Jermaine was my opponent in the head-to-head league this week, and he was out to not only beat me, but batter me as my team tore his side apart in the reverse fixture. Jermaine led the table for a majority of last season before a collapse after the season restarted cost him dearly, and he ended up finishing third. This season had not been as kind to him and I was nervous as after my robbery last gameweek against Delvin, I feared the worst here. Jermaine of course had the scourge of my team Bruno Fernandes, as he had not scored for five games he was due to do something against Southampton I assumed.
I had contemplated not making any changes to my side so I could have two free transfers for gameweek 23, but then after having a very late look at Crystal Palace's upcoming fixtures, I drafted in Wilfried Zaha for James Maddison. I was not 100% sure about it, but I did it nonetheless. Maddison had been in form and I did not want to sell him, but Jack Grealish had West Ham and Arsenal coming up, and after what he did to Arsenal at the Emirates I was not going to sell him just yet. Originally it was indeed Grealish I was going to let go of to get Heung-min Son in, but I left it alone, as I was not sold on whether Spurs would definitely turn up in their home game with Chelsea, as they looked really flat without Harry Kane at Brighton. Once the deadline had passed I saw that the only change Jermaine made was to bring in Callum Wilson for Alexandre Lacazette. The big issue I had was that he had used his 'Bench boost' bonus chip, his team looked good already and now he would get points off the bench. I almost dropped my phone.
Tuesday was where the action began, and I needed something from Pedro Neto as Wolves played Arsenal. Jermaine had Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka playing from his beloved Arsenal, and things were almost grim for me only a minute in as Saka hit the woodwork. Rui Patricio then denied Saka in the 5th minute as Arsenal piled the pressure on. In the 9th minute Saka thought he had given Arsenal the lead, but it was setup by Lacazette who was given offside. Arsenal did take the lead, but Wolves levelled, and then I was to get what I needed from Neto as he passed to Joao Moutinho for the brilliant winning goal, as Wolves went on to win 2-1. After David Luiz got sent off in the first half on the penalty which led to the equaliser, Bernd Leno was sent off trying to play Volleyball, otherwise Arsenal may have got something from this game.
Later on Tuesday, Southampton had Alexandre Jankewitz sent off after just 79 seconds! Yes you read that right, as Southampton fell to a 9-0 smashing at the hands of Manchester United. It was a terrible challenge and got what it deserved. Danny Ings could not produce for me, and he was substituted. As United were scoring goals it seemed every 2 minutes, I thought I had got off lightly as at 4-0 with over a hour gone there had been no goal contribution from Bruno Fernandes...he was to end the game with 3. Fernandes' 17 points were to be cushioned by the fact Jan Bednarek was in Jermaine's team. After an own goal he got a late red card (which was harsh) and he ended the game with -7 points, the lowest score in FPL history!...SCENES!! Crystal Palace were to win 2-1 at Newcastle, but my transfer did not pay off as Zaha came off injured in the first half, 'just my luck!'. Zaha had a goal disallowed for offside before going off injured but it was the correct decision. Newcastle's goal by Jonjo Shelvey was set up by Wilson, so he justified the change Jermaine made. I trailed Jermaine by eight points when Tuesday concluded, this could be made up but I needed a few more of his players to draw blanks, the late goal and assist from Bruno Fernandes hit like a Frank Bruno punch as I would have had a slender lead.
Wednesday began with Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor, and as expected City kept a clean sheet as they won 2-0. Despite me having Ederson and John Stones, the game was more profitable for Jermaine. He had Raheem Sterling as his captain and he scored the second goal, as well as this he had Joao Cancelo too. Add on top of that the fact Ederson got himself booked which lost me a point. Leicester kicked off at the same time and they beat Fulham 2-0. To my dismay the man I sold Maddison assisted both goals, I made a huge error there. The second goal was scored by James Justin, who again Jermaine had, I was getting battered. 'I mean show some mercy please J!'.
In Wednesday's latter games; West Ham beat Aston Villa 3-1 at Villa Park. Tomas Soucek gave the Hammers the lead with a good finish. I had thought about captaining him, but I had not been brave enough this week to do it, so I left the captaincy with Mo Salah. Jesse l Lingard then made it 2-0. We both had Jack Grealish and he made Ollie Watkins' goal as they pulled it back to 2-1, only for Jesse Lingard to get his second goal and kill them off. I had already been beaten unless I got a masterclass from Salah, and a clean sheet so Andy Robertson would get points, but Watkins was on my bench to rub salt in the wound. There was to be no Salah masterclass as Liverpool stunk up the place again at home and lost 1-0 to Brighton. The Egyptian missed two good chances, one in both halves as Brighton were otherwise comfortable, despite being very fortunate with the goal they scored. No defeat in almost four years at home and then you lose two in a row, come on Liverpool man. My mate Dan who was in the head-to-head league last season, messaged and said 'Anfield has gone from a fortress to a brothel'.
I had been beaten by 25 points as the only player left for any of us was Ben Chilwell for Jermaine and he ended up not starting as Chelsea beat Spurs 1-0 on Thursday night. I was disappointed but what can you do, there is no time to dwell on these things however as the gameweeks are in such close proximity. I now am top of only three traditional leagues now and I have slipped to seventh in the 'Justice League'. These are perilous times. I cannot afford to score under 50 again anytime soon, after a mega lead in several leagues as I thought I have been caught up with.
@DubulDee
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