Matchday points: 95
Total points: 319
I had a half decent week but the goal bonus didn’t quite live up to expectations. Luckily I still managed to get 3 goals across the team – I’ve seen some people play it and get none. However, in an ideal world Mbappe as my captain gets a goal and Morata gets at least 1 as well. If I was feeling really lucky I’d have hoped for a goal from either Fernandes or Silva as well but it wasn’t to be. It was also a shame to see Cucurella and Guehi miss out on clean sheets but at least the Netherlands kept one. I’m up to the highest position I’ve been on the leaderboard now but it very much feels like a tournament of “what could have been” after some really bad luck in the first matchday but I’ll keep chipping away to finish as high as I can.
Rather than run through the performance of each player I’m going to focus on my likely transfers for matchday 5. Here are my current thoughts, I would add it’s fairly early days yet and I will confirm my decision on the WhatsApp notifications group.
Verbruggen – keep
Cucurella – keep
Van Dijk – transfer out to save funds. I wanted him for a potential goal threat last round. I’m tempted to go for a France defender and would have 4m to spend on someone like Kounde.
Guehi – transfer out as he’s suspended. Due to the transfers I may make below, I’ll only have 3m to spend in this position. I could just drop in someone like De Vrij.
Musiala – keep
Ruiz – transfer out. Did the job in his last game but not sure if he will get forward as much against a more difficult opposition. Tempted to go for Williams or Yamal instead.
Fernandes – keep. Hasn’t really performed but I’ve got the budget to keep him as someone who could potentially hit a good score. Good to have Portugal representation without Ronaldo as well.
B. Silva – transfer out for Bellingham. With being seconds from elimination is it not time for England to turn things around?
Mbappe – keep
Gakpo – keep
Morata – transfer out, bring in Kane for the same reason as Bellingham.
This is far from locked in but with Spain, Germany, France and Portugal all playing each other I don’t want to load up on too many of their players. England and the Netherlands look to have slightly easier games but it’s very unpredictable. I think I’ve got a good spread across all the team though which should make it easy to have enough players in action in the semi finals. My spread would be:
Spain: 2 players
Germany: 1 player
France: 2 players
Portugal: 1 player
England: 2 players
Netherlands: 3 players
I’ve not decided who to captain yet. Gakpo would be the obvious choice but it’s risky if Mbappe does turn up.
Matchday 5 Team Locked In
I’m going for the below, which is a slight change to the above as I’ve strengthened my defense by taking Fernandes out. Replaced with Simons who has an easier fixture on paper as well. I’ve gone with Mbappe for captain as I think if France are going to do well then he will need to perform and he’s a magnet for bonus points.
