Captains Picks Gameweek 31 Special Edition – FPL Fantasy Football Premier League
Welcome along to a Special Edition of Captains Picks. What’s so special about it we hear you ask? Well it’s not just that its a double gameweek and your captain selection will be crucial to this weeks success but more than that we have FPL royalty in the FF247 offices this week! This weeks captains picks are brought to you by the man of the moment himself, B-Bash. Many of you will be familiar with this unassuming chap from the boards as he chats away happily both giving out and seeking advice but he has a not so dark, not so hidden secret – he’s only in the running to win the bloody thing! We have chartered his steady climb this season which culminated in a season high of 5th place overall for him only this past Saturday. He did let himself down a bit on Sunday by plummeting to 7th though! Anyway we felt it would be folly of us to allow him to escape from the offices, having helped himself to all of our coffee and biscuits, without asking him to dispense some of his wisdom upon on our avid readership. So without further ado, over to the man himself….
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Well its here!! Double gameweek 31! Possibly the most anticipated gameweek of the season so far. FPL managers worth their salt will have been planning for this. Having gone through the pain of gameweek 29, we have been busy loading our teams with as many DGW players as possible. Some will be taking big hits too to accommodate this, but the one thing that can aid the recovery of any hits you take, is giving the captains armband to the right player! Those of you who captained Hazard as I did, will be feeling the frustration of a poor choice and know how it can affect your league rankings! Now double it!! So let’s have a look at the options, and you will notice the aforementioned Hazard will sit this one out, for the simple reason that he is only playing once this week.
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Luis Suarez
What more can I say about this fella that hasn’t been said before. The stand out FPL player of the season so far! Liverpool’s recent shift to the midfield diamond has seen Suarez benefit, with 2 goals and two assists in his last two outings. Even if the final assist did take some sorting out by the powers that be at FPL. Suarezs’ first game is an away date with second to bottom Cardiff City, who were victorious in their last home game, however that was against Fulham and with Liverpool averaging over 3 goals a game on the road, you have to expect Suarez to be in the mix for points. Liverpool then play host to Sunderland and Suarez has netted 4 times in their last two meetings, and I’m trying not to be biased, but I would expect something similar on the 26th.
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Daniel Sturridge
You can’t mention one without the other. It’s the law! However, Sturridge had been looking like the automatic captain choice, as he scored 59 points in 5 weeks, but then Rodgers changed things around in gameweek 28. The last 2 games have seen Suarez and Sturridge as a front 2 and he has managed just 1 assist, despite the reds scoring 6 goals. The boy cannot be overlooked though as Rodgers could just as easily switch things back, and he is in great form this season. That with the fixtures in this gameweek, there is no reason to suggest Sturridge won’t be back amongst the big points once more.
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David Silva/Yaya Toure
With the likelihood of Aguero missing some if not all of the DGW, I would be looking to their two star midfielders to cash in on the points. David Silva reminded us at the weekend just what he is actually capable of with a goal, an assist and 3 bonus points, and Toure kept his consistent season going with an assist and bonus points. Man City host bottom of the table Fulham, who have conceded 34 goals on the road, and I can’t see it getting any better for them this weekend as they face Silva and Toure who scored 10 and 14 points respectively, the last time the two teams met. City’s second fixture in the gameweek is a tricky visit to Old Trafford for the derby, but I do predict City to score there as United struggle for form.
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Romelu Lukaku
Well, most of us rushed out and bought him, only to watch him draw a blank at the weekend. The thing is, he was actually quite unlucky not to score as Everton made hard work of beating Cardiff City. But don’t lose heart, because Everton have arguably the best fixtures for the DGW, starting off with visit from Swansea, who haven’t won since the beginning of February, followed by a trip to Newcastle, where we would hope Lukaku can reproduce a display similar to the one he gave us when the two teams met in September, with 2 goals, an assist and 3 BP’s.
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Wayne Rooney
I have to mention this lad, because despite being an Evertonian that plays for United, I like him! If I had the money I’d buy him too and would be seriously considering giving him the armband for this week. Ok, so he drew a blank against Liverpool, but prior to that he had 2 goals, 1 assist and 5 bonus points away from home. Can he score? Of course he can! First up for Rooney is a trip to West Ham, which isn’t the easiest fixture as West Ham haven’t lost at home since they hosted Man City back in January, but Big Sam’s men do seem to have hit a blip in form, losing their last two and conceding 3 to Stoke last game. Next up is a home derby with City. In 2 of their last 3 meetings, Rooney has been the stand out United player, displaying the lads appetite to perform and win!
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Other notable mentions
Edin Dzeko – If you own him I would be very tempted to give him the armband. With Sergio Aguero likely to miss part if not all of DGW 31, and the home fixture against Fulham before the derby, the Bosnian could well be up there among the top scorers.
Olivier Giroud – With a double gameweek ahead, albeit, the first away to Chelsea, Giroud could be a good differential as in the second game of the week Arsenal play host to Swansea, and as I said before Swansea’s form is questionable and they may suffer at the hands of Giroud.
Steven Gerrard – I believe this homegrown talent is having one of his best seasons for a while. I haven’t owned him this season, but I am sorely tempted and current form cannot be ignored. 43 points in his last 5 outings, against arguably better opposition than he’ll be facing in this gameweek cannot be ignored.
So hopefully I have covered most options there, but no doubt other names will appear, which I’m sure will be discussed in full on the boards. Here’s hoping for big points this week, so good luck to all!!
Thanks for reading Captains Picks Gameweek 31 Special Edition, this article was written by B-Bash
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Capo is up….written by a special guest. Great stuff B-Bash, thanks for the article and your time in preparing and writing it – and giving us the week off!! What you doing next week? haha
Morning Cookie, you all set for the bumper week mate?
Hey NIN, hmmm not sure really mate. I feel like I’m one player short…..how about you ?
Cookie – I’ve got 10 and that’s as good as it gets for me, with Kolarov being the one iffy one but i’ve had him for a while now so just keeping him and hoping he start’s against Fulham at least. How many you get locked up?
I have eight at the moment NIN
Ah yes, your link wasn’t working for me but there it is now. Lallana&Chelsea def looks the way, or are you reluctant to take a hit?
I sold Lallana to Gerrard already – so my non DGWers at the mo are Boruc, Cahill and Hazard….
Hmm, Hazard stays anyway. How about Cahill/Azpi >> C. Davies? Hull have good fixtures as do WHU, think that’s what i’d do here, you have Stevie locked up so Chelski >> Hull/WHU def and i’d be happy with that..
not Zab ?
Yeah maybe he actually. He completely slipped my mind to be honest, if affordable then yeah Zab it is.
Thanks a lot B-Bash you done a great job there, as far as the (c) pick goes… Suarez for life haha.
Nice write up gents & again congrats B-Bash with your league standing mate …. YOU CAN DOOOOOOOO IT !!!
Decision made by myself as it has got to be Suarez as captain for the dgw.
Hi Gents. Please help, need it after my WORST week EVER
Mannone
Collins Distin Olsson
Nolan Yaya Mata Hazard
Sturridge (VC) Rooney Suarez (C)
subs: Boruc Ward Noone Azpil
0.3M itb 1FT
So thinking of doing Ward to Chester (then start Chester with his DGW over Olsson)
Mata to Silva or Gerrard? Leaning towards Silva since he has 3 DGW coming up. Thoughts?
When Aguero is fit will be Rooney to Aguero
Thinking of doing the Ward and Mata move this GW (since Silva or Gerrard should outscore Mata)
And Rooney when Aguero is fit
Seems good?
innit? Cookie? NIN?
Shep?
Yep agree with NIN, Gerrard it would be for me. I like the Chester punt also as Hull have a decent double. You have 3 FT’s ahead of that next City double to sort out their coverage for that one then.
Cheers Innit
Shep – Gerrard over Silva for me, Stevie has been the epitome of consistency pretty much all season.
Thanks NIN.
So Gerrard even though Silva has 2 more DGW’s?
Gerrard is the stronger pick for gw31 in my opinion, Silva can be brought in later if need be. Those dgw’s aren’t until gw34 & 37 so there’s plenty of time to get Silva for them if you want.
Thanks NIN.
Should I get rip of Ward or Olsson though for Chester?
Shep – I had a quick look at the form guide this morning and Norwich are 18th so Olsson for me as Crystal Pulis are good for the clean sheets here and there.
Haha, Palace are 17th in that list hahahaha, still rather have Ward though.
Cheers NIN.
what you think of Marky’s suggestion below?
Hi Shep, I have both Gerrard & Silva and to be honest brought Silva in before last weeks results for Mata ( useless git ) so would probably forget Aguero for forseeable future & try to get BOTH Silva & Gerrard in over next 2 weeks mate.
Aguero might not be the same for quite some time due to being rushed back consistently by City & he isn’t getting sufficient rest to recover so invest more wisely in your midfield mate.
Marky
Thanks mate. I have Yaya already though.
Would then look at doing Nolan and Rooney for Silva and who?? would have 9.8m for a striker
Shep, you can take yoru pick from the likes of Lukaku, Giroud, or whoever you fancy to go up front with SaS with a seriously strong supporting midfield then mate.
Marky
You giving me quite a dilemma haha
Thanks though.
Did Chester and Gerrard in for Mata and Olsson
Will look at Nolan and Rooney out for Silva and ? next GW then
Good choices & moves Shep & best of luck for upcoming week mate.
Cheers Marky
and you to! haha
What is your team btw?
Shep, check out comment 67 of gameweek 30 review to view my team & transfers this week mate.
Indeed you can comment accordingly if you wish mate.
Shep, yep Gerarrd for me this week – the squeaky one has got cracking fixtures and with the Splash twins up front, it seems penalties are a given.
Cookie
Thanks for the advise
What you think of Marky’s plan for me?
Silva is a great option Shep, cracking little player, but inconsistent on a fantasy basis – just be prepared for him not to return +10pts for you every week – personally,I think people are getting a little over excited by him, but that often happens when someone unusual scores…..bear in mind that three of their next five matches are United (a), Arsenal (a), Liverpool (a).
fair point Cookie.
Thing is I have had him the entire season when fit (1st time having Yaya)
Its a tough one but Silva is magic…
Thanks for your time and effort B-Bash, a great write-up. Especially as we know you have slightly more pressing concerns!
Morning rooster, how many are you expecting from Ronaldo tonight mate? 2.. 3.. 4 maybe? ha.
Oh crap, I forgot about that! Thanks NIN…
Haha, no problem. With such a huge lead there’s a chance he gets rested isn’t there? nah…. it’s bloody Ronaldo!! The FF King!!
NIN – according to Marca he’s one of the usual starters who won’t be rested (being Modric and Ramos the others). I’ll probably switch the armband from Messi to him. Anyway we’ll know the line-ups before the deadline.
Yeah Albertini i’d be surprised if they rested him, he’s a beast and doesn’t need rest!! I’ve gone from Costa (c) >> Ibrahimovic (c) >> Ronaldo (c) hahahaha, might even change it to Reus for tomorrow if for some reason Ronny has an off night, unlikely.
More or less like me, Goetze > Messi > Ronaldo and I still have Lewandowski if needed.
Morning gents. thinking of using wild card, thoughts on this team?
Howard, Mannone,
Shaw, Chester, Terry, Baker, Ward
Gerrard, Livermore, Januzaj, Hazard, Toure
Suarez, Sturridge, Lukaku..
Cheers.
as93, I would perhaps look at getting Coleman. Depending on which one of Januzaj or Livermore you are choosing to field this week then maybe switch out the other? Depending on your Hazard situation price-wise I would actually be tempted to bring in Silva as well as Yaya this week which a view to switching Silva back to Hazard next week.
as93 – I think you could do more with a WC, Terry > Coleman would be a start. Howard is a good pick but your mid is looking a bit light there so maybe Adrian instead? Saves a bit to maybe get a better pick than Januzaj as United are in tatters, and only getting worse by the look of it.
Cheers chaps, I’ll have a look