Josh was my opponent this gameweek. After settling into the 'Justice League' last season, he was enjoying a really good start to this campaign and was top of the table. Meanwhile everything I had tried was not working, and I just wanted the World Cup to hurry up and come, as I needed a refresh, my brain was scrambled.
I looked at Josh's team before the deadline, and he had Andreas Pereira, who at £4.6m, I was going to bring back into my team regardless. As this move would be neutralised, I did consider other options. Miguel Almiron, was on fire, but his ownership before the deadline had flown up to 19%, and knowing my luck I thought if I got him in his purple patch would end. Therefore I decided to go with just getting Andreas back in, thinking he could do something against Everton. Josh made two transfers, meaning a points deduction. He brought in Almiron, for James Maddison, meaning if Almiron did well, it would hurt me more than I first imagined. As well as this, he got in Ivan Toney for Dominic Solanke. Again this Toney move neutralised me, it looked bleak before a ball had even been kicked. I resisted any last minute thoughts of giving Mo Salah the captaincy, as I captained Harry Kane. Josh moved his captaincy to Salah, as there were major doubts over Erling Haaland.
The action started early on Saturday. As thought there was no Haaland, as Manchester City travelled to Leicester. Phil Foden was only on the bench once again, and this effected Josh and I. Both sides had chances but the contest was decided by a sublime free-kick by Kevin De Bruyne. With my opponent owning Joao Cancelo, their clean sheet was good news for him. Selling Maddison did not come back to haunt Josh either, but I was left looking grim already.
In the 3pm matches; Newcastle smashed 4 past Aston Villa, whose mini renaissance was exactly that, lasting just one week. Callum Wilson, stacked heavily gaining 19 points. My worst fear hit as Almiron scored and assisted, 'I felt like an idiot!, why didn't I just put him in?'. Josh was jubilant as his points-hit had been wiped out. Newcastle's clean sheet gave me points from Fabian Schar, but Josh topped this as he had Kieran Trippier, and he got an assist, as he accumulated 11 points. Whilst this was happening, I was hoping for my captain Harry Kane to deliver, but Tottenham found themselves 2-0 down away to Bournemouth. Antonio Conte's men were to stage a great comeback winning 3-2, but every time I checked Kane was not amongst the scorers, 'typical'. My captain had failed and I knew later on Salah would make me pay for it.
Brentford took the lead through a stunning goal from Bee Mee against Wolves, only to be pegged back straightaway by Ruben Neves. This dashed my chances of another double in clean sheet points from the Bees backline. Jose Sa, was Josh's keeper, so at least there was not further damage with Wolves conceding. Ivan Toney, who we both had got himself booked, and will miss the next game. Crystal Palace edged past Southampton 1-0. There was good news and bad news for me. Wilfried Zaha at least did not find the net, but my opponent had Marc Guehi so collected even more points.
None of us had anyone playing in Brighton's 4-1 demolition of Chelsea, as the Seagulls got revenge on Graham Potter, so to the 5.30pm game we go, between Fulham and Everton. Having chosen 'San' Andreas (Pereira) over 'San' Miguel Almiron, trust Andreas to blank, as it finished in a stalemate at Craven Cottage. A huge error by me, when in hindsight you also take into account the fact that as Fulham play Manchester City next I may bench Andreas.
As Josh owned both Andreas and Alexsandar Mitrovic anyway, with the deficit I faced, I needed Andy Robertson, to produce in the 7.45pm fixture as Liverpool hosted Leeds. And even then with Josh having Mo Salah as captain it was still virtually an impossible task to pull it back. Not even 10 minutes had gone and the ominous head-to-head outcome was decided for me, as Joe Gomez overhit a back pass to Alisson. Rodrigo Moreno could not believe his luck as he put Leeds ahead. Jurgen Klopp's men levelled through Salah, incidentally assisted by Robertson. But Jesse Marsch was to have the last laugh, as Leeds got a late winner from Crysensio Summerville. It was Liverpool's first defeat in front of fans since 2017, and the first defeat Virgil van Dijk has ever suffered at Anfield in the league. Scenes!
Football was clearly intent on spoiling my birthday weekend. My dreadful season continues. None of us had anyone in Sunday's games, so it was an early defeat, as I remain an abysmal bottom in the Justice League. This has never happened and I honestly have no words, 'help me!'. A defeat by 20 points, as Josh remains top of the league, level on points with Darren B. (D-Man) and Khurram (K). A shoutout to my cousin Clement who had the highest scores this week, as he amassed 81 points...'who needs Haaland eh?!'.
@DubulDee
Comentarios