My cousin Clement, was my opponent for gameweek 12. This particular week was always going to be an interesting one. To accommodate Arsenal's postponed Europa League fixture with PSV, their Premier League game with Manchester City was postponed for this gameweek. Numerous people had three players from Arsenal and Manchester City, so many 'Free Hit' and 'Wildcard' bonus chips were used. Alternatively, some 'lived on the edge' and went into the gameweek with limited players. After the deadline, I realised Clement was one of these men. He sold Kieran Tierney, for Joachim Andersen, and only had nine men this week. The deadline must have caught him out as he did not change his captain. Erling Haaland was still his captain, and his vice captain was Kevin De Bruyne, so there would be no additional points for him. It looked like a straightforward job for me, seen as this meant heavyweights like Mo Salah, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son were all differentials for me, this is FPL however and nothing is straightforward.
I captained Salah, and had Alexis MacAllister, as my vice captain as Brighton hosted Nottingham Forest. I made no transfers this week despite doing overtime in my mind, thinking about getting someone in for the suspended James Maddison. I had drafts with the likes of Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze (£5.6m) and Wilfried Zaha (£7.5m), as well as Leicester's Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) and Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes (£5.7m). In the end as it would have been for just one week I left a transfer alone as I just could not strongly commit to anyone. I even looked at making a change in defence, but I am always sceptical about making a solitary defensive transfer, as when that team concedes you just feel dejected beyond measure.
The midweek action began at the Amex Stadium. We all know Brighton have issues putting the ball in the back of the net, but as they welcomed Nottingham Forest, some (me included) thought they would be nailed on for three points. The Seagulls however were to be frustrated by Dean Henderson, as Steve Cooper's men hung on for a precious point. MacAllister seems to be getting deeper and deeper, and the fact he is on penalties is the only thing keeping him in my team to be honest with Brighton's change of manager. Clean sheet points then for Neco Williams, that though I knew it had a good chance of happening in hindsight I should have sold MacAllister really. But if he had done something against a struggling Forest side then I would have felt stupid...man FPL is just stress! In the other Tuesday match; Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Wolves. Yes, you read correctly Wolves scored! Through an extremely rare headed goal by Adama Traore. People, this is not a drill! You did just read the team and the goalscorer correctly. Patrick Vieira's men fought back, in true FPL fashion through two men I ignored in Eze and Zaha, you just cannot make this up. Replacing Maddison for a week would have been more than worth it. Eze's goal was even more detrimental for my cause as he was in Clement's team, at least the Traore goal meant no clean sheet points for Andersen. Tuesday ended with Clement ahead by four points.
Wednesday began with Brentford at home to Chelsea. With limited options, I bravely decided to triple up on Brentford men despite the strength of their opponents. Luckily the defensive side of it worked as the contest ended goalless. The caveat was that Clement had Rico Henry too, as much as another double figure haul from David Raya was pleasing. Liverpool, just got past West Ham 1-0 at Anfield. The Reds started really well and Darwin Nunez especially looked lively. The Uruguayan gave Jurgen Klopp's men the lead in the 22nd minute heading in a good cross from Kostas Tsimikas. The Hammers were awarded a penalty after a rash challenge by Joe Gomez on Jarrod Bowen. Bowen, took the spot-kick himself but it was saved by Alisson. I screamed with joy, then remembered Alisson is Clement's keeper. If this was to be why I lost the head-to-head then I would definitely accept it. Lukasz Fabianski did well to come off his line to deny Salah what would have been a precious goal for me.
Newcastle, beat Everton through an exquisite strike by the in-form Miguel Almiron. The goal was assisted by Bruno Guimaraes, as another player I considered contributed. And guess what...yes, my cousin had Guimaraes in his team too, 'damn!'. Fabian Schar got booked so I lost a point, but Clement had the points-magnet that is Kieran Trippier so he outscored me here as Tripper got the maximum bonus points. The last game to kick-off had me thinking I would get something, but I left bitterly disappointed. Tottenham travelled to Old Trafford, I say travelled, but theoretically they never turned up, as they were easily beaten by 2-0 by Manchester United. The Red Devils almost had 20 shots in the first half alone, but both goals came in the second period. So imagine this, the only week I could probably ever have Salah, Kane and Son as differentials they all blanked! I mean I must be being punished for something I did in a former life, because this is just ridiculous! Thank god all my defenders returned, or I swear I would be quitting FPL this week, 'this stinks!'. Wednesday concluded with Clement ahead 52-41 but he had no one left to play.
Two games remained on Thursday, but only one of them influenced the head-to-head. I needed a minimum of 11 points to avoid defeat from Alexsandar Mitrovic and Jacob Ramsey. The issue was they were featuring in the same game, as Fulham were entertaining Aston Villa. An end-to-end first half saw Fulham go in 1-0 up through Harrison Reed (£4.5m), but it could have been much different if it was not for the heroics of both keepers. Ramsey was not getting himself into forward positions as much as I thought he would and I was worried, but then Mitrovic turned the evening into 'Thursday Night Mitro'. First he helped get Douglas Luiz get sent off by going down like he had been shot after the two men clashed. Luiz's thrusting of his head was all Michael Oliver needed to justify sending him off. Then a contentious penalty was given as Matty Cash handled the ball. A similar incident took place when Oliver was the referee recently in Arsenal and Liverpool's game at the Emirates, but nothing was given then, there is just no consistency. Nonetheless, Mitrovic's average penalty still found its way in despite Emiliano Martinez diving the right way. What had looked like a solid 'card' from Thursday Night Mitro, was to have an underwhelming main event as he did not get in on the bonus points, so with Ramsey's blank I lost by three points, 'cries in WCW'. I for one hope the 'booking' will be better next time Mitrovic decides to hold an event. By the way, if you are not a wrestling fan then the last few sentences may have gone over our head.
An underwhelming 49 points, but it really could have been worse if it was not for my defence. An embarrassing defeat against nine men, who were without a captain either. But as it benefitted my team in reality, I have taken this defeat on the chin. Next up, with it being another swift turnaround in gameweeks, is my D&D Football Factory co-host Darren B. (D-Man), now that is going to be really interesting.
@DubulDee
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