The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 23

So Costa hit the self-destruct. He seemed determined to remove all doubt, eventually putting us out of our misery with a grand display of impetuousness that left the suits at the FA with no option but to launch “the book” in his direction. Friday’s attempt to dodge the incoming ban proved futile and here we all are, escorting Costa from the building, thanking him for his efforts and promising him a glowing reference.

I might be in a minority but I do feel he deserves that endorsement. While the ride with Costa was always bumpy, he scored me goals consistently and almost single-handedly earned me a couple of green arrows. Admittedly, watching him perform was never a comfortable experience; studs and errant elbows went flying but that recklessness was punctuated with moments of brilliance and I’ll genuinely miss his scowls of exasperation.

He’s gone, probably never to return. A three-match ban, a blank Gameweek and the fact that he’s just two more bookings away from another suspension when he returns bang nails in a Costa coffin that even I, a fervent admirer, will struggle to extract.

But Costa’s final acts for me may just be turning points. A 16-point haul in Gameweek 22, before acting up to bring my Wildcard into play this week. Arguably, he’s gone out with a bang – providing one last rank boost and then solving the dilemma of the Wildcard timing.

Granville believes that it will all fall into place for me. That Costa’s triggering of my squad refresh will push me into a couple of differentials that will land me points. He might just be on to something.

With an hour to go, I’ve chosen to avoid the obvious lure of Sergio Aguero – I’ll gamble on him blanking in the Stamford Bridge battle. Instead I’m taking the opportunity to bring in some short-term prospects, reserving the funds for the Argentine’s run at the Hull defence next weekend. It’s a risk and a test of Granville’s “theory” but if it comes off, Costa’s parting shot would be even more significant.

Costa crashed and burned spectacularly, but if he’s helped my squad to further points by putting himself in the stands, he’d be almost untouchable as my poster boy. Even with that face.