MATCH WEEK 18: TINKERS REAP REWARDS |
Match Week 18 was clearly going to be significantly affected by COVID, once matches started to be called off. It wasn't just that only eight teams had a match, but also that four of those are the League's top four. Around a third of Nightmare Soccer Managers reached for their wallets and started making transfers, with many of those making significant surgery to their Nightmare Squads. Of course it meant the amount of viable players available became rapidly reduced. Out of fairness I only make any transfers to my own Nightmare Squad within one hour of the deadline - it left me scratching around for players, although with the eight teams that did have a match having known COVID cases, it left an opportunity to pick out the fringe players that might get their chances. Leeds in particular had a number of players in their match-day squad that don't usually get a game, and with their match ultimately being the first of the week, there was also the chance to sneak a peak at their team before making final transfers. Three managers, for example, brought in Cody Drameh - making his first Premier League start - and two made him Captain. The one that didn't plumped for Joe Gelhardt. Both did very well, Drameh 11, Gelhardt 8.
Unsurprisingly the big scoring teams for the week were amongst the transfers. Clem Fandango did particularly well to finish 3rd, with only five transfers made, and were unlucky to see Javier Manquillo and Fabian Schar missing - particularly the latter who has been starting recently but was left on the bench. |
KNACKERS TAKE TEAM OF THE WEEK |
Robert Metzger made wholesale changes and managed to get a full team out, except a goalkeeper, and even had two subs pick up points. Robin Koch returned for his first match since the opening day of the season when he scored 13 points but got injured. He fared even better this time with 15 and, captained by Knackers, earned Robert 30. Ciaran Clark found himself back in Newcastle's starting 11 and got himself right back up to 2nd in this season's Top Nightmares list, scoring 19. Jamaal Lascelles (13), Jacob Murphy (9) and Matt Ritchie (9) made it 50 points for Knackers from four Magpies. There was some pain along the way... two Wolves defenders scored -4 between them, Ki-Jana Hoever -1 and Romain Saiss -4. |
NEW CHALLENGERS FOR MAGOO |
Overall leaders Mr Magoo scored 52 points - actually an excellent score having made just two transfers, with six players in action. Captain Jamal Lascelles earned Jonathan Andrews half of his total weekly haul (26) but, like Clem Fandango, Magoo were unlucky to see Fabian Schar benched. Jonathan stays top overall for a third week, with Al's Army scoring 27 and slipping to 3rd. Clem Fandango, one of only four teams to top the table this season - back on Week 2 - climb two places to 2nd. Fair play to Matt Woodmansey for having faith in his long-established backup 'keeper Alisson, he scored 7 points.
Let's hope we get more than four matches on December 26th/27th. The news, following an emergency Premier League meeting on Monday, is that the decision - for now at least - has been made NOT to cancel one of the upcoming sets of matches. After the Boxing Day (+ 1 on Monday) fixtures which make up Match Week 19, there are 10 more scheduled matches from December 28th - 30th, followed by another full Match Week January 1st - 3rd. |