This is new territory. Traditionally, my team limps, almost apologetically out of the blocks, sits somewhere around the half million mark and makes me sweat blood and tears to achieve respectability by Christmas. This season, it’s been very different.
A “flyer”. There’s no other word for it. A few timely tinkerings at the death. A few sensible, unsexy signings (Kevin Nolan, I’m looking at you) and suddenly I’m nestled in the upper echelons of the Fantasy Premier League, dreaming of how this encouraging start might build into my highest rank ever.
Of course, I know better. This is very much a marathon we’re running and it’s very likely that, a few miles down the road, I’ll be pulling off a scenario equivalent of Paula Radcliffe squatting to take a pee. It will probably involve several points hits and Edin Dzeko.
For now though, I’m going to enjoy the ride, rein in the rash decisions and remain calm. Plan A has worked so far, there’s no need to consult plans B to X just yet.
So I turn instead to this morning’s papers, where I find immediate reassurance on the aforementioned Dzeko. Selected for the Scout Picks, there’s undoubtedly a risk that Manuel Pellegrini will opt to give Alvaro Negredo a first full start at Cardiff on Sunday but, for what it’s worth, the press don’t see it that way. The Guardian are the only one of our six sources this morning who fail to list Dzeko in their City teamsheet, opting for a 4-5-1 formation with Aguero up top and Javi Garcia added to bolster the midfield.
Garcia may well feature at Cardiff, we can see him slotting in alongside Joleon Lescott in defence in the absence of the injured Vincent Kompany. Only The Times shares this view, however, with every other source suggesting that Matija Nastasic will be fit enough to make a return having resumed training this week.
Away from the City lineup, there are few contentious issues to trouble Fantasy managers. Nathaniel Clyne could make a return to the Southampton lineup at home to Sunderland but only the Daily Mail backs this decision, with Calum Chambers listed in all other five of our sources this morning.
Robert Snodgrass returns in each one of the Norwich teamsheets on show, with Steven Whittaker retaining his start in all cases, aside from the Independent and the Daily Telegraph. They, like ourselves, feel that Seb Bassong’s return to fitness will see the Scot benched, despite his goal and assist returns against Everton.
Fulham’s Pajtim Kasami is another budget bandwagon that could be derailed today. Despite the winner at Sunderland last time out, Kasami splits the morning press: he’s listed in three of our teamsheets this morning with the Guardian, The Sun and The Times backing him to hold his starting role for the visit of Arsenal in the early kick-off. The rest, like us, feel that a return for Bryan Ruiz will see the 21-year-old make way.
Untroubled by the potential teamsheet shuffling, then, there’s little to dent my giddy optimism other than the reality that I can’t possibly pull off another haul like Gameweek 1.
That’s the thing about a “flyer”, it’s almost certain that the knee jerk anxiety I avoided last weekend, will hit me by Monday night when perhaps Robin van Persie fails to deliver a £14 million haul. Suddenly those price tags hanging around Christian Benteke and Roberto Soldado’s necks will look all the more appealing, my rank, that little less comforting. That’s when my Fantasy Football season really begins.
