I had won back-to-back wins for the first time this season in the 'Justice League'. The only issue was my gameweek 20 opposition was the defending champion Muji. Any regular readers will know that Muji is the biggest wind-up merchant there is, as Chad (Goliath) was not in the league this season, no one even came close to Muji's antics. I had previously allowed him to rattle me and tried so hard to beat him that I ended up failing. The curse of being the champion of the head-to-head league had struck again however, as Muji was only in mid-table this time around. I, in fact could go level on points with him in the table on 25 points if I was able to win, though his overall classic points would keep him above me.
With some of the teams having a double gameweek, my intention was always to bring Erling Haaland back into my side, but I needed to make room within the budget to do this, so I had no choice but to take a points-hit. Before a double gameweek I really did not want to let go of Kevin De Bruyne, but it had to be done. Originally I was going to bring in his teammate Phil Foden, but as Foden played in both of Manchester City's cup games, I tried to telegraph 'Pep roulette' and decided to go with a player who had only started one of the cup games in Riyad Mahrez (£7.5m). The Algerian was also half a million cheaper than Foden which would help with future planning. This then allowed me to sell Alexsandar Mitrovic and bring in Haaland, the Norwegian then of course became my captain. Muji made two transfers as he had rolled a transfer over from the previous week. He sold Kepa Arrizabalaga for Ederson and he let go of the injured Darwin Nunez for Ivan Toney. There was no need for me to point out that Haaland was his captain, but just letting you know anyway.
The action from another prolonged gameweek began last Friday at Villa Park. The home side took the lead almost immediately through Leon Bailey. I was watching expectant of a return from Rodrigo Moreno. Rodrigo was at the centre of anything that Leeds did in the first half in an attacking sense after going behind. He failed to control a free-kick as Leeds attempted something that Holland pulled off in the World Cup, he then thought he should have had a penalty but it was not given. Later on Rodrigo rounded Emiliano Martinez, but his shot was cleared off the line by substitute Alex Moreno. He also had a goal rightfully disallowed for offside. In the second period he ran into the box but could only fire into the side netting. Aston Villa then opened a two-goal margin as Emiliano Buendia scored from a rebound as Illan Meslier parried Bailey's shot. Leeds pulled a goal back from Patrick Bamford, but it was a of case fine margins for me points-wise as the luck was just not there for Rodrigo. So I ended Friday still with negative points.
Saturday had the biggest match up first in the Manchester Derby. Manchester United had been in good form and looked the better side in the first half. Muji had Anthony Martial but he was to come off early. Ederson gave Muji a scare as he came off his line but got nowhere the ball, but Tyrell Malacia had his shot blocked. Marcus Rashford almost rewarded my opponent when through on goal but he could not get his shot off. Manchester City started the second half much better and they took the lead through Jack Grealish. Trust De Bruyne to get the assist after doing absolutely nothing in the period I owned him for. The Red Devils hit back but it was to be controversial. Rashford came back from a offside position and despite not touching the ball he ran towards it and Bruno Fernandes levelled. The fact it stood shows why the rules should not be tampered with. United went on to win through a goal from that man Rashford in the 82nd minute, just when I believed I was getting away with a blank from him.
The 3pm matches saw Liverpool take a 3-0 beating from Brighton. Jurgen Klopp's men were outplayed from start to finish and believe it or not they got off quite lightly. Solly March has turned into a goalscoring machine since Graham Potter left and he bagged a brace, before Danny Welbeck turned into prime Matt Le Tissier for the third goal. Another blank from Andy Robertson and Mo Salah was far from good news for me. Muji had Salah too so the cut was not as deep as some other weeks. Wolves beat West Ham 1-0 through a nice goal from Daniel Podence. This gave me clean sheet points from my defensive enabler Hugo Bueno, a return from a defender under £4m is indeed the 'chefs kiss'. Bueno contributed heavily to the shutout as he blocked Vladimir Coufal's goalbound drive in the first half. In the late kick off; Brentford beat Bournemouth 2-0. A soft penalty was given when Marcos Senesi held Ivan Toney, and Toney duly dispatched the spot-kick. I was pleased with David Raya keeping a clean sheet, but he did get booked in the second half meaning no bonus points. Saturday concluded with Muji ahead 26-18.
Sunday saw Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, Marc Cucurella did not start which meant Muji would get points off his bench from Andres Pereira who I had too. Whilst this happened Pereira was to blank as Newcastle edged past Fulham 1-0 through a late Alexander Isak goal. Miguel Almiron was a differential for me in a head-to-head contest for the first time but he could not return. Fulham were given a second half penalty, there was confusion over who would take it and I thought Pereira would. The ball was given to Mitrovic and he fell like he had skates on as he touched the ball twice and Newcastle were given a free-kick. My Fabian Schar clean sheet points were neutralised by Kieran Trippier again getting maximum bonus points. I have no idea how he keeps on doing it. The North London Derby went to form as Arsenal strolled through the first half against Tottenham going into a two-goal lead. Bukayo Saka fed the ball into a dangerous area it took a nick off of Ryan Sessegnon and Hugo Lloris parried the ball into his own goal. Lloris makes some spectacular saves, but for the majority of the last few seasons he has been literally playing against Spurs. Martin Odegaard added a lovely strike for the second and despite a lot of huffing and puffing in the second half from Antonio Conte's men it stayed 2-0. Harry Kane went close in the first half but that was the only hint of being anywhere near points in this encounter. Kane always scores against Arsenal, trust him not to do it when I have got him as a differential. Muji now led 47-29 as his defence boasted the Gunners' Ben White who also received two bonus points.
Wednesday was Crystal Palace's home game against Manchester United. The Eagles defended well for most of the half but the right hand side of their defence was caught flatfooted and Christian Eriksen found Bruno Fernandes to open the scoring. With Cristiano Ronaldo away in Saudi Arabia counting money, Bruno looks like a very good FPL asset again. Erik ten Hag's men thought that they had the three points in the bag only for Michael Olise to level with an outstanding free-kick that went in off the bar in the first minute of injury time. The Frenchman has really been amongst the points recently and at £5.4m I may look to him myself soon. Olise did not really celebrate therefore I hope he is not a Manchester United fan I as I am a fan of the guy and that would change things. I was overjoyed with Rashford's blank and it still gave me a glimmer of hope as I now trailed by 20 points.
The crucial last game of the week was at the Etihad as Manchester City hosted Tottenham. I had an early advantage as Joao Cancelo was only on the bench and both of my differentials started in Mahrez and Kane. Pep Guardiola's men looked the more likely to score but then somehow conceded twice in three minutes before the interval. The second goal came after Kane fired the ball across the face of goal, Ederson pushed it out only for Emerson Royal to head in the rebound giving Kane a fantasy assist. Despite Spurs constantly getting good results against City there was an inevitability in the air that City were not dead yet, and the home side pulled a goal back as early as the 51st minute. Haaland got his customary goal to level things up just two minutes later and then we knew what was going to follow. Mahrez headed the ball to assist Haaland's goal and I started to partially believe that I could make a grand comeback of my own. City made it 3-2 in the 63rd minute when Mahrez cut in and fired the ball at goal and it took a deflection and went in, 'woohoo!', I needed more but this was a massive step. With the game looking set to end 3-2 the ball broke to Mahrez who drove towards goal and then expertly lifted the ball over Lloris, 'come on!' So I snuck a 65-64 win for my third straight win and Muji must have been gutted. He probably had the 'gifs' ready to taunt me in the group chat. There is still lots of work left to do for me nonetheless, but I am at least showing signs of promise. Putting Mahrez in turned out being a masterstroke.
@DubulDee
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