GW3 Selection: Staying on Strategy
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GW2 Summary
Points: 43
GW1 Rank: 61,059
Overall Rank: 30,530
GW2 Results
After a positive first gameweek, the second was hugely frustrating. In defence I had Vitinho as captain, an excellent pick after grabbing both the clean sheet and an assist, which saved my week from being disastrous. But that’s where my fortune ended. Josh Edwards started for Charlton at left wingback - as anticipated - but had to be stretchered off of the pitch on 28 minutes after a bad tackle from Sean Clare. Charlton then proceeded to win the game and keep a clean sheet, meaning I missed out on five valuable points there. Huddersfield Town were also keeping a clean sheet, right up until a 96th minute penalty meant Stevenage grabbed a late consolation, taking another five points away from my goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
In midfield, there were also two blanks. Tahith Chong started for the Hatters at Fratton Park and the visitors looked incredibly lively for the first 30 minutes, before goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski got sent off after two quick yellows. Mickel Miller was less unfortunate, but was a slight punt anyway so not unexpected. Nevertheless Huddersfield created a lot of opportunities so on another day could have come away with a good return.
Ellis Simms grabbed an assist in an excellent game at the CBS Arena on Friday night, however the wrong Coventry forward was chosen with Haji Wright coming out with lots of plaudits. Lastly, Emmanuel Latte Lath failed to return despite grabbing 0.88xG for himself in Middlesbrough’s defeat to Derby.
Thankfully Coventry City grabbed the win against Oxford United in the last minute, however Hull City failed to win at Plymouth Argyle.
GW3 Selection
Fixtures to Target
Championship: Middlesbrough vs Portsmouth, Preston vs Luton, Swansea vs Cardiff. League One: Huddersfield vs Shrewsbury. League Two: Chesterfield vs Salford, Doncaster vs Morecambe.
7 Player Selection
Formation: 1-2-3-1
Goalkeeper
Teddy Sharman-Lowe — the return of Teddy for Doncaster who was unfortunate to not keep a clean sheet for me in Gameweek 1. Morecambe have failed to score in their two league games, plus one cup game, and hopefully that continues for another week.
Defenders
Teden Mengi — an improved Hatters defensive display last weekend, despite having ten man, derives some confidence in this pick. I’m hoping Mengi can be a bit of a block & tackle magnet in a strong away Luton performance at Deepdale.
Michal Helik — the Huddersfield defence let me down last week, but it was only due to a last minute penalty so I’m trusting my gut and going with them again. Additionally, Helik scored nine goals for the Terriers in the Championship last season, so I’m hoping his set piece threat shines through again this weekend.
Michal Helik celebrates scoring against Coventry City last season. Credit: Action Images
Midfielders
Ben Wiles — a pick that typically goes against my desired thought process, but Wiles is hard to ignore given his performances in the first two games this season, including generating 0.75xG at home to Stevenage last weekend.
Luke Molyneux (captain) — my gem of a pick from GW1 returns. Less of a differential this gameweek, but with a home game against Morecambe I’m hoping he can repeat his earlier haul.
Alfie Doughty — if this was FPL this would be an awful pick. A defender (albeit attacking left wing back) taking up a midfield spot just doesn’t make sense. However, Alfie Doughty seems to be attracting good interception and key pass numbers which, alongside his assist in GW1, gives me hope that he can return some strong points this weekend.
Forward
Emmanuel Latte Lath — it’s only GW3 and ‘ELL’ is becoming a bit of an old-faithful. A home game against a Portsmouth side that conceded three goals at Elland Road a fortnight ago. Hopefully turns out to be an obvious pick.
2 Team Selection
My one home win, one away win strategy continues this week in the hope that it pays off. The home win was between Doncaster Rovers and Huddersfield Town, but because I’d picked the former in the first gameweek I didn’t want to use them for the second time so early on in the season. Therefore, I’ve gone with Huddersfield to beat Shrewsbury as my home pick. My away pick has an element of ‘orange-tinted glasses’ involved, but with Preston North End losing their last seven league games, I’m backing my own Luton Town to grab an away win at Deepdale.
GW3 Team Selection Pictured
Sharman-Lowe; Mengi, Helik; Wiles, Molyneux, Doughty; Latte Lath. Huddersfield Town & Luton Town to win.
What do you think of my team selection? Share your thoughts on social media or in the comments section down below.
Disclaimer: there’s a chance I may make changes to my selection ahead of the deadline, with any changes likely due to early team news or eleventh hour injury information. To stay updated on my final draft, go and follow my locked team selections over on Twitter/X at @jamie_castle96.
