For those of you that read the season preview I was not fully embracing the Premier League being back so soon, but I still had to be prepared. My cousin Clement who was yet to gain a victory over me in the 'Justice League' was my opponent. The fantasy football gods had not favoured him when he was pitted against me, he has had leads and then I have stolen one or two of our contests with the last match played in the gameweek. Was it finally going to be his time?
From the draft posted in the last piece I made four changes after trying varying ideas. Out went Michael Keane and Ethan Pinnock in defence and in came Pervis Estupinan and Pedro Porro. In midfield I reluctantly parted ways with James Maddison to get in Phil Foden and at the 11th hour I sold Pablo Sarabia to bring in Tomas Soucek. Me and Clement obviously did not find out we were facing off until after the deadline, we were both part of the £5.2m people who had Erling Haaland as captain.
The season kicked off at Turf Moor as Vincent Kompany's Burnley hosted his old club Manchester City. Phil Foden started as I was nervous about that as Foden did not start the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on penalties. You just knew who was going to open the scoring as that man Haaland's instincts were showcased as he acted quickest when Rodri headed the ball into a dangerous area. The Clarets reacted well but the Norwegian was at it again as his well-placed finish went in off the bar giving former City keeper James Trafford no chance. Foden's only chance so him lose his footing when he was heading towards goal. Rodri got the third from close range as the champions began their campaign with a professional performance.
On Saturday, Arsenal's home win over Nottingham Forest did not affect the head-to-head so to the 3pm's we go. West Ham drew away at Bournemouth, and Soucek almost made me look like a genius as he struck the inside of the post early on. Six minutes into the second half the Czech got the return I was seeking as he laid the ball off to Jarrod Bowen to net with a fine strike. The Cherries were to salvage a point through Dominic Solanke, however. Brighton did what was expected as they handled newly promoted Luton 4-1 at the Amex Stadium. Clement and I both owned Kaoru Mitoma, and he assisted the opener as Solly March scored a header. With James Milner starting at right back, I thought he would be on penalties but another new man at the club Joao Pedro (£4.5m), stepped up to put the Seagulls 2-0 ahead. I would have considered Pedro as my third Brighton player had I known he would be on penalty kicks. There was to be no clean sheet for my keeper Jason Steele as Luton were awarded a harsh penalty and it was dispatched by Carlton Morris. I had moved Morris to my bench as I chose to start Soucek in midfield, but my original 3-4-3 formation had Morris starting, he had almost scored earlier on in the game, but Steele thwarted him. Another summer signing Simon Adringa made it 3-1 before Pervis Estupinan who was out of the bonus point system as he had been cautioned, was to assist the fourth for substitute Evan Ferguson. This allowed Estupinan to sneak in and take the maximum bonus points at the death which was brilliant.
Next to Bramall Lane, where another player was in action that Clement and I both owned in Eberechi Eze. There was to be no return for the newly capped England international despite the Eagles flying away with the three points. A first half strike from Odsonne Edouard made by Jordan Ayew was enough to get the job done. Ayew at £4.5m is a favourite of Roy Hodgson and could be of good value, especially as he would not be someone you would mind leaving on the bench sometimes just in case you wanted to overload in defence or midfield. The goal was somehow not the highlight of the match as Sheffield United's Max Lowe clashed with Hodgson on the sideline, I am quite sure I heard Palace's boss say "Don't you know man grew up in Croydon fam!". In the tea-time kick off, Newcastle and Aston Villa started off like it was going to finish 4-4, as the Magpies' summer transfer window Italian acquisition Sandro Tonali, scored a well taken goal to put them ahead. But Unai Emery's men only needed five minutes to tie things up. Their new man from the Bundesliga Moussa Diaby, placed his shot well, Diaby had incidentally been looked at by Newcastle too. Alexander Isak put Eddie Howe's men ahead in the 16th minute which helped Clement. The Swedish international was to get a brace in the second half before substitutes Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes made it 5-1! Isak's contribution was extremely bad news despite Clement's other Newcastle man Bruno Guimaraes blanking, and it could have been worse as Emiliano Martinez's denied him his hat-trick with his legs. Barnes assisted the Wilson goal meaning he got a double figure haul in less than half hour on the pitch. Saturday concluded with me trailing by two points, 55-53 with the Isak being highly detrimental to my cause.
Sunday's first match was Tottenham's trip to Brentford. As Clement had no less than three players from the club he supports, I was hoping the Bees would win. But it was Spurs who took the lead as Clement's man Cristian Romero crashed in from a Maddison free-kick, as it only took him 11 minutes to show me I should have kept Maddison in rather than get Phil Foden. But it just one game and hindsight is a beautiful thing. Thomas Frank's men came back to lead 2-1 through a Bryan Mbeumo penalty and a Yoane Wissa goal. Mathias Jensen deserves an Oscar for how he won the penalty whilst Mbeumo was flagged by the FPL app, again showing why if you have the time listen to press conferences they pay off as it can lead you astray. Emerson Royal levelled it at 2-2 in a crazy first half and that is how it remained. Royal started ahead of Pedro Porro and if I had bothered to keep tabs on any of Spurs' preseason games I would have probably known that would be the case. This meant I would get Luton's Amari'i Bell's points off the bench, the only issue was as Brighton scored 4, Bell got...0. Although Destiny Udogie and Dejan Kulusevski did not return, Romero's goal killed me with it being so tight, goals from defenders are God sent.
Chelsea and Liverpool faced off in the opening gameweeks' biggest game. The Reds took the lead through Luis Diaz after great play by Mo Salah, and the comeback was on. I thought I had taken the lead when Salah raced through to make it 2, but then the goal was chalked off for a marginal offside. The Blues levelled through Axel Disasi, as yet another summer signing found the net on the opening weekend and it was to finish 1-1. This meant with only one of my three remaining players returning, Clement with one man still left to play had ended his losing streak against me, 'boo!'. Cody Gakpo played deeper than expected and whenever I own Trent Alexander-Arnold I rarely get him in his best form, then I sell him and he starts getting double figures. Monday, saw Manchester United get an unconvincing 1-0 home triumph over Wolves. Gary O'Neil showed though he has not had much time with his new club that he has already made huge strides in implementing his style as they played United off the Old Trafford pitch for large parts of the game. Wolves were denied what looked like a blatant penalty as Andre Onana thudded into Sasa Kalajdzic after falling to claim a ball into the box. If the Red Devils continue to get that kind of luck this season then expect a title challenge! Jose Sa's blank made no difference for Clement who was rejoicing.
So a 67-61 defeat in my first match, but as it was someone I am related to I begrudgingly have to accept it. I mean, my winning run over him was never going to last forever. I am already plotting my transfer for the next gameweek as the day-to-day emotion and stress of FPL is well and truly back.
@DubulDee
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