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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Possible transfers that I am mulling over for this weekend but am clueless as to what to do:
1- Ulloa to Berahino (boring but probably the right one)
2-Fabregas to Eriksen (probably stupid but I really really think Eriksen will be good for a period)
3-Sterling to Eriksen (He has Hull at home tho and the plan would be to bring in Walcott for him once he is fit)
4-any other ideas? wouldn’t mind a hit
Migs, from those three the first one – though would you also consider Sakho?
Hello Cookie- Yeah I would consider Sakho. His run has been incredible tough deciding between him and Berahino. Yo not worried abut no Southampton attacking cover mate?
also whats your thoughts on Eriksen and/or Barkley?
Yes no Saints does worry me, nut I console myself with the fact that they won’t play Sunderland every week – having watched the highlights, it truly was some of the worst defending in the Premier League I have ever seen.
Eriksen or Barkey – if you have no other Everton, I would be tempted with Barkley. Both have Europa games, though Spurs do tend to rest many of their first teamers for those matches.
Bottom line, prob won’t be much between them…so maybe the difference in cash decides?
haha yeah exactly! Crazy result that. Ok well I can monitor Barkley for now. If I had to bring in Eriksen it would be for Sterling then, will see how he does tonight. I think I am trying too hard to come up with differentials to try and move up overall
Migs, we’re roughly in the same place after 8 gameweeks still to play – I wouldn’t try too hard in that search for differentials just now.
Fair enough. Also still my wildcard so can play it safe
Very impressive mate – no need for panic!
Mannone/ Krul
Bertrand, Duff, Naylor, Chambers, Rafael
Feb, ADM, Sterling, Sigu, Marney
Ague, costa, Welbeck.
.
2 FT Bank 0.
What should I do?
Bringing Pelle for Welbeck
Or bringing Baines for rafael and sacrifycing one of my mid?
Offside- How would you fund the Pelle move? I think Welbeck is fine for now with his fixtures. He won’t light up a weekend but he is steady. I like the Baines move as Rafael has not been great. I don’t however like the thought of losing one of your mids. Don’t think I am helping you much here am I?
I can bring Pelle & a def of 4 price tag with my 2 FT for Welbeck & Rafael.
For Baines I must ship out one of my mids as I wanna keep both Ague & Costa
Offside,
How about Rafael and Sterling out for Baines and Tadic. Then you have Southampton cover, keep your Arsenal cover and get Baines. Fancy that will cover Sterling.
Thanks Cookie for commenting as I am a great follower of your articles.
1. Cant afford Baines + Tadic for Sterling & Rafael.
2. Is it wise to take a hit and transfer our krul or Naylor in addition to No. 1.
Please suggest.
Cookie, Can I bring Chadli/Barkley & Baines for Sterling & Rafael?
Offside, it could well pay off – or you could just do the one transfer this week (Strerling to Tadic), carry a transfet to next week and do two then (Baines & Hutton) for Rafael and Naylor.
That way you save the hit and keep Naylor for Leicester at home.
Sorry for duplicate comment
My current team with 2FT
Mannone/Krul
Chambers, Bertrand, Naylor/ Duff, Rafael
Feb, ADM, Sigu, Sterling, Marney
Costa, Agu, Welbeck
.
Should I transfer Pelle for Welbeck?
Should I bring Baines sacrificing one of my mid?
Which transfer would you make here?
Already set on Falcao -> Aguero.
But to do that I need to:
A) Sterling -> Barkley
B ) Sterling & Taylor -> Tadic & Wisdom (-4)
C) Di Maria -> Tadic or Barkley
Tjomss I think I prefer B even though it involves a hit. Barkley is only just back and Martinez may rest him occasionally in the coming weeks to ease him back in. Longer term I think I’d prefer the security and production of Tadic. Have you considered Mane? Possibly puts you back in the Barkley scenario but may be a better bet and means no hit, maybe depending on price etc
hi Managers,
This is my team for GW9-
Fabianski (mannone)
rafael-clyne-wsdom (dummett-wilson)
siggy-chadli-dimaria-fabregas(boyd)
Costa-pelle-aguero(c)
Any changes suggested in the starting 11? I have 0.4 mil remaining with 0 FT left. Thanks!!
Think you have it spot on there Lampard – you could possibly put in Dummett for Rafael, but it’s very 50/50 – both will likely concede but Rafael is not bad going forward. Well, when I say not bad, I mean he’s better going forward than defending.
Hi Lampard, the only thing that stands out is Rafael but neither sub is appealing. I don’t know if you have plans for that 0.4 already for future transfers but if not then I’m guessing that plus Rafael gives you about 5.7? I think you could do worse than getting someone like Jagielka. He’s got a good run of fixtures and would be someone you could play without much concern or thought for a good few weeks. He’s got 3 goals for club and country very recently and while you can’t count on that continuing at least the threat is there. Just a thought anyway.
Chins… Thanks for the article mate, really good read..
On the Costa bit, you say this:
“……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!”
To whom are you referring ? As I thought you mean Aguero when you said “realizing that you left the VC armband on the same guy as last week” but then it can’t be him, as he’s not injured…
Unless he is ?
Explain yourself man !
I believe he means Di Maria.
aah ok, I getcha… he means one thing worse than your cap not starting….. …… Di Maria on the Vice….
I understand now. HAHA ! Good one !
You have to bear with me, I can be a little slow !
Haha! No worries Demsie – Can’t we all!