EDITOR'S ELEVEN: Bench Woes Behind, Away Days Ahead...

I’m just going to say it: I underestimated Aston Villa.

Not enough to NOT bring in Cash and Diaby, just enough not to play them. And subsequently, my two Villains assets sat first and second on my bench, and collected a total of 14 points. It’s the first time this season I’ve felt embarrassed about a decision because I should have known better.

GAMEWEEK 7

To be fair, my midfield made this a massive headache. No one in their right mind would have benched Son, Maddison or Salah, and Gordon’s form made him an irresistible shout at home to Burnley. My defence was no less a migraine, as well. The Toon double-up of Schär and Trippier was a no-brainer, as was my sole City asset, Rúben, and I didn’t bring Kaboré in for his double game week only to bench him. Looking back, it’s difficult to see what I would possibly have done differently – so maybe we can chalk it up to bad luck. After all, I had my fair share of it…

Maybe I dodged the Estupiñan own goal but I didn’t dodge Rúben’s as he contributed to City’s first defeat of the season. Kaboré managed just 3 points in 151 minutes of football, Madders and Sonny underwhelmed with 9 points between them, and Gordon picked up his fifth yellow card and got a 1-game suspension. Oh, and after 5 returns in 6 games, Awoniyi conveniently decided to go off the boil. The season from hell had finally hit me, as well. I collected a grand total of 48 points (1 point below the global average) and for the first time this season, dropped out of the top 1 million. Albeit barely (OR: 1,053,397), and many elite players and pundits far better at FPL than I, where languishing much lower down the table – but the fact remains that in my best-case scenario, I missed out on 11 much-needed points.

But we move on. Because that’s the game, isn't it.

There’s a small difference, tho: and that’s my mindset. So far this season, I’ve been playing it relatively safe and not venturing too far from the template. But now that I’m not protecting such a promising starting rank (and with so many doing far worse), I’ve decided to get a little more aggressive. No, I’m not chasing my losses, nor am I throwing my strategy out the window. But I am developing a bit more of an appetite for risk, and that’s why I’ve broken another of my cardinal rules: I’ve taken a minus-4 one week after wildcarding.

GAMEWEEK 8

Why? Because, in another foul twist of luck, Diaby’s injury flag has (while not getting any darker) went from knock to back injury. And given my rank drop, I’m not in the mood for more disappointment. That’s why I not only brought in Udogie for Rúben but also took a 4-point hit to bring in Bowen for Diaby. Of my entire starting eleven, only my new Hammer asset plays at home this week. So pack your bags, lads. Away we go…

Fixtures breed form.

Over the next five weeks, Spurs have Luton (A), Fulham (H), Palace (A), Chelsea (H) and Wolves (A). Meanwhile, the high-flying Hammers have Newcastle (H), Villa (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A) and Forest (H) with Bowen looking like he fancies himself for a Ballon d’Or.

I've also captained Son away to Luton but that could change. His workload IS being managed and he's allegedly carrying an ongoing groin issue, and Salah away to Brighton is pretty tempting in the absence of Estupiñan in the Seagull's defence. But what I'm definitely NOT going to do is captain Haaland away to Arsenal. I have too much faith in the Gunner's back line and not enough faith in the Norwegian's current form in front of goal. Besides, I hate how he's sort of broken the game and relish any chance to take a punt against him.

It’s not a perfect squad, nor necessarily a perfect strategy but in this mad, mad season, this approach to Gameweek 8 is as good an attempt as any. Let’s see what the weekend brings, and maybe I’ll go into the international break on a green arrow...

Good luck, all.

~DP