Team
We enter the second leg with basically no team being so clearly above that we can lock bets. The concept of rolling your transfer doesn’t work either, the knockout stages do not permit carry forwards. We’re now forced to place our bets based on prediction and intuition (and strategic hedging), and that’s what fantasy sports is all about, right?!
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HOW I FARED
If there was one thing I got right, it’s that all four games would be inseparably close with no obvious winners anywhere, and that clean sheets would be really hard to come by. Going by this rationale, I chose to spend less of my funds on my back line, preferring instead those with obvious attacking threats, like Gabriel and Cancelo — or fixed points, like Hummels’ ball recoveries. Goals were to be scored, so I chose in-form players like Foden and Saka. The rest of my attackers were the UCL perennials, the big game players – Mbappe, Rodrygo, Bellingham and Sane.
Most of my team did not disappoint per se, but it was a mediocre showing at best (even editor Jeff’s Alehouse WAGs earned more!).
As I predicted, defense would drag me down, gathering a sum total of eleven points from four players. Particularly disappointing were my Arsenal picks, of whom I had high expectations at home hosting a lackluster Bayern squad.
Attack was hit-and-miss (so to speak), with the in-form players (2) beating the big-game boys (5) at nine points per player for an average of four points per player. Most of my points came from unconventional sources and were thinly spread, Barcelona’s Raphinha being the only one with more than a goal to his name.
WHAT I PLAN
Well, this is quite a sticky situation we find ourselves in. Generally leg-2 transfers are used to rebalance your team in anticipation of who will go through versus who will be eliminated so you don’t need to take points hits after the round. Breathtaking draws on television unfortunately do not translate to Fantasy manager’s ease of doing business, so I must make a couple of tough decisions. This is how I see it…
Man City v R Madrid – City has a slight advantage at home, with a past 4-0 win over the same opponent possibly spurring them on.
Bayern v Arsenal – I do not see any clean sheets here, but Bayern will find it harder to create chances with both Coman and Gnabry out.
Barcelona v PSG – Barcelona did a great job containing PSG’s lethal attack and controlling the game in Paris; I expect a similar showing at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Dortmund v Atletico – Dortmund had a disappointing showing at Madrid, the scoreline not doing justice to the way the game actually played out. But with a lack of manpower on Atletico’s left wing/fullback position, and the prospect of 81,365 Black&Yellows jeering, Dortmund is still in this, and might actually hold the advantage.
Summing up all of this, here’s what I plan –
1) I have both Ederson and Raya who could potentially face off in the semis. Even if one of them doesn’t make it through, the other will have to face Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, so this will be my first drop.
2) I want to target the aforementioned weakened Atletico Madrid left, and clear out my remaining deadwood, so I’ll buy a Dortmund winger to replace the already-eliminated Barrenetxea. I’d prefer Sancho, but I probably can’t afford him, so the differential pick Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is coming in. If you see a better enabler, please post in the comments.
3) This would leave me at a negative 1.3m in the bank, so someone will have to give. Seemingly undroppable in the season so far, Jude Bellingham is the chosen one, making way for one of the rested Rodri, or the back-to-right-back Joshua Kimmich. Does anyone see a better fund-raiser exchange? If so, please post in the comments.
Poll
Which of my drops would you hold?
This poll is closed
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0%
Raya – Arsenal is going all the way
(0 votes)
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42%
Barrenetxea – You don’t need all 15 players at this stage anymore
(6 votes)
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57%
Bellingham – Are you out of your mind?
(8 votes)
14 votes total
Vote Now
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Whom should I be dropping whom I haven’t considered? Whom should I be buying (especially as an enabler)? Are you brave enough to post your squad and ask the community, “Rate my team!”? Please log in and talk to me in the comments!
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