Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 15 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16
As a few of you are aware, I moved to the States earlier this year (California since you asked), and things are pretty different over here. On the plus side, turning right on a red light is one of the best things ever, there’s actually a better selection of earl grey here than back home, and I can’t remember the last time I needed to wear a jumper. On the other hand, almost-obligatory tipping of 15-20% is ridiculous, seeing a good deal but then remembering you have to add the tax sucks, and the Premier League is mostly played in the middle of the night. It’s a real bummer. Once in a while we’ll get down to a local bar for breakfast and catch the late afternoon games or a Champion’s League match, but alas there is just nothing like following all of the games as they happen. Sometimes I check out the local sports to try and fill the void, including MLS, and just hope that the commentary doesn’t rub off on me. With that said, let’s PLAY (fantasy foot) BALL!
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Mesut Ozil (home vs Sunderland)
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[/three_fourth]First to step up to the plate is Ozil, who has really been en fuego lately. He is to assists as Vardy is to goals, and on top of that actually got a goal last game-week too to scoop up maximum bonus points for the third game in a row. He’s been directly involved in 8 of Arsenal’s last 11 goals, including a glorious cross-ball assist against crosstown rivals the Tottenham Hotspurs, and is causing many soccer fans to eat their words after labelling him as too lazy and disinterested. The 10 man is consistent while teammate Sánchez has been more explosive, and after the latter’s injury many who have still held out are likely to bring the German into their rosters. After doing so then why not put the armband on him too as he is at home against a very poor Sunderland side, and the odds are good that he’ll have coach Wenger doing a zip-dance on the sideline.
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Jamie Vardy (away vs Swansea)
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[/three_fourth]Every time this guy takes to the field he is hitting nothing but net! After completing the goal against the Manchester Red Tops last weekend he wrote his name in the history books, and has a very good chance of extending his record as his team makes the trip to Wales. His opponents are failing badly this season and haven’t kept a shut-out for 8 games, which spells trouble for them considering they are hosting the winningest team in the league so far. It remains to be seen whether or not he will stay on taking PKs now that he has his record, but Mahrez may want to help him make it 12 and 0 if possible. Speaking of Mahrez, for those of you like me who have just totally missed the boat on Vardy and now stubbornly refuse to get him, you could do much worse than captain his Algerian teammate, who is still very capable of a double-figure haul in any game despite easing off the gas slightly of late (relative to his awesome start).
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Kevin De Bruyne (away vs Stoke)
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[/three_fourth]Although he went missing for a while fantasy-wise, it was only a matter of time before he lit things up again with an awesome display, and he had just that against team South Hampton. This must have whetted his appetite as he was convincing again during the midweek match-up with Hull, where he was MVP again after two of his attempts on frame went into the goal. Manchester City’s oh-fence has been on point this season and they’ve generally managed to get by pretty well considering their significant injury list, and they are on course to win the English World Soccer Championship again. KDB has good speed and there’s every possibility that he’ll bring the foul just outside Stoke’s eighteen after one of their players takes him down cleats-first, giving a good chance of a free kick goal. I’ll be back right after this commercial break.
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Ross Barkley / Romelu Lukaku (home vs Crystal Palace)
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[/three_fourth]Most fantasy players probably don’t have both of these players, so pick the one you do have; if you do have both then the English midfieldman is my preference thanks to the strong favoring the bonus point system gives to mids. Although both of these guys are in great immediate form, this recommendation does come with a word of warning, as they have only scored well against Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Sunderland lately, three of the bottom four teams. Still, confidence will be high and anything can happen. Martinez has got them playing with pride in their uniform, and, although Crystal’s Palace has had a well-drilled dee-fence lately, you can’t help but feel this won’t end with a zero-score game. If they can build on their recent momentum then Everton are in with a strong shout at making the play-offs at the end of the season.
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Sadio Mané, Graziano Pellè, Dusan Tadic (home vs Aston Villa)
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[/three_fourth]It may seem weak to give so many options, but these three have been about as good as each other so far this season, and it’s highly unlikely anyone has more than one of any of them, so as with Barkley and Lukaku just apply this section to the one you do own. This is Punter’s Corner territory, Last Chance Saloon; betting on a single number instead of just red or black (covering the 0 of course). The risk is high, but the rewards are equally so. While none of these guys have done much recently to warrant their names being on this list, their visitors have done plenty to make them viable options for the armband. Aston Villa has lost a lot of games lately, and I’m not sure it will survive in the top tier at the season’s close. Does anyone really find it that hard to imagine Pellè knocking the soccerball past goaltender Guzan after a good play?
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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 15. This article was written by Calvin Clyne
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Great stuff CC. As an actual, born and bred Yank, should I take offense? 😉 Nah, we deserve it.
Currently on Ozil, with Pelle vice.
Cracking article CC- have missed your writing around here. Only hope the future holds as many Americanizationalisms of our fantasy soccer game…
Went early with Hazard in for Sanchez. On the brink of the top 100k so looking to break in with a bit of a differential pick
Wow did anyone actually see the awesome solo goal by Deulofeu last night :O
https://www.facebook.com/Live.Football.News/videos/996190200439088/
Top stuff CC, thanks mate!
This will be one of those weeks to be thinking about who to give the armband right untii the deadline… Just like the last one when I went with Kun…
Need advice! I want to transfer out Naughton @4.9, have 5.5m in the bank! Who to get?
Hey Chris who are your other def ?
Wolscheid, Olsson from West Brom, Ward and Bellerin
ChrisOllie25 I would say Lpool , Che , MU or Eve def depending what you want to pay & if you want to save some cash to get Kun if you don’t have him Dier of Tot would also be a good shout.
Silvers I was thinking Alderweireld, Rose or Virgil Van Dyk but Rojo is not bad option either
Chris if you are going with a Spurs player go with Dier he is cheaper & been playing in MF they have a good run of fixtures. It could also be worth looking at Clyne or Moreno Pool fixtures are really good & with Hendo back they should be a bit tighter
Liverpool is another team I am monitoring as well. I get your point with Dier but Toby is a threat in the box and has xored this season
CC, this is amazing! Thank you for pointing out how ridiculous we sound when talking about soccer
Ohhh, and thanks for the captain recommendations too!