Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 1

I’m not sure it has sunk in yet.

Two weeks ago I left a secure, well paid job producing videogames to dedicate my day-to-day existence to Fantasy Football. Now it matters more than ever.

Of course I’m incredibly blessed to be in that position. To be handed opportunities to write, speak and gesticulate on matters Fantasy Football for a living is something I’d wistfully dreamt about, but never quite believed would materialise.

But Fantasy Football just seems to be on a relentless and quickening path into the mainstream.

The big daily game providers from the US have arrived.

The Premier League are determined to keep the growth of their game accelerating across the world. Other games will react to keep pace. Radio and TV are catching on.

While it would be nice to hunker down and keep our little secret on the dark web, we have to accept that Fantasy Football is being brought to the masses.

I’m now utterly convinced it’s acceptable to open a conversation at family function with an enquiry on who got the assist for Callum Wilson’s goal. I think that’s now permitted and even appreciated by at least another three other people in the room.

However, soon we may not need those incredibly enlightening conversations.

Soon those assists, and perhaps even bonus points, will be fed to us along with the classifieds by an Alexander Gordon. Later today you’ll see that Fantasy Football has become part of the Saturday results service – another step I never thought I’d witness.

My role in spreading Fantasy Football to a wider audience has already been questioned and that’s understandable.

But I don’t think I can fight it. The growth of Fantasy Football either happens with or without us and it seemed I committed my involvement the moment I wrote that first blog post.

Since then, you’ve all played a huge part in getting me to this point. I’m really not sure how to thank you for that – for the support and loyalty you’ve shown (except perhaps by introducing a full desktop view for mobile users).

When things do finally settle and sink in, I’ll have more time to reflect.

For now all I know is that those 15 names on my screen are important to me. More important than ever before.

There’s new responsibility, new pressure and with it an even bigger sense of anticipation and excitement.

Enjoy the kick-off.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

2,824 Comments Post a Comment
  1. jimbobmij
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone know if either of Leko from West Brom or Kaikai from Palace likely to get much game time? Possibly decent potential as 4.5 mid picks.

    1. Elijah's Wood
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Safest to go with Capoue, Leko playing in a non attacking team and Kaikai has too much competition at Palace

  2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Tadic will destroy Redmond mwahhahaha

      1. Ha.
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        No, I will not cross swords with you

    1. Jøssy ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Hope we're right mate!

  3. j1mmystar
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    First time playing FPL
    Made a team today

    De Gea (Jakupovic)
    Fuchs, Walker, Stones (Friend, Pieters)
    Hazard, Eriksen, Redmond, Deulofeu (Ramirez)
    Aguero, Vardy, Whickham

    Thoughts? xoxo

    1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Great team!!!

    2. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good team for a first timer..but I fancy valencia/Shaw as manu d-cover..and u can go for gray/long instead of wickham by downgrading De Gea..

  4. GinjaWhinja
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    You won't regret it, Mark!

    1. GinjaWhinja
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Not like you will, when you get in Jonny Evans that is....

  5. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Will Stones start?

    1. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. Casp123
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Surely

    3. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He has to...mancity paid that amount as they were desperate to land him in time ..

  6. Thomas Magnum
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Foster Jaku
    Baines Shaw Stones Friend Amat
    Hazard Ayew Alli Ramirez Capoue
    Aguero Ibra Long
    G2G or should I do Long > Gray

  7. Assist me a river
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Last minute help please! A or B?

    A: Tadic, Firmino, Funes Mori/Williams

    B: Redmond, Martial, Baines?

    1. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A..with no Everton defence

  8. jimbobmij
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Why are there no West Ham defenders in anyone's teams? Apart from GW's 1 and 3 their fixtures are incredible.

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I think they are a team we need to keep monitoring

    2. Odikostar
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Wc gw 4 😉

    3. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Who do you suggest?

    4. GinjaWhinja
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      They don't keep cleanies?

    5. Harrybvb
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I have Adrian

  9. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Good morning 🙂

    1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Mornin West me old chum

      1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        All set ?

        1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah can't be bothered over thinking things barely changed anything since the game started. I usually get an average start anyway so why start worrying now 🙂

    2. A.T
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good morrow Adam. Yeeehààaaaaa

      1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        How's the craic ? . I'm relaxed 🙂

        1. A.T
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I'm fine. I don't like my team but that's nothing new gw1

    3. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Everyone panicking I might read the pre amble I'm rather chilled

  10. Kroos Kontrol
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A) Ayew + Tadic
    or
    B) Alli + Townsend?

    1. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

  11. Teahupo'o
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Close to settling on this. Template enough?

    Foster (Jaku)
    Terry Stones Shaw (Friend Smith)
    Hazard Lamela Redmond Firmino (Capoue)
    Kun Vardy Gray

  12. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    this article is the official start of the fpl season

    1. Francescoli
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      yes. yes it is 🙂

  13. Henning
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hi all.

    1. McAuley and Oscar 0m in the bank

    2. Stones and Ramirez 1.5m in the bank but no Chelsea cover

  14. JIM BOB
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Start Batshuayi or Deulofeu in a draft league?

  15. Elijah's Wood
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Ramirez or Townsend? Middlesborough have better fixtures but Townsend could be the better player, though Palace wont score against WBA, Spurs or BOU in my opinion

    1. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ramirez imo...but just a thin line separates both of them...it's either way!!

  16. BOOM XHAKALACA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Invest in Chelsea or Spurs defense?

  17. Hibbo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Nice piece Mark.

    Good luck for the season and fair play to you and all the other boys on the site your work is hugely appreciated.

    1. goriuanx
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck mate

      1. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Good luck Berbs.

  18. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    THIS SHT GOING SO FAST, NOBODY GETS REPLIES.

    Should I risk and start with Zaha?

    1. Elijah's Wood
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Better options at his price

    2. A.T
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No

    3. Odikostar
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes :)))))

    4. Spatburgunder
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No buddy

  19. The Hustle Is Real
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hi guys , in need some help..any news on kdb? Not many have opted for him so im absolutely clueless.

    1. Elijah's Wood
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Not gna start

  20. Tribecca
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Is Paredes nailed on Watford defense?

    1. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      far from it, could even be 5th choice! anya, nyom dja djere and zuniga all options

  21. zon
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Has there been any update on Souare?

  22. Ronnies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Finally done guys....

    Any thoughts ?

    heaton - (jakupovic)

    valencia - stones - friend - (mcauley, amat)

    hazard - mahrez - firmino - redmond - (capoue)

    kun - vardy - gray

    Any fedback welcome.
    Tnks

  23. Brian (Not the Messiah)
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Valencia vs shaw?

  24. Bantz
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    who's on pens for Boro?

  25. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    So I guess you are no longer trying to tame the beast? 😉

      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Was he ever?

  26. mandeli3
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    De Gea, Jakupovic
    Stones, Morgan, Friend (Paredes, Smith)
    Hazard, Mahrez, Towsend, Redmond (Fletcher)
    Ibra, Aguero(C), Gray

    COMMM PLS ????????

  27. Hiphopopotamus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    4m defenders who will start. Hit me.

    1/. Amat

    2/. ?

    1. Ha.
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Love

      1. Hiphopopotamus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        100%?

  28. AJCash
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard & Musa or,
    Vardy & Oscar?

  29. S.Agueroooooo
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Can i get as many votes as possible on this

    A) Lamela
    B) Townsend
    C) Deulefou

    1. AJCash
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. zon
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A

  30. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Noone worried about Stones' game time? City have Kompany and Otamendi too.

    1. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      long term yeah. dont think 50mil fee makes him nailed