My co-host Darren. B. (D-Man) was my gameweek 5 opponent. Bragging rights for the next radio show were at stake and I had already decided that I was going to use my ‘wildcard’ after delaying it last week. I had a feeling Darren may use his one too but regardless I had to get Erling Haaland in my team as what he was doing to start the season was ridiculous. As usual when activating the wildcard I had at least three different drafts, knowing fully well whoever did not make the final cut would end up doing well in true FPL fashion.
I was not going to take the captaincy away from Mo Salah as Liverpool were at home to Bournemouth. In the end to my surprise Darren did not use his wildcard despite us having a conversation about it at a time when we did not realise we were playing each other in this gameweek. He was also to captain Salah. I had tried to bluff him by sending him team news earlier in the week to make him believe that he was not playing me.
The action began on Saturday at the London Stadium as West Ham hosted Chelsea. I had Nicolas Jackson in my first wildcard draft, but in the end I elected to keep Diogo Jota in midfield and I took Jackson out for Danny Welbeck before ending up with Eddie Nketiah. Jackson made me pay, bagging a first half brace as the Hammers gave him the freedom of the stadium. For the second successive week Cole Palmer was a differential for me, I was not pleased he had not been involved in the first two goals, but I was put out of my worries just a couple of minutes into the second half. The Blues caught West Ham with a quick break and Jackson found Palmer who produced a sublime finish in off the post. I had thought more was going to come from Palmer, only for Enzo Maresca to withdraw him just past the hour as it ended 3-0.
In the 3pm’s, three players I overlooked all were on the scoresheet at Villa Park. Gary O’Neil’s men took the lead through Matheus Cunha (£6.5m) who if he had been slightly cheaper, I may have got in, but Wolves play Liverpool in gameweek 6 so I would have irrespective of anything he would have been benched. Ollie Watkins levelled before Ezri Konsa put Unai Emery’s men ahead late on. I picked Lewis Dunk as my £4.5m defender rather than Konsa. Jhon Duran cannot stop scoring as he got his fourth goal from the bench in five games, the fact I knew he would not start is what made me not select him as it ended 3-1. Darren’s team Newcastle were beaten 3-1 by Fulham. Raul Jimenez, who was in my second draft scored the opener, before Emile Smith Rowe, who we both owned, scored the second goal as well as hitting the crossbar. Isak started but did not return luckily. My opponent benched Antonee Robinson, whilst I started him so it would have been nice if he could have got more than 2 points. I went with Jamie Vardy over the aforementioned Jimenez, so trust Vardy not to find the net as Leicester needed a late Stephy Mavididi goal to rescue a point at home to Everton. Ironically Michael Keane (£4m) was on my bench, so the Mavididi goal stopped me from rueing not starting Keane.
Liverpool got back to winning ways at home as they scored three first half goals to put away Bournemouth. Before sticking with Jota, I had told Rian (Milito) that I was seriously considering swapping him with Luis Diaz. The Colombian showed I should have trusted my gut and done it as he copped a brace. Darwin Nunez started which meant Jota was only on the bench and the Uruguayan scored a wonderful goal for the Reds’ third and it was assisted by Salah. Trent Alexander-Arnold assisted one of Diaz’s goals as Darren had the edge here as he outscored Andy Robertson. Jota was not to be brought on by Arne Slot, however, after being frustrated seeing him on the bench at the start, it turned out to be a good thing in the end. Southampton’s teenager Tyler Dibling (£4.5m) impressed me when Southampton played Manchester United last week, so when I looked around that price, I believed he would a good option. This proved to indeed be the case as he scored against Ipswich, controlling the ball well and showing mass composure with the left footed finish, I got his points as he came in Jota. The Ramsdale clean sheet I needed looked in the bag before a 95th minute deflected shot by Sam Morsy denied the Saints of three points. This just showed I should have followed my instincts and gone with Robert Sanchez between the sticks. The man who was in my first draft, Bryan Mbeumo, did not need more than 30 seconds to give Brentford the lead at Tottenham, before they fell to a 3-1 defeat, the problem was that my opponent had Mbeumo.
In the late kick-off, I desperately needed Manchester United to find the net away at Crystal Palace, as Darren had three men from the Eagles. The Red Devils were the better team in the first half but could not beat Dean Henderson. My hopes of any points were dashed when Nketiah was taken off in the 66th minute as Oliver Glasner decided to tighten things up rather than try and go for the win. With the game ending goalless it was catastrophic for me. Darren collected 18 points from Henderson, Daniel Munoz (who I sold) and Eberechi Eze. To be honest it could have been worse as Eze missed a great opportunity to win the game. Saturday finished with me trailing narrowly 59-54.
Sunday, saw Brighton draw 2-2 at home with Nottingham Forest, this was to be another game that was detrimental for me. Things began extremely poorly when Forest were awarded a first half penalty. With Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse on the pitch I thought one of them would take it only for Chris Wood to step up and tuck the spot kick away. Not only did Darren have Wood in his team (pause), it took away my Lewis Dunk clean sheet. Brighton levelled and then Welbeck showed I made a mistake by opting for Nketiah as he scored a superb free-kick to put the Seagulls ahead. Ramon Sosa got Nuno Espirito Santo’s men a point with a second half equaliser as it finished 2-2. Dunk also got booked so he ended with no points whatsoever. This left me needed another Haaland hat-trick to have any chance as the opposition had two Arsenal players. It started well at Etihad as Savinho assisted Haaland to make it 1-0. Rodri came off with a terrible injury, then the Gunners were to fire back with a great strike from Riccardo Calafiori. Gabriel Magalhaes then put them ahead with a header from a Bukayo Saka corner and as Darren had them both, the head-to-head was officially over. Leandro Trossard was sent off for a second booking at the end of the first half meaning Arsenal were under siege for the whole of the second period. However, It took City until the 98th minute to equalise through John Stones as it ended in another 2-2 draw.
@DubulDee
Yet another defeat for me then. Dibling was a bright spark but to be honest I would have preferred to have lost not using the wildcard. Hindsight is a beautiful thing however, and I would have been cursing if I did not use it and lost. Four defeats from five is poor and I need a change of luck and quickly at that as I lost 78-63. Another great effort by Darren as he did not own Haaland, he also owns the highest score without the Norwegian so far this campaign when he got 92 in gameweek 3. The former champion wants his crown back, he lies 5th one point off the leader Delvin.
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