Watching paint dry. International Football. FPL - In that order!
So, the international break was over, and it was back to the stressful days of FPL. I had been so busy, that I was not able to make changes, I had thought about taking Mo Salah and Andy Robertson out, as they were both doubts, but I did not have time to do it anyway, as before I knew it, the deadline on Saturday morning had passed. I had a dangerous opponent in my old school friend Aasim this week. Aasim was actually joint top of my traditional 'League of Gentlemen' last season, so although I was above him in both my leagues this season, I was actually the underdog.
I had no players in the early kickoff between West Ham and Spurs, so the fantasy week did not start for me until the 3pm games on Saturday. Danny Ings scored again for Southampton, as they drew at Arsenal, which means he only has not scored in I believe it is one game when I have not owned him, 'rage!', the question is do I bring him back for his third stint in my team this season? Bournemouth were beaten 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium by Wolves, which meant no significant points from Diego Rico. Ryan Fraser now consistently starting means Rico is not taking as many set pieces, which has not helped I must say. Raul Jimenez bagged again for Wolves, a man I had owned earlier on in the season. I left the captaincy this week with Jamie Vardy, and he did not disappoint. Vardy set up Ayoze Perez' goal, and then scored a re-taken penalty as Leicester won 2-0 at Brighton. If I had taken Salah out, I may have looked to James Maddison, and I thought he had scored when he headed in the rebound from Vardy's missed penalty. But then Vardy had to take it again, because there had been encroachment, I would have been slightly annoyed if it was not for this.
I was actually in attendance at Selhurst Park, to see my beloved Liverpool away at Crystal Palace. The first time that I had been able to watch the boys when they have come down to my neck of the woods. Robertson started, but Salah was on the bench. I was sat in the Palace end, so could not cheer when Sadio Mane gave the Reds the lead, and the assist came from Robertson. Zaha levelled, before Liverpool went on to win 2-1, a double dose of bonus points from my Liverpool starters, 'good stuff!'. I had no players in the game at Goodison Park between Everton and Norwich, but I just had to say this, Everton are poor, and Marco Silva needs to be axed, as they fell 2-0 to the Canaries. This was a result I called on the 'FootyOnTop' show, so I have no idea why I did not place a bet on it. This of course means they will turn up when we play them in the Merseyside Derby in two weeks however. Ben Foster had been getting me a lot of points recently, but that stopped as the Hornets were swatted 3-0 at home by Burnley. I had Watford to win in my accumulator, as silly me thought that they were on a resurgence, but it was not to be. Foster almost saved Ashley Barnes' penalty, which would have brought some nice points. Saturday's late game; saw Manchester City beat Chelsea 2-1, Sergio Aguero hit the woodwork in the first half, but could not get on the scoresheet, added on top of that, he hobbled off injured, which means now I have a big decision to make. As Aguero costs so much money, I can literally pick any striker to replace him, so it is either I go for Jimenez, Josh King or Ings who I have had before, or I could bring in a Tammy Abraham or Harry Kane. 'Decisions, decisions'.
Sunday saw an epic 3-3 draw between Sheffield United and Manchester United at Bramall Lane. Although there was no clean sheet points for John Lundstram at the back, but he got a 'fantasy' assist, as his shot was saved, but John Fleck put the rebound in for the opener. Lundstram almost scored well before that, but his left footed effort was saved well by David De Gea. Lys Mousset scored a lovely goal from outside the box to put the Blades 2 up, but this was not enough for me to close the gap on Aasim. Aasim, had Lundstram in his team too, so I ended the day 15 points behind. I needed a miracle from John McGinn in Aston Villa's Monday night football contest with Newcastle.
Fast forward to Monday, and although Villa won 2-0, the miracle did not happen. McGinn went close twice late on, the latter he skewed wide a chance that he has been gobbling up this season for Villa & Scotland. So that was it. My third defeat on the trot. I am vexed, and I am now starting to prop up the table. What ticked me off a little, was the fact that Conor Hourihane, scored from a set piece, and assisted from a set piece. If he had not started, then these set pieces would have been taken by McGinn, anyway, 'hindsight is a beautiful thing', as they say.
If it was to be a Abraham, Kane or Aubameyang, that would mean breaking my 'rivals/teams I dislike' rule, so that is unlikely. I did say however, that if things get peak for me, then I may have to make some drastic decisions, and I do need to get out of this rut. The irony is I lay in the top six in the 'League of Gentleman, a 60 point week is usually solid, but there are some really good players in the head to head league. I may have to start kicking people out of the league...
@DubulDee
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