Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 10 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
Hallowe’en is a time when ostensibly sane people wear a Scream mask and carve a stupid face into a large orange cucurbita fruit. The really dedicated step beyond the fantasy and embrace paranormal phenomena, perhaps by ghost hunting or gathering the family around a Ouija board. That being said, I don’t think anyone expected Liverpool to get a clean sheet on Saturday.
Keeping in spirit (gone early there, sorry) with things, this week’s Captain Picks celebrates the spooky season through the medium of word alchemy. Have fun trying to spot all the gory puns, but don’t try it at home. It’s addictive and can be hard to Hallo-ween yourself off.
Speaking of scary looking individuals – a quick word on Diego Costa – clearly if he is fit and plays vs QPR he will be a very popular Captain’s choice this week, maybe even the main one, however, after his recent spell on the sidelines this article looks at the next best options in case Costa is not about this weekend.
Starting (with the commendable intention of building tension) at number 5, let’s crack on and see ‘witch’ 5 captains you should be casting an eye of newt over this week.
5. Sadio Mane (Hull, A)
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[/three_fourth]After only 4 appearances, one of the Premier League’s brightest new stars already has a bewitched St. Mary’s under his spell. With a highly potent midfield partnership brewing with Tadic, and both feeding the ever-improving Pelle to their reciprocal benefit, life is looking good for the South Coast team right now. Recently it’s been looking especially good for Sadio Mane. It’s hard to know what to take from anyone’s role in Saints’ supernatural humiliation of Sunderland but against Stoke he complimented his 2nd goal on the bounce with a 95% pass completion ratio, 14 of which were in the attacking third. 273 minutes of game time is an inadequate sample size, but if the initial steep curve of his improving BPL stock is any evidence that this boy could be the Mane man then he’s very likely tomb make an impact at the KC Stadium this weekend.
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4. Alexis Sanchez (Burnley, H)
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[/three_fourth]Along with Mane and Tadic, Arsenal have arguably the most in-form midfielder right now. The Chilean World Cup star has been haunting defences of late with a series of scintillating performances, most notably against Man City, Spurs, Hull and Sunderland. He hasn’t just been good to watch, he’s racked up the fantasy points too. Saturday’s brace at the Stadium of Light saw the Gunner claim his 5th goal in 7 games. On Saturday alone he had 5 shots and 3 on target. This notoriously hard worker ranked in the top 5 for passes, chances created, take-ons, ball recoveries and even tackles! Wenger brought in Welbeck to add firepower to the team, which he has inadvertently done so, though perhaps by bringing Sanchez to life.
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3. Romelu Lukaku (Swansea, H)
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[/three_fourth]Ask anyone who’s ever captained Lukaku and they’ll likely bemoan, “He scored me 4 points”. The frustrating thing about the Belgian isn’t any lack of talent, but that he shows it when no-one’s looking. The most famous example being on the last day of the 2012/13 season when even those chasing the FPL crown left him racking up a Hawthorns hat-trick on their bench. This season Lukaku’s lived up to his old Trick or Treat routine, but of late has shown signs of consistency with 2 goals in 2 appearances. One would envisage him ghosting into the box and goblin up a few chances against an underwhelming Swansea at Goodison Park this weekend.
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2. Sergio Aguero (Man Utd, H)
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[/three_fourth]Last week he scuppered all but the bravest of us by failing to bury any chances against the Hammers, but to Count on him replicating such a failure too often in the future could be a grave mistake. Much is made of Sergio’s injuries, but he’s completed the full 90 minutes in his last 3 league games. Whether from the bench or from the start, this fella’s ghoul per minute ratio is frightening. Even at home to a defence as generous as Man Utd’s it’s always a slight concern backing a striker in huge games like this. Nevertheless, Sergio has proved in the past to be fixture-proof and with both teams boasting ridiculous attacking riches, in the cauldron of a Manchester derby, it could well be a high-scoring Thriller.
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1. Eden Hazard (QPR, H)
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The finest things in life are often the most easily spoiled. A corked vintage; a scratched Ferrari; a hamstring-prone £32mln Spanish striker. Though Costa may well make the QPR game, captaining him right now is sure to test the nerve of FPL managers. A safer bet therefore may lay with Chelsea’s ever-present midfield wizard. Cesc Fabregas has rightly shared Costa’s headlines so far, with more collaborations than Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes combined. However, those bearing witness to Hazard’s recent performances will pay testimony to his resurgence in form. Despite coming away empty-handed against the Red Devils he was unlucky not to score and was at the core of almost every Chelsea attack. Cesc may still be Fab, but it may soon be time to get ready for some monster point hauls from an enchanted Eden.
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Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 10. This article was written by Bryan Munich
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Seems *Diego Costa* will be fit for QPR according to Mourinho, the Daily Mail claims. Hmm, whether to bring him back in this week or wait til next week? What does everyone think?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2811761/Diego-Costa-Ramires-fit-Chelsea-face-QPR-west-London-derby-claims-boss-Jose-Mourinho.html
I currently have Costa as my captain, however, I’m nervous, and I’m thinking of adjusting…
I don’t doubt that Costa will be fit to play, but Chelsea can easily beat the Rangers without him, and I don’t think it’s a big enough game to warrant mourinho playing him. Fabregas has been in form, and QPR seems like the perfect match to give Remy some more playing time, and to let Costa rest for another week.
Personally, I think that if Costa does play, he won’t play the full 90. Especially if Chelsea takes any sort of early lead.
You might be right, although it will prolly be Schurly who will play up top as Remy is out till the 22nd of Nov (according to the physio room injury table) and Drogba just played two back to back. Chelski play on Nov. 5 in the Uefa Champions League as well so some tricky fixtures to navigate for poor old Mou.
FC Sanchez u might wanna read this about Schurrle after last nights game!!
Mourinho blasts Chelsea duo Schurrle and Salah
http://dailym.ai/1sBhEof
jwpjr – Remy is injured, so he won’t be playing.
Superb article Bryan, are there any Halloween puns left?? Shame you couldn’t squeeze in a rec for John Cematerry….
I am thinking of ditching Taylor for 3 weeks and then bringing him back in for Wilson (who I’ll hold until then). I Forster, Baines, Wisdom, Colo otherwise. Is Chambers the best bet do we think? 2 of his next 3 fixtures are a bit dodgy though…
I’m in the same predicament as you, I also have forster in goal and want to ditch Taylor.
I originally planned to get Chambers, but realistically is he going to get more than the one clean sheet over the next three?
My next thought was doubling up on Southampton..
The problem with doubling up is you’ll need to get them out so could cost you 4 pts.
Chambers is a good medium/long term option.
Thanks for the great Captains Picks article Bryan, nice work with the Halloween theme!!
Looks like Jagielka didn’t go up in price tonight as expected on FFF, but Sakho did even though he wasn’t at 100% (and he’s crocked!). Good news for those thinking about purchasing Costa as he’s dropped in price down to 10.8.
Who Would You Guys Go For ?
Chadli or Downing
Tough one — Although West Ham are more “in-form” than Spurs (who are on and off depending on the week), Sakho could be out for several weeks. If Sakho is fit then Downing would be my pick.
Both have pretty similar fixtures coming up. I agree with FC Sanchez; West Ham looks in form, and Downing may be a better choice. Personally, I have Downing in my squad for GW 10.
Hi All,
Mannone (Heaton)
Wisdom, Bertrand Baines (Moore, N.Taylor)
Chadli Siggy Di Maria Sterling (King)
Aguero, Pelle V, Costa C
0.2m itb and 1FT.
Thinking of changing 1 of my keepers now that they dont rotate anymore… So who should come out and who to come in? Don’t like doubling up on defence.
Anyone?
People need to believe in order to see you Pan.
Keeping Forster for 3 more weeks myself than he needs replacing. I have just 1 playing goalie. I’d look at fixtures. I’m thinking Spurs, Everton goalie.
Now gtg. Sayonara bitches
I wish Raz…
Unfortunately my budget does not allow me the luxury of having a 5m+ keeper
Krul?! Schmeichel?!
Of the 2 who would you pick Saint?
In my opinion Aguero & Sanchez best cap picks this week, if I owned Sanchez, he’d be mine this week, they’ll batter us (Burnley) 4/5/6-0