My FPL 2024/25 journey diary (Game week 2 pt.1)
Game week 2 (Pt. 1): 24th – 25th August
I can’t lie, I’m not feeling too confident this week. Typical fantasy football, you spend the whole of pre-season trying to set up a team to compete- after week 1, I’m considering taking -8 hit to keep up.
My struggles
1. I went down the Salah route rather than the Haaland route. As much as this worked out last week with Salah amassing 14 points, the roles have now reversed. This time Haaland is playing against Ipswich as well as being a home fixture (insert crying face)
With Haaland being so expensive this season it will take me a massive hit to try and get him in. So, the hope is Haaland just scores the one and has an early shower.
Although it was last season, Erling’s stats the last 5 home games are:
Leading up to the end of the season he scored 6 goals in 5 games. A bulk of them were against wolves, showing he has a high chance of a brace. The only hope I have is he only scored the one against a relegated Luton.
2. Spurs play Everton at home. With the amount of injuries Everton have at the back and their terrible display last week, this would have been the perfect game for Solanke to announce himself to the spurs fans, but more importantly, the fantasy football fans who believe his form from Bournemouth would have followed on. But what does he do- goes and gets injured.
3. I’m less convinced about my backline. Last week I only amassed 4 points for my back for (including keeper)- This cannot run! Especially if I am trying to compete at the top end of the table. This week, I’m taking out Pickford because there’s a huge potential for goals conceded. Hopefully Aina shakes off his injury as the fixture against Southampton seems a good one for some points.
After all the deliberation, I have decided to make a few changes.
- I’ve brought in Jose Sa and dropped Pickford. Reason behind this is Pickford conceded 3 goals at home last week and made no saves, Everton are struggling with defensive injuries. Although Wolves lost 2 nil last week, Sa still made 4 saves and got a bonus point.
- With Solanke’s injury, I needed attacking reinforcements. This pushed me to making a transfer; taking out Szmodics and bringing in Minteh to the starting lineup, who impressed massively against Everton with his dribbling and directness. A bit of a risk bringing him in against United at the Old Trafford, but we know united- you just never know!
- I’ve decided to captain Salah. Saka and Havertz have a tough fixture against Villa away, so my next bet must be Liverpool with a decent fixture at home. If Liverpool play anywhere near how they played in second half last week they’ll win it comfortably, with a few goal contributions from the Egyptian King.
