Foster, Mateta, Broja, Livramento

    A) Salah to KDB for free
    B) Salah + Broja to Wissa/ Bruno G + Kane for a hit
    C) Some other move

    Bit nervous not owning any Leicester players again when my rival owns Barnes and Maddison

  18. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Weghorst and Countinho OUT

    Mount and Vardy IN

    Worth -4?

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

      Yeah

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

      Yes

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

      Absolutely yes. GL bud

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

      Yes

    5. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Yep

    6. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Ok tha k u everyone

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

    Anything worth a -4? Any changes in first 11 and bench?

    Pope
    TAA Cancelo James Alonso Robbo
    Zaha Saka Son Kulu
    Nketiah

    Dub Jesus Ings Gordon

    First 11 and bench gtg?

  20. Checko
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Good luck to all for end of season.

    Start Nketiah or Richarlison?

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

      Rich

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

      Ed

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

      Nketiah

    4. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Tough one as you don't know which of the sides will turn up. Arsenal haven't looked great but may push for last chance at top 4, Everton could either take their foot off the gas now they're safe or be really geared up after doing so.

      I'd back an Arsenal win but I'd rather play Rich than Nketiah

  21. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Will Villa burst City’s cs?

  22. Bishopool
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    a) Toney -4pts
    b) Zaha

  23. TSN
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Start one

    A. Ings
    B. Rich

    Cheers

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

      A

  24. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Vardy or Diaz(pool) for final game??

    If u had to choose one

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

      Diaz

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

      Vardy

    3. Walter White (WW)
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Do you like a muddy party? 🙂

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Only if I FEAST

        1. Walter White (WW)
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Can’t feast if you don’t attend the party

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

            Takeaway

            1. Walter White (WW)
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              We don’t do takeaways

  25. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Which GK

    A - Sanchez
    B - Raya

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

    KDB Or Son in place of salah
    ?
    ?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Son

  27. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    If you had Triple Leicester attack will you

    1) Play the trio & bench Cancelo
    2) Play two

    Thanks 🙂

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

      Vardy Maddison Barnes?

      1. Walter White (WW)
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Yes. Only option is to bench Cancelo. Would gladly do that if I can see the Leicester’s xi & if City are likely to concede, I kind of think they will concede

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

          Close call but I think I'd play Maddi Vardy Cancelo

          1. Walter White (WW)
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Yeah. That’s what I’m looking at. Thsnks

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

      Play 2

      1. Walter White (WW)
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Thanks

        1. nolard
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          who would you bench tho?

          1. Walter White (WW)
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Probably Barnes lol… Still undecided tbh

            1. nolard
              • 9 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              fair enough that.

  28. talty31
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Which Team would you pick Please... racking my brains

    Sanchez
    James TAA Davies
    Saka Mount Son Maddison
    Kane Pukki Gelhardt

    or

    Sanchez
    James TAA Davies
    Saka Mount Son KDB Diaz
    Pukki Gelhardt

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A

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

      A

  29. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Worth another -4 to do Gordon to Maddison or play Gordon/Gelhardt?

  30. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Kane + Mount -4

    or

    Mane + Pukki