Captains Picks Game-week 23 FPL Fantasy Premier League
GW23 Captaincy selection gives some interesting alternatives to the normal “big two”, Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero. While the aforementioned are decent options in any week, as they have proved to be fixture-proof, there are some attractive looking fixtures for other in-form players, which may reward FPL managers who are prepared to look outside of the box and risk not going with the two outstanding strikers of the division.
So let’s have a look at the options in store for us this midweek GW23.
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Wilfried Bony
With six goals in his last five games in all competitions, Bony appears to be now showing the form that persuaded Swansea to pay a club record £12mln in the summer and a home fixture vs relegation threatened Fulham could persuade some to hand him the armband this week. The Cottagers have conceded 22 goals in their last seven games in the league and despite Swansea having a small midfield injury crisis with De Guzman, Michu and Shelvey all expected to miss the game, it would be a surprise if Bony didn’t receive a few chances and with him in hot form, you wouldn’t bet against him continuing his great run of scoring.
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Luis Suarez
Not a lot needs saying about the league’s top scorer – 21 goals and 13 assists in 17 league matches for Liverpool this season means Suarez is a permanent fixture in this article. Couple that record with the return of strike partner of Daniel Sturridge, means it’s a brave (or mad) manager that looks beyond the Uruguayan. Some doubters will point out that this fixture ended goalless last season – I would point out that Suarez was not playing due to suspension and he has only failed to score in one Merseyside derby in which he has featured.
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Eden Hazard
Hazard is Chelsea’s inform midfielder in the league and has scored three goals and assisted once in his last five league matches. Having seen the midfield headlines stolen away by Aaron Ramsey in the first half of the season, Hazard is now vying with Yaya Toure to be FPL’s top midfielder. With nine goals and sixteen assists already this season, the Belgian will be confident of adding to that tally at home to a poor and demoralised West Ham, who are stuck in the relegation zone and haven’t won at the Bridge since 2002.
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Samuel Eto’o
Injury and rotation has limited Eto’o to just 718 minutes of league action this season, but with Torres injured, Ba seemingly forgotten and a hat-trick against the Champions in the last league game under his belt, West Ham could be on the receiving end of a proper battering on Wednesday night. With the likes of Hazard, Oscar and Willian providing for Eto’o, he could just be a cheeky selection that could push a brave FPL manager up the rankings.
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Adam Johnson
The Sunderland midfielder is in a rich vein of form, well, that’s if you call two games a rich vein of form. Anyway, Sunderland have scored six goals in two games, with Johnson scoring four of those and assisting the other two, suggesting everything the team does going forward under Poyet involves him. With Stoke conceding 15 goals in their last five league games, more Sunderland (and Johnson) success looks a fair bet, although it may be worth considering that Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic who missed those five matches, has now recovered and made an impressive return in the Cup loss to Chelsea at the weekend. Even so, with a passionate crowd behind him and the team on the up, Johnson could prove an inspirational choice as skipper.
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Sergio Aguero
Like Suarez, Aguero needs little introduction or write-up as we are all well aware of his capabilities and City’s dynamic form, especially in front of goal, which has already seen the team net over 100 goals in all competitions this season. But the class of Aguero continues to dominate the proceedings – since his return from injury, the striker has scored six goals in just four games and netted a 2nd half hat-trick in the weekend Cup comeback against Watford. Whilst an away trip to Tottenham may not, on paper, suggest another goal fest is in store, we all remember City demolishing the north London outfit 6-0 in November with Aguero scoring twice and assisting once and with a record of 13 goals in his last 11 eleven league games, its likely City will trouble a Spurs defence that has, in fairness, kept clean sheets in their last two home games.
Other notable mentions include:
Daniel Sturridge – three goals in three games since his return from injury, the England striker is the perfect foil for Suarez – 11 goals and 3 assists in just 14 league matches tells you all you need to know – when he’s fit he delivers. Has already scored vs Everton this season.
Christian Benteke – two goals in his previous two games, gives Benteke fans optimism that the big striker has rediscovered his touch in front of goal. A home fixture vs a struggling West Brom suggests more chances for Benteke. A gamble that may pay off.
Oscar – often over-shadowed and out-scored by his midfield mate Hazard, Oscar scored a match winning free kick vs Stoke at the weekend and with Mata on his way, increased game time for the Brazilian may result in increased returns for Oscar. Home to West Ham seems an ideal place to recapture his league form.
Emmanuel Adebayor – three goals and three assists in his last four league matches, suggests Adebayor is back in love for the game….for now. Home to City is clearly a tough match, but it is worth noting that they have only kept two clean sheets in nine league games, which simply proves that they are human after all!
Whoever you choose, we wish you the best of luck. Be sure to chat on the boards, to ask for advice if you’re unsure of who to captain or want advice on potential transfers and also vote on our Captain’s Poll below.
This article was written by Cookie.
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HI all! Need some help with this WC nightmare…
#1.
Mannone/Marshall
Azpil, Sagna, Evans, Vlaar, Bruce
Mata, Hazard, Silva, Eriksen, Noone
Suarez, Aguero, Bony
0,0 in the bank
#2.
Mannone/Marshall
Coleman, Sagna, Vlaar, Ward, Bruce
SAME FRONT 8
0,2 in bank
#3.
Mannone/Marshall
Coleman, Sagna, Vlaar, Shaw, Bruce
Mata, Oscar, Silva, Ramsey, Noone
Suarez, Aguero, Adebayor
0,6 in the bank
Basically not sure if I should keep Coleman and Hazard, or get rid of them for Azpil/Oscar to free up cash elsewhere.
1. For Me .!!
I think option 3 is the best
@Veer, don’t you always come on here in a state of panic 2 minutes before the deadline asking for transfer advice?! How could you possibly have any idea this far away from the deadline. 😉
Not happening tonight Mito, the deadline in India is at 1 am!
I like the one with Marshall and Mannone. Ok…ok..ok, I know, I prefer option 1. That is a completely solid team.
Cheers Mito -I like the look of #1 myself. Its just that Id loose 0.9 on Coleman if I get rid of him. So there is no getting him back at a latter stage. Still worth it u reckon??
I lost it last GW before he got hurt, so far I am living a charmed life. #Gulp
Ritz – Call me crazy but I prefer #2. I think folks are jumping off the Coleman bus too quickly and I still wouldn’t touch ManU def cover imo.
Hey guys! I just did Cabaye >> Ramsey. Here’s my WC team now.
Szczesny Mannone
Coleman Kolarov Davies Shaw Gabbidon
Hazard Mata Ramsey Johnson Mutch
Adebayor Suarez (c) Aguero
I have 0.6 to spend somewhere. My priority is Coleman, who is 50/50. His selling price is currently 5.9, and I want some Everton defence in my WC. I don’t mind if he’s only missing one at h since I’m benching him anyways. What do you think?
Coleman should be back for the next game – id hold him….
solid team….
Thanks! Anybody else?
Hart or McGregor in goal tonight?
I play Mac, but not confident on either.
Cheers Mito.
I was coming to the same conclusion.
Can Anyone RMT For Tonight – Can’t Wait .!!
Mannone
Sagna – Ward – Cahill
Hazard – Gerrard – Mata – KI
Hooper – (c)SURAEZ – (v)AGUERO
Bench : Adrian – Lallana – Zabaleta – Chester
Question 1 : Getting Rid of Hooper Soon Who Should I’ve get for My Third Striker out of these three Bony,Adebayor or J.Rod ..?
You can’t wait to get your team rated, ok here it goes. I am worried for you a bit. If Mata doesn’t start you could be in trouble. Gerrard has not done anything this season from open play, Ki is a underwhelming as an asset unless he is your fifth mid on the bench. I would trade Hooper for Bony/Ade in the near future. It’s not a bad team going forward with a transfer or two but Mata not starting and a likely Gerrard 2 pointer could really put a dent on your GW score.
We will see Mito21 Thanks for the Advise !
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Mata? This is my team..
Guzan
Bruce, Kos, Ward, Cahill, Evans
Eriksen, Hazard, Toure, Johnson, Noone
Aguero, Suarez, Rodriguez
My WC is active so I could take Eriksen & Johnson out for Mata and a cheap option. Or should I wait and get Ramsey back when Johnson’s form fades?
ill see how he goes tonight and look at him next week….it would be in place of Silva and tbh when Silva plays he gets points so Im not in any huge rush to ship him out…..
what about Sagna for Kos – he is a bit more of a differential and offers a bit from crosses aswell….
Cahill is a good shout aside from next week vs City……
Eriksen is in good form but I personally prefer Ramsey……
Not sure is J.Rod and Noone are strong enough……your likely to play one of them every week and id need very nice fixtures to have them in my team…….Bony/Ade are good shouts as a third striker but you’d need to do a bit of re-jiggind elsewhere to afford them I take it…..
Yeah I would. I usually play 3-4-3 and it would be Rodriguez more often that Noone. Was thinking on waiting for mata just WC ends tonight so would have to take a hit next GW before he rises
I don’t know where Mata will play so im slow to drop Silva…and id be slow to mess with your own team aswell tbh…….
What would you need to do at the back to get this front 7 – id be looking at Evans & Cahill
Toure/Hazard/Ramsey/Eriksen/Mata
Suarez/Aguero……cheap as you can go
An awful lot I think if possible haha. I’ll have a look. Thanks daboyo
Anyone offer a quick RMT?
A few issues I see for this GW:
1- Double SOU attack vs ARS
2-Silva still doubtful or not?
3- Double CRY def cover or do I start McG and Ward?
4- Tempted to Captain Haz over Suarez as I’m chasing in my league
5- Ramsey’s 1st game back; how effective?
Speroni (McG)
Kosc – Barsdley – Ward (Coleman – Chester)
Haz – Silva – Lallana – Ramsey (Livermore)
Suarez – Aguero – JRod
think Silva will be ok – Pellegrini usually calls it straight enough….
I don’t fancy Southampton opening up Arsenal more than once but Lallana and J Rod are a better shout than Livermore
Ramsey with anything more than 15mins could pick up something…..he isnt as high as he is in the points table for no reason
Id chance McGregor and Ward……
Cheers daboyo. McG and Ward to split my chances at 1 clean sheet and don’t double up with Speroni & Ward?