Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 27 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
Hello friends and welcome to your Captains Article for GW27. Now this article relates to the original fantasy football EPL game. You remember that one? We used to love this in the days before we were distracted by the UEFA Champions League and Europa League fantasy games, all those substitutions and captaincy changes strewn over the course of nine days for the former or four hours in the case of the latter. MLS fantasy is starting back up which a lot of us enjoy greatly – only the Americans can come up with a game where price changes are based upon your performance in one game, providing you play 45 minutes at least of course, such as is their fascination with fast-paced gaming and basically being a bit different! Apparently now cricket too has been getting big licks with the fantasy brush. So I’ve heard. Let’s be honest, can you really take a sport seriously where Scotland qualify for the World Cup? Anyway back to the real fantasy.
The flipside of the forthcoming doubler in GW28 is that GW27 contains a measly eight matches to rummage around in and pick you out some captaincy choices.
There’s no Chelsea, no Eriksen or Kane either due to the Rumbelow’s Cup Final, so there goes around 50% of the choices. Also, the four teams who play on Sunday will be coming off the back of European matches (Liverpool far-travelled too) and the threat of rotation/injuries/fatigue means a captain from any of these teams could be seen as some form of risk. This’ll be fun!
The Fixtures
West Ham United v Crystal Palace
Burnley v Swansea
Manchester United v Sunderland
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
Stoke City v Hull City
West Bromwich Albion v Southampton
Liverpool v Manchester City
Arsenal v Everton
The contenders:
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[/three_fourth]Diafra Sakho – The Senegalese has, in his debut season, which has been interrupted twice by injury, registered a better than one goal in every two games average. Impressive stuff. He scored last time out against Tottenham and impressed this writer with a very good all-round performance in the Manchester United match. With Andy Carroll again injured and Carlton Cole limping out of the Tottenham match, the quest for goals will rest with Sakho and Enner Valencia but it is the striker with eight league goals as opposed to Valencia’s three, that forms the selection. The Irons play Crystal Palace who have only kept one clean sheet in six.
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[/three_fourth]Danny Ings – The Burnley forward broke through the 100 point mark with his goal at Old Trafford last week, his ninth of the season. A bit of a lad for the bonus points as well, he has 14, the England Under-21 striker could get to double figures in this week’s home game versus in-and-out Swansea. He is aided and abetted by street–fighter Ashley Barnes in a traditional front two and, with respect, Ings has the ability to move on to greater things than Burnley but whilst he is there, he will surely continue to find the net for the Lancashire side. He has an ownership of just 7.2% and can be picked up for less than £6.0M. Will anyone be brave enough to pass him the armband?
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[/three_fourth]Angel di Maria – The United winger / striker / No.10 / midfielder / wing-back (does anyone know where anyone plays at Old Trafford these days?) has three assists in his last two games and is second overall on the assist table to Fabregas of Chelsea (no shame there I suppose). United face Sunderland and this game could go one of two ways – it’s going to be a tight 0-0 or 1-1 (Sunderland are notoriously tight when they want to be) or the Red Devils will score early, add early and cruise it. If it is the latter then surely ADM is going to be involved. On paper, this is the most attractive match for captaincy and whilst Robin van Persie, if fit, may have his supporters, it could be another time for ADM’s 15.1% of owners to put their faith in the former Real Madrid man. Although, a word of caution, he has not scored since GW7. Assists and bonus points (he has amassed 10) could be your hope here.
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[/three_fourth]Sadio Mane – Before he was so rudely called away on Africa Cup of Nations duty, (Koeman should have followed Big Sam’s lead with Sakho by writing a ‘please excuse’ note), the attacker from Senegal scored in three straight games for the Saints. He came back from the ACON and scored the winner against QPR which was his sixth goal of the season. Captaining him is a risk as he was dropped to the bench for the Liverpool match (for being late to the ground – Koeman later confirmed he was due to start the game) but with Tadic, Elia and Djuricic seeing their share of rotation and Pelle sadly going through of ‘those’ spells in front of goal, Mane is probably Koeman’s best bet to try to get Southampton back on track at West Brom.
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[/three_fourth]Sergio Aguero – When it comes to Sunday’s double clash of the Euro Titans (?!), then a watching brief of the preceding continental match-ups is advised. There are many names who could in theory have your armband – Sturridge, Aguero, Silva, Alexis, Cazorla, Walcott, Ozil, Giroud – but it’s who plays first in Europe and who is rested and raring to go for the weekend that matters here. It’s so hard to call but if I was to call one, then it would have to be Aguero who I expect will at least start each of City’s remaining games this season if fit. And he has proved countless times in the past that there are no tricky games when he and City are at the peak of their powers.
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Traffic Signals:
RED: (Take a punt): Diafra Sakho
AMBER (Proceed with caution): Angel di Maria
GREEN: (If you have him, armband him): Sergio Aguero
Final thought:
This week is going to be a very tricky one to call based on the missing teams, teams with commitments elsewhere and some evenly matched fixtures.
Putting a positive spin on it, you could however, with the right captain, make giant strides this week. Why don’t you put the armband on an outsider if you are chasing a mini-league? With no Chelsea about the place, the possibility of Liverpool and City cancelling each other out and Arsenal facing a potentially tricky one, this could be the ideal week to twist.
Just be sure to let me know who to go for!
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Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 27. This article was written by The Gallant Pioneer
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WooFBet
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Banterbury Champions League : Lastest Results/Table/Fixtures Matchday 5/6 http://wp.me/p4SHIn-aj
Morning all, thanks for your efforts GP. Ins maybe coming in as a one-week-wonder for me, but capo is on Augero I think. Everyone set for the week?
Morning Alex
How are you mate? Family well?
Yeah I think I’ll be on Aguero this week mate.
I’m bringing in Silva and Dawson for Fabregas and Pocognolli I think. I have 2FT
Hello GP, yer very well and family doing sweetttttttt as well. Hows yours? The (not so) little ‘un must be getting on now?
Im thinking of:
Pelle, Van A and and Punchon to Ings, Silva and McShane (4PH)
then
Ings and Caz to Austin and Erikson. (4PH)
Thoughts?
Sorry if my advice is bothering
but may be keep Van aanholt and dont take a hit. As even.if Mc shane gets a clean sheet that just gives you 2 points. As der Would be the -4 For a hit. N its d tuffest to expect proper returns for a hit from a defender.
and again next week. Ings n Caz to Austin n Eriksen looks great
Hello Nis, never a bother to get advice so thank you. I agree with you but unfortunately I need the extra 0.3 the McShane move gives me. Also Van A has Man U this week so i wouldn’t be hopeful of a cleanie. How are you set for the week mate?
Alex
Yeah that’s him over six months now. Coming on a treat – got his name down for a paper round already 😉
I agree with nishant here and wouldn’t do the PVA to McShane one. I’m not convinced PVA has completely lost his place just yet. I think a lot of teams are rotating just now and he is not too long back from injury so maybe it was a management tactic to rest him at the weekend.
I’m wary of Eriksen due to rotation in these coming games but I was personally thinking about taking a punt on Chadli for the DGW yesterday – cheaper and a bit less risk and likely to be more of a differential IF it goes right!
Ings to Austin even if only for the double seems a fair move.
GP, its a great age mate, they come on leaps and bounds, enjoy
As I said above mate, I need the extra 0.3 the move brings me to get my desired players (Silva, Erik, Austin for Punchon, Caz and Pelle but soon to be Ings). Still not Keen?
I would avoid Chadli personally pal, I don’t think Erik will be dropped again. If you don’t want to risk Erik Thats cool but avoid other Spurs mid would be my advice! (I could of course be wrong!) 😉
Sunderland may just keep a cleanie this week. They tighten up really at the back against top clubs. And ya Chadli looks effective the time he plays for. But still his gametime is a risk. And Eriksen will start surely. Pocchettino had to bring him at half time last week. Things look better when Erik’s around fot Spurs
Alex
Ah clearer now why the McShane move is there.
Right – Silva long term is a no-brainer. Pelle out has to happen. If you need a -4 to make that happen then I would maybe be tempted by that for the greater good. I’d leave off for a bit to think a bit more about it – plus there’s more games European games to go as you know.
Thanks on the Chadli comments – it is just a punt which I can reverse quickly after the DGW. I’ll continue to think about it.
GP and Nis, thanks for your comments and advice. I’ll wait and see what happens over for the next few days but Ive dropped like a stone and need to make some bold(ish) moves!
Gp, its a good call to risk Chadli, I like him when he plays and if we knew he would have some decent game time I would risk him too but I just don’t trust the manager to play him. Erik could get a few and feels worth the risk.
Hello Alex. No not set at all! – because there’s still lots of football to be played, and more to the point possible injuries to be incurred, before the next GW begins. Best to save FTs till Thursday night at least.
GKW, Yer I always leave transfers to the last minute, but assuming all fit do you like my transfer ideas above? Cracking position mate, love your team too, its different and you’ve got a great chance to push on from here. well played and keep up the good work
Cheers, Alex. Your plan has too many hits. Ings would have to score twice as your captain to justify that. It could happen, but it’s the kind of hail mary pass you should avoid till GW38
gkw, I actually get what you mean. It might be worth going to Austin this week (to realise funds for Silva) and have him get zero. Maybe i’ll just go back to the drawing board lol! Whats your planned move?
Alex, my next move depends on team news and possible injuries. In any case i want to replace a Chelsea defender with a Soton one, probably Bertrand but maybe Alderweireld or Yoshida. Downgrading an injured player could enable me to afford Zouma-Bertrand. That said, if i sell Ivanovic instead of Zouma it makes it easier for me to get Hazard back in time for GW34 without weakening elsewhere.
Morning NZ, good to see you mate. I’ve just had a looksie at your squad and i think i would just sell Pelle this week and roll over the other FT. Ings could be a good one week punt but after this weekend Burnley’s fixtures take a big nosedive. WHU have two tough games after Palace, too, but in general their schedule is much handier than Burnley, plus they’re a better side as a whole. I’d be tempted by that move this week, then bring in Silva and someone else next week :thumbup:
Alternatively, you could just buy Giroud and then sell an Arsenal mid next week. That way you can keep double Arsenal and get double City.
Morning NIN, How are you mate? well done so far this season, your flying keep it up! Thanks for your advice, Pelle to Giroud was my original plan, the problem is I can’t afford Punchon and Caz to Erikson and Silva if I do that (hence the Austin idea).
Maybe ill go Giroud this week and Silva, Demblele/Chadli (you could be right after all GP!) as a gamble.
Are you all set NIN?
Hi NZ. I’m okay mate, cheers. If you need to go with a cheaper type, then i would look toward Sakho over Ings.
I’m not set just yet. Have 2 FT’s to make but waiting until after tomorrows game to be sure Kane come through okay. I’ll sell Wasilewski for Haidara, and Marney for ??. 4.5m to spend on a mid is pretty pants so it’s just a matter of weighing up who has a decent one week punt fixture. There aren’t many!
Missed yesterdays UCL matches
Did anyone suffer an injury??
Nope. All City’s players came through unscathed. Well, Bony looked like he was limping a touch but he ran it off pretty quick. I doubt that affects yo though, or anyone else for that matter :thumbup:
Messi’s pride suffered some injury when he missed the rebound from his penalty save late in the game
Morning all great article GP some interesting choices for Cap pick my money is on Sanchez @ present but form tells me City will do well so might change my mind cheers again
Silvers.
Thanks mate.
I’d advise Dawson too but would agree that there isn’t one outstanding candidate amongst the others. All reasonable value in my opinion. Perhaps it may even come down to the lowest ownership rate to split them.
Help Dawson / Lescott or McAuley
Morning, Silverback. All three of them are scoring pretty much the same points recently so there’s nothing in it really. If you’re tight on funds for future moves then go Dawson. All three are good deals, though, to be fair.
Morning NIN do you thk Dawson is nailed on Im looking @ the nk 7 GW I don’t want to mess with Def for a bit Also spare cash do you thk Sinclair is worth having as a 5th mid or a waste of time
Yeah i think the WBA back-line will stay as is, once all are fit. It would be unlike Pulis to change up a defence that is regularly keeping CS’s, which they are. Sinclair has done me well at times in the past, but i’m not looking at any Villa players just now. For me, Villa players are a bit of an unnecessary risk at this stage of the season.
Cheers NIN
Tough week for a captains article so nice work GP, I did chuckle at your Scotland WC comment 😉
Photek
😉
True . . . .