Did you have Clint Dempsey on your team? If you did you had a good week but the rest of us struggled badly.
Looking at the fixture list, with the two massive Sunday games, this week was always going to be tricky, as a goal by Robin van Persie would hurt Patrice Evra and an assist by David Silva would hurt Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Both these events happened, restricting the tallies of the majority who have teams packed with big names. But with an average score of just 33 this week, those who have taken a punt on the more unheralded player struck gold this week.
First off, Norwich’s John Ruddy faced down the ‘might’ of Fernando Torres and Chelsea and kept a clean sheet to score eight points, the best for ‘keepers this week.
Bolton’s Gretar Steinsson was rewarded for his goal against Liverpool with the top spot for defenders alongside Manchester City’s Joleon Lescott for his bundled effort against Spurs. Elsewhere, Jose Boswinga picked up a clean sheet and two bonus points but aside from those three it was slim pickings in defence.
However, it was two midfielders and two forwards that stole the weekend and secured bragging rights if you had them in your XI. Clint Dempsey, always a reliable Fantasy pick if a little pricey for some, delivered this week with 20 points and his second hat-trick in three games. Sunderland’s Stephane Sessegnon was not quite as fantastic but he did garner 14 points for his display against Swansea.
Up front those that turned to patriotic pride and picked Robbie Keane for just £5m got an immediate return on their investment as two goals propelled the Irishman to 13 points but he was beaten for top honours by Bobby Zamora.
A goal and three assists pushed the Fulham striker to 17 points so expect a flood of Zamora and Dempsey transfers in for Gameweek 23 as they face WBA.
Champion J-League
A very tricky week has seen Neil Kelly’s lead at the top of the Champion J-League slashed as a host of others circle his coveted position at the summit.
Neil’s Wet Bandits bettered the average with a score of 38 but all his rivals were on the ball this week.
Brian Duffy’s Fergie’s Fledglings, powered by Dempsey and Sesegnon, scored 66 to move into second while the same duo dragged Matt Light’s Mamelodi Sundowns into third.
Conor Sheehy’s Great Bunch’a Lads are in fourth while a gargantuan 84 by Joe Culloty’s Stopfeedingtheyak (who had Dempsey as captain) moved him up to fifth.
As for our own in-house league here, just five points separate Conor Heneghan, Emmet Purcell and myself after this week. The tension in JOE Towers is starting to show with the normally jovial Fantasy Football chat on Monday turning into a bitter circle of half-truths and out-right animosity. There will be blood by Gameweek 38.
Champion J-League Top 5:
1 The Wet Bandits – Neil Kelly 1,314
2 Fergie’s Fledglings – Brian Duffy 1,309
3 Mamelodi Sundowns – Matt Light 1,306
4 A Great Bunch’a Lads – Conor Sheehy 1,304
5 Stopfeedingtheyak – Joe Culloty 1,299
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