For the best 64 FFUK managers from last month the pressure increased this Gameweek with the first-round of the FFUK Cup now underway. Did you qualify? Have you seen the draw? As the FA CUP gets underway in real life, we as fantasy managers have to give some focus to a specific opponent for November, and this without taking our eyes off the main prize. It is a difficult balance but no one ever said this job was easy! If you haven’t yet caught up with the draw then check out the video link below this article or simply click on the FFUK Cup tab. The draw went so well we are expecting FIFA to be in touch soon to offer us some sort of role in their hierarchy as we hear there are a few positions vacant right now. Plus there are some great first-round match ups too.
In the FFUK league it was another week without the big guns really banging. The ‘big guns’ other than Super Jamie Vardy who continues to go from strength to strength. Vardy simply needs to score against Newcastle to equal Van Nistelrooy’s record of goals in ten consecutive matches. It’s staggering to think that Vardy was playing conference football just a few years ago and now is one of the hottest strikers on the planet today! Other points scorers of note this week were Harry Kane, who continues his recent resurgence, Romelu Lukaku, Ozil the assist master (who is breaking records right now for his consistency) & Marco Arnautovic who was this weeks slayer of Chelsea. This was coupled with clean sheets for the Manchester clubs as well as Southampton & Stoke who all possess popular defenders.
What happened in the FFUK league then? See below for Page 1 of the latest table and the GW review below.
Still at the top of the tree is Lester Deeble (1st), his 59 points was enough to keep him there thanks to Vardy, Kane, Ozil & 3/4 clean sheets in defence. KDB (c) was a bit of a let down but Lester was not alone in picking the ginger Belgian.
Toby Glicher (2nd) continues his strong recent form and climbs the table once again, now just a place away from top spot. Toby’s team is lacking somewhat in Arsenal players considering he is a season ticket holder at the Emirates, although we all know there is little time for club allegiance in fantasy football. Vardy, Lukaku & Lanzini (who scored a peach against Everton) were responsible for Toby’s attacking points and he also had 3/4 clean sheets in defence. Toby’s (c) choice of Mahrez again failed to spark.
Stan Packham (3rd) fell away slightly after several good weeks in a row. Is it the pressure of the cup that has got to Stan? Apart from Lukaku, Vardy and Kolarov his team underperformed and only amassed 38 points though the team still looks good going forward. Was this just a one off poor week?
Mark Turnbull (4th) plays Pete Cronin (15th) in the cup. A nice easy tie Mark, looks like you have already got this one wrapped up. Paul Baker (5th) completes a familiar looking Top 5. But everyone behind is closing in too. Could we be about to see wholesale changes at the top?
Further down Loz Kelly (10th) had a great week. His score of 71 after, a 4 point hit last week, was the best on Page 1 thanks largely to a good captain choice – who else but Super Jamie Vardy? Only one team out of the Top 10 went for Vardy whilst 7/10 went for KDB. Mata & Kane played supporting roles for Loz and his defence also got 3/4 clean sheets.
Duncan Hannigan (11th), on the other hand, didn’t do so well this week. Other than Kane & Vardy the rest of Duncan’s team must have been on the beers the night before as they didn’t turn up, and the Bony injury didn’t work out too well either. Unlucky Duncan, we all have weeks like this. Onwards and (hopefully) upwards!
Jamie Stewart (50th) clings on to Page 1 by a thread. His reluctance to bring in Vardy can’t go on much longer can it? Jamie was thankful this week to some defensive points but last season’s league runner up needs to find some form soon.
James Coward (45th) & Andrew Faulkner (48th) both had good weeks scoring 66 and 60 respectively. Considering both are playing FPL for the first time this season they are doing very well to hold their own and look set for further rises if their form players continue. JC has Coutinho & Mata supporting (c) Super Jamie Vardy was well as a strong defence, Andrew, whilst not picking Vardy as his (c) this GW just gone, has a wealth of other form players like Lukaku, Ozil, Smalling & VVD to help him out of any trouble in his time of need.
As we now enter another International break we can reflect on the season so far and look forward to a busy run of fixtures right up to and through the festive season. For many of us the international break is also a little chance to relax away from football and the stresses of fantasy management. Don’t worry though, it wont be long before we are back with big decisions to make; Who to captain? How do I play it against my cup opponent? When do I use my chips? And that’s before we even begin to think about the relative merits of Sanchez vs Ozil or Vardy vs Aguero.
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