'Trust Your Gut!...'
Sometimes...it is best to just leave things alone. I partially touched on this in gameweek 3, but the fact I over-analysed this week has meant that although I overall accumulated a competitive score, things could have been so much better, and my head-to-head clash in the Justice League could have ended in victory rather than defeat. I had mentioned last week, that I would possibly move players whose value had started to drop, and if I did, then they would start to get a good amount of points, so why did I still end up doing it anyway? Only for the players I took out to both get on the scoresheet. My opponent in my head-to-head had both players I took out in their team also, meaning I had gone against the principles I usually have, when I try to match up with an opponent as much as possible when there is a chance, so I can neutralise them and give myself a better chance of winning.
The weekends' Premier League football started with Southampton at home to Manchester United at St Mary's. As I had expected United to score, I left Angus Gunn on the bench and started Ben Foster (Watford). United, took the lead quite early on, making me think I was a genius and that hopefully later on, Foster could maybe keep a clean sheet and get more points out of the two of them. As the game went on however, Gunn made save after save, as the Saints held on with 10 men, meaning he would get points for the saves and get a bonus point, I had started to doubt my decision. Danny Ings, almost scored a header, I had tried to help the ball into the back of the net by jumping up and imitating a header while I watched the game, but sadly it did not work as David de Gea saved it, I mean really, I could not believe that it never went in with assistance, amazing.
In the 3pm games; Chelsea and Sheffield United drew 2-2 at Stamford Bridge meaning that I only got one point from Shwffield United's John Lundstram, as he also got booked, 'thanks for that John!'. Tammy Abraham helped himself to two goals, and I did mention last week, that he may go on a run after scoring two against Norwich, him or Mason Mount might be the Chelsea I pick to break the fact I have not picked any of their players. The man I benched for Lundstram, Martin Kelly, was part of a Crystal Palace defence that kept a clean sheet at home to Aston Villa to my annoyance, as I had taken out Raul Jimenez (Wolves) and transferred in Villa striker Wesley, as Jimenez' value had dropped. 'The Wesley-Jimenez swap will get worse, just wait for it!'. There was no significant points input from Villa's John McGinn, so he just got the default two points for playing over an hour. Another man I transferred out because his value dropped was Leicester's Youri Tielemens, so as I said would happen, in true FPL fashion he scored a goal, and got an assist as the Foxes beat Bournemouth. With his bonus points also, this contributed to 12 points for him overall, 'oh the rage!', this is where you trust your gut, but I decided to pull the trigger on the transfers anyway, yes I am a fool, and this to an extent must go down as surely some sort of self sabotage.
Manchester City, did as expected and dealt with Brighton comprehensively 4-0, my captain for the gameweek Sergio Aguero bagged a brace, confirming why he has been the only player I pick from other top 6 sides outside of my own Liverpool. Newcastle, scored a first half equaliser at home to Watford, so Kiko Feminia only got me 2 points. Luckily, despite conceding, Ben Foster ended up getting me the same amount of points as Angus Gunn, as he gained 2 bonus points, so it was not all heartbreak with the keeper choice. West Ham's Felipe Anderson was drafted in by me for the aforementioned Tielemens, but he only got me three points, so therefore the change clearly did not work, the -4 points hit was clearly looking very bad.
In the evening game; Liverpool did a professional job on Burnley, Mane got in amongst the goals, and Salah got a slightly fortunate assist on Roberto Firmino's goal. Add to that, the clean sheet Liverpool got meant Virgil van Dijk gained a bonus point also. Liverpool came through for me, and finally they had a shutout, after repeatedly conceding late consolation goals. Salah, hit the post in the first half, which would have meant more points, but I am more than content with what my team did. I watched the first match on Sunday between Everton and Wolves, hoping to see two things not happen. The first, was that Raul Jimenez would hopefully not score, as I took him out for Wesley. The second, was hoping that Joao Moutinho was not going to get a good amount of points as I left him on the bench this week. There was a good start to proceedings as Moutinho was on the bench, after Wolves had the second leg of their Europa League qualifier last Thursday, he came on in the second half, but only got a point. Raul Jimenez, was to get a goal however in the 3-2 defeat for Wolves, meaning both my transfers had gone belly up, 'oh joy!'.
So a competitive score of 66 this week, but when you take into consideration that Tielemens and Jimenez who I took out combined for 17 points, and the fact Anderson and Wesley only got 5 points between them, I clearly shot myself in the foot. The international break could not have had better timing, I need a break this all!
@DubulDee
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