WALSH

Transfers:

Rashford and Antonio OUT

Costa and Siggy IN

With two free transfers at my disposal this week there was no question which two players I would be removing. The real question was in who to replace - and instead of settling on a premium midfielder and a budget striker I opted for this route. Costa’s form has simply become too hard for me to ignore at this point and it feels very safe to bring him in. Chelsea have sort of a mixed bag of fixtures but it seems a ripe time to invest in Costa as they are not in Europe and if he draws his 5th yellow card this weekend against United his one game ban will fall during a League Cup tie which would be sublime. I prefer the consistency of Costa on an excellent team rather than relying on someone in the sub-7.0m striker bracket all of whom have their warts. Siggy is also an old friend who looks a good bet for points with new manager bounce around that side. The fixtures get better but as Siggy has shown throughout his FPL career he is capable of bagging returns against top sides as well. I also think Siggy is severely under priced this season - I expected him to come in at 8m this season and after a couple of price drops the value at 7.2 is absurd in my opinion. He was in nearly every side towards the end of last season and I think it will be only a matter of time before managers start to look at him as the favored option in that price bracket.

GK: Pickford again…hoping for a bunch of saves in this tie.

DEF: Some difficult choices in defense this weekend. Clyne and Fuchs pick themselves with plum home ties against a couple of iffy attacks in West Brom and Palace. I will opt for the Greek God of Holes Holebas away to Swansea and leave Amat on my bench. It’s always shitty to start a defender against one of your attackers as I am doing this weekend but Holebas is nearly a start every week option given how many set pieces he’s on and also playing out of position-ish as a wingback. Hoping for an attacking return again from him.

MID: With the United game out of the way it feels pretty excellent to have Mane and Firmino in this moment. West Brom will surely set up for a 0-0 but they severely lack the quality compared to United and I expect them to be overrun. Underrated little tit is Jonny Evans being suspended down Mane’s flank - some dickfuck will be playing left back so I am hoping that Mane will find his scoring boots this weekend. Siggy is in, naturally. Lastly, Lord Feo sits comfortably in my team as he continues to get me points and price rises. What a lovely guy.

FWD: Here we go sitting with the absolute ultimate triumvirate in attack of Aguero, Lukaku, and Costa. It’s back to heavy investment at the striker position and it feels great. Costa will be properly up for this game against Mou and United and given his form I am hopeful he can return. If not, it will be a 1 pointer as I also expect him to tactically pick up that fifth yellow card so he sidesteps the ban coming during a League game. Lukaku faces a stout Burnley defense in Turf Moor but as he showed last weekend all he needs is one chance. Aguero should also be really up for this game after being dropped at the Camp Nou midweek. Hopefully they get a pen, he takes, and fucking slots it. Need his confidence to get back up there.

Captain: It’s on Feo right now….but I am still very much debating between him and Kun. It may well change later tonight after I have a few beers in me. As good as Boro at home looks and the form of Feo I still have doubts. I’m still of the mind that Aguero at home is always a fantastic captaincy shout even though he and City have been a bit off the boil. There is no doubting, however, that Aguero is supremely well rested and likely a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove. Fuck I’m talking myself into Kun again. We’ll see….

ALON

Transfers:

Rashford and Antonio OUT

Feo and Callum Wilson IN

I had to make my two free moves early on in the week because of price rises and price drops. Fucking annoying but it seems like I’ve escaped unscathed… So I went Callum over Chaz. That’s the big news story here. To me Feo was a must transfer so that wasn’t even a decision to be made but Callum over Chaz was a hard one… In the end I followed fixtures and no European involvement for Bournemouth vs. Chaz played 45′ vs Inter (in Italy) on Thursday and then has City at the Ethiad to begin a pretty fucking bad run of fixtures for Soton (mci, CHE, hul, LIV, EVE). Trending upwards Bournemouth have Tottenham this week which isn’t good but no Toby and maybe no Rose makes it a little better. And after Totty they have mid, SUN, stk – I’m banking on that three game stretch to be a boatload of points for Sir Callum of Wilson. If my transfer was off then I can straight swap to Chaz when Soton fixtures come around.

GK: Lee Grant AKA my guy.

DEF: I like Arsenal to dominate ‘Boro and probably make it relatively easy for Koscielny and the defense. Although Stuani will probably score a 35 yard screamer… Matip and Liverpool have now shown that keeping cleans are possible, and home WBA is as good as it gets. Lastly the man the myth the legend Holebas. Blessed with a cultured left foot to build a dream on I love this man in this moment. He’s a fixture proof legend.

MID: With Feo waived into the squad I’m rocking a double barreled Arsenal midfield with him and bug eyes (Ozil). And it feels tremendous. I don’t know what the fuck is happening with Ozil with these volleys and Champions League hattys but I’ll fucking take it let’s go. I’m also representing my boys the reds with Bobby F of course, and representing City who are getting kind of no love from anybody right now with little Sterling. I want to say they had great performances vs. Everton and Barcelona - until the sending off. Sterling especially was terrific vs Barca and he’s in my starting 11 with confidence.

FWD: You already know don’t you? Kun, Lukaku, and new lad and friend Callum. The big gap in my squad feels like no Chelsea now that they’re back and firing. No Costa is scary, no defense is a bit scary, and no Hazard at this point is even scary. To keep rising I need the rest of my team to step up and I need Callum to do his best to match Costa. Tall order… Go on young dove (Callum means dove or some shit like that).

Captain: It’s Feo’s team now. ‘Nuff said. Captain is fucking brutal this week. Feo and the Goonas have been an absolute ideal model of consistency though. They’re home, they’re against a shit team, and I don’t want to spend anymore time dilly dollying back and forth between Kun and/or others. I got Feo in for a reason. Cometh the man, cometh the hour.