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Writer's pictureDaniel Dwamena

Fantasy Football Files - 2021/22 - Gameweek 31 - Shadowboxing

My opposition this gameweek was 'trash talking' Muji. He had been having a great season and currently led the Justice League after Sam's recent capitulation after leading for so long. Earlier on in the season in the reverse fixture I had beaten him, but if I lost to him here then the emojis and the gifs would be flowing like water in the FPL group chat for certain. He tries to get into your head before the gameweek has even kicked off and I was trying not to let him get to me.


I decided against making any changes as I wanted to to have two free transfers next time out. But it was not until the deadline had passed that I realised I had made a huge error and the double gameweek I was targeting was actually not until gameweek 33 and I had thought it was 32. 'damn!'. This is what happens when you do things while you are half asleep. I captained Mo Salah as I knew Muji would too. Muji made two transfers as he doubled up on Manchester City defenders to get Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo into his team. I therefore desperately needed Burnley to score against Pep Guardiola's men or I would be in real trouble.


The action started at Anfield, as Liverpool beat Watford 2-0. There was no return for Salah as Diogo Jota opened the scoring and of course it was a header. Trent Alexander-Arnold must have watched on like a proud Dad as Joe Gomez produced a great cross into the box for the goal. What was annoying here was that if I had been more vigilant in checking over the gameweeks I could have got Jota back in for his teammate Luis Diaz who was an unused substitute. Fabinho added the second from the penalty spot as Jota gained even more points for winning the spot-kick. There were clean sheet points for Andy Robertson of course but he just missed out on bonus points due to the late goal.


In the 3pm games; Brighton and Norwich had a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium. Tariq Lamptey got booked taking him out of the bonus points equation. Neal Maupay put a penalty into row Z denying Graham Potter's men of three points. Burnley were due something against Manchester City...but Saturday was not the day for it as they lost 2-0. Jay Rodriguez went close but Muji got the double clean sheet points from Laporte and Cancelo to my detriment. Wout Weghorst who took to life at Burnley like a duck to water, has literally played like he has been stuck on dry land ever since as he blanked again for me, in fact I do not recall a contribution from him and I have had him for at least six weeks now.


Many thought Chelsea would have a straightforward home game with Brentford but it was everything but that. They took the lead through Antonio Rudiger who Muji had, but then they were trounced 4-1. Christian Eriksen who was in my 'Free hit' team last time out scored, a gameweek late but I am happy for him nonetheless. Leeds and Southampton drew 1-1. Muji had Raphinha and he 'fantasy' assisted the opening goal for Jack Harrison, so there was no return from Tino Livramento for me. Armando Broja did not contribute again unfortunately, I started him but my opponent left him on the bench. At Molineux; it had looked like more clean sheet points for Muji but I was saved by a late Ollie Watkins penalty as Wolves beat Aston Villa 2-1. I was very thankful for the consolation goal as Burnley failed me but I was still in a bad position. The late kick-off between Manchester United and Leicester did not affect the head-to-head, but another man from last gameweeks' free hit team Kelechi Iheanacho scored, 'again mate you are a gameweek too late'. At Saturday's conclusion I trailed 32-28.


Sunday saw Spurs come from behind to beat Newcastle 5-1. Son who we both owned setup the equaliser for Ben Davies. Kane assisted the second but unfortunately it was for Matt Doherty who Muji had. Son made it 3-1 after really good play by Dejan Kulusevski, Muji had Kulusevski too however. I really needed Kane to find the net but it did not happen. Doherty added to his points haul with a 'fantasy' assist for the 4th by Emerson Royal as Muji pulled away from me. On Monday Selhurst Park showed how intimidating it can be under the lights as Crystal Palace won 3-0 against Arsenal in the London Derby. Muji had Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette but their blanks did not effect him as unless Weghorst had the game of his life on Wednesday I was already beaten. Tyrick Mitchell was on my bench as he got clean sheet points plus a bonus point and I felt physically sick.


So it was up to Weghorst on Wednesday as Burnley welcomed Everton to Turf Moor. Again

to my disappointment though the Dutchman blanked as a late Maxwel Cornet goal got the Clarets a 3-2 victory. So I had lost by 16 points as I misjudged what gameweek it was and Muji had literally not played the real me, it was virtually shadowboxing for him. It was my first head-to-head loss since gameweek 23 but it was a very costly one. I stay in 4th place in the Justice League but only on the virtue of having more classic points overall than Rian (Milito) who also has 60 head-to-head points. I have fallen off the top of one classic league meaning I am top of just four now. Gameweek 32 cannot come quick enough.


@DubulDee


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