The biggest trash-talker in the ‘Justice League’, Muji, was my gameweek 18 opponent. His mind games began well before the action kicked off in our group chat and he was also out to beat me as his best mate Khurram (K) fell to a defeat against me when we played recently.
I had two free transfers and I tried to get a differential in midfield. I sold Ollie Watkins for his teammate Jhon Duran up front. Then despite Manchester City’s outrageously poor form, I did not see Everton keeping another clean sheet, so I pondered over getting Phil Foden or Kevin De Bruyne in midfield. In the end I went for the latter and then when I checked Muji’s team before the deadline he had him too. With De Bruyne’s ownership being less than 5% I tried to get some important points with the money left from going from a £8.9m Watkins to a £5.8m Duran. De Bruyne did not start the last game so it was a massive risk but I thought he could start this week though there are heavy doubts about his fitness. When the deadline passed, I saw that Muji sold De Bruyne for Diogo Jota, as well as selling Joao Pedro for Gabriel Jesus as he took a 4-point deduction. It is no coincidence that interestingly Khurram brought in the exact same two players also taking a deduction, as it looks like a thorough investigation will have to be done again on these two individuals. By the end of it I am sure these two former Justice League champions combined will have as many charges as Manchester City! Muji and I both captained Mo Salah.
The action began on Boxing Day. The early kick-off saw Manchester City host Everton and I was right that the Toffees would concede as a deflected Bernardo Silva goal gave City the lead. Sean Dyche’s men fired back through a great finish by Iliman Ndiaye as Everton got their third straight draw against a title contender. Josko Gvardiol again could have scored and De Bruyne sadly was only a second half substitute as this game did not help me in any fashion.
In the 3pm’s, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace both missed good chances as they ended in a stalemate at the Vitality Stadium. This again aided my opponent as he had Milos Kerkez. It looked like business as usual at Stamford Bridge as a super solo goal by Cole Palmer gave the Blues the lead. However, Fulham fought back to win the Derby 2-1 thanks to late goals from substitutes Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz. Muji and I both had Palmer so no advantage there. My first bit of luck came as Nicolas Jackson blanked, Muji also had Alex Iwobi in this game who did not return. Anthony Gordon put Newcastle ahead after just 2 minutes against Aston Villa. My recent curse loomed its ugly head again as Duran was harshly sent off, so now twice in three gameweeks a player I transferred in was sent off, I mean come on, what exactly have I done to anyone? This is disgusting man! No fortune! The Magpies went on to win 3-0 as Alexander Isak who we both owned was on target once again. There was added joy for my opposition as he had Lewis Hall in his defence. My poor luck at Christmas somehow worsened at St Mary’s. West Ham won 1-0 at Southampton, but my keeper Lukasz Fabianski, had to come off in the first half due to a knock to the head. First all of I wish Fabianski a speedy recover as he will now be in concussion protocol. He was so busy despite only playing half an hour or so that he already got himself a save point. Jarrod Bowen got the goal as he continues to punish me for not getting him in when I was very close to doing so a few weeks back.
In the first of the latter kick-offs at 5.30pm, Wolves inflicted more pain onto Manchester United. Matheus Cunha is killing it currently; I have never found the room to have him in my side this campaign though as he scored straight from a corner. He then laid on the second for Hee-chan Hwang at the death as it finished 2-0. Jorgen Strand Larsen had a goal disallowed for offside to my great frustration, although Rayan Ait-Nouri’s clean sheet points meant my FPL team ‘leaving here with something’ at least (Denzel voice). In the last contest, Liverpool fell behind early on to Leicester as clean sheets still have not come since I put Andy Robertson in my team. The league leaders fired back to triumph 3-1 and of course Salah got his goal at the end. Jota was only a second half substitute after all that.
Before Friday’s action, Muji had a one-point lead as it stood 49-48. The issue was I only had Bryan Mbeumo left, and he had three Arsenal men. Brighton and Brentford looked like it would be filled with goals on paper, nonetheless it ended up in a goalless draw as Mbeumo blanked handing Muji victory. Mark Flekken came off injured and his popularity will cause many managers a keeper headache. Arsenal made hard work of Ipswich as they edged a 1-0 win. Despite it not being Jesus who scored, the Gunners’ clean sheet got my opponent points from David Raya and Gabriel Magalhaes as it ended 63-51.
I was not pleased to lose to this troublemaker but after my epic win in gameweek 17 I must accept that a defeat like this was coming. My luck is rotten however, it is clear as day to see with these sending offs and injuries. Bah humbug! And you wonder why I do not go all out for Christmas in general anymore eh! Shoutout to the leader Darren (D-Man) who got the highest score this week with 77 as he got another win. Gameweek 19 is right here so no time to dwell on this setback, I am fully in Grinch-mode now.
@DubulDee
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