In the midst of my new profession of calculating points for people who cannot be bothered to do it themselves, I sorted out my team just before the deadline for this gameweek. The aim now of course is to target the highest points total with the title being out of the question, but with the fact I do not pick players from some clubs, this is probably unlikely to happen. This is also given the fact that I have already used all my bonus chips including both my wildcards. My opponent was my old work colleague Rich, but he had basically given up, as he had made no changes whatsoever to his side since the restart. If I was to lose this one then I may as well to stop playing FPL, as his team still had injured players in it.
On Monday, I was originally going to bring in Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin but as he had taken a knock, I decided to wait until closer to the deadline to make my decision. In the end I brought in Sheffield United's John Egan at the back for his injured teammate John Lundstram and I reluctantly took out Raul Jimenez to bring Jamie Vardy back in. Vardy has a good scoring record against Arsenal, so I thought the possibility of him having a 'party' were quite high, as he was fresh off of the back of a brace that got him to 100 Premier League goals. I was going to start Burnley's Charlie Taylor at the back again, but as I was going to watch the first match of the gameweek between Crystal Palace and Chelsea, at the 11th hour I put Joel Ward in. So let us go to that exact game at Selhurst Park, where my decision was made into a foolish one quite quickly as Chelsea raced into a 2-goal lead. My choice of goalkeeper took an early knock also, as in the other 6pm kick off, Norwich went into an early lead at Watford, so no clean sheet for Ben Foster. I found myself hysterically laughing as with not even six minutes on the clock, it looked like it could be another disastrous week. Watford came back to win 2-1, whilst Chelsea won 3-2.
In the late Tuesday game; Arsenal and Leicester drew 1-1. A late Vardy goal meant that he not only validated my hypothesis, but he actually stole all the three maximum bonus points too. I had thought the VAR would rule it out for offside, but thankfully it stood, as they did not deem the referees decision to be a clear and obvious error. The VAR had rightfully helped to rule out a Kelechi Iheanacho goal that would have provided an assist for Vardy, and it had looked for a long duration that my choice may not work.
So to Wednesday; Sheffield United snuck a win at home to Wolves with a 93rd minute header from John Egan. 'What is this I see?', 'had both the transfers I made scored in the same gameweek, crack the champagne open won't you!'. Egan as I said last time out scored a super volley to gain a point at Burnley, the end of a season is all about momentum and well just look. 15 whole points. I was actually doing an interview on Skype during the game and I almost messed it all up by screaming 'get in', but I managed to contain myself. Ruben Neves had earlier crashed the bar with a free kick and I had not thought a clean sheet was coming for the Blades. Adama Traore had to settle for just two points in this one, he may have to go soon, but whenever I take him out he seems to assist. Egan's exploits soothed the pain of me finding out that Charlie Taylor had assisted the winner in the match played at the same time, as Burnley won 1-0 at West Ham. And this is why I have been saying try to avoid making changes a couple of minutes before the deadline, as predominantly they do not work. I had thought that despite Burnley get numerous clean sheets that West Ham might be able to score at least once against them after their win at home to Chelsea and they scored 2 at Newcastle also.
I wrapped up the doing the interview just before Liverpool's trip to Brighton at the Amex Stadium, where they raced into a 2-0 lead. My captain for the week Mo Salah, scored after unselfishness from Roberto Firmino, who lets be honest needs a goal emphasizing his good will. Salah then assisted Jordan Henderson's lovely shot for the second. My two other Liverpool players had started on the bench, so I was hopeful of still getting those Charlie Taylor points. Neco Williams got a first half yellow card after an entertaining duel with Tariq Lamptey, so to protect him from getting sent off, on came Robertson. At first I thought 'oh man', and then the Scotsman got booked to make it worst. He more than made amends for it as he got an assist. I was cussing to my Mum about how Liverpool mainly seem to score on Trent Alexander's corners, and someone needs to get their head on one from Robertson, when Salah headed in the all important third goal from Robertson's corner. Look at that, I tempted fate. The same combination almost made it 4, but Salah headed over a chance that was easier than his second goal. Robertson despite only playing 45 minutes somehow managed to grab himself a bonus point too.'Good job lad!'. Wednesday had been a great day points-wise even with Taylor on the bench. I was strolling to a straightforward victory, my first since the Premier League came back, so there was a huge sigh of relief.
Two of Thursday's three games had no hindrance on my points total, but those games still have to be mentioned. Bournemouth and Spurs honestly produced one of the worst games I have seen, and I am not exaggerating believe me. I had that game on the television, but I was frequently to having my attention diverted to the match on my laptop. In a game that was mainly end-to-end at Goodison Park, Everton and Southampton drew 1-1. This was a contest that did matter for me, and Danny Ings opened the scoring, showing his usual persistence and perseverance for a simple finish. More points for me! Jack Stephens was booked, but that was not making a huge difference to the good score I was going to get. Now to end things, the other match that featured none of my players but has to mentioned quickly is Manchester United's 3-0 win at Aston Villa. The penalty decision was a poor one, but then the VAR did not overturn it, as it is perceived that despite it was not a foul, the referee's call was not a clear and obvious error so the penalty stood. It was never a penalty and the FA and the Premier League officials need to sit down and sort things out. The Premier League need to make sure referees watch as many replays as possible pitch-side, because some decisions that have been able to stand and not be overruled this season are shocking. At first Gary Neville on commentary said what Bruno Fernandes did was clever, but if it had been a non-Manchester United player, or a player Neville disliked, I am pretty sure that is not how he would have seen it. Fernandes was the one who ending committing a foul and was of course unpunished. Villa are in the quagmire and things like that can zap all their confidence, after that United were all over them and they had no chance. Right my mini rant is over, but sorry had to squeeze that in.
@DubulDee
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