This weeks' opposition was Dwayne, who also participated in last seasons' head-to-head league. My idea this week was to use my free hit as I would have had only six active players for this blank gameweek, but then Aston Villa's game with Spurs was called off because of a Covid-19 outbreak that Villa had which then meant I was down to five. Two of the five players I now had were Charlie Taylor and Jimmy Dunne from Burnley. Both were not due to be back yet from injury, so it was either use the second 'Wildcard' bonus chip or use the 'Free Hit' chip because there was no way I was going into the gameweek with three men. Having looked at Dwayne's team he had already used his free hit so either he was going to use his wildcard, or he was going to take a points hit, if he was not to use his wildcard that would surely benefit me you would have thought anyway. With games being called off left right and centre, I did not want to drop the second wildcard just yet or my 'Bench Boost' chip as they may come in handy later on in the season when no one has them available. When the deadline passed I saw that Dwayne just made one change as he brought in Manchester United's Harry Maguire for Chelsea's Kurt Zouma.
Week 18 started with Sheffield United and Newcastle at Bramall Lane. I drafted in two Newcastle men in Ciaran Clark and Callum Wilson, but my gut was telling me to put in the Blades' Ethan Ampadu (£4.3m) as I only had £4.5m left and Clark was the last man I picked. I had a feeling that Sheffield United could get their first win of the season here but I was not brave enough to back it and I did not know if they could keep a clean sheet. I ended up going with Clark as he has a couple goals this season, so I clearly viewed him as more of a threat. My gut was telling me the right thing and I felt silly as Ampadu got all three bonus points as Chris Wilder's men won against the Magpies' ten men. Wilson really should have got himself on the scoresheet missing two good headed chances. In the first half he completely missed the target, and in the second half he headed straight at Aaron Ramsdale. Rhian Brewster was only on my bench and he came off of the Sheffield United bench and almost made it 2-0 when his shot was deflected off the post. In the latter Tuesday kick-offs; Manchester United won 1-0 at Burnley giving Dwayne the clean sheet points that he needed. It could have been worse for me as Maguire had a headed disallowed. Whilst that game went the wrong way for me the other contest did too as Everton won 2-1 away at Wolves. I had brought in Wolves' Romain Saiss for this game to accompany Pedro Neto who I of course already owned and neither delivered. Neto at times looked like he could cause a threat as he had a shot blocked and whipped some balls in, but he picked up a knock in the second half and did not do much thereafter. So I finished the day with just seven points from four men, this was looking like an absolute shambles! I was behind by a point to Dwayne who only had two men play as he had Neto too.
Wednesday began with a game I really had high hopes for as Manchester City met Brighton, and the Seagulls of course do not score many goals. I was not going to pick Raheem Sterling, as the original team I cooked up had Riyad Mahrez in it. But once hearing he was in the squad after recovering from a minor injury I opted for Sterling only for him to start the game on the bench. I also transferred in Kyle Walker despite originally looking to put in Ruben Dias and Walker was on the bench too. Pep Guardiola's team selection messing about someone in FPL?...What a surprise I mean that never happens does it? To be honest I can take some accountability on this occasion as Pep named the same back four that he used in last weeks League Cup win over Manchester United. The only City player I got in who started was Kevin De Bruyne. I apologise to Brighton as I thought this would be a tear up and it only finished 1-0. De Bruyne set the goal up for Phil Foden, a man who I would have put in, but I never know when he will definitely start. This always happens when you think a team might get a hiding they don't and you're left with egg on your face. Just an assist from De Bruyne who I gave the captaincy to late on as it was with Kane before I made all the changes. Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez denied the Belgian on three different occasions, it could really have been a massive haul. The drama did not stop there as Sterling was introduced to the game late on, I was optimistic thinking he could get more than the one point I would have got off of the bench for Brewster, but Sterling somehow messed it all up losing me points! De Bruyne won a penalty and it was given to Sterling who damn near blasted the ball into orbit with a pathetic effort, I was on the phone to Milito at the time and I probably burst his eardrums as I yelled! De Bruyne missed a penalty back in November against Liverpool, but he has since scored one against Fulham so why on earth was the duty given to Sterling, who had just come off of the bench, I was mad! 'Roadhouse!'. Only Family Guy fans will catch that one.
Wednesday's trauma did not end there. Another game I thought could be fruitful was Spurs at home to Fulham. This match was rearranged in place of the aforementioned Aston Villa and Spurs match being postponed. I was wary of Fulham who are much improved but Spurs took the lead through Harry Kane and I thought the floodgates would open, but it was not to be the case. The Kane goal was bittersweet as obviously I had him but he was Dwayne's captain, and on top of that it came from a great cross by Sergio Reguilon who Dwayne also had. Kane could have scored another header after the goal. Fulham were easily the better team in the second half and got a deserved draw. This meant no clean sheet for Hugo Lloris who I had, and there was no contribution from Heung-min Son. Son's early shot was denied by Alphonse Areola's legs. Then Areola made a world class save later on from the Korean's header flying off of his line. This was a rare time I had been disappointed at seeing an 'areola' come out to be honest...anyway such is life. Son still had a chance in the second half but when clean through he somehow hit the post, he has been so clinical this season I was shocked. Reguilon had a late goal rightfully chalked off for offside or I would have been beaten as the Spaniard went on to get all three bonus points despite the 1-1 draw. So I trailed by three points at the end of Wednesday and I needed Crystal Palace to do me a huge favour on Thursday now. If I lost to a man who only had six active men for a gameweek I would be so ashamed. This was a week when variation in teams would have been key, as putting my faith in two top teams although they were both at home against struggling teams had not worked.
So to Thursday; Palace's Tyrick Mitchell started over Patrick van Aanholt which was all good. I would now be getting whatever points Mitchell got as Walker did not start for Manchester City. I needed Wilfried Zaha to outdo Arsenal's Bukayo Saka if Palace were to concede if I was to have a chance of scraping victory, luckily for me Palace did the job. The game ended goalless and believe me it was a horrible watch. Barely any quality was on display and I can sadly never get those 90 minutes of my life back. If Christian Benteke remembered how much of a hitman he was when he first came to this country with Aston Villa it could have been a different story, as he missed two chances provided by Mitchell. To be fair Bernd Leno made a really good save from his first half header but whatever Benteke had he has lost it. Woeful passing and a lack of movement for much of the game. I have to say 'malice' is the first word that comes to mind, because the two teams clearly wanted anyone who watched the game to suffer and man we did. My FPL team however welcomed the result as Mitchell gathered himself two bonus points so I stole a five point win, but really it should not have been that close. The 42 points I got was much lower then I expected I have to say, as my team looked daunting on paper beforehand. Now my gap at the top of numerous leagues has been closed, despite the fact I still lead nine out of 13 traditional leagues. Nonetheless in the head-to-head league I have moved up to sixth and I am only three points away from the money positions.
@DubulDee
Comments