Captain Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 3
GW2 was a great reminder how important your Captain selection is. Those who went with Costa, Hazard or Ramsey were well rewarded, whilst those who went with Rooney or the returning RvP were let down by a lacklustre performance and their gameweek suffered as a result. This week presents us with some tough decisions – with Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and United all playing away and with Everton and Spurs hosting two of the aforementioned, we are left with Manchester City who appear to have the standout fixture as they host Stoke at The Etihad. The problem lies with the fact that many teams do not own any City players, at the time of writing, due to their opening tough looking fixtures. So will you be bringing in a City player for this week? Maybe it’s not the worst decision. Let’s have a look at who the best choices for the armband are this weekend.
Captain Choices
Sergio Aguero (home vs Stoke)
“But he may not start”, I hear some say. “They’re easing him back into the season”, I hear the nervous suggest. “His legs are made of glass”, I hear the desperate claim. Well, I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with any of the above statements, but c’mon, we all know how clinical Aguero can be. Pellegrini brought him on at Newcastle in the 83rd minute and it took him just seven minutes to score. Against Liverpool, it took him just 23 seconds to find the net!! The manager clearly is easing him back, he got 23 minutes on Monday night, so one can only assume that he will play more minutes vs Stoke. Whether he starts or not doesn’t really matter does it? He will feature, he will get chances, not many of us are that impressed by Stoke on their travels and City are kicking into gear. What more do you want? Well, maybe a small loan from your FPL bank manager as he ain’t cheap at 12mln – but come May we may well be reminded that you get what you pay for in FPL.
[divider_1px]
Stevan Jovetic (home vs Stoke)
For those that cannot afford Aguero, Jovetic is hardly the worst alternative this week. Full of confidence after his brace against Liverpool, finally injury free and continually talked up by his manager, the Montenegrin will be hopeful of carrying on his good form at home to the Potters at the weekend. With Nasri, Navas, Silva and Yaya pulling the strings behind him, he is almost assured of goalscoring chances and his two finishes on Monday showed he can be as clinical as Aguero given the opportunities. Described by some as the poor man’s Aguero, sometimes a decision dictated by budget and an unwillingness to take a hit proves to be the smart and shrewd move and the striker is almost certain of a starting the game due to the injury to Dzeko and the building up of fitness of Aguero.
[divider_1px]
Diego Costa (away vs Everton)
Two goals in his first two Premier League games prove Jose’s assertion that Chelsea have finally got their replacement for Didier Drogba, which is a tad bizarre seeing as that they have recently re-acquired the original. Anyhow, with their new Beast onboard and with the supply line of Hazard, Fabregas, Oscar and Schurrle creating chances aplenty, it’s a brave man who would bet against Costa adding to his tally. Everton, of course, are traditionally pretty tight at home, but consecutive 2-2 draws including letting slip a two goal lead vs Arsenal last week suggests it is a defence which can be breached. While many feared (incorrectly) that Drogba may have started vs Leicester, there can be no doubt that Costa will start at Goodison as Jose attempts to preserve Chelsea’s 100% record and win one of their tougher matches on the road.
[divider_1px]
Aaron Ramsey (away vs Leicester)
Two goals in the opening two matches this season has seen the Welshman become the most popular midfielder and as last season proved, he loves to get on a run of scoring. Woe betide those who have the view of “surely he can’t score again”! Away to a Leicester side which has conceded two goals in both matches so far, Ramsey will be raring to go, having missed the Champions League 2nd leg match vs Besiktas. With Sanchez taking his time to settle, Ozil still building up fitness and form and Giroud injured, the one constant is Ramsey and while he continues to enjoy this rich vein of scoring, he is hard to ignore. Another plus point for the midfielder is that with Wilshire and Arteta sidelined, Ramsey is likely to retain his midfield place and not be played too far up the park, which as most Gooners will tell you, sees Ramsey in his best and most effective position.
[divider_1px]
Best of the Rest
Eden Hazard / Cesc Fabregas (away vs Everton)
While everyone was raving about Cesc’s debut masterclass, Hazard owners were looking at themselves wondering why they went for Hazard instead. The Belgian repaid the faith by notching his first of the season in the home win over Leicester, although you can’t keep Fabregas down, as he got credit with the assist! So whichever one you have, don’t bet against them putting on another show.
[divider_1px]
Wayne Rooney (away to Burnley)
In years gone by, you would have given the United striker the armband with a fixture such as this without a moment’s thought. However, United and Rooney have started the LVG era slowly, as the manager himself predicted they would. Surely it is only a matter of time before they give their new manager something to cheer and it may well be this weekend in this derby fixture. The arrival of Angel di Maria should lift the Reds and if the Argentian makes his debut vs Burnley expect an increased attacking threat from United and Rooney. His Premier League record speaks for itself and he is never far away from the action – it may well be this weekend that United turn the corner and as we are all aware, once they get on a roll, they can be pretty tough to stop.
[divider_1px]
Daniel Sturridge (away to Spurs)
The England striker suffered a disappointing night at the Etihad but will be keen to bounce back vs Spurs on Sunday. He did show glimpses of his skill though and was always looking to take on the defenders and shoot on sight and did, of course, provide the cross for Liverpool’s consolation. Despite two clean sheets, the likes of Eric Dier and Danny Rose will learn at the weekend that Premier League football is more than playing QPR and West Ham every week. Liverpool will be looking for an immediate response and with the possibility of Mad Mario up alongside him, those with Sturridge may well be well rewarded this week.
[divider_1px]
Gylfi Sigurdsson (home to West Brom)
Siggy has certainly hit the ground running since his return to the Swans and a home fixture vs West Brom should present a great opportunity to continue to please his happy owners. One goal, two assists and three bonus points have seen managers desperately buy him, showing him to be exceptional value even at these levels. Those who have him will be tempted to skipper him, those who don’t will face a nervous 90mins on Saturday afternoon.
[divider_1px]
Punt of the Week
Daryl Janmaat (home to Crystal Palace)
While captaining a defender is a risk, a gamble, maybe even a crazy decision, what else do you expect from a “punt”? Janmaat was Newcastle’s most effective attacker in their goal-less draw at Villa last week and facing a Palace side who were humbled at home by West Ham, suggests confidence is low and the inner troubles within the club are starting to affect the players. Given licence to roam down the right flank and not afraid shoot, there is every chance Janmaat can repay a gambler’s faith.
Thanks for reading Captain Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 3. This article was written by Cookie
[divider_1px]
Don’t forget to post in our Captain’s poll!
[polldaddy poll=8265639]
Evening all!!!
Do we think aguero will start Saturday??
Mitro. I think he wi start or at least get a fair punt of game time. We’ll probably be talking about the injury he picked up next week!
Ha ha!!! I hope not!! Would you go with him as your captain if you had him??
Mitro, if I had him yes I would. I am captaining Jovatic this week.
NZ – Do u think Dzeko is at risk of being dropped for Aguero then ???
Ripsaw, the rumours are he’s out injured. If he’s not I think he could play but not sure if it will be a start or sub role though. Not much help!
Anyone know if Argentina has any friendlies during friendly week????
They play ze Germans again on the 3rd but that’s in Germany so no crazy long haul flights.
Cheers Andy! Hopefully he gets a full 90 and feels a bit tired afterwards! 😉
Hard to say but i’d guess he’ll go 45-60.
Not for me Mitro mate. I think he’ll start on th bench. At home to stoke is not a fixture where they’ll feel the need to rush him back..
Another 25-30 mins for me and he’ll prob still get a hat-trick ! Ha ha.
If I had him, which is still might do. Id cap him
+1
No need for him to start the game.
Evening all,morning Alex!
Peaky my boys hows things shaping in sunny Sheffield? I hope your keeping my seat warm for my return at Xmas?! 😉
You gonna take him to an Owls game, Alex?
Is that some sort of sick joke Bryan?!?! 😉
Don’t be like that Peakster, be the highlight of your footballing life!
Farting on it Daily mate!! 😉
Hahaha There’ll be nothing left of it soon enough
It’ll have disintegrated!
Bry, damn right mate show him some REAL football 😉 You up for it Peaky? Bloody good result against Burnley, the write up sounds look a deserved win; unbeaten in six now, best start since 1990 etc etc etc
I looked at the fixtures before the start of the season, and I was worried, I won’t lie. The lads have exceeded all expectations. Gray’s the best manager we’ve had for a long time. Read comments about Danny Graham maybe arriving, on Owlstalk. Dunno if that’s just a false rumour.
I read that too, £1mil being thrown about thats a lot for us but id be happy at the depth we have up front if we get him!
You forget Alex I used to live spitting distance from Wycombe Wanderers ground!!
Peaky, I hope thats not a comparison!!?!?!
With all defenders now available for Arsenal are people worried about Chambers gametime as they’ve clearly started their strongest X1!! Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal !!
With what’s at stake in this game, we have to assume this is Wenger’s first choice team. Not good news for Chambers owners.
Indeed.
ok if that’s the case what do I do with this lot
Bergovic,Gilks
Chambers,Vlaar,Terry,Van Aarnott,Baird
Nothing in bank,1 FT,was gonna go Bergovic-Krull
As we speak Vlaar is 75% and Baird is probably 0%
Help please!!
This may seem a bit perverse given what I’ve just said, but maybe Wenger will play Chambers at the weekend, because of tonight’s Champion League game? haha. I’m so glad I don’t have this headache.
Sorry. Shouldn’t laugh.
But if Vlaar pulls through, you have a decent back three to get you through this GW I reckon, in Vlaar, Terry and Van Aarnott. Could be just delaying the pain though!
Yeah I have Begovic too and I’m looking to take him out soon – but there isn’t much decent alternatives for 4.5m unless you rotate. Maybe Forster at 5m could be a good punt. You could swap Vlaar for someone else like Taylor after this week because he will have tougher fixtures.
But for this week I think your fine and save to have 2 FT during international break if you’re happy with the rest of your team.
It could be the old wait till ‘presser’ day routine again Bry! Im trying to be conservative this season cos of price rise system change and this can easily be fixed with a 4 pointer but im trying to resist!!!
Peaky theres no rush on taking out Begovic, anything can happen in the Prem remember, he is playing the 90 which is minimum requirement, your main concern is that backline, might be worth holding your FT this week gutting it out with the back 3 that Bry recommended and having 2 moves next week, Vlaar wont be so appealing then with Villas fixtures and then you really will have defensive worries.
Evening Suarez!! Yes mate will do! rest of team is Ramsey Mata Fab Siggy Sterling Costa Rooney,loving the fact that everyones dropping Mata and Rooney!! They’ve got 21 between them in 2 games playing crap and they have Burnley Qpr and Leicester next 3 games,somewhere down the line someones gonna get a pasting!!!
Yes you guys are making sense,patience is the key! I no like patience!!
Evening Peakydave, that’s a decent team – I have the same front 7 except I have Jovetic instead of Sterling. Yeah I find it weird that people are dropping them. Yes Man u are doing shite and it’s hilarious 😛 but they are still managing to score now and then. Imagine if they find a bit of form then they should score some good points with the fixtures they have. I’m definitely leaving in them for now. Possibly put In Aguero for Rooney after Internationals though.
That’s what I was planning Suarez just keep an eye on Aguero for now I think!
What about Gibbs ? Will he not be in contention when he returns ?
But yeah, Chambers does not look to be any kind of first choice..
Not good for Demsie tbh
Gibbs is certainly first choice when healthy, it that staying healthy thing he has a problem with.
Evening all need to sort GK out Foster & Krul have cover def for both , Courtois & Elliot no cover , DDG & Elliot no cover but not sure why I have put this pr in Lluis & Guzan got cover for AV which one
How about Krul and Elliot? Will only cost you 8.5, and Newcastle have good fixtures for a while. You’ll always have a guaranteed starter too.
Sanchez scores his first Arsenal goal.. Slotting home nicely on the the brink of half time.. CL qualifier.
FYI lads, FYI
If it was a post game press conference on Football Manager, I’d be clicking on
“It certainly made my half-time team talk a lot easier!”
Surely we can do more than one thing @ once need help GK below take your eyes of game for a mo