Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 5 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16
This break needs to end! It’s hard to imagine life without our beloved FPL. Four gameweeks. Four 2-point captains. Four fails. Unless you captained Coutinho last gameweek – or triple captained him for that matter – you can’t be faring much worse than I am when it comes to choosing an FPL captain. So here’s a great idea! Take a glance at 5 of my recommendations. Try not to become too absorbed in it all though: reading my captaincy advice is arguably similar to sitting around in second-hand smoke (anyone seen Tekno lately? This ain’t fag smoke…) and probably won’t do your league rankings any favours. Then, preferably quite a while afterwards, go ahead and choose from the pool of players that I’ve left untouched. After each description I’ve rated the player on 3 factors – form, fixture and explosiveness – mainly because I’m quite a numerical guy. Hopefully it’ll help you decide which player (in particular) to avoid at all costs. I mean “captain” sorry…Please note that all of the ratings are subjective; they’re my views only. Feel free to slaughter them in the comments below! By the way, I never give perfect 10s out. Not even on IMDb.
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Riyad Mahrez – home vs Aston Villa
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[/three_fourth]What better place to start than FPL’s most selected player? Well – the 2nd most selected behind Clyne – but if we ignore the Liverpool fans’ influence then Mahrez basically is the game’s most popular pick.
15, 10, 10 and 1 point hauls. Just a precautionary withdrawal at half-time against Bournemouth stopped him from potentially scoring that late Leicester penalty, to bag his 5th goal of the season already, and perhaps his 4th maximum BP haul too. So close to 12 out of 12 there. He has recovered from that minor back injury and appeared for Algeria in the international break.
This week Riyad faces a Villa side (who have a love affair with losing) at home. Although to be fair – the Villans haven’t been as woeful as many expected so far – that’s been Sunderland’s job.
Y’see, normally I’d recommend that you captain whoever’s playing the Black Shats, but unfortunately it’s Spurs this weekend… so Mahrez it is!
Form: 7
Fixture: 8
Explosiveness: 6
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Bafetimbi Gomis – away vs Watford
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[/three_fourth]Bafetimbi Gomis is the only player in the Premier League to have scored in all 4 games of the season so far. Which sounds pretty damn reliable to me. Swansea have scored 7 goals already and often looked impressively free-flowing in attack.
However, he’s only picked up 1 BP thus far, which is where I think Andre Ayew comes in and warrants a mention: he’s also had a hand in 4 goals for Swansea (3 goals and 1 assist) but has picked up 6 BPs during this time. Both players are (theoretically) worthy captain picks for this gameweek.
Another word of warning – this will be Watford’s 3rd home game of the season and they haven’t conceded a goal at Vicarage Road yet. So this match could be a tight one! It’s hard to see Gomis grabbing more than 1 goal here.
Form: 7
Fixture: 6
Explosiveness: 5
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Callum Wilson – away vs Norwich
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[/three_fourth]This guy is pretty much the only thing that’s kept my FPL team alive. He’s also the 3rd and final player on this list who’s managed to score 4 goals in the Premier League already! Completing the season’s top-scoring trio. Sorry for making such predictable picks…
This is the first clash between any of the promoted teams and it may well be a high scoring affair. Just look at Bournemouth’s record in the Championship. Or, alternatively, just ask Bilic about West Ham’s last home match! (That was for you NIN.)
Scoring 4 goals in 2 games, including an amazing overhead against Leicester last gameweek, is form that’s very hard to ignore. Callum Wilson’s ownership has now risen to over 20% for good reason and what may also help him is his new strike partner Glenn Murray, bought to the club late on in the transfer window.
Form: 8
Fixture: 7
Explosiveness: 6
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Sergio Aguero – away vs Crystal Palace
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[/three_fourth]Now it’s on to the ‘big boys’… well, ok, the big boys of last season at least. Unless you have nerves of steel, the choice for this weekend is probably between these next 2 candidates.
Sergio doesn’t need talking up by me, or indeed anyone really, because we all know that he’s a beast. Many would argue that he should be perma-captain for the whole season when fit. So, instead, let’s take a look at why he might NOT be the right call this weekend.
All players are affected by form and, right now, it’s just not really with Aguero. He’s only been involved in 1 of Man City’s 10 goals to date. (Just imagine what’ll happen to City’s opposition when he IS on fire!) That said, it’s a bit of a miracle that he didn’t score a hat-trick against Chelsea, so in fact maybe he’s actually not as out-of-form as it might seem. Aguero doesn’t always need form either; see my ‘explosiveness’ rating below.
The other major negative that I can see is that City are playing away from home against a (current) Champions League qualifying side in Crystal Palace. So far the only team to beat Palace is Arsenal (no biased facts to see here) and everyone else that’s played them has lost. Could this be where City’s 100% record ends?
Yet, despite all this, the Eagles are still searching for their 1st clean sheet and I can’t see them shutting out Aguero. Would you decline the offer to have 2 of him in your FPL team this weekend? I’m not sure that I would…
Form: 4
Fixture: 5
Explosiveness: 9
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Alexis Sanchez – home vs Stoke
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[/three_fourth]Arsenal hate going to The Britannia to play Stoke. It’s a dodgy fixture for them and you wouldn’t fancy trusting any Arsenal player with the FPL armband.
Oh wait… what’s that… Arsenal are playing them at home? Scrap that. The last time that happened, this Alexis guy scored 2 goals, whilst assisting Koscielny’s headed opener to boot! That made for a 19 point haul… or 38 points if you were shrewd about it.
Let’s face it, he hasn’t been tearing up the League so far, but his impressive shots per game stats are more than enough to suggest he’ll be scoring big soon. He scored the winner in Chile’s 3-2 win over Paraguay on Saturday night. If there wasn’t an underlying worry that “everyone else will captain Aguero though” then he’d be my #1 pick for this weekend as I believe that Stoke are there for the taking. Arsenal have won all seven Premier League matches at home to Stoke, scoring seventeen goals in the process, while Stoke are yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Tempted?
Form: 3
Fixture: 7
Explosiveness: 8
Thanks for taking the time to glance at my 5 picks. Or perhaps 6 if [A]yew happen to be feeling pedantic today. Sorry… I’m nearly done now. Don’t worry, there are literally hundreds of other players to choose from, all of whom I haven’t jinxed. Good luck and I wish you well in climbing up the rankings over the coming weeks.
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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 5. This article was written by James777Simpson
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Finally an intelligent response and addressal of the captain dilemma this year. What a whacky season!
Simmo – great piece mate. Top shelf. The Sanchez are interesting. Might be tempted with that one!
*Sanchez stats
Nice work jamesimmo, many thanks for this mate :thumbup:
Morning, great article
Right so made another change to bring in Sanchez team now is looking like this;
Schmeicheal (schwarzer – had to get a 4.0 GK to save .5)
Kolorov/Shaw/Cedric (Ward/Targett) – have no intention of playing Targett, he is only on the team as he is the cheapest playing defender at the moment
Ayew/Mahrez/Sanchez/Yaya/Pedro
Aguero/Wilson/Deeney(plan is to rotate Wilson with Deeney and play 5 in mid at all times)
still looking for alternatives to Deeney. Any suggestions?
redsyda
Pickings are quite slim at that price range. Kone has done well so far but Everton still have it hard with fixtures in the near future.
Cameron Jerome could be worth a second look – He isn’t up against much at Norwich for a place and fixtures are not too unkind over the next six. In truth, it’s only a back up position for me because I would play Wilson most weeks.
Hey guys, how’s it going? Sorry I’ve been MIA all week but our son finally decided he was ready to meet the world! Couldn’t sell the wife on the name Cookie, Kop, Init, Mito or GP- but she was very impressed with the Interactive Fixture Tracker.
Calvin Gregory had the good sense to be born on Sunday afternoon during the international break and Mother and Son are both happy, healthy, and doing really well. And Dad is overjoyed.
PS- thanks james for the excellent Captain Picks article- really like the form, fixture and explosiveness ratings!
Morning Red congratulations I see he takes after his Dad no hair well done to you both of you , many sleepless nights coming up I’ll see you on the site 2-3 in morning when I get in from my nights out , when your changing him. Joking aside its a massive thing , make the most of him .
Thanks, Silver!! Yeah, we’re up around the clock now. Thankfully he’s good for a couple hour nap when he gets off the boob and finishes eating though!
Red, I’m so honoured mate! :’)
Hehe just kidding, huge congratulations to you both, you’ve got a mini-me on your hands there!
As in a mini-you, not me!
Thanks, Calvin!! Picking a name was hard but Calvin was one of the first ones we liked many months ago and we kept coming back to it, so I guess it was meant to be.
My grandmother’s brother was named Calvin, and the only US President from my home state of Vermont (VT) was Calvin Coolidge, so that’s kind of neat too.
The Interactive Fixture Tracker was the icing on the cake, ha!
That’s cool, I understand. Our first will be called Red, but er, because we love Shawshank Redemption and it’s also our favourite colour *cough cough 😉
Congrats Red ! Is he your first ?? My little man is 9 months old,sure has flown by.A smile from him and a shifty gameweek is soon forgotten !!
*Shitty
Hey Brooky, congratulations mate!! And thank you very much. I may have to hit you up for some new dad advice at some point! Yeah, this whole thing has certainly put the fantasy stuff in perspective. I haven’t looked at the price changes or my team all week, might be a real blessing that! Probably better for my ranking too.
Congrats Red! On your future FPL manager 😉
Haha, thanks photek!!
Well in, Red! Fantastic news! Glad to read that all is well too.
Thank you Swirly, I appreciate the kind words!! Everyone is doing well, best of luck to you this weekend – hope you score some big points!
Huge Congrats Red to you and your fam! You’ll never miss another transfer deadline now at 2am! Enjoy every second.
Thanks Colriles!! Really appreciate it man, hope all is well with you and that you’re enjoying the end of the summer. Best of luck this weekend!
congratulations Red..Great News..Cheers mate.Stay Blessed
Thanks constantine, best of luck to you this weekend!!
Well there’s obne happy fantasy manager!! Very good Red, congrats to you and all good for your family. Ah and a few FPL points too to duly celebrate! Cheers
Cheers DMC, much appreciated!! Some FPL luck would be most welcome this weekend, hasn’t been a great start so far. Hope you grab some bog points this weekend too!
*Ahem, BIG*
Congrates Red! Welcome to the ‘sleepless night’ club! All the best pal!
Thanks Alex!! Always considered myself a night owl as I’ve worked the evening shift at our local hospital for 15 years now. But the past few nights are already on another level!
Wow MASSIVE congratulations Red.
He looks so bright and aware of what’s going on for a newborn. Sign of intelligence there!
Love to all. Another little fantasy player in the making
Welcome to it Calvin . . . .
PS
You look nothing like your gravatar picture 😉
Thanks GP, much appreciated! He’s opening his eyes more and more each day. Little bugger was 10 days late so he’s pretty mature for a 3 day old, ha!
Brilliant news Red, many congrats to you both and welcome Calvin!
Thanks Init, much appreciated man! Very cool experience, the wife was (and is!) amazing. We’re over the moon with it all.
Thank a lot everyone! It’s nice to finally contribute to the site…
However, much more importantly, congratulations Red! You and Calvin both look really happy and healthy there.
Thanks james!! He’s a happy and healthy boy, strong little bugger too!
Congratulations Red and welcome little Calvin!
Thanks Albertini, much appreciated my friend! Hope all is well with you.
Thanks mate, I’m doing good, just my team that is in shambles but this gw’s WC will hopefully sort the things out! 😉
Congrats Red, glad mother and baby are fine, he does look like a mini me though. You could have called him Elleffcee. :shake:
Haha, thanks Elle!! I’ve got a couple LFC baby outfits for him already- home and away!! I’ll get him kitted out for a picture once we get back home from the hospital. YNWA
Please don’t do that to him.
Red, great news and congrats! My 4 are all just waking up here in South Dakota
Hardest and most rewarding adventure coming your way! Enjoy the moments of joy and they will get you through the frustrating ones!
Now, you’ve had enough paternity leave so get back to work on your squad!
Thanks Pancho!! 4 kids?? Haha, wow! You’re at Jedi father status with that troop! Looking forward to it all, and I’ll definitely have to check out my mess of underperforming FPL slackers sometime before the weekend. Yay for paternity leave!
Hey Red, brilliant news my friend!! Huge congratulations to you and Mrs Red – Calvin looks great, though slightly disapproving of his old man’s FPL team 😉
Really chuffed for you mate and glad all is well with you all.Is Calvin going to choose your Capo this week?!
Haha, thanks Cookie!! Much appreciated my friend. We’re very excited and happy to bring this little guy home from the hospital today- what an amazing experience it’s been so far.
And I think I’ll definitely let him pick my captain and probably make all my transfers too- maybe then I’ll break into the top one million, ha!
Hope all is well with you, looking forward to team talk and catching up on everything I’ve missed this past week.
A huge congrats, Red! Hopefully you won’t be spending *way too much time* on fantasy footy anymore w/ the little lad to take care of. Trust us, it’s a good thing!
Hey Sanchez, thank you so much!! Definitely will be dialing back on the FPL hours as I’ll have my hands full. Looking forward to being up at strange times though so I can post on the boards when more people in the UK and elsewhere are around! Hope all is well with you, good luck this weekend.
Red, make sure you have a good touch screen on your phone. It’s required, now that you’ll use with only one hand!
That’s too funny DMC. I’ve posted more from my phone in a half day than I have since the site opened for business however many years ago, ha!
Congratulations Red. Delighted for you mate, and glad to hear all are doing well :thumbup:
Thanks NIN, much appreciated my friend. Crazy new stuff going on, but all of it good.
Hope things are well with you and that we’ll rock some big points this weekend – I really need them!!
Good stuff mate. Yep, we all need a monster haul now. No more arsing about
Congrats Red! Calvin Cline Gregory does sound very interesting. 😉 Best of luck with the baby and I hope your wife gets to feeling better. Them dishes aren’t going to wash themselves. 😉
Once again, Congratulations mate, very happy for you.
Haha, thanks Mito! We’re super happy and excited. I’ve been waiting a long time for this, shit just got real!!
Hello there.all busy with their wildcard combinations i guess. I have all the “expensive 4s”. This had made me weak on my 5th def and mid. Hope all of them come strong this GW. Any suggestions there? Already on -4..
Constantine,
I’d leave as is mate and no further hits.
Thanks GP..Hope to see my ROI positive this time.too much of investment on those 4.cheers mate