My gameweek 35 opposition was Stel from the Shoot the Defence Media Network. I needed to return to winning ways after a tough run recently, but Stel had been inspired of late and I needed to make sure that I was not a victim. He had the highest score in the 'Justice League' last week after making the inspired decision to captain Gabriel Jesus and I needed to bring him back down to earth.
I had two free transfers that I could make this week. I had originally wanted to use just one of them and carry over the other transfer with double gameweeks coming up, but with the injuries I had at the back I decided to use both transfers this week as I was wary of Stel's team. Firstly I wanted a differential so I reluctantly let go of Dejan Kulusevski and brought Raphinha back in. They cost roughly the same price and with Liverpool playing Tottenham in gameweek 36 I would not have started Kulusevski anyway. I was hoping Raphinha could do something, as with Leeds playing Manchester City I knew not everyone who owned him would start him or even they may have looked to sell. I also sold Fabian Schar at the back for Burnley’s Connor Roberts after looking at ‘enabling’ defenders for ages as my budget was limited. Calum Chambers was available for the little money I had left but I did not think we would start. I had not picked an Everton player all season and Mason Holgate was in the £4.2m region but I went with Roberts who had impressed during Burnley's resurgence lately. When the deadline passed I saw Stel had not made a change. Stel had captained Mo Salah, while with Liverpool's hectic schedule I captained Diogo Jota as I thought Salah would be rested.
Liverpool travelled to Newcastle to open the gameweek. Salah was on the bench as I expected and Jota started. I needed Jota to give me a solid early advantage as usually I have an issue about captaining someone in the early kick-off. Things began well as the Reds took the lead through Naby Keita (£5m) and Jota assisted it. After that however it was to be frustration as Martin Dubravka made a plethora of saves as it ended 1-0. Jota had a header tipped over in the first half and had a volley saved in the second period. I was happy that my captain had produced something but really I needed more, as he lost his midfield clean sheet as he was booked for a nothing incident. Andy Robertson who has been brilliant recently gave me more clean sheet points. I was content nonetheless despite everything as Stel had Matt Targett in his defence so there was no return there.
In the 3pm games; Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Southampton 2-1. Marc Guehi was in Stel's defence so the Saints scoring clearly aided me, the goal came from Oriol Romeu (£4.5m) with just his second goal of the season. Eberechi Eze levelled and the winner came from Wilfried Zaha who came off the bench to produce a lovely finish and it was assisted by James McArthur (£4.3m). Armando Broja was only on the bench so my decision to leave him out of my XI looked to have worked. Burnley continued their great form as they also came from behind to beat Watford with two very late goals. Jack Cork (£4.4m) got the equaliser from a cross from Charlie Taylor (£4.4m). Taylor cost the same amount as Roberts so imagine how I felt, any points from enablers/differentials are outrageously crucial at this time of the season. The winner came from Josh Brownhill (£4.3m) who has been stacking points like a premium midfielder of late. Matej Vydra (£5.2m) provided the assist, a third return in six games for the forward.
I had small hope as Rayan Ait-Nouri started for Wolves at home to Brighton, but any hope I had of him returning clean sheet points were dashed in the first half. Bruno Lage's men gave away not one but two penalties. Alexis Mac Allister missed the first but then scored the second as the Seagulls went onto win 3-0. As the enablers continued to run wild Yves Bissouma (£4.4m) scored the third, this was all getting out of hand. You could literally have had all these basement midfielders and still have had £25m in the bank and you would have outscored everyone around you. The only benefit from this game was that Stel had a Wolves double at the back of keeper Jose Sa and Conor Coady so no ground was made. In the late game I was praying more than having full belief that Leeds could do something. Manchester City ended up beating them 4-0 but that does not tell the story in it’s entirety. Leeds did quite well in spells but could not find the net with their final ball just not being good enough. Raphinha almost got what I needed but his run and effort got deflected over the bar in the second half. City's third goal came form Stel's man Jesus who cannot stop scoring. The enablers had not finished their work for the day as Fernandinho (£4.7m) smashed the fourth for Pep Guardiola's men. All we needed now was Allan to score for Everton on Sunday for a full house from the enablers I joked in the FPL WhatsApp group. Saturday ended with me having a slender lead 23-17.
Tottenham beat Leicester 3-1 On Sunday. To my anguish James Maddison was not in the squad so after all that I would get Broja's points anyway. With Leicester‘s schedule and Maddison’s fitness issues I should have expected it to be honest. Harry Kane scored the first with a header from a Heung-min Son corner. Son then copped a brace, the second was an exquisite finish from outside the box on his left foot. I had missed a tick by not captaining Son once again and I was annoyed. At least I had him in my team though and his 19 point haul really helped. In most weeks my win would have been sealed by Son's contribution but there was a caveat. The man I sold Kulusevski began on the bench but came on and assisted both Son's goals and Stel had him. This meant in only 45 minutes he outscored Raphinha by 6 points, so there was no need for me to sell him just yet. In a game that from an entertainment perspective I expected more from Arsenal edged past West Ham 2-1. Stel had Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka so the last thing I wanted was for them both to do well. I was lucky enough to escape only with Saka assisting the opener for Rob Holding. Saka almost scored in the second half but Lukasz Fabianski denied him at the near post. It was now 49-37 in my favour at the end of Sunday.
I only had David Raya in goal left and Stel had Ivan Toney for the last game which took place on Monday at Old Trafford as Manchester United entertained Brentford. Bar a Toney brace or hat-trick I would be safe and I got the win over Stel as United won 3-0. Raya got a save point despite conceding 3 goals so there was no difference in putting him in goal ahead of Ben Foster as they matched each other.
So the win keeps me in 5th place in the 'Justice League' as I strive to finish in 4th to occupy one of the prize money positions. Despite a score of 51 that was under my own seasons' average I still moved up ever so slightly to 230,000 in the world as unless you captained Son or of the 'Enabler Assemble' it is unlikely you passed 55-60 points.
Congratulations to Muji who has an unassailable lead at the top of the head-to-head the table as he is 12 points clear with just three gameweeks remaining. A massive turnaround from a man who had been finishing mid-table. He can light up a cigar for the remaining gameweeks but in 2nd, 3rd and 4th it is all to play for.
@DubulDee
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