Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 23 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16
A belated Happy New Year people! Hopefully the start of a steady climb into the upper percentiles for those of us further down the pecking order, and for those of you already there, well you hardly need my help do you?!
Leicester are on level points at the top of the league more than halfway through the season, which is incredible in itself. Almost all of us surely want to see them go all the way now; seeing Lineker in his undies will just be a bonus extra. At the other end of the table things are looking no better for Villa, who currently sit 6 points adrift of 19th place..! This isn’t news to any of us I know, but it’s still amazing to see it written down. Bookmark this though: they will not go down this season.
These are not just trying times for the Villains – Neville has 4 La Liga points from a possible 18 since taking over at Valencia, Trump is looking scarily strong ahead of the Iowa caucus, and our national treasures are dropping like flies; if things don’t pick up soon then I’m calling off Christmas.[clear]
Harry Kane (Crystal Palace Away)
It’s not often that 13 points from the last 6 matches will see you sitting alone atop the form table, but such has been the other clubs’ generosity in throwing away points that that’s exactly where Spurs currently find themselves, and in 4th place overall in the league to boot. They face Lord Pard’s brigade this GW, and the Eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that Palace have let in 8 without reply; be so good as to pop the armband on Harry Kane would you? And if you don’t have him then get him in, as I have a strong feeling about this one. If you already brought in Eriksen after his antics last GW then you could do worse than captaining him, but he’s too sporadic to get the tip here. Kane on the other hand has less blanks between the good times and is more of a confidence player, so is more likely to feed off the strong performance last time out. Also the upcoming Euros should be enough to Spur him on given Vardy’s awesome season and the fact that Hodgson sees Rooney as undroppable.[clear]
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Sergio Aguero (West Ham Away)
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[/three_fourth]It’s tiresome including the same old names among the captain picks each time, and things were actually looking rather peachy in terms of being able to omit a certain City forward until he had other ideas last GW and scored a stonking 16 points. Yes Aguero, we all know what you’re capable of, thanks mate. Unlike Kane though, he faces opposition in pretty decent defensive form, as West Ham have conceded only 5 in their last 8 league matches. Do we really care though? Aguero could get a hat-trick against any side in the world, away, on his day, so probably don’t rely too much on Cresswell and co. keeping him out. Personally speaking, my sofa is up against the wall so I can’t hide behind it when he plays, so it’s going to be really tough looking past him as captain. Anyone who doesn’t opt for him should just hope for another injury to be honest as that’s all that’s kept him from hitting his usual dizzying heights this season, and he’s still already hit double figures in goals.
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Romelu Lukaku (Swansea at Home)
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[/three_fourth]Use the force Luke…aku – such will be the cry of many an FPL player this GW (NIN included if reports are to be believed). The Belgian has shown great levels of consistency this season with 20 goals and assists in the 22 matches so far, simultaneously bringing balance to the top-scorers chart where he now sits level with Vardy at the top, which is quite impressive considering Everton are currently in the bottom half! Now, there’s been a disturbance in opponents Swansea’s hierarchy as Guidolin comes in, and they have actually turned things around somewhat lately as they’ve collected 4 clean sheets in the last 6 matches. Fear not though Lukaku owners, as they conceded 6 in the last 3 as well. These two seemingly opposing stats do show how conveniently stats can be cherry-picked at times to back points up, but either way they will only take you so far. With Lukaku in the form he’s in at the moment, if you’re hoping stats will help convince you to not captain him then you’re looking in Alderaan places anyway.
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Wayne Rooney (Southampton at Home)
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[/three_fourth]Well he’s not first pick, but still I didn’t think we’d be seeing him nominated at all for a long while yet, if ever again, based on both his and Man United’s lethargic displays this season. Nevertheless he is here now on merit; despite a promising start to Premiership life, Martial law has not been declared and it is Rooney that has had match-winning displays in each of the last 3 matches. Opponents Southampton are also in a nice bit of immediate form too though, coinciding with Forster’s return as the big man has kept two clean sheets out of two since coming back, and Matt has also been on Targett with two assists and 5 bonus points in the same period. However, van Gaal’s side should be able to build on their recent momentum and overcome them at home, and if they do so then it is Rayne Wooney that’s most likely to be among the points.
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Ighalo / Vardy (Newcastle / Stoke at Home)
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[/three_fourth]These two are lastly presented as a joint package as they are actually rather similar choices this GW. They’ve scored 14 and 15 respectively, have both assisted 5 times, and have 22 and 20 bonus points each. They also only have 2 goals and an assist between them over the last 5 matches, so it’s fair to say they’re experiencing a dip in form relative to their earlier incredible runs. They’re both still very capable though of course and it’s unlikely that many of us have gotten rid of them just yet, especially as they are so cheap, so if you fancy a less conventional choice this GW, perhaps to make up ground in your mini-league, then go for one of these guys. If I had to pick one then I’d say Ighalo as he faces the injury-ravaged Looney Toons at home. That’s All Folks.
Thanks for reading Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 23. This article was written by Calvin Clyne
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De Bruyne or Barkley for this week?
Ebc – to buy or play?
To play (I’ll post my full dilemma below)
Barkley.
Thanks CC, enjoyed that. Will be an interesting decision this GW.
Better fourth mid, Mahrez or Alli? Still leaning towards Mahrez.
Alli, for me.
Mahrez for me
Mahrez still
Raz, do you have Kane? Vardy?
If Kane then Mahrez
If Vardy then Ali
If both or neither then Mahrez
Evening all not been about to much , so busy @ work & home it looks like it’s going to be a tough yr @ work , but I’m still keeping an eye on what’s going on. 😉
Oi! No peaking!
What is your line of work if you don’t mind me asking Silvers?
If you do mind just make something silly up!!
Wine taster, especially on a Wednesday evening. :big-lol:
2FT, 1.9ITB
Plan A) Simpson in for Rangel, bench Bellerin (Payet in for someone next week)
Plan B) Barkley in for De Bruyne, Payet in for Watson
Plan C) Barkley/Payet in for De Bruyne (worry about the other one next week)
Plan D) Payet in for Mahrez
I’m leaning towards A.
Pros – gives me another defensive option for this week, gives me another week to decide which mid to drop, by then the league cup finalists will be confirmed (will Barkley and/or KDB have a blank)
Cons – Mahrez is decreasing in price while Payet is increasing (I currently have 0.3 to spare), Barkley has a good fixture this week
My gut feel is that Mahrez will struggle over the next 4 GWs. HOWEVER, he has good fixtures from GW27 (which is a blank for Pool/City/Everton for League Cup) and bought him for 5.6 so I’d need up to an extra 0.8 to buy him back.
That’s what’s leading me to dropping De Bruyne and going for a strong 5. I could bench Mahrez rather than sell as a bit of a safety net.
Ebc- was it tactical in Simpson coming off tonight?
I’d be leaning towards D
This GW or next? I’m tempted to give Mahrez the game against Stoke.
I didn’t even notice Simpson coming off.
Hey guys, I think Lukaku is essential this week, but the only way I can get him is for a hit, which is ighalo and KDB out for lukaku and 7.5mid or lower. Is it worth it? Or should I just stick with ighalo this week?
Stick Tique
really? Watching the Everton game is gonaa be like watching a horror movie.
Would you start KDB or Alli?
Tique, I’ll be intrigued by answers to this as I have the more or less exact same decision to make although it could include Ozil too. Kane to Lukaku was the plan but I think I’d rather keep him than Ighalo in all honesty but the only way that happens is a similar hit.
If i decide not to do the hit, then I’m gonna be banking on Williams and Swansea to close up shop, which is not too far fetched. However, given Ighalo’s recent form, im worried, he won’t do anything vs a resurgent Newcastle as well.
Is bringing in sanchez on the horizon for you? Because I want him for Southampton game, but that would only be possible if I downgrade KDB, so this hit would help me move into that direction.
Sanchez is factoring into my decision and planning also. Not actually sat down and done the math yet but yeah same thinking.
Long-term, i reckon it’s worth it. Might not pay off this week though, what with Watford having Newcastle at home. I’d start Smith ahead of Cresswell too.
Tique, give Ighalo one more chance home to Newcastle. A striker at that price can’t be relied upon for such consistency and he’s already outperformed.
No goals in three I accept but one was vs City and the other two vs well organised defences.
Plus what we think is going to be essential has more often than not turned out to be incorrect this season!
you are right about that lol. Don’t think i ever benefitted from a hit haha. Do i get Lukaku in next week? Problem with that is dropping KDB against sunderland lol. I don’t know what to do anymore /:
Maybe Tique, but at least it’ll give you time to reassess Ighalo, have a look at Alexis etc.
Things are always easier with two transfers. So I’ve been told
Tique I’m taking Lukaku regardless this week, feel it’d be risky not to. Question really for both of us whether that’s at the expense of Kane or Ighalo and a hit.
I’ll get my coat
You’ve not pulled Cookie, if that’s what you’re thinking
You may be right on waiting but I wouldn’t be comfortable waiting on Lukaku and that’s usually a sign to just act!