Fantasy Football Files - 2025/26 - Gameweek 29 - 'Hey, How Joao?!'

After losing to his twin brother last week, my opposition this week was one of my D&D Football Factory co-hosts Darren B. (D-Man). Darren was looking to secure his second ‘Justice League’ title as he was in the top 2 currently, whilst I was simply trying to get out of the bottom three. The embarrassment of finishing in the hypothetical relegation zone of the mini league I created would be very humbling to say the least, so I needed to sharpen up.

I saw that unless Darren drew for his ‘Wildcard’ that our teams were very different, so I made a change in my defence with my free transfer, something I usually do not like doing when I have just the one free transfer. Out went Matty Cash and in came Virgil van Dijk, this meant I had three Liverpool players again and despite having Wolves after making the change I was nervous. My opponent’s free transfer was to sell Marc Guiu for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but Calvert-Lewin was only to be on his bench. I captained Hugo Ekitike, though just before the deadline I had the captaincy with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Darren gave his captaincy to Erling Haaland, who as usual was the most captained player in the gameweek. Meanwhile, Ekitike was the most transferred in and it was mainly Joao Pedro who was sold to get him in it seems.

The gameweek started last Tuesday, which was the 4th of March. On paper, Bournemouth and Brentford screams goals, however it was to end in a goalless draw.

This at least meant I got a clean sheet from Caoimhin Kelleher and that Igor Thiago blanked for Darren. The negative was that as I brought in van Dijk this meant that I benched Marcos Senesi, who was to get the highest points here as he accumulated 11. Defensive contributions-king James Garner (£5,2m) assisted Everton’s opening goal against Burnley. I was to be punished for not giving the captaincy to my original choice in Dewsbury-Hall as his smart finish sealed a 2-0 victory as he ended with 9 points.

Leeds were beaten at home by Sunderland 1-0, so I was lucky that Darren benched Omar Alderete as he got 7 points. In the last Tuesday kick-off, Wolves took the lead through Rodrigo Gomes at home to Liverpool in the second half, so my van Dijk transfer was setup for failure. Mo Salah seized on a poor pass by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to beat Jose Sa at his near post with the outside of his foot to level things up. My transfer was almost vindicated as van Dijk had a great headed chance only for him to put it right into Sa’s hands. Rob Edwards’ men then continued to mess up everyone’s plans before they fall into the Championship as they won it in injury time with a deflected shot from Joao Gomes. I was distraught but this taught me a lesson, I was not going to make a transfer as I was building up for the blank gameweek in 31 and I suffered for it. I had thought of getting Jeremie Frimpong back in, as I did not know if he would definitely start, I avoided it. This would have got me clean sheet points as he was substituted before the opening goal. My opponent and I both owned Dominic Szoboszlai who got 5 points. Ekitike’s blank cut deeper due to Dewsbury-Hall’s goal, a differential captain producing will always make an enormous impact on your rank and I missed out. Tuesday ended 25-9 in my favour.

Wednesday, saw Aston Villa and Chelsea clash in a massive game in the search for Champions League football. I never considered letting Joao Pedro go, although what I should have done was give him the captaincy as he scored a hat-trick for the Blues to put Villa away 4-1 despite going behind. On top of the well taken treble Pedro also got a diabolical assist as the ball clipped him before Cole Palmer made it 3-1. As Darren did not have him the 19 points were thoroughly appreciated, nevertheless. Recce James did not return but it was not costly because of Pedro’s haul. Robert Sanchez was dropped for the game, so Martin Dubravka came in for Darren off his bench and Burnley were of course beaten. At the Amex Stadium, Brighton started on the front foot, but it was Arsenal who took the lead as Bukayo’s Saka’s effort caught Bart Verbruggen off guard. The Gunners held on for a precious 1-0 away win giving my opponent 11 points from Gabriel Magalhaes. Since I sold Jarrod Bowen, he has been on a bit of a tear, and he assisted Crysensio Summerville’s winner at Fulham after an error by Fulham at the back. Summerville (£5.7m) has been the most in-form midfield enabler recently but now has a calf issue. Harry Wilson was not fit to start; therefore, I got Morgan Rogers’ solitary point off my bench.

Manchester City lead twice at home to Nottingham Forest and still did not get the three points due to fine goals by Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson. Antoine Semenyo got me more differential points in the head-to-head as he scored the opening goal. Darren and I both owned Nico O’Reilly but as he did not play, I luckily got Senesi’s points off my bench after all. Darren got Maxime Esteve’s 1 point in place of O’Reilly. Erling Haaland started only to blank again and more may look to sell him as it does amazing things for your budget. I had no one playing in Wednesday’s last match as Newcastle met Manchester United, however altogether I was up against four players, two from each team. There were two goals in first-half stoppage time and unfortunately, they featured players I was up against. Anthony Gordon scored a penalty and Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick was headed in by Casemiro. The 10-man Magpies went on to win 2-1 and as Malick Thiaw and Bryan Mbeumo blanked, I prevailed 67-48 as neither of us had anyone in the Thursday match between Tottenham and Crystal Palace.

Good to get a win, and temporarily I have moved out of the bottom three but there is still so much more to do considering how tight it is at the bottom. This win was a big help for Khurram, who is 2 points behind Darren at the top, but he lost too! I am up next against another of my co-hosts ‘Big’ Sam who I would overtake if I could get a victory.

@DubulDee