Football fatigue is beginning to kick-in now. I’m almost embarrassed to announce to my “other half” that, yet again, she’s faced to losing me to zombie-like status from 12.45 onwards due to another round of matches. She’s making plans for New Years day. I haven’t had the heart to tell her yet.
For obvious reasons, I find the festive programme exhausting but even the regular Fantasy manager can be forgiven for buckling under the tide of decisions and dilemmas it serves up at a relentless pace. The big plus, however, is that transfer crimes and decision making demeanors can be quickly banished by the rapid onset of another Gameweek – an early opportunity to redeem ourselves.
Personally, I just want to steer my way out of this period with a respectable rank intact and a semblance of a lead on Granville. At the moment, my Christmas will be remembered for my Wildcard gamble on Wayne Rooney going into the busy schedule, and then the hapless punt on Edin Dzeko once we got there. Both can be neatly filed under “calamitous”; should Dzeko fail to turn up at Norwich today, I’ll be shifting that particular move under “disastrous”.
Gareth Bale’s hat-trick and Robin Van Persie’s consistency have kept me afloat and ensured that, so far, this isn’t yet a Christmas to forget just yet, but with two more quick Gameweeks to follow, I’m taking nothing for granted.
Today I’m forced to go with Dzeko again, knowing all too well that if Roberto Mancini fails to throw him in at Carrow Road, it will be easy to convince myself that he’ll roll him out against the giant barrier that Stoke will provide for Gameweek 21. Can I possibly find a reason to keep Dzeko every week? It’s becoming a real concern.
I take great comfort that, for once, the The Daily Mail are on my side: they are the only paper this morning that dares to suggest that Mancini will change his misfiring strike force and start with Dzeko up top. The rest, predictably, feel that we’ll see Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez given another run-out and further opportunities to waste David Silva’s ammunition.
Elsewhere, it’s interesting that the Sun are the only paper backing a start for Javier Hernandez against West Brom: all four of our other sources this morning (with the Guardian not bothering to issue Squad Sheets), opt for Danny Welbeck alongside Robin Van Persie. The Times even goes so far to suggest that Shinji Kagawa will earn a cheeky start on the flank with Antonio Valencia missing out.
The other point of interest is that the press feel that David Luiz’s stay in central midfield is unlikely to continue. The Sun, the Telegraph and the Mail all have Luiz shifted back to central defence to make way for the return of Ramires alongside Mikel. The Times also have Luiz restored with Gary Cahill in defence, with Frank Lampard starting at Everton. It also seems that the press regard Eden Hazard and Oscar as exclusive assets in the Chelsea lineup: three go with the Belgian this morning, with the Telegraph and the Mail opting to start with Oscar in Rafa’s lineup, leaving Hazard benched once again.
As we ponder such permutations, another Saturday stroll is completed. Our route now almost too familiar, having trudged its path a good few times in the past week. Football fatigue has taken me somewhat by surprise – it’s hard to imagine getting too much of a “good thing” but then when my spirits are dependent on Edin Dzeko turning up, I guess I’ve only got myself to blame.
