Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 9 – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
So there I was. A sunny Friday in the spring of 1996. Saffron Walden County High School playing fields. Lunchtime. A slight figure of a 16 year old, desperately needing to finish the week with a win. It was my turn to be captain, and I’d won the toss to pick first.
I surveyed the crop of young men standing in front of me. Who would be first into my team? Who could ensure my bragging rights through free period after lunch, through double Geography and – if my fake ID held up to scrutiny – through a Friday night’s drinking in the White Horse? Decisions just didn’t get bigger than this.
Stuart was the obvious choice, but as I looked at him, something just didn’t look right. I knew the problem couldn’t be me. I was a fine captain. My lack of stature meant all of my players could always play wherever the hell they wanted. In fact some of my finest moments had come from playing the lone GK/defender role, gladly supporting my team as the 10 bigger players shared the 10 striker positions. No, it was something else. “What’s the matter Stu-pot (cos I was captain I could use nicknames that I had not earned the right to use)?”, I asked. “Litter duty” was the reply. “I can only play 15 mins, then I’ve got to pick up litter with the deputy head for getting caught smoking”. Wow, I thought. That’s a blow. Now don’t get me wrong, even 15 mins of an on-form Stu could have the game won. But it was a risk.
“What about you Dave?”, I asked. Flexing my managerial muscles as I dismissed Stu without a second thought. “Yeah, I’m good for the full 40 mins” replied Dave. There was a ‘but’ coming. I knew it. “But…” I was right. “But, I’ve forgotten my trainers so will have to play in my slip ons”. Panic started to set in. “But they’ll give you no purchase on the slippery turf Dave!”. This wasn’t going well.
I could see that my natural 3rd and 4th choices Nick and Rob were distracted by the group of year 10 girls sitting on the side lines. They’d be no use. People were looking at me. I had to make a decision. Lunchtime was 5 minutes old and we hadn’t even picked teams!
And then, just as I could feel that first bead of anxious sweat trickle down the side of my ribcage, from the back of the crowd stepped forward a face that was new to me. “Who are you?!” I demanded. “I’m the new exchange student” was the nervous reply. “But you’re wearing proper football boots!” I exclaimed. “And, wait… Yes! They’re Puma Kings!”. The excitement started to build. “What’s your name?” I enquired. My tone starting to soften. “Diego Pele” was the reply.
“I PICK HIM!”
And so onto this week’s Captains picks, where we also find our apparent cast of plenty, dwindling away before our very eyes. Costa is a doubt, Man Utd and Liverpool might as well be playing in slip-on shoes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Aguero somehow picks up litter duty between now and the weekend.
Let’s have a proper look see, in no particular order…
Diego Costa. Chelsea. Away vs Man Utd.
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[/three_fourth]Captain him by all means. But for the love of Jose, please give proper thought to who gets the Vice Captaincy. Not many things worse than your captain not playing. One thing might be however, realizing that you left the VC armband on the same guy as last week. You know the guy. The one that’s now injured too!
There’s not much to say about Costa that you don’t already know, so I won’t bore you with stats. If Jose shows his hand in the Friday press conference, and it’s good news, he can have the armband. Man Utd’s defence has been generous to strikers this season, and long gone are the days where Jose parks the bus against Utd. This could get messy.
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Danny Welbeck. Arsenal. Away vs Sunderland.
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[/three_fourth]He didn’t manage another hat-trick, but he did at least keep his scoring run going against Hull in Arsenals 2-2 draw on the weekend. A goal that meant a lot for both club and player alike. It means Arsenal go into this weekend’s game against a demoralised Sunderland with something to prove after a disappointing performance against Hull, but not as downbeat as they might’ve been had Welbeck not grabbed that 90th minute equalizer. Sunderland themselves will have something to prove, but who knows how many changes Poyet will make after the 8-0 thrashing last time out. Arsenal have a good record against Sunderland too. Comfortable 3-1 and 4-1 wins last season.
With Arsenals attacking options and a possible Walcott return, Welbs should get plenty of chances. He’s averaging 3.6 shots per game (4th highest in the Prem), and we’d expect him to shoot above that average this weekend.
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Graziano Pelle. Southampton. Home vs Stoke.
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[/three_fourth]Pelle has taken the 3rd highest number of shots per game (4) out of all Premier League players. He scored 2 goals, got an assist and 2 bps last time out, and has scored 5 in his last 3 home games. Another tasty home tie coming up against a Stoke side that lost their last away game to… wait for it…Sunderland! Stoke lost, to Sunderland! That same team that just lost 8-0 to Pelle’s Southampton! Wait, that stat wasn’t even that exciting! Why am I using so many exclamation marks?!
Anyway. He’s got to be a safe bet for good points this week. He comes without any injury risk (at time of writing), and is playing for one of the form teams in the league.
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Sergio Aguero. Man City. Away vs West Ham.
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[/three_fourth]He scored how many? And still had time to miss a penalty. Aguero is the games top points’ earner with a whopping 56. He has accumulated 9 bonus points so far this season, and has scored a goal to go with each of them. No assists yet, but nobody’s perfect.
He is second highest in… [digs out favorite new stat list] number of shots per game with 4.5. Although he may as well be top, as top spot officially goes to Balotelli. Do shots stats count if you never actually score?
Aguero also bagged two of City’s three goals in a 3-1 win last time these sides met. He’ll be in the top three most popular captain choices this week, even if Costa returns.
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Other possibles…
Fabregas, Hazard & Oscar. Fab has the headlines so far this season but Hazard tends to do well against the big teams. Oscar is more of a game time risk but Jose loved him last season and he plays further forward than Fab, and more central than Hazard. Any or all of these 3 could turn in a decent points haul this weekend.
Leighton Baines. A nice fixture against a winless Burnley side that have just shipped three goals against West Ham. Just off the back of a clean sheet, 2 assists and some bonus points. If you’re ever going to risk it on a defender, now might be that time.
Dusan Tadic. It couldn’t happen again. Could it?
Gabriel Obertan. Because sometimes, you just have to finish with a joke.
Good luck this week everybody. I’ll be placing my trust in that man Aguero.
Thanks for reading Captains Picks Fantasy Football Gameweek 9. This article was written by chins and bellies
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Thats shocking – shocking
just hope Madrid dont want to embarrass us now
We’ve seen Pool play this season. How is it shocking? Sterling is the only thing they have at the moment.
That particular piece of defending was shocking – not shocking that it happened
Are you fucking serious? One word. Coutinho.
Because of 1shot on the bar? Know you’re a pool fan but they have been piss poor all season. The Suarez loss is being replaced Balo? And the defence looks worse this season than the last.
I didn’t say they play better than last year. I’m saying their playing their best game so far this season out of the ones that Sturridge haven’t been involved in.
That would have been a cracker if it went in
Coutinho is a liability. I’d have Lallana any day
I disagree.
to which part Cody?
That Coutinho is a liability. I agree with the Lallana part though.
3-0 Madrid
Benz 2
Ronny 1
Men v boys
This is gunna be humiliating ..!
Liverpool are playing their best game yet without Sturridge. I am very happy with what I’m seeing here. The defending is not a shocker.. we all know that they’re struggling in their defence and Real Madrid are ruthless. They would even manage to destroy Chelsea atm. If a Real Madrid player had shot Coutinho’s shot it would have gone in, the odds are always against us…
ah Cody, they are being outclassed
Exactly
Cody .
WTF..?
What game are you watching..
The best we’ve played all season
Your happy with what your seeing…..really ..?
Suppose you think Balotelli’s gunna do the biz too, right..?
Wake up matey…..we’re getting taught a lesson.
So you think we’ve played a better game since Sturridge was injured a few weeks back? Ahahaahahahaha. That’s fucking hilarious.
Language Cody :biggun:
Sorry I’ll control myself
Cody..
Less of the swearing chap, I get your point…
Just to let you know, I’m a life long Liverpool fan & have probly been watching them since the early eighties…
I’ve seen great Liverpool teams & not so great Liverpool teams….
I’ve seen amazing Liverpool games live & on the telly
& I’ve seen poor Liverpool games live & on the telly…..
Tonight’s isn’t one of our greatest nights…..OK
+1, And i’ve had a season ticket for 39 years before anyone starts.
I’m not saying it’s a big night. Don’t try to make me look stupid here. I was simply saying that Liverpool are looking more lively than what they have since the injury of Sturridge, and that against the mighty Real Madrid. I was expecting them to get outclassed which obviously happened. I didn’t say that Real Madrid were lucky to win, I said that Coutinho was unlucky that his shot didn’t go in. It was a fantastic shot.
Cody..
I’m Not trying to make you look stupid…you’re doing a good job of that yourself.
Now shall we move on.
Wow. Disrespectful. Thank you.
I’m moving on immediately.
Just got in – what was the score tonight please?
:popcorn:
Yo Cody, don’t let it get to you. And Bigpopz stop picking on the emotional kid, every normal fan has had days like him. FFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rant:
Any more changes need making? (already taken a -4)
Neither keeper is great to play so thought I would choose the one against my defender and not my striker.
Baines captain probably won’t happen 😛
AT
Very strong and nothing else needed I think.
You can’t overlook Pelle, Aguero, Sigurdsson, Sterling, Welbeck for a defender as captain mate. Maybe on a tough week yeah you could make a case for Baines but you have so much attacking talent to choose from.
GP, haha it was never going to be Baines, just gives me the facade of looking ballsy 😉
Going to take Moreno and Silva out next week to bring in Hazard I think
imagine the score if Bale was playing !!!!
Jeet,
That’s actually a good point mate.
No it bloody isnt.
Lallana in for Balotelli. Atleast he knows how to pass the ball.
Balotelli is a complete waste of money
Not popular but Id have kept him on
Come on Dreamers he hasn’t done much since he arrived & he seems to slow the game down but maybe he needs time we will see
Sterling playing his first game upfront in a dead match against Madrid isnt a good long term play imho.
Think Coutinho gives the ball away cheaply, too cheaply.
Why ?? They may as well play with 10 men and swapping shirts with Benzema in the tunnel at half time is disgusting.Not suprised Rodgers took him off the guy is a tool !!
didnt know he swapped shirts – glad he hooked him so, and would even have more respect for him if the reason wasnt tactical but just because of that action
I wouldn’t start him again this season till he improves his attitude and workrate and actually looked like he was interested.Liverpool playing much better going forward in this second half.A lot more cohesive.Still looking shocking at the back mind !!
Agreed, play Lallana up top instead.