After a short break for the 4th round of the FA Cup it was time for gameweek 22. I was looking to extend my 4-game winning streak but my opposition was my longtime friend Andrew. Andrew was the actual winner of the inaugural 'Justice League' in the 2019/20 campaign, so I was very wary of what he can do.
With it being a double gameweek for Manchester United and Leeds, my original plan was to captain Rodrigo Moreno, but my plans were scuppered. Rodrigo got injured in Leeds' FA Cup tie away at Accrington Stanley, 'who are they?...exactly'. I was fuming with Jesse Marsch as they were already winning 3-0 at the time he was brought on, but such is 'FPL life'. So I was left needing an alternative, I decided to bring in a player who I was mildly considering taking a points-hit for in another Leeds man Wilfried Gnonto (£5m). The lively Gnonto I felt was the best option, but as he was registered as a forward I sold his teammate Sam Greenwood and kept hold of the injured Rodrigo for the time being. I contemplated giving Gnonto the captaincy seen as I would have given it to Rodrigo, but I just went with the safe option and gave it to Erling Haaland in the end. After all that when the deadline passed Andrew informed me that he forgot to change his team as the Friday deadline caught him out so in hindsight it would have been the perfect time to take a risk.
The action began last Friday with Chelsea and Fulham, but neither of us had anyone in a game that finished goalless, so to Saturday we go. Everton and Arsenal kicked things off and Andrew had no less than three men from the Gunners, so I needed a big favour from the Toffees. Had the game had been before Sean Dyche took over at Goodison Park I would have been more worried, but something told me he could get under Mikel Arteta's skin as Arteta already complained about his tactics when Dyche was at Burnley. Everton frustrated Arsenal, and then got the winning goal from James Tarkowski, 'woo'. Blanks then for Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, 'let's go'. Everton scoring was essential, but no returns from any of his Arsenal players was marvellous I must say.
In the 3pm's; the man who was doing excellently for me before he got injured, James Maddison made me rue not getting him back in as he equalised for Leicester before they won 4-2 at Aston Villa. Brentford kept up their great form as they beat Southampton 3-0. Ben Mee continued to impress as he scored the opener. Not having the inspiration for my team name in my side was killing me. I had David Raya in goal of course, so I welcomed another clean sheet, but Andrew had him too. My opponent also had Ivan Toney but his goal bound effort luckily for me was cleared almost off the line. Kaoru Mitoma made it 2 goals in 2 games since I transferred him in as he got a very late winner for Brighton to win 1-0 at home to Bournemouth. Mitoma served as a differential in the head-to-head so I welcomed his double figure haul, 'arigatou Kaoru!'. His ownership is rapidly growing however, so his days overall as a major differential are dying.
Andrew's differential in the head-to-head struck too however in the popular Marcus "Meek Meals" Rashford. Rashford received a fantasy assist for helping win a penalty that Bruno Fernandes scored and he scored himself from close range, 'damn!'. Crystal Palace at least pulled a goal back through Jeff Schlupp to deny Andrew further points from Luke Shaw who (fantasy) assisted Rashford's goal. Shaw started the season out of the side but at £5.2m is now a valuable fantasy asset. Wolves embarrassed Liverpool even further which some did not think would be possible the way Jurgen Klopp's men have played recently. Wolves were the lowest scorers in the league with only 12 goals in 20 matches, so trust Liverpool to let them score 3! And believe it or not it could have been worse, I was disgusted, Andy Robertson blank then and Mo Salah yet another blank. Salah and Darwin Nunez had chances, and Robertson despite it would have been fortunate almost scored too as the ball deflected off him from a Naby Keita shot. In the late game; Newcastle were held at home by West Ham. We both had Miguel Almiron who did not produce, but things were almost different as Joe Willock had a early goal rightfully disallowed as the ball just went out of play before Almiron cut it back to him. It was still early when Callum Wilson gave the Magpies the lead, and luckily for me he was only on Andrew's bench. Lucas Paqueta got the equaliser after Newcastle failed to clear a corner and he celebrated like he had just scored from 30 yards doing flips like his name was Ricochet. Paqueta is only £5.9m and I have him under consideration. Saturday concluded with Andrew ahead 35-27.
Sunday saw Nottingham Forest and Leeds at the City Ground. Brennan Johnson scored a half volley from a deflected free-kick by Morgan Gibbs-White and at this rate I need to get Johnson back in my team.. Either side of what turned out to be the winning goal, Gnonto had efforts denied by debutant Keylor Navas. Gnonto should really have done better with the second chance. Gnonto also did well to make a chance for Luis Sinisterra but he put it well wide. Fine margins as always, I could have cleaned up here. If I was fuming with Marsch then the board were essentially livid as Marsch was axed. I had nothing to do with the sacking I swear, I have Leeds' chairman on speed dial but do not listen to what the streeets are saying about me. The biggest game of the gameweek, Tottenham welcomed Manchester City. Harry Kane got the only goal after fine work by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as Kane become Spurs' all-time leading scorer. Andrew had Heung-min Son who was missing again, but Riyad Mahrez struck the bar in the dying seconds of the first half and I had my head in my hands. Gnonto and Mahrez should have put me clear. Kane did not even get me maximum bonus points as they went to Hugo Lloris, to make it worse, Mahrez was withdrawn for Kevin De Bruyne a minute before the hour mark, so he only got one damn point! 'Damn you Pep Guardiola!'. Kane almost added a second but he was thwarted by Ederson. Sunday ended with us locked on 42, and I only had Gnonto left, whereas he had Shaw and Rashford, so I conceded defeat.
So to Wednesday, and silly me assumed that Manchester United and Leeds was being televised, only to find out it was not just before kick off. No sooner had I tried to find a stream Leeds were already ahead in the first minute through Gnonto, 'woohoo!'. Due to the double gameweek I really should have just captained him man. Leeds went 2-up in the second period through an own goal by Raphael Varane after Gnonto fed Crysensio Summerville. But United were to fight back and a great cross by Diogo Dalot was headed in inevitably by Rashford. I mean I almost punched my laptop in frustration. Meek Meals needs to be stopped, this Superhero activity of feeding school kids in the day, and scoring goals at night is annoying me, the man needs to chill, seriously. Thank the lord Andrew never remembered to do his team as he probably would have given him the captaincy. Jadon Sancho returned to league action to salvage a point for the Red Devils. Leeds scoring twice was still a massive help and the bonus points system gave Gnonto three points and Rashford one. So somehow when I thought I was going to lose Gnonto's 9 points levelled a combined 9 from Rashford (8) and Shaw (1), so it all ended in a rare draw. Phew.
Man this could have been all so different, but I will gladly take the point, so I am unbeaten in five gameweeks now. If Gnonto, Kane or Mahrez had taken their chances it would have been something. Saying that however, Andrew did leave Wilson and Ivan Perisic on his bench. So he will be thinking he should have won too. I should have been bold and captained Gnonto as if he had been fit I would have gone with Rodrigo, so the logic would have been to pick another Leeds man for the double, but the main thing is that I did not lose. Bringing Gnonto in worked nonetheless.
@DubulDee
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