Marc Jobling: Gameweek 26 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 26, 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 25 go?
With Aston Villa v Liverpool to come tonight, it could still either be a green or red arrow. The absence of Cody Gakpo will help me, as a non-owner, but success for Ollie Watkins and Unai Emery could cause damage.
I’m currently on 59 points, up fron 500k to 461k, based purely on the David Raya, Gabriel and Trent Alexander-Arnold clean sheets. The latter one felt lucky, as he was substituted in the 64 minute, before Wolves scored a consolation.
But the attacking players disappointed, as did seeing Chris Wood score yet again.
What does your defence look like?
I’m still pleased with it. There’s even a benching dilemma because I back Everton to keep out Manchester United but it’s just about having the courage to bench Alexander-Arnold for Vitalii Mykolenko. Not sure I possess it.
Meanwhile, what about your midfield and attack?
Right now I’ve got the template midfield five and I wish there was even more room for appealing assets like Ethan Nwaneri and Kaoru Mitoma.
I’ll be using a 3-5-2 formation again because of my huge weakness up front, where Iliman Ndiaye is injured and Joao Pedro is out of favour. The latter seems unlikely to start at Southampton, considering Brighton’s upturn in form without him.
So what are your transfer plans for Gameweek 26 and beyond?
At least this time I can use a precious free transfer on my frontline. I will bring in either Wood or Matheus Cunha for whoever is closest to a price drop between Ndiaye and Pedro. The other move can occur in Gameweek 27 once Arne Slot’s £1.5m comes back into my budget.
Then again, I liked the plan of using no few transfers until we find out more about the schedule, after Gameweek 27. Perhaps both chip strategies – Free Hit 29 or save it for later – require the Wood and Cunha duo’s arrival.
I’m also tempted by getting Jean-Philippe Mateta and Yoane Wissa instead. But the former doesn’t bring flexibility because of Blank Gameweek 29 and the latter might make it too much Brentford.
Finally, what about captaincy?
The regular task of assigning the armband is always a game of stick or twist. For example, Mohamed Salah was the sensible option for Gameweeks 24 and 25, as Liverpool played twice in each.
But maybe this week is the time to take a risk. I might still give it to Salah versus a non-scary Man City defence but a maverick Bryan Mbeumo captaincy could also work. He’s away at Leicester, it’s just I don’t like it being the first match.
Good luck and thank you for the team reveal!
