Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 3 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16
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After having my sleep rudely interrupted by a chicken, c0ck-a-d00dle-doing about a looming FF247 deadline, I could have been forgiven for thinking we were still awaiting the kick-off to season 2015/16. So imagine my shock when I was summonsed to select the captaincy contenders for Gameweek 3! Anyhow, I’ve resisted the temptation to defer to the “snooze” function, and I stand before you under a false pretense that this is indeed GW3…
Makes you wonder why we even bothered playing from GW1. I mean, look no further than the chap who topped the GW2 rankings. While the rest of us toiled over the pre-season, Johnny-come-lately swoons in and pulls the rug from under our feet.
History is such a wonderful thing, isn’t it? Why? Because it tells us the same thing over and over again: that while we’ve supposedly “learned from our mistakes” blah blah blah, we’re doomed to repeat our sins of the past. The truth is that, notwithstanding its status as the most sophisticated of species, the homo sapien really ain’t that sophisticated. We are destined to look to history for the sake of repeating history. One needs to look no further than fantasy football to reinforce the point. We gushed over Rooney, Hazard, Walcott, Kane in pre-season and in GW1, and “learned from our mistakes” by retaining the aforementioned in GW2. Heck, we even captained them! A cursory glance of the FF247 pages reinforces the proposition: “Don’t play your wildcard…”. “Be patient…”. “Wenger will start Theo…”. “Don’t take points hits…” etc etc…Dare I continue?
Wake up folks. This is fantasy football Armageddon. The world as we know it has ended. Don’t believe me? Check your rankings (well, check mine anyway). Have a look at that half-baked attempt at what purports to be a football squad by the fool leading your mini-league by the length of the straight, who probably hasn’t logged in since hitting “autocomplete” back in July. Heck, the leader of my own mini-league still has Dzeko in his squad!! And yet, despite the statistics, despite the research, despite the history lessons, and the blood, sweat and tears expended over whether to pick Walcott, Cazorla or Ozil, the fires of fantasy footballing hell have descended upon over 3 million unsuspecting victims, leaving a trail of carnage and destruction over all who dare stand before them. We’re doomed. In fairness, one only has to note that Everton maintained their unbeaten start to the season (and Lukaku is scoring goals) for the stark reality of what is upon us to take hold.
But, again, what does history tell us? Yep, we pick up the pieces, and soldier on. We curse, we mourn, we activate the wildcard, we spit chips, we play chips, we blame Raz, we burn effigies, we threaten to walk away, but we pick up our bat and face up to one more over. It’s our destiny folks. Age shall not weary us. Fear is not an option. There is no excuse for failure.
And so with that call to arms, I present you this week’s captaincy picks.
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1. Juan Mata – Manchester United (h) v Newcastle
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His no. 10 counterpart is likely to be the more popular choice this week, but needless to say Rooney hasn’t (yet) hit the heights expected of him in early 2015/16. Again, our failings as homo sapiens conspired to construct what, on its face anyway, seemed an inevitable flow of fantasy gold. I mean, it’s Wayne Rooney! Historically starts the season so well! And he’s back in his favoured role! Oh, and look at his opening fixtures! But wait, there’s more: he scored twice in United’s last home fixture against Newcastle (December 2014). But let’s be frank, Rooney seems unlikely to explode any time soon. There is no bang here (football-wise, keep it above the belt peoples!). No sizzle is going to sell this sausage. Partly boredom, partly a product of the conservative attacking style being adopted by LVG, and Rooney’s tendency in the opening matches to drift wide, but no matter which way you deconstruct this beast (literally as well as figuratively), there is no escaping the fact that Rooney has been a fantasy disappointment (again, literally as well as figuratively).
Mata, however, has begun to show glimpses of the form which twice made him Chelsea’s player of the year, assisting Januzaj’s effort (and 3 bonus points to boot) in last week’s 1-0 over Sherwood’s Villa (and really should have had a second assist but for “When I was walking in” Memphis Depay somehow failing to hit a target as wide as Elvis’s (and Rooney’s for that matter)). Importantly, Mata appears the mainstay and the conductor of the United midfield which will look to make beautiful music against a Newcastle side which to be fair has started the season quite well by its own standards. Incidentally, Mata has enjoyed recent success against Newcastle (admittedly Lord Pardew was in charge then), scoring a brace in a 4-0 victory in April 2014. I expect United to decimate Newcastle at home this week, and further expect Mata to be central to that cause.
Prediction: United 4 Newcastle 1
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2. Sergio Aguero – Manchester City (a) v Everton
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Now, be honest, how many of you hid behind the sofa when the team sheets for City v Chelsea were announced last week? Actually, in view of the way this season has started for many of the big names, we’d have nothing to worry about. Right? Wrong! After easing into season 2015/16 with a 28 minute cameo against West Brom, Aguero put in an impressive 90 minute display against the Champions, scoring his first goal of the season in the process. It would now seem that Aguero is back to full match fitness, after his summer break post-Copa America. Attention now turns to the Toffees. This match-up has been kind to City in recent years: Everton have failed to defeat City in their last 4 outings, losing 3 in the process. Incidentally, Aguero has scored in two of those fixtures. Storming into title favouritism, City have been keen to make an early impact on 2015/16. Clinical in their surgical dissection of the Champions, City will look to build on their impressive start to the season. Expect goals in this encounter. Kun is likely to be on the goal sheet. Ignore him at your peril. Refrain from your wildcard or points hits at your risk. Do whatever you need to do to get him into your squad. I, for one, will be watching this fixture from the comfort of my lounge, not behind it!
Prediction: Everton 1 City 3
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3. Alexis Sanchez -Arsenal (h) v Liverpool
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Much like Kun, and again following the Copa America, Alexis eased into season 2015/16 with a 24 minute cameo against West Brom, followed by 74 minutes and an assist against Palace. In truth, Alexis should have achieved much more from the Palace fixture, missing a host of chances that he would normally bury by his own high standards. Which only serves to make him an even more dangerous proposition at home to Liverpool this week, now that he appears to have reached full match fitness. Arsenal have generally underwhelmed since winning the Community Shield in early August, however they come up against a side for which this fixture has been very favourable in recent years. Liverpool have failed to defeat Arsenal in 8 of their past 9 meetings in all competitions – the most recent fixture being a 4-1 demolition in April, and, yes, one in which Alexis scored. The Gunners have scored at least 2 goals in each of those 8 victories. A rather interesting statistic is that, in the last 13 premier league meetings between the two teams, a goal has been scored in the 90th minute on 9 occasions. In all likelihood, Alexis will see 90 minutes, which only adds to his appeal in this fixture.
In view of Chelsea’s recent performance, a straight Hazard to Alexis swap is likely to be a popular transfer this week. Much like the case with Kun, this could be another “hide behind the lounge” moment if Alexis unleashes on Liverpool. However, and in view of recent selection anomalies, it’s equally likely that Le Professeur will choose to start Alexis from the bench, further polarising all opinion and rationality. At some point before too long, normal service will resume in fantasy football: expect Alexis to be leading that renaissance.
Prediction: Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1
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4. Dimitri Payet West Ham (h) v Bournemouth
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Payet has opened his Premier League campaign in fine style, scoring one and assisting one in his first two matches. The West Ham of 2015/16 appears to resemble everything that their former manager was not: slick, efficient, attacking, and most certainly not boring. They dispatched Arsenal with ease at the Emirates in GW1, before stumbling against the new title favourites in Leicester, who seem to remain under the impression that they’re still in a relegation fight, having picked up right where they left off in 2014/15.
Payet’s credentials are certainly impressive. In 2014/15, Payet created more chances (135) than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues last year, and led Ligue 1 in assists (17), whilst helping himself to 7 goals in the process. Payet also led Ligue 1 for key passes, 40 more than any other player. The 135 chances basically meant that he set up a team mate every 23 minutes. Payet also attempted more shots from outside the area (58) than any other Ligue 1 midfielder in 2014/15.
Rightly titled the “Assist Master”, Payet looks set to add a new edge to the Hammers’ attacking midfield in 2015/16, and a hapless Bournemouth awaits as his main course. Priced at 7.6m, Payet has shown early signs that he may well become the mid-priced purchase of the season.
Prediction: West Ham 3 Bournemouth 0
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Red (proceed with caution): Rooney
Amber (if you have him, captain him): Mata
Green (ignore him at your peril): Aguero
Best of luck to all. Back to sleep I go. Let me know when the season gets underway.
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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 3. This article was written by blue_moon
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Evening All. Thanks very much for the comments and feedback. Very much appreciated. Lots of love for Depay it seems after this morning’s performance. We’re certainly going to learn a lot from the lunchtime fixture this Saturday! I genuinely believe normal service will resume this week, which means big points hauls for the good folk of FF247.
Thanks Blue Moon.
Well timed well written piece here. Love this site because of this and of course the comments section.
Now…I have spent my 2FT on replacing Roo amd Wally and still holding my WC as I watch cheaper lower calibre players appreciate while my squad keeps losing value.
Is there an actual advantage to playing the value side of the game? I mean I know my players will come good but I hate losing money. To me honestly the benefits of playing the value game are so minimal…or is there a way to genuinely play the value game towards getting points?
Evening RedPaddy, cheers mate. I’ll defer to the more seasoned campaigners on the team value (TV) question, but certainly there is a school of thought which provides that one should look to build as much TV in the first half of the season with a view to being able to select the strongest possible XV in the run home. At the same time, however, I recall that the overall winners of the past 2 seasons had quite low TVs, so it wasn’t a factor for them. Also, last season it took a lot longer for price rises to take effect (and I believe they were much more limited in frequency per week). I presume the same rules apply this season, which would make TV less of a factor again. I think the more relevant discussion is points hits.
Hello i just use my WC!
McCarthy – Guzan
Targett – Kolarov – Shaw – Gomez – Oxford
Sanchez – Hazard – Depay – Mahrez – Westwood
Gomiz – Kun – Pelle
0 mil
TY FOR ANY TIP! GL and HF!
Superb side in my opinion Bastien – think with City’s fixtures I’d like to see Yaya in there instead of Memphis, if you can fit him in that is??
Its SILVA allredy in! NOT HAZARD 😉
This team can’t be affordable?
Bastian, that defence is very weak in my opinion, theres 3 that aren’t sure fire starters and Kolarov and Shaw may be rotated from time to time.
Hi BastianChelsea
Playing time for Targett, Gomez and Oxford would be a bit risk.
Perfect on the attacking side.
Cheers.
I’m with Smash, I can’t see this team as being affordable yet Bastian, you sure you’ve hit confirm on that
As he said above, for Hazard read Silva…..
Warning for those considering playing their wildcard…
Firstly – Pedro looks like he’s going to Chelsea – could be a cheaper and nice alternative to Hazard/Costa, depending whether he is listed as a midfielder or forward.
Secondly – the transfer window still has nearly 2 weeks left – there could be some interesting names still to come in, as per the above story. United and Arsenal looking for a striker, for example?
Yeah I think a lot could still happen in this transfer window. I think it’s dangerous to load up on the form players too much at the moment as well
Too late was the cry cookie, GW 2 hadn’t even finished and the bad boy was activated, I’d already gone without Haz and Aguero so throwing Sanchez’s return into the mix made for a lethal cocktail, the holy trinity will all be added for GW 3.
Sounds like a mighty strong squad Andy.
If you like your defenders at 4.5 and Gabby Agbonlahor it is.
Can’t have it all….the defenders you can prob get away with….but Agbonlahor? 3-5-2 it is then?
Sort of, fingers crossed he’ll be able to rotate with a fifth mid, Zaha/Albrighton/Redmond/Mahrez all look likely candidates, leaning towards Zaha as I like Pardews Palace.
Fair enough Andy, looking forward to a sneak preview!!!
Cookie – totally agree and the window being open just adds concerns to early WC. I do concern about players dropping £ because that really affects planning ahead. For example, I’d like to give sterlo a 3rd chance before moving him let’s say for YYT, but if he fails again (and at everton, with coleman on form, that can easily be the case) I may end up buying YYT for 8.7 and selling sterling for 8.9 (which is already is value given he dropped this morning).
Same thing could be said about Mane, who is near dropping and could easily fail at Watford (EL this Thursday doesn’t help…) and even EDEN who is playing for an out of sorts Chelsea and is being transfer out at the minute (-0.1 is a strong possibility before this GW ends) which possibly could leave me with -0.3 in one GW and wanting to then get +0.2 new players for a negative balance of around -0.5 depending on who I would be buying!!
In light of that rational I hit the “hits” button and went for a -8 to bring in Sánchez/YYT/Menphis (all may still go up this week, namely YYT) for Hazard/Sterlo/Mane (all already dropped or most likely will).
Good or bad move going forward from a TV, form and points perspective?
You’ll only ever know if a hit works out after the GW, if Haz/Sterlo/Mane all bomb again and the players you’ve brought in score then happy days, I probably wouldn’t be happy losing Haz just to save on .1 though.
DMC, wouldn’t disagree with Andy there. With certain players transfer value is less important, especially as many are panicking after two very strange gameweeks.
Re the players – I actually dropped Hazard last week for Ayew – Chelsea look a tad all at sea right now to me, not all is well in the camp – Terry being replaced at ht and speculation Jose was not even going to start him vs City, Ivanovic unhappy with just a one year extension, Jose bored of Costa’s injuries, plus the doctor soap opera.
Re Sterling – I’m not sure what people expected of him. His finishing has always been, let’s be kind and call it inconsistent. He’s quick and gets in positions but has never scored as many as he should of. A happy Yaya is a much better option.
Memphis – and United in general – look sluggish, LVG focused on possession football and a lack of pace in the team suggests they will not rip teams apart – as has been shown these first two weeks. Brugge last night were a poor side and I would focus more of United vs Villa and Spurs than vs Brugge.
Mane – to be fair has been unlucky not to score this season, has had plenty of chances saved and has proven quality. In my view, I would of held onto him and I likely will.
Alexis – apparently looked good vs Palace, so is a natural and price-for-price (ish) replacement for Hazard.
I think my message is to not panic – personally I’d rather take a hit or two at this stage of the season than wildcard after what has been a weird first 2 GWs. On the other hand, I do understand why people have pressed the button, but with the transfer window still open and the season not really settled into rythym yet, I hope they don’t feel in a week or a month that they maybe should have waited a bit.
Just my view – and to be fair, I’m rarely right
Andy – agree there too but the rational wasn’t for this GW’s points alone. Is more from a team value risk assessement. Also Haz Out is not just dropping wise, it’s also the only way to bring YYT and Menphis for Mane and Sterlo. Could I have done just those two I’d probably have waited on the Haz-Sanchez one. Thx mate
Well Cookie from where I stand you seem to agree with the said strategy in a way: dont WC unless needed and take a hit or two If needed. That’s what I did with form and team Value also in mind. Now hazard, mane and sterling can always run riot making me look cool, but If it were the Other way around, that is them dropping AND not scoring enough than I’d be stuck on 99.5 willing to get hits anyway….
What I dont like is to early transfer but these mass killers WC are dropping everybody by the minute!!
Cool = fool
DMC, yes I would certainly prefer to hit rather than wildcard right now, but as I said before I understand why people are going down that route. And they may well turn out to be right.
There is, as they say, more than one way to skin a cat.
Just to Add that I did that last Night before sterlo dropping
Ok ok ok…
Just finished tweaking… Any suggestions?
Swap alexis for Ozil/yaya and upgrade Defoe to Benteke/Pelle is poss
Hi Madmick, don’t think we’ve ever spoken, so “hello” !!
For me, I’d get Yaya in there for Depay – fixtures and form favour him over Memphis for me.
Targett will lose his place soon as Bertrand is prob a week or two away from a return.
Personally I don’t like Agbonlahor or Defoe – I have strong concerns that they will not score the goals for you, but difficult to argue with that midfield – if you can get Yaya in there.
Hi Cookie and dhruva,
My line of thinking is this: Depay is making a lot of shots on target but hasnt found the net yet in EPL. Great performance by him this morning anyway, 2 goals and 1 assist I think? He should fire soon. Now Aguerro back in Yaya probably wont be having so much time up close to the box?
Sanchez is still out of form but is still managing assists and had a couple of shots on target when Wenger brought him in for 20mins in the first week. Proven performer – I had Ozil but switched to Sanchez because hes more likely to score.
I dont like Abonglahor or Defore either but Im outta cash! Defoe should net 10-13 goals this season and Abonglahor is captained and should start every game in the forward line?
I could change:
Ward>Galloway (should start for everton every game with all their injuries?)
Mahrez>Albrighton (extra cash)
Defore>Vardy
What you guys think?
Could do this? Depends if Galloway/defenders will get game time
I meant this….. hadnt saved when I posted :/
Looks better up fron Madmick, but Targett and Galloway will cause you issues. Targett as he will be replaced soon and Galloway because Everton’s fixtures are poor. Of course, you could get away with both if Kolarov is a sure starter, but he’s not with Clichy back.
So…how about d’grading Depay by a million or so (Chadli maybe?) and then upgrading Targett and Galloway. Micah Richards is not in many wildcard teams that I have seen, which amazes me, given they’ve conceded just one goal in two games and have decent fixtures coming up.
Hi all , need some help on decision
Option 1. Mids-Depay ozil payet main rez ya toure foinwards aguero gomis vardy leaving me 1.1 in the bank
Or option 2. Depay ozil payet mahrez Silva aguero gomis kone 0.5 I
Newo, option 1 for me mate – though do you really want Mahrez and Vardy?
Thanks cookie the may decision was trying to decide ya over silva . If I go with ya I may be able to use extra cash in trying to upgrade ozil to sanchez
Main not may me bad
Yaya and Sanchez defo Newo