Gameweek 4 saw me pitted against my lifelong friend Jermaine and I really needed a win in the last gameweek before the international break. Although it was very early in the season with two defeats in my first three games, I did not want to be playing catch-up after how the last campaign turned out when I was punished for not having Erling Haaland early on. I had him from the start this time around so falling behind further would be even worse.
I racked my brain as to what I should do, I initially did not want to make a change so then I would have two free transfers after the international break but at the same time my bench was looking a tad weak. Tomas Soucek was out due to concussion protocol after sustaining a head injury last week at Brighton, therefore I only had two active defenders on my bench. I tried to see which midfielders would be best to bring in for Soucek but with just £5.8m in the bank I was underwhelmed with the options. I looked at Abdoulaye Doucoure, Mathias Jensen, Kevin Schade and Pedro Neto but I just could not pull the trigger on any of them.
I looked at a different option, I reluctantly sold Eberechi Eze, who I knew would haul soon, but I felt had to do something, the options as you would expect were now more interesting. Before Friday's deadline I had been on road trip with Rian (Milito) and he suggested that I put Jarrod Bowen (£7.1m) in as I now had enough in the budget to do so, but the usual overthinking came into play and I thought as he had started the season so well, that once I got him in he would blank. Bryan Mbeumo, was another player who had started the campaign well and he was even cheaper than Bowen at £6.8m. Alternatively, getting Dominik Szoboszlai would let me have three Liverpool players again, or get Dejan Kulusevski as Tottenham had a trip to Burnley that I believed they could do some damage in, but in the end I did not go for any of those names. Another West Ham man came to the fore in James Ward-Prowse, because of his world-class set piece delivery I looked at the fact that he would always have a chance to contribute and with Manchester City and Liverpool coming up for the Hammers, if need be, I would not be overly paranoid about leaving him on the bench before giving him an extended run in my main XI. Ward-Prowse was only £6m also which gave me more budget-wise for gameweek 5 just in case. I captained Phil Foden as an alternative to always choosing Haaland. Julian Alvarez was another option, but I did not know if 'Pep Roulette' would strike, so went with Foden as he did not start the last game, so I believed he would start at home to Fulham. Jermaine captained that man Haaland.
So, to Friday evening. West Ham were Luton's first opponents at Kenilworth Road in the Premier League. There was to be no shot on target in the game until the man I decided not to get in Bowen headed in from Lucas Paqueta's inviting ball into the box. Sometimes FPL is straightforward, just get the man in that is in-form and chill. I thought the game was destined to end 1-0 when the Hammers got a corner. Ward-Prowse produced his usual quality delivery and Kurt Zouma headed in off the post for 2-0, thanks Kurt, you saved me from saying 'suffering succotash'. My late burst of points was not to be over as the Hatters pulled a goal back, Carlton Morris headed the ball into a dangerous area and Mads Andersen headed in their first home goal back in the top division, 'yay!'. After thinking my players would blank, they accumulated 12 points as Nayef Aguerd came out of the bonus points due to the late Luton goal and Ward-Prowse ending up with two bonus points meaning he levelled Bowen's tally. With Jermaine having no players in that game I led 12-0.
Saturday, began with Everton's trip to Sheffield United. Doucoure gave the Toffees the lead and Jordan Pickford made three early saves to gain a bonus point, then things changed for the worst. Cameron Archer (only £4.5m) scored on his debut for the Blades with a great finish before his shot hit the post and then went in for an own goal off Pickford to make it 2-1. All Pickford's hard work early on was undone as he lost two points for the own goal and a further point for conceding a second goal, he was unlucky but that is just how it goes. Arnaut Danjuma rescued a point for Sean Dyche's men, but it was Pickford who came to the fore in the clutch. An amazing double save at the end from England's number one made sure the spoils were shared, the little arms chants can wait awhile I suppose.
In the 3pm's, Brentford and Bournemouth could not be separated as they drew 2-2 at the Gtech Stadium, Jensen and Mbeumo both scored as players I decided against continued to impress, both men especially the latter scored fine goals. Tottenham produced another impressive away performance as they ran riot at Burnley in a 5-2 triumph. Ange Postecoglou, clearly tired of Richarlison firing blanks put captain Heung-min Son down the middle and the Korean duly scored a hat-trick of the highest quality. His first was a delightful dink over James Trafford and his last goal came from an inch perfect pass from Pedro Porro which I really needed. In the shock of the weekend, Nottingham Forest beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. I like to see the Blues falter regardless but as my opponent had Levi Colwill and Nicolas Jackson this made it even more satisfactory. Jackson, got his third booking in four games as well as missing a sitter in the second half. There is no real need for me to add to the 'Ms. Jackson' jokes, but he may end up becoming an outcast at this rate, I am for real.
Manchester City, in the end got the result that was expected at home to Fulham. Alvarez started the game after my doubts, and he opened the scoring from a Haaland assist. Marco Silva's men were to reply straightaway however, as Tim Ream scored from close range after a save by Ederson. The Cityzens restored their lead albeit controversially through Nathan Ake and it was provided by my captain Foden. Haaland, then gave the many that captained him what they wanted as he scored a second half hat-trick. With Alvarez assisting one of them and acquiring a 'fantasy' assist for winning the penalty the Norwegian put away. This made my captain choice look bad but nevertheless this match was fruitful for me. In the late game Brighton responded to being beaten at home by West Ham with a 3-1 victory over Newcastle. The third 'hatty' of the day was scored by teenager Evan Ferguson, who started as Danny Welbeck was out after Roberto De Zerbi was unsuccessful in playing them both in that loss to the Hammers. His third which was deflected was assisted by Kaoru Mitoma as another second half contribution came in for my team. I was on the verge of having everyone that played on Saturday for me returning when the Seagulls went to sleep at the back and substitute Callum Wilson helped himself to a consolation goal. Jermaine, had Kieran Trippier and Solly March so their blanks gave me a stranglehold on things despite Haaland's heroics as I now led 68-47, however, he had six men left to play and I only had two.
Sunday, saw another former player show up, Eze scored in an action-packed second half between Crystal Palace and Wolves that had five goals in it as the Eagles emerged 3-2. Eze's goal meant after all that I did not even need to make a transfer and could have had my two free ones after the international break. Cunha scored for Wolves and Neto assisted twice as it seemed everyone I had a slight thought about produced something. Liverpool and Aston Villa were in the other 2pm kick-off and the Reds took an early lead through a aesthetically pleasing left foot shot by Szoboszlai from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner. Matty Cash was not on the money this week as he scored an own goal for the second. Jurgen Klopp's men rounded off a 3-0 win with a goal from Mo Salah as he turned in Darwin Nunez's flick-on. Alexander-Arnold should have had more points as Joel Matip headed his free-kick wide and Salah would have assisted a goal for Nunez if it was not for a touch by Emiliano Martinez. Alexander-Arnold delivered a double-figure haul mainly thanks to two big saves from Alisson Becker. Jermaine's two Liverpool men did not return as he had Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo was only on the bench.
The biggest game of the week closed gameweek four. Old rivals Arsenal and Manchester United locked horns at the Emirates Stadium. Jermaine, had no less than four men in this match so despite my lead now standing at a whopping 37 points, knowing my luck he could still probably make a comeback. The Red Devils struck first as yet again in a match away at Arsenal they scored a goal on the counter attack, it seems like it has been happening for at least 15 years. The well taken goal by Marcus Rashford meant no clean sheet points for William Saliba, that's one down and three men to go. However, instantly the Gunners replied as United went to sleep and Martin Odegaard fired into the bottom corner. That meant no clean sheet for Andre Onana who my opponent had but the caveat was he had Odegaard. Mikel Arteta's men continued to put the pressure on, and a fine team move was almost finished off by Bukayo Saka, 'phew'. Saka, nevertheless, still returned for Jermaine as his corner set-up Declan Rice to score a precious late winner in the 97th minute. This was only after Erik ten Hag's men thought they had won the battle when Alejandro Garnacho raced through and calmly slotted in but after a check by VAR, he was marginally offside. Just to make sure the three points were in the bag, Gabriel Jesus, showed an outrageous level of composure as he sent Diogo Dalot for a hotdog and made it 3-1.
So, in the end I strolled to a 88-64 win. As nine of my XI returned I should really have been passing 100 points but nonetheless I still have the highest score in a gameweek in the Justice League thus far. Five men outscored my captain Foden, but I am still very pleased with this score despite numerous people getting at least 60 mainly as they captained Haaland. Hopefully I can continue this form after the international break. A quick shoutout to my teenage nephew Taejaun, who is not in the Justice league but had Evan Ferguson in his team.
@DubulDee
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