Fantasy Football Files - 2024/25 - Gameweek 37 - On The Bench

The king of trash-talking Muji was my opponent for the penultimate gameweek of the season. Although I was only playing for pride, beating Muji is always satisfactory as he was the king of banter. A win would secure another top four finish for him as it would incidentally see off his best friend Khurram from sneaking ahead.

With such minimal time remaining, the only bonus chip that I still had was my ‘Bench boost’, so I planned to use it here as the last day can be an anomaly. After missing last week’s deadline, I had two free transfers, therefore, I took a four-point deduction as I made three transfers overall. Out went Djed Spence, Jacob Murphy and Matheus Cunha and in came Michael Keane, Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins. I do not normally like to give my captaincy to the first match in a gameweek, but I did here with Watkins. Muji must have tapped my phone because the only transfer he made was also to sell Cunha for Watkins and he captained the Villa man too, who was the most transferred in player this week. He messaged after the deadline to say, “I’m going to crush you”, something tells me he maybe should have added a ‘pause’ at the end of the sentence.

The action started what seems a lifetime ago last Friday. I had targeted Tottenham as I thought with the Europa League final pending that they would name a weakened team and that is exactly what they did. Ange Postecoglou’s men started quite well, and Villa could not breakthrough as Watkins had a couple of efforts. However, just before the hour-mark Watkins assisted Ezri Konsa who was annoyingly in my opponent’s team. Unai Emery’s men added a second through Boubacar Kamara, this time Morgan Rogers who Muji and I both owned got the assist. In the other Friday contest, as Muji had Kevin De Bruyne I went for Palmer, despite Chelsea winning the game 1-0 he was not to return as the ‘punt’ failed. Muji was now well on the way to victory already as Konsa got a whopping 15 points.

There were no matches on Saturday due to the FA Cup final, so to Sunday we go. With Keane doing a good job since James Tarkowski has been out injured, I was optimistic about bringing him back into my side. He ended up only being on the bench for the last Premier League game ever at Goodison Park. Everton stalwart Seamus Coleman started which meant Jake O’Brien shifted to his natural centre back position, so Keane was the odd man out. Look Everton, I am not here for this sentimental business, I have God damn FPL points to get David Moyes! The Toffees won 2-0 thanks to a Ilman Ndiaye brace. Nottingham Forest got a massive three points away at West Ham. Muji and I both had Alphonse Areola, so no points there. My other Hammers player Jarrod Bowen scored a superb consolation goal, after an error by Areola gifted Morgan Gibbs-White a goal and Nikola Milenkovic flicked in a second. As I also said last week Bowen would have been a good captain option in hindsight as he finishes the season in great form.

Raul Jimenez vindicated me keeping him as he got the opener at the G-Tech Community Stadium, only for yet another player who we both owned Bryan Mbeumo to get Brentford level with another goal on his weaker foot. Just after his goal Mbeumo then had a penalty saved. Yoane Wissa got Muji points as the Bees took the lead, it was the Cottagers who prevailed with the three points as a Harry Wilson stunner won it. That meant my other keeper Mark Flekken blanked as did Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon as that particular experiment continued to disappoint. I was hoping as he had been amongst goal contributions recently that there was an outside chance of Dara O’Shea doing something against Leicester, it was not to be as the Foxes won 2-0. Unlike Goodison Park’s sentiment there was some welcomed romanticism as Jamie Vardy scored his 200th goal for Leicester. A true Premier League legend and a wind-up merchant just like Muji.

It was horror for me in the latter game as Alexander Isak was not even in the squad as Newcastle travelled to Arsenal. The Magpies began well and if it was not for David Raya would have easily gone in ahead at half-time. They were to be punished for not taking their chances as Declan Rice won the game for the Gunners with a fine strike. Despite using the bench boost things were not looking good for me at all, I know Muji was at home rubbing his hands.   

With both of us being Liverpool fans, Monday night had us cheering on Mo Salah hoping he could break the record for goal contributions in a Premier League season. Arne Slot’s men were to fall to a late Jack Hinshelwood goal as they were beaten 3-2 by Brighton. Salah missed a golden chance to break the record when the Reds were ahead 2-1 as he put the ball wide inside the six-yard box, it was harder to miss. He was the most captained player in gameweek 37 so a plethora of managers would have been sickened the chance went astray.

The gameweek concluded on Tuesday with the FA Cup finalists in action. Crystal Palace beat Wolves 4-2 as they continued their celebrations from the weekend. Daniel Munoz was the differential for me here and he was denied an assist as the Eagles had a first half goal disallowed. Muji and I had Rayan Ait-Nouri, and he returned a big fat ‘0’. Eberechi Eze owners still got a goal from him despite him starting out on the bench. In the other game, Manchester City disposed of Bournemouth 3-1 to guarantee the victory for Muji. Omar Marmoush netted for him as he defeated my bench boost even without a contribution from De Bruyne who missed a golden chance from a few yards out as he hit the bar. To say I was disgusted was an understatement.

So, bragging rights for Muji then who will finish fourth in the table and unless someone does an unlikely thing and beat his score of 147 in gameweek 24, he will walk off with the highest score in a gameweek as well. Although I scored above the average score this week I still fell in my overall rank as it ended 63-46 to Muji. Congratulations to Michael B. who clinched the title as he won his match, he brilliantly had Fabian Hurzeler as his ‘Assistant manager’ getting him 19 points. The last day will see Darren B. and Josh fight for second place. The best thing to do for anyone in the final week will to be to target the players who are playing for Champions League qualification depending on your budget, as you know it will be less likely to see random changes in the starting lineups. It will all be very interesting.

@DubulDee