42. Man vs Machine Learning: Trying to Finish in the Top 1k

In Gameweek 36, there was some respite for the Machine's team as it scored an excellent 69 points in a low scoring gameweek to get a massive green arrow for the first time in a long time.

Meanwhile, my team had a forgettable week with multiple flops in the first team leaving the dream of a top 1k finish hanging by a thread.

The Machine's Team

• Gameweek 36
• TAA's late assist to Alisson's wonder goal was the only return in defence
• The midfield did much better with Pereira continuing his great form and Salah returning 3 bonus points
• But the real hero was Harrison's 16 points. This was an example of a move that I felt was risky but it paid off for the Machine
• Watkins and Kane got returns to finish on 69 points
• The Machine got a green arrow to go from 670k to 533k

• Gameweek 37
• The suggested move is to bring Antonio in for Watkins and it has been made (2 free transfers available)
• Captain is Kane, vice Captain Bruno
• The second free transfer is not being used. In case Bruno and Shaw miss out in GW 38, 2 free transfers could be useful

Expected number of returns for GW 37-38 per position according to the Machine

My Team

• Gameweek 36
• Meslier proved a good transfer in and got 7 points
• Ward got 0 despite playing and Jota got 0 without playing
• Bamford was subbed just before the 60th minute to get 1 point and Davis came on with 5 minutes left to get 1 too
• TAA, Kane and Salah were the only other ones to not blank in this forgettable gameweek
• Coufal lost his clean sheet in the 84th minute, as did Lingard
• Son kept his clean sheet point to hit the half century mark
• A red arrow from 1707 to 1744

• Gameweek 37
• One forced change has to be made due to Jota's injury and the lack of a decent bench
• The original plan was to save a transfer in 37 and keep options open for 38, especially as Shaw and Bruno could be rotated
• The two main players under consideration are Greenwood and Raphinha
• Greenwood is an exciting move with fans in the stadium against a potentially hapless Fulham team. However, gameweek 38 could be a bloodbath of rotation for United players
• Raphinha is a slightly more boring move with his GW 37 fixture being away to Southampton, although he has a good last fixture vs West Brom at home
• As far as the captaincy is concerned, I'm currently torn between Bruno and Kane, with Salah being an outside shout
• Kane could be playing his last game in front of the Spurs fans and is chasing the golden boot
• Salah has the added motivation of a potential CL spot
• Both the transfer and captaincy decisions could go down to the wire - I'm currently leaning towards Raphinha for the transfer and Kane for captain

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