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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Bilic on Payet’s return: “Is he in contention to start? Yes. He is back, he’s been training with us for a couple of days and depending on how he does today I’m expecting him to be in the squad and available for the game.
“We will see how much he is going to participate in the game, but he is back and it’s a great boost for us.”
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I still have about 14 hours to midnight.
Can you guys quickly look at my team and suggest any moves? 2FT £3.6ITB. Looking to bring in Walcott but need an extra 0.6 to fund the move. It would be something like: Westwood to Walcott and maybe downgrade one of my defenders or even Aguero to Kane. Am i mad or should i just keep Aguero?
keep calm and have faith in aguero..
Maybe you are right. I made a costly move by taking out Kane and bringing in Aguero 2 gameweeks ago and hasn’t worked well. I knew it would be a season defining transfer but didn’t expect it to go for the worse! I like how your advise sounds like an advertisement.
eagl..done the same..wont call it a mistake just yet.its just a matter of time. class always shows sooner or later
Agree with Constantine – the little man will come good!!
Once you buy Aguero, you never go back, unless he is injured.
Sagna ahead of Ald.
Use FT on Westwood > Stanislas or another 2 pointer cheap mid.
The B – So you think Ighalo will blank at home vs City? I was thinking Toby due to his attacking potential but i know he faces Lukaku this week.
I was trying to find a way of doing Westwood to Wally but need 0.6 more and looking to downgrade someone.
Can u guys give any suggestions to this team.
Ddg Hennessey
Died Sagna Bellerin Ward Naughton
Ozil Mahrez arnautovic KDB Coutinho
Vardy Lukaku Kane
Have 1 ft and 2.5m itb
Save your FT, you have a complete squad.
Any thoughts on this team? Have 2FTs and 3M itb.
Thinking replacing Skrtel would be the smartest move, and save the other FT.
Suggestions for replacements?
skrtel to moreno/smalling
Thinking to bring in Moreno myself.
Reshuffle Moreno – E = The B
Was a joke mate. Happy new year, if you celebrate it. 😉
Darmian / Big Mike in for Skrtel, for me.
So keeping Yaya NiN? He was invisible in the last game.
Yeah i’m keeping Yaya in my team for now. Happy with his returns so far, although, i do regret capping him last time. Oh well, shit happens
Hi Nin, Do you think Darmian is set to keep his starting place?
He should do. I think Ashley Young will take the LB spot until an actual LB returns from injury. That leaves Valencia as competition for RB, and he’s injured for a while more at least.
Thanks Nin.
Gael Clichy “has a slight problem.” The #MCFC full-back is ruled out along with Kompany and Nasri. Fernando and Delph are expected to return
Never wish injuries or whatever on player, but this does help me. Now I can really keep my FT.
Happy New Year all!
Going to captain Mahrez. Keep the faith.
Any suggestions for this weekend? Would love, actually NEED, to get 2016 off with a solid score.
Team looks good for this week. Only switch i would make would be Stanislas to first sub, Toby last sub.
Thanks NIN! I actually needed a shake up to catch up in my ML. This is my WC, any other suggestions?