Double Gameweek 37 continues to surprise and deflate as a resolute Huddersfield Town hold out for an unlikely 0-0 draw at Manchester City to scupper another set of captaincy plans.
It’s a fairly short journey across the Pennines from West Yorkshire to Greater Manchester, and the team coach essentially didn’t stop until it was on the Etihad pitch as manager David Wagner unveiled a 5-3-1-1 formation to try and frustrate the champions’ attacking riches.
The plan worked spectacularly, with City failing to create a single big chance over the 90 minutes.
Huddersfield’s stubborn display delivered another blow for any number of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who had bet the house on City attacking returns.
Those who handed the armband to Spurs’ Harry Kane, or played the Triple Captain chip on him, would have been particularly anxious following the striker’s blank yesterday.
Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling looked primed to teach those managers the error of their ways but ended up with the same minimal output as Kane.
The pair were the two most purchased players for this round of fixtures, brought in by 268,000+ and 199,000+ respectively.
Jesus, who was captained by 5.04% and 32 of the top 100 managers, failed to score for the first time in last five starts. He recorded just two shots on goal, both off target.
Over 75,000 FPL managers also used their Triple Captain chip on him, while Sterling took the armband for 4.79% of FPL managers (including 11 of the top 100) and was the subject of more than 69,000 Triple Captain chips.
Sterling failed to register a single effort on goal and created just one chance for team-mates, recording four touches in the penalty area.
Like Jesus, his form (three goals and seven assists in the previous six) still looks encouraging for the midweek visit of Brighton.
But the worry is that after naming a first-choice XI for the title presentation match, Pep Guardiola might now rest a number of his regulars to turn all those cunning plans into outright disasters.
Sterling and Jesus, along with David Silva and Leroy Sane, were all given the full 90 minutes on Sunday.
The City coach will surely consider Yaya Toure for a starting role given that Wednesday’s fixture will be his last in City colours.
Similarly, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva and even Phil Foden will all be considered for starts against the Seagulls, so we’re now at the mercy – not for the first time – of Guardiola’s penchant for rotation.
At least those who backed the City defence are currently in profit.
Aymeric Laporte was City’s most bought defender for the double, earning 35,000+ new owners, only for Guardiola to end his three-match run in the team by bringing back John Stones to partner Nicolas Otamendi at centre-half.
The Argentinian, with 26.1% ownership, is the most popular defender in FPL and he brought in maximum bonus for a bumper nine-point haul. That took him to 21 bonus points for the season, second only to Cesar Azpilicueta among defenders.
The clean sheet was City’s second in six Gameweeks, which took goalkeeper Ederson to 16 shutouts – one behind David De Gea in the Golden Glove standings.
The stopper looks the most secure starter among the backline for the midweek match, which should cheer his 9.1% ownership on a day of precious little joy further up the pitch.
Huddersfield holding on
A cursory glance at Huddersfield’s final three fixtures (mci che ARS) was all we needed to presume a zero-point return and possible relegation.
And while the side is not out of the mire just yet, the point they laboured for at City means they could lose their last two matches and still survive if results elsewhere go their way.
The wheels on Wagner’s 5-3-1-1 bus didn’t come off today, so it’s highly likely to be driven down to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and, if required, parked at home to Arsenal for Gameweek 38.
Investing in their backline is not exactly tempting, however, as today’s clean sheet was only their fourth in 15 Gameweeks.
Keeper Jonas Lossl (6.9%) remains their most popular player, but he was benched by 255,000+ (more than half his ownership) for the Etihad siege.
His tenth clean sheet of the season is unlikely to persuade many to reinstate him for Gameweek 38, while the Terrier’s lack of goals – just two in eight Gameweeks now – means that Wagner’s side remains a no-go.
