Fantasy Football Files - 2024/25 - Gameweek 29 - 'Wissa in the Wind'

Gameweek 29 pitted me against Stel. Stel pipped me to 3rd place when he beat me on the final day of the ‘Justice League’ last season and although I beat him earlier in the season, I wanted to seek revenge again.

The gameweek started back on March 15th and there were only eight games as it the Carabao Cup Final was taking place making it another blank gameweek. With Liverpool not in action I sold Cody Gakpo being for Evanilson. Stel did not make any changes and I assume must have missed the deadline, as Mo Salah who was not in action was still his captain. Missing the deadline also only left him with nine players. Stel’s vice-captain incidentally was Evanilson. I gave my captaincy to Chris Wood for Nottingham Forest’s trip to Ipswich. As soon as the deadline went, I thought maybe I should have given it to Bryan Mbeumo with him being on some free-kicks as well as of course being the penalty taker.

The action began at 3pm and Everton drew with West Ham. Things began in decent fashion as when the Hammers took the lead in the second half, Jarrod Bowen assisted Tomas Soucek. I thought I was heading for a clean sheet from Alphonse Areola only for Jake O’Brien to get a dramatic injury-time equaliser for the Toffees. My opponent had Aaron Wan-Bissaka in his defence, so he suffered from the goal too. Nottingham Forest produced a clinical first-half display as they won 4-2 at Ipswich. To my disgust my captain did not feature in any of the goals, I was vexed beyond belief. I was up against Morgan Gibbs-White, and he got an assist. Josko Gvardiol again blanked for me as Manchester City and Brighton drew 2-2 at the Etihad. The only positive in this fixture was that Kaoru Mitoma failed to contribute for Stel. I had thought about bringing back Jorgan Strand Larsen when I got Evanilson in, and I was left to rue the decision not getting him as the Norwegian scored twice as Wolves beat Southampton. Nothing from Rayan Ait-Nouri meant that this was another game where I was left thinking what might have been. A man I have mentioned before Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (£4.9m) assisted both goals.

In the late kick-off, Brentford won 2-1 away at Bournemouth. The Cherries took the lead, unfortunately it was not to be Evanilson as Vitaly Janelt headed into his own net. The leveller was to be perfect for me as Bryan Mbeumo’s corner was headed in by Yoane Wissa. Christian Norgaard was to get the winner.  Dango Ouattara was only a substitute as he is yet to return since I got him into my side, mainly due to Evanilson being fit again.

Sunday saw Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0. David Raya was Stel’s keeper so a goal from the Blues would have been appreciated, they almost got it when Raya fumbled a Marc Cucurella effort. With Cole Palmer not featuring I was to get 3 points from Dara O’Shea for his superb assist against Nottingham Forest, I wish it could have been in a week when Ipswich conceded less goals, but such is life. Levi Colwill was in my opponent’s team, so nothing there for him. I thought clean sheets points from Djed Spence were on the way for me as Fulham and Tottenham were still goalless after 77 minutes, only for Rodrigo Muniz to give the Cottagers the lead. Ryan Sessegnon grabbed the second goal against his old club as only Stel benefitted here with him owning Antonee Robinson.

So, with none of us having anyone in the Leicester and Manchester United game an underwhelming week saw me win 36-28. With so many letting me down, I almost felt embarrassed getting this low scoring win, as if Stel had changed his team then I am sure I would have more than likely lost. On the bright side it stopped the rut as I avoided a third straight defeat. With me refusing to sell Mo Salah for a one-week punt as some did, those that got in Bruno Fernandes were rewarded and therefore my rank took a massive hit despite me moving up to seventh in the Justice League. A shoutout to league leader Michael B., as he got the highest score in the gameweek with 81 as he was one of many who used their ‘free hit’ chip. He captained Bruno Fernandes and had Nikola Milenkovic who scored and assisted.

@DubulDee