This game-week’s captaincy choice promises to be an interesting and maybe even problematic conundrum. With injuries to popular candidates Sergio Aguero, RvP and now also Theo Walcott, as well as an ongoing groin problem for Wayne Rooney, there will be some difficult decisions to be made this week. In most cases, the default option for the majority of managers would probably be to hand the armband to Luis Suarez, but we feel there are a number of interesting and viable alternatives to the Liverpool striker. While there are usually just three or four viable candidates for captain in any given week, the fixtures and form of many mean that there are many routes you could take this week and the chances are you will have plenty of the following in your team already. Let’s have a look at who we believe to be the standout candidates.
Eden Hazard & Oscar
Chelsea kick-off GW21 with a trip to Hull and it’s Mourinho’s star midfielders that could offer managers a lucrative captain’s selection, if they continue their current run of good form. Hazard is now the top scoring midfielder in FPL with 125pts, has been a nailed on starter for Chelsea and has scored 78 of those points in his last ten matches – scoring five goals and creating six assists.
Oscar has very much lived in his team mate’s shadow of late, but came back to form in the win at Southampton last time out, scoring once, assisting twice, collecting 3bps and totalling 14pts. With many managers playing their wildcard this week and looking to utilise every pound available, Oscar at 8.7mln is significantly cheaper than Hazard at 10.4mln and could prove a cheeky alternative.
It’s worth pointing out that Hull have kept things fairly tight at home, conceding just six goals in ten games at the KC Stadium – however, Man Utd scored three times there on Boxing Day, showing that they can be opened up.
Romelu Lukaku
With ownership of 32.2%, Lukaku is still a obviously still a very popular striker for FPL managers and a home game against Norwich will encourage many of those managers to give the Toffee forward the armband. Lukaku has scored six of his nine goals at Goodison this season and despite just one goal in his last seven matches, you get the feeling that the goals could come flooding back at any time. The Canaries have conceded five at Liverpool, four at Arsenal and seven at Man City, which goes to show that they’re not the best travellers, although they have, in fairness kept clean sheets in two of their last three away days, albeit it at Sunderland and West Brom. However, with Everton high-flying and Leighton Baines back from injury, expect Lukaku to be on the end of some first-class crosses, which arguably he has been somewhat starved of in Baines’ absence.
Seamus Coleman & Leighton Baines
As per Lukaku above the two marauding full-backs will be looking forward to GW21. Coleman needs little introduction and is this season’s top scoring defender with 112pts – not bad for a defender that wasn’t even an automatic first choice last season and started this season priced at just 5mln. With five goals already and eight clean sheets, he continues to reward those managers who kept faith with him, while those managers who don’t have him or even sold him are kicking themselves. Coleman has scored four goals in his last six games, in all competitions and will be a contender for the armband for many this week.
Baines, despite missing six matches with a toe injury, has already scored once and kept one clean sheet in his two games since returning to the side. Despite trading at a premium to Coleman, Baines does of course take the majority of set pieces for the Toffees and with the match expecting to be an attack-fest for Roberto Martinez’s men, it is quite likely that both defenders can not only deliver a clean sheet but also a goal or assist, going forward.
Jay Rodriguez
The Southampton striker has not only made his England debut this season, but is also stealing the limelight from his striking partners, Rickie Lambert and Pablo Osvaldo, to such an extent that J Rod is more certain of a start than the other two, even more so this week as Osvaldo is suspended and Lambert is carrying a knock. Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping his striker, who has already netted eight goals this term, will reignite some form into his team, who have struggled of late, but now face a group of fixtures which promises to yield more points, starting with the visit of West Brom this weekend, who haven’t kept a clean sheet away from the Hawthorns since mid-October. With the creative talents of Adam Lallana and Gaston Ramirez supplying him, the Saints’ striker, despite being the cheapest of all the captaincy choices mentioned, could well provide the best retrun.
Emmanuel Adebayor
What a turnaround for the Spurs striker – anyone would think the transfer window is open or contract negotiations are due! With new manager Tim Sherwood clearly favouring the striker more than AvB ever did, his form has been revitalised, scoring three goals and creating two assists in his last four games. The visit of Crystal Palace to the Lane should entice some managers to give Adebayor the armband, especially those looking for a differential captain as the striker is owned by just 4.2% of managers. With Roberto Soldado carrying a knock and Jermain Defoe seemingly on his way out of the club, either to Seattle or West Ham (tough choice that one), Adebayor is poised to start the game and carry on his run of form, despite Palace tightening up under Tony Pulis.
Olivier Giroud & Lukas Podolski
We include both strikers simply because at the time of writing it’s not obvious which one will start up front against Villa. Hopefully that will become clearer nearer the time and although Giroud is expected to have recovered from his injury, Wenger may decide to persevere with Podolski and ease the Frenchman in from the bench. Whoever does start can be expected to be the recipient of plenty of chances against a Villa side that has performed better away from home than at Villa Park. Despite the absence of Theo Walcott, creation runs through the team with Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky and even youngster Serge Gnabry all impressing of late and of course the assist king Mesut Ozil returning from injury. Podolski has already contributed a goal and assist since his return to the first team, while Giroud’s eight goals and five assists speak for themselves.
Wayne Rooney
We include Rooney on the list with a big word of caution. His ongoing groin problem, which the player is managing carefully, means he has to be assessed before every match and even if he does play, it limits his movement on the pitch. Hence, the England striker has been playing a more withdrawn role of late, meaning he’s not been getting in the goal scoring positions he is used to in open play. However, he is still on set pieces, so an assist or a penalty cannot be ruled out, especially with United at Old Trafford! With the Reds struggling of late and having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Swansea last week, it’s clear a win is essential for the team and Moyes – and Rooney can never be ruled out, especially with nine goals and eleven assists to his name already this season. He can be explosive but will you take the chance of him even making the pitch!
Luis Suarez
And so of course back to where we started. No captain’s article would be complete without mentioning Suarez and he is likely to again top the polls this week. His record this season speaks for itself – 19 goals, 12 assists and 25bps in just 15 games – some managers have already decided to just captain him every week. With the return of Steven Gerrard to the side, the midfield will not only have more steel to it than was evident in the defeats to Man City and Chelsea, but the captain will again be expected to plant set pieces on Suarez’s head. Stoke haven’t been the consistent tight unit they were under Tony Pulis and with the continued absence of Robert Huth, expect the Reds to create chances – can Suarez convert those chances and continue to deliver great returns? Many managers will be banking on it.
Whoever you choose, good luck and may he deliver a decent return! Please don’t forget to vote on our captain poll below and share your thoughts on the site.
This article was written by Cookie.
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For those participating in the shield, there will be a preview of the groups placed on the boards by yours truly tomorrow. Possibly the first two groups tomorrow and the other two Friday. Remember this will be on the board not an Article. So if you are in Bench’s shield tournament this will be a must read to prepare you for the tournament. 😉
Look forward to that Mito…morning noon or night mate so I can ensure to tune in and learn just how much of a beating I am due
About 9pm UK time for group 1 & 2 and the same time Friday for groups 3 & 4. I will post them on the current article and Bench’s league Article. So it will be easy to find if you miss it.
Top man..ta
Thanks mito
The Comms Genius strikes again!
D’you think in the future I could get away with McGregor as a full time goalkeeper? Would help my WC draft out no end…
You could get away with it. I have been using Marshall since Boruc got hurt and have doing ok, but I can’t wait to have options. Because I have not been doing well because of him it is in spite of him.
Thanks Mito. I see what you’re saying but it nay be worth the sacrifice to spend more money on the front 8
Jamesimmo
Who are you thinking as 2nd keeper?
B-Bash, hey, someone really cheap to save cash (also avoids selection headaches) was my plan
Davis at 3.9 is currently in. Keeping Gazzaniga out. Boruc will get his place back tho I think, so put him on your bench!!
Only a thought tho!
jamesimmo – I don’t think so mate,the second half of the season generally sees the promoted sides fade a bit,in some cases a lot! It’s inevitable that Hull will hit a bad run and when it happens you’ll be getting minimal points from your keeper,best to have another option in my opinion.
…who would you recommend for under 5 mil NIN?
jamesimmo – McGregor and Speroni rotate pretty well,also,in GW’s 22-25 Palace have some tasty home games,there could well be some nice points to be had there.Speroni is 4.5m currently.
Thanks, will look in it.. night all!
Marshall/Mannone
Marshall/Speroni
Just seen YYT at 75% is it serious ?
Yaya now yellow flagged! :oogle:
It’s because Pelligrini said afterwards he subbed him off because “He has some pain in his ankle”. Which is worrying because the original injury earlier on was to his knee…. Smacks of a rest to me but he did add “We will see tomorrow. We hope it is nothing too serious”.
Yeah well me too Pell or I’ll have to be getting my wildcard out prematurely :rant:
You and me too mate! Really dont want to, but itchy now I’ll suffer if I dont! Had a great plan on the table, signed off and everything….now all this!
The silver lining is, most people who haven’t given up have got YYT. So if he doesn’t play next GW we’re all in the same boat.
B-Bash – Just one GW without Yaya would be a dream come true for us who don’t have him,he’s been a constant thorn in my side all season haha.
Thanks for your support NIN 😉
init – haha,one GW isn’t too much to ask surely..?? Seeing as how he’s been hurting my feelings for the last 20 haha!
NIN he was hurting mine for 19 of them and now I’ve bought him he’s bloody injured!!!
B-Bash I wrote out a WC team the other night as a contingency plan fortunately so I’m not panicking but I’m not happy about having to play it either. 1 hit may see me through but I don’t like those either! :noshake:
init – Pants,never good when that s**t happens,i had the same s**t recently with Silva,brought him in,s***ty 1 pointer and a suspension,great stuff.Made up your mind about captaincy yet mate?
I’ve not even made up my mind who’s in my team yet NIN! You can swear by the way but nice censo*s*ip regardless!
Initt, I agree. Taken only 2 hits so far and I dont like em!!
I have a wc team, but really wanted to hold off! Prob i have is Rooney, Cabaye, Ravel and now Yaya!!! Still may just do hit for Rooney yet! Gonna sleep on it!
Night chaps!!
init – Haha fair enough so,i’m struggling to decide between Suarez,Negredo,Rodriguez or Hazard…
NiN I was in the process of hiring them bums who kneecapped Nancy Kerrigan before the olympics, but if he hurt himself and takes a week or two off….that will do. 😉
Mito – hahaha,well,keep them on standby just in case,it’s about time Yaya was stopped!!
NiN don’t worry they are ready and trust me they can do the job. Ask Ramsey 😉
Mito I think Cookies going Adebayor on his WC. Just saying …………. B)
Haha Mito you’re a busy bear these days haha,while they’re in the area is there any chance of a potshot or two for Suarez and Brendan Rogers? Them two are getting on my tits too hahaha.
@Init I would not waste money on getting Ade taken out, didn’t his body shut down last game? Some jobs handle themselves.
@NiN Suarez moonlights for me, he is one of my thugs, so NO!! But you have been added to the list. You will get a proper spanking. :hippo:
Hahaha,little Uruguayan shit,i knew he’d come for me one day,didn’t think it would be so soon though..time to slip into the shadows and hope for the best!!
I knew it was you. Damn Yaya hating bear :shiftyeyes:
Lol! Thanks Nin! :cuss:
Hey guys, please RMWCT:
Marshall
Nastasic – Coleman – Koscielny
Ozil – Silva – Hazard – Eriksen
Suarez – Rooney – Podolski
(Mannone, Chester, Ward, Parker)
With 0.3 in the bank, and needing another 0.3 to fund Rooney to Aguero if it seems like it needs doing later. Any thoughts appreciated.
Calvin Clyne – Looks good,i cant see Podolski playing first team for long so once you have an escape route the you’re okay.Podolski >> Rodriguez/Adebayor would save you some decent funds and eliminate the need to change him when he loses his spot,enough to fund Aguero for sure and have a bit to play around with too..
Cheers NIN. See you’re on your WC now, I’m still trying to decide whether or not to use it this GW. What’s your current WC team, or are you keeping that close to your chest?
Keep hold of your WC if you can, WC. With so many quality players due back from injury in the next few weeks, there should be some bargains coming up towards the end of the month.