GW 21 – Review
Now that’s more like it! The Ultimate Goals in 2021 finally kicked into gear in gameweek 21 (some pleasing symmetry there), with a little help from the magic of the FA Cup (or not if, like me, you picked Leeds Utd early in your multiplier ladder!!) Let’s get straight into the analysis!
As is customary we begin at the top of the Weekly Global Table and Jamie Marson’s belting score of 129 (84% of the P7), with smart selections of 5 goal East Fife (54 selections) and Tottenham Hotspur on x5 and x8 respectively, with 4 goal Bournemouth (28) and Chelsea on x3 and x7. Jamie was joined by a whopping 37 others in a cramped Club 100 and beat the weekend’s average of 51 by 78 points (this average was also beaten by 48% of players).
Chelsea were the weekend’s most picked side with 105 selections, (a touch surprisingly) one more than Spurs – whose FA Cup visit to Marine, a club 168 places below them in the football pyramid, attracted 81% of players to them. 48 of those picks came on x8, with Chelsea being most popular on x7. Meanwhile, Everton were most picked on both x3 and x4, needing extra time to see off Rotherham Utd, but their solitary goal inside 90 minutes was enough to keep scores climbing for the 77 of you who chose The Toffees. The remaining places were filled by Manchester City (99 picks and most popular on x2 and x6) and Dundee FC (x5), who left it until 90+4 to find the net against plucky Bonnyrigg Rose, sparing 68 of you some serious agony!
There was to be no upset at Marine, where Tottenham’s five goals put them joint top with East Fife in the Perfect 7 matrix, joined by 4 goal Chelsea, Wycombe Wanderers (just one selection), Bournemouth and Leicester (15 picks) from x3 through to x6. These teams, along with any 3 goal team on x2 would have secured a fantastic 153 points and more importantly that highly sought after jackpot prize! One of these 3 goal sides was League Two Crawley Town, who had a game to remember as they knocked out Leeds Utd in convincing fashion, much to the disappointment of 48 players (seven of whom chose them on x2 – OOPS!) It also appears that the excitement of the cup and the possibility of a serious points injection meant Rangers were only picked 27 times, well below their usual amount, but The Gers didn’t let anybody as they returned two goals at Aberdeen to continue their dominance in Scotland’s top league.
Now to the more unwelcome news of minus scores! There were 21 in total, with Leeds and Arsenal the main culprits. The Gunners actually scored twice in extra time but it’s the 90 minutes that count at TUG!
That’s your fill from me this week. Don’t leave your selections until the last minute if you want to take advantage of GW22’s early kick-offs, featuring a tasty Black Country derby as Wolves host a West Bromwich Albion side desperate for points, while Birmingham City make the journey north to Middlesbrough in The Championship and AFC Wimbledon take on Sunderland in League One. It’s also worth noting that Scotland’s League One and Two have been put on hold for three weeks, so we’re introducing the English National Leagues North & South as a short-term alternative, starting from this coming weekend. The FA Trophy fixtures are also available, so there’s plenty for you to go at. Good luck!
-Sam Brooke-Wilkinson