The latest Fantasy Football weekend is over. Chris Burton looks at where points were won and lost.
Chris Burton looks at where points were won and lost
It's not often that the dawn of Monday morning brings a sense of relief to yours truly, but having endured a weekend to forget a new week brings with it fresh hope.
Crushing blows in both the 'real' world and its fantasy alter-ego threatened to turn me a fetching Kevin Keegan shade of grey well before my time.
As a Nottingham Forest supporter I think the least said about the events which unfolded at Molineux on Saturday the better, while my supposed 'dream team' once again flattered to deceive.
I'm sure I was not the only one suckered in by Everton's fifth place finish last season, with expectations that more of the same was on the way from the Toffees.
However, with August now consigned to the history books, David Moyes' men continue to haemorrhage goals at an alarming rate.
Tim Howard and Joleon Lescott were viewed as safe bets before 16th August, only to then ship seven goals in three games - including three against Portsmouth on Saturday.
It comes as no surprise that Arsenal's England wannabe Manuel Alumina and Chelsea colossus Petr Cech top the shot-stoppers charts, but Howard's dismal haul of -1 puts him alongside Hull's Boaz Myhill - who picked the ball out of the net five times against Wigan at the weekend!
Lescott appears to have lost the goalscoring instinct which signalled him out as a must-have last term, with Middlesbrough's David Wheater emerging as the thinking-man's choice at the back.
Two man of the match awards in three starts is no mean feat and suggests he could prove to be a shrewd investment for those looking to implement wholesale changes.
Reliable
Liverpool's Mr Reliable Jamie Carragher is top defensive dog one month in, and picked up bonus points for his star man rating this week, while those who splashed the cash on members of the Chelsea rearguard will be pleased to see four Blues men already into double figures for the season.
Portuguese flair in the shape of Deco continues to lead the way as we move on to those charged with bringing a creative influence to your fantasy XI.
Surprisingly, though, the former Chelsea ace is one of just two men from the so-called 'big four' to populate the upper echelons of the charts.
The other is Arsenal's Brazilian ace Denilson, fresh from grabbing his first goal of the season against Newcastle on Saturday.
Manchester City are the team to lump on at present, with Shaun Wright-Phillips enjoying a memorable homecoming at Sunderland on Sunday.
The winger's talent has never been in doubt and a debut brace saw him shake off the shackles off an ill-advised stint at Stamford Bridge in impressive fashion.
His double salvo also pushed him alongside team-mates Stephen Ireland and Elano in the midfield maestro category.
It is, of course, up front though where fantasy football is won and lost. Choose wisely and you will be crowned office king, make rash decisions and you will be rightly ridiculed.
Misfortune
No-one can be blamed for plumping for Fernando Torres, Emmanuel Adebayor, Michael Owen or Roque Santa Cruz, but that star-studded quartet has failed to shine.
Torres is the only man to break double figures, while injuries and misfortune in front of goal have blighted all four.
Hats off to anyone who had the foresight to see Wigan's Amr Zaki making a swashbuckling start to life in English football - the Egyptian takes August's attacking plaudits with an impressive 21 points.
Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor, admittedly helped by an opening weekend hat-trick, and Blackburn's Jason Roberts are also surprise early season pacesetters.
Whether they are able to maintain their flying starts remains to be seen, especially as a few familiar faces found their feet this weekend.
Robin van Persie and Jermain Defoe bagged a brace apiece for Arsenal and Portsmouth, although Van Persie's infuriating failure to complete 90 minutes once again came back to haunt him.
With transfer deadline day now upon us it is also worth pointing out at this juncture that Dimitar Berbatov has just one point so far, a situation which is likely to have fantasy managers up and down the country praying Sir Alex Ferguson dusts off his chequebook on Monday.
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