Episode nine starts with an away match against Brighton. It’s the last week of the transfer window and we have done some fantastic business so far bringing in Sane, Thauvin and Hysaj. There’s still possibly time to shift either Aubameyang or Lacazette for a new striker, but that’s much less of a priority as both are great players. The lineup I have chosen for the Brighton game is; Alisson (GK), Lukaku (LB), Ajer (CB), Fosu-Mensah (CB), Hysaj (RB), Tielemans (CM), Xhaka (CM), Sane (CAM), Balde (LW), Thauvin (RW), Poulsen (ST). Highlights below.
A really tough game in that I’m glad to scrape through with a win. We were never really in danger of losing the match, but whether the goal would come was a worry. Thankfully in the end it did by way of a rebound stuck home by Sane. Thauvin had a quite game, but still showed flashes of brilliance and Hysaj seems to have a real gift for a long through ball which gives the team a good route one option.
It’s transfer deadline day and I am exploring options for a new striker. Aubameyang and Lacazette are both great players, but neither are perfect fits for my system. I have the option to swap Aubameyang + pretty much the rest of my transfer kitty for Mbappe. I’m considering taking it though as his stats are exactly what I’m looking for and he’s still only 20 years old. His OVR is 83, while Aubameyang is 87, so technically I’m getting a lesser player, but the potential for growth is through the roof. In the end I took the deal.
The January team of the month is in and I’m back to having nearly half a team in it. I have attached the TOTM and the league table as of February 1st 2018.
The next match is back at the Emirates against Wolves. As you can see above they sit 16th in the league with only 5 wins all season, so this might be a good game to debut Mbappe and try to settle him into the team. Plus the fixtures are piling up again. I have Wolves (home), Watford (home) and Burnley (away) in the next six days. This is the lineup I have chosen; Alisson (GK), Lukaku (LB), Ajer (CB), Fosu-Mensah (CB), Hysaj (RB), Tielemans (CM), Xhaka (CM), Sane (CAM), Balde (LW), Thauvin (RW), Mbappe (ST). Highlights below.
Wow. A woeful performance. None of the players turned up in that first half and we went in 3-0 down at the break. Then, just as the second half starts it’s 4-0. The scary thing is that I could have still actually taken something from the game. After Balde pulled one back I had several chances before Tielemans got the second. That second goal was a goal of the season contender as well. Absolutely rifled in from outside the box. In the end we ran out of time and lost 4-3. The invincible dream is over. Time to regroup and make sure we win the league.
The matches are still coming thick and fast. Three days on from that terrible result we have another home game, this time against Watford. Changes have been made and this is the lineup I have went with; Alisson (GK), Lukaku (LB), Ajer (CB), Koulibaly (CB), Toure (RB), Tielemans (CM), Goretzka (CM), Sane (CAM), Balde (LW), Williams (RW), Poulsen (ST). Highlights below.
A really disappointing draw. Form is falling off a cliff at the moment and both Everton and Man Utd are hot on our heels. Results need to be turned around and fast. That’ll do it for this episode. Next time we’ll have an away league match against Burnley, the FA Cup quarter final against Spurs, the Europa League round of 32 against Atalanta and a home league match against Liverpool.
Until then leave comments below or get in touch via Twitter @VizualDze where I post regular PES videos along with other gaming thoughts, news and reviews.
VdZe.
