GW2: 110 points (avg. 81)
My GW3 team will look identical, except Mbeumo will become Cherki (team news permitting). Cherki will also be captain.
So, my questions..
Gabriel.
This is a tricky one, as clean sheets look good; defcon looks good, but the attacking threat feels a little diminished. Mainly because Arsenal have continued the trend of taking short corners. So, with the hefty price tag, there's definitely a decision to be made.
If Konsa usurps Mosquera, and the consensus seems to be that he will, then that's a huge saving if you're just looking for that Arsenal clean sheet potential. Gabriel needs much more to justify the price jump.
Then again, does he? Maybe you just get both and let the price tags average out. It's very nice owning Gabriel. It feels like you have a huge advantage over people who don't own him. If a few goals do come as well, then it's a massive differential. So I really don't want to lose him ..but, that extra money would help to get to Haaland.
Van Dijk.
This one's similar. Defcon looks decent. Clean sheets not so much. Goal threat always good.
It's highly unlikely I'll be taking Califiori out any time soon. So at the moment Van Dijk is the one I'd be most eager to downgrade to Konsa. That triple-up would lock me out of getting Saka though. Plus, if Liverpool do improve, and Van Dijk has that big return potential, it's a bit more exciting than just hoping for an Arsenal clean sheet. Perhaps Konsa will offer more in this Arsenal side? Who knows.
Luckily the next two Liverpool fixtures are nice. So I can wait a few more weeks before making plans.
Tzolis.
This one always had the feel of one of those early season picks. Where a new player arrives. Everyone gets excited. Then it doesn't quite happen. Saying that though, he did look great in the Community Shield and Coventry games, and he only came off at half time as he'd picked up a yellow.
I actually really like the fixture this week. Chelsea don't look great defensively. I watched the second half of the Arsenal match on Monday. In commentary Gary Neville said that Eze looked good (after coming on for Tzolis) and might have played his way into the team. However, I wasn't too impressed. I think he can be frustrating and looked a bit hit and miss. So I'm hoping and somewhat expecting that Tzolis starts. Giving me at least one more week to weigh up his fpl worth.
Isak.
As with Gabriel, I really enjoy owning Isak as a differential. He hasn't looked sharp in the first two games, but his xG has been good, he's got himself a goal and Liverpool have looked attacking.
The smart, sensible, safe move would be to upgrade him to Haaland this week. It's still so early in the season though, and I can't resist giving him these next two games. Ipswich away, Fulham at home. It's a big gamble, but I'll be kicking myself if he does well and I don't show the patience and bravery to stick with him. My whole philosophy in going against Haaland was to have these stronger differential options in my team. If Gabriel, van Dijk and Isak all do well that's a lot of points that other managers can't get to.
Semenyo.
I mentioned this one last time. With Haaland lacking cover will Semenyo get some minutes through the middle? He tends to be a ninety minute player. So maybe he's the Man City option to go with. Especially if I'm forgoing Haaland. I think Foden has looked good and Cherki has started well, but minutes are always a worry. So here we have big question marks.
Lammens.
My keeper choice is looking like a mistake at the moment. United haven't looked impressive at the back. On the flip side, there isn't really an obvious alternative. Plus, I wouldn't be wasting a transfer anyway. When I wildcard I'll naturally switch to two £4.5m keepers, in preparation for the bench boost. Right now there's little point worrying.
Players That I Don't Own
Sangaré.
If I was wildcarding I'd probably have Sangaré. That defcon is so powerful across a season, especially when it's fixture proof - as hard fixtures offer precisely that opportunity to do those defensive things. I've already missed out on two price rises, so this is one where I'm in danger of losing a tempo and falling behind the herd. Hopefully he disappoints.
De Cuyper.
This one's a little bit dangerous. As it's one of those where, if you don't own him, the tendency is to think, "There's no point getting him in now, he'll lose his place soon." Then he just keeps starting. Another where I'm hoping he disappoints.
Tarkowski.
One of my favourite fpl players. I don't think I'll be bringing him in, but he's always on my radar.
Palmer & Rogers.
I want both these players. Next week I'll have the two free transfers to bring them in. The only problem is I'll have to downgrade Fernandes. Part of the non-Haaland plan is being able to move between these big midfielders, but ideally I'd like to leave Fernandes and switch between the others. So maybe I'll just go for one instead of two. We'll see how things look after this gameweek.
Wissa.
I actually had Wissa in my very first draft when I returned to fpl. I think he's a really good pick this season. My current plan means I can't really bring him in however. He'll only become an option when I choose to wildcard. The one saving grace is that I think Newcastle's goals have been very precise. For want of a better word. The goals have been very low xG. The sort of goals where the attackers have had to do everything perfectly to score the goal. So I suspect they've overperformed a little.
Szoboszlai.
I should really mention Szoboszlai as well, given how he punished me in GW1. It's one of those where I'm just not feeling it, but I see him in so many teams. I understand the logic. He has a lot of routes to points. It feels boring and underwhelming though. I think partly it's psychological. Not having Haaland means I have money for the midfield. So I feel this need to have explosive players. To maximise upside. Perhaps I need to think a little harder.
Anyway, we're all set for GW3 either way, and I'm looking forward to it. I often hear people say that it feels "scary" to go against Haaland, or other highly owned players. I really don't feel that though. For me, these weeks where I get to go massively differential are the most exciting. I'll be in work tomorrow afternoon when the Man City game takes place. I'll go on my break at around 5pm and check the scores. If it's horrendous it'll be, "Oh well, I'll give Match of the Day a miss tonight. Back to work." I won't dwell on it. If it goes well I'll be buzzing and I'll have a little spring in my step.
I often see content creators talk about the effect the game has on their mental state. I do understand the disappointment. I can't pretend I don't feel it. However, I think I'm lucky, as I have other interests. So if the fpl isn't going great I just switch off and turn my attention elsewhere. I then come back four or five days later, refreshed, closer to the deadline. I also think it's good to manage your expectations. I know Haaland could smash three or four goals this week and leave me in the dust. So I'm prepared for that reality. Likewise, my idea of victory is somewhat more muted.
If Haaland scores thirteen points and Cherki gets eight I'll see that as a win, or at least a draw. Even though I'll be ten points down. As I'm hoping the rest of my side can make up the difference. If not this week, then at least in the weeks to come.
Some weeks it's just about survival.
The problem is there are quite a few good fixtures for Haaland in the upcoming calendar. Meaning even if I survive this one there'll be more danger to come. The pain for me - and my ego - will come not in having a bad week, but in hitting the wildcard and throwing in the towel.
Right now I'm enjoying being a little contrarian though.
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