Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 25 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
Gameweek 24 was a mixed bag for captaincy candidates. Walcott returned a one point cameo from the bench; Silva left empty-handed; while teammate Aguero contributed a paltry 5 points. Eden Hazard continued his march up the scoring charts with a handsome 10 points. Once more, however, the limelight was stolen by Harry Kane who, for those ‘punks’ who were ‘feeling lucky’ accrued double digits for the second consecutive game.
This week throws up a few, how to put this, potentially less balanced fixtures. But then, that was said about Man City vs Hull City, so who really knows what will happen? With Man Utd and Arsenal having irresistible home fixtures, can Fantasy Football managers afford to overlook them? Take a look at this week’s top 5 and decide for yourself.
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/three_fourth]5. Sergio Aguero (away vs Stoke)
Well, that wasn’t in the script. Against a well organised Hull outfit, the Argentinian failed to light up the Etihad as expected. While his meager assist was scant consolation for the thousands that captained Aguero, shocks like this are, after all, why we love football. 4 games without a goal in 2015 makes worrying reading for more than a quarter of FPL managers, but this is no Benteke-esque drought. Far from being bereft of near-misses, or starved of decent chances, Sergio has still looked capable of scoring. The Britannia won’t be an easy place to resume ‘normal’ service, but world class players don’t stay stifled for long.
[divider_1px]
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/three_fourth]4. Jermaine Defoe (home vs QPR)
Homesickness allegedly drove Defoe to depart Toronto FC and head for Sunderland, a mere… 275 miles north of his hometown in East London. No matter the reason, Poyet has potentially saved the Mackems from relegation peril by hiring this prolific marksman. Adding to the over-saturated market of quality budget strikers, Defoe joins the likes of Kane and Austin as £6m sharp-shooters. 2 goals and an assist in his first 3 games back in England suggest there’s more to come against a hapless QPR side who know all about homesickness. Having notched 5, 6 and 7 points respectively so far, you may as well add Jermaine’s 8 points on right now.
[divider_1px]
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/three_fourth]3. Harry Kane (away vs Liverpool)
A trip to Anfield against a galvanised Liverpool defence isn’t an ideal fixture for a captain. But on current form how can a top 5 not include Spurs’ super Harry Kane? 10 goals in 9 games. 2 goals against Chelsea. 2 goals against Arsenal. Clearly this season’s FPL phenomenon, Kane is already approaching coveted ‘fixture-proof’ status. Far from being a mere penalty-area predator, the striker is showing genuine talent in every aspect of his play. Roy Hodgson won’t be able to resist giving the 21 year-old his first England cap. I dare say many out there won’t be able to resist captaining him.
[divider_1px]
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/three_fourth]2. Robin van Persie (home vs Burnley)
Let’s face it. Robin van Persie has become unfashionable. There are, naturally, a number of contributory factors. His unconvincing displays under Moyes; his perceived lack of motivation; the increased competition for places; his greying hair. Premier League observers have been left asking what’s happened to the flying Dutchman that scored when he wanted? Surprising as though it may seem, RvP has RSVP’d this SOS. While the forwards ahead of him in the FPL charts have been rightly getting the plaudits, our mate from Rotterdam has sneaked into the top 6. His last 11 starts have tallied 6 goals and 2 assists. Over the season as a while, 56 of his 93 points have come at Old Trafford. Up next is a Burnley team whose only away clean sheet came at Palace in September. Sometimes being unfashionable is the coolest thing to do.
[divider_1px]
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/three_fourth]1. Olivier Giroud (home vs Leicester)
Cazorla, Sanchez, Walcott, Ramsey, Ozil, Welbeck. What Wenger doesn’t lack is depth in attacking options. Of course this is wonderful for him, but a nightmare for us. Figuring out who will be next in line for their turn at the buffet is nigh on impossible. However, while the musical chairs midfield continues to revolve behind him, Olivier Giroud is Arsene’s go-to guy up front when the music stops; plate in hand, shovelling food onto his plate oblivious to the chaos. The Frenchman’s problem this season hasn’t been productivity, it’s been availability. When he’s not undergoing physiotherapy, he’s serving silly suspensions. This is all too evident in his stats. Only 779 minutes played, yet an impressive 7 goals and 2 assists. 6.5 points per 90 minutes is a remarkable return given his sporadic appearances. Leicester’s 9 defeats on the road is eclipsed only by QPR. Whichever lineup Wenger opts for, you can be sure Giroud will be at the spearhead stuffing his face.
Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 25. This article was written by Bryan Munich
[divider_1px]
Don’t forget to vote in our Captains Poll
[polldaddy poll=8519144]
Brilliant read as ever Bry, many thanks. If Sanchez doesn’t make it this week then I’ll be joining Giroud in the buffet queue.
TnX Bry. Giroud it is. Fitness wise he seems to be struggling at times though. Just hope he can play the full 90.
Dear oh dear, van Gaal ain’t funny anymore. Even if United suck monkeyballs he says they look the better team and they have shown great spirit and blablabla. Geeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. LvG is only fun when he does well. Unsure why he isn’t killed by the UK press yet.
Ta!! Think im going to take a punt on walcott!!!
Either Wally or Patrick van Aanholt. 😉
Lol
Would appreciate opinions on my squad; it’s really struggling at then moment :/
Pants (Krul)
Zouma Bellerin Jones (Baird Wollschied)
Haz Sanchez Eriksen ADM (JWP)
Aguero Gayle Giroud
1FT, 1,2m in the bank.
So I use some to upgrade Baird, save it or attack the mid/att?
Kane is obviously an option but already have three out GW27 so may try ride this one out till GW28..
Thoughts?
I’d defo buy Kane. I’d actually consider a hit ti bin Di Maria too, despite the ‘nice’ fixture. He was shocking vs WHU.
Hmm…Kane and Walcott for Gayle and ADM? Just don’t want four missing GW27…
There’s a couple of GW’s to sort that. Lose Zouma next week, for me.
Interesting, thanks NIN
I’ll let his value rise tonight to avoid a silly decision
Great stuff Bry. many thanks :thumbup:
Cheers Bryan! Definitely an Arsenal player for me: AdM is lucky to still be in my team.
Giroud is the safe pick as you say. If Sanchez starts then I’ll probably plump with him. If he doesn’t, I’ll buy Wally (or Ozil if he’s not playing) and captain Wally instead.
Hi James. I’m defo binning Di Maria this week. 3ppg, since i bought him, just isn’t good enough for a premium player. Alexis/Theo should easily outscore him, i think.
Good decision.
ADM isn’t delivering.
No matter how bad ADM is, Falcao is ten times worse. My God. The team has to be terrible if players like Blind/Fellaini have to save them. TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m not arguing in favour of any Man U players right now.
Don’t have one.
They’re at the same spot as they were last season. I started the season wanted to see how they do. But at the moment I couldn’t care less, the games are just too bad. LvG is hopping from system to system. Another bad move.
Indeed. I don’t know what has happened to him, but he’s way way off his sparkling form from earlier in the season.
Remember Ozil had a few good games before sucking the remainder of the season? Now he has had 1 good game and everybody is praising him to heaven again.
Yep. Great player on his day. But it’s rarely his day recently.
He has to rub his crystal eyes before the game starts.
Ozil is a fantastic player mate. Easily among the best in Europe.
Ozil *and* Di Maria are amongst Europe’s best. The latter is a million miles away from showing it though as you say NIN.
I’ll be selling him after Burnley.
Good choice. Gotta be cold about this game. Some players just don’t return the points we think they should.
I’m keeping ADM for now, but that’s mostly because I have other transfers to make. With United’s fixtures, they should be able to score some goals at least, and ADM is just as likely to be involved as any. When the time comes to bring in Sanchez or Costa, he’ll make way to free up funds.