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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Afternoon all
If kun is confirmed as on the bench this weekend im defo playing my WC. What do you think of this wc team?
Assuming the GK’s work well together, pretty darn good squad here :thumbup:
NIN, clearly great minds think alike lol 😉
Apparently fixtures are as follows:-
HUL, SOT, hul, STO, SWA, sun, AVL, avl, STO, ARS, QPR, LEI, cpl, SWA, lei, WBA, qpr, WHM
so not the best, but by no means the worst
Not bad. Might be as well to go with Heaton and Pantilimon though, and swap out van Aanholt.
Yeah seen SUN & BUR rotate well so could swap azpi to duff & keep PVA- its the same team coverage then use the 2.3 to up downing.
Hammers, nice team mate. Not sure how well the keepers rotate? And also being as Azpi, Alder and Jones will start most of the games (I assume?) Why have two 4.2? Id downgrade to a 3.9 and use funds elsewhere. Or downgrade Jones and upgrade Downing?
Yeah, downgrading jones or azpi to up downing was one thing i was thinking of. Its only my 1st attempt so will look at that a bit more.
Keeper fixtures are as follows:-
HUL, SOT, hul, STO, SWA, sun, AVL, avl, STO, ARS, QPR, LEI, cpl, SWA, lei, WBA, qpr, WHM
So as i said above not the best, but by no means the worst especially if pulis works his magic again
Anyone know how nailed on Cameron is? Albert pointed out Bardsley is returning but not sure if he will displace him.
Hey NZ. Cameron can cover a few positions so i think he should be fine.
Thanks NIN. Is your team set in concrete?
I think so yeah. Since i changed GK’s i haven’t even opened up the transfer screen apart from having a quick look for RMT’s for others. The pressers may change things a bit but for now, t’is finito
You have you gone for as your keepers NIN?
NIN, I’m jealous, Im getting very frustrated with mine! Going round and round and not getting anywhere. My big concerns is who to downgrade and that my team looks very ‘template’ at the minute? Is that a problem? I don’t know, maybe not.
hammers – Hamer&Forster. Hamer just for this week while Southampton are away to United, then it’ll be Forster every week for pretty much the remainder of the season. May make a late switch around GW 30 something.
NZ – Mine looks a bit template too, to be honest. It’s hard to look elsewhere when the likes of Hazard, Sanchez etc are in such good form. The only real differentials i’ve got are Lescott, Debuchy, Johnson and maybe Di Maria but something tells me a lot of managers will be jumping on him this GW too. Hopefully not too many of the top 10K though. Remind me what the downgrade is for again? Head is a bit sozzled just now
NIN (and anyone who wants to contribute!) I like your differentials pal, especially Johnson.
Team attached as it stands, I want Fab instead of Chadli (is it too much Spurs to have him and Kane!?) and can afford it now but not with Augero in the team. Currently I can afford Costa to Augero when he’s fit for no hit.
I was trying to get Augero, Kane and Man U forward as coverage but just can’t afford it. I could go Fab and Austin but Chadli and Pelle feels better and if Pelle continues not to fire there is Giroud. What say you my friend? I need some words so I can hit confirm and stop spending every waking minute thinking about it 😉
NZ – I don’t think it’s over the top to have both Chadli and Kane but if you want Cesc in his place then it looks like JT who needs to be chopped, assuming your other mid’s are untouchables.
NIN, yer your right pal. So which team do you prefer?
NZ – Such a close call mate. I’ll stick my neck out here a wee bit and go for Debuchy&Cesc. However, i do like Chelsea defence for the foreseeable future and have included Azpi in my own squad. Do your other defenders have sufficient fixtures so that you can bench Debuchy for away games, or at least tough away games like City/Spurs? That’s something i took into account when buying Debuchy. Home games are sweet and could reap rewards but away ties a iffy. Your team is giving me a headache
Hahaha thanks NIN, appreciate your thoughts a lot. I’m off to hide in a dark room and cry! At least I’ve narrowed it down to that one decision now and I think I’m leaning towards having Fab and dropping JT.
I personally like most Dutch attacking backs in the EPL. They know how to attack. Defend not so much. Anyway, Janmaat/vanAanholt/Pieters all have goal/assist potential. Think Pieters is only 4.6m?
Raz, every penny counts I’m afraid!
Current team looks like this
Guzan
Clichy Zabaleta Taylor
Hazard(c) Silva Erikssen Sterling
Kane Costa Austin
Bench: Oscar Oshea Dummet
Any suggestions? Considering doing Oscar>Di Maria and Zabaleta>Cahill for a hit. Should i WC? Very grateful for tips!
I don’t think you need to WC just yet. Maybe just one of those City guys to Cahill this week. The Oscar one would simply give you a benching headache.
I benched Kane last week with oscar playing. But i alredy have 3 chelsea players so I have to take one out to get cahill in
Oh yeah of course you have, maybe then. I’d a leave it until we hear to ADM is defo starting though. You could bench Austin I guess but I still fancy him to do well v Burnley despite his recent couple of blanks.
So i shouldnt do anything this week?
There’s no pressing need to I don’t think.
Victor Valdes signs for Man Utd ….
All DDG managers PANIC .
Why? Valdes is shite compared to DDG. I only see him play Cup matches or when DDG is injured/ill.
Haha I wouldn’t go that far Ken. He’s hardly likely to replace one of the most in form keepers in the league with a 32yr who’s been out for 6 months with a serious knee injury. He’s cover, that’s all. Lindegaard was off in the Summer anyway so this probably just accelerates that to now.
Valdes there clearly as a mentor figure, surely? Can’t imagine him starting ahead of DDG. Interesting choice by Valdes – could have gone to a number of clubs and actually competed for a starting job.
Need to downgrade one of these to a 3.9 defender. Who goes?
Taylor (swa)
van Aanholt
Wisdom
Hutton
Taylor, for me.
Cheers NIN. How’s your team coming along? Has this Aguero news tempted you to play the WC? I haven’t activated mine yet but think I’m almost finished putting together a WC team
Lawdogg – I activated mine as soon as i could! Gyazo seems to be down for me just now so cant do a snapshot thingy. Back to typing i go.
Forster-Hamer
Wasilewski-Debuchy-Azpi-Lescott-Cameron
A.Johnson-Hazard-Sanchez-Di Maria-Marney
Costa-Rooney-Kane
1.1m in the kitty for Costa -> Aguero, whenever he gets back.
Hey NIN do you not thk Rooney is playing to deep also with ADM back he wont get up as much
I thought about Debuchy for my team but Arsenal’s defense has been so bloody bad this year I just can’t bring myself to do it.
Think you are looking at a solid team IMO. well done
Silverback – Yes, Rooney’s deeper role isn’t exactly ideal but i’m going to give it a whirl anyway and see what he can do for me. Th return of Di Maria only increases our scoring threat so i’ve gone for both of them. If push comes to shove it’s only a small upgrade from Rooney to Costa. We shall see.
Lawdogg – Yeah Arsenal have been iffy to say the least. He wont be a regular in my team but you lot do have some nice home games coming up so i took a bit of a punt on him. Might sneak an assist or two out of him, hopefully a goal. Maybe a RC or two too, you never know
Taylor. Fixtures are poor. Are you on WC?
Villa have the harder fixture list so I doubt Hutton will make your line up much over the next four fixtures, I’d check your possible rotation options, if you can get away with leaving Hutton on your bench keep him and lose Taylor for that little extra £.
Hi guys
should i use my wc for this week with this team?
DeGea to Heaton
Henderson to DiMaria
VanPersie to Costa
Clichy to Fonte
or just keep free transfer?
Tq
Hi fcsh, I’d keep it and maybe play Boyd over Henderson.