THAT’S another Game Week in the can and Dream Team gaffer Daniel Ford deserves a round of applause for racking up the most points.
The West Brom fan’s XI, Beating Chastards (very funny, Daniel), produced a whopping 180 points this past week.
Before we take a closer look at how he did it, a shout out too for Luis Da Cunha who looks to have claimed the monthly prize for September’s competition – once the necessary checks are complete he will receive a brand new PlayStation 5!
Our October competition gets underway this weekend so keep an eye on the monthly leaderboard, there’s another PS5 up for grabs.
That’s Daniel’s team in full and it’s a pleasing mix of heavy-hitters and savvy differentials.
For example, Illan Meslier (£1.7m) appears in just 1.3% of teams and yet no goalkeeper achieved more points in Game Week 8 than the young Frenchman.
Leeds played much of the foul-ridden second half against Aston Villa with ten men last weekend and the 22-year-old was required to make six saves to earn the hosts a point at Elland Road – he was rewarded with the Star Man award.
Daniel also backed the top-scoring defender of Game Week 8 in the form of Reece James (£5.6m).
Chelsea’s rampaging wing-back provided an assist and scored one for himself as the Blues beat Milan 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
James was quite clearly the best player on the pitch and he bagged the Star Man award to bank 20 points in one fell swoop.
It was also a profitable midweek for Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.9m) who scored a beautiful free-kick against Rangers en route to a 17-point haul, though it’s worth noting he incurred minus three at home to Brighton.
Completing Daniel’s set of England right-backs, Kieran Trippier (£3.8m) had to settle for just three points as Newcastle allowed Fulham a consolation goal.
Still, the Magpies defender remains the fourth-best asset in his position overall.
Kevin De Bruyne (£7.5m) and Phil Foden (£6.5m) were both rested against Copenhagen on Wednesday night but still they combined for 30 points in Game Week 8 with the latter’s hat-trick in the Manchester derby forming the bulk of the returns.
The Manchester City pair are the two best midfielders in the game currently with the Belgian six points behind his younger team-mate.
Usually we would advise Dream Team bosses to stay clear of defensive-minded midfielders so pairing Declan Rice (£2.3m) with Granit Xhaka (£2.6m) is something of a red flag.
Saying that, we should perhaps give credit to Daniel for recognising that the Switzerland international is taking up advanced positions more often this season.
Xhaka has scored two goals and provided three assists in eight league games so far with his latest strike coming in Arsenal’s north London derby victory last Saturday.
The 30-year-old was booked against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday but he still earned seven points for the week – Rice mustered just two points and only has six overall.
Up front, of course Daniel backed world football’s most in-form goal machine, Erling Haaland (£9m).
The Norwegian pocketed 45 points in Game Week 8 by virtue of five goals across two fixtures – incredibly that’s not even his biggest Game Week haul of the season.
Gabriel Jesus (£5.9m) cemented his his status as Dream Team’s second-best forward with an 18-point haul.
A goal and a Star Man award meant he took 13 off Tottenham and he registered an assist and 7+ rating after coming off the bench in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Brazilian has amassed 63 points from eight Game Weeks at an average of 6.3 points-per-game, justifying his immense popularity (58.8% ownership).
Last but most certainly not least, Daniel’s stroke of genius, Leandro Trossard (£3.9m).
Just 0.3% of gaffers have put their faith in Brighton’s Belgian dynamo but that slim minority were rewarded with a 28-point influx when he notched a hat-trick at Anfield last weekend.
Good luck to all Dream Team managers ahead of Game Week 9, here’s hoping you can emulate Daniel’s brilliance!
Most read in Dream Team
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
