Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 13 2017/18
Welcome to Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 13. Well, here we go, dear managers — 13 — the unlucky-for-some gameweek is looming. I suppose that’s true for any given game-week; fortunes varied widely in the FPL world last weekend. The shockwaves of both Salah and Hazard’s braces touched almost all of our teams, a phenomena now known as the Spacey effect, except managers who actually owned these players certainly weren’t complaining. The important question is: who will reveal themselves as the next big scorer? I think the following 5 candidates, given their delicate ball control and ability to score frequently, all have a good chance…
Riyad Mahrez vs West Ham (A)
Now, this isn’t quite 2015–16 and the dazzling peak of Mahrez’s career, but he’s been breezing along nicely so far. Every man, woman, child and Millwall fan already knows about Silva’s tally of assists — we’ll move onto him soon enough — but Riyad has 6 to his name already, with a couple of goals too, and was in-form to the tune of 7.75 points per match prior to last weekend’s Man City fixture.
Wanna hear something funnier than West Ham? Joe Hart. Wanna hear something funnier than Joe Hart? David Moyes. Wanna hear something funnier than David… sorry. This is where the fun ends. No team has conceded more goals than the tragic 25 that West Ham have so far and it’s not like the home advantage will save them; they’ve conceded 7 goals in their last pair of home matches alone. Mahrez will hope to resume his fine displays and send Moyes straight up to Scotland far faster than GP can yell out in desperation.
Form: 7
Fixture: 8
Explosiveness: 6
Paul Pogba vs Brighton (H)
I feel very, erm, plastic for making this recommendation. Pogba’s only just come back and scored somewhat of a tap-in last weekend. The fact is, though, his admirable 8.6 points per match is a statistic unmatched by any FPL player who’s had more than 90 minutes of action. I certainly haven’t had 90 minutes of action in quite some time. Anyway, only Salah and Aguero come close to rivalling this, which just goes to show how potent Paul is.
The main drawback here is the opposition. The heaviest defeats that Brighton have suffered have been 2–0 losses to Man City, Leicester and Arsenal, the latter being the only one without a mention already. It’s generally best for my mental health to avoid chatting about Arsenal nowadays. Would you captain a player who’s up against a team that’s never conceded more than twice in their entire Premier League history? It sounds pretty stupid to me. Then again, so does blacking out on a night bus back home and regaining consciousness inside Manchester Airport, but here I am. Pogba can pull this off.
Form: 6
Fixture: 7
Explosiveness: 6
Harry Kane vs West Brom (H)
This man’s my new ‘Aguero’ headache: he always forces his way into my articles. Judging from his recent form — currently 3 sad blanks in his last 4 matches — you’d think this would be an opportune gameweek for me to exclude him. However, looking slightly further back than ‘Form’ does on the official FPL site reveals that Kane has bagged 4 braces in his 8 most recent matches. I wonder: what would you say if someone offered you a coin toss to decide whether your captain delivers 26+ points or not? Heads (brains) for a blank and tails (why not ‘bums’? I’m doubting everything now) for a brace. I’d imagine “yes” and “my body is now yours” would be two common responses.
West Brom actually make the coin analogy somewhat inaccurate and conservative. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last 7 matches and conceded 14 goals in that dark period. Spurs have stopped pussyfooting around at Wembley, finally, so perhaps Harry blanking actually corresponds to rolling a 6 on a die, or to Matt counting up competition points correctly, or to Charlie Adam featuring in a Sensodyne advert. The main message is: don’t be fooled by the masses. Kane is a top captaincy contender this weekend. Oh, and he scored in the Champions League this week…
Form: 4
Fixture: 8
Explosiveness: 8
Mohamed Salah vs Chelsea (H)
Over to Liverpool, to Salah, to the Premier League goal machine right now. Matt was pleased to see Liverpool pick up all 4 points, I mean 3 points, against lowly Southampton over the weekend. Mo will face a far tougher challenge in Chelsea on Saturday evening, a team that’s kept 3 consecutive clean sheets now, a team that has collected more points in the Premier League than any other since the start of last season.
That’s mainly old news, though, really. What’s very much ‘new news’ is Salah’s rise to the summit of both the Total Scores and Form lists. To score 4 goals in just 2 matches means the opposition goes out of the window, especially when the fixture is at home, a rule that’s particularly pertinent here. Liverpool are unbeaten at home so far, scoring 12 goals and conceding 1 to date. Tempted yet? Liverpool also relish playing the so-called ‘big teams’ under Klopp now. Don’t rule out lightning striking once again; brace yourselves.
Form: 9
Fixture: 5
Explosiveness: 8
Pep Guardiola vs Huddersfield (A)
Well, well, well. Mr Potato Head probably hasn’t made a direct appearance in one of these articles before but he’s definitely a key influence in many of the FPL decisions we make nowadays. Man City just beat Feyenoord in the Champions League and the starting XI that Pep chose should, in theory, greatly influence who I’d recommend here. Kun started : Jesus didn’t. Sterling started : Sane wasn’t even on the bench. But then Sterling scored… KDB started : Silva didn’t. Etc, etc… Does it matter though? You could go on second guessing this lot as a betting man and lose a lot of money. Don’t forget too that they played on Tuesday, the earliest European date of the week, and don’t go again until Sunday, in the last PL game of the week. Plenty of rest there then. But just to confuse matters further there is another PL game-week in midweek. City play on the Wednesday, just for the record.
Let’s assess the options. I personally own Aguero, a real fans’ favourite, and Sterling; you probably have Jesus and Sane if you’re actually a decent FPL manager. Sane’s the in-form option right now, but only one of these players is realistically capable of pulling out a 20+ pointer from nowhere, in truth. Not forgetting both KDB and David Silva, two borderline world-class players who can score and assist freely, who are perfectly good captains if you own them. Not least for their security of starts. Nobody is really guaranteed a 90-minute match. The hipsters will captain Fernandinho and smoke for the best. Why, then, are we looking to Man City for our captains? The answer’s very obvious. Pep’s men have scored 40 goals. The bottom 5 teams in the 2016–17 season couldn’t better that after playing over 3 times as many matches! Captaining the Man City player who’s most likely to start — defenders aside — for the rest of the season sounds like a plan to me. I wish you well in deciding exactly who that player is…
Form: appears to stand with good posture
Fixture: 10
Explosiveness: very temperamental in a wig shop
All the best for this weekend, guys, and see you on the boards.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 13
This article was written by James.
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Gameweek Tracker GW13-19
Hey guys need some help. I have 2FTs zero ITB. Been doing poorly these past weeks. Not having Salah in my team and wrong captain choices have given me red arrows lately. I’m thinking Aguero + Sterling to Morata + Salah but i’m 0.5 short. Any ideas how i can find that 0.5 for a -4hit? Not sure if I want to captain Kane again for another 2 pointer.
It’s a bit dangerous going without any coverage of the best team in the league
That’s very true but the rotation is unbearable. Morata and Salah getting the points week in week out.
Well there’s nothing wrong with Morata or Salah. 0.5 can come from Cedric or Jones. Cedric has a terrible run of fixtures but Jones is injured
Hi Eagle. May I suggest a different angle here. Why not get Wilson for Kun this week and then next week get Morata for Vardy and bring in Salah then too. Depends on what the players are worth to you now but on current prices I think you’d be 0.2 short of actually being able to do Salah in for Choupo-Moting but if not then that would be ideal. If you’re short then it’d have to be for Sterling or you could raise that 0.2 from Cedric who is fairly surplus to requirements right now anyway. Granted that one would be for a hit but may be worth it to keep Sterling over Choupo and getting a defender who you can actually use.
Wow thanks Initt. Seems you had a long thought on my team there. Appreciate your time and thoughts. Your plan sounds quite intriguing. Your suggestion is Kun to Wilson and roll over the other FT for next week since Vardy has Westham this week and wouldn’t want Morata and Salah this week because they play each other. So next week selling Vardy to Morata would be ideal along with Choupo to Salah but I would be 0.4 short of that move unless i sell Cedric for a 4.5 defender for a -4pt hit OR Sterling to Salah for free as you mentioned. Great stuff Innit. Thanks a lot.
Yep that’s it, in a nutshell.
That is potentially the best answer of the season……. nice 1 init!
HI guys! Had a crap last 2 GW hoping to turn it around this week!
2FT, 0.1 ITB..
Thoughts?
Downgrade Wimmer and upgrade Stephens?
Hey Obrigado,
I think Luiz prob has to go and Wimmer too – can you afford Mustafi & Daniels?
Luiz was back in tonight
I’d have said deal with Luiz too to be fair. He was back in yeah but also only because some key bods were rested for Saturday. Given it’s a 2FT situation I think weeding out these doubtful ones now ahead of Christmas is wise.
Alright thanks boys appreciate it
Lol pep as capo! Cheers James!
All
What should I be doing with this lot? Kun is a concern as to is Jones, would love to have 11 playing this GW!
Initial thoughts was to do kun to either lukaku or Lacazette but could Wilson be an option? I don’t really want to get rid of Jones because of the TV I would lose so I would look to sort out my bench plus I need to start to preparing for the Xmas period… your suggestions or ideas would be appreciated
I’d sell Kun to Luk and then upgrade Mbemba
Evening Matt
I would have 4.4 to spend on a defender if I brought in lukaku
Bring in Dunk
Don’t you fancy Lacazette? Would leave 5.6 for a defender
I think they are much for muchness and there is feck all between them but Lukaku seems to be in the better side for the moment.
Mitro I thk that’s a good call by Matt we need all 15 squard players over festive period especially with City players 😉
I want to captain Pep. That’s where the points are. Lukaku and maybe Kenny at Everton. He seems to play now. Or Dunk is safer. Simpson might drop to 4.4
I’d downgrade Kun to Wilson.Just think of the fun you can have with 5.5m in the Bank !!
Brookyboy what do you really thk about Wilson do you thk he can carry that 3rd stk position ???
I’m a bit hesitant over Wilson because of the amount of strikers they have Afobe, Defoe and King. Together with him just back after a lengthy layoff
Hey Smash see you have Vardy not sure weather to ditch Sterling for Pogba or Kun to Luk or Firmino???
If he keeps sticking the goals in there is no reason why he wouldnt remain first choice.Defoe was bought as cover and is getting on now,King is actually a midfielder but played upfront last season when Wilson was injured and Afobe isnt really in the same league.
Brooky
Seriously tempted to go with Wilson, really could set my team up the Xmas period
Mitro! Don’t know if you caught it but The Tuesday Club lads released a new pod last night after months of absence. Defo worth a find and a listen, very funny.
Hey Init what are they hatching 😉
??
I listened today Init.
It was superb. Davies was lashed towards the end!!
Think they all were GP, they were fighting over a bottle of wine
#hobowars
Mitro, iTunes it. If you’ve never heard that, as an Arsenal fan, or even a football fan then you’ve got years of back catalogue of pure gold to listen to.
You can listen to it when you’re walking up and down the HS3 route ruining people’s lives
👿 😉
Outside of our ones, its my favourite football podcast.
Such a shame they don’t do it more regularly.
Football Ramble runs it close as my favourite. I assume you noticed their spin offs? On The Continent and the Luke and Pete show. Both worth grabbing. OTC is Luke and Marcus plus usually James Horncastle and Andy Brassell. It’s quality. Luke and Pete isn’t footy but just them two talking sh*t
Listen to OTC as well as the Euro Football Show which also has Horncastle (with Laurens and Honigstein).
Not the Luke and Pete show yet. I’ll follow and give it a try. Thanks.
Evening fellas, what should I do with this defence now that Jones is out? I’m not sure if I should just leave it like this and hope for the best or sell someone? I have 1 ft and 0.7 itb.
You have Moreno – what else do you need? :hippo:
A proper defender 😉
Lovren?
:big-lol:
Moreno to Daniels?
Hahahah
Think I’d ride it out with Jones unless you need cash. You have cover
Might just ride it out and see what happens.
Rojo has looked good tonight to add to the competition there as well
What do you guys think of doing Jones to Sanchez? Spurs have some brilliant fixtures coming up
Looks a proper tackling defender him Matt.
I have 5.7 to spend though so he’s ruled out for me.
I prefer Daniels.
I wanted Vertonghen but I’ve only got 6 mil so it leaves Sanchez but I’m not sure if I should go for it.
Why would you favour Daniels over Spurs defence Silvers?
Sanchez is as good as Vertonghen for me. Daniels is as good as any defender for next 4 as well
I have had a good look at this Matt Daniels because he’s more attacking better fixtures for at leat the nk four Gw
If you what another choice perhaps Bell or Kol from Ars
😉
Yeah but then Daniels has Utd, Liverpool and City in his 3 after whereas Spurs only have City in their next 7 which I’d want to bench him for.
It depends on attacking points or CS for me 6m you have to go with one of thevArs boys or Daniels 😉
Hmm you’ve got a point I’ll give it a think cheers Silvers. Will email you tomorrow to sort out the doubles.
I wanted vertonghen too Matt, but he rather annoyingly went up when only predicted 39%
Think Spurs defence is a good shout over the next few weeks and Sanchez is pretty much a defo starter so I would go for it
Jones to Mustafi Matt !
Lukaku weren’t very convincing again tonight
How does this plan to fix the Kun issue sound?
This GW – Kun & Sterling to Wilson & Sane for a -4
Next GW – Gross & Fabianski to Hazard & Speroni for a -4
This would also then leave 0.4 ITB to do Mbemba to Dunk.
Crazy to ditch Gross? Crazy to have Sane as only City cover? Crazy to plan 2 hits in a row?! I could save one hit by going with someone like Murray instead of Wilson.
Am I missing any Init-style masterplans?
I like those moves to be honest Banjo.
Hey Banjo you have a really good team there City player are playing havoc with are line ups
I have similar team I’m thinking just Sterling to Pogba your bench team strong enough if Kun dosent play 😉
Hey Silvers… I was thinking the same a couple of days ago, i.e. Sterling to Pogba, but it seems almost certain Kun won’t start this weekend, and with Pep’s comments about him not playing with Jesus, it’s just too much to be on the bench frequently. With Mendy out Sane seems guaranteed most minutes, so I think he’s become my City priority. And looking at Chelsea’s run of fixtures, I’d love to squeeze Hazard in there. I guess a lot hinges on whether Wilson is a better budget option over Gross, and looking at fixtures I think he is. I’d love to squeeze Pogba in too, but just can’t see how.
Banjo It’s a really tough discussion I thk Kun is City best player but Pep dosent I reluctant to lose him but it’s not far off Just just to who
I just can’t get Haz in there thk he is a must 😉
Think you’ve got it about right there Banjo. Site Team looking at something not dissimilar only it’s Firmino not Kun plus it’s 2FT’s not a hit and it’s Hazard / Chelsea in a WC next time.
Cheers Init. I don’t think we can ignore both Hazard’s form and Chelsea’s fixtures. I half thought of downgrading Morata to fund it, but Kun/Pep has made that a bit easier.