Marc Jobling: Gameweek 12 Team Reveal

Each Gameweek brings an FPL community team reveal. As a result, that person gives insight into their transfers, captaincy and future plans.

Ahead of Gameweek 12, it’s the turn of Marc Jobling to tell us what is happening to his team.

Hi Marc and thanks for the team reveal. How did Gameweek 11 go?

It was the straw that broke the camel’s back, for me. But this miserable start to the season actually had a brief pause during a really good Saturday, thanks to Matheus Cunha, Lukasz Fabianski and Rayan Ait-Nouri. Finally a big rise, from 1.73m to around 950k.

And that’s how it stayed, right? Well, no. Despite all those good, low-owned returns, it still ended with a small red arrow to 1.92m. Not even this was a rise, man.

Being without Mohamed Salah once again brought misery, the Emile Smith Rowe goal caused damage. Nothing from Bukayo Saka or Cole Palmer, whilst captain Dominic Solanke somehow blanked at home to Ipswich.

That international break was lovely but unfortunately it’s the last one until March. At least there’s January’s FA Cup weekend to look forward to.

What does your defence look like?

It still has double Arsenal, which seems to be coming back in trend for some reason. Maybe it’s a reverse psychology trick from the FPL community or mass delusion.

Ait-Nouri won’t keep out Fulham but always has the potential for attacking joy, though there’s very little hope for Nathan Collins. And my rivalry with Vitalii Mykolenko – owning the Ukrainian since Gameweek 6 but missing all three Everton clean sheets – continues by again benching him. I’m sure that’ll end well.

Meanwhile, what about your midfield and attack?

On paper/screen, it’s very good and always has been. Still finding a way to do terribly, though.

Cole Palmer is there for Chelsea’s brilliant fixture run, lasting from now until Gameweek 22. It’s also looking rosy for Cunha and Antoine Semenyo, plus there are a few more weeks of Bryan Mbeumo love.

I’m benching Solanke, despite thinking he has a good chance of scoring past Man City. Finding someone to make way for him is tough.

So what are your transfer plans for Gameweek 12 and beyond?

Similarly, I’m convinced that Erling Haaland will net at least once versus Spurs in a high-scoring game. But I’ve still sold him, temporarily.

Perhaps my team value is above average or something because, going forward, I can afford a Salah, Haaland and Palmer team that also has Mbeumo, Gabriel and the depth of eight attacker Morgan Rogers.

However, to get there it’s a three-week hokey-cokey. Salah and Joao Pedro are in for Saka and Haaland, with David Raya then downgrading to Bart Verbruggen, before Haaland replaces Solanke following his trip to Anfield.

It should fix the problems but with damage already done.

Finally, what about captaincy?

Getting Salah now feels like points chasing but he’s about to face last-placed Southampton. In theory, it could get brutal. He’s getting my armband straight away, with Palmer vice for his own visit to a promoted side.