Eman was my gameweek 3 opposition. He was the runner-up last season and considering I just played Ash who came third this was a horrible start to the campaign for me. This is the thanks I get for making a head-to-head league, isn't it?
I had a brainwave after looking at the fixtures. Manchester City's games intrigued me before even selecting my first draft for the season but with Pep Roulette always lurking, I only went with two of their men and I was even cautious about doing that. With them travelling to Sheffield United I thought this was the time to have three men from the champions. Julian Alvarez had started both of their opening matches, so I drafted him in as he had scored and assisted already to open proceedings. I let go of Cody Gakpo as he had played slightly deeper than I expected in Liverpool's first two contests. This saved me just under a million as Gakpo's price had declined. I usually like to have three Liverpool players, but you cannot always do what you would prefer especially when you do not want to take a points-hit. If I never made what was a pointless transfer for Chris Basham last week, then I could have had two free transfers this week. To my horror when the deadline passed, I saw that Eman had got Alvarez into his team too. After studying his team beforehand, I did not realise he had enough to go from his namesake Emmanuel Dennis (£4.9m) to Alvarez (£6.6m), but these are the perks from having money in the bank of course. We both obviously captained Haaland who once again was the most captained around the world.
The action started on Friday as Chelsea welcomed newly promoted Luton Town. Raheem Sterling, was very good in defeat last week against West Ham and he continued to shine like a brand-new pound coin as he ran through the away side to score a brilliant opener. The pass to him was by Malo Gusto. Robert Sanchez then had to make a vital stop from Ryan Giles to keep the Blues ahead. In the second period, Ben Chilwell, who was in my opponent's team ran into the box but when he could have had an attempt on his weaker right foot, he instead tried to find Sterling and the chance went. I was happy but I really needed the Hatters to score. 'Pound' Sterling was to be at it again however, as Malo showed he has a real 'gusto' for assisting as he found the England international for his brace. Sterling was not to be done yet as his deflected pass set up Nicholas Jackson for his first Chelsea goal...who's bad?! Jackson let everyone down by not dancing when he scored, but one man who was dancing was Eman as Chilwell's clean sheet points were accompanied by one of my frontmen Carlton Morris blanking as it ended 3-0.
Saturday began with Tottenham's trip to Bournemouth. James Maddison gave Ange Postecoglou's men the lead before it was wrapped up in the second half by Dejan Kulusevski. Kulusevski's goal was provided by Destiny Odogie, who was thankfully the last man on Eman's bench. I happily took my clean sheet points from Pedro Porro. Porro's price has fallen but he is looking more disciplined defensively which could be a good thing or a bad one. Him better defensive-wise could help the North Londoners to more clean sheets but it could be detrimental to his attacking returns. Odogie (£4.6m) could be the slightly cheaper option in their backline for me to look at.
In the 3pm's, Arsenal were expected to take three more points at home however, Fulham had other ideas. Bukayo Saka gave the ball away and Andreas Pereira wrong-footed Aaron Ramsdale to put the Cottagers ahead in the first minute. The Gunners levelled from the spot as Saka decided he wanted to take penalties again just because Eman had him in his team, I am telling you these guys with Nigerian-born parents stick together man, Eman probably sent him some money before the game. It made me think maybe one of those emails I got from a person in Nigeria were not a scam and they were maybe actually trying to send me currency. Anyway, back to the Emirates and Mikel Arteta's men were soon ahead through Eddie Nketiah, but a last gasp equaliser from Joao Palhinha stole Marco Silva's ten-men a precious point. Brentford and Crystal Palace had a stalemate at the Gtech Community Stadium. Bryan Mbeumo was the most transferred player in this week so of course in rue FPL fashion after have a blistering first two games he blanked. Kevin Schade scored a great goal for the Bees, but Joachim Andersen squeezed one over the line for the Eagles. Eman and I both owned Eberechi Eze and he failed to deliver for the third game in a row and I may have to seek an alternative preferably a cheaper one than the £6.4m he has dropped to.
I was on the verge of getting some differential points in the head-to-head from my keeper Jordan Pickford when in the 87th minute Wolves scraped a last-gasp victory at Goodison Park. Things are considerably looking sticky for the Toffees, and I need to shift Pickford when I eventually use my wildcard as there are better options around the £4m region with Alphonse Areola (now £4.1m) and Matt Turner currently number one choices at their respective clubs. Manchester United went 2-0 down after just four minutes at home to Nottingham Forest. When you have the disdain that I have for United and Arsenal, them simultaneously going behind so early had me momentarily more excited than a child running through the doors of Toys"R"Us for the first time. The Red Devils, a very appropriate nickname I must say were to make an inevitable comeback. Christian Eriksen, made 2-1 and it was assisted by Marcus Rashford, who to my dismay Eman had. Casemiro, made it all square after an assist by Bruno Fernandes, who my opponent had too, and things were starting to look ominous. Rashford, then fell to the ground when Danilo stuck a leg out, there did not seem to be much contact but nonetheless a penalty was given, I bet that is how women fall to their feet when they see Marcus at a nightclub. Fernandes duly scored the spot-kick and I was seemingly staring defeat in the face, like how the women look at Marcus...look you get the point! Erik ten Hag's men won 3-2 and my initial joy was now extreme pain with Eman supporting United this was ecstasy for him.
In the late game, another man Eman and I both owned Kaoru Mitoma, was not to return as West Ham surprised Brighton with a 3-1 win at the Amex Stadium. Pervis Estupinan, who is in everyone's team this campaign only picked up a solitary point as Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio scored excellent goals. With their favourable prices West Ham have some great assets and another one of them new signing James Ward-Prowse, scored the Hammers' first and he has been superb with three goal contributions in his first two matches for the East London club. At only £6m with his world-class set piece delivery he should be one that many are considering, they do however, have Liverpool and Manchester City coming up but after that he could be a must-have. Saturday ended with Eman leading 37-14, I quite frankly needed somewhat of a small miracle. With Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Mo Salah still to play there was a possibly a glimmer of hope for me as of his remaining players I had two of them in Alvarez and Haaland.
So, to Sunday where there were two 2pm kick offs. Aston Villa gave Burnley their second home defeat of the season as they ran out 3-1 winners at Turf Moor. Matty Cash scored a rare goal, and then he bagged another as he relished playing in a more advanced role making it easier for him to make his transactions. Vincent Kompany's men pulled a goal back before Moussa Diaby sealed the three points, Diaby had earlier assisted Cash's second deposit as he finished like a seasoned centre forward. I had wanted Cash but did not have the budget, hence why I wanted Cash...get it? But, no on a serious note I only had £4.5m to play with when I made my defensive change last week and he was at £4.5m, with this more advanced role I expect his ownership to continue to rise. Sheffield United entertained Manchester City and despite Pep Guardiola not being in attendance due to him undergoing minor back surgery he still managed to sabotage me. I wish him a speedy recovery, but Pep Roulette was in place as Phil Foden who was the man of the match last week against Newcastle was benched. The world was expecting points as Haaland stepped up for a first half penalty, but he hit the post. Haaland eventually opened the scoring in the second period with a header after good work by Jack Grealish. Jayden Bogle, fired in a late goal to put the Blades level but Rodri fired in with his weaker foot to win the game. Substitute Foden assisted the goal as I got something, but I really needed a big haul from him considering my deficit, he just never had enough time on the pitch to deliver. So, the Alvarez transfer did not immediately work but with the upcoming fixtures they have he still has time to do damage.
So, it was left up to Alexander-Arnold and Salah to try and get me out of jail and if they could do so then that would limit Sven Botman's points as he came into Eman's XI as Gabriel Magalhaes did not play for Arsenal. Things could not have got off to a worse start as Alexander-Arnold was booked for throwing the ball after he was fouled but no action was taken against Anthony Gordon. A few minutes later Liverpool's full back then obstructed Gordon and only did not see a second yellow as the referee realised how nonsensical the first booking was. Alexander Arnold, then made an error when Salah passed the ball back to him and Gordon raced through to slide the ball past Alisson for 1-0. It then went from bad to worse as Virgil van Dijk brought down Alexander Isak. Alisson pulled off some heroics to keep the scoreline the same and then Darwin Nunez came on and things evolved. Nunez was one of many great substitutions by Jurgen Klopp and after good work by another man off the bench Diogo Jota, he fired in a tremendous finish via the post to level it up. If you expected the unexpected then you were right to, as Nunez who missed a plethora of good chances last season controlled a great pass by Salah to comprehensively beat Nick Pope and get all three points for the ten men. An amazing comeback that made me some money too. Unfortunately, with just two assists between my three remaining men I fell to a 49-34 defeat. Two losses form the opening three games is not the worst thing in the world, but I cannot afford to lose my next one with the aspirations I have for the campaign.
@DubulDee
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