Fantasy Football Files - 2025/26 - Gameweek 6 - The Late Late Show

Gameweek 6 pitted me against Josh. Josh was a solid FPL player and he finished second behind Michael in the ‘Justice League’ last season.

I had no intention of using my ‘Wildcard’ just yet as I still believed in some of the players that I had, then Liverpool’s Carabao Cup game with Southampton changed things. Hugo Ekitike’s callousness saw him sent off after scoring the winning goal when he was already booked. Immediately I then activated my wildcard. I looked at the best way I could fit in Erling Haaland with Mo Salah, the latter I of course had already. Then the next step was to get in Alexander Isak before his price rose to a number that would make it difficult to realistically have him in. Ekitike’s one game suspension would mean Arne Slot’s hand was forced and Isak would have to start against Crystal Palace. Josh had not checked who he was playing this week, and he messaged to inform that he was using his wildcard too, I was slightly annoyed, but I expected it. Not having Haaland was too risky right now as he honestly looks like he can score in every game. So, if you did not have him, with him being so expensive a wildcard was the only way to pull it off. In fact, over 750,000 wildcards were used by fantasy managers in gameweek 6. I knew the others who had Haaland already and had not used another bonus chip, may use their triple captain on him this week as Manchester City played Burnley. I did not want to get left any further behind or there may be no point in playing anymore. So, I had to take precaution. The Norwegian was the most transferred in player and was obviously the most captained as Josh and I of course captained him too.

Manchester United’s trip to Brentford began the gameweek’s action. The Bees flew into a 2-0 lead as Igor Thiago, who I have spoken about in recent weeks bagged a brace. Then United pulled a goal back from new signing Benjamin Sesko, so no clean sheet for me from Caoimhin Kelleher. The Red Devils had a penalty in the second half and for some reason I was confident they would not score. I was right to be confident as Kelleher saved Bruno Fernandes’ penalty after a lengthy VAR check had preceded it. Mathias Jensen’s banger sealed the three points for Keith Andrews’ men as somehow Kelleher was not amongst the bonus points. I was happy with the 8 points, nevertheless.

In the 3pm’s, Brighton helped me out as they beat 10-man Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. As Josh had Moises Caicedo and the popular Joao Pedro, I originally had a hint of fear about this fixture. Enzo Fernandez’s solid start to the season continued as he opened the scoring with a header. Trevoh Chalobah was sent off in the 53^rd minute and it took over 20 minutes for the Seagulls to capitalise. Sadly, my new player Yasin Ayari was not involved in any of the goals as Danny Welbeck copped a brace. Crystal Palace took an early lead at home to Liverpool and would have had a few more if it was not for Alisson Becker’s heroics. Despite Salah (who we both had) being quiet again and there was still no contribution from Florian Wirtz, the Reds found a way to draw level through Federico Chiesa, only to lose the game right at the death. Eddie Nketiah’s last gasp goal got the Eagles three deserved points. Wirtz who I let go of with the wildcard had a great chance saved and Isak could have given me an instant reward only to put a good chance wide. Admittedly Isak could have gone down as there was contact, but he elected to shoot.

Leeds and Bournemouth drew 2-2 at Elland Road. Antoine Semenyo gave the Cherries the lead with a low free-kick to gain us both points. To my disgust Joe Rodon was on my bench and he levelled things up. Rodon continues to only produce when I bench him. Sean Longstaff put the home side in front before Marcos Senesi, another man Josh and I both owned assisted an injury time equaliser by Eli Kroupi. Manchester City took the lead against Burnley and then were pegged back as Jaidon Anthony scored his 4^th of the season. City scored twice just past the hour and there had only been an assist from Haaland. Then the theme of the weekend occurred, and the Norwegian scored not just once but twice at the end of the game, the 90^th and 93^rd minutes to be exact. All the managers who captained him breathed a sigh of relief and took back any previous derogatory words they were saying about him. It would have been a plus for me that Tijani Reijnders blanked, but Phil Foden did too, as I lowered the chance of having better quality in the team to fit him in at £8m. Saying that, the transfer was not only for one week of course.

In the 5.30pm game, Sunderland’s impressive start to the season continued as they won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest. I had long pondered on which defender from the Black Cats to have as they had looked good defensively and their value was budget friendly as they had just been promoted. I narrowed it down to Nordi Mukiele or Omar Alderete. I opted for Mukiele and guess what the winning goal came from Alderete. I was happy with the clean sheet as the City Ground is not an easy place to go although it could have been so much more. Granit Xhaka (£5m) assisted the goal and if you add his defensive contributions he is looking like a useful midfield option. The last match of the day was between Tottenham and Wolves. Josh and I both owned Micky van de Ven, and clean sheet hopes were dashed as Santiago Bueno found himself unmarked to put Wolves ahead. The only good aspect of this was that Guglielmo Vicario was Josh’s keeper. Richarlison was also one of Josh’s players, so his non-return was also thrilling news. The late show had another cast member as a terrific strike from Joao Palhinha in the 94^th minute rescued a point for Spurs. I had a 9-point lead come Saturday’s conclusion, 69-60.

On Sunday, now that I have sold him, Ollie Watkins finally decided to open his league account as Aston Villa beat Fulham 3-1. I was happy Villa did not keep a clean sheet as I let go of Ezri Konsa at the last minute to include Senesi. Neither of us had anyone playing in the Newcastle and Arsenal game, however as the theme is late goals there was another one at St James’ Park as Arsenal picked up a massive win. FPL favourite Gabriel Magalhaes got the goal in the 96^th minute.

So, to Monday. I had to reluctantly let go of Jarrod Bowen to be able to afford Isak and I had a feeling he would score against Everton. In terms of decisive players, I had Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall whilst Josh had James Tarkowski. Dewsbury-Hall could not covert a decent first half chance as Everton went in 1-0 at half-time through a Michael Keane header. Bowen was to find the net in the second period to neutralise Tarkowski to hand me victory. It goes to show you the little confidence I have that even with a lead going into the game I was still thinking I would lose.

Can you believe it people I won a game! Praise God! My season has finally begun. Can I just say, “this moment is so much bigger than me, I would like to thank my Mum and everyone who believed in me”. I am playing of course, but it was getting depressing consistently writing about defeats.

@DubulDee