Every week this season, two West Ham fans will compete at Fantasy Football to win money for their chosen charities.
Will’s Team
GK: Dubravka
Def: Lascelles, Saliba, Mitchell, Robinson
Mid: Gordon, Saka ©, Salah, Bowen.
FW: Watkins, Cunha.
OK so as I called ahead of the last gameweek, James won the ‘his Son Heung-min vs my Bukayo Saka’ battle.
And although he edged a narrow victory over me, I am still within touching distance.
We both captained Ollie Watkins who was denied an assist by VAR against Sheffield United so only returned a miserly two points – doubled to four.
And only Mo Salah and Jarrod Bowen returned more than three points in the rest of my team so not the greatest haul.
Only one transfer this week with Wolves’ Matheus Cunha coming in for the perennially terrible Yoane Wissa – who I vow to never have in my FPL squad ever again.
Cunha has five goal contributions in seven games and although Wolves have only won twice in nine away all season they have only failed to score in two of those defeats so I fancy a return.
I am desperate to bring West Ham sensation Mo Kudus in but it would have meant a four point transfer penalty this week and with the Hammers going to Arsenal having conceded five goals away from home TWICE this month, I am not confident it would have been worth it.
On that note, Saka gets my armband this week. Slight risk with James almost certainly going to pick Salah whose Liverpool go to Burnley but fortune favours the brave… sometimes.
Happy Christmas everyone. Viva David Moyes.
James’ Team
GK: Dubravka
DEF: Udogie, Gabriel, Burn
MID: Bowen, Salah (C), Son, Gordon, Palmer
FW: Watkins, Haaland
I write this with one game left to play in GW18. I still have Cole Palmer to play, while Will’s squad is all done and dusted until GW19. So you can imagine my delight that even without Palmer, I’ve got 11 more points than him this gameweek.
Taking into account the -8 hit I took as well, that puts me eight points clear of him with one player left to play. I did it with 10 men, too, due to Pau Torres not featuring for Aston Villa and none of my bench playing either.
The only downside to my gameweek was my captain Ollie Watkins blanking at home to Sheffield United. Thankfully, Will captained him too.
It guarantees I’ll be top at Christmas!
It’s a very quick turnaround ahead of GW19 and as a result, I’m going to stick with what I’ve got and make no transfers. I’ve taken too my points hits over the last couple of weeks, so it’s about time I carried one over to give me two free transfers in GW20.
There’s still no confirmation of Erling Haaland’s fitness but I’m going to gamble and bring him back into my starting XI. He comes in for Cristian Romero, who also has a yellow flag next to his name. If he doesn’t play, hopefully either Romero Pau will come off the bench with some decent points.
The rest of my XI is unchanged, aside from Destiny Udogie returning after his suspension in GW18.
My captain choice us pretty easy. Mohamed Salah takes the armand as Liverpool travel to Burnley. The Clarets have a bit of confidence after 2-0 win away at Fulham but they have the second worst defence in the Premier League after 18 games and have conceded more goals at home (22) than anyone else. No brainer, isn’t it?
