Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 11 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16
Time.
Some things seem to take an interminably long time to come to fruition: the Chilcot inquiry; Rooney’s next goal, or the end of a Manchester derby. Then there are things that happen routinely: Mourinho getting fined; Leeds Utd changing manager, or Artur Boruc scooping the ball into the path of a smirking opponent. Time, whether frozen or in fast-forward, is a precious commod…..
Oh sod it. Did you see that FIFA presidential candidate’s name, Gianni Infantino? Hahahahaha. Oh my days. Sorry, couldn’t hold that in any longer.
This week’s fixtures, in complete contrast to last week’s famine of choice, provide FPL managers with an embarrassment of riches to plunder. Free-falling Bournemouth go to rivals Southampton; Spurs host new basement tenants Aston Villa; Man City sharpen their knives for some more lambs/canaries to slaughter, and then there’s Everton salivating at the prospect of visitors Sunderland.
But only 5 players will make the cut, and time waits for no-one, so here goes.
5. Dimitri Payet (Away vs Watford)
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[/three_fourth]A close call for 5th spot this week, with Ross Barkley looking to continue his fine season at home to the Black Cats; and though one would still expect the Toffees to win, Big Sam’s victory in the Wear-Tyne derby showed it’s probably not the shoe-in most pegged it as a few weeks ago; and so Dimitri Payet edges it. Not that FPL’s top point scorer should have to ‘edge it’ anywhere. The French international has either scored or assisted (though curiously never both) in each of his last 6 games. The Hammers are the second-best attacking unit in the league and with 4 wins and a draw, have the best away record. Only in their 3-0 victory at Anfield did Payet fail to register any notable FPL contribution on their travels. Watford have shown themselves to be the hardest to break down of the promoted clubs, chalking up 3 of their 4 clean sheets at Vicarage Road. However, they haven’t been facing West Ham every week, and they haven’t been facing Dimitri Payet.
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4. Jamie Vardy (Away vs West Brom)
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[/three_fourth]Things must seem pretty surreal for the former Stocksbridge Park Steels hitman right now. An international debut in June; leading the Premier League scoring charts in October; netting in 7 consecutive games. It’s literally Roy of the Rovers stuff, and all at the wrong end of his 20’s. The next thing you know, Claudio Ranieri will be fielding an offer from Real Madrid. Imagine! Well, before he joins Cristiano and Gareth at the Bernabeu, our Roy Race incarnate has a trip to the Hawthorns to focus on. When a striker looks at his team’s schedule for the season, he usually pinpoints Tony Pulis’ club and writes that fixture off. But this is Jamie Vardy, with more shots on target than anyone this season. More chances created. More goals. West Brom will need all 8 of their centre-backs fit if they’re to keep the Sheffield-born sharpshooter from continuing his pursuit of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 10 game record. The Tinkerman may keep us all guessing about his Mahrez selections, but Vardy has missed only 9 minutes all season, and that was on the opening day.
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3. Graziano Pelle (Home vs Bournemouth)
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[/three_fourth]In 1687, Isaac Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation. With 2 consecutive 5-1 defeats and 13 goals conceded in their last 4 away games, he can hardly have envisaged that over 3 centuries after his discovery AFC Bournemouth would be obliterating it with their own physics-defying freefall. Yet to find a clean sheet away from Dean Court, the Cherries will surely still be sore from their recent maulings. Saints fans will be delighted at the timing of this, the first meeting between the South-Coast clubs since 2011 in League One and Ronald Koeman will happily settle for a repeat of the 3-1 victory that day. With Sadio Mane fortuitously able to serve his suspension midweek in the League Cup, Graziano will have his main foil right by his side. The two have turned in some fantastic performances this campaign, with Pelle scoring 5 goals and grabbing 5 assists owing no small debt to his Senegalese colleague. Southampton have racked up double-digit goals over their last 4 home games, and with Bournemouth conceding the same amount in 8 days, the Italian’s 2 game drought should surely come to an end when Eddie Howe’s beleaguered troops traipse into town.
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2. Harry Kane (Home vs Aston Villa)
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[/three_fourth]When you don’t return to a place for a long time, it can seem so alien. New people and new decor. Freshly tarmacked roads. Perhaps that jazz club you used to frequent has been converted into a cytology training centre; or the serene park you and Betty from the IT college used to feed pigeons at has been annihilated to make way for a sewage treatment plant. It can feel like everyone’s moved on. But Harry Kane is finally back where he belongs, on the hallowed turf of Captain Picks, where he permanently resided last season. Though falling short of the 4-goal heroics of Aguero and Wijnaldum, last week’s hat-trick propelled him past the likes of Gomis and Giroud in the FPL standings. More importantly, it could well breathe life into what had been a pedestrian season on a personal level. If Kane does fancy a crack at joining the aforementioned quartet club, he may not get a much better opportunity than against Aston Villa. Bottom of the table; Sherwood sacked; Stan Collymore relieved of matchday programme duties (writing, not selling), the Villans are in utter turmoil. Welcome back Harold; make yourself feel at home. Don’t mind the smell, that’s just Betty.
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1. Kevin de Bruyne (Home vs Norwich)
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[/three_fourth]In the absence of some injury-prone Argentinian bloke, de Bruyne has become the new FPL pin-up. He’d be mine too were my wall not already covered with Smash Hit magazine cuttings of Kevin Kilcline and Carlton Palmer. The Citizens may still not be quite at their prolific best, but with 12 points from 5 games, they boast the best home record in the division. It’s easy to forget that the young Belgian only started in GW5, such has been his smooth transition to the Premier League. 3 goals and 3 assists to date have helped fill any voids left by illustrious absentees, Messrs Aguero and Silva. City’s Etihad demolition jobs on Newcastle (6-1) then Bournemouth (5-1) show how ruthless they are at home to struggling outfits. Such a struggling outfit arrives on Saturday. Norwich are the kind of team Tony Pulis must wake up sweating about. No clean sheets all season and still smarting from a humiliating thrashing at crisis club Newcastle, the Canaries are the antithesis of everything the Baggies boss stands for. All of this naturally adds up to another miserable away day for Alex Neil’s green and yellow army, and a Kevin de Bruyne masterclass.
Triple Captain Chip
Just a quick word on the new feature this season. It pretty much does what it says on the tin and trebles your points for your captain on whichever game-week you choose to deploy it. We shall touch on this as and when we feel the opportunity presents itself to use it effectively but this in all likelihood is one to save for when we encounter double game-weeks later on in the season.
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Thanks for reading Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 11. This article was written by Bryan Munich
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Thanks a lot for a great piece on Captains for GW 11.
I was wondering if it is wise to switch Mahrez for Ayew this week. Reason being Leicester play MyHill’s West Brom at home (stingy defence and great goalie) and Ayew may want to light it up at home against Arsenal.
Any thoughts?
kkjay
You could also say that Leicester have looked far more lethal in attack (they’ve scored against almost everyone) than Swansea so you could leave it as it is.
There is also the argument that you should play percentages and have only one Leicester (in case of a poor result).
If it were me I’d leave it as you have it but it’s tight.
Guess will stick with Mahrez.
Thanks for your input.
The dude has grabbed 2 assists in the past 2 GWs, and just scored a goal in the cup! So yeah, please play Ayew.
Mahrez also has 2 assists in his last 2….
Oh did you mean Mahrez? Sarcasm in writing is hard to pick up!
Bou (A) – 45 mins
Nor (A) – 0 mins
Sou (A) – 45 mins
The problem isn’t Mahrez’s productivity, it’s how much Ranieri will use him in away games. You’d think someone like Mahrez would be ideal to break down a stubborn Baggies defence, but I can see why it’s not as straightforward as it first seems.
Nice one. I see your preferred pick. But Ayew has 2 goals in past 2 GWs.
…3 GWs
I think Mahrez / Ayew is the least of your worries. Do you still have a WC?
Ouch! Really? I like his team.
Big time. One look at the bench says it all to me. Each squad member is a good, strong pick but as a squad it’s one big selection headache that’s overspent on defensively.
kkjay – Over the coming weeks i’d be looking at moving on Hart, Fabianski, one of Darmian / Cresswell, Clyne, Ayew and Wijnaldum too maybe. The long term view would be to have cheaper players who can fill your bench every week, or rotate on and off it, and get some big money stars in. As it stands, selling De Bruyne looks the best way to get Sanchez in, or a returning Aguero. That’s iffy, for me.
NIN,
Nope, used my WC already.
Thanks for the captains picks Bryan, it’s good to see i have 4 out of the 5, the only one missing is Kane…all aboard the Kane train… lol
4 out of 5 is pretty good going Photek. My decision comes down to KdB vs Pelle (And obviously I’ll be going for KdB, or be shot down for not taking my own advice!). I think it could be a bonanza week for many of these players, I’m expecting some high FPL scores.
Just butting in lads if you thk there are going to be high score GW would you consider AOA chip ?
Silvers, I agree with comments elsewhere that AOA is the weakest chip. This is definitely the kind of single GW that would suit it if you have a strong front ‘8’ with easy fixtures. All comes down to whether you wanna risk waiting for a DGW. And there mightn’t be enough of them to use all 3 chips. Tough one.
I have the same dilema Bry, Pelle or KDB, i’m currently on Pelle but its a tough one, KDB really tempts after Norwich fell apart at the geordies last week.
I think they can both go well.
SIlvers that could be a good shout with my bench problem, that way i can play Mahrez and Martial
photek this AOA chip isn’t really all that great but at this moment with no Kun in many peoples teams , means we have a 5th decent MF player which lends to the chip when Kun back we will all be back to a 2 point a GW Mf player its worth considering 😉
Good point Silvers 😉
There’s no point in playing it if you haven’t got the players and fixtures for it, plus a few woeful defensive options that are better off being benched.
Hey NIN I’m thinking I will probably hold onto my chips for the last 1/4 of the season or double GWs we just might get 3 you never know 😉
Indeed. I’m sure there will be a week where we can aim for using it rather than using it in any old week just for the sake of it.
Smashing article Bry, as ever. Cheers mate :thumbup:
Cheers NIN. Sorry for anyone who was expecting a Halloween strewn pun orgy, but I believe someone has that covered! Stay tuned.
Great article. Cheers Bry. Leaves me with the same dilemma as yourself. KDB v Pelle. Currently on Pelle but plenty of time to screw it up….
Colriles, not much to choose between any of them is there! Given how explosive they can be at home to weak opposition, I would just be too nervous not having a City player as captain.
United defence – Rojo vs jones?
i’d pick Rojo, he has more attacking roles in the team (see his assist vs Everton). Jones usually stays back at the half line when United has set pieces. However i’m expecting more bonus points for Jones.
Jones
Both are fairly injury prone so i’d be wary of both. Can you afford Smalling? If not then Darmian or De Gea might be better route’s into United’s defence.
Hi NIN – I have Darmian and i’m so annoyed LVG rotates him often and have been ending up with one pointers lately. So annoying. Yesterday i was asking on the site if Phil Jones is now a nailed on starter. I missed out on United’s clean sheet vs City since Darmian only played 10 minutes! In fact many people are transferring him out and might actually drop 0.1 by the end of the deadline. You think i should be concerned about his playing time?
Hi Eagle. If Jones could stay fit then he would be first choice, no doubt about it. As for Darmian, i reckon he’s our first choice right back for the majority of the season but sometimes Van Gaal may go with Valencia to get some extra power in the team. Interesting that he three games Darmian hasn’t gone the 90 he would have been up against Mane, Sanchez and Sterling. Maybe Van Gaal doesn’t think he’s quick enough for those players and lacks a bit of extra power to compensate. Just a thought.
NIN – So its all about tactics and utilizing the most appropriate player against specific teams. Also wanted to add that Darmian is on 4 yellow cards and one more would lead him to sit a game.
It’s possible. I cant see any other reason to start Valencia ahead of Darmian other than strength. Valencia is a limited player but one thing he does have is serious power. The man is a beast.
Thanks for feedback all. I’m just wary of Darmian playing time. I like Rojo but want a guaranteed starter
Hey all. Trying not to overthink it this week, but would still love to get some feedback. Planning on saving FT this week and changing Diouf, Gomez and Dawson in the next 2 weeks.
1 Ft, 0.0 itb
Cech, Butland
Kola, Dawson, Morgan, Nyom, Gomez
Sanchez, KDB, Mahrez, Payet, Ayew
Pelle, Vardy, Diouf
Good decision. With no money there is not much you can do.
Hi Colriles. Saving the FT looks the better option to me. I think you need to lose an attacker, though. I’m seeing so many squads with a front eight that have no cheaper players, creating major headaches every week pretty much. Even the weeks where it’s a straightforward decision means benching a lot of your budget.
Cheers NIN & B. Yeah, I agree about front 8 selection. I can’t see a good way to grab Barkley or Lukaku so I’m actually contemplating a loooongshot of Diouf > Naismith which would free up a little cash and eliminate selection headache! If not Naismith then Ighalo/ Ayoze/Jerome.
With 2 FT’s, it’s pretty easy to get an Everton attacker. Bin a mid and upgrade Diouf to Lukaku. Or get Ighalo (screw the rest of those cheap options!) and go five in the middle with Barkley. A -4 could even get both.
See your point NIN – I just meant I don’t have a mid who I would get rid of for Barkley right now (Ayew probably closest) and it would scrap my plans to upgrade defense.