It’s time to up the stakes.
I’ve said all season that I’m going to remain positive with my tactics and transfers and, while undoubtedly I’ve taken unnecessary risks and lost points, things have gone pretty well. Fortune has been a factor but, with eight green arrows in nine, the policy has largely paid off.
But Gameweek 29 presents a devilish scenario – one of my own making.
There’s no issue fielding an XI; if anything, things would be far easier had I not given myself a choice to make.
I have to bench one of Philippe Coutinho or Andy Carroll – a decision made more difficult by the Brazilian’s abject performance on Sunday, plus the chance that big Andy may now snatch spot-kicks from an absent Mark Noble.
There’s a lot to be said for focusing purely on a powerful XI, with a 2-point Etienne Capoue on standby. To this point, I’ve managed to scrape by with a threadbare squad but, confused by the prospect of actually having to make a choice; my proposed solution is to throw points at it.
Looking back at Gameweek 28, the points spent on Coutinho, Carroll and Ramiro Funes Mori, were clearly errors. Gaining me four but costing twelve, Josh King saved the day but, in the main, those transfers failed and have created my current dilemma.
I had boldly stated that those moves brought in players I’d be willing to keep beyond Gameweek 28. That would still be the case were it not for the options now available elsewhere – now I need to retract that statement and admit the error.
It would perhaps be sensible to sit still. To ride out this week, bank the transfer and hope that I make the right call on Carroll or Coutinho, and that Funes Mori starts. Otherwise, I’m risking “throwing good points after bad”.
But that would clearly conflict with my policy of aggression. When I have the opportunity to make a positive manoeuvre, I should take it. If I can identify players that will outscore what I’ve already got, get them and gamble on the deficit being made up.
I can see that possible path. With double Gameweeks inevitable, there are some obvious targets – players that I covet who could come in early and improve my immediate prospects.
I’ll need to spend to orchestrate the moves but, feasibly, the points will come back to me via the double Gameweeks and, by moving early, I may give myself more opportunity to stock up further in future.
These targets are also on an upward spiral, a trend that would continue at pace should they deliver in Gameweek 29 and, with a break ahead, the market will have longer to move.
While team value is far from paramount at this point, being able to afford key assets remains a factor. By acquiring them now, I can dispel any fear of being pushed into early trades or unnecessary sacrifices later.
So I’ve talked myself into it and, reluctantly, you’ve been forced to listen. Bizarrely, when it’s done, my XI will consist of ten Scout Picks.
If you’ve been around these parts long enough, you know exactly what that means: this could be my bravest and most ill-advised decision yet.
