Fantasy Football Files - 2019/20 - Gameweek 7

Another co-host from my 'FootyOnTop' radio show was my opponent this week, as I clashed with Big Sam. Again I took the decision to not make any transfers, so I could have two free transfers next week. I liked the look of my team and thought if I made a transfer that did not work out, then I would be kicking myself. I hoped Teemu Pukki would get on the scoresheet, after I bit the bullet and put him in last week.

Liverpool started the weekend's action away at Sheffield United, in the early kick off on Saturday at Bramall Lane. I had decided to captain Sadio Mane, hoping that he would be firing, and also it was to be different to many others, as I expected numerous people to have Mo Salah as their captain. Though, Mane had been a slight doubt, I expected him to still start, and he did, he once again however drew a blank when I had him as captain. Mane missed two sitters in the game to my anguish, one from a ball from Virgil van Dijk, the other a point blank miss, as he hit the post, 'just my luck!'. The most captained player in the world in gameweek 7, Salah, didn't fair much better, putting a similar chance to Mane from a ball over the top high and wide. As Liverpool won 1-0, van Dijk got me much needed clean sheet points. So after the first game of the day, 3 of my players had been involved, I had hoped for over 20 points, but had to settle with 17.

The traditional 3 o'clock games, saw Bournemouth draw 2-2 with West Ham. I expected a high scoring game, so did not believe I owuld get a clean sheet from Diego Rico, and unfortunately there was no assist from him his week, unlike last time out. Felipe Anderson, did me proud and assisted Aaron Cresswell for the late equaliser, Cresswell valued at £4.9m, is someone I am considering, as he likes to get forward, and as we saw last week and he can score free kicks. This game, was flooded with players I am keeping tabs on. Andriy Yarmelenko scored again, Sebastian Haller assisted, Callum Wilson netted yet again, and Josh King scored and got an assist too. Plenty of food for thought there then. Lukasz Fabianski came off injured, another man who I was looking at getting, and he will now miss two months, so I will have to look elsewhere.

Chelsea won 2-0 at home to Brighton, a game that left me smiling from ear to ear, as I knew Big Sam had Tammy Abraham as his captain, and Abraham did not find the net. Crystal Palace, won 2-0 at home to Norwich, and I got Martin Kelly's clean sheet points, as Grant Hanley did not start again for the Canaries, 'lucky me' . Kelly's clean 6 points actually covered the fact that Teemu Pukki did not find the net again, 'rage'. I had a feeling that he would have a barren spell soon, but I gave into temptation by drafting him in, I will keep the faith for now, but with him being over £7m, I may have to look for more value quite soon, as there are a couple of cheaper options, it is hard to know sometimes however if these cheaper players will always start, which does make things complex. One thing we know is, if he is fit, Pukki will always start for Norwich, and this what I have taken into consideration for now.

Wolves, were victorious at home against Watford, 2-0, so there was no major points for me from Ben Foster. There was no regret with my goalkeeper decision, as my other stopper Angus Gunn, also conceded two, as Southampton lost 2-1 away to ten man Spurs. The evening game on Saturday, saw Manchester City win 3-1 at Everton, and to my annoyance Sergio Aguero was on the bench. The Argentine, was my vice captain this week, and came off the bench in the second half to record a 'fantasy assist', as his shot was saved by Jordan Pickford, and then Raheem Sterling scored the rebound in off the bar. These things are of course not what Opta register as an assist, but I was more than grateful at an extra 3 points. I knew before Sunday's match then, that I had triumphed in my head-to-head game, as Sam made the shocking decision to take Kevin De Bruyne out of his team, the assist king, made City's opener for Gabriel Jesus, and the 9 points he got would have made things a lot tighter.

Leicester crushed ten man Newcastle 5-0, I had no players featuring here, but I was scouting once again. Ricardo Pereira scored in consecutive here, continuing his great start to the season, at £6.1m, he has the most points of any defender thus far. Leicester play Liverpool next, so I will not consider bringing him in just yet, as I do not start players against my team. Jamie Vardy bagged a brace, but he is quite dear at £8.9m. A clean sheet for the Foxes, meant that Jonny Evans priced at just £5m, is now in the top ten defenders in fantasy points in 2019/20. Hopefully none of these Leicester players get any significant points next week at Anfield. So just like Liverpool did away at Sheffield United, I won ugly, only 45 points this week (my 2nd lowest total of the season), but it was still enough to get the 3 points against Sam.

Despite it not having any influence on my points total this week; I just wanted to finish by saying that Manchester United against Arsenal on Monday night, considering the two teams involved are expected to finish in the top 6, this actually was the worst game I have seen so far this season...and that is all from me for gameweek 7.

@DubulDee