Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 20 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16
We don’t specialise in “I said this, I said that” nonsense on here. We specialise on giving the best advice we can given the information and stats to hand at any given point. Whether it’s right or wrong after the event is another matter and not one we indulge in. Usually. This week is different though… Let’s play ‘Best Pundit’! Back in GW16 we asked some of our ‘sages’ to give us their picks for captain in that week and again this week we do the same but before that we decided to take a look at the results of their last effort! Did you follow one and if so will you do the same this time or pick another more ‘successful’ punter?
GW16 Results…
Cookie.
Kevin de Bruyne 1 point
Init.
Ighalo 7 points
Kop.
Kane 2 points
Mito.
Ozil 6 points
The Gallant Pioneer.
Lukaku 9 points
So GP ‘won’ that one but the actual answer that week was Mahrez or Henderson who both grabbed 13. In fact Nyom (12) or Mitrovic, Cabaye, Ramsey or Butland (all 11) would have beaten our best effort. Even Joshua King, he of Bournemouth fame, got 10. Not that anyone would have captained 6 of those, Mahrez being the exception.
Regardless we have invited the same sorry bunch back to have another go and here are their thoughts ahead of GW20… (Apart from ‘the curse’ Cookie, 1 point didn’t quite cut it so he’s been cast aside to work on other stuff, to put it kindly!)
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Romelu Lukaku (Home vs Spurs)
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[/three_fourth] The (extra emphasis on THE) Mito pick: Lukaku
Last time I was asked to collaborate on a captaincy article, I delivered, because that is what I do. Well if you want to be a stickler, you could say Ozil wasn’t the best captaincy pick that week, but he still did as I said. Stating that you could count on him to get you something even if it wasn’t the big haul. Ozil has become a week in and week out top consideration for the captaincy, mostly due to yours truly making him famous and a little to his efforts.
However, out with the old and in with the new. So we have given Ozil to a captaincy challenged writer and I have taken up the job of giving you my best car salesman pitch on the real Belgian Beast, Lu-Ka-Ku, Lu-Ka-Ku, sorry it sounds so nice, I had to say it twice. In the last 13 GWs he has thirteen goals and 3 assists, Boom!! He also has 4 games with a brace this season and five double figure hauls, Boom, Boom!! He plays in the last fixture of the game-week, I know some of you find that stupid, but we all know the sensation of having the big C go last. They could save your game-week or really put the cream on top to a fantastic GW. I know what you are thinking, “but, but, they face Spurs and that is a good defensive team” you know what I say to that? Don’t coward in the face of difficult obstacles, because Spurs is due an arse-kicking and I know just the guy for the job.
Lu-Ka-Ku…Lu-Ka-Ku…Lu-Ka-Ku!!!
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Mesut Ozil (home vs Newcastle)
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[/three_fourth]GP: Vorsprung durch Technik
The ‘advancement’ is of the midfielder already having sixteen assists, more than his previous two seasons combined and we are only HALF way through the current season. The ‘technology’ would be that of his masterful German precision engineering of passes often measured to the milimetre. I don’t mind going on record here to say that if Arsenal win the league, you will in all probability see Mesut bagging the player of the year award to go with his championship medal.
Since the injuries which have befallen so many of the creative Arsenal midfielders – Sanchez, Cazorla and Ramsey for a period – Ozil has stood up and borne almost exclusively the creative mastery upon his shoulders and one wonders if Arsenal would be top of the league were it not for him. You tend also to ponder whether this rumoured ‘rest’ will take place. Surely Arsene Wenger realises the importance of his number eleven to his side and their title aspirations.
A goal, an assist, a clean sheet AND maximum bonus points last time out against Bournemouth indicates clear form and FIVE other double-digit scores this season and it is no wonder the magician has risen £1.5M in transfer value.
Newcastle at home has all the makings of a goal glut for the Gunners. Aside from Newcastle being brutal at their worst and mediocre at their best, history tells us this is a handsome home victory. The last three league meetings between these sides at the Emirates have Arsenal leading 14-4 on aggregate (4-1, 3-0 & 7-3)
It has to be Arsenal and it has to be their main man.
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Harry Kane (away vs Everton)
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[/three_fourth]Kop: Hurricane
Ok, so GW16 didn’t go well for myself and young Harry Kane. But I’m asking you, no I’m pleading with you to ignore these other bin dippers and to give myself and Harry another chance. I should remind you at this stage that I captained Harry myself in GW16, so those of you who did likewise I shared your pain. We won’t let you down this time, well actually we might, but we’ll give it our best shot! So what’s different this time around I hear you ask? Well since he blanked in GW16 he has provided returns in his subsequent three games with three goals, an assist and five bonus points. Clearly he’s in form but so too are Spurs who have won their three games to date over the festive period scoring seven goals in the process. Now you might think that a trip to Goodison might prove difficult for Spurs but in all honesty it shouldn’t. Take a look at the home form table and you’ll see that Everton sit it 14th position having taken just 12pts from 10 home games. Even more surprising is the fact that they’ve conceded 19 goals in these 10 games, more than any other team has conceded at home this season. Conversely Spurs sit 4th in the away form table, picking up 16pts from nine games, scoring 15 goals in the process. So the stats would appear to be stacked in Kane’s favour while it’s also worth noting that it’s highly unlikely he’ll be rotated as Spurs really don’t have anyone to replace him with.
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Riyad Mahrez (home vs Bournemouth)
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[/three_fourth]Init: Mahrez
Ok, so this is a double edged sword. Not the pick itself, he’s clearly the man you want to captain this week and need to captain this week but I’ll come onto that later. I’m actually referring to me! You see the thing is that it seems I couldn’t pick the correct captain for my own team this season if I had four chances every week but given the reigns on an actual article and I can do no wrong! Not convinced? Let’s go back to GW8. I only do one captain article a season but when I do… my word it’s worth listening to! I tipped Aguero (50), Sanchez (32), KdB (30), Payet (20) and Vardy (18) that week. Not bad eh?!
Ok so that was a freakish week and I landed on the lucky hot spot but for what it’s worth I’d rather be lucky than wrong so touch me this week and see if it rubs off! Mahrez is my pick and in all honesty if these few small facts don’t convince you alone then nothing will –
– He is the top scoring fantasy player this season with 152 points.
– His nearest rival is 22 points behind (Lukaku)
– He’s hit double figures in exactly half of the games he has played in (9/18)
– He’s playing Bournemouth at home!
– Leicester are the highest scoring team in the league (37)
– Bournemouth have conceded the joint second most in the league (34), behind Sunderland (37)
– He’s on penalties
Not really sure what else you need in all honesty! Just capo Mahrez and have a Happy New Year!
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Vote on our Captain Poll Now
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Thanks for the article. Ozil (C) for me!
2FT 3.4m
I can’t see any moves to make. Possibly a defence change or Alli to Ramsey for the juicy fixture and possible rotation cover.
Thanks
Would prefer Walcott
Btw really strong team mate!
But dude, he has Kane. You’ve been dissing people who have Kane for weeks now. Why the sudden change of mind? Are you alright? :p
Thanks snookie Happy New Year for when it comes!
How you doing Raz is your team set its been a funny old season so far still struggling to get anywhere need a couple of strong GW to start moving up.
Bruhhhhhhhhhhhh it’s not like I hate Kane lol, I don’t have him and he wasn’t convincing to me at that time and I don’t tell them not to buy Kane but just not captain material for me 😉
Yo Silver, I’m fine. You?
Yeah, team is set, it should do a good job. I noticed many of my mini-league rivals also have a decent team though, which is shite. Even worse, my arch nemesis was 100 points behind and now he’s ranked 1 and 30 points ahead.
@ Snookie
Excuses Snookie. You were doing a “B” on everybody with Kane, when he blanked. :p
On that note, he helped me out two gw’s ago where I capped him, he scored a brace and got 13 points. I see captain Lukaku blanked for you that GW. Nobody was convinced about Kane back than, so in a way it’s help, it helped me catch up and near the top 100K again.
By the way, just pulling your leg when I say these things. You know it’s banter. 😉
Happy new year to the pair of you guys. And everybody else in this forsaken place. 😉
Team looks good Ripcurl I thk I would start Barkley over Alli don’t thk there is a need to change anything but doubling up on Ars might work 😉
Barkley –> Arsenal mid and play him over Alli sounds good to me.
You looking after yourself NIN your team set one poor one good GW for me out of last two how about you 😉
Looking after myself? Eh, no, not really! Haha. I’m happy with the output from my team the last couple of months but it’s not resulting in green arrows very often. GW Av. is up to nearly 56 i think so getting there, slowly. Binned Sako and Coleman this week, for Stanislas and Smalling. How about yourself mate, made any moves as yet?
Hi NIN just been out I’ve just tidy my team up brought in Henn for McCart nothing to drastic have a good one tonight .
Very good team. I’m not convinced on Moreno so you could maybe switch him out while you have a transfer – maybe Simpson for a cheap backup and decent bench cover this GW.
Your move sounds ok but I’d plan ahead, Alli has good fixtures. Either upgrade Barkley (early punt on Payet?) or downgrade him to Stanislas so you have Aguero cash if required.
Great article, very well written :thumbup:
Specially for Init, I convinced to give the armband to Ozil but then with the statistic shown for Mahrez, I’m confuse now
2FT 1.1 ITB.
1. Ramsey –> Walcott
2. Ramsey –> Alli
3. Ramsey –> Arnie
4. Ramsey –> Cheap Mid and play Barkley (prepare cash for Kun)
5. Other transfer ?
Any suggestion ?
Many thanks in advance.
Simpson / Souare –> Darmian / Smalling maybe? Whatever works from those.
Thanks NIN,
Souare –> Darmian would work.
Doubling up on Man Utd seems to be a good gamble.
This team looks good Ichalviking lot of side ways moves there Maybe just get another playing keeper won’t improve things points wise but you won’t lose FT & in lg run will help.
Thanks Silvers,
About to bring Elliot for McCarthy but no news yet when he will be fit.
Will wait for the news and will do late transfer.
Probably the best answer.
Either upgrade Barkley (early punt on Payet?) or downgrade him to Stanislas so you have Aguero cash if required.
Elliot rotates well with De Gea as well if you want a playing keeper.
Thanks EBC,
Almost bring Elliot in but he flagged yellow.
Any news on him ?
What keepers rotate well together?
Ozil winning this I think.
If he wins, it will be despite of you, not because of you. 😉
Excuse me Mr LU – KA – KU or whatever you call yourself.
I think you’ll find I’m excellent at captain picks. I won the last one and I the time before i named 25 brilliant choices when I did the article on my own :big-lol:
If I had 25 choices, I probably end up picking the entire team of the week. 😉
:lurker:
For a bit of fun half way through the season…
Who is your:
Best signing?
Worst signing?
Most surprising signing?
Best – Special mentions for Mahrez & Vardy but Lukaku wins. Bought him in advance of GW11 and he’s been brilliant almost every week.
Worst – Also GW11. De Gea in for a late hit. My keepers had been hopeless but I brought in DDG for a hit, he scored 9 but Butland outscored him and continued to do so pretty much every week.
Surprising – Mings for me. He was my star cheap defender and Bournemouth’s record signing but Howe didn’t play him. First time he did he go injured and cost me 0.3 before I got round to taking him out.
Best- Mahrez
Worst- Hazard
Surprising- Lukaku and Ozil because of there consistency. Vardy’s vast improvement
Best signing: Mahrez, without a shadow of a doubt. (Still miffed that the Ranieri appointment shied me away from starting with both Mahrez and Vardy)
Worst signing: Bakary Sako. Shite, benched and injured.
Most surprising signing: Just spent 6.8m on Smalling. Don’t know whether to laugh or cry about that one, but it’s surprising!
I was the same with Mahrez. Really rated him last year but just wasn’t sure with Ranieri coming in.
Got him in GW3 so wasn’t too bad but went for Adam instead initiailly (if there was a ‘what was I thinking’ category it would be tight between my whole starting squad but Adam would probably win that.).
Best signing: Dmitri Payet. I studied him all pre-season and did tip him to storm it. Glad I backed that judgement. Apart from the one week I took him out on a WC and he rubbed my nose in it with two goals. Got him back in sharply and he could be back in by tomorrow.
Worst signing: Scott Sinclair. Sure he scored a hat trick in the cup and I chased those points. Then I remembered he was Villa and I’d like to stop talking about him now please.
Surprising signing: In a good way, Sergio Romero served me almost perfectly whilst DDG was en route (seemingly) to Real Madrid. I thought he was well priced but didn’t expect the amount of clean sheets he produced.
Best – butland
Worst – Sinclair
Most surprising – Mahrez
Best signing –> Payet
Worst signing –> Bony
Most surprising signing –> Mahrez
Best signing – Callum Wilson. Had him from the start. Many sold him just before his hatty.
Worst signing – Anthony Martial. He completely bombed when I grabbed him. He’s also the main reason for me selling Ighalo just before his incredible streak.
Most surprising signing – Ross Barkley. He never seemed to perform consistently. Nice surprise! Vardy has to be up there… he was a nobody to most when he got his goal and 4 assists vs Man United last season.
Best signing: Mahrez – unlike a lot of the other big performers this season, I got him in early.
Worst signing: Bony – it was between him and Lukaku, and I chose Bony. That decision cost me a shitload of points.
Most surprising signing: Butland! Expected him to be like Pantsu last season, few clean sheets but plenty of save points, but he’s vastly exceeded those expectations.
Best – either Payet or Lukaku
Worst – Hazard
Surprising – either Mahrez or Ozil
Views on vardy to costa?
That’s a transfer i would highly recommend avoiding.
+1
Haha..Ok NIN..no doing then..
constantine,
Don’t fancy that one at all.
Not for me Constantine
GP, Mitro and NIN.. thanks all. Just thought that he might see his form back and prove to be a differential
It would appear as though I haven’t convinced anyone to captain Kane!!
Init, Cookie, Mito & Rich I hereby tender my resignation
As the new head of HR I formally reject that 😉
You can have HR back too. I’ve already had 6 complaints and they’ve all been about me
Did all these complaints come from one particular individual?!
Kop
I’m captaining him.
Anyone apart from that Ozil idiot!
That’s the spirit GP
Are you going with him though? 😉
Probably NIN, I’ve captained him the past few GW’s. Why stop now?
Because Newcastle / Bournemouth? Everton’s defence is woeful as well i suppose.
Walcott???
You go for it Mitro
I was actually contemplating it again mate, however I need to start banking some points and going with the consistent performers, Mahrez or Ozil for me.
No doubt wally will get a brace against Newcastle
He’s certainly making me nervous.
Kop, Everton just let Stoke score 4 on them at home. That’s right, Stoke! As a perennial Kane capper and a Spurs fan I am only just on Mahrez at the moment. Convince me!!!