Going into GW15, the penultimate GW before the World Cup ‘break’, we were very much hitting peak ‘Ha Ha Haaland’, but as they say, he who laughs last laughs loudest… or do they?!
With no early kick offs, it meant we had the excitement of FOUR, yes FOUR 1500 kick offs. But soon this excitement turned into a nightmare for many, as conflicting news about Foden and Haaland started doing the rounds.
Initially some ‘bhuna’ sites claimed that Haaland was starting and Foden was benched. We got closer to the 1330 deadline, the more trust worthy sites stated that both Haaland and Foden would be bench. Cue pandemonium .
Haaland captainers fearing another captain blank, all rushed onto the official site to make their changes, the website crashes. Even a Knight of the British realm was throwing his racquet around…
(Side note; the app never crashed and worked a treat. FPL app FTW).
Just when the pre game dust had settled, FPL Rockstar dropped another selection bomb from the same game.
It got too much for some and at 1353 HRH @chrisgalloway80 stated; ‘FFUK this GW’. Quite.
Here were the all important Captain picks and Chips;
Time for the actual football, here’s a round up of the results:
Man City 2-1 Fulham
It was fair to say the pre game drama was foreshadowing for the events that were to unfold over the 90 (+5) Mins. City took the lead from Alvarez (£6.0m, 1.8%) and it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for the Cottagers until City’s lead got Cancel-o’d out… Geddit?!
A red card for Cancelo (£7.4m, 55.3%), taking out Wilson (£5.7m, 0.1%) as the last man. With no Mitrovic in the team. Up stepped Andreas (£4.6m, 24.4%), the player benched by many FFUKers, to tuck in the equaliser. City huffed and puffed but called the cavalry of Foden (£8.3m, 23.3%) and Haaland (£12.2m 81.3%).
Haaland got the FFUKers excited with a goal on 74mins but rightly disallowed for offside. However in injury time, a Fulham defender lightly caressed the ankle of KDB (£12.6m, 38%) and he took full advantage by winning a penalty. Up stepped Haaland, scoring the winner and saving many from a ‘Captain Fail’.
Leeds 4-3 Bournemouth.
Never let Bournemouth walk your dog. Why? They’re terrible at holding leads (Or Leeds?!).
2nd week in a row, the Cherries threw away a two goal lead, this time when 3-1 up, losing 4-3 to a resurgent Leeds team. From an FPL perspective, the winners of budget eye test were Marcus Tavernier (£4.9m, 0.2%) with 16 points and Crysencio Summerville (£4.4m,, 0.6%), yet again, with a cool 13 points and the all important winner. Some well priced differential fodder?
Forest 2 – 2 Brentford
A Toney-less Brentford travelled to Forest, in what turned out to an event afternoon at the City Ground. VAR once again the talking point, as penalties were given and not given to both teams. Morgan Gibbs White (£5.5m, 0.3%) scored, assisted and took home 3bpts, as Forest left it late to snatch a 2-2 draw after initially leading 1-0.
Wolves 2-3 Brighton
Four goals in the first half, four different scorers from four different assisters… a ffuking nightmare for FPL owners of Trossard, Gross and co. The winner from an FPL perspective was Lallana (£4.9m, 0.1%) with 13 points, but from a defensive perspective, it’s only 3 CS’ in 14 games from the once stubborn Seagulls. As for Wolves, Lopetegui will officially start on 16th November, with 6 weeks to get the team howling again.
Everton 0-2 Leicester
Further resurgence for Rodgers and his lads, as they dealt with Everton with little trouble. A worldie from Tielemans (£6.3m, 1.6%) and another from Harvey Barnes (£6.9m, 1.7%), with James Maddison (£8.2m, 9.9%) with both the assists. Leicester suddenly looking like the form team, only conceding 2 goals in 7 games since their 6-2 defeat versus Spurs.
Sunday:
Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
The Arsenal returned to the top of the league with a controlling display against Chelsea. Gabriel (£5.1m, 11.4%) poked home a potentially already goal bound corner from Saka (£8.0m, 17.2%). Another clean sheet for Arsenal, now level on most clean sheets with City and Newcastle, with 6. Chelsea ended the game with an xG of 0.29 (vs Arsenal’s 2.25), Aubameyang with 6 touches of the ball (and a booking) in his 64mins on the pitch. Shades of Lukaku?
Villa 3 -1 United
Under new boss Emery, Villa put on a show with their first win against Man United since 1995, which was coincidently the result that led to Hansen claiming ‘You can’t win anything with kids’. One of the trolls of the season, Leon Bailey (£4.5m, 4.3%) scored his 4th goal of the season, with all 4 goals under 4 different managers. Digne (£4.6m, 1.3%) with a free kick before the Jacob Ramsey (£5.2m, 0.9%) show started. An own goal to make it 2-1 at HT and a cracking top bins finish to end the contest. I was very happy to see our Villan, James Downie reaped the Ramsey rewards. Get in lad!
Dalot picked up his 5th yellow of the season, adding to misery for his owners.
Southampton 1-4 Newcastle
Newcastle’s Miggy based form continued as they expertly dispatched of a Saints and in the end their manager too. Almiron (£5.8m 31.2%) aka the 2022 Gundogan with another goal. Another haul from one of the stand out assets so far this season, Trippier (£5.9m, 64.0%) with an assist, CS locked after being subbed and 3 bpts. Wilson (£7.5m, 11.8%) got an assist but subbed at HT after suffering from a cold.
Wood (£5.6m, 0.6%), Willock (£4.9m, 0.5%) and Bruno Guimaraes (£5.7m, 5.0%) getting the other goals for Newcastle, while Perraud (£4.4m, 0.3%) got the consolation.
West Ham 1-2 Palace
More woes for West Ham as Palace continued their quiet improvement in form. In this season’s HAHA series, it was the turn of Zaha-ha (£7.5m 20.1%) to torment those that sold him with a goal and an assist. A 12 point haul for Zaha and future SPOTY, Olise (£5.4m, 0.2%) with the injury time winner. Benrahma (£5.6m, 0.9%) had given the Hammers the lead, Paqueta (£5.9m, 0.5%) with the assist.
Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool.
I used to live by one FPL rule, ‘Never Sell Salah’ but shirley this season all bets are off. Wrong. Salah (£12.7m, 30.7%) took advantage of some Dier defending and sharp shooting to haul 15 points at the Mido Stadium. Kane (£11.6m and 25.6%) chipped in with a goal but they couldn’t stick it in the onion bag for an equaliser. Are Liverpool back? Is Salah now a ‘must own’? Maybe, but with one game before a 6 week rest for the Egyptian King, it could be a strong 2nd half of the season for him.
That’s a wrap with the games.
Here are this weeks winners and losers:
After the Halloween massacre last week, I was happy there was only one Cont evicted this week and that was Fabian Mascoll on 44 points (and also taking a hit of 12 points!). Quite the costly week for Fabian.
Roll on GW16, the last GW before the break for the World Cup. I predict a weekend of peculiar results, with many officially selected players knowing that a knock, kick or strain will rule them out of the World Cup.
All the best next week!
Ameet
Song choice, goes out to gossip central and all those conting ‘bhuna’ sites!
FFUK 