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. James LeBron
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    This is probably coming to the near end on finalizing my team

    Heaton - (Jakupovic)
    Valencia - Stones - Friend (Evans - Smith)
    Hazard - Mahrez - Firmino - Redmond (Capoue)
    Aguero - Vardy - Negredo

    Thoughts on my team?

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

      Your suppose to have grey like the rest of the community 😐

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

      not sold on Negredo. Smith not likely to play (Daniels is in front of him). Try Amat or Kingsley

      1. FISSH
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        why not?

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

          Boro will be sitting back. Negredo doesn't have the legs to get onto long balls.

        2. RVP fc
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Personally prefer Foster to Heaton. Maybe Vardy and Mahrez is overkill as I would like to have spurs coverage. Good team overall

    3. Le _ Professeur
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good to go bro ... would be bad luck though if Negredo doesn't start .. Rhodes might start ahead of him .. they both did very well in pre-season 🙂

  2. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck all.
    Don't forget to enter LMS with over 2500 entered already.

  3. Joshes Giants
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Final decision please:
    A) Walcott and Valencia
    B) Alli and Kone

    Thanks

    1. Le _ Professeur
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A for me 🙂

  4. dhamphiir
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?
    Heaton
    Valencia, Van Dijk, Friend
    Hazard, Tadic, Firmino, Bojan
    Aguero, Vardy, Gray
    Bench: Foster, Pieters, Capoue, Amat
    ITB = £1.0m

  5. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck everyone. This is probably what I'm sticking on.

    Foster
    Terry, Stones, Pieters
    Hazard, Firmino, Sterling, Redmond
    Aguero(c), Kane(vc), Carroll

    Subs: Mannone, Amat, De Roon, Friend

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

      Sterling. You saucy devil.

      1. Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        He'll be gone by 7pm 🙂

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

      nice. maybe kingsley over de roon?

    3. NATSTER
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      de Roon. Is he nailed on?

      1. Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Can't see Boro paying £12m for a squad player.

    4. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling. So out there it might just work. Good luck.

  6. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    There isn't anything better then doing what you love, paying your bills. You can always go back to video games if needed.

    Good luck Mark, good luck to everyone

    1. Jazz!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      🙂

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

      JUHU

    3. FantaCity
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Knew you wouldn't be able to resist opening day ... best of luck to you too, Daniel

    4. S.Kuqi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      How is your team shaping up 😉

    5. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Crazy how you worked on both this long

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

      you're back!

    7. Ayew Serious
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      juhu

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

    Heaton
    Stones / Morgan / Valencia
    Tadic / Sanchez / Firmino / Redmond
    Aguero / Vardy / Gray

    Foster; Friend, Capoue, Amat

    G2G?

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

    Suggestion for 4.0 DF please.

    Not Amat though.

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

      Love

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

        Likely to play?

      2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        hate

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

      Lenihan

    3. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Any random pick will do IMO. Not going to play anyway

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

        Oh.. That's bad.

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

      Kingsley?

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

    Best 4.0m defender and I'm done?

    A) Brad Smith (does he start?)
    B) Amat (starts GW1, then not anymore)

    1. Critical Observer
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Why wouldn't Amat start after the first week, seeing how he is comfortably their best CB? Geez.

  10. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    % chance that Delefeu will start?

    1. Bubz
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      100

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

      He will start

  11. Venom Snake
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Repost for a quick vote

    A. Mahrez + Lamela
    B. Eriksen + Firmino

    1. Tommytour
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. NATSTER
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A

  12. DAV087
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A) Ibra Vardy Alli
    B) Costa Sanchez Mahrez

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

      A

  13. MFPL
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Which team to pick?

    A) Foster (Jakupovic)
    Valencia Stones Friend (Evans Amat)
    Hazard Firmino Redmond Alli (Capoue)
    Aguero Gray Vardy
    1m ITB

    B) Foster (Jakupovic)
    Valencia Stones Terry (Friend Amat)
    Hazard Firmino Redmond Alli Mahrez
    Aguero Gray (Diomande)

  14. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Any changes needed or let this roll? Starting work in 10mins

    De Gea jaku
    stones kone mccauley friend amat
    Hazard Mahrez lamela redmond capoue
    Ibrahimovic Aguero gray

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lovely. Lamela could be decent punt

    2. pokern1nja09
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      1. pokern1nja09
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Funnily enough similar to mine

    3. NATSTER
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Oh.. Just 3 differences to mine.

  15. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Is having Williams in my squad madness until fit?

    1. Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgri…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No, you will want him anyway so saves a FT

      1. RVP fc
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I Agree with the Above

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Stay strong Daniel, who cares that Stones is a bargain, Kun could be your captain, Ibra and Hazard are smiling too in your hipotethical team 🙁 😛

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Auto-complete ftw.....

    2. Sp0rting
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      BOOOOHOOOOO!

  17. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Good preamble. I've wrote before that one day soon fantasy football will be as wedded to real life football as gambling is wedded to horse racing.

    They'll become one and the same thing.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I think it won't be that great. Maybe will live up to NFL fantasy in the States.

  18. Mark-O
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A. Valencia (bou)
    B. Kingsley (bur)
    C. Friend (STO)
    D. Fuchs (hul)
    E. Stones (SUN)

    Choose three to play!

    1. LewanGOALski
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      ADE

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Ade still plays? Wow

  19. ValterPereira
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Could use some inputs here:

    A) Morgan, Souaré, Tadic
    B) Fuchs, Dann, Redmond

    Any tips are welcome!

  20. LewanGOALski
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Can I live without Stones?

    Baines / Shaw / VVD / Friend / Amat

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

      How about azpi and Williams instead of baines and vvd?

    2. All de Gea
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes of course. What you want is attacking threat + bonus points not just clean sheet potential. Stick.

  21. President John F. Keninnsie
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck to my fellow Oscar and Costa owners. Juuuuhuuuuuuu

    1. Tommytour
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Just gone Oscar Juuuuuuuhuuuuuuu

    2. Goodnight Kiwi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck Inns!

      1. Chief Break-Everything
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Ah jeez. Can't log in, and can't quite remember who I went with at the last tinker.

        However, after last year and the hazard saga... Maybe that's a good thing!

        Good luck everyone

  22. Tommytour
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Nice knowing we have a WC to fall back on

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

      x

      1. Tommytour
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Good luck x

  23. Boss Hogg
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Fuchs or Baines or Terry?

  24. CrouchDown
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    too risky to go with Foster and Evans? Should I get friend instead?

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

      Yeah just get Friend, no need to take risks like that in GW1.

      1. RVP fc
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I have both but Friend too. If you think I
        Evans will outscore friend get him.

  25. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    FosteraFriend

    Better than my current team name - Lady Yaya..?

    It's an important question people!!

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

      I Love Mee BoydFriend.

      You can have it.

      1. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Consider it nicked.

      2. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Actually..... IbeFuchMeeBoydFriend

        I just supersized it. Name changed.

        Sniggers.

  26. Ruth_NZ
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Can't log in to FPL. Anyone else?

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

      Yeah, just leave it for a few mins it'll log in

    2. ONSIDE 9
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Same here, if will stop me tinkering, thankfully

      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Many, many people Harambe. Desktop site is working better than mobile app but still patchy at best.

  27. S.Kuqi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I want my free wildcard!

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

      Im in and just made a transfer ok

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

    if you have cover for gw1 would you rather williams over stones given the fixtures?

  29. KingGriffin
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Zlatan or Kane final call

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

      Vardy

  30. PlayPercentage
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    As others have stated earlier...
    Man City are playing away at Steau Bucharest in a CL qualifier.
    Could be reduced game time for Aguero vs. a Moyes defence.

    And this is more or less the same City team that underperformed last season.

    Maybe an alternative captain for some?

    1. Gaffa914
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Na it's aguero vs Sunderland at the end of the day