Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 36 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
Has it really been a month? Did I really lose the Post-It note? Did I really wait until the last minute to write this introduction? Yes, maybe, and … anyone else having a sense of deja vu? Yes, it’s only been a week since you last attempted to make sense of my gentle musings but I’m back again as what us Yanks call a “pinch hitter” in baseball. I’m the 89th minute substitution for a team winning 1-0 that’s hoping to run out the clock. And right about now I’m starting to feel less honored about being asked to fill in this week…
Fill in you say? That’s right. I’m filling in for Chins, who offered to fill in for GP, before the two of them ran off to race gritters Tokyo-drift style around Scotland. Or were they racing grifters? Or was it greyhounds? And who the heck is Mr. Plow? That name again is Mr. Plow. Who knows, but the mental image of GP and Chins racing Huge Greyhound Hormone (HGH) powered dogs is too rich to consider any other possibility. Safe racing, gents.
Fixtures for GW36
Saturday
Everton vs Sunderland
Aston Villa vs West Ham
Hull vs Burnley
Leicester vs Southampton
Newcastle vs West Brom
Stoke vs Spurs
Crystal Palace vs Man Utd
Sunday
Man City vs QPR
Chelsea vs Liverpool
Monday
Arsenal vs Swansea
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[/three_fourth]5. Aaron Ramsey, home vs Swansea
Guess who’s back, back again. Ramsey’s back, tell a friend. Guess who’s back, guess who’s back… It’s safe to say Aaron Ramsey has rediscovered the form that saw him lead Arsenal to the FA Cup last season, and at just the right time for the Gunners. With a return trip to Wembley lurking in the not too-distant future Ramsey has turned his sights on annihilating the competition in the Premier League. With three goals and four assists in the six games since he returned from injury, Arsenal’s most hot/cold player is forcing fantasy managers to figure out how to bring him into their squad ahead of Arsenal’s DGW37.
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[/three_fourth]4. Eden Hazard, home vs Liverpool
Chelsea’s Mr. Reliable sits this low this week only because Chelsea have already wrapped up the league title. As such, who knows what sort of tomfoolery The Special One has in store for the balance of the season. There’s no doubting the Football Wizard’s form: for the season he’s averaging 6.3 ppg and has four goals in a seven-game stretch that’s seen Chelsea struggle to find a goal-scoring presence at the forward position. Hazard will be up for the fight but, with the title already wrapped up and John Terry’s tears already collected in mason jars for posterity, will Hazard be given the opportunity to finish out what could be his best-ever season in the Premiere League?
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[/three_fourth]3. Alexis Sanchez, home vs Swansea
Just when we think it’s safe to drop Sanchez he goes and has a game like he did against Hull City. Poor Hull City, and poor fantasy managers that dropped him. We promise to never think about transferring you out again, Alexis, as long as you promise to keep having games like this. Has his form dipped as of late? Sure. Has the toll of his first season in the Premier League finally caught up to him? Maybe, but the world class talent is still averaging a league-best 6.4 ppg since joining the Arsenal. After bagging a brace against Hull we fully expect the Chilean to finish the season strong, especially with Arsenal’s DGW37 right around the corner.
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[/three_fourth]2. Sergio Aguero, home vs QPR
The City forward may not be able to get no first place action, but that’s more a product of a dodgy manager. Aguero has kept his end of the bargain, scoring five goals in his last four games and collecting 32 points for those managers who’ve remained faithful to him after a bit of a dry spell. Add to that the fact QPR – the league’s worst road team and a team he bagged a brace against earlier this season – visit the Etihad this weekend, and it could be a massive payday for managers slapping the captain’s armband on him.
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[/three_fourth]1. Christian Benteke, home v. West Ham
Admit it, you’ve been watching Benteke each week thinking this run of his will end soon. It has to right? Well it’s time for us to stop ignoring him. In his last eight games he’s logged 10 goals, an assist and a massive 15 bonus points. Despite putting up the best fantasy numbers during this stretch the Villa forward features in only 7.4% of fantasy teams, making him him our Big-Hitter Differential this week. With rumours of a Liverpool bid coming in the summer, and his team sitting a mere two points clear of relegation, Benteke and his teammates have everything to play for this week against a West Ham team sitting comfortably mid-table.
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[/three_fourth]One-Week Punt/Differential Picks: West Bromwich Albion
For those of you chasing league titles and looking for differentials to help you edge out that annoying guy in your league who will never let you hear the end of it if he finishes first ahead of you, we are here to help. This week we’re recommending a trio of West Brom players to help you out. Please note this is a one-week recommendation only – after their match against Newcastle, West Brom closes the season against Chelsea and Arsenal.
West Brom face a Newcastle club in crisis – they’ll be missing two of their starting four defenders to suspension, they have a manager who has publicly questioned the heart of some of his squad and the players themselves have asked family members to stay away from the club’s home games due to growing unrest in the stands. Sad news for a team with a rich history, but the perfect opportunity for you to capitalize on a team possibly headed for relegation.
Our pick: Boaz Myhill
Who? Its safe to say many a fantasy manager hadn’t heard of Boaz Myhill until he stepped in for injured starting goalkeeper Ben Foster, but the California native may be playing himself into contention for a starting job next season. Myhill has been instrumental in West Brom’s keeping three straight clean sheets (scoring 34 points during) and there’s no reason to think he won’t add to his scoreless streak this weekend against a free-falling Newcastle side.
Other options:
Chris Brunt – with four assists in his last four games, there’s no reason to think he won’t carve up a Newcastle defense missing two of its starters.
Saido Berahino
It has been seven long week’s since the once must-own budget striker has scored, but facing an undermanned and unsupported Newcastle side may be precisely what the doctor ordered.
Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 36. This article was written by Lawdogg
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WooFBet
We would like to remind you that our official partners, WooFBet, are again running a whole host of prize competitions, which will please many of you who are slowly building a lovely retirement nest egg, while others continue to persevere in the hope that this week will be their week! If you haven’t done so yet we recommend you get yourselves over to WooFBet.com as this week they have over €300 in free entry prizes and a whopping €1,850 in guaranteed pots. You also have the option to create your own tournaments and head-to-head challenges. Choose your rules and buy-in fee, and invite friends or leave it open for the public to challenge you.
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Don’t forget to vote in this week’s Captain Poll
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Great article.
So I made 3 transfers already
Fabregas out, Ramsey In (hope he’s ok to play vs swansea)
Sterling out (obviously), Cazorla In
Skrtel out, Jagielka In (feeling confident with Everton defense (and with thim scoring))
What you think folks?
Have a great week
Well I’m hoping Rambo is fit too as id like to bring him in also. But solid choices mate, Jags is a good shout.
Why make transfers so early?
Of course I can wait till friday night, when Ramsey and Cazorla go from 8.7 to 8.8 (Ramsey)
and 8.2 to 8.3 (Cazorla)
Yeah… I just saved 0.2 ; )
And BTW, Ramsey can be injured for what I care. I just need him for DGW
Evening Everybody. How’s everyone’s season going as we come to a close?
Just need so advice on this team should I use my 2fts and if so on who? Should I sell Fab and Sterling? Moreno, Maybe? ?
Hi Matt, who are you bringing in? Or would like to at least is what I mean.
That’s the thing Init. I don’t really know who I want to sell but maybe an Arsenal player? And in thinking of bringing in PvA for the DGW next week but might leave that till then
I think you need a loan! Sanchez would be my preference but I’m not seeing how you do that without losing Hazard along the way. I honestly wouldn’t bother with Sunderland defenders for the double. (Caveat – I’ll have 2 playing but only because they’re already there. Which begs a bigger question of how the hell that happened!) I’d maybe chance a Larsson or Gomez if it frees up funds for Hazard to stay though as they are on free kicks and pens at least.
So your saying to sell Hazard for Sanchez and then bring in Larsson or Gomez for Ki??
I’m not sure Matt now you put it like that! Honestly, just not sure. I don’t think you are either are you? It’s a tricky one this. Depends whether you view Sanchez as a must-have for this DGW. I think I do myself.
Ye this is why I need help can’t figure out what to do and I think Arsenal is must have but Sanchez tops that list yeah. What about Fabregas and Sterling out, Sanchez and Larsson or Bolaise in??
Of those cheapies Larsson is the best bet with the double ahead. I’ve just written Fixtures though and have both Palace and Sunderland in the ‘unfavourable’ section!
I am chasing in my ml. Is Kane to benteke for a -4 worth it?
How far behind in your ml??
15 mattX been leading all season now he sneaked in front of me
Ah right well then Benteke could be a good buy for you especially since Kane has dried up in front of goal
I did that move last week and payed off massively.
*paied
lol paid even
U think it’s worth it shotts or have I missed the boat
Ive just brought him in mate think he will do well over the coming weeks!!
Who for mitro?
Took out Murray
Can’t afford that move mitro damn it
I would do Kane to tekkers mate! I’ll be getting rid of Kane in GW37
Thanks for the Capo article Lawdogg, great stuff as always! Don’t think I’ll be looking past Aguero this week. So just in case Rambo’s knock is more series than Wenger has suggested, who would be the next best bet to go along with Sanchez and Giroud? Anyone think it’s wise to go with a defender? Could see United scoring on them, but you never know. Who would be your next pick after Rambo?
I’m staying away from arsenal defence in the DGW! Would you consider Ozil?
i will get a Arsenal defender just becasue most people will stay away from thier defence
It’s actually not the worst idea – 3 of the next 4 are at home and only Chelsea has a better home defensive record. (That’s your preview for the Fixtures article tomorrow )
Ozil could be a nice little differential Mitro, and so could Cazorla. Anyone know if Cazorla is still on penalties?
Haha, thanks guys. Luckily I can afford Rambo going up once (he might tonight) and still make the move, so I’ll sit tight and hope we get some more information this week. Although Init now has me thinking about a cheeky little move involving Bellerin with that little tidbit from his still unpublished Fixtures article!!