My gameweek 32 opposition was my radio co-host Darren B. (aka D-Man). He was a former champion of the 'Justice League' who was usually there or thereabouts at the top of the table. The thing with the head-to-head league is however that you need to be fortunate with your order of fixtures as despite another immense classic points-haul from Darren, he was in 7th place in the Justice League. It is just the way it goes. I knew the calibre of opponent I was up against and I rarely had been able to topple since the Justice League began.
I had toyed with different ideas but in the end I yet again had to take a points-hit. As I was trying to capitalise on Crystal Palace's form I picked Michael Olise over Eberechi Eze last week, so this week I got Eze in too. I deemed having two Palace players possibly a little risky, but despite having accumulated well over 100 FPL points this campaign Eze's ownership was still well under 10% so I got him hoping for some differential points. As I sold Riyad Mahrez to get him in this freed up almost £2m, I thought as I did not know whether new Leicester manager Dean Smith would start Patson Daka or not I left go of him. As I suddenly now had a decent sized budget I got the in-form man Ollie Watkins, hoping he could still return for me. As usual I expected to be too late in catching a player on a hot streak but I hoped for the best nonetheless. Darren was short of men with him owning a decent amount of players in the FA Cup Semi-Finals so he also took a points-hit to give himself 10 men to field. Out went Jack Grealish and Harry Kane for Mo Salah and Watkins. I was so annoyed seeing Watkins in his team, there was further frustration as we both had decided to captain Salah.
The action started on Friday; relegation threatened Southampton travelled to title-chasing Arsenal. The Gunners have been conceding early goals at home and it happened here once again as Aaron Ramsdale had sympathy for the Saints' season and passed the ball straight to Carlos Alcaraz who put the away side ahead. If you have ever heard the saying 'it really be your own people' then that was the case as former Arsenal man Theo Walcott put the Saints 2-0 up, as Alcaraz this time assisted. Walcott said he would help Arsenal win the league when his side played Manchester City earlier this month, but he did not score against them but found the net here. The home side responded with a goal after 20 minutes from Gabriel Martinelli, it was made by Bukayo Saka which was horrible news for me as Darren had both of them. Anyone thinking it would then be a straightforward victory after that for Mikel Arteta's men were mistaken as Duje Caleta-Car made it 3-1...scenes! Arsenal were not done however as two really late goals got them a 3-3 draw. Saka got the equaliser and now to be honest I already felt defeated as Friday ended with my opponent 18 points ahead.
Saturday, first up had Fulham against Leeds at Craven Cottage. Harry Wilson (£5.7m) gave Fulham the lead. Whom if I knew he was going to have a run in the team would have been under consideration as he looked very threatening in their last outing at Everton. Then came the killer as Andreas Pereira who I sold awhile ago put the Cottagers ahead 2-0 and Darren had him. It finished 2-1 to Fulham as Andreas collected 10 points. At the G-Tech stadium I had two frontmen playing and needed both to deliver, the caveat was David Raya was my keeper. Ivan Toney gave Brentford the lead, but Villa levelled late on denying me clean sheet points. Darren had Ben Mee in his backline so it effected him too. Trust the Watkins run to come to an end when we both got him into our sides.
I was late again on the Crystal Palace run as they had a goalless draw with Everton. It was not from a lack of effort from Olise or Eze but it was detrimental as my opponent had a man I recently sold in James Tarkowski giving him further points. They both went close, Eze on a number of times especially and he also had a goal ruled out for a tight offside. At Anfield; Liverpool huffed and puffed but could not blow the house down in the first half against Nottingham Forest. But they did begin the second period with a goal from Diogo Jota. Forest equalised with a deflected goal ironically from former Liverpool man Neco Williams, cue the ' t really be your own people' line again! Some points arrived for me when Andy Robertson's corner was headed in by Jota for his second. Steve Cooper's men came from behind for the second time through Morgan Gibbs-White before Salah won the game. Trent Alexander-Arnold is relishing a more-advanced role making him a real-must in FPL provided the goal from a set piece. Saturdays conclusion still saw me trailing by 18 points, 52-34.
So to Sunday. Newcastle were clear favourites with the bookmakers before kick off against Tottenham. And I thought things may be tighter than they envisioned only for things to play out exactly like that and some. The Magpies 'flew' into a 5-0 lead after just 21 minutes! The travelling fans must have felt 'sick'. Two of the opening three goals were assisted by Fabian Schar, but I could not even celebrate that as much as I would have liked as the fourth and fifth goals both came from Darren's guy Alexander Isak. I tried to message him to say well done but such was his euphoria at the win for his club, and the line of people contacting him he did not reply until the following day. Harry Kane pulled back a mere consolation that brought some points for me, before substitute Callum Wilson made it 6. It was truly an astonishing performance and Darren would have been ecstatic at well his team did.
So a defeat to a man who had a player less than me and who took a points-hit like me too. But we did not call him 'Black Pep' when it comes to FPL for no reason so there is no shame there as he won 69-47. With a midweek gameweek pending there is no time to dwell here.
@DubulDee
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