My long-time friend Jermaine was my opposition this week. He did not enjoy the best first part of the season, but I was not underestimating him by any means as he had a good team.
I needed to keep the pressure on Eman at the top of the table and this meant I went back to overthinking, but this is the FPL life we chose right...
I had been pondering over getting in Pedro Neto (£5.7m) for a while, so after he produced a double-figure haul in the defeat against Manchester United, I decided to finally get him in. I reluctantly let go of Pascal Gross (£6.4m), who had been solid for me but should have had more points overall, the game last month away at West Ham especially came to mind. This also freed up a bit of money as I will definitely be getting the likes of Mo Salah back in to my side when he is fit again. Brighton, were due a good win and Gross was their creative hub, so I knew I was going to have to hide behind the couch when they met Crystal Palace. I resisted the urge to bring Erling Haaland back in just yet and this meant I was anxious awaiting to see whether Jermaine would get him in or not. In the end my opponent did not make any transfers. He gave his captaincy to Kevin De Bruyne whilst I left mine with Diogo Jota.
The action began on Saturday at Goodison Park, in the early kick-off with Tottenham being the visitors. Not even five minutes had gone when Richarlison gave Spurs the lead against his former club. Jermaine and I both owned Pedro Porro and the Toffees equalised through Dominic Calvert-Lewin to deny us of a clean sheet. Destiny Udogie provided the opener and is proving currently to be the better full back option at Tottenham with the fact he is cheaper than Porro too. Richarlison (£7.2m), scored his ninth goal in eight games to put Ange Postecoglou's men back in front. However, a last minute Jarrad Branthwaite goal made sure the spoils were shared. Dejan Kulusevski was in my opponent's team, but he only came on as a second half substitute.
In the 3pm contests, I was found right to have been nervous about Crystal Palace's trip to the Amex Stadium. Brighton won 4-1 and you just knew their first goal would involve Gross as his corner was headed in by club captain Lewis Dunk after just three minutes. It was to get worse for me as Gross was to again assist in the first half. His great footwork provided the third goal for Facundo Buonanotte (£4.7m). Gross misconduct here of the highest order if you ask me. I felt sick at not being more patient. With all the Seagulls' injuries Buonanotte could do a job like the likes of Simon Adringa was doing no too long ago. Another note from this encounter was that Paul Hinshelwood (£4.5m), scored his 3rd goal of the campaign and could be another enabler for your squad. Joao Pedro got in on the act with the 4th and for once it was not from the penalty spot. Pervis Estupinan was only a substitute and that was hugely damaging for me as I expected a return from him. Jermaine had Joachim Andersen, and he proved vital despite his team conceding 4, as he assisted the consolation goal for Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Regardless of showing how plucky they can be in many games this season; Luton were expected to be beaten as they travelled to St James' Park to face Newcastle. A wild affair was to end 4-4, and some names I mentioned from the Hatters recently contributed. The man I previously owned Carlton Morris scored a penalty and assisted, whereas Ross Barkley scored and assisted too. On top of this, Elijah Adebayo bagged his 9th of the season to secure the point. With a double gameweek in gameweek 28 coming up for Rob Edwards' men, will managers be brave enough to get Luton assets into their side? Newcastle conceding 4 meant no return from Fabian Schar, but after his amazing performance last week, I must accept that.
In the teatime kick-off, Aston Villa smashed Sheffield United 5-0 at Bramall Lane. Despite the great number of points he has delivered this season, I had thoughts of letting Ollie Watkins go soon as Haaland's ownership is ever-rising, but thankfully I still have him as he accumulated 18 points. Watkins scored and got 3 assists, one of them being a fantasy assist as he hit the post and John McGinn scored from the rebound to open the scoring. Saturday, ended with Jermaine narrowly ahead 23-20.
Sunday, saw Bournemouth draw 1-1 at home with Nottingham Forest. Luckily for me Dominic Solanke did not score to add to Jermaine's lead. Chelsea, were gunned down 4-2 at home to Wolves. Matheus Cunha scored a hat-trick and I am still wondering if I can work him into my side. I mentioned him quite long ago and he now has 9 league goals as well as 6 assists, whilst still being under £6m. With Gross returning double figures, I was hoping Neto had a big impact, but he was booked. He did go on to assist Cunha's second, but much more had been required. I was anticipating West Ham getting something at Old Trafford, but it was not to be as Manchester United triumphed 3-0. Jermaine and I both had Alphonse Areola in goal so him getting just one point was not really damaging. What hurt was the fact my differential in the head-to-head, Jarrod Bowen, was clean through in the second period only to be denied by a block by Diogo Dalot. I yelled as I felt the gameweek slipping away from me.
My last hope was my captain Diogo Jota. Liverpool were away at Arsenal in one of the biggest matches of the season, but it was to end in tears for us 'Pool fans. Jurgen Klopp's men found the worst time to have their weakest performance of the campaign as they were beaten 3-1. Just when the away side showed a bit of threat, Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk turned into the 'Chuckle Brothers' and allowed Gabriel Martinelli to slot into an open goal to make it 2-1 and the Gunners never looked back. Jermaine is an Arsenal fan and although his two men from Mikel Arteta's team, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard blanked, with my captain not scoring, the gameweek had basically been decided. I led 31-29 upon Sunday's conclusion, the issue was with De Bruyne as my opponent's captain if he did not get sent off or get injured before the hour mark then there was no way that I could win. This was as we both owned Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez here to, there were not other differentials outside of the captaincy.
So, to Monday, Brentford hosted Manchester City at the Gtech Stadium, and the home team took the lead. Neal Maupay, continued his good recent form as Mark Flekken's long kick went straight through to him and he found the net. In a first half littered with corners Flekken made so many stops that when City levelled through Foden, he still had 7 points at half-time due to his assist and the saves. Pep Guardiola's men went on to win 3-1 as Foden bagged an excellent hat-trick. His second goal was assisted by De Bruyne so I subsequently lost by 3 points. That Andersen assist in Palace's defeat was what won it for Jermaine, fancy that.
Foden's haul got me up to 58 points, but as the average for the week was 57 my overall rank in the world has fallen. More importantly, Eman won his fixture so again he is six points ahead of me, and I have four managers right there if I slip up. What makes my next game even bigger is the fact I play Andrew who is just a point behind me in the 'Justice League'.
@DubulDee
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