Fantasy Football Files - 2026/27 - Gameweek 8 - 'Alexander The Great'

Gameweek 8 saw me up against two-time ‘Justice League’ champion Darren B. (D-Man), who of course is my co-host from the D&D Football Factory. I was looking for my fifth successive head-to-head victory and continue my opponent’s slow start to the campaign.

As I have stated before I am trying not to procrastinate as much and be more decisive and then hope I get the bit of luck needed that will accumulate points. With Dominik Szoboszlai reaggravating his injury, this time I sought a replacement. First, I thought about getting Morgan Rogers as I had enough budget for it however, as he was so highly owned, I looked at players who would be differentials instead. I almost pulled the trigger on Marcus Tavernier but then went with Szoboszlai’s teammate Cody Gakpo. Liverpool had not won at home yet so would be desperate, so although Brighton had been excellent thus far, I felt the Reds would be up for the challenge. With Fabian Hurzeler’s side scoring so many goals early on, some would have sold their Liverpool assets or would bench them. In addition to having three men from the Merseysiders I also captained Alexander Isak. I wanted to be on the attack, in the past I have tried to contain, as Erling Haaland was the only player Darren and I both had it was more than likely he would captain him. As he did not have Isak I thought ‘why not’ in terms of giving him the captaincy. After the deadline I saw that Haaland was my opponent’s captain and his free transfer was to sell the injured Bukayo Saka for Morgan Gibbs-White.

Friday night football started the gameweek off. Nottingham Forest took the lead at Ipswich and thankfully it did not include Gibbs-White as my namesake Daniel Munoz assisted Neco Williams. The Tractor Boys responded well and got an equaliser just before the break as Julio Enciso punished Nikola Milenkovic’s mistake. It was to stay 1-1 and I was grateful. Enciso at £5.5m could be a good fifth midfielder in your squad as he always so lively and likes to shoot.

Saturday’s action began at Villa Park as Manchester City visited a ground that they have not had much luck at recently. It looked like it would continue as Nicolas Jackson (£6.8m) capitalised on a Marc Guehi error after just six minutes. My hope of clean sheet points from Josko Gvardiol were gone just like that. I was up against Rayan Cherki, and he had a low effort saved, the Frenchman was then subbed at half-time to my delight. Haaland levelled things up in the second half with a towering header after good work by Iliman Ndiaye and I was hoping that would be it from him. Gvardiol to my anguish then had an effort tipped onto the bar by Zion Suzuki. Unai Emery’s men then regained the lead as Jackson netted again shooting early to catch Gianluigi Donnarumma out. Gvardiol was denied well again before Haaland had a header cleared off the line as Villa hung on. I should have got much more from this encounter.    

The 3pm’s saw Arsenal take an early lead at home to Everton. I heard the goal came from a set piece and hoped it was not Ezri Konsa, only to find out that it was, as he scrambled the ball in after the Toffees failed to clear when the ball hit the bar. If only Jordan Pickford had bigger arms maybe. After Noni Madueke went close on a couple of occasions, I was begging for a goal from David Moyes’ men and Thierno Barry was thwarted by David Raya after a Ben White error. The Gunners made it 2-0 in the second half with a Gabriel Magalhaes header. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall headed just wide near the end as I almost got crucial points here, Konsa got a gigantic 14 points. Thank God Darren did not have an Arsenal double up at the back. Despite Gabriel (£7.9m) scoring, Konsa (£4.7m) and Riccardo Calafiori (£5.9m) still look like the best FPL value picks in Mikel Arteta’s defence.

Fulham got a crucial 1-0 triumph away at Coventry. Before the brilliant second half winner by Oscar Bobb (£5.5m), Josh King rocked the crossbar in the first period. King, thankfully assisted the Bobb goal as he finally returned in the last game of three consecutive matches against the promoted clubs. He could have returned in every game, so I have a decision to make in whether I hold on to him or not as a big haul is surely not far away. The Cottagers looked far too open to start the season but have now kept back-to-back clean sheets and David Affengruber or Calvin Bassey both at £4.5m could be solid enablers. My opponent had Bobby Thomas who picked up an injury and was withdrawn after 59 minutes, one minute shy from returning clean sheet points, so a bit of luck for me.

In the late game, a Roberto De Zerbi masterclass saw Tottenham surprise many and triumph 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro, who Darren and I both owned was to unexpectantly miss the game, therefore I would get Pascal Gross’ points off my bench and Darren would get Amar Dedic’s points. Pedro now creates another issue whether to keep or sell. This game got me back into a decent position as Antonin Kinsky’s clean sheet defied the odds as he outscored Darren’s Chelsea duo of Maxence Lacroix and Rogers. I was over the moon, and this provided not just crucial points in the head-to-head but also overall to my rank as free-scoring Chelsea would have scared many fantasy managers from starting Kinsky.

On Sunday, Newcastle won 2-0 at Crystal Palace. I finally got a goal from Harvey Barnes; the caveat was it was assisted by Dedic. With the clean sheet for the Magpies, Dedic outscored Barnes. Hull took the lead at home to Brentford with a penalty by Ollie McBurnie. I badly needed a goal from the Bees as Konstantinos Tzolakis was my opponent’s keeper and fortunately, I was to get it as Dango Ouatarra levelled.

Liverpool could have gone behind at home to Brighton as Yasin Ayari blasted over a massive chance. Andoni Iraola’s men then scored twice in less than five minutes which went on to decide the game. First there was an own goal by Gross meaning I put him as first sub for no reason. Then I was in ecstasy as Bradley Barcola’s industry saw him set up Isak for the second in the 22nd minute. The differential captain worked and gave me much needed breathing space. Ayari hit the outside of the post as I was nervous as hell but my team in real life held on for the clean sheet despite only having 36% possession. Gakpo should have got me more points, but his decision making was not as good as it had been earlier in the campaign. Do not be deterred from having players from the Seagulls although they have Manchester City next as they can still score against them.

Bryan Mbeumo, always get chances so I was worried, in the end there was no need for concern as Manchester United were gunned down at home to Bournemouth again. Rayan, opened the scoring before Tavernier bagged meaning I should have gone with him; he now has a superb 5 league goals. Evanilson (£6.3m), another Cherries man in-form made it 3 and Marco Rose’s side have some good games coming up on paper, so will be looked to by FPL managers.

In the last game I needed Jayden Bogle to not be outdone by his teammate Dominic Calvert-Lewin. In a very forgettable contest, Sunderland and Leeds had a stalemate. The goalless draw got Bogle clean sheet points so despite a booking he did the job I needed to confirm a win for me, 69-55. A fifth victory on the trot and I now lay 4th in the Justice League. Overall I have 535 points which moved me into the top 700k in the world. The plan to attack rather than neutralise worked wonders, long may it continue as another former champion, this a two-time one bite the dust.

@DubulDee