Fantasy Football Files - 2025/26 - Gameweek 3 - Before I Self Destruct

As I looked to amend my poor start to the season, I was up against Ravi in gameweek 3. He had a decent record against me as he always seemed to have luck on his side when we met.

With this being the first Saturday morning deadline of the campaign, I was hoping that there were no issues when I got to the studio. This was as I like to rummage around checking for any team news or anything I may not have heard from a press conference on my way to the radio station. I got through as much as I could but then when I got to the studio, there were technicalities to my displeasure. I started the show then only remembered five minutes before the deadline that I had not confirmed my changes. I got in Brennan Johnson for the injured Cole Palmer to save money and this allowed me to sell Marc Guiu to bring in Chris Wood. As I had not changed my formation as I usually do before making transfers, the deadline passed, and Wood was only my bench as Guiu had been from the last gameweek. I yelled but there was nothing I could do. Ravi also sold Palmer for Mohammed Kudus, as well as bringing in Morgan Gibbs-White for the injured Bukayo Saka. I already felt like I had lost. I captained Mo Salah as Liverpool faced Arsenal and Ravi gave his captaincy to Joao Pedro which I really feared.

The gameweek began with a controversial London Derby. Fulham were denied a goal for a foul by Rodrigo Muniz, taking away a special moment for Josh King who would have had his first senior goal. With Liam Delap picking up an injury the stoppages meant 10 minutes of time were added on in the first half and Pedro scored in the last minute to put Chelsea ahead. Just typical, things were not looking good already. Enzo Fernandez’s corner provided the goal, and he then added a penalty in the second half. Again, it was a contentious decision as Ryan Sessegnon was penalised for handball, but many have no idea where else he could have put his arms as he tried to block the ball. Fernandez (£6.6m) is the top scoring midfielder in FPL after three games. Add to that, the very popular Pedro leads all forwards with 26 points and Trevoh Chalobah whose ball helped win the penalty is 2^nd amongst defenders, currently the Blues are looking quite eye-catching for assets.

In the 3pm’s, Caoimhin Kelleher returned to my starting XI in goal and things were going well as Brentford led 1-0 with less than 10 minutes to go. Igor Thiago (£6m) scored a thumping header to give the Bees the lead, and he could be a real differential. Disaster then struck, as first, Sunderland were awarded a penalty that was put away by Enzo Le Fee, and then Wilson Isidor (£5.5m) came off the bench to score again at home. In terms of Sunderland, all the eyes had been on having Marc Guiu as a third forward but Isidor despite being more expensive is the man getting it done off the bench. Ironically after the Delap injury, Chelsea have now recalled Guiu from his loan now anyway. Simon Adringa only came off the bench to get a point and it would have been him who I took out of the starters for Wood. Bournemouth got a deserved three points at Tottenham as Evanilson’s deflected strike was enough. This meant my Johnson transfer failed and there was no clean sheet this week for Micky van de Ven. Ravi also had the Dutch centre half, in midfield he suffered the same fate as me, although it was with Kudus rather than Johnson. In the late fixture, Leeds shocked me as they had another shutout at home against a patched-up Newcastle. Joe Rodon was my last substitute as I missed out on another clean sheet from my £4m defender, frustration was an understatement. I ended Saturday with a whimsical 4 points, and my opponent was already on 21.

Sunday, saw Ravi extend his lead when Omar Marmoush’s guile helped create a goal for Erling Haaland. However, Brighton fought back to get a massive 2-1 victory at the Amex Stadium. Brajan Gruda’s late winner meant no return from Ruben Dias for my opponent. The other 2pm kick-off saw West Ham score three late goals away at Nottingham Forest to get their first points of the season. Jarrod Bowen repaid my faith in him by scoring the opener. And he would have had a second later if not for Callum Wilson’s unnecessary interference. Bowen went on a superb run and rounded the keeper, only for Wilson to try and shoot instead of letting Bowen finish. Bowen was rightfully livid, and Wilson better hope Bowen does not call Danny Dyer to deal with him. New signing El Hadji Malick Diouf (£4.5m) continues to impress at wing back for the Hammers and he assisted the third goal for Wilson. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was on my bench and West Ham’s too, so I may have to consider getting rid of him soon if he also is benched in gameweek 4. Nikola Milenkovic again got me nothing. Gibbs-White blanked for Ravi, and Wood missed a good headed chance as in the end me missing the deadline did not matter as much as I thought this week. On the contrary, it was a transfer wasted that could have been used in gameweek 4.

In the biggest game of the Premier League campaign thus far, champions Liverpool hosted runners-up Arsenal. The Gunners nullified Arne Slot’s men in the first half without showing mass attacking intent themselves. In the second period, the home side were much better and nicked the three points with a spectacular late winner from Dominic Szoboszlai’s free-kick. The damaged limitations exercise was now a homicide as Ravi’s team boasted Alisson in goal and Milos Kerkez in defence, so double clean sheet points there of course, as his Arsenal man Viktor Gyokeres was almost non-existent. Florian Wirtz almost got his first Premier League goal, and I still believe he will be very good once he adjusts to the pace of the league. His value is dropping however, so I am keeping an eye on that. Salah has not performed at his best to begin the season, but this was his first blank, so this was extra disappointing as he was my captain. Embarrassment was being exponentially served up, but at least Liverpool won again which made it easier to handle. Though, if I quit FPL and you do not see a ‘FFF’ again then do not be surprised, you will know I have gone far, far away.

My miserable week was summed up in the last match of the gameweek. Aston Villa, I believed would get their campaign up and running but they somehow remain without a goal as they were trounced at home by Crystal Palace. Not that it mattered but Ravi also had to absorb Watkins’ blank as he had a great first half chance saved by Dean Henderson. Ezri Konsa did nothing as I ended this diabolical head-to-head with a mere 29 points as I lost by 18 points, ‘kill me now!’. Daniel Munoz again showed I should never taken him out of my draft as Palace secured their second clean sheet in three games as he has returned in all three games now.  

I need change and fast, this is my worse start to an FPL season since I started playing as far as I can remember, ‘help me!’ to quote Kevin Hart. I intentionally delayed this piece until the international break ended as I am healing, something must give.

@DubulDee