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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Cheers B-Bash, really good work on this crucial GW captain pick, much appreciated.
Anyone know when Jagielka is set to rerturn? I can afford him, Coleman and Baines. If I do go for Jags that leaves up 1.6m extra to spend. Current squad:
Mannone – Marshall
Azpi – Fonte – Collins – Olsson – Chambers
Sterling – Silva – Yaya – Mata – Noone
Suarez – Lukaku – Sturridge
Hmm, already have Sterling so I can’t get Gerrard. Want to do Chambers to an Everton defender, not sure which. Baines could be a differential even though he’s been crap throughout the season.
Coleman/Baines all the way Raz, much better picks than any of the Evertonian center backs.
Baines is having a disappoint season though. But since everybody is picking Coleman now, he might be a good alternative.
Precisely why i’ve gone with him Raz, rivals have Coleman so i’m hoping Everton win a lot of set pieces over the two games and he can do something.
get both ! It’s a risk free strategy Raz.
Also. Get rid of Mata. He’s so bad FPL wise at the min it’s scary. He’s so expensive too.. You could do wonders with that cash..
I know he has a double but what good is 4 points to you ? Swap him for Gerrard and sterling for Sissoko (maybe).. Or whatever.. just don’t have mata.. that’s my advice..
I know Demsie but I don’t think it’s worth replacing DGW players with other DGW players at the moment. Plus getting rid of 2 DGW players? Bit too much imho. United have 3 easy fixtures in their next 4 games, I’ll get rid of him before GW34 (blank GW). Already have SIlva/TOure and can’t have 4 Pool players so replacing Mata with Gerrard isn’t possible unless I let someone of SSS go. If I do get Gerrard I’ll just be having him like everybody else, I’ll just stick with Sterling for the moment. I know Gerrard is consistent, sighs. We’ll see, maybe they’ll get less penalty’s after last game.
Ugh NIN, I’d hoped you’d went for Coleman as I wanted Baines, we’re gonna have quite similar teams come GW 31. I reckon you sold Lallana as well, maybe for Nolan? This is gonna be our different players:
Ruddy – McGregor
Azpi – Demel
Lallana – Nolan(?)
Seems like you’ve won before we’ve even started…
Tekno – I have no problem sharing my team mate …
McGregor
Baines – Demel – Kolarov
Hazard – Nolan – Gerrard – Yaya
Lukaku – SAS (c) / (vc)
It will be a close match.
NIN
I could bring in Zaba instead of Baines though, which would free up funds for some other moves…
Nice one B-Basher.. thanks for the time.. 7th in the entire world.. just WOW !
I’m going with Studge though, as I think Rogers will drop the diamond for these 2 games. Rogers takes each game on it’s own merit and for Cardiff I see him going back to the 433 like against Swansea et al.. Just my take. Studge for me
I appreciate that B-Bash, I am thinking of a certain Daniel Sturridge for captain. I know where everyone else is going to be (Suarez), so I want to take a chance. Now or never!!
One time, just one time!! Let me get it right, just one time!!!!!
Mito, for a moment there you reminded me of Britney
Oh baby, baby
Oh baby, baby
Oh baby, baby
How was I supposed to know
That something wasn’t right here (Lukaku you biatch)
Oh baby, baby
I shouldn’t have let you go (Gerrard)
And now you’re out of sight, yeah (Hell no just brought you in for a hit)
Show me, how you want it to be
Tell me baby
‘Cause I need to know now, oh because
My loneliness is killing me (And )
I must confess, I still believe (Sturridge cappo)
When I’m not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time
Oh baby, baby
The reason I breathe is you
Boy you got me blinded
Oh pretty, baby
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do
It’s not the way I planned it (Was thinking Suarez)
Show me, how you want it to be
Tell me baby
‘Cause I need to know now, oh because (I’m fecked if I get it wrong)
Mito Spears
What a video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-u5WLJ9Yk4
well done Kop. Lovely stuff.
Ahhh, Britney in the days when she was still innocent…..or was it when we were still innocent? #Britneyfoolmeonemoretime
I’ll never forget the first time I saw that video
Reading those lyrics, it’s almost like Britney had an FPL season in mind at the time.. Astonishing
Thanks for the article.
Is there anyone brave enough to captain someone other than Sturridge?
Thanks for the article.
Is there anyone brave enough to captain someone other than Suarez??
yeah FH, you and Mito!!
Haha yes indeed cookie. Doesn’t necessarily mean I will have the nerve to go through with it though.
Me as well.. See above post for reasoning FH.
I’m going Studge
Your reasoning is perfectly sound demsie. It would be typical to see Suarez on the left in the next match. Sturridge should have scored at least 1 on Sunday but his finishing can be so erratic at times…. Always has his head down.
Risk vs reward I guess.
I will my stupidity knows no bounds!! As I have already proven.
Just maybe this is the week you get rewarded big time Mito???
Well Demsie and I will leave the door unlocked to our bunker we will have plenty of alcohol to deal with the nerves, so you are welcomed to join us. We are going to be drunk no matter what, celebrating or in despair.
LOL it’s a bold move but it does have it’s merits. The closer we get to the weekend the more tempted i am.
Cheers Mito.. all the best parties are in bunkers (just ask the folks that were in WW1) so I’ll definitely join you
FH, forgive me mate, but aren’t you in the pact ? You can’t be if you’re considering this move of your own free will I just thought you were…
Demsie- long story mate. Speaking of the Pact…. Has anyone seen my fellow pact member Monty? Suspiciously quiet these days