Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 29

Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 29 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16

Greetings from Australia, that remote safe haven from which to hide from the ravages of fantasy footballing war, the fires of which have descended yet again to destroy the hopes, dreams and aspirations of 3.6 million soldiers who year after year continue to fall, among other things, for the propaganda propagated by the likes of FF247, whose chiefs mercilessly conscript their sacrificial lambs, and thereafter confine them to the slaughterhouse of squad selection, captaincy picks, and chips, in the process destroying some 2 million marriages, de facto relationships, and future employment prospects.
And we keep coming back, like a moth to a naked flame. Addicted. Consumed.
My fellow comrades, it’s been a while since my last contribution, and – subject to the success rate of this week’s predictions – it’s good for this sacrificial lamb to be back!
After cursing the FF247 powers-that-be for being unnecessarily hurried into writing the next piece (I mean, seriously, GW27 hadn’t even started and they were banging on about GW29), it really then shouldn’t have come as any great surprise in this rather amusing season of fantasy football that we’re once again in the midst of a 3-game calendar week. And I had started putting this piece together with some trepidation, with GW28 yet to conclude and a heightened degree of suspicion that Aguero would do his glass hammy again vs Liverpool, thereby rendering GW29’s Cappo’s Picks somewhat redundant. Worse still, he’ll probably be rested for the impending procession that is Aston Villa, but hey, let’s soldier on.
With almost three-quarters of the season elapsed, is it time yet to start reflecting on 2015/16? In truth, some of us have probably been reflecting since GW2. The heroes of yesteryear (Eden who?) now destined to be confined to the annuls of mediocrity when the dust finally settles on this season of woe. And don’t you just love it when the “ghost” teams continue to dominate week after week: yes, those amateurs who are absolutely smashing the rest of us hardworking managers out of the park at the moment. In fact, it’s not even close. Notice how they’ve been outdoing us in recent weeks, despite our blood, sweat and tears over whether to hit the “confirm” button?
Apologies, I’ve digressed. You’d think I’ve got an axe or two to grind. But that’s for another day. In the meantime, and in order of ascending priority, I present to those still with us this week’s captaincy picks:

5. Connor Wickham (home vs Liverpool)
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[/three_fourth]A bit of a bolter to start proceedings. But, ahhhh, Palace v Liverpool. Our favourite fixture! Well, at least for City fans. And United fans. Heck, anyone bar those pesky Merseysiders. And haven’t there been some corkers between them in recent seasons!
Never mind the fact that Palace haven’t had a win in their last 11 Premier League matches. Palace are unbeaten in their last 4 Premier League matches against Liverpool, amassing 11 goals in the process (scoring 3 goals in 3 of those matches). This is the one they’ve been waiting for! The diary was marked months ago. OK, that might have been tongue-in-cheek, but expect goals in this one, particularly in view of Liverpool’s hectic schedule in recent weeks. They’ll be tired. They’ve just endured Manchester City twice within 4 days, having conducting themselves with distinction in the process: penalties in the Cup Final, followed by a 3-0 mid-week demolition. However, a letdown is inevitable. An ambush is on the cards.
Connor Wickham? Who? It only occurred to me recently that he actually plays for Palace! But 4 goals this past calendar week alone make him an ideal candidate for the armband. And what a differential option he presents for those looking to make ground in their mini-leagues.
If accommodating Connor Wickham in your template squad proves tricky, then perhaps his team-mate Yannick Bolasie is worthy of consideration this week. Having returned from injury last weekend, and after blowing the cobwebs with a solid 76 minute performance against Sunderland mid-week (including an assist), there’s every indication Yannick will recover his pre-injury form, which saw him land 2 goals and an assist in his last 2 home matches prior to his layoff.

Prediction: 3-2.

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4. Riyad Mahrez (away vs v Watford)
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[/three_fourth]It’s been an interesting period for Leicester. Losing in stoppage time to Arsenal, followed by a last-gasp win over Norwich, only to then hit a frustrating 2-2 draw at home to West Brom. Are the wheels falling off? Are they taking lessons from Arsenal on how to close out a winning position late in the season? Not in my view. They were mighty unlucky against both Arsenal and West Brom, and there is every indication that they simply need to keep doing what they’re doing to achieve what will probably become the greatest footballing sporting story of all time. They continue to remain confident and assured, and its only a matter of time before the goals flow in abundance once again.
Central to their cause is the contender for Player of the Season, Riyad Mahrez. His stats may have stalled somewhat relative to the first half of the season (only achieving a double digit haul once since GW17), but he’s still achieving a remarkable consistency to warrant our attention on a weekly basis. 14 goals and 11 assists to date for this season’s leading fantasy points scorer, combined with a dream run over the next 3 weeks, make Riyad a strong contender for the armband this week against a Watford outfit with which the Foxes should have little trouble.

Prediction: 0-2.

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3. Harry Kane (home vs v Arsenal)
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[/three_fourth]The North London Derby. One of my favourite fixtures on the EPL calendar. This one has it all. Goals, controversies, and of course Arsene. Expect this one to be no different. Spurs won the corresponding fixture 2-1 last season: indeed, this was Spurs’ only victory over the Gunners in all competitions since March 2013. Arsenal traditionally do well in this fixture, however are we seeing a changing of the guard in North London?
One glaring statistic stands out in recent matches: Harry Kane. Harry has been Spurs’ sole goal scorer against the Gunners in their past 3 matches, scoring in the 1-1 draw last November and a brace in the 2-1 victory this time last season (there was a League Cup fixture in between, in which the Gunners rather generously gifted Spurs an own goal).
Both teams will be up for this one. Potentially the title-deciding fixture. An Arsenal loss in my view ends their title challenge for 2015/16. Spurs will be keen to maintain the rage, and if they aspire to hold the trophy aloft come May, then what better time to make a decisive statement than against their better-looking neighbours. This is about more than local bragging rights. There is a real chance of the EPL crown heading to London this season, but not where we thought! This will be the match of the season, with goals aplenty. Expect Kane to lead the charge.

Prediction: 3-3.

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2. Mesut Ozil (away vs v Spurs)
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[/three_fourth]For much the same reasons as above, Mesut has to come firmly into contention for the armband this week. Arguably the player of the season to date. Fixtures mean nothing to him, home or away. And with the North London derby upon him, again in which goals have traditionally been served up in spades, expect the Premier League’s second-highest fantasy points scoring midfielder to continue his form.
Like watching a beautiful woman undress, Ozil’s stats look better and better the more they reveal themselves: 5 goals, 18 assists, but more importantly is now the fulcrum and mainstay of everything Arsenal do. Indeed, Mezut assisted and picked up 3 bonus points in the 1-1 draw at the Emirates back in November. His stats would be even better if the likes of Giroud and Sanchez confined their scoring to the pitch rather than in other facets of their lives.
If Arsenal are to avert a changing of the guard, they need to win this match. If ever there was a time to make a statement, that time is now. Anything less, and the psychological scars will probably fail to heal in time. Traditionally, Arsenal bounce back well from major setbacks, and the past 10 days or so have been nothing short of catastrophic for the Gunners. A classic beckons. Expect Ozil to be at the forefront of an Arsenal resurgence.

Prediction: 3-3.

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1. Sergio Aguero (home vs v Aston Villa)
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[/three_fourth]Seriously? Fair dinkum, if I have to justify this selection, indeed if he doesn’t have your armband this week…
Surely a candidate for triple captaincy?
City are undefeated in their last 5 matches against the hapless Villains, scoring 13 times in the process. Aguero has scored in his last 2 fixtures against Villa (he didn’t play in the 0-0 draw back in November), and with City smarting from their mid-week hiding at the hands of Liverpool, a mauling is likely to be on the cards this weekend. This could be the “hide behind the couch” moment if you don’t have Aguero, let alone captain him. Things will get ugly. Brace yourselves. Really nothing more to be said.

Prediction: 5-0.

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Thanks for reading Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 29. This article was written by Blue Moon

Follow @Yazbeckistan

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