After I put forward to the FPL Whatsapp group that the prize money could be sorted as the table currently stood, some refused it. The simulation that took place had all the remaining games end in goalless draws, so therefore everyone was in the same position that they were in when the pandemic started, just with nine more points. As there were players that were unhappy, therefore I then asked the group to perform the simple task of sending me their gameweek scores since FPL returned. Even as I write this, only 10 of the other 19 men in the head-to-head league have sent me their totals. For the hassle it has caused to calculate things, I shall be informing the people that have not sent their weekly tallies that I will deduct one point from the scores since the return, then we will see how long it takes them to reply. They will probably send their scores before I even exit Whatsapp, as it suddenly hits them again that money is at stake.
So enough of my diluted rant, let us get down to business, as that is what you are here for. I decided to not make any changes, as since football returned bar gameweek 32, I had put up decent scores, but still lost. My opponent was Chad, and as I had no chance of getting to the money positions, I just went with the flow. Players I had taken out had done well, and players I had left on the bench had thrived, so I just thought 'leave it' and see how things played out. The action started on Saturday, and Brighton won 1-0 at Norwich, through a Leandro Trossard goal. At £5.8m, he has returned a useful 90 points despite only starting 18 matches in the league. I had left Todd Cantwell on the bench and he did not start,, so it turned out being a decent decision. When he did come on, he then got booked, so there will be no endorsement on Instagram from Young Thug for him this week. Thugger in fact said that he had found a new 'best friend'. Right let me stop there, I will be more serious now I promise.
The next match saw Leicester beat Crystal Palace 3-0, Jamie Vardy scored twice which means he has passed 100 goals in the Premier League, well done mate. It would have been much better if you were in my team when you did it, but trust me, I am happy for you...I think so anyway. Palace's collapse meant Joel Ward only got me a solitary point. At the same time that was going on; Manchester United smacked Bournemouth 5-2, and this was even after Eddie Howe's men took the lead. Junior Stanislas, who has never got anywhere near the heights some thought he maybe could when he was a youngster at West Ham, left Harry Maguire looking outrageously silly with the cheekiest of nutmegs, before slapping the ball past David de Gea at the near post. There was a brace for Mason Greenwood when United got going, and since the restart he has been stacking up points. For anyone who bothered to read my 'FPL Bargain Bucket' back in February, will know I said to put him in your side. I do not pick players from the Red Devils of course, being a Liverpool fan means that would be like selling your soul for points. There will be no Dr. Faustus round here, thank you.
I tripled up on Wolves players as I thought they would give Arsenal their third away defeat of the restart, but to my angst the Gunners were professional and won 2-0 at Molineux. Adama Traore who started in the middle, almost scored from a Raul Jimenez ball in the first minute, (which would have been great for me!), but after that Arsenal shackled him. Another teenager I put in the 'FPL Bargain Bucket', Bukayo Saka scored the first for Arsenal with a tidy volley. My gameweek was already looking dismal and Chelsea later added to that. Despite Ben Foster making six saves, Chelsea still beat Watford 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. After having five men play on Saturday I had a whopping total of 9 points. I can clearly see that you are all jealous...
Sunday began with Burnley and Sheffield United at Turf Moor, and I thought I was set for clean sheet points from Charlie Taylor, when centre half John Egan popped up with a sweet volley to grab a point for the Blades. Later on, Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield, and man they made hard work of it. The lure of getting to 100 points does not seem enough to spark the Reds currently, as they looked half asleep once again. Sadio Mane got the first after a nice pass by Naby Keita, and there was no goal but an assist for my captain Mo Salah, as Curtis Jones scored his first senior Liverpool goal. Andy Robertson, who has seemed like the most drunk of all the 'Pool players got himself booked and lost me a point. If Saturday was not bad enough, then the real punch in the gut came from the last Sunday game at St Mary's. Southampton somehow held on after wave after wave of Manchester City attacks to triumph 1-0. Che Adams scored his first Premier League goal as Ederson was caught off of his line once again. With basically nothing to play for league wise Pep Guardiola should just give Ederson a game in midfield, the poor guy is regretting ever being a keeper. Let him express himself, he played the pass of the match in the first half to Bernardo Silva outside of his error. Whoever thinks he is better than Alisson needs to take a long look at themselves. Earlier on without Alisson's saves Liverpool would have drawn or lost to relegation fodder. I had left Alex McCarthy and Jack Stephens on my bench thinking City would give them a hiding, but then when I changed my mind on it, it was too late and I had already confirmed my team. A combined 17 points were just sitting there on my bench catching dust. McCarthy was another player from my 'FPL Bargain Bucket' , and he has taken an astonishing 33 points from just five matches since I wrote the article. These numbers are superb from a keeper considering there has only been two clean sheets for Southampton in those games.
The gameweeks action concluded on Monday with Spurs winning 1-0 at home against Everton. It was the first game Harry Kane has not scored in since I transferred him in, and he denied an assist as Giovani Lo Celso's shot deflected in for a Michael Keane own goal. So back-to-back below par scores for me as I only finished with 43 points, and that of course somehow gave Chad the double over me. I have slipped to what I believe may be an unprecedented four defeats on the trot. And when I have completed the time consuming and tedious task of calculating the 'Justice League' table, I fear to see what my position will be.
@DubulDee
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