Fantasy Football Files - 2025/26 - Gameweek 16 - 'Castaway'

My gameweek 16 opponent was one of my closest mates Rian (Milito). Usually, we have extended FPL conversations although this week it was not happening. Whilst I was having no form of luck and languishing in the table, he was the early leader of the ‘Justice League’ but had been losing in recent weeks and was now flying down the table.

This was the week where all managers were given five free transfers as players were departing for the African Cup of Nations. I used four of mine so I would have two free transfers for next week. I sold the injured Daniel Munoz for Matty Cash, Jeremy Doku for Harry Wilson, Donyell Malen for Phil Foden and Jean-Philippe Mateta for Zian Flemming. Flemming mainly allocated the budget for all the other transfers. Foden was the most transferred in player this week. I captained Erling Haaland, who I could just copy and paste it every week, as he was again the most captained player. When I spoke to Rian not too long after the deadline, he informed that he was so busy he did not get the chance to change his team. Knowing my luck, he would still probably beat me. He at least would still have his free transfers and could more than likely use that to his advantage over his upcoming opponents.

The action began on Saturday with two 3pm matches. Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge as Cole Palmer returned to the Blues’ starting XI with a goal. There was bad news for me as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was injured before the home side even took the lead. Both teams had their chances with the Toffees especially wondering how they did not score as Jack Grealish put a decent chance wide and Iliman Ndiaye hit the post. Malu Gusto (£4.9m) whose nice pass made the opener, scored Enzo Maresca’s men’s second and the Frenchman is looking a real bargain if Reece James continues mainly in midfield. Gusto’s goal was setup by Pedro Neto who I was also up against. Everton not scoring was very annoying as Robert Sanchez was the opposition’s keeper. Liverpool needed just 45 seconds to take the lead at home to Brighton. Hugo Ekitike’s fine strike got Joe Gomez another assist, Gomez then sadly came off injured. Ekitike was in my initial team before I had a change of mind at the 11th hour. I decided to keep Mo Salah for his very last week before leaving for AFCON, which is why I got in the much cheaper Flemming. It was indeed Salah who came on for Gomez. The Seagulls had chances to draw level, only for the Reds to break and Salah had an effort saved. Then from the resulting corner taken by Salah, Ekitike rose to make it 2-0 which is how it stayed. I was extremely thankful for the Salah points, except it should have been more as he put a glorious chance made by Federico Chiesa over later on.

In the 5.30pm contest, I was hoping Wilson’s good form continued and things began well as his corner was turned in by Emile Smith Rowe to give Fulham the lead at Burnley. Quilindschy Hartman’s defending looked like he was ‘stranded on Smith Rowe’ as he almost completely stopped from what was clearly a training ground routine. Lesley Ogochukwu (£5m) who has somehow emerged as a decent enabler had a good shot saved, then scored a well taken equaliser for his 3rd league goal this season. Wilson then got another assist as he his clever flighted ball to the back post was headed in by Calvin Bassey. Bassey then went on a run in the second half seeking his brace but ended up striking the ball into orbit. Another break saw Wilson help himself to a goal as he finished beautifully into the bottom corner after being found by Samuel Chukwueze. Wilson! Get in lad! Bassey and Chukwueze both of course head to AFCON now. The Clarets pulled back a goal, it was only a consolation though as the Cottagers prevailed 3-2. I was beaming with Wilson’s 16-point haul as I was priced out by £0.1m from getting him last week. In the last contest of the day, Arsenal needed an own goal as late as the 94th minute to edge past bottom placed Wolves. The Gunners’ first goal was also an own goal as Bukayo Saka’s corner went in off Sam Johnstone. Tolu Arokodare turned in what looked like a shot from Matheus Mane in the 90th minute before the own goal by Yerson Mosquera won it. Wolves scoring was massive as I was up against Jurrien Tomber. Saka owners were jubilant as it was his cross that Mosquera headed into his own net. Saturday ended 24-20 in my favour.

On Sunday in the 2pm kick-offs; Manchester City survived a good start by Crystal Palace to beat them 3-0. Haaland scored a header for the first, then a neat finish by Foden made it 2-0. A penalty helped Haaland bag a brace as they kept the pressure on Arsenal. Mateta started although he is managing an injury, so I welcomed his blank. Nottingham Forest slapped Tottenham 3-0, which disgusted me as I picked Micky van de Ven over Nordi Mukiele. Simultaneously, Mukiele assisted an own goal by Nick Woltemade as Sunderland beat Newcastle in the Wear-Tyne Derby. Back to the City Ground and it was the combination of Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) and Ibrahima Sangare who undid Spurs. Hudson-Odoi is at a decent price, whilst Sangare is off to AFCON. At the Stadium of Light, I needed that own goal as Malick Thiaw was in my opponent’s team. Granit Xhaka was another in the game who I was up against and he blanked. At the London Stadium, any hopes of clean sheet points from Cash were dashed in the first minute as Matheus Fernandes finished superbly after dispossessing Ezri Konsa. Aston Villa got all three points regardless thanks to a Morgan Rogers double to see off West Ham.

Rian and I both owned Igor Thiago in the 4.30pm match but I had Caoimhin Kelleher as a differential here. Brentford took the lead through Jordan Henderson, and all looked well for me even as late as the 80th minute. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 82nd minute header denied me the clean sheet to level things up as it ended 1-1. Sunday’s conclusion saw me still ahead 67-56, but it should have been so much more.

Monday was to give us the match of the season thus far. Marcos Senesi started although he had been flagged which meant the faint hopes of getting Mukiele’s 9 points went. Manchester United took the lead, so I then knew unless there was a goal contribution from Senesi there was no way he could get near Mukiele’s points. Antoine Semenyo was owned by Rian and I, and the Ghanaian drew things level with a lovely finish in off the post. United went back ahead before half-time, then just after the interval Bournemouth scored two quick goals to take the lead. In a crazy match Ruben Amorim’s men then went 4-3 ahead, only for Eli Kroupi to level as it was to end 4-4. Bryan Mbeumo was the only man who could stop me from winning and to be honest I am not sure how he did not. The Cameroonian had two great chances one in either half. The first he volleyed over from a great ball by Matheus Cunha, the second was an unforgivable miss from right in front of goal.

For once then I got some luck as I won 74-64. Though Rian did not prepare his team his squad had depth so his bench made it more difficult than it should have been. My season may amount to nothing, nonetheless this was a nice little confidence boost. A big shoutout to Wilson who made sure I was not 'castaway' this week.

@DubulDee