Much of the topic has raged on the subject of Jackson and Alvarez. Pinpointed discussions filled the brains of every engaged Fantasy manager about who is better. Alvarez certainly has a lot of admirers, but Jackson made more sense. Particularly when accompanied by Pep taking his bag out to the market to bring several fresh faces. Doku, an out-and-out winger, likely Nunes of Wolves, is all set to be a new arrival at the Etihad. The presence of Foden made logical sense from a Fantasy perspective to transfer him in alongside Jackson. One apple from each of the trees or not to put all eggs in one basket, as they say.
Chilwell’s persistent positioning upfront has made managers of Fantasy Premier League lick their lips akin to a person about to have their favorite food dish after a long time. Chelsea’s turn in fixtures starting with Luton Town at home made further depth of a good dream involving Fantasy points from the Chelsea players. Indeed, Chilwell has been very attacking in his approach in the opening two games operating similarly to a winger, evidenced by his heat maps after the games. Jackson, even though he has huffed and puffed, without any actual returns for his team, given the fixtures, there were plenty of hopes of him faring well as the focal point of the Blues attack.
On paper, there are light years of distance between Luton Town and Chelsea, but football, being the great leveler it is, on Friday night, Luton was playing against Chelsea, in the same league status, Chelsea is in. The first half saw Luton Town hold their own defensively. To the agony of Fantasy managers, Chilwell, remained largely a passenger in the first forty-five minutes, with all of the attacking output deployed from the right-hand side of Sterling and Gusto. Chilwell, other than taking the corners barely had any scathing impact anywhere around the Luton’s final third.
Jackson’s scenario was worse, his only meaningful contribution to the game, was when he won the corner for his team. Guilty of missing pass and losing the ball in possession, Jackson failed to assert himself in the game. Fantasy managers would have been wondering what was unfolding wasn’t part of the plan at all. A largely untested at the top level of football, Jackson is still a very raw player at the core possessing all the abilities in the world to be really good with time. That was what Chelsea had paid for. They knew time was required, in FPL though you don’t get points once the player eventually gets better.
Pochettino’s halftime team talk had a positive impact on the Blues. Outside of the goal, Chelsea were not threatening as a team. Luton was very much in the game, that changed in the second half, with Chilwell and Jackson both, more monumentally involved. The biggest change that went begging came to Chilwell. He found himself through on goal, with only the keeper to beat, with the game still at a balance, and somehow to the dismay of all, the England left back from that position looked to square pass the ball to Sterling in his right-hand side. It got cleared perhaps even the best attacking defenders sometimes need the confidence to back themselves in front of the goal.
Jackson’s overall play improved significantly post the half, alongside Chelsea, showcasing their superior class further and further as the game went. He tested the keeper twice, though both shots were of the manner largely expected to be saved by a Premier League standard keeper. Jackson, finally, much to the relief of so many Fantasy managers who had transferred him to their teams this week, broke his deadlock by scoring his debut goal for Chelsea, from a Sterling assist. The goal was a fair reflection of his extremely better performance in the half, especially when compared to the opening encounters in the match.
Chilwell finished the game with six points owing to the clean sheet, while Jackson acquired a bonus, with his goal meaning he finished on seven Fantasy points. The winners on the day were undoubtedly Sterling and Gusto. Jackson and Chilwell’s huge number of Fantasy owners will be hoping for a similar display of Sterling and Gusto from Chilwell and Jackson in the weeks to come.
