With Spurs having a double gameweek, I was conflicted. Having three players from the same team for a double gameweek had not really been fruitful in the past. My close friend Rian (Milito) was my opposition this week, and before the deadline we had five of the same players. As we speak so regularly, as usual we did our gentleman‘s agreement to inform each other whether or not we were taking a points hit. We would not of course disclose which players we were selling or bringing in, that would be too much information.
Rian informed me early in the week that he was taking a -8 hit, but the voice he said it in I thought he was being satirical, only for him to say again just before the deadline in a much different tone. As I knew then he was being serious, I informed him that I was only taking a 4-point deduction as I made two changes. As Leeds were playing Liverpool, I sold Patrick Bamford and transferred in the in-form Kelechi Iheanacho. In addition to that I was strongly considering bringing back in Vladimir Coufal, but decided to go with three Spurs men after long consideration. Aaron Cresswell who was injured was sold and I brought in Sergio Reguilón. The Spanish international likes to get forward and I believed he could get a goal contribution that could prove to be a good differential as he is owned by less than 5%.
After the deadline had passed I saw Milito decided to also sell Bamford and bring in Iheanacho, ‘dammit!’. As well as that he sold the injured pair of Kevin De Bruyne and Pedro Neto to get in Heung-min Son and Jesse Lingard, ‘rage!’, we now had six of the same players starting as I decided to go against the grain and start Brighton‘s Robert Sánchez in goal rather than Emiliano Martinez. Again here I was seeking a differential as I knew not many people would think to do this as they would fully expect Chelsea to score at home. Rian gave his captaincy to Harry Kane as I expected, so having preempted it I had given mine to Son, this was definitely all going to be interesting...
Gameweek 32's action started at Goodison Park on Friday as Everton played Tottenham. The game started like it was going to be the worst game ever, but then a great piece of control and finish by Kane gave Jose Mourinho's men the lead. Everton turned it around to go 2-1 ahead through a Gylfi Sigurdsson brace before Kane scored another great volley to level things up. Kane was to then unfortunately get injured, so had I made the right decision going with Son as captain? I had been disappointed with Son's lack of contribution, but if he started the second game and Kane did not then he had the chance to make amends. Kane had been the most captained player this week in FPL so many were anxious. Reguilón had a stinker of a game, which was just my luck, he conceded a penalty and was substituted after 64 minutes.
Saturday began with Newcastle at home to West Ham and we were both looking for more points from Jesse Lingard. The result went against the Hammers as they lost 3-2, but Lingard did score from the penalty spot before coming off with a knock. Well done the Magpies regardless. In the latter game Wolves won 1-0 against Sheffield United, I did not think this game affected the head-to-head and then I remembered Rian had Conor Coady in his defence, 'how annoying'.
Sunday's first game a draw between Arsenal and Fulham did not influence the head-to-head, but the second game did. Manchester United got past Burnley with two late goals to win 3-1. Now usually if United were to score this many goals you would think my nemesis Bruno Fernandes was involved, but luckily for me he was not. Surviving against a man who is usually a huge differential was massive. At the end of Sunday I was lucky to only trail by 14 points.
Monday's only game was Liverpool's trip to Leeds. As Rian had Diogo Jota I needed my two Liverpool differentials in Mo Salah and Andy Robertson to come to the fore. They all had opportunities to do so but did not come through and the game finished 1-1. I was already disappointed to see that Salah was on the bench, but when he came on he was wasteful in the box. Robertson got his feet tangled up when through in the second half when Liverpool hit Leeds on the counter attack when he could have shot himself or played someone through. Jota shot wildly when he had a chance, so Rian got away with my differentials only getting a combined three points. Tuesday saw a goalless bore draw between Chelsea and Brighton at Stamford Bridge. So my plan to put Sánchez in goal worked, no 'Dirty Sanchez' around here mate, he kept his sheet clean! He also got an addition point for making 4 saves, but despite Kepa Arrizabalaga making only two saves he got 3 bonus points instead of Sánchez who got just 2. 9 points is more than satisfactory for a keeper nevertheless. It was not all good news however as Rian had Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger who also got himself a bonus point. Brighton could have won this game to be honest. In the second half; Danny Welbeck hit the woodwork and Adam Lallana fluffed two really good chances.
Thursday had two games. Spurs were first up as they played their second match of the gameweek at home to Southampton, with Ryan Mason in charge as Jose Mourinho had been sacked. Kane as expected was not fit to play, so it was up to Reguilón & Son (sounds like a TV show, but sadly it is not) to do the job I needed. I would of course get double the points for any Son contribution. The Saints took the lead with two of my former players combining as Danny Ings' smart header went in from James Ward-Prowse's corner. Spurs levelled through Gareth Bale and then thought they had taken the lead. Reguilón found Son who slid the ball into the bottom corner, but then after VAR intervened Lucas Moura was adjudged to be blocking the keepers view, so the goal was chalked off. I messaged Milito to tell him that 'he got life' as that would have been the worst combination for him. But that was not to be the end as there was late drama. Reguilón was fouled and it looked like a free-kick, but after VAR looked at it they told the referee David Coote to have a look and he changed his decision rightfully to a penalty as the foul was on the line. Son emphatically dispatched the spot kick and Spurs won 2-1, this meant a 'fantasy' assist for Reguilón as he won the penalty. The second game saw Manchester City win 2-1 away at Aston Villa, the game got off to a crazy start as John McGinn scored after just 20 seconds! It was more bad news for Rian as the goal was assisted by Ollie Watkins this meant now I was in the lead. John Stones was sent off but as we both had him it was not detrimental to the outcome. In any other week this could have been seriously damaging. So with no clean sheet for Martinez, there was no way that Rian could win now as we both had the same man left in Iheanacho.
Iheanacho was to get on the scoresheet on Thursday as Leicester easily disposed of West Brom 3-0 at the King Power Stadium. He could have had a goal even before he scored the third when he was clean through on goal only to be thwarted by Sam Johnstone. He also shot wildly over when it was 3-0, but he still delivered a goal to please a lot of people as he was the most transferred player in this week.
So a solid 69 point week edged me to victory. There was a lot of luck involved I am not denying that but I'll obviously take it. I have now only lost 1 out of my last 9 head-to-head contests.
@DubulDee
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