The Secret Tournament V

[Pirlo's Beard]

[Pirlo's Beard]

Thanks to everyone for taking part (especially Talkie Toaster who stepped in at the last minute once again), and a big welcome back to baganboy and former champion Mav3rick!

I ended up with this not-too-shabby-looking bunch...

Fabiański, Meslier
Alonso, Digne, Trippier, Castagne, Coufal
Mahrez, Sancho, Barnes, Coutinho, Harrison
Kane, Jiménez, Maupay

Strengths: Plenty of attacking fullbacks, and a midfield that's so sexy I faint every time I look at it.
Weaknesses: If Harry Kane gets injured I'll be playing a strikerless formation.

[Mo Bot]

Sorry I missed the chat while the draft was on, I was trying to eat and not miss my turn.
Made a couple of mistakes along the way but ended with

Mendy, Guaita
Van Dijk, Matip, Koulibaly, Romero, Saliba
KDB, Foden, Silva, Jorginho, McGinn
Wilson, DCL, Welbeck

Strengths: KDB. Might be low enough to get first dibs on transactions
Weaknesses: All three of my strikers are likely to get injured soon.

[Pirlo's Beard]

I was trying to eat and not miss my turn.
Made a couple of mistakes along the way

The food is supposed to go into your mouth.

[Mav3rick]

Thanks for organising (and for the re-invite) PB. My team (after dipping into the waivers to fix up my auto-select incident) is

Lloris, Raya
James, Dier, Konate, Tomiyasu, RAN
Salah, Bowen, Lingard, Wissa, KDH
Watkins, Mitrovic, Werner

Strengths: No Hwangs
Weaknesses: No Johnsons

[RuudTheDudeVanTheMan]

9th pick Didn't think I'd be starting off picking 2 defenders and Brennan Johnson as my most nailed striker Really invested in Ronaldo's future now, if he does leave I guess I have to hope he goes to Chelsea

This is my rabble anyway:

De Gea, Henderson
TAA, Robertson, Cash, Hickey, Dunk
Zaha, JWP, Bruno G, Aaronsen, Podence
Ronaldo, Johnson, Adams

Cheers Pirlo for setting this up again, looking forward to it now

[RuudTheDudeVanTheMan]

Sorry I missed the chat while the draft was on, I was trying to eat and not miss my turn.
Made a couple of mistakes along the way but ended with

Mendy, Guaita
Van Dijk, Matip, Koulibaly, Romero, Saliba
KDB, Foden, Silva, Jorginho, McGinn
Wilson, DCL, Welbeck

Strengths: KDB. Might be low enough to get first dibs on transactions
Weaknesses: All three of my strikers are likely to get injured soon.

DCL down, 2 to go

[Talkie Toaster]

I made a poor baganboy impression last season, and I'm likely to make an even worse Stem impression this time around. Should have picked Phil Jones.

Alisson, Kelleher
Laporte, Lamptey, White, Coady, Maguire
Diaz, Kulu, Saint-Maximin, Soucek, Smith Rowe
Jesus, Ings, Richarlison

Strengths: Decent attackers and Goalie. A strong bench when fit and available.
Weaknesses: Everything else

[Pirlo's Beard]

Wondering who ended up with the most expensive squad? Probably not, but here's the answer anyway...

Mo Bot	£97.5m
Mav3rick	£95.0m*
baganboy	£94.5m
Pirlo's Beard	£94.5m
SirMattBugsby	£94.0m
dino1980	£92.0m
RuudTheDudeVanTheMan	£92.0m
Talkie Toaster	£92.0m
Tall Paul	£92.0m
From4corners	£90.0m

For the first time ever, no one has broken Financial Fair Play. Mo came closest with his expensive City midfielders and Liverpool defenders, but even then he's still a full £2.5m under the £100.0m FPL limit. From4corners seems to be imposing spending restrictions on himself, after he came perilously close to selecting a team valued under £90.0m.

We've all been commendably thrifty this year. Well done, everyone.

*Adjusted to include Wissa and Dewsbury-Hall.

[Tall Paul]

Pope, Leno
Perisic, Cucurella, Cresswell, Andersen, Tarkowski
Fernandes, Grealish, Trossard, Joelinton, Eriksen
Havertz, Firmino, Mbeumo

I don't hate it, don't love it either and I managed two ex-clarets. Lookingly longingly at Chris Wood in the waivers...

Thanks for running again PB.

[RuudTheDudeVanTheMan]

Salah 3rd sub certainly is a Mav3rick move! Expecting some juicy transfers before next weekend?

[Mav3rick]

Oh no, I left Salah third sub? I must have forgotten the rules, on account of being away for so long.

[RuudTheDudeVanTheMan]

Decent chance he subs on, Werner may get no minutes.

[Mav3rick]

Yeah I've no expectations of Werner ever playing for Chelsea again, was hoping maybe he will get a transfer to Newcastle or maybe Everton.

[Pirlo's Beard]

Strengths: Plenty of attacking fullbacks, and a midfield that's so sexy I faint every time I look at it.

In the cold light of day, my midfield suddenly looks about as sexy as blah in a négligée. Barnes is injured; Sancho is still stuck at Banter FC; Coutinho is stuck at a desperately poor Villa side and must be wondering where his career went; Mahrez might well end up being more sub than starter this season; and Harrison....... well, Harrison is obviously fantastic and plays for a sparkling, effervescent attacking team. But even Jackie Harradona can't do it all on his own.

In addition, Alonso was nowhere to be seen and is apparently on the verge of joining Barcelona (I can already hear F4c's evil laughter ringing in my ears), and despite my own warnings to people in the pre-season friendlies thread, I am somehow lumbered with Lucas Digne.

If Harry Kane doesn't fire, this season could be a long and futile attempt to retain my title.

[From4corners]

In addition, Alonso was nowhere to be seen and is apparently on the verge of joining Barcelona (I can already hear F4c's evil laughter ringing in my ears),

Muahahaha

[From4corners]

Oh no, I left Salah third sub? I must have forgotten the rules, on account of being away for so long.

Good to see he came on for you. Not for us, for you.

[Pirlo's Beard]

and despite my own warnings to people in the pre-season friendlies thread, I am somehow lumbered with Lucas Digne.

I have no one but myself to blame.

[Mav3rick]

The sting of being defending champion.

[Pirlo's Beard]

The sting of being defending champion.

I just hope I can make it to the end of the season.

[RuudTheDudeVanTheMan]

Zaha my only outfield player to manage a return, wipes out my double Pool cleanie from the bench

Oh well at least I didn't start David De Girlhands.

[Pirlo's Beard]

Zaha my only outfield player to manage a return, wipes out my double Pool cleanie from the bench

It's not all bad news though. Trent's bonus point moves you up to 8th, a point ahead of me.

And a place behind me in the waivers order.

[RuudTheDudeVanTheMan]

Zaha my only outfield player to manage a return, wipes out my double Pool cleanie from the bench

It's not all bad news though. Trent's bonus point moves you up to 8th, a point ahead of me.

And a place behind me in the waivers order.

Great, so I did crap but not quite crap enough. Typical

[Pirlo's Beard]

Oh yay I missed out on Gündoğan because Tall Paul decided to make his one transaction of the season.

[From4corners]

Oh yay I missed out on Gündoğan because Tall Paul decided to make his one transaction of the season.

[Mav3rick]

We needed Brentford to sign George Boyd to distract him.

[Pirlo's Beard]

I have four Everton players today. What could possibly go wrong?

[Mav3rick]

Dino absolutely smashing it for a third GW in a row

[Pirlo's Beard]

Dino absolutely smashing it for a third GW in a row

And he hasn't even posted here yet - the cheek!

[Mav3rick]

Grounds for disqualification I think!