Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 20 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
In Times Square, New York, millions gather to witness the ‘Ball Drop’. Londoners stand agape at Big Ben. Italians traditionally wear red underwear. Wherever it’s celebrated, and whatever the custom, the New Year gives everyone a cause to reflect upon a year of joy, hardships, triumph and despair. For those that aren’t into watching balls drop; staring at large erect clocks or adorning scarlet panties, lets allow ourselves to be whipped up into a nostalgic fervour of our own. So, before the final Captain Picks of 2014, here’s a quick nod of acknowledgement to the expertise of those that write upon this hallowed digital papyrus, as FF247 merrily tiptoes through the writers’ ‘Captain Picks of 2014’.
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Chins
GW13 – Joey Barton (LEI, h) 2 points
Chins is much-loved for his waffling intros and respect for opinionated footballers. But when asked what the f*** he was thinking with his GW13 selection of Joey Barton, he protested, “Joey was robbed! He assisted the assister on two of the goals that week.” Chins then started waffling a bit more and asserted that a change in the BPS would’ve favoured Barton’s “…honest hard graft, good old English banter and primary school level philosophy.”
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Gallant Pioneer
GW16 – Papiss Cisse (ARS, a) 1 point
Everyone’s favourite Scot says it as he sees it. Clearly he didn’t see the fixture list in GW16 as he tipped an erratic thug away at The Emirates. During a rare day-release from the ensuing FF247-funded asylum program, GP argued his choice was ‘reasoned and logical’ and laid the blame squarely at Alan Pardew’s doorstep for “…not getting the best out of his striker; not for the first time. I would do the same thing again.” Surely GP is taking the Papiss?
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Calvin Clyne
GW18 – Oliver Giroud (QPR, h) -2 points
Jingle bells ringing in one ear, wedding bells ringing in the other. FanFeud Podcast’s hearthrob Calvin Clyne has had a 2014 to remember. He took time out of his busy schedule to warm us with some Christmas wisdom in GW18. But it wasn’t just the winter temperatures that went below zero, as Giroud’s red card saw the Frenchman’s score plummet through the ice. Commenting via email from a remote hideout in Plymouth, Calvin has since had to take refuge from an avalanche of hate mail, as well as the snow. “Bryan. I told you to leave me alone. For the last time, SOD OFF.”
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Anyway, it’s time to take off the sepia filter and squint into the bright lights of….. (Editor: “Errrr. Forgetting something?”)
Oh yeah, apparently I chose full-back Andrew ‘1 point’ Robertson in GW2. So what? If Chester hadn’t got sent off in the 13th minute, it would’ve been a different story! All right? Good. This writer shall never make another outlandish tip again.
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Now to GW20’s top 5…
5. Ayoze Perez (BUR, h)
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An outlandish tip. Yes. But in light of Cisse’s violent impression of a schizophrenic one-armed chicken, Ayoze is left as the Magpies’ main focal point against a leaky Burnley outfit who have the 2nd worst away record in the Premier League. He registered his 5th goal in 11 games. With Cisse serving his ban into the AFCON and a new manager in the stands to impress, it’s a ratio which is likely to improve throughout January, starting now.
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4. Alexis Sanchez (SOU, a)
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A rather more regular visitor to these pages, Sanchez is a rare breed who’s almost as lethal on his travels, as at home. The Chilean has chalked up 4 goals and an assist touring the grounds so far. The reverse fixture saw him steal the only goal in a 1-0 win at St. Mary’s earlier this month. The Saints are proven against most teams, but the widely predicted struggles against the biggest teams have come to fruition, culminating in last week’s fortunate draw at home to Chelsea. Sure to be a tight game, but only on 4 occasions has Sanchez registered less than 5 points in the last 12 games. In fact, he’s so good he can miss a penalty and still scoop 10 points.
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3. Raheem Sterling (LEI, h)
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Slap-happy Sterling has shown unexpected steel in his new role up top for Brendan Rodgers. Whilst not producing the numbers yet to get FPL managers frothing with excitement, he nevertheless remains an extremely promising OOP prospect. The Reds stepped on the gas against Swansea and Lallana rightly took the plaudits (and the goals) but Raheem’s 2015 will surely get out of the blocks at home to bottom club Leicester. With Rodgers showing little appetite to bring Balotelli back into the starting fray yet, and a run of tasty fixtures ahead, those still bloated by festive dinners may want to find space for one more feast.
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2. Charlie Austin (SWA, h)
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December 29th, 2012. Arsenal have just trounced Newcastle 7-3, and Theo Walcott has walked off with 26 FPL points. A day that is recounted with zest by all who captained him. Fast forward to December 20th, 2014 and QPR’s hitman Charlie Austin’s timely Christmas gift sees 17 points unwrapped gleefully by the gambling few. Think then, of those that didn’t benefit from their captaincies… that may have not even owned them. The agony. It’s easy to think that Austin’s Sunday blank at Loftus Road will consign his West Brom hat-trick to FPL history forever as a ‘Walcott moment’. A missed opportunity frozen in regret. Maybe. Maybe not. The likelihood is that this was merely a blip against a Palace side galvanized by Warnock’s departure and normal service will be resumed at home to an indifferent Swansea. If you can call a bewildering 8 goals in the last 6 home games ‘normal’, that is.
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1. David Silva (SUN, h)
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David Silva isn’t a tall bloke. That’s not a revelation. However, one thing that has become de rigueur in recent journalism is to remark upon his lack of height. The Daily Mail call him ‘The little Spaniard’; The Mirror use ‘the diminuitive playmaker’; heck, even 5’8″ giant Michael Owen repeatedly sinned during his recent BT Sport commentary. Well, don’t let the media’s condescending coverage of this footballing artist distract you from his true destiny; to be your go-to Man City captain. In the absence of fit strikers, and with a limping Yaya Toure on his way to the ACON soon, Silva’s stock value is as high as it’s ever been. 36 points in 3 games is Aguero-esque scoring and his performance against Burnley showed he had end product even in a game where City struggled. Move over Yaya and Sergio, there’s a new sheriff in town. A really short one.
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Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 20. This article was written by Bryan Munich
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WooFBet
Over on the WooFBet website the exclusive FF247 league is back for GW19 and as usual is FREE TO ENTER and has a prize pool of €150 so get yourselves over there sharpish as loads of your friends on here are taking home some handy bonus money each week.
To enter, visit woofbet.com and sign up (no card details required). Navigate to the Tournament section and click participate on the ‘FF247 – €150 FREEROLL’ tab.
Isn’t it time your fantasy manager job finally paid off!
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Don’t forget to vote on our Captain Poll
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Tomorrow The Banterbury Help For Heroes Cup roll back into town for The 5th Round
WhoIsRonaldo v FF247
NorfolkinChance v The Invincible’s
Absolutely Fàbregas v James101
Turtlepower v Burty Magoo
Athletico Bosh v Horse FC
Baines On Toast v Pas op he!
582.96 v FC Eire Lillium
Arsene’sBuyingSpree v ALLWHITES
Bench, was the first round of your Champions Cup for GW19 or GW20? I’m hoping it was GW19, cos that means I won. 😉
Bry, here’s the GWs mate
Great! Thanks Gallow. I’ll put that with my files.
cheers gallow, happy new year bya, to add too that , home teams in group stage, start with a +1 point, just to mix it up a bit
I asked this earlier on Twitter Bench
Is this to avoid draws or just to mix it up a bit as you say?
IE the away team will need to actually win the tie by 1 point just to achieve a draw and 2 to win it?
Good idea. So, basically wouldn’t it be easier to stipulate that ‘in the case of a draw, the home team wins’?
That’s the top and bottom of it Bry, prefer it the way it was TBH as it’s turning it very MLS this way LMAO
Penalty shootouts next? Who can upset Potty the most in 5 mins wins
No cause if home team lose 37 – 38 , with their home point it be a draw, 38-38 just testing idea for cup next season , so a home draw is of import ants
plus the idea , is to offer that risk factor, a 4 point hit and home turns into a 3, but away turns into 5
It still balances out as how Bry has said, in the event of a draw the home team wins, you can cut it either way.
A 2pt home advantage? Now you’re talking 😉
Then it would make the home team think of hits, sickener for the away team mind in how you have put it, they win by 1pt and it’s only a draw and 2 valuable group points lost.
Should be interesting either way, I remember last year I came second in the group stage to Drexyl, (is he still on here? Never seen him in ages?) before going in to the knockout stage and victory in the final v Cookie
That’s gonna be a 50-50 this year with only group winners guaranteed, and 2 best runners up, I won 4 of 6 games but you might need 4 wins and a draw this time to qualify.
What’s the tie breaker on the runners up? You have 6 group winners and 2 next best runners up? Points are the same for let’s say 4 runners up in the 6 groups? How are they then reduced to 2 from 4 to go through to the quarters?
Not seen any mention of this and it WILL happen!!
Most goals scored in tournament? Most wins likey the same as draws will be unlikely.
I think I play you away first time we meet in GW3? Will have to get an edge in you in advance 😉
Will be watching you closely Bench
Remember last year the group of death? Lol
Cookie, James 101, Potty and Chorls?
Not too familiar this time with these qualification leagues in as I only know the old FFC crowd, any such group this time?
I see Horse is still running on strong in the cup?
Come on Horse, back to back cup wins mate, you can do it. 😉
Easy my friend , H2H pts count first so if you get 2 teams that win 5 and lose just the 1, both have great chance of QFs , if you get where i coming from, its h2h points count first, secondly it will come down to your plus/minus aggregate score after the six games, if still the same, its the overall points score in the 6 rounds that count, if still nothing to separate teams overall all FPL score counts
Nice one Bench, sounds very fair, was talking to another competitor about this after being asked the score, will pass on your comments.
Cheers and good luck in our H2H tomorrow 😉
Hey guys, how’s everyone doing?
I have 2 free transfers this week and I was thinking of getting rid of Zabaleta, cause even though he started last game im not sure he will get the start, what do you guys think?
Is there also any other transfers i could make?
Just use 1FT on Moore. Zabs should play, and even if he doesnt, you have Taylor as decent backup.
Who do I get rid of moore for?
Maybe Duff? Should be back soon, got decent fixtures coming up
Guys I was thinking of doing Costa to rooney silly move?
Any news about Toure yet?
Fit. According to his twitter he was fit for Burnley too.
Guys, who would u bench out of downing or siggy? I got it wrong last gw by benching siggy
Photek. I’d rather play Downing because QPR are no mugs at home. It’s not far from being a coin toss though. You may have to do that!
Is it worth bring Ayoze Perez in for Zamora? Or just play Boyd. Or saving transfer for next week?
Tough call smash… Perez looked great last game. Boyd has a decent fixture though.
I’d be tempted to get Perez as you might need Boyd as a super-sub anyway…
I like the look of Perez. He’s been starting all the recent games, and with Cisse out his place is nailed on. Question marks about what a new manager will do, but I fancy him to score at home to Burnley. Don’t forget how pumped up the Newcastle faithful will be now Pardew’s gone.
Oh aye
Getting excited now Happy New Year to every one on the site will be out shortly so just in case I can’t see later I will get it in now good luck to everyone tm
Same to you, Silverback. Have a good one mate :thumbup: