The last gameweek of an exhausting FPL season was upon us. This had been the most challenging one since I started playing properly in the 2015/16 campaign. Due to the delay of the 2019/20 season because of Covid, there was only a small break before it began meaning the close proximity of the gameweeks this time around had been crazy. Some of the gameweeks started less than 24 hours after the last match of the previous gameweek was played and this caught many out. If you were not vigilant then more often than not you suffered badly. With players testing positive for Covid games were postponed and the fixture schedule was frequently amended, which did not help when you were trying to organise your transfers with future gameweeks in mind. Just like with the conclusion of last season the matches being spaced out for television coverage meant the pain seemed to be more excruciating if you were behind in a head-to-head game. Watching a player from your FPL team fail in a live contest was more frustrating than hearing about it on Soccer Saturday for example.
Hard and testing scenarios can bring out the best in you however, and I have somehow had my best season points-wise, with my zenith being at the end of gameweek 12 when I was 12,631 in the world. Considering well over 8 million people play FPL I was chuffed. I then thought too hard and partially caused my own downfall as I searched for differentials when really given the lead that I had in various leagues I did not have to. All I needed to do was maintain my lead but I was always looking for more. In hindsight it was a big mistake despite the fact that I have ended the season with a very solid points tally. I will use the experience and try to improve. Big thanks to the likes of the 'FPL Bros' and the 'Football Talk Podcast' for shouting me out when I was on a tear in the first third of the season. I have never kept tabs on teams' press conferences other than my beloved Liverpool like I did this year, but it was worth it. The best example of how this helped was when Jose Mourinho spoke in riddles about Heung-min Son's fitness in gameweek 4 when they were away at Manchester United. Son had been sold by a majority of people as he was down as injured, I kept him and he got 18 points. Throughout the season frequent talks with Rian (Milito), Darren B. (D-Man),and Khurram (K) as well as a few others has definitely helped also. But anyway let us get to the action in gameweek 38.
Darren T. was my oppositional for the final day and as he himself had said 'as he could not win anything he was not really concerned' anymore, so I had no idea if he was even going to bother with sorting his team out but viewed it s very unlikely. In midfield I considered the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Ferran Torres and Phil Foden but had no idea whether Pep Guardiola would look to play the team he more or less was going with in the Champions League final, or if he would look to rest them. Therefore I left Manchester City players alone altogether despite having an urge to put Sergio Aguero in up front for a bit of last day romanticism. With the last day sometimes being an anomaly the only transfer I ended up making was in defence as I did not want to take a points hit. Sergio Reguilón was sold and I drafted in Trent Alexander-Arnold. As I have had Andy Robertson all season doubling meant if Liverpool were to concede then I was screwed. When the deadline passed as I expected Darren had not bothered with his team, but the players he had could still do a job. Harry Kane was his captain, but I had stuck with Mo Salah as mine.
Liverpool needed a win to secure a top 4 place that had seemed unlikely not too long ago and they got it as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0. Sadio Mane was to get both goals, but there was none for Salah as he was pipped to the Golden Boot by Harry Kane. Salah had a great chance in the first half but he was denied by Vicente Guaita. The Egyptian showed unselfishness in the second half as he assisted Mane's second goal. He also put a good chance well wide in the second period. I thought earlier I had got an assist from Robertson's corner for Mane's first goal but on the replay I saw that it hit Roberto Firmino before Mane scuffed it in. Alexander-Arnold was booked but I at least got my double clean sheet points, Robertson also was amongst the bonus points.
Chelsea needed a win to guarantee a top 4 finish but they were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa, Darren had Matt Targett who assisted the first goal for Bertrand Traore. There was a blank for Ollie Watkins who Darren also owned and his keeper Emiliano Martinez got a point for saves made despite not getting a clean sheet. Chelsea were let off the hook and qualified through the league for Champions League football, as Tottenham came from behind to beat Leicester 4-2 at the King Power Stadium. Harry Kane ended with a goal and an assist so that would have really pleased my opponent as he got double the points I did.
Manchester City thrashed Everton 5-0 at the Etihad. Sergio Aguero came off of the bench to bag a brace in an emotional farewell. Poor Everton celebrated their first win at Anfield since the 1990's like they had won a trophy, and after all the talk of them coming above Liverpool saw them somehow finish tenth. Sticky times over at Goodison...see what I did there?! The defeat was the worst of Carlo Ancelotti's career, poor Don Carlo. Mahrez who Darren had assisted the first goal for Kevin De Bruyne and he also hit the crossbar as he almost had a feast points-wise. Gylfi Sigurdsson had a penalty saved by Ederson so it was a good job I left him on the bench. Overall acquiring Sigurdsson as a differential was an epic fail. Ruben Dias conceded the penalty and was booked but he still delivered Darren clean sheet points. West Ham confirmed Europa League football with a 3-0 win over Southampton, neither of my West Ham players Jesse Lingard or Michail Antonio were involved. My opponent had Tomas Soucek but he did not contribute either as Pablo Fornals was at the double and added an assist.
Leeds won 3-1 at home to West Brom. Patrick Bamford was in Darren's team but the good news was he was on the bench. Pascal Struijk was in his side too but he was also a substitute. Rodrigo Moreno scored the opener and went on to get the maximum bonus points although he only played the first half as Bamford came on. Raphinha's corner to my pleasure assisted the Rodrigo goal. Bamford was to get the third goal from the penalty spot. A silly late goal came for West Brom as Leeds made a mistake at the back robbing me of points for Stuart Dallas.
Newcastle won again as they triumphed 2-0 away at Fulham, and the star of gameweek 37's 'Fantasy Football Files' Joe Willock was on the scoresheet yet again. The man on loan from Arsenal scored for the seventh consecutive game equalling Alan Shearer's record for Newcastle. It was a wonderful goal too as he went on a long run, then got a bit of luck as he lost the ball and it came back to him, before he produced another clinical finish. Arsenal had a 2-0 victory at home to Brighton, so my decision to put Robert Sanchez in goal rather than Martinez never really made a difference. It could have been more but Gabriel hit the bar in the first half. Nicolas Pepe scored another two goals, stat-padding when no one cares anymore...we see you Pepe!
So thanks to my differentials doing well I won 65-55. Considering I had a decent amount of money still in the bank, this win really pleased me. Willock and Rodrigo fully justified me bringing them in for the last couple of games of the campaign. This meant I only lost one 2 out of my last 15 match-ups but could only end the season in 7th place in the head-to-head league. 71 points and nothing to show it shows the quality of some of the players in the 'Justice League'. Overall I cannot complain however as 2333 is my highest ever points total. Remember I do not pick players from Manchester United, Arsenal & Chelsea so I dare you to find someone who got as many points as that without having Bruno Fernandes at a stage. That man is my nemesis for anyone that has previously read any of my previous FPL pieces. A well earned break now until next season, dare I play Euro 2020 Fantasy Football after all this stress? Well done to Darren B. (D-Man) who was champion of the 'Justice League' a great achievement, winning by 8 points to show his dominance. D-Man was the only man not to suffer double digit defeat and was the earliest winner I have seen in a head-to head league that I have participated in. His twin Michael channeled his inner Leicester as he finished 5th after being in the top four for the whole of the season. Results did not go his way denying the Baillie Brother 1-2 punch. This was all quite hectic but very fun nonetheless. See you all in August.
@DubulDee
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