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. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Maddy or Diaz?

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

      DiaZ

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

        is he sure to start?

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

      Diaz

  2. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Are we likely to get any early team news at all? Or better to just do transfers now

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

      Rumours will start flying soon enough

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

      Unfortunate that Spion Kop won't have the Liverpool team till 2:45, 15 minutes after the deadline 🙁

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

    Hello Guys. Which is better option? Protecting rank.

    A) Salah & Kulu
    B) Mount & Kane -4

    Thanks

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

      B

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

      B

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

      B

  4. AF90
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Is 40 points difference too much to make up?

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

      Not impossible but very very hard and would need many different players and captian

      1. AF90
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Mane (c) ? Or just play safe take 2nd & go for Son?

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

      Yeah

    3. PKnox11
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Not what you want to hear but If I had a 40 point lead, I'd be very confident about it being enough.

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

      Yeah, you need a final day like 2013 and matches finishing 4-4 or 5-5 and both your players in the match scoring hatties

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

    Damn! I need some leaks

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

      Which ones?

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

        Chelsea
        Pool
        Leicester

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

          Yeah chelsea too. Forgot Tuchel likes to experiment

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

        All if possible but mainly Leicester

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

          Barnes?

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

            Yeah Barnes

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

      Its a nightmare. I have to do my moves, going out. Keep or sell Salah?

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

        Tough. Maybe join the crowd & sell, shouldn’t be that bad

      2. Stamford B
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Sell

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

    Best defender below 6.8m for the final gameweek?

  7. PKnox11
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Sessegnon or Alonso?

    Mount or Diaz?

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

      S D for me

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

    Is either of these worth a hit?

    A: Dennis->Toney
    B: Coutinho->Bowen

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

      B

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A

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

      A

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

      B

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

      A

  9. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Narrowed it down to theses options now…..

    A- Kane And Barnes
    B- Kane and Bowen
    C- Vardy and Mount

    Any thoughts?????? Cheers!!!!

    1. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      B

    2. Aeu96197
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A if you’re chasing. I think Barnes is a great differential - if he starts

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

    Ramsdale
    TAA Robbo Cancelo Laporte
    (S)on Maddison Saka Kulu Mount
    Kane

    Sanchez Broja Gelhardt Cash

    G2g?

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

      Yup

  11. gloryhornetboy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Team line ups has Richarlison not playing! Worth a -4 to swap to Toney? Cheers

  12. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Di you think Vardy starts?

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

      Yes

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

      Vardy starts

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

        That confirmed?

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

          No. Vardy starts in my opinion

  13. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Play White or Gordon?

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

      White

    2. Aeu96197
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      White

  14. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Which option do you prefer?

    A) Salah to Son
    B) Salah/Saka to Son/Diaz for -4
    C) Salah/Richa to Son/Jesus for -4
    D) Salah/Saka/Richa to Son/Diaz/Jesus for -8
    E) Salah/Richa to Son/Vardy for -8
    F) Richarlison to Toney

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

      A

    2. Aeu96197
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      C if you know Jesus starts. Maybe Toney if you don’t?

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

      A

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

    Is there even any point choosing who to start out of this sorry defence?

    Cash Bedranek Keane Telles Schar

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Schar easy

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

      16 point lead. Cash on the line.

      I have Son, opponent doesn't. He's got KDB, I've got Coutinho.

      I know he's going to punt with Kane....block Kane with a hit?

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

        No brainer

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

          thanks bud.

    3. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Final team check guys. G2g?

      Raya
      Alonso Sess Matip
      Diaz Son Maddison Mount KDB
      Kane Vardy

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

        Looks good buddy

    4. GC123
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Could really do with some advice please guys

      Schmiechel

      Laporte Rudi Cancelo Robbo

      Salah Havertz Kulu Saka

      Kane Nketieh

      Jakupovic Mendy Tsimikas Cucho

      1) Boring Salah to Son for free
      2) Salah & Saka to Son & Diaz/ Bowen/ Mahrez for -4
      3) Saka to Bowen for free
      4) Havertz to Bowen for free
      5) Something else?

      Have 3 Pool so can only get Dias if I sell Salah

      Half tempted to keep Salah as he could be a differential if he starts. Could also kill me if he gets 0 mins

    5. rnrd
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Calum Wilson or Toney for this last Gw?

    6. Saintjack01
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Need a differential captain pick, kulu, Jesus, mount or saka

      1. Stamford B
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Mount

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

        Jesus

      3. trafalgarlaw
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Mount or Jesus

    7. Stamford B
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Pickford Steele
      Robertson Cancelo Ake
      Son Jota Diaz Kulu Maddison
      Kane Nketiah

      Steele ings Holgate Digne

      0.3 itb 1ft

      Should I sell Ake ings or get a keeper?

    8. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Hi all

      I’m chasing a 26 point lead heading into the final week and thinking of -8

      My team below and I have my bench boost chip

      Sa / sanchez

      TAA / Cancelo / James / Mings / sessegon

      Countino / mount / Maddison / son / Diaz

      Broja / weghorst / niketeh

      Worth doing?

      1. Stamford B
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        What are the moves?

        1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Salah shar and allan out

          Maddison sess Diaz in

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

      Best of Maddison, Bowen, Barnes?

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

        Bowen

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

          I’m currently on Maddison on FH but the knee is twitching for a move to Bowen. Figure Vardy sufficient for Leicester cover

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

        Maddison, but i go Bowen for differential

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

      any team news or lineup leaks i missed ? thanks

    11. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Mo to go big in a final twist to this season?

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

        He will - hattrick possible, as I sold him

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

        I am worried about it like. Still will likely sell him though

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

      Mahrez to Diaz for -4?

      Ramsdalen
      Alonso TAA Cancelo
      Mahrez son Kulu Maddison saka
      Richarlison watkins

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

      Sam Martin who leaks the Leicester teams said he had a run in with Rodgers at the poty awards midweek about leaking teams so don't think we'll get Lei team this week sadly.

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

        I like fairness in this game 😛

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

        Not good, any other team leaks?

    14. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Play Rich or Laporte?

      1. Birdman77
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Laporte. Rich may not start

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

      Since it’s the last gameweek and first sub might matter…

      Who should I have first sub, Myko or Coutinho?!

    16. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Zaha+Gordon to Barnes+Kulu for -4…?