Preamble
30 December 2025 253 comments
rainy rainy
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Hello from the future.

It’s a long-awaited holiday in my world, one that began with a long day’s journey to tomorrow night. Cross the International Date Line and the phrase ‘at the time of writing’ is no longer a shared understanding but a cue to do quick maths in base-12.

Games are kicking off in the middle of the night here, only tomorrow, and anyway, at the time of writing, I’m roughly a working day ahead of FPL Towers.

Antipodean problems, you say, and I can hear the laughter from my Dead Zone compatriots already. Funny though, how thinking backwards around the clock lumbers my brain while the temporal challenge I’m used to, relative to FPL Towers, is a simple clockwise sum.

Let’s hope that’s a metaphor for the year to come: looking forward to the future, regardless of how difficult it might be to look back.

Plenty of us on here week on week, lamenting a hit that missed or a Bench Boost that wasn’t. It fits, then, that today’s kick-off unlocks our second set of chips. New inflection points to ponder as we cross that line on the calendar into a fresh new year, whenever that is, wherever you are in the world. A handful of second chances to rise or fall relative to the rest. Hours later, we’re into January and the winter transfer window opens, a fresh new crop of players decanted into the transfers screen.

And with all that comes the beginning of the end, Gameweek 19 commencing the back half of the season, warp speed towards Survival Sunday and an endless summer before it’s time to do it all again.

It’s getting late here, and before I hare off on some fresh new year Fantasy waffle, Zophar’s already reminded us not to take this Fantasy business too seriously. So, I’ll take a serious tack towards the personal and wish you and yours, from my shared desk space here at my far-flung family’s kitchen table, a very happy new year.


Introducing The Eye Test 2
253 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. teddy.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 5 hours ago

    Good luck everyone!

  2. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 5 hours ago

    Nightmare deadline but good luck to you all folks! 😛

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Same. Still at least I didn’t take the planned hit

  3. Viper
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 5 hours ago

    Thought deadline was at 6:30pm. I've become such a rookie. Only found out when confirming Semenyo -> Gordon. We all know how this ends..

    Please be a blessing disguise rather than yet another kick in the....

    1. claretparrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      I brought Gordon in, so you'll be ok

    2. Ball Ake
      • 1 Year
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      ...Michael Ballacks

  4. Abaddon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 5 hours ago

    Holy moly. Ended up doing Keane and Rodon to Hall and Dorgu for -4.

    Got Andersen replacing Rice and that is my bench. Gl all

  5. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 5 hours ago

    Good luck to everyone else who went with Ekitike C, Haaland Cers, not so much

    1. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Tables turned this GW, you get your outcome 1st and have to hide until Thursday 10pm 🙂

      1. Gazwaz80
        • 6 Years
        1 day, 4 hours ago

        I’m not liking that 😀

        1. Utopsis
          • 5 Years
          1 day, 3 hours ago

          Haha it was killer last GW. Good luck!

  6. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    I will also be down under on holiday for the New Year. Hopefully I don't miss any FPL deadlines.

    1. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Good to go? (Challenge)

      Henderson
      Dorgu, Hall
      Szoboszlai, Schade
      Haaland (c)

    2. Gazwaz80
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Have a great holiday F…

  7. mad_beer ✅
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    I was too late to do anything about the Rice news. Hopefully, my GW won't be a car crash. Maybe a fender bender.

  8. The Night Trunker.
    • 2 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Cheers Mark!
    Nice to see you back.

    1. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 10 Years
      17 hours, 7 mins ago

      😉

  9. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Romero 1st Sub for Rice
    Red card incoming.
    Unlike the haul when I bench him

  10. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    I'm glad I don't have to use FH for awhile now.
    It takes up too much off your time, thinking through all selection issues

  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Thanks, Rainy, for a great Preamble, like the good old days!

  12. CoracAld2831
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Sanchez (Dubravka)
    Timber*-Senesi-Andersen (Gudmundsson, Rodon**)
    Saka-Foden-Cunha-Reijnders (Minteh)
    Haaland-Thiago-Raul

    1FT
    1,0 million in bank

    Move for this team?

    A: Minteh -> Szoboszlai
    B: Minteh -> Mac Allister
    C: Timber -> VVD
    D: Timber -> Gabriel
    E: Senesi -> VVD
    F: Rodon -> Keane
    G: Roll FT

  13. CoracAld2831
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Oops...Deadline passed

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      You can go with G then

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 4 Years
        1 day, 4 hours ago

        Yep.

        Forced choice, but it's probably for the best as those FT are probably going to be needed.

  14. fantasykid
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Half the season done already, time to sit back, assess and recalibrate. Good luck everyone for the 2nd half of the season.

  15. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Wolte benched

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Fks sake!

      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        1 day, 4 hours ago

        Fortunately I'm on FH wolte. F Howe

    2. yousunkmybattleship
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Excellent

  16. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Is Rice out?

  17. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Keane not in the squad, Grealish on the bench

    https://x.com/i/status/2006066537593966929

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Damn, good thing I'm playing FH but I need Keane back for the weekend

  18. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Semenyo starts Sky sports

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      One last hattrick to give to his fans before leaving

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 4 hours ago

        Applauded off at half time

  19. Mighty Duck
    • 1 Year
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Carnage far and wide

  20. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Keane dead

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Is

    2. JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Owners*

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Enjoy those 2 points.

  21. theodosios
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Woltemade on bench...nice...

  22. Sandy Ravage
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Looks like a good week to FH

  23. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Palmer starts

    James, Pedro and Neto benched

    https://x.com/i/status/2006066844810047641

    1. Sandy Ravage
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Wouldn't have expected Pedro + Neto + James all on the bench.

  24. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Why do people have Woltemade?

    the most obvious benching this week

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Where were you with the information earlier captain hindsight?

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 8 Years
          1 day, 4 hours ago

          Fair.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        1 day, 4 hours ago

        In fairness I subtly told people when I posted my FH team last night with Wissa in it.

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      I should have got rid of him with one of my bazillion FTs, how silly of me!

  25. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Shame everyone owns Wissa, we won't gain much from his 17 pointer.

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      “We”

      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 4 hours ago

        ??

      2. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        1 day, 4 hours ago

        😛

    2. Sandy Ravage
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      His hat trick of penalty assists for Gordon will make up for it

  26. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Palmer starts

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Wissa starts

      1. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 4 hours ago

        Delap replaces Pedro

  27. fantasist
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Brooks, Scott, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson

    Subs: Dennis, Araujo, Soler, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Kroupi, Unal, Rees-Dottin.

    Chelsea: Sanchez, Acheampong, Chalobah, Fofana, Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo, Estevao, Palmer, Garnacho, Delap.

    Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Tosin, James, Santos, Buonanotte, Gittens, Neto, Pedro.

    Forest: John Victor, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Zinchenko, Anderson, Dominguez, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Jesus

    Subs: Sels; Morato, Awoniyi, Douglas Luiz, Kalimuendo, McAtee, Bakwa, Savona, Abbott.

    Everton: Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Myoklenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dibling, Rohl, McNeil, Barry.

    Subs: Travers, King, Beto, Grealish, Aznou, Graham, Welch, Campbell, Bates.

    West Ham: Areola, Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Magassa, Potts, Fernandes, Paqueta, Wilson, Bowen.

    Subs: Hermansen, Summerville, Mavropanos, Rodriguez, Soucek, Earthy, Kante, Golambeckis, Mayers.

    Brighton: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Veltman, Kadioglu, Ayari, Milner, De Cuyper, Minteh, Gomez, Welbeck.

    Subs: Steele, Gruda, Rutter, Hinshelwood, Watson, Boscagli, Mitoma, Coppola, Kostoulas.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Thanking you

    2. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      Cheers, Victor 🙂

    3. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 4 hours ago

      cheers

      is gomez at brighton starting to push himself up the pecking order in front of gruda/rutter/mitoma etc?

  28. Utopsis
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Lol Acheampong gets a start, still in my NON-FH team.

    Please have a blinder son and keep that place!!

  29. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    milenkovic could really do with a goal from you this GW. And clean sheet + dc points wouldnt hurt either 🙂