Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 21 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
Welcome to Gameweek 21 and 2015. Can it really be 2015? Remember Y2K? The electronic apocalypse! Our bank accounts would magically disappear, electricity, heat and running water would be a thing of the past, and life as we knew it would cease. Instead we got cheap champagne, some knob playing Prince’s “1999” one last time and a midnight kiss from some broad with a snaggletooth. Fifteen years on, Apple has taken over the world, “reality” TV has destroyed that entertainment medium and it turns out Pluto was never a planet. Where has the time gone?
We hope you survived the Holiday fixture madness, slept off the New Year’s Day hangover and put away all the Christmas albums for another year (though we give you permission to keep “Fairytale of New York” in your regular music queue). It’s been tough to getting back to work and, while we can’t cover for you when you drag yourself through your work’s side door fifteen minutes late, we can help you tackle more important matters: who wears the captain’s band this week? We’ve done the work so you don’t have to!
Without further ado, let’s take a look at our options…
FIXTURES
Sunderland v. Liverpool
Burnley v. QPR
Chelsea v. Newcastle
Everton v. Manchester City
Leicester v. Aston Villa
Swansea v. West Ham
West Brom v. Hull
Crystal Palace v. Spurs
Arsenal v. Stoke
Manchester United v. Southampton
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[/three_fourth]Alexis Sanchez (home vs Stoke)
Despite tallying just three points in his last two league games Arsenal’s Energizer Bunny makes our list. Despite an obvious need for a day off the Chilean will undoubtedly feature in an Arsenal side that practically picks itself due to a litany of injuries at nearly every position. Away from home, Stoke will be happy to play to a draw while Arsenal will be keen for revenge after losing 2-3 at Mordor earlier this season. Sanchez’s tireless work rate and knack for being in the right place at the right time makes him a constant threat to score or provide an assist, and we think him Arsenal’s best bet to score against the mighty Orc Army and their revolutionary 10-1-0 formation.
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[/three_fourth]Harry Kane (away vs Crystal Palace)
With five goals, three assists and ten bonus points in his last five games it should shock no one to see the Tottenham youngster on this list. His offensive explosion has seen his price jump from £5.0 to £5.6 in that same time period. Crystal Palace has shipped the third-most goals at home this season and has a new manager. Spurs come to town brimming with confidence after playing to a scoreless tie against United and putting five on the board against Chelsea. This one could get ugly early, and we expect Kane to be in the middle of it all.
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[/three_fourth]David Silva (away vs Everton)
The miniscule midfielder has benefitted from the absence of Sergio Aguero, with Manuel Pellegrini granting the pocket-sized prowler the freedom to play further up the pitch. The results speak for themselves: diminutive David has scored four goals in City’s last five league games. The Elfin executioner travels to Everton to face a defense in complete disarray; the Toffees have allowed a second-worst 33 goals this season and are without goalkeeper Tim Howard until mid-February. Everton backup keeper Joel Robles yielded three goals to Newcastle and saw Hull score twice. This fixture sounds like a recipe for disaster. With Aguero out and Yaya Toure wasting his form at the Cup of African National Goblet Cups, we think the miniature midfielder will be the beneficiary.
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[/three_fourth]Cesc Fabregas (home vs Newcastle)
The second ex-Barcelona player to make our list this week, and you really have to wonder who is in charge of talent evaluation at the Camp Nou. Cesc’s performance this season has made his boyhood club look the fool. With 14 assists in just 19 games, Cesc is on track to shatter his career-best 20 assist effort in Arsenal’s 2007-08 campaign. While his goal-scoring may have dropped off – and if he didn’t play so deep for Chelsea he’d probably have more goals to his name – his vision and precision passing is as sharp as it’s always been. At home against Newcastle we expect him to provide at least an assist and may pick up a clean sheet as well.
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[/three_fourth]Eden Hazard (home vs Newcastle)
Yes, we are tipping another Chelsea midfielder for the captain’s armband and with good reason: Hazard has scored three times and added three assists in his last five league appearances. Meanwhile, Newcastle are a mess. Toon fans finally realized their dream of forcing Alan Pardew out. With Steven Taylor out (again), and Daryl Janmaat and Fabricio Coloccini nursing injuries, this Toon dream becomes a nightmare. We expect Chelsea to score early and often, and we think Hazard will provide the firepower to bring down Newcastle. We’re expecting a big day for the Belgian and think he’ll reward us with at least a goal, an assist and a few bonus points. Double that and you’re week is off to a good start.
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Honourable Mention
Charlie Austin (away vs Burnley)
With goal totals of 16, 25 and 17 in his last three seasons, it really shouldn’t surprise anyone that Austin has already tallied 12 goals this season. Despite relatively poor form away form – he’s scored just three goals away from Loftus Road – Austin hasn’t gone three straight league games this season without scoring a goal. Last week Burnley let Steven Taylor (12 goals in 8 seasons), and Jack Colback (6 goals in 7 seasons) score against them. Jason Shackell is questionable, Michael Duff is out, and Charlie Austin could have another multi-goal game.
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One-Week Punt: Ashley Barnes (home, QPR)
The Burnley forward has quietly tallied three goals in his last five league games. QPR comes to Turf Moor this weekend having conceded a league-high 22 goals away from home. It’s a match made in a claret-coloured, soon to be relegated heaven. Barnes will score a goal this week – you heard it here first.
Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 21. This article was written by Lawdogg
Follow @PlanoGooner
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This is what i’ve got right now and I’m ready to confirm it, but my question marks are Silva/Ings/Falcao. Some scenarios for consideration:
1. Keep it Silva/Ings/Falcao until Aguero and ADM are for sure playing.
2. Go ahead with ADM/Jovetic/Ings and just bring in Aguero when healthy.
3. Go with Jovetic/ADM/Giroud and swap Jovetic for Aguero by downgrading Giroud in a few weeks.
it’s not letting me post image of my team, so here’s the text version:
WC played — 2.2itb
Guzan/DDG
Clichy/Bertrand/Hutton/Terry/Trippier
Boyd/Sanchez/Fab/Haz/Silva
Ings/kane/Falcao
I would get Aguero now – his price is sure to rise soon & I imagine it will go up 0.2 if not the full 0.3 before next week, especially if he plays this week.
ADM you can probably wait on, but Silva’s fixtures get difficult soon so it wouldn’t be a bad move to bring ADM in now.
Re: Clichy – as stated above, City’s fixtures get tricky over the next few weeks, while Soton’s get a lot easier. Fancy a straight swap of Clichy -> Bertrand?
Cheers mate!
Thanks for the thoughts on Aguero and Silva! I thought that WC transfers didn’t affect price of players though, and I imagine almost everyone bringing him in are using their WC.
I have Clichy and Bertrand, so are you thinking a straight swap for Clyne and having double Soton coverage? Maybe a United Defender would be better?
Isn’t Aguero’s price going to be protected for 8 days or so from the moment when he’s unflagged?
I thought that too, but he has dropped since injury, so I’m not sure how the “protected price” system really works… :/
It will be Albertini, protection occurs only once that flag is removed not before.
Thanks Init, I thought so.
i forgot about the stoopid flaggy flag. not that it changes much for me. Cheers Init for shedding some light on the subject!
Alright. This is it – final 2 drafts. Here are the differences:
Team 1 – have Costa + weaker defense.
Team 2 – have Pelle up front + 3 solid defenders.
What say thee?
Bruce won’t be nailed on as Dawson is back/almost back from injury. Wasilewski would be better in the Costa scenario.
I would go with the no-Costa team personally, as you already have Haz and Fab. Maybe even swap Pelle for Ings for the next few matches, as Burnley have some pretty tantalizing fixtures!
The Pellè train is starting to gather some momentum!! I like #1 Lawdogg as it’s nicely balanced and includes Terry. Plus, I have Pellè in my final WC draft too so I’m hoping there’s safety in numbers!
Quick one before I leave for the night Johnson or Downing
Downing personally, better fixtures.
Downing by far, Sunderland are struggling to score.
Rooney or Falcao?
Hey Burnsy Rooney is FF gold but he is playing to deep so Falcao for me plus ADM will supply more chances
I’ve gone for Rooney, after much deliberation. He has a lot of set-piece duty and generally doesn’t get subbed out most games whereas Falcao does. If we were talking about the Falcao of 18 months ago this wouldn’t even be a question! Sadly he hasn’t got his groove back yet.
Anyone thinking Rooney may not be a guarantee in the side with ADM coming in?
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/550445/Louis-van-Gaal-Wayne-Rooney-tactics
Rooney is as nailed as nailed can be.
I would tend to think that as well, but who will be dropped for ADM? I feel like it’s the same conversation that was going around in September: How will LVG fit Falcao, RVP, Rooney, ADM, and Mata all in the same team? Feeling like their shaky defense will be even more exposed with no DM coverage…
RVP — Falcao
ADM — Rooney — Mata
Shaw Valencia
Rojo Evans Jones
Sadly, it has to be Mata. Shame really as he’s a very good player but he’s no Di Maria.
Downing or Chadli? I have Kane up top and no WH players currently.
I would go for Chadli before Downing just now. Spurs’ fixtures are great for the next few GW’s.
My thoughts as well, but I am also thinking of picking up Walker for Spurs as well. Poh has Lamela tucking in so much from the right, making a ton of space for Walker to get forward. I see him picking up assists to Kane’s head. He has a great shot on him too. I think that triple spurs coverage for the next 5 weeks wouldn’t be a bad thing, but I’m a bit biased as a Spurs fan 😉
Pancho,
I see a lot of rotation at Tottenham and that worries me. I have Kane and I’m convinced he is OK because he has virtually zero talent competing with him as striker. Chadli is probably safe too in fact but when it comes to defence the only one I’d contemplate would be the GK. Far too many defenders in there to be sure who will play each week. Isn’t Walker up against Chiriches, Dier and Yedlin for his place?
Chiriches is garbage and probably off to Roma on loan. Dier was a flash in the pan at the beginning of the season, but better off as a backup center back. As an American and a Spurs fan I am super pumped to see Yedlin at Spurs, but I have no idea how good he’ll be at picking up the pace of play. I think edlin will be used in cup games and that Walker is nailed on for the right back spot. Others should be bit-part players if Walker is fully fit..
Pancho,
Hope so for you mate.
I just believe with Europe also starting again in February, you’ll see Pinocchio mixing things up, especially in defence.