My side’s time rocketing to the summit of the league table
seems like a distant memory now, as I drop to fifth thanks to my second defeat
in a row. Last weekend also saw my team post their lowest score of the season, coupled
with the largest margin of defeat so far. It was embarrassing from Saturday
right up until Monday night. But the pain doesn’t seem to want to stop. Almost
half my team (and definitely half my goals) will be absent through suspension,
injury, or just sitting out while his current side face his parent club. The
fantasy gods really don’t want me to win this week, as I face @RotoWireAndrew,
whose only dilemma is which players to leave out! The IEFSA Fantrax fixture
computer is determined to see my side plummet down the table.
The league itself is really getting tight now. Amazingly
only six points separate the top 15 sides. @jwl_15 is the current leader thanks
to his overall points total. @wrigavin in fourth is the form side, having
reeled off five wins on the trot. It has been relatively low scoring the last
two weeks, a goal or assist either way could swing a tie. With this in mind
it’s vitally important to get all your players starting for their teams.
@RotoWireAndrew’s Team
If we faced each other every week we would currently both be
with a record of 6-6. This suggests a tight game. Andrew’s team does have more
luck in front of goal though. 17 goals for his team compared to 12 for mine
(six of which will be missing this weekend).
Charlie Austin and Theo Walcott have five goals each, and both have tasty
home fixtures on Sunday. In fact apart from Erik Lamela, who is injured anyway,
all his goal scorers will be playing at home this weekend. What is surprising
are his assist stats. Walcott is his best provider of these, yet has only
contributed two. His biggest signing Paul Pogba has taken the most shot in his
side with 34. Hopefully this isn’t the week where a few of these shots start
finding the net.
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| Paul Pogba finding space in a packed midfield here. |
Andrew is sixth in the league and has had a very up and down
season so far. Some weeks his players run up a high one hundred plus figure
score, and others he struggles to reach 80+ points. It’s all down to getting players
onto the pitch. Unfortunately for me it looks like some players who were rare
starters a few months ago are now more assured of a start. Marcos Rojo at Man
Utd looks like being one of their centre backs with Bailly and Smalling out injured.
Ahmed Musa only got 12 minutes last week but could be in line for a start on
the wing for Leicester this week. Andrew may have to slot Musa in ahead of
Bournemouth’s Jordan Ibe who is still recovering from illness, in the OF spot.
Ibe is playing on Sunday though; will Andrew leave a slot open for him until
then? In goals he has the West Ham keeper. The Hammers head to Old Trafford in
the late Sunday kick-off, so he could be in for a busy afternoon. With three
possible United players in his line up, Andrew will be watching that game
closely.
What I Need To Happen
The United/West Ham game is one I will be monitoring the line-ups
for also. With Mkhitaryan seemingly back in favour and Jesse Lingard having
scored midweek in the Europa League, I will need both to play considering the
list of players that will be missing for me this gameweek. Both of my Arsenal
players are out, Bellerin and Cazorla. The other Arsenal player on my roster,
Jack Wilshere, will have to sit the next game out. He is not allowed play for
Bournemouth against his parent club. With Joe Allen missing because of
suspension, I’m struggling to get three Midfield players to play. If things go
really pear shaped, I could end up with no players starting for their clubs.
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| Jack Wilshere won't add to his goal tally (0) this week |
Tom Heaton in goals had a below average week last time out
when letting in four goals. Things might not get any better when Burnley
entertain Man City in the first game of the weekend. If he and team mate
Michael Keane can keep Aguero and co. quiet, it would be a good start for me in
the matchup with Andrew. I am worried about my Midfield though. Kevin Mirallas
is not exactly assured of a start and perhaps it would be prudent to push a
player into Inj. Reserve while drafting in a midfielder from the Free Agent
list for one week.
Predictions
Four correct from nine predictions last week. The league as I
mentioned is getting really tight. When three quarters of the managers have
designs on the title how am I supposed to predict the winners every week? I’ll
continue in my pursuit of the perfect week in the face all this though. To see
how well these predictions pan out, please follow @THE_IEFSA on Twitter.
Good Luck Everyone.
@jforguer11 over @SmokeyLoogy
@wrigavin over @FuzzyWarbles
@TomSunderland_ over @TAmc10
@jwl_15 over @BenDinnery
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