Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 16 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
What can you do in two minutes? Well, keeping it clean . . . you could listen to Song 2 by Blur and rock out some fantasy league angst, you could read Bryan Munich’s inspirational quotes and think, ‘I’d love to remember that and quote it to appear intellectual (but I never will)’. You could cook two-thirds the way, a soft-boiled egg or watch Tim Vine tell you 56,676 jokes. Alternatively you could watch the entire performance of your fantasy football captain for the week.
Sergio Aguero, everyone. I don’t have the figures to hand but apparently an astounding 134% had the armband on him last week against Everton and the resultant intake of breath at approximately 5.32pm on Saturday as the Argentine (there I said it) crumpled to the turf and then cried, would have been enough to vacuum-seal the hole in the ozone layer.
FIXTURES
Burnley v Southampton
Chelsea v Hull City
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
Leicester City v Manchester City
Sunderland v West Ham Utd.
West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa
Arsenal v Newcastle Utd.
Manchester Utd. v Liverpool
Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur
Everton v Queens Park Rangers
Well, as I write there is no definitive update on the injury to Sergio Aguero but you’ll not be surprised to hear that I am proceeding without him this week but I have plenty of other options for you to ponder so let’s find your perfect partner. Now remember, please, your captain choice will either be a marriage made in heaven or more than probable, a ball and chain. Being able to accept either could happen and that it’s out of your control, is one of the keys to proper fantasy management.
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[/three_fourth]I think EDEN HAZARD is your best man this week.
The Belgian likes his home comforts for sure and his five goals so far this season have all been at Stamford Bridge. His last ten goals in fact have all been at home. He has two league assists and strangely they have been playing away. I don’t understand that either. Hull City come to town and it should be yet another routine home win. I’d read nothing in to the Newcastle loss. If such a thing exists, the Geordies are Jose’s bogey team. They’ll be a different beast this weekend with a return to winning ways despite the assist-king Fabregas being suspended. Mikel should again play with Matic returning but it’s the attacking trio of Hazard, Oscar and Willian supporting Diego Costa that should have you bound for points. Oscar is a nice captaincy alternative but Hazard is my tip due to his afore-mentioned Bridge record and given he is on penalty duties. Need one final piece of convincing? Well he has played 90 minutes in his last six league games (and 89 in the one before). Jose seems to like having him on the park. You might just think that’s the icing on the cake.
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[/three_fourth]Our next pick this week is Hazard’s team-mate, ‘throwing shapes (and elbows and hands) like a granddad-at-a-wedding’ Diego Costa. He may have disappointed a touch recently by missing games through injury and suspension and he likes a rumble does Diego so you have to always factor in a couple of lost points for a yellow card but hear us out… Let’s not forget he’s still scored 11 goals and has actually only played 12 games and 7 of them have come at the Bridge. This is no ordinary fixture either. This is Hull. At home. Chelsea have scored 18 goals at home in 7 games and despite their recent slip up at Newcastle and the blank at Sunderland you would have to think it will be business as usual for them this weekend and I fancy Costa will be itching to get back amongst the goals and it’d be a brave man who bets against him getting one or three against Hull. Now if only he could add an assist or two along the way…
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[/three_fourth]Under the lights at the Emirates and under pressure, there we again find Arsene’s Arsenal. I have my eye on a captaincy shout here but it is one of the evening guests I’m going for, PAPISS CISSE. Three in two for the Senegalese who to me, seems like the kind of guy who you played with at school who would just hang around the box and the ball would fall to him regardless. Newcastle are off the back of being the first team to topple Chelsea and Arsenal lost at Stoke (surely to save embarrassment Arsene, rather than not going out of the dugout and face the Stokies slagging him, he should just send Steve Bould with the reserves? Or forfeit?). Sorry, back to the game. Cisse has scored two in 38 minutes against Chelsea and 1 in 90 minutes versus Burnley. So the answer is clearly to chuck him on with ten to go and let him score three. Would I expect him to score three, well despite Per Mertesacker seemingly retiring from all football and not just the international variety after the World Cup, I would have to say no. Do I see him scoring again though and pleasing his 1.3% owners? I do.
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[/three_fourth]In truth I’m not expecting a great reception to that last pick so I’ll be boring and default back to a ‘big’ pick. For those who had Aguero penciled in as their captain come what may, it’s time to alter those plans. YAYA TOURE could be gold over the next five weeks and if you have him, you’ll fancy him rolling up to the buffet that is Leicester City, who putting it kindly, have been extremely poor since they beat Manchester United 5-3, what seems like seven years ago. Toure will have assumed penalty duties now and tucked his one nicely away on Saturday. A lot will now be expected of him as the senior attacking player in this side. Three goals in his last four games including swiping eight bonus points from a possible twelve and going up against the team with the second-worst goals conceded record in the league has a very nice ring to it. City should be Poznan-ing in the pews on Saturday. On the same page, boys and girls, you could have Edin Dzeko if he proves his fitness. A word of warning though, despite his excellent record in the league, he will be playing for a spot along with Stevan Jovetic so maybe best wait a week to assess the situation or just gamble if you’re that kind of a free spirit.
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Outside Chances
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[/three_fourth]For my final two, I’m going to select two very similar style players who have home matches and will hope to continue their decent form. Always the bridesmaid at Chelsea, ROMELU LUKAKU and Brendan’s one that got away, WILFRIED BONY. Both lads will be at home this weekend, Lukaku faces QPR while Bony is up against Spurs. I won’t make a great speech for either of these guys but I think they warrant some attention. Lukaku has scored in each of his last two home games and should probably be rested ahead of the match being as Everton, who play on Thursday, are already qualified in the Europa League. Whilst Bony has being doing plenty of favours for his owners having been amongst the points in his last four consecutive matches (scoring three and assisting one).
As usual, here are the traffic lights . . .
RED (Take a punt if you have him): Papiss Cisse
AMBER (Proceed with (a) caution): Diego Costa
GREEN (If you have him, armband him): Eden Hazard
A final thought:
Remember that you pick your captain, no one else. Unless it so happens to be one of the above three and they nail it, then you heard it here first people.
Enjoy your football.
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Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 16. This article was written by The Gallant pioneer
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WooFBet
Over on the WooFBet website the exclusive FF247 league is back for GW16 and has a prize pool of €150 and it is free to enter so get yourselves over there sharpish!
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 Captains Poll
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So a wee bit of a dilemma, Sold Kun for Sakho and have $7.1m in the bank and 1FT. Reasonably happy with my midfield but need to ship either Chambers or Manquillo to ensure three playing defenders. The money could be used for upgrade my mids but i’m loathe to take a hit when it’s not necessary. Just go balls out Chambers to Coleman for one week?
Courtois – Myhill
Baird – Chambers – Baines – Manquillo – Yun
Hazard – Montero – McCarthy – Downing – Sig
Costa – Sakho – Rooney
Nope. I wudnt bother. Id go Chambers to hutton. Im considering cashing in on chambers as Deboogy is back an hes bn slightly ropey
Yeah i’d like Debuchy back too, if he was 100% in i’d be on him. Or maybe play two at the back and upgrade Montero to Sanchez or Yaya?
Cheers Gallant. Good write up.
U think this years fpl is sooo open? Its great. Looking at forwards, with so much to choose from Im putting my wish list in order of ones i fancy. Let me know what u think.
1 Bony
2 Rooney
3 Diego
4 RVP
5 Benteke
6 Falcao (when fit. Bn very unlucky with shots imo)
Cheers
Cheers chopper
Of those, Costa immediately is the one to aim for. Playing as the main striker in the best team in the league. I have him, I have Bony and probably Dzeko coming in for Aguero this weekend.
Benteke I’m watching very closely. When he is back fit, he could go very well.. Don’t know if you recall when he first arrived, but there wasn’t one defender I can remember vividly being able to handle him. A beast of a striker.
I’ve been sort of put off the United strikers purely on how bad I keep hearing they are playing. I notice though that they are third in the league with having won 5 in a row. So they must be doing something right. I’d have Rooney before the other two personally.
1. Costa
2. Rooney
3. Bony (want Austin for the last 3 games of the season though)
Rooney because he’s the only one that will always get 90 minutes when fit. Falcao only played 90 minutes once in 13 months, last game he didn’t even appear because RvP was on fire (and 2 early subs). RvP had 1 really good game, doesn’t mean he will excel every game. Needs to show some good stuff 3-5 games in a row to be considered. And even then, too expensive. Plus Falcao when fit will be a beast. Falcao looked really shite in his last appearance by the way, terrible ball control and terrible passing.
Afternoon all I thk with Aguero out for 6 wks its going to make it interesting lots of cheap options , we need someone to step up to the plate
So I’m in the camp of those waiting on City’s CL match tonight before bringing in Dzeko or Jovetic. My question is, what will tonight’s minutes really tell us for this weekend? If Dzeko plays 75-90 is he more or less likely to get the start Saturday? Or will that mean Jovetic will get the nod after being rested tonight?
Help me understand….
….also seriously considering a punt on Ramsey….
Colriles,
To me its more that he is fit to play and comes through without injury. Dzeko probably will play parts of both games. If you are asking me to predict, I’d say he starts both.
*to clarify – I’m talking about Dzeko in the first sentence.
I thought it would be the opposite tbh. From what i understand Dzeko is only fit for 30-40 mins whereas Jovetic only had a minor knock last week but would be fit for the 90.
I would say Jovetic to start dzeko as a sub appearance.
Hopefully we will know more by the weekend as i want to bring one of them in!
hammers
You may be right. I think we’ll have more food for thought after this evening’s selection.
I think Pellegrini relies on Dzeko more. That much is obvious.
@ Gallant
Also depends on Silva return. I think Silva will be key now Kun is out. If I recall correctly City had no creativity the first few games with no Silva.
Raz
He’ll still play at least one striker though.
Cheers GP. That’s exactly what I was looking for. I think Jovetic is the more exciting, explosive player, but if Dzeko should get the bulk of the minutes he may be my guy.
I’ve already flip-flopped on the Ramsey move. If I brought him in as a 5th mid I’d have a helluva selection headache this week. Maybe in a couple weeks for Mirallas.
Ramsey has been yellow flagged, just so you know. Though, half the Arsenal team (midfielders) seem to be out so I’m guessing he’ll start. You never know though.
I really want to let go of Sanchez, 11m is just too much freaking money. Ramsey is like 2.3 m cheaper, but still…………………. sighs. Also, Wenger said that Sanchez is in the red, fitness level wise. Played too many games. That’s why he was rested yesterday. And suddenly Ramsey excels, coincidence? I think not.
Guys thoughts on Debuchy. With Chambers out will he start this weekend given he got 77 minutes last night?
Lisbon,
Providing he has had no reaction to his first game back, I think Debuchy will start this weekend yeah. After Chambers’ suspension it will probably be Debuchy/Chambers/Mertesacker/Gibbs as first choice over the Christmas period.
Great article Gallant! I’m torn between Hazard and Costa for cap this week, but will probably go for Hazard, since he’s on penalties.
Need some advice on my midfield though…..atm my midfield looks like this:
Fabregas, Hazard, Siggy, Downing, Ameobi
I’m thinking of doing either Fabregas>Sanchez, or Ameobi>Ramsey. Which one would be the better choice?
Wesley
Thanks for saying so.
Who are your strikers?
Costa, Austin, carroll
Got vartill for kun, and planing to get either bony or dzeko for Austin next gw
Sorry, its carroll for kun
Wesley,
If you have eight first choice players across your midfield and attackers, you will find it very difficult who to drop each week. You are usually better having a weaker but 90 minute player for back up purposes and re-invest the funds to strengthen your first eleven. With that in mind, and as you have Hazard and Costa, I’d maybe do the Sanchez for Fabregas move.