Playing FPL_Drood

Well, my plan to cope with Boxing Day and its postponements didn't go well. 35 points.

Still, I kept Salah for today's match against Leicester in which I hope he hauls, big time! And he should play v Chelsea.

And, of course, I saved my FH, so I now have two which I hope will pay me back big time very soon.

Lastly, I didn't lose leadership of my mini-league so there's a bonus too.

Hope you all had a good Christmas, had a green arrow (mine was red) and avoided the coronavirus-19

There I was congratulating myself on owing Lukaku already, even though I was worried about his form and the distinct possibility of his being rested against Norwich when the football Gods intervened with a metaphorical lightning bolt and Luaku is now out for several games.

I can't afford to have an £11.7m bench warmer.

I should have known this was looking too good. With Alonso also a benchwarmer Chelsea are proving to be a nightmare for me this season.

No point in doing anything now with more potential injuries tomorrow evening. Oh, bu**er!

Well, that was a bust. GW8 ending with Arsenal's defence blowing it. White and Ramsdale just returning 3 points in total. I thought right at the end White had an assist but it went to Martinelli instead :( Sums up the week really.

Now to resist the temptation to plan transfers and wait and see what happens midweek in the Cl, especially with Chelsea's Alonso/Chilwell.

Good news for me, Rudigers gone from red flag to yellow flag, been seen on the training pitch. I may not have to make a substitution this week with Raphinha back too. Worried about Lukaku's form (tho' he is against Norwich) and the form of Antonio.

GW8, well, what a weekend. It's almost like the managers in the PL went out of their way to be cuss awkward and ruin as many wildcards as they could.

"Dias is nailed" say the gurus. Nope! LOL. Worse he comes on as a sub for 1 point and many players lose their Livramento 6 point sub! Aaagh!

Raphinha makes it to St Mary's in time ... and watches the match! Aaagh!

My decision to choose Alonso over Chilwell is repaid in spades by the latter's 15 point return, oops.

Salah, reliable as ever actually returns over 50% of my points this week.

My Everton midfielders disappointed but at least they played.

I put Lukaku in my team, mainly to tie the bootlaces of Salah, at least he's of some use that way. My FOMO genes have kicked in and I'm keeping him this week cos he's playing Norwich.

Though the devil on my shoulder is suggesting that Chelsea may rest their premium players against the PL's bottom team. If you can't rest them against Norwich when are they going to get a break? Plus they have CL mid-week too.

Antonio also blanked, and picked up another yellow card. His form is making him look overpriced at 8.1m. Especially when Wilson (£7.3m) is back and Iheanacho (£7.0m) is playing too. (I would have included Raúl Jiménez in there too, except he also did an even briefer sub appearance than Dias this week).

Antonio's returns in the last 5 matches are: red card; ban; last-minute goal against injury-stricken Leeds United, whose defence is porous even when they are all fit; 2points; yellow card.

His next five games include Liverpool and Man City. Antonio is not good enough to be "fixture proof".

Maybe his returns are because defences have recognised his threat and improved to nullify him? What response has Antonio got in his locker and how long do we wait for him to find it? I'm already carrying an £11.7m passenger, I don't need another.

Let's hope White and Ramsdale continue their recent form, a clean sheet will be worth a welcome 12 points.

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