Fantasy Football: AA Underwriting’s Dave Cleverley Q&A

Those early season international breaks do come around quickly, don’t they? After just three weeks of the Insurance Times Fantasy Football League, the Premier League has taken a pause so that international teams can play fixtures and get a look at their players.

The only hope for fans and those taking part in this year’s league is that players do not pick up injuries that would rule them out from playing for their domestic teams.

What the international break does provide, however, is a chance for managers to take stock of their early season form and tinker with their teams. Wildcard anyone? 

As we go into the first fixtureless weekend of the season, Insurance Times thought it would be interesting to speak to the league’s early leader. 

David Cleverley, AA Underwriting’s ancillary products underwriting manager and niche motor lines expert, currently sits in first place with a slim lead of just one point.

We spoke to Cleverley before the weekends gets started.

1. Congrats on being top for GW3, how do you rate your chances of staying there for the season?

The same as West Ham’s chances of making top four!

It has been a great start, but a couple of the new signings have yet to get going, Sesko in particular, so I may need to make some changes.

I play for fun, but I might take it a little more seriously this year and see what happens. I am enjoying some good banter though, as I am top in a few leagues.

2. What are the key decisions to make ahead of GW4?

I will keep my fingers crossed that the most consistent performers in my team come back from the international break fit and healthy.

Joao Pedro has made a good start to the season, but he has a long trip away with Brazil.

Salah has made a slow start too, but is such a good player that it is only a matter of time… or is it? This might be the season where his incredibly high standards slip.

Do I stick or twist?

3. Who would you call out as an under-rated player for everyone’s Fantasy squad?

Lucas Paqueta has done well for me and is not in many other teams.

He seems to be playing with freedom and a smile on his face again after being found not guilty of the ridiculous spot fixing charges.

Also, can Marc Guehi build on that cracking goal and replace Eze up front? I think Gyokeres will come good too, although Arsenal have a tough few games coming up.

Grealish has surprised me and it is great seeing him do what he does best.

4. Who or what would you like to call out in the insurance industry? 

We need to get better at promoting how great this industry is and the good things that we do.

We help people and businesses rebuild when life throws up unexpected challenges and setbacks. We are always finding solutions to some very complex problems.

Insurance underpins almost everything – from the keyboard I’m typing on, to the screen you’re reading from and the whole infrastructure in between.