This week saw me face-off against Andrew. Andrew is a long-time friend and of course the defending champion of the 'Justice League'. I had feared this fixture due to my inconsistent results in the head-to-head league. I had decided not to make any transfers, as this heavy Christmas period had fixtures in such close proximity I was admittedly getting confused as the best thing to do, so I left things how they were. I had grown frustrated with Ollie Watkins, but I believed he deserved one more chance to impress. I was thinking of benching Pedro Neto, but when I glanced over at Andrew's team, I saw that we had a lot of the same people. So pending him making any changes, this was looking like it could be a real 'war of attrition'.
I was going to start West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, but with me and Andrew having four midfielders who were the same I changed my mind. With Andrew's fifth midfielder being the suspended Oriol Romeu, I decided to try and level up with him, I was trying to be as tactical as I could here. Bowen went on to my bench and I started James Ward-Prowse, Mohamed Salah, Pedro Neto and Heung-min Son. When the deadline passed, I saw that the only transfer he made was to sell Southampton's Ryan Bertrand for Leeds' Stuart Dallas in defence. This meant as I thought we had an identical midfield. He had captained Jamie Vardy who I obviously had, but I gave Mo Salah the captaincy.
Saturday began with Leicester at home to Manchester United. It was to be more Bruno Fernandes as he got a goal and an assist, so thank goodness Andrew did not have him, as it seems I play Bruno every week. The game finished 2-2 thanks to a late goal that we thought was Jamie Vardy's, but it went down as an own goal by Axel Tuanzebe. Leicester conceding 2 meant a blank from James Justin who was one of Andrew's differentials, so this was important. Next up was Aston Villa were at home to Crystal Palace, and despite having ten men for half of the game, Villa went on to win 3-0. Ollie Watkins got three assists (two of them 'fantasy' ones), but in regards to his finishing he was Ollie Wat-less! On another day he could have had a hat-trick, his time may be up in my team despite him getting double figures with 11 this week. He hit the post right at the end when it was easier to score. Emiliano Martinez got 10 points in goal for Andrew and my local team had really let me down by not scoring. Also at 3pm; Fulham and Southampton had a goalless draw. James Ward-Prowse came close when he hit the bar with a very good free-kick effort, on the rebound Che Adams seemed to stop like he had seen the ghost of Christmas past. I mean Bryan Adams would have put the ball in the goal here, sort it out Che. Kyle Walker-Peters was amongst the bonus points which was great, but I was thinking whether or not I would be ruing not putting Alex McCarthy in goal or not with his clean sheet.
Neither of us had anyone playing as Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-1, so to the late evening. Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-0, but Callum Wilson was an unused substitute and this was bad news for Andrew, as it meant he would get Coufal's points off the bench, who I obviously had too. Another of Andrew's forwards were in action in the other game as Everton beat Sheffield United 1-0 at Bramall Lane. Thankfully the goal was not scored by that damn Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He almost scored after controlling the ball well and hitting a volley in the first half but that was luckily as close as he came. With us having so many duplicate players, the only way Andrew could now win was if he got a massive points haul from his new man, Leeds' defender Stuart Dallas. But worst case scenario, I'd get some of the clean sheet points too as I had their keeper Illan Meslier, so what he needed was goals and assists from Dallas.
Leeds and Burnley began Sunday off, and my decision to play Meslier in goal worked as Leeds scraped a 1-0 win. They did get a bit of fortune when Ashley Barnes was denied a goal as (the inspiration behind my team name) Ben Mee was adjudged to have fouled Meslier. On the replay it showed that this was probably a harsh decision, but believe me I was not complaining! Meslier made some good saves in the second half and got all three bonus points for a massive 11-point haul. This meant he outscored his teammate Stuart Dallas and now there was literally no way that I could lose. I was jubilant, but wanted more points. They were not to come at the London stadium in the next kickoff however as West Ham and Brighton drew 2-2. Tomas Soucek scored yet again, which is means all his four goals this season have come when he has not been in my team...but do not worry he will be back soon. Jarrod Bowen was taken off at half-time which was the vindication I needed for benching him. Liverpool were next up at home to West Brom and things started well with a Sadio Mane goal, they did not end well though as West Brom got a point. It will go down as another Sam Allardyce Anfield 'tactical masterclass', but to be honest in the second half especially Liverpool were just shit! I did say last week I will not speak too much on Allardyce's record of not being relegated possibly being up this campaign, but as we played them next I did not want to say too much and look! Lastly Wolves and Spurs met at Molineux. Spurs looked like they were heading for 1-0 win when Pedro Neto's late corner was met by Romain Saiss. Spurs will be kicking themselves, but I will take those assist points, thank you very much!
So I edged past the champion Andrew, but with the next deadline coming so quickly I actually do not know exactly what to do with my two free transfers. I have Muji next and he will banter me for days if he beats me. I still remain 8th in the Justice League and in first place in 9 of 13 traditional leagues, but people are closing the gap on me, I need a big week and soon.
@DubulDee
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