Fantasy Football Files - 2024/25 - Gameweek 31 - 'Evan Almighty'

Gameweek 31 pitted me against the ‘Justice League’ leader Michael B., who had opened a seven-point gap up on his brother Darren in second place. I was just playing for pride for the rest of the season in terms of the head-to-head league, but I was obviously looking to score as many points as possible.

I decided to use my ‘Assistant Manager’ bonus chip this week as the chip must be used over three consecutive weeks, and after this week there was a couple of double gameweeks before the blank in 34. I have not spoken on the assistant manager chip before to be honest, as given the whole anticipation of having a mystery chip, when they revealed what it was, I was slightly underwhelmed. I understand that it was an attempt to keep people interested in their mini leagues if they have ground to make up as there is a table bonus for example. The table bonus allows you to gain extra points if your manager plays a team at least five places above them in the table. If you were to get your pick spot on, then you could make up considerable points on your mini league opponents. I still expected a little more however regarding the mystery chip and many others I know did too, so subsequently some I know have used it already to get it out of the way. This hopefully means it aids my decision to use it right now knowing other will not have it. I made no transfers as I wanted to have more options for the pending consecutive double gameweeks. I went away from Mo Salah this week and gave my captaincy to Alexander Isak, despite him being flagged before the deadline, therefore Salah was my vice-captain. Michael did not make any transfers, and he captained Salah.  

Everton and Arsenal’s 1-1 draw kicked off the gameweek on Saturday, but neither of us had any players participating so to the 3pm’s we go. Crystal Palace took an early lead against Brighton in a fiery Derby at Selhurst Park. Michael got points as Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a fabulous left footed strike into the top corner. Brighton levelled through a fine goal by Danny Welbeck. I needed a Palace win as obviously Glasner was my assistant manager, but Mike had tripled up on them and Dean Henderson was his keeper so to an extent the goal helped. The Eagles were to get all three points as Daniel Munoz’s deflected strike found the net. I was to get 8 points from Glasner as my opponent got 19 from his Palace trio. Ipswich were beaten 2-1 at home by Wolves which has almost condemned them to the drop. Both of my former forwards were on target again. Liam Delap opened the scoring for the Tractor Boys, and Jorgen Strand Larsen won the game for Vitor Pereira’s men as they sandwiched a composed finish from Pablo Sarabia. Delap (£5.6m) has 12 goals this campaign and Strand Larsen (£5.4m) has four in his last three games and 11 overall. Both are somehow only owned by less than 5% of managers putting shame on forwards who cost much more than them.

Another forward under £6m is Evanilson and he was at the double as Bournemouth salvaged a point at West Ham. The Brazilian gave the Cherries the lead as he followed in after Antoine Semenyo’s shot was saved by Alphonse Areola. Areola was my keeper, and I had strongly thought about putting Mark Flekken in but as they were up against Chelsea, I was hoping of a Cole Palmer renaissance I was conflicted and ended up reluctantly sticking with Areola. The Hammers levelled through Niclas Fullkrug before Jarrod Bowen got me some points with a great header from a pinpoint cross by Mohammed Kudus. Bowen almost scored again from a free-kick and then up stepped Evanilson who seized on a flick-on by Dean Huijsen to poke the ball in for 2-2, 11 minutes from the end. A 13-point haul from someone I did not even consider for the captaincy, just look at that. As Milos Kerkez was in my opponent’s team this game really came through for me as he blanked. 

In the teatime match, I needed Aston Villa to score as Michael had Nikola Milenkovic in his defence, as well as this he had Marco Asensio. Unai Emery’s men scored two goals in three first half minutes to aid my cause. Asensio came close a couple of times but thankfully was withdrawn, Forest pulled a goal back through Jota Silva, but the Villans got the three points. Saturday concluded with me ahead 32-22 thanks to the points from Glasner as Crystal Palace strongly influenced things.

Sunday, began in terrible fashion as Palmer was only on the bench for Chelsea for their trip to the G-Tech Stadium. My pain increased as the game was to end goalless, and I missed out on 10 whole points from Flekken. I should have listened to my gut but whenever the deadline is during the live radio show on a Saturday these things seem to happen. Michael also had Palmer, as well as Bryan Mbeumo, so the one that hurt the most along with Flekken was that Yoane Wissa did not contribute. Liverpool took the lead against Fulham but then capitulated and fell to a 3-1 deficit at half-time. I shouted out Rodrigo Muniz in the last ‘Fantasy Football Files’ but I hoped he would not score only for him to get the third goal. Luis Diaz pulled one back, it was too late however as the Reds fell to their second league defeat. Salah and Antonee Robinson’s blanks meant it was damn near impossible for my opponent to get ahead of me now. Tottenham beat Southampton 3-1 and Djed Spence got me a vital assist to add to my lead as Brennan Johnson was at the trouble. The problem with Johnson (£6.2m) is you do not always know if he is going to start, which is likely why he is only owned by 2.5% because now he has an impressive 11 league goals and 5 assists.

The main Sunday game was a horrendous encounter in the end. The Manchester Derby was excruciatingly painful to watch as it ended goalless. The positive was that Josko Gvardiol got maximum bonus points which made up a little for my Flekken error. Monday’s match was a formality as I had already won, nonetheless Newcastle eased past Leicester with three first half goals. Isak was not to get on the scoresheet but for once my captain letting me down was not cost to me. Jacob Murphy bagged a brace as he continues to make me look like a fool for selling him for Dango Ouatarra who has done nothing for my team. With the Magpies doubling in the next gameweek, he will be a favourite for anyone using their ‘wildcard’ chip, so an alternative may be the man who got their third goal in Harvey Barnes. Barnes is more costly at £5.9m compared to Murphy’s £5.1, but Barnes loves to shoot and is only owned by 1.5%, whereas Murphy is currently at 12.3% and will probably be at least 15% come the deadline.

So, a triumph for my pride as I prevailed 58-33. This win helps Michael’s twin Darren who won his game to close the gap to four points. My rank went up by over 200k, so imagine how well I would have done if I had played Flekken, meanwhile I stay in 9th place in the Justice League. Shoutout Muji and Josh who were tied for 65 as the highest Justice League score thus week.

@DubulDee