GW38 Deadline Post

Here we are, sat waiting for team news, with an hour or so to go before the GW38 deadline.

As we're waiting I'll share last week's team.

64 points (avg. 53)

Senesi got me four points. Beautiful. And Cherki and Semenyo both got just the one. So that worked out pretty well for me. Captaining Gabriel didn't quite pay off though. Saka or Bruno would've scraped me a few more points.

All in all I ended up with a rank boost of 241. A tiny, teeny-weeny green arrow, but a very welcome one at this stage of the season.

So, anyhow, GW38

Currently my plan is to do Calvert-Lewin to Bowen and Gabriel to Van Dijk. I'll be benching O'Reilly, Trossard and Saka.

This is subject to leaks though.

Making transfers this close to the deadline is uncharted territory for me. Normally, even on the final day of the season, I'm all set by now. Plus, I'm always terrified the fpl site will crash or my internet will go down. Even now, with an hour to go, I'm tempted to just hit the button now.

How long should I wait?

[...]

I don't want Calvert-Lewin this week as I just feel that game will be all West Ham. So switching him out is a nice differential. Bowen is fairly obvious. Van Dijk a bit less so. My thinking here is that I want a Liverpool player this week, and that Van Dijk has been their best fpl asset this season. Mavropanos is tempting. He's similar to Van Dijk, plus West Ham have more to play for. Instinctively I feel like I want Van Dijk though. It's a pure vibe pick (assuming I do go with him).

[...]

I'm thinking I should just make the transfers. Then, if there's any City news I can un-bench O'Reilly if he's starting.

[...]

waiting..

[...]

I'll be captaining Bowen.

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more waiting..

[...]

Haaland benched apparently!

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I could get Salah?

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I'm being brave ..I popped downstairs to make cheese and crackers.

[...]

Okay, half an hour to go. I'm making my transfers. Bowen and Salah in. I feel like I'm being eased into this with the leaks (we've also had a leak that Salah starts now). I don't like the thought that I'm potentially being manipulated with false information, but I can't look a gift horse in the mouth. It's not often I'm in this position toying with the deadline. So let's just go with the flow.

There we go. Apparently O'Reilly is benched too. Calvert-Lewin might be getting one more game for me after all.

I think that means we're just about done.

I'll wait until deadline to see if my bench needs anymore tweaking, then I'm going in the garden for half an hour to play football with the cat.

[...]

That's not me kicking the cat, lol. I'll be kicking a football in the garden in the glorious sun, as the cat skulks around seeking yet more food and attention. After that little sabbatical I can then settle down to actually watch the football.