Another of my co-hosts from the D&D Football Factory 'Big' Sam was my opposition this week in the 'Justice League'. Sam was out for revenge as in the reverse fixture I stole a win at the death thanks to a Jarrod Bowen goal in West Ham's win at Tottenham back in December. Of course the winner would be the chance to brag on the radio show about it too.
I was mentally crumbling as I was in the midst of what has sadly become a routine capitulation at this time of the season as I had gone from 2nd to 4th in the head-to-head league. As well as that people who were nowhere near me in the 'Justice League' had surpassed me in classic points, further underlining my recent struggles. I had planned a long time ago to use my 'Triple captain' bonus chip this week and it was always going to be given to Mo Salah as Liverpool were one of the teams who had a double gameweek. Salah had been subbed a couple of times recently and was clearly out of form, but after a long think I stuck with giving him the captaincy.
As soon as I activated the triple captain chip, I had intentions of taking as high as a 12-point deduction and make as many as four transfers with only one of them being free. But the forward I was looking to bring in Wolves ' Matheus Cunha picked up an injury and so I opted to only take an 8-point hit. I strongly considered getting in Jean-Philippe Mateta instead of Cunha at a stage as he was in-form however, I went against it. My first transfer was to get in Diogo Jota for Kevin De Bruyne, as I already had three Liverpool men, so I had to let go of one to bring Jota in, so I sold the injured Conor Bradley for my namesake Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz. Therefore, I elected against Mateta as I was cautious about having three men from the Eagles as I already had Michael Olise. The other change was up front as I sold Rodrigo Muniz for Dominic Solanke. I was clearly too late to get Muniz in as he never scored in the three gameweeks I had him for. Sam made three changes as he had two free transfers, so he only lost four points. He also sold Bradley but for Gabriel Magalhaes. His other two changes were Heung-min Son for Martin Odegaard and Pascal Gross went out for Eberechi Eze, who was the most transferred player in this week as Palace too had a double gameweek. Sam captained Solanke.
The action started at 3pm on Saturday with two games, but only of them influenced the head-to-head. There was a nice start for me at Kenilworth Road as Brentford took the lead against Luton as Bryan Mbeumo assisted Yoane Wissa who finished brilliantly. Things almost got even better when Mbeumo struck the bar as the Bees continued to cause problems. Thomas Frank's men went on to cause riot and went 5-0 ahead before the Hatters got a late consolation. Mbeumo was to get another assist as Keane Lewis-Potter tucked in the 4th goal. Ivan Toney was on my bench and did not feature anyway. Alfie Doughty only got -1 for Sam a point as Luton conceded 5. In the evening kick-off, Wolves hosted Arsenal. Unfortunately, my two Wolves men were only on the bench. The Gunners had a few attempts in the first half, but the best chance fell to Joao Gomes, only for David Raya to make an excellent save at his near post. The save was critical for Sam as he had doubled up on Arsenal defensively. Trossard gave Arsenal the lead at the end of the first period. I thought I was getting away with no attacking return from Odegaard when he had a shot saved in the 5th minute of injury time and then he smartly squeezed the ball in at the near post for 2-0 with the last meaningful kick of the game. I was at a surprise birthday party whilst the game was on so did not find out until almost midnight, it is probably better I did not know at the time as I may hit someone! Sam led 24-3 at Saturday's close.
A packed Sunday began with Nottingham Forest's trip to Everton. In a highly controversial game, the home side prevailed 2-0, which meant if need be, I had points on the bench from Jarrod Branthwaite. Forest on another day could have had three penalties and they issued a statement after the game in their disgust. Jordan Pickford had a solid game in goal too, I wish he had more of those when I owned him. Players that I formerly owned continued to flourish at Villa Park also. Solanke scored a penalty to give Bournemouth the lead giving me points but it of course extended my opponent's lead. Ollie Watkins continued to torment me since I sold him as he assisted twice as Unai Emery's men went on to win 3-1. Watkins' first assist was to Moussa Diaby, who was benched when I let him go many gameweeks back, but now he is getting good minutes again. At the same time Crystal Palace tore West Ham to shreds as David Moyes' job hangs in the balance with Julen Lopetegui lurking. Olise gave me the start I wanted but then Sam's man Eze made it 2-0 to cancel that out. Olise then assisted Mateta after an own goal by Emerson as the first half ended 4-1! Eze wanted to match everything Olise had done however, and he laid on a fifth goal for Mateta. Mateta showed me once again though it may seem slightly ambitious just go with your gut as he accumulated 13 points. The game finished 5-2 as Dean Henderson was so bored he thought he would help West Ham out with a terrible own goal. The only other good thing here was that Mohammed Kudus blanked, Jarrod Bowen did not feature but as things stood, Sam did not really need him anyway.
Liverpool travelled to Fulham and in true FPL fashion my triple captain Salah was only on the bench. I am telling you, all the plans you make for your triple captain very rarely seem to work. Jota at least started and he was fouled as Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick gave the Reds the lead. Fulham equalised but Jurgen Klopp's men went on to win 3-1. Luckily Jota steered the third goal in after good play by Cody Gakpo. Salah came on but did not contribute. Sunday, saw Sam still well ahead 54-37.
On Tuesday, I desperately needed Chelsea to score away at Arsenal so Sam would not collect more vital points from the Gunners, it was not to be however, as Mikel Arteta's men romped to a 5-0 victory. Chelsea had chances at 1-0 and Nicolas Jackson especially has blood on his hands, as he put a massive opportunity into the side netting with the goal gaping. It was not only just more points for Raya and Gabriel for Sam as Odegaard again punished my team. The Norwegian got two assists, the first a top-class ball to Kai Havertz as my chances were rapidly dying. This game alone gave my opponent 23 points and that was all with my arch-nemesis Cole Palmer missing the game through illness. I now trailed by 40 points.
Wednesday, had Bournemouth win 1-0 away at Wolves. Rayan Ait-Nouri and Pablo Sarabia started, and the latter almost scored in the first half but I was to get nothing from them. Solanke's blank affected us both. I thought I was on for three players getting clean sheet points at Selhurst Park only for the Eagles to get two second half goals. You know it was that man Mateta got them both as he bagged his second brace of the week. Olise only came off the bench as a second half substitute, but it was only Munoz in the end who returned for me. A lot hung on the Merseyside Derby if I was going to overcome this gargantuan deficit. Salah started but Klopp announced well before the game that yet again Jota was out. Everton took the lead through Branthwaite. Liverpool then missed three big first half chances. First it was Nunez, then it was Luis Diaz and then Salah the man I needed to show up twice shot wildly. The Toffees more or less ended Liverpool's title hopes as Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed in a second.
Erling Haaland was not fit on Thursday to face Brighton, so I ironically got the 20 points off the bench from Branthwaite, nonetheless it was not enough as Sam beat me 84-78. As Pervis Estupinan was injured, he only needed eight players to defeat me, I felt sick. Manchester City won the match 4-0 as De Bruyne did what I needed him to do last week as he scored. Phil Foden got a brace as another ex-player of mine flourished.
So, another week of what ifs, had Jackson scored at Arsenal, or Nunez converted against Everton (where Salah would have got a 'fantasy' assist), things could have been different. Better yet Salah should have taken his own chances. If only I had the bravery to captain Jota, knowing Salah was not in-form. Mbeumo hit the bar, I mean I could go on all day. My title charge is over as Eman won to go 9 points clear of me. Fortunately, the two men level on points with me, Stel and Boods lost too, so there is still hope of getting second place.
@DubulDee
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