Captain Picks Game-week 18

Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 18 – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16

Ah, the Premier League and Christmas. A perfect union. One is an internationally renowned brand, pimped to almost every corner of the globe, exploiting working class people and pressuring every nagged parent to buy the latest overpriced merchandise. The other is the Premier League. But after the Christmas Day dinner, comes the Boxing Day banquet and then the true festival begins.

2015/16 ’tis the season to be jolly so far for Claudio Ranieri, who compared his team’s success to Forrest Gump. Presumably due to their unstoppable run to the front, rather than implying Jamie Vardy was a slow-witted American Football player with an aptitude for ping-pong. In truth, the whole Premier League campaign has been like a box of chocolates and no-one has a clue what they’re going to get.

Even as the year draws to a close, the talking points have been relentless. The latest being the opera unfolding at Old Trafford where festive cheer has been at a premium of late, and the media scrutiny has been driving poor Louis crackers. His latest press conference was a mere 5 minute cameo, so at least now he knows how Ander Herrera feels. But before we all storm out with Van Gaal to the pub for some much needed Dutch courage, let’s have a look at the 5 players who, in any normal solar system, would be a safe bet to adorn the FPL armband. Of course we all know anything can happen, so… may the farce be with you.

5. Kevin De Bruyne (home vs Sunderland)
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[/three_fourth]While it’s tempting to overlook the Belgian due to his barren 3 game run, it would be reckless to ignore the finer print. He was rested in City’s last home game, and was unlucky not to register in Monday’s defeat at Arsenal, where he looked the most likely City player to penetrate the Gooner defence for much of the match. Most tellingly, 54 of his 74 FPL points this season have come at the Etihad. In visitors Sunderland, a team prone to being overawed by big occasions and with 24 goals conceded on their travels, Man City have the perfect chance to put in the kind of dominating performance that Pellegrini’s men are so capable of on their day. Until Sergio Aguero’s game time is guaranteed, KdB remains the most dangerous attacking option.

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4. Mesut Ozil (away vs Southampton)
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[/three_fourth]Not so many moons ago, there was a Chelsea player called Cesc Fabregas. People would come from lands far and wide, and marvel at his ability to fashion out chances for his peers. Not a week would go by without an assist for his compatriot Costa. “He’s like Robin Hood!”, a slow-witted child with an aptitude for ping-pong would cry. Now, that fable has faded and a new hero’s in town.
Mezut Ozil has shown the value of having extreme peripheral vision, bringing a reputation from Real Madrid as someone who carves out opportunities for teammates; but surely even he couldn’t have foreseen this ridiculous streak. 13 assists in the last 11 games have brought his season’s tally to an astonishing 15. Everyone in favour of giving the German the captaincy make themselves known… The eyes have it.

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3. Riyad Mahrez (away vs Liverpool)
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[/three_fourth]The most famous Algerian since Sofia Boutella (Nope, me neither) has one hand on the player of the year trophy already. It seems hard to believe that Mahrez was ever left on the bench in away games at the start of the season, when you consider that 9 of his 13 goals have come away from the King Power stadium. It also seems unfathomable to view the Foxes as favourites in a clash with a newly Klopped Liverpool, but that’s exactly where English football is at the moment; and while it’s led to a rather stagnant FPL season, it’s undoubtedly made for thrilling Premier League fare. Riyad’s last 4 games on the road have reaped 7 goals, and so Saturday’s festive ferry ‘cross the Mersey could see him knock the turkey stuffing out of Anfield and leave Jürgen yëarning for the Jägermeister.

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2. Romelu Lukaku (away vs Newcastle)
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[/three_fourth]Only a fortnight ago were record books being rewritten, as Jamie Vardy successfully chased down a goal-scoring streak that had stood for 12 years. Already that’s under threat. Enter stage left, Romelu Lukaku. Previously derided in FPL circles for his frustrating inconsistency and penchant for blanking when least expected, the 6ft 3in brute is now as reliable a proposition as a sci-fi movie in the hands of J.J. Abrams. 8 goals in 7 games prior to a trip to Steve McClaren’s Magpies suggests the Guinness Book of Records HQ may have another footballer to visit in the near future. Newcastle are not the whipping boys they were when they capitulated 5-1 at Crystal Palace, but a meek home draw to struggling Villa last weekend shows that there’s still much work to be done at St. James’ Park.

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1. Harry Kane (home vs Norwich)
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[/three_fourth]’He scores when he waaaants!’; but enough about Neil Lennon. Harry Kane has only shown patches of last season’s lethal form which thrust him into the national spotlight (sounds familiar…). However the signs of a revival are there after last week’s clincher at Southampton, and with the most goal attempts of anyone this season, and 2nd most shots on target, our ‘Arry is nothing if not a trier. He might not quite score when he wants just yet, but he certainly shoots when he wants. Visitors Norwich will be buoyant after their shock win at Man Utd, but still have yet to perfect the knack of keeping a clean sheet, having notched just the one. Pochettino will be hoping Spurs’ home hiccup against Newcastle was just a blip; it was their first defeat since the opening day. Furthermore, they have only played against one of the promoted sides thus far in Bournemouth. The result? A Harry Kane hat-trick.

So there’s my top 5. Agree? Disagree? Please leave your feedback/compliments/abuse in the comments below and in the words of LvG, “Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye.”

Thanks for reading Captain Picks Fantasy Football Game-week 18. This article was written by Bryan Munich

Follow @bry_cooper

On that note many others do the same and so we would like to thank the Captain Article Team of Blue Moon, Bry, Calvin, Chins, GP, Guy, James and Tekno for their regular (not you Chins) contributions this season as well as the likes of DMC, Lawdogg and Pancho for their ad-hoc articles.

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