Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Gameweek 22
Welcome to Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Gameweek 22. 2017 is already shaping up to be the year of the incredible sulk. While Diego Costa has one eye on a slow boat to China, Dmitri Payet would seem content just to leave E13. Or E20. Or wherever the heck it is that the Hammers call home now. Even Alexis Sanchez threw a strop when his manager had the audacity to relieve him of duty 4-0 up at the Welsh branch of Managers-R-Us.
So which players should you trust with your captaincy, and which should you cast aside, risking mutiny? That’s clearly none of my business. But here are 5 players worth considering:
5. PHILIPPE COUTINHO (home vs Swansea)
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[/three_fifth]A swan’s grace as it glides along the water is said to belie the unseen frenzied activity of its paddling feet, which cannot be said for their Premier League incarnation. The Reds’ next opponents have been frantic and haphazard from every angle; Swansea are currently splashing about with all the grace of ‘Debbie Does Dallas’.
Prior to Sunday’s clash of the North-West giants, Coutinho had failed to accrue a single point in 7 games. However he had also failed to register a single minute of game-time, giving him an average score of 0 ÷ 0 which… broke my calculator, proving that even when he doesn’t play, the Brazilian’s stats are untouchable. 30 minutes at Old Trafford and a likely FA Cup run-out against Plymouth should see Klopp’s talisman return to the FPL fold in earnest this weekend. Liverpool have been prolific scorers this season, but their scattered distribution of goals has always made the likes of Lallana, Firmino and Mane gambles for the armband. Liverpool’s no. 10 was flying before his injury and will surely offer captaincy-worthy returns as he closes in on his best ever season at Anfield.
4. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC (away vs Stoke City)
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[/three_fifth]Maybe we got Zlatan wrong. Arriving on British shores with a reputation for arrogance, the Swede has demonstrated an unselfish appreciation for those around him. While Romelu Lukaku left viewers feeling awkward with the kind of statuesque Cantona celebration best left only to Cantona, Ibra used his goal to whip Old Trafford into a frenzy. In stark contrast to certain other players right now, Man Utd’s 35 year old’s professionalism has shone through playing (November’s Arsenal game excepted) every minute of every game.
9th placed Stoke will welcome United in good fettle following encouraging victories over Sunderland and Watford, though they struggle against decent teams. Winter match-ups against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all ended in convincing defeats, despite promising patches of play. Mark Hughes will be keen to turn up and spoil United’s momentum, but even if they do you’d fancy the man-bunned meister to make a mark. Mourinho’s Red Devil revival has been in no small part to his striker’s 10 goals in 10 games, which interestingly makes a goal-per-game average of…. ummm… well if Coutinho hadn’t broken my calculator I’d be able to work that out.
3. EDEN HAZARD (home vs Hull City)
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[/three_fifth]Fighting off serious competition from the hipster’s choice, Marcos Alonso, Eden Hazard presents us with a more familiar captaincy route into Chelsea’s David and Goliath encounter with Hull. Uncertainty over top-scorer Costa’s availability remains, but his teammates have won 3-0 in both of his recent absences with Hazard garnering 16 points. Diego must be wondering what he has to do get some attention.
Hazard’s recent returns have been solid if unspectacular. However an advanced role against the Tigers could reignite the fire we saw from him in the autumn. Hull have shown admirable resilience at home, but haven’t had much joy away from the KC since gameweek 2 at Swansea. Marco Silva’s men won’t roll over at Stamford Bridge, but without a clean sheet in 10 games even the most optimistic among the amber and black ranks must fear being put to the sword by the Belgian this Sunday.
2. HARRY KANE (away vs Manchester City)
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[/three_fifth]Having destroyed Tony Pulis’ back-four with a triple whammy, it must be with some zeal that Kane now switches focus to a rearguard that’s more permeable than a phospholipid bilayer cell membrane [citation needed]. In his search for beautiful football, Pep Guardiola has created a Frankenstein defence. Altruistic, yet hideous. The idea that John Stones offered a cheap way into a great team now seems a distant horror, like a Glastonbury Festival veteran’s sober epiphany that last summer’s stellar sexual conquest was in fact a farm animal.
An exceptional 6 goals in 4 games have been no statistical anomaly with Kane hitting the target more times (11) than anyone else over the same period. Just don’t talk about ‘that’ penalty. It feels strange to see an away fixture at Man City as a captaining opportunity, but this owes as much to Spurs’ recent explosion of form as it does their opponent’s ineptitude at the back. Dele, Christian and Harry will be queuing up for a pop at Pep.
1. ALEXIS SANCHEZ (home vs Burnley)
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[/three_fifth]I don’t know about you, but when I get told I can leave work early I’m out of the door before the end of their sentence. Not our Alexis. No, he wants to stay behind and help clean the changing rooms, wash the kit and probably drive the team coach. Providing Sanchez’s tantrum wasn’t a ruse to orchestrate a January exit from the Emirates, this attitude should continue to stand him in good stead against a Burnley side that are the epitome of hard work. Sean Dyche must be brimming with pride at the Clarets’ achievements which have seen them soar giddily into the upper hemisphere of the Premier League. Though while imperious at home, they’ve shockingly taken only a single point from a possible 27 on their travels, conceding 20 goals.
Arsenal’s Chilean superstar at times seems peerless and sits atop the FPL standings with daylight between him and the chasing pack. Sanchez shows no sign of slowing down, averaging 8.75 points across the last 8 games, making it hard to overlook him for the armband. If you do, he might sulk.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Gameweek 22. This article was written by Bryan Munich
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Fixture Tracker – the next 6 games
Cheers for a great article Bry. Stuck the c on Ibra but may give it to Alexis in the end.
So I’m fairly set on a -4 this week just not sure which one! Knowing Nyom’s status would go a long way but oh well. Thoughts? Votes?
1- Haz > Pedro and Gray > Lukaku for -4
2- Vert & Nyom out for 10.0 worth of defenders for -4 (looked at Rose/Lovren/Mustafi/Jones/McAuley, etc)
3- Just Vert or just Nyom out this week for no hit but who?
1Ft, 0.1 itb
Grant, Pick
Vert, Alonso, Nyom, Ake, Amat
Sanchez, Haz, Eriksen, Phillips, Capoue
Ibra, Defoe, Gray
It looks like you’ve only got the one playing defender this GW (If Nyom’s atill not available) so I’d definitely be looking at a hit to sort that out, Could you do Verts + Ake for Friend (Boro) and Baines?
Cheers Andy. Sorting out defense is sensible, but not sexy, eh? Yup, I can reach Baines/Friend. Would you prefer any of these combos?
1- Jones/Lovren
2- McAuley/Daniels
3- Monreal/Yoshida (with crossed fingers…)
Colriles
Of those four alternatives, I prefer Andy’s
Baines and Friend sounds decent.
Cheers GP. I seem to make a habit of getting burned by Baines, not sure why. But with 2 votes I suppose team Baines/Friend win the honor 😉
From the Marquee defenders list Baines/Coleman should top the charts just now as (barring injury) they are nailed on to start the upcoming blank fixtures which is just what you need with so few options in defense, potentially Friend will have as well just so long as Boro get knocked out of the cup so I’d go with being safe not sorry here mate, baines is likely to price rise tonight though I think.
Cheers for this Andy, good stuff. Last question – is Chambers worth the extra 0.1? Seems a bit more nailed on, no?
I didn’t think you could afford him that’s why I went Friend as he’s cheaper, I’m not that well clued up on who would be better between the two (I’ve gone for Valdes for Boro cover) but Chambers does seem more nailed between the two.
Hi guys I have 1FT and £1.2ITB. What move should i make this week? Any suggestions would be helpful. Armband currently on Sanchez but waiting to see if Costa plays and maybe captain him instead.
1) Kelly to Baines
2) Costa to Lukaku
3) Lallana to Pedro
4) Save transfer
I’m looking at Lukaku, whether this or next week. Best wishes.
Hey Eagle, #4 for me unless Costa is out, then #2.
4 for me Eagle unless Costa out 😉
Thanks Silvers! much appreciated.
Thanks ATF and Colries. Seems like Lukaku is coming in this week depending on Costa or next week if he is available.
Thanks for the article. Very informative.
Thinking of going 4-4-2 and would like to canvas opinion on this rabble.
I’m not convinced by the 4-4-2 as i still think that 3 at the back is the way to go, be it either 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 I’d still think you’d average a higher score on a weekly basis, the overall dream team is now a 3-4-3 and over the last 6 or 7 weeks the GW dream team has more often than not only had 3 at the back.
Hmm, those are good points. You could be right there. That’s the set up I’ve kind of got at the moment. I could have the below or downgrade Giroud for Walker. Decisions decisions…
Have you confirmed this WC yet? If so I wouldn’t bother as the core of you team already looks good to me, I’d prefer to keep it for a DGW rather than use it to bring in the likes of Davies, Yoshida and Holgate who all could be a bit meh.
You’re right, I’ll leave it. Case of idle hands I think…
Nicely talked off the ledge there Roger. Just as well Mito didn’t see it first…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BOP6uMTYaM8
I wouldn’t haved jumped, but I would have convinced Hoddoi to do it.
To be fair I thought I’d nailed that and then thought after, nah he’d have a faulty lock on his and pushed him over to boot
Coutinho starts against Plymouth.
Do you think that this could impact him starting at the weekend against them rather ugly ducklings which the Swans have turned out to be this season Kop?
Not at all Andy. I reckon Klopp just wants to give him time on the pitch.
Great article Bry. Really enjoyed it
I’m not planning any transfers but a bit stuck with who to bench( if Giroud plays). Does this look about right?
And here it is….doh
I’d be happy with that line up going into this GW.
Cheers Andy
Fantastic stuff Bry, have always said if you ever decided to write a book, I buy it the moment it went up for sale and would keep google at the ready.
Lol