Captain’s Picks Game-week 26 – FPL Fantasy Football Premier League
There is little doubt who the star of GW25 was and those managers who captained Eden Hazard reaped the benefits of a massive 42 point captain haul from the little Belgian. His hat-trick fired Chelsea to the top of the league due to a couple of poor results from their main rivals Arsenal and Man City. Arsenal were royally spanked at Anfield while City spluttered to a goalless draw at Carrow Road where they were expected to get themselves back on track but failed to do so. While last weeks captaincy split opinion with so many seemingly outstanding candidates, this week sees a much smaller pool of talent to choose from or so the fixtures would suggest. Let’s take a look at who we feel are the main candidates for your armband this week then.
Luis Suarez
Liverpool scored five at home at the weekend. So imagine you don’t know the scorers, how many did Suarez get? You would be forgiven for saying at least two if not more but such is football, you would be wrong of course as to everybody’s surprise he did not manage to score a single one of them and ended up with just one assist to his name for the week. That’s not to suggest that Suarez had a poor game by any means, in fact to the contrary he put in an outstanding all round display. He was everywhere and his team ethic and work rate were phenomenal. Which may be where the small fantasy problem raises it’s ugly head. You really want your main striker to be at the sharp end of things and preferably to be in the box and playing on the shoulder of the last defender. Which funnily enough is exactly what our next captain pick has been doing for Liverpool!
Suarez has become a bit of an assist specialist in recent weeks with four in four games but only the one goal in that same time. However, given Liverpool’s recent devastating performances allied to the opposition this week you simply cannot help but give due consideration to a player who is the leading fantasy scorer by some distance, has scored 22 goals and got 16 assists so far. Fulham are this weeks Liverpool fodder and the tale of the tape rather suggests that the Cottagers will be in for a long evening come Wednesday. They have conceded 55 goals so far which is the worst in the league, they are rock bottom and Liverpool are the second highest scorers in the league with 63 so far. Ignore Suarez at your peril.
Daniel Sturridge
So where have the Suarez goals gone then? Well the simple answer is into the grateful arms of his strike partner Daniel Sturridge. Since he returned from injury Sturridge has now scored six goals in five league games. In those five games he has helped himself to 44 fantasy points whilst Suarez has managed 38. Not a whole lot in it then but it is worth noting that he is very obviously now the main striker, playing on the shoulder of the last man as we mentioned above and he rarely deviates from this. With Liverpool’s ability to turn defence into attack in a split second his pace is ideally suited to this approach and he is definitely seeing the benefits.
Fulham will probably find it difficult to contain either Suarez or Sturridge this week and it will be a tough choice to split either for the armband. Recent form says Sturridge is delivering the goals but wouldn’t it be just like Suarez to pop up with a monster haul once more. Get the coin out!
Eden Hazard
Jose has said recently that he believes Hazard can propel himself onto the world stage and rival Messi and Ronaldo for being the best player on the planet. Nothing like a bit of pressure then but the mercurial Belgian seems to have taken all this in his stride and is doing his utmost to prove his boss right. A hat-trick against Newcastle was just the latest in a long line of outstanding performances. Chelsea are pushing for the title now and are doing so without a headline striker, as such. No matter though when you have Hazard in tow as he now has twelve goals and eight assists and seems intent on single-handedly dragging them over the finishing line.
They travel to an ailing West Brom this week who are in the relegation zone and fighting for their lives but Chelsea should have too much for them and we expect Hazard will be central to everything good that they do once more.
Stevan Jovetic
This pick really is more about the team than it is about the player! Jovetic feels almost incidental but City have been sensational at home and he is their only fully fit striker. Dzeko started on the bench in the last game due to an injury concern whilst Negredo started but was subbed with his manager admitting afterwards that he was still struggling for full fitness. Given this, the indications are that Jovetic will be given the nod again and whoever is the fitter of the other two may well partner him.
Usually one of our captain picks would have a great pedigree with goals, assists and form as his credentials but unfortunately Jovetic doesn’t! He has a solitary goal as a late sub in the Spurs rout and no assists to his name so far. Do not let this cause you to discount him though. As we said this one is more about the team and up until the last two games City were being touted as one of the best teams in the world as they swept aside all comers with impunity and we expect they will get back in their stride this week and let’s face it, pedigree or not, any striker worth his salt would love to be playing for the team with the best offensive record in the league and with 29 goals in all competitions in the seven games prior to the Chelsea defeat we fel they and him cannot be overlooked easily.
Also consider…
Robin van Persie
While United are still struggling to find their feet under Moyes one constant is becoming apparent. Since he returned from injury RvP now has three goals in three games. Playing against his old club Arsenal has been a fruitful experience for the former Gunner so do not bet against him returning to his old stomping ground and reminding them once more why they should never have sold him in the first place.
Kevin Nolan
Nolan has had quite a week with four goals in two games. He began with a double against Swansea but many doubted he could repeat this feat because he lost his big geordie mate and main provider Andy Carroll due to the much talked about suspension but he continued on regardless and followed it up with another double in a fine away win at Villa. It is Norwich at home this week in another must-win encounter and Nolan will surely be the main protagonist once more. A midfielder with an eye for goal playing up front, what’s not to like?
Whoever you choose, we wish you the best of luck for GW26. Be sure to chat on the boards, to ask for advice if you’re unsure of who to captain or want views on potential transfers and also don’t forget to vote on our Captain’s Poll below.
Thanks for reading Captain’s Picks GW26, this article was written by inittowinit
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Cheers Inittowinit! Good article….I’m going for Suarez as captain this week hoping for a big haul after a run of assists………but hey, I didn’t captain Hazard this week as he let me down twice before as captain and look where that got me this week!!! All green arrows though luckily!
its not easy to back a midfielder as captain when they don’t play up top….it was the first time in a while Hazard had produced so your not alone……he is a worthy option now though if he will be playing through the middle….
Agreed on Suarez though – I think Fulham are going to be in bits after the effort they put in at Old Trafford…they ran themselves into the ground (even if it was all in their own half)
That’s very true daboyo…let’s hope so regarding Fulham too!
Cheers Innit. Top stuff!
Well as I sit here now, I look at my bench that has 3 players who appear to have lost their place (Gabbi, Noone Bruce) and I’m waiting on news that Toure may be banned for 3 games! 😮
I’m also waiting on Toure…….and I’ve already used my FT for this week!
Morning Bash,what do you make of the Toure situation,do you think he’ll get banned?
Morning Nin, unfortunately I think he will. Referee didn’t see it so FA can act, as I understand it.
Hmm,that would be a kick in the eye in FPL terms,sweet as a nut in reality though ha. I have a feeling he’ll get away with it though.
Nin, my fingers are tightly crossed as I type!
Good morning everyone and thanks for the the nice comments. Personally I am leaning towards one of Sturridge or Suarez. If this was at Anfield it would be an easy one but even so I cannot see Fulham being able to cope with Liverpool at the moment. Trouble is, which one???
Morning init,Suarez/Hazard for me,haven’t decided yet,West Brom are looking quite dodgy so hazard could run riot again,he’ll be my (vc) at least.
Morning NIN, I’m actually slightly in favour of Sturridge now. He’s just playing up top whereas Suarez is all over the shop.
init – True that,Suarez has the ability to go ape s**t though so i’d always go with him if looking at a Liverpool (c) choice,i’d be furious with myself if i picked Studge and Suarez got 17+ or something,missing out on his big weeks is disastrous to global rank too,i missed 2 earlier in the season and plummeted quicksmart.
Innit, its a dilemma. I thought about doing it against Arsenal but ran to the warmth of Suarez! 5 goals passed Arsenal and just 1 lousy assist for my captain. Before fpl Saturday would have been a fantastic day but instead it was just a day of turmoil! And listening to Hazard score a hat trick was horrendous!
Anyway, back to the issue! Suarez for me!!
B-Bash – 27th mate…yes!! Great stuff
Cheers Nin. Highest yet!
Would so love to keep it going!
Well done B-Bash, keep it up mate!
Pity you haven’t capt Hazard…
Alberto, that was haunting me on Saturday listening to the game in the car! Scared my son at 1 point slumping onto the steering wheel as he scored his 3rd! Be in top 10 if I had! Cant be too sad though, armband nearly went to AJ!
We have faith Bash,unlucky with the captain pick,oh how sweet it could have been but hey,27th,booyah!
It’s incredible what this game make of us!
I remember you were thinking about AJ, that idea also crossed my mind… Are you keeping him for this week?
Alberto, my plan was to get shut of AJ due to his fixtures, but now with 3 non playing subs and Yaya in the poo, I’m not decided yet.
I think I’ve heard the Yaya case would be solve this afternoon.
I’m leaning to dump AJ for Mirallas, do you think this is a good shout? Everton has 5 nice fixtures in the next 6.
Need a keeper under 6.7 for Mignolet. Thinking of then bringing Skrtel and Terry out for Ivanovic if he is not fit. I am thinking about Vorm and Begovic. Any ideas appreciated
Fish – You can afford any keeper,if you’re going that route then Cech all the way,he’s racking up the points.
But I already have chelsea defence coverage
Fish – If you can afford a premium keeper and want to get one,then it has to be Cech for me, he’s the best keeper to have right now,he’s out of most peoples price range though,i’d like to have him myself but no can do.
Fish, how about Adrian? West Ham seem in good form at the back. Adrian got 24 points last 3 game weeks
Yep,that’s more along the line of what i’d be looking at,Cech tops the premium pile though.
Fish – Adrian is the best bet, great value.
Morning everyone and thanks init for this great article, so little time after yesterday’s games.
I am also between Suarez and Sturridge, I’m paying a high price for not having Hazard in my team…
Alberto – Ouch
NIN – TV’s limitations mate and I went with Oscar when I played my JWC. Regretting it big time now…
Alberto – These things happen,have you a plan to get him in or are you sticking with Oscar? 10.7m is a bit tasty now,hard to pull the cash for it.
That’s the question I’m trying to answer since Saturday mate!
I made a post yesterday with my options for this week, I have 2ft’s and have Chester and Pozuelo not playing and AJ who have really bad fixtures ahead, have also 3.3 itb and of course I can swap Oscar for Haz, the problem is there a 1.9 difference between them and Oscar is also a great player but he’s not scoring these last weeks.
I can’t reach a conclusion… Should I go for it or is it better to sort out my other issues first?
Albertini – Oscar&Johnson >> Hazard&(the best you can afford) would be my move, then deal with Chester/Pozuelo.
Thanks mate. I can do Oscar to Hazard and AJ to anyone up to 8.1 (Mirallas/Lallana/Nolan)
Albertini – Sounds good,if possible try leave a bit of money in the kitty for when you’re getting rid of Pozuelo&Chester,both have pretty low value so you’ll be a bit strangled when trying to get replacements,it doesn’t have to be a lot but some sort of buffer would be helpful if possible.
NIN – I’ll do that, thanks for the advice mate. I’ll probably go for Mirallas so I’ll keep some 0.5 to sort out those two later on.
I was eliminated from the cup competition because I didn’t have hazard …..sooooooo painful …
GW 26 I’ll be captaining Suarez