And so it continues. Having offered up my soul for a green arrow in last week’s Preamble, I again failed to halt the seemingly inevitable slide into rank oblivion.

Those who listened in on this weeks return of the ScoutCast will know that I can offer up few excuses. I’ve suffered no key injuries, if anything I’ve been fortunate on that front, dodging some significant setbacks.

Instead I can only assume I’m suffering from the same kind of season as Hall of Fame leader, Ulrik Nylund. Indeed, I can take some comfort from the fact that a Fantasy Premier League manager who, arguably, has been the most consistent in our community, is also struggling. This term, he sits just inside the top one million, having spent no less than 24 points on transfers in the last two Gameweeks in order to halt his own declining campaign. Ulrik has never previously finished lower than 7729 in seven FPl seasons – an extraordinary record. Like me, he must be wondering where it’s all gone wrong.

While that’s a handy comparison to keep my spirits up, I also can’t help but compare my current plight to that of David Moyes. Like myself, he started the season on fire. The 4-1 win at Swansea handed me my best opening Gameweek of any FPL season; it also eased Moyes nicely into the United hot-seat. However, as we know, things have deteriorated dramatically for us both since.

United have had their worst start to the season for 24 years. For me, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t go back that far, although it feels like it. Like myself, Moyes seems to be struggling for answers. The situation with Wayne Rooney’s availability on Friday perhaps offered insight into his current frame of mind.

While it may have been honest to admit that he was yet to check on Friday’s training session, the idea that Moyes would be totally in the dark on Rooney’s fitness is difficult to swallow. Added to this, we now have reports that Robin van Persie is struggling with a toe injury and his also a doubt for this evening’s test on Wearside. You have to wonder whether Moyes was deliberately evading questions on player availability, attempting to get every possible advantage ahead of the clash with Sunderland. Sir Alex loved his mind games but he normally reserved it for his most esteemed rivals – Rafa, Jose, Arsene – I’m not so sure he’d resort to taking on caretaker boss, Kevin Ball, with the same Machiavellian approach.

Today’s papers are certainly spooked by the lack of news from Old Trafford. Van Persie is absent from the predicted lineups in the Guardian and the Times but, significantly, Rooney is present in each of the teamsheets listed in our six morning papers. There seems every confidence that Rooney will start; Van Persie is a different matter entirely.

Elsewhere, amidst all kinds of teamsheet rumour, the situation with Ben Arfa is far from clear. Subbed at half-time on Monday night, Alan Pardew has called for consistency from the Frenchman, something that may just be out of his reach. The press are divided on whether Ben Arfa will find himself benched at Cardiff – the Telegraph and the Independent have the Magpies starting without his brand of genius, while our four other papers keep the faith. Meanwhile, Michu, revealed as a late doubt due to a head injury sustained in Europe on Thursday, is listed in every one of the press lineups. Certainly, judging from quotes from the player himself, he’ll be expected to figure at Southampton.

Given that I have Rooney, Ben Arfa and Michu in my beleaguered lineup, I’ll be paying close attention to the teamsheets. Like Moyes, I’m approaching today feeling uncertain and ill at ease. Praying for a revival, whilst already searching for explanation and reassurance if it doesn’t arrive. Things can only get better for myself and David: my new ally in a free-falling season.