In case the top teams fail to keep a clean sheet, it can be advisable to have a backup strategy to compensate for those lost points. Perhaps keeping faith with Liverpool, given their present form, might be a bit risky, but it worked this week with somewhat of a surprising win at West Ham. And then bring in a player, like Foden, who is now playing better and keep your fingers crossed. 

Michelle did just that and, together with the two highest points' scorers in an otherwise pretty shabby Spurs team, reaped the rewards and top-scored this week. That lifted her up to third, behind Ken, who also moved up one, with Kevin continuing to lead. Joe was the collateral damage, dropping two places to fourth. Jenni gained two places in 7th, replacing Sandra whose nightmare of a week saw her fall back by the same number to 9th.

There was no further movement but that could all change next week with two full sets of fixtures within seven days. 

Welcome back. I trust you didn't pick up any injuries during the international break and aren't suffering too much jet lag from your overseas trips! It was, thank goodness, the last such break until March.

So, it was back to business for the Premier League, and some things didn't change. Spurs failed to win again but did at least score to stop Arsenal keeping a clean sheet. Chelsea made it three shutouts in a row while both Manchester teams lost and Liverpool just can't comprehend the losing run they are putting together.

These sorts of results can catch fantasy managers out, so you need to keep your wits about you. Just like Jon, who top scored this week, but only just behind was Karen whose form has carried over from before the break, The only movement in an otherwise unusually static table this week was Simon, leading the Welsh contingent, up one place to 6th, while Sandra dropped back two to 7th.

No, I'm not reprising the song title of the same name, most famously sung by Herman's Hermits. (Famously? Absolutely .. at least according to Google AI.) I am, in fact, referring to Karen, whose power pack continues to function, and, for the second successive week as top scorer, has promoted her into 10th place pushing Oliver back to 11th.

Overall, points totals were lower than usual this week, due, in no small part to Arsenal not keeping a clean sheet. That didn't stop Joe who has edged into 2nd behind Kevin and pushed Ken down a place. Michelle held on to 4th but she is now being hunted by Jon and Sandra, both of whom moved up to share 5th. Simon and Mick lost ground allowing Jenni to close up, despite remaining in 9th. There was no change to the bottom four.

So, we all have another chance to rest on our laurels or frantically look for new recruits this coming week as another international break disrupts the PL schedule. See you in two weeks.

It had to happen! Karen has powered up her mobility batteries and, with the week's top score, has propelled herself up two places into 11th. Beware, Powys Pensioners are on the move! 

Sandra was only a few points less and moved up two places to sixth. Both out-scored  Kevin but he remains comfortably out in front with Ken currently up to second with Joe dropping to third,

Michelle didn't move but Simon has gained a place in 5th. Mick remains in 7th where he is joined by Jon who fell back two. Jenni didn't move either, whereas Oliver moved up to 10th while Chris and Brian trundled in the opposite direction.The bottom two remain unchanged,

I guess Chelsea's home defeat by Sunderland reduced a few totals this week, but the clever managers were those who subsequently moved out their Blues' defenders in favour of Arsenal's back line. If you are looking for something different to buck the trend, I'd advise against Nottingham Forest players; they haven't kept a clean sheet, or scored, for the past four PL matches. A bit left field, but you might just want to take a look at the Spurs' defence that suddenly found themselves keeping a clean sheet with Van de Ven scoring two and Porro providing one of the assists. Better than anything Arsenal managed!

While the top two of Kevin and Joe held station, Ken just got the better of Michelle to move into third. Jon and Simon didn't move, but the biggest market mover, with the highest score of the week, was Mick, who moved up three places causing Sandra, Jenni and Chris to cascade downwards. Oliver and Brian didn't move either, while Karen's continuing upward trajectory came at the expense of Nick who dropped to 14th, perilously close to Dan, just below him.

Welcome back.

Eight of us took the opportunity to shuffle our teams during the international break; some more than others. But did it pay? In some respects, yes; in others, no. On this occasion, the selection of Arsenal and Chelsea defenders was a particularly popular and beneficial move, whereas changes between other outfield players was less profitable. It may even have paid not to make changes during the break. Joe was a case in point. He either decided his team was already set up for the fixture resumption and didn't warrant changes, or he simply forgot, but he returned this week with the week's top score that lifted him two places into second. With the second-highest total, Kevin held on to his lead, but it looks as though he has another surge to contend with.

Michelle, Ken and Jon all lost a place; Simon stayed in sixth, while Sandra dropped to seventh. Below them it was all change. Jenni went above Chris, Mick and Oliver overtook Brian, while Nick and Karen got the better of Dan who dropped to 15th.

Having been deposed by Michelle last week, Kevin, with the week's top score, has turned the tables this time around and has retaken the lead. Ken has regained the ground he lost last week and moved up to 3rd, while Jon improved by two to share 4th with Joe who didn't move. Simon edged up another place and joins Sandra in 6th, the latter having fallen back three places. Chris, Jenni and Brian didn't move but Mick overtook Oliver to move into 11th, and Dan did the same to Nick to grab 13th. What can I say about Karen and Powys Pensioners in 15th? Nothing!

We are now heading for another international break. It would be nice to have a rest ourselves but, with player involvement all over the globe and those players not on international duty still training or recovering from injury, you'll probably want to remain vigilant regarding your team members or possible replacements ready for the PL return on Saturday 18th. Some break!

Back in two weeks.

Perhaps we should all go on Safari during the football season because the Kenyan air certainly seems to have done wonders for Michelle's managerial skills that have taken her up three places to head the table. Having already laid eyes on the 'Big 5', she now has a prize of her own in sight. Her improvement was unwelcome news for Kevin and Sandra who each dropped a place and who are now being closely tracked by Joe, the week's joint highest scorer, who moved up two places at Ken and Jon's expense. It obviously takes more than African wildlife to inspire The Unconvincibles! 

Meanwhile in wet Wales, success this week was gender-based. Simon gained a place in 7th, pushing Chris down to 8th, while Brian, with the week's joint highest score, made the biggest move, up four places to 10th, just behind Jenni who didn't move. Neither did Oliver or Mick, which was actually better than Nick and Dan who lost ground while Karen remains immobile in 15th.

For the fifth footballing week in a row, a different manager has top scored. This week it's Ken who has lifted himself up three places to third behind Sandra, who recovered the ground she lost last week, and Kevin who continues to lead. Michelle didn't move in 4th, but both Jon (down three) and Joe (down one) lost out. Chris overtook Simon to move into 7th and Jenni did the same to Nick to go 9th. The only other movement saw Brian drop to 14th, just above Karen. Those poor Welsh pensioners and their donkeys are in a sorry state!

Currently the table is split into three groups: places 1-6, 7-9 and 10-15 and, within those groups, the positional changes aren't that significant. Although this is the third week that Kevin has held the lead, it's only by small margins. I know it's only early days but, is the change in the number of weekly transfers making a difference? I think it is. Whereas we had anticipated that league fixtures would regularly be spread over four days, so far that isn't happening, but the scheduling of fixtures is providing an opportunity for managers to make very similar transfers - even more so than in previous seasons. I think that accounts for why the points scored in these first few weeks of the season have been reasonably similar. It may take a brave manager to break the mould in order to set themselves apart.

The Premier League returned after the international break with the usual moans about players tired from their global travels and injury niggles from their international playing time, and still the uncertainty of how long it is going to take recent squad additions to settle. Perhaps surprisingly - but helpfully - there weren't any upsets in terms of the weekend's results.

The week's break gave us an extra opportunity to re-think our teams, but not everyone took advantage. Mick was one who didn't, presumably because he was comfortable with his selections (rather than he just forgot!), and his decision not to over-tinker was vindicated because he returned the week's highest score that lifted him two places into twelfth.  

Kevin has held on to top spot but he is now only one point ahead of Jon who has eased away from Sandra who dropped to third. Michelle and Joe both moved up two places, swallowing up Ken and Simon en route. Chris overtook Nick to go 8th while Jenni and Oliver didn't move. With a high score of his own, Dan lifted himself two places to share 13th with Brian, pushing Karen back to 15th again. The last two had had a very tiring week beforehand (thanks guys!) so, if they lost their focus, they are excused!