Fantasy Football Files - 2021/22 - Gameweek 37 - ‘On A Madders!…’

The penultimate gameweek of another stressful campaign was here and it was a double gameweek at that. My opposition was my cousin Clement and he had a solid team so this was not going to be easy. I was in a battle to try and salvage 4th place in the 'Justice League' which would mean I was entitled to some of the prize money and the extra pressure had my mind doing overtime.

I had been thinking of getting Wilfried Zaha or Jarrod Bowen into my team as I had not owned either of them this season amazingly. As Crystal Palace had a double gameweek I decided to get Zaha in very early on. I saw his price rise as early as Thursday and I did not want it to get so high that I could not afford him as I let go of Raphinha. However with this gameweek starting on a Sunday due to the FA Cup Final, I was forced to reconstruct. Mo Salah got injured in the final, so I ended up waking up at a random time on Sunday morning after celebrating Liverpool’s win. I went on to sell Salah and let go of Armando Broja. This created the funds to get Harry Kane back in for Spurs’ game against Burnley. This meant I needed a midfield enabler, so though they were not starting in my fantasy XI I got someone in who was playing twice in Burnley’s Josh Brownhill (4.3m) jus in case. I really did not want to take a -8 hit, but as I had stated before the ideas I come up with that would include taking a hit had mainly come off, so now was the time. There was so much on the line it was a real opportunity to get major points from some players and mask the deduction.

I was not finished in making late alterations. I had Rayan Ait-Nouri starting, but then swapped him with Tariq Lamptey off the bench. Jamie Vardy had been my captain but then I changed to Wilfried Zaha after doing something I rarely do and listen to the 'Official FPL Podcast'. I allowed Dean Ashton to influence me as his captain pick in gameweek 36 had worked and I thought he may have the Midas touch. Usually I just do everything off my own knowledge/thoughts but Zaha had been under my consideration and was my vice captain anyway, so as I was searching for differentials I thought why not. When the deadline passed I saw that my cousin had sold Michail Antonio for Richarlison, and I of course already had the Brazilian and this was his only transfer. The surprise here was that he had his ‘Triple Captain’ bonus chip left and used it against me as he picked Heung-min Son. I obviously had Son in my side, but this was going to be a real war if it was not already, if Son did really well then I would be cooked.

The action started at midday on Sunday. Tottenham hosted Burnley with Son looking to go ahead in the Golden Boot race. Nick Pope had other ideas as he denied him at his near post. Kane had a goal-bound header cleared and the Clarets were frustrating Antonio Conte’s men. Right at the end of the first half Lucas Moura who was starting in place of Dejan Kulusevski who Clement had, went on a good run and cut the ball back for Kane, but Kane somehow put it wide. VAR noticed a handball however and Kane duly put the penalty away in what turned out to be the match winner. Burnley will feel aggrieved and Ashley Barnes hit the post in the second half with a good effort. Pope clearly has a bet on Salah to be the top scorer as he made another two very good saves from Son.

In the 2pm’s I needed something from my captain Zaha as Crystal Palace were away at Aston Villa. The Ivorian had a long range effort saved but did not threaten too much apart from that as the game ended 1-1. The other negative thing in this game for me was that Ollie Watkins scored Villa’s goal and Clement had him. Wolves and Norwich also drew 1-1. Teemu Pukki gave Norwich the lead but Wolves got an equaliser from the man I put on my bench Ait-Nouri. This was just my luck anytime this man does something constructive he is on my bench it seems. There was yet another 1-1 draw between Leeds and Brighton. Tariq Lamptey had not been included in the starting XI by Graham Potter. So with that Ait-Nouri goal coming in the 55th minute I was praying that Lamptey never came on so I knew the points from my Wolves defender were in the bag. Potter to my anguish brought Lamptey on in the 87th minute, ‘noooo!’. Lamptey was not even on the pitch more than six minutes but yet still had time to be booked just before Leeds equalised and he almost scored the winner in an action packed cameo.

Leicester travelled to Watford and did what I expected, making me rue my 11th hour changes. It ended 5-1 at Vicarage Road as James Maddison levelled the game up and Vardy bagged a brace. I felt stupid despite the fact Leicester and Crystal Palace both had a game to go Vardy my vice captain had smashed Zaha points-wise. Maddison added two assists to his goal, one for Vardy to head in and the other for Harvey Barnes who finished neatly into the corner for his second goal. I should not have overlooked Maddison either, I was frustrated as when I had trusted him with the captaincy he had not delivered. The thing is in those games he had a lot of shots and it was more down to good goalkeeping denying him than him badly missing chances. Therefore I should have known he would go wild soon enough. Meanwhile, West Ham almost did Liverpool a massive favour as they went into a 2-0 lead against Manchester City. I was jumping for joy as Jarrod Bowen scored twice completely forgetting that Clement had him in his team. Liverpool capturing the title was the most important thing here so I would have taken Bowen getting 6 to be honest. City as many thought bounced back to get a 2-2 draw. It could have been more but Riyad Mahrez missed another penalty. Clement had Joao Cancelo so Pep Guardiola’s men not getting a clean sheet was crucial.

In the late encounter Everton thought they were in a position to cement survival but then it all went pear-shaped. The Toffees took the lead through Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Everyone including me thought that Richarlison had scored but it clipped Calvert-Lewin. Frank Lampard’s men lost a man and then Seamus Coleman scored an own goal. Richarlison restored the lead from the penalty spot and this one sadly for Calvert-Lewin he could not claim. Nevertheless Brentford shot back to win 3-2 meaning Everton have to wait before attempting to secure survival. Sunday concluded with me ahead narrowly 49-46.

Monday saw Arsenal’s Champions League hopes take a massive blow as they were beaten 2-0 at Newcastle. The Gunners were outclassed in every area of the pitch as the Magpies took the lead through an own goal. My cousin had Bruno Guimaraes and I thought I had got off lightly only for him to score a late 2nd goal. Can’t rely on Arsenal for anything man! Clement was now ahead. On Tuesday; Jurgen Klopp made a plethora of changes as Liverpool travelled to Southampton. Andy Robertson was on the bench, so if he did not come on then I would get Ait-Nouri’s points. The Scotsman was not to come on as the Reds came from behind to make the race for the title go to the last day. Liverpool levelled through Takumi Minamino and it was assisted by Diogo Jota, before Joel Matip‘s instinctive header won the game. Jota’s assist accompanied by the Ait-Nouri points off the bench now meant I was ahead, this was as only one of Clement’s three Liverpool men featured. Alisson only played for him as Luis Diaz was rested and Virgil van Dijk was injured in the FA Cup Final.

So the gameweek concluded on Thursday. Everton needed to win to confirm their Premier League status for next season and things did not start well as they went 2-0 down to Crystal Palace. I had hoped Zaha got one of the goals, but it was not to be the case. He did at least get a ‘fantasy’ assist as his shot was kept out by Jordan Pickford before Jordan Ayew bundled the ball in for their second. Frank Lampard’s men nonetheless fought back to somehow win 3-2. Richarlison scored a scruffy second goal in the fightback. Their fans chose to storm the pitch before the game ended and then again when it finished. One fan was so overzealous in giving abuse he was duly kicked by Palace manager Patrick Vieira for his troubles. Being a Liverpool fan I wish Vieira had kicked more of their fans to be honest! It is about time fans took responsibility for their actions. But really something needs to be done as numerous players have been attacked this week in varying games around the country.

Chelsea and Leicester drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. You know who gave Leicester the lead as Maddison's curled effort beat Edouard Mendy on his near post. More points for Maddison than and as he was a differential in the head-to-head it was greatly important but it was also bittersweet as I should have kept faith and captained him. Maddison amassed 25 points this week. The Blues’ goal was scored by Marcos Alonso from a tidy ball from Reece James and my cousin had the latter of the two. Aston Villa and Burnley were also to have a 1-1 draw which was the theme of the gameweek. Nick Pope was at it again with some great saves and Burnley almost got the three points at the end. Connor Roberts‘ effort was pushed onto the post by Emiliano Martinez as I almost broke 100 points (including the points-hit). With Lamptey going close too, I actually could have had all my defenders on the scoresheet this week, the limbs you would have seen in my house if that happened!

So with my differentials coming through I won 94-76 for my third straight win. My co-host Darren B. (D-Man) won too so just like the title race in reality, the 4th spot in FPL will go to the last day. With me being well over the world average of 43 I have moved up almost 70,000 places to 247,000 in the world. I set myself a target of getting at least 2,330 points and I have surpassed that with a game to go as I sit on 2,355.

@DubulDee