Captains Picks Game-week 36 – FPL Fantasy Football Premier League
A short time ago in an FPL galaxy very close by… there was a 3 day period of great doubt. Different captaincy options started to appear, threatening to break the stranglehold that the Dark side had over our minds. Could it be possible that a brave bunch of rebel managers would dare take on the Galactic Empire? Perhaps seeing an opportunity to break free from the chains that bound them a la Leia to Jabba, many would now seek to challenge authority sensing vulnerability. While the lord of the Siths, Darth Suarez has to deal with the Chelsea defence; we see his apprentice, Darth Kun (Sith rule of Two, obviously) take on Pulis and his Palace side. Is it time for Wayne Skywalker or even Yoda Mata to step up? Or is there another option like Obi-Wan Ramsey that can help blow up the Death Star? Without further ado let’s get to our captaincy options and see in which pile of dead Padawans you will be left lying in, if you get it wrong.
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Luis Suarez
Easily the most captained player in game-week 35 will now see a great deal of managers turn their back on him. This is not based on anything he has done, for he has remained consistent, even if not as explosive. His goal this past weekend meant that he had delivered at least a goal or an assist in his last 9 games. Chelsea is the reason many will be scared to give him the armband. CFC has shown a capacity to come up with a game plan in big games and their manager will look to frustrate him at every opportunity. A glance through the Uruguayan’s last 3 vs Chelsea shows that he has not been completely bottled up. So don’t be so quick to dismiss his chances; he has 2 goals & 2 assist in his last 3 vs them and a minor snack courtesy of a Serbian. In this same fixture last season he was able to score and set up Sturridge for a goal. Liverpool has won 11 in a row in the EPL and has managed 3.45 goals per game during that streak. So although it is the best defensive side, Luis is still capable of doing very well.
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Wayne Rooney
A very interesting option for this game-week is this gorgeous English International. Rooney has produced three double-digit games in his last six starts and those helped him make it 9 in 26. On top of whatever Wayne might be able to do; one must factor in the Norwich bump. Any decent FPL player, who faces them, in particular when the Canaries are away, should see an uptick in their total score. Norwich City is the worst team in EPL on their travels, managing only 8 points out of 51 possible. Adding to their woes they have conceded 40 goals in those encounters, which is second worst. This is not a case of the stats being padded earlier in the season to make them look worse now. Over the last 8 games they are dead last in points earned and have took in 17 goals in said fixtures. While there is some mystery surrounding how Rooney will be used, now that the “ Chosen One” has been shown the door, me thinks that Giggs will deploy him in a fantasy advantageous way. Rooney did not partake in their first meeting this season.
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Aaron Ramsey
Finally the Welsh saviour has made it back and did he ever make a splash in his first start. Scoring a cool 16 points with a goal and 2 assists he acted like he never left us. When Ramsey went down with an injury back on December 26, Arsenal sat in first place. Luckily for him though, coming back to see his team to 4th place is something he has experience of during this time of the season. Aaron had 5 double-digit games in a 10 week span earlier in the season before he started to wear down and eventually got injured. He now looks very refreshed and it would not be surprising to see him finish as strong as he started. In his last fixture versus Hull City he had 4 shot attempts which were more than anyone on his team. He looked a constant threat and was a bit unlucky to not add another one late in the second half. Ramsey did not partake in their first meeting vs Newcastle earlier this season.
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Sergio Aguero
With 63 minutes in his last start it would appear that Aguero is closer to the match fitness we all crave. I would expect Pelligrini to slowly add to the workload as he sees the stamina of his Argentinean star improving. There was a marked difference in the City attack when Kun was substituted vs the Baggies in his last fixture. He is really missed when not on the pitch and no other striker they have can fill his void. This is something that should be very noticeable to Pelligrini himself. Sergio has either scored or assisted in 15 of his 20 appearances this season. This is actually an incredible number when you take into account that he played less than 70 minutes in half those games and 50 or less in 5. His ability to produce will be tested though, as he takes on the Tony Pulis led side. Crystal Palace has five wins on the run with 4 clean sheets and only 2 goals allowed in those games. To expand on how good defensively they have been, consider that Palace has not allowed more than 2 goals since December. Sounds pretty strong for a team who were picked by many to go straight back to the Championship. Nevertheless one must still think of Kun as a big threat this weekend. City’s absolute destruction of many a side still has to make you wary of the possibilities.
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Juan Mata
Jose didn’t want him and David didn’t know how to use him. It has been a long time coming for Mata to make an appearance in a captaincy article. I am very sure we have never featured him and if any of our writers ever did, they deserve their fingers cut off. Hoping that Giggs understands where Juan is his most dangerous at, I am choosing to put my pinky on the line. By far the biggest differential of the main candidates he was only owned by 11.9% at the time of writing. All of the same things apply to Mata that did above to Rooney when looking at his opponent this week. If Mata has shown anything recently, it is his capacity to turn it on vs bad teams. I believe Norwich qualifies as a terrible team so this could be a nice haul for the silky Spanish mid not named Silva. He would be a dangerous captain and many who will go for a United player are likely to go for Fellaini…Bwahahaha!!!, sorry this was the only way lampshade would ever grace a captaincy article. Many will go Rooney was what I meant to say. So if you are in a precarious position and need a huge differential, Mata might be your guy.
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Other Notables:
Lukas Podolski/Olivier Giroud: 2 straight games for Podolski with 13 points will get him noticed. With 4 goals and 173 minutes in his last two games, finally owners are not left frustrated with Wenger’s propensity to remove him at the 60 minute mark. Lukas averages 8.22 per 90 minutes played and despite only 11 starts he has 5 double-digit games.
Giroud who never misses a chance off the field and misses all of them on it, makes our notables today. One of these days he is going to get as lucky on the field as he seems to be off it. Olivier probably misses more big chances than anyone in the EPL, so he needs more of them to score well. Just read back my case for Giroud, if you are not convinced, I don’t know what will turn you. 😉 Well that is where a team like Newcastle who is just playing out the season helps.
Newcastle has 5 losses in a row and has allowed 14 goals in those games. This season they have lost 8 games by 3 or more goals to top the Premier League in this dubious category. Only City and Liverpool scored more goals vs bottom half teams, I know what you are going to say, “Newcastle is not in the bottom half” Really?! Really?! Have you watched them play recently? Let’s just treat them like the pathetic side they have become.
Christian Eriksen: 55 points in his last 5 starts. So why is he down here sharing space in the other notables? Because of whom he faces and where he faces them at. Stoke City is the 6th best home team and their current form at the Britannia reflects it with 5 wins and 1 draw in their last 6. Only Liverpool and Chelsea have been able to score more than one goal on their trips to visit the Potters. The Viking still gets a mention though because of that old saying “form over fixtures” and right now, no one is in better form in FPL.
Thanks for reading Captains Picks Game-week 36, this article was written by Mito21
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Took a -12 point hit to get in Aguero, but also bought in Eriksen, Sterling and Chester. Desperate to try and catch up in my private leagues in the last 3 GW’s. Have had Ramsey and Podolski since last week, pity I captained neither! I’ve left 23 and 21 points on the bench the last two GW’s, which is pretty disappointing. Team is :
Szczesny (Ruddy)
Baines, Shaw, Chester (Azpilicueta, Ward)
Sterling, Ramsey, Eriksen, Mata (Nasri)
Aguero, Suarez (C), Podolski.
Can’t decide to play Sterling vs Che (H) or Nasri vs Cry Pal (A).
Would appreciate anyones thoughts and opinions, Thanks.
Elchico hope the hits work out for you, I would play Sterling over Nasri this week.
Play Ster
Morning All
Given that I did the transfers early this week due to funds issues its seemed like a long week to the Friday pressers….im set up as follows for the weekend
Mannone(Boruc)
Azpi/Coleman/Ward(Bruce)(Parr)
Mata/Ramsey/Eriksen/Coldback(Silva)
Aguero/Suarez/Rooney(C)
Next week ill likely take a -4 to offload one defender & Silva and get in Nasri & someone with a DGW…..but unlike this week ill be leaving it late in the week to do that move…..
So, is anyone else not buying Mourinho’s “weaker team” mind-games?
completely buying mate, he is deadly serious.
Milk I just posted about it in the coment below before seeing your comment – I expect he’ll rest a fair few alright…but the defense will be very strong and you’ll have Matic/Salah/Mikel/Lampard as part of the midfield/forwards….thats harldy a crowd of kids with no big game experience
Oh Cookie, maybe that’s why you’re so good at FPL, your reality is skewed!
daboyo: My thoughts exactly. I saw a post on Goal that gave 11 players, with Lampard and Schurrle the only ones known!
trust me, if he could rest his entire first XI for Wednesday, he would. He’s an angry and frustrated man and wants to make this situation acted on.
Gents,
This must be one of the most eagerly awaited team announcements in recent times. Can’t wait until 1pm on Sunday.
I think Mourinho might take a strop and follow through on his threat. However, I also think that there is a big twist to happen yet and Chelsea may snatch it. And how much smugger would that make Jose??
GP, don’t get my hopes up!!
Cookie,
Regardless of the team selection, it would be a brave man to back against any Chelsea team under Jose.
Ultimately though – he wants the CL and the legendary status winning it with a third team would bring. So if it’s ‘win one lose one’ – then Sunday is a goner!
completely agree GP, he knows next season he’ll have a proper squad to challenge for it. He has openly never targeted the league this year.
There is not a chance that Mourinho is going to give Liverpool an easy ride!!! Their squad depth is enough to put out two good sides anyway. Liverpool will have to at the top of their game and so it should be like that!
Haha Cookie: Good thing then, that I plan on benching Cahill against SASASAG? 😛 I cannot put it to words the way I hope he fields a strong team and gets smacked about Anfield.
Gallant Pioneer: I used to like you until you suggested Chelsea winning.
Yeah GP, you should know better than to suggest anything remotely negative about Liverpool, you know how touchy they get about anything and everything.
M & B
Haha! Hang me up from the nearest lamppost!
Liverpool can’t lose it now. (Sorry Cooks)
GP, again, I agree.
Thank you Cookie, and GP. You must know at this point in this season, anything negative about my beloved Liverpool will set me on edge – I can barely sleep as is!
If I was a Chelsea fan I’d be fuming! 2nd in the league with 3 to play and he’s throwing the towel in?! We’ve seen bigger capitulations than what would be necessary from Liverpool for Chelsea to win the title, NOT TO MENTION IT’S A ‘6-POINTER’ BETWEEN THEM & THE TEAM THEY NEED TO OVERHAUL that he’s talking about fielding a weaker team for. Absolutely mental…
Was reading about the Chelsea set up for this weekend – I don’t think Jose is going to go as experimental as some of the papers are making out……..a team like
Schwarzer
Azpi/Ivan/Cahill/Cole
Matic/Lampard/Mikel
Schurle/Ba/Salah
thats still a very strong team, granted your resting hazard/oscar/ramires/luiz and without the injured cech and terry, but its hardly a crowd of novices…….
as a Liverpool fan you want to go and win it the right way and beat the top teams so I hope its a team like the one ive mentioned and not a host of U21 players like some of the papers are reporting…coz you’ll only have City fans harping on about it being handed to us
Daboyo completely agree with you pal well done!
daboyo
If anyone has handed it to Liverpool it was City themselves after getting it back to 2-2 at Anfield.
It’s not Liverpool’s business or fault who Chelsea play in their team on the day.
Schwarzer
Ivan – Luiz – Cahill – Azpi
Lampard – Mikel – Matic
Salah – Ba – Schurlee
Morning gents, trying to think how Giggs goes for United is tough. Looking at getting double coverage for a hit of 4 points. Due to funds its either Januzaj and Rooney or Welbeck and Mata. thoughts?
Januzaj and Rooney for me mate
Thanks cookie that was my first choice! I figure they should give the youngster a chance to shine before the World Cup. He’s better than Young anyway!!!!
Giggs sees Januzaj as himself of 20/25 years ago – I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t given some starts until the end of the season.
migs
Gotta be Rooney and Januzaj.
Thanks GP!
Hey guys. Hope you’re all well.. weekend is nearly here!
Thanks
Took a massive punt on DGW and took a -12 hit this week so will make one FT next week. Could be genius.. could be the end of my leads. I would like some advice for starting 11 this week if you wouldn’t mind.. my thoughts:
Szczesny (Mannone)
Kompany, Vlaar, Rosenoir, Zabaleta (Azpi)
Mata, Eriksen, Ramsey (Sterling, Barkley)
Rooney (c), Aguero, Suarez.
Doubled up Man city defence.. against CRY maybe not a great move.. Azpi/Ster against Liv/Chels? Any thoughts/advice welcomed
Hi Smiffy, I would leave Azpi where he is and consider playing Sterling instead of Vlaar.
Hi init, nice ranking you got there.. and thanks for not telling me just how crazy I am.
I have been leaning towards bringing in Sterling but thinking might be better having 3 defenders from different teams rather than double up man city away at a strong palace? mainly brought in vlaar for funds.. for the huge gamble i’m taking next week.
This is my first season on FPL and I love it albeit incredibly stressful at times. I’ve made huge errors and been massively impatient but am top of all my leagues so mustn’t grumble 😉
Coleman on the bench must have hurt!