EDITOR'S ELEVEN: Some Squad, Innit.

Photo Credit: IMDb

Nothing is stranger than the three days between midweek European fixtures and the next Premier League game week – especially after a disaster like Gameweek 5. Seventy-two football-less hours to catch our breath, collect our thoughts and plan our moves for the weekend. A clean slate, a fresh start and (on this particular week) a MUCH lower rank.

It’s the kind of lull in the action that gets in your head – and no surprise. Our favourite prospects didn’t break their legs in the continental clashes, our dead-weight substitutes are burning holes in our benches, and the weight of that hefty red arrow is making most of us think twice about our strategies. “Should I roll my transfer?” "Should I take a minus-four?” “Should I wildcard early?” “Should I delete this app and take up bird-watching instead?” These are the questions bouncing between our ears. They’ve certainly made the rounds around my cranium. But several deep breaths later, I’ve sorted my head, remembered my strategy and reminded myself that last week was one of those unfortunate anomalies that we just have to accept as part of the game. Like Vinnie Jones' cover of 'Big Bad Leroy Brown'.

So, here’s what we’re going to do: STICK TO THE BLOODY PLAN.

Every move I’ve made thus far has been laddering up to a Gameweek 7 dead-end with a calculated minus-four (my first of the campaign) in order to bring in 1 Luton defender and 1 Luton forward for their double game week against Everton and Burnley – followed by a Gameweek 8 wildcard. And nothing’s changed. Morris hopefully hauls in at least one of the fixtures, and whatever part of the Hatters’ defence I choose to invest in will probably see me break even, even in a worst-case scenario where they can’t keep two clean sheets. It's as safe a punt as any.

And about that Gameweek 8 wildcard? It’s the perfect time to jump off Arsenal and Chelsea assets as their fixtures swing unfavourably, and to jump on the Villa, Liverpool and Spurs assets as their fixtures swing beautifully – plus, I’ve accrued enough underlying data to post-rationalize however my new squad looks, so there's that.

In the meantime, I have two game weeks to navigate – and other than attempting to find my way back to my pre-Gameweek 5 form, my mandate is simple.

DAMAGE CONTROL.

That’s why I’ve made the most pedestrian of moves this week: using my 1 free transfer to switch keepers (Johnstone to Flekken); and in doing so, I’ve broken two of my own cardinal rules: 1. Don’t transfer keepers unless you’re on a wildcard and 2. Don’t make transfers before the press conferences. Let me explain – the first broken rule was easy to justify, as Johnstone’s a notable rotation risk with Henderson breathing down his neck. And if he is dethroned this weekend, I’d be stuck with Turner between the sticks instead – a viable option almost any other game week but not when Forest are visiting the Etihad. Given the trauma of Gameweek 5, I have zero appetite for a punt on a keeper-less weekend. The second rule was easy to ignore, too, since Brentwood don’t have the distraction of European fixtures. While much of my squad was battling it out across Europe on Tuesday and Wednesday night, I imagined Flekken nestled all snug in his bed, while visions of clean sheets danced in his head... Sure, I could have waited for the pressers (it’s not like a price-rise was looming) but it was one of those rare times where a cheeky early transfer felt permissible.

With all this in mind, here’s how I’m lining up:

GOAL

As discussed, Brentford’s keeper comes in for Johnstone this week – and with just 1 clean sheet in 5, he’s arguably overdue for another, despite the absence of Rico Henry in the backline, and especially at home against a lacklustre Everton.

DEFENCE

I’ve gone with a 3-5-3 this week, with my starting backline trio consisting of Rúben, Chilwell and Colwill. Yes, double Chelsea defence is risky business but Poch will have them pulling their socks up against a Villa side that’s only produced wins against far weaker sides this season. It’s a matter of time before Chelsea start looking like Chelsea again – and given my lack of options (Baldock and his calf injury have gone from a yellow to a red Dorito and Saliba is up against high-flying Spurs), it seems like the only punt to take. Please note: I’m keenly aware that this could go horribly wrong but I’d rather take a chance on a rank-dropping defensive performance than take a minus-four and pretty much guarantee it. Not this early in the season, anyway.

MIDFIELD

This week, my Big-in-the-Mid strategy is a marquis foursome on paper: Son’s one of the few attackers I’d trust to haul away to Arsenal, especially under Big Ange’s super-aggressive system – and everything that Spurs does goes through Maddison, so he’s a shoo-in. Foden’s likely to start at home against Forest, so I’m expecting he’ll find the room to service Haaland (and possibly rack up an assist or two) and Bryan Mbeumo at home to Everton? That feels like it could get obscene. In fact, I’d be tempted to throw him the armband if the Norwegian Robot wasn’t at home to Forest (can’t bring myself to go against that kind of Effective Ownership or upside). The only real eyebrow-raise in my midfield is Saka on the bench, as I could see him being frustrated by Tottenham's defence. He’s in my first bench spot, however, so if Pep Roulette happens to kick in and Foden or Haaland get rested after their midweek foray against Red Star, my guy Bukayo will be ready and waiting.

ATTACK

Given my particular attacking trio this week, I would appreciate a healthy amount of scepticism from the masses but hear me out: On the subject of Jackson – I have 2 more game weeks before my wildcard and then it’s bye-bye Nico – so until then, he’s going to be my little Analytics FC experiment. Yes, this looks a lot like chasing losses but I’m a firm believer in the power of predictive data, and nothing would destroy me more than selling or benching him RIGHT before that long-overdue haul. Of course, he’s much more likely to pick up another yellow card and get himself suspended (cue Broja) and yes, this experiment will likely fail. But if it doesn’t, it will be worth the wait – and worth its weight in gold, given his rapidly-depleting ownership.

Since you’re already shaking your head, let’s talk about my second forward pick, João Pedro. Last (trigger warning) game week, he and his 7 points sat in second place on my bench, right behind Colwill and his 6 points. I’m not suggesting he’s guaranteed do it again this weekend but with Brighton’s injuries, he won't be on my bench if it happens. And they are playing Bournemouth at home, so there's a chance I can increase his ROI before I let him go in GW8.

And I'm not even going to talk about Haaland because what's to say that hasn't been said?

That, my friends, is the plan. It’s got to garner a better result than last week, right?

Good luck, all.

~ DP