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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Afternoon all, pretty set on Suarez for captain this week. Quick question though – I have Gabbidon still and a FT so thinking of shipping him out as I currently have 9 DGW players (Hazard and a defender being the non DGW).
Now I’m keeping Haz as he’s a bit of a differential for me now, but thinking of selling Gabbidon for Chester and going double Hull def (McGregor in goal). That or I could stick Adrian in net.
What are peoples thoughts?
I have Gabbidon in my team and if I had a FT left he would be out. I don’t think you should double up on Hull, maybe another CP defender would be a better replacement? A west ham defender wouldn’t be a bad shout, even though you have Adrian, since they have two home matches
Great write up B-Bash, congrats on your ranking, truly fantastic…
So it seems everyone is selling Mata then, I mean I’m not daft and I can see the way UTD are playing but I can’t help thinking if he scores and grabs an assist against W Ham that everyone will be regretting getting rid.
I was looking for a bit of advice as I have a bit of a selection dilemma for this weekend,
would you play,
Hazard (Ars h) or Januzaj (W Ham a, M City h)
I currently have 10 DGW players but only 9 if I play hazard, is that enough or shall I go all out and take a hit to field 11…
Thoughts appreciated..
I think Januzaj will blank in both his matches, and hazard is playing at the Bridge where Chelsea are unbeaten… Play mata if you’re benching Januzaj, if he doesn’t perform sell him (I always sell players a week after most people).
Great article B-Bash, hope you can overthrow the Silva surfers before the end of the season! This GW looks set to be the highest scoring one I have ever had. My highest this season is 95 in GW 14, and there were only 10 matches then. My highest last season was when I had got 100 and something by captaining Michu is a Swansea DGW, and getting very lucky with a very unbalanced team. Anyways, I used my FT to do Lallana >> Nolan this morning, since Lallana’s price was falling, he didn’t have a DGW, he had blanked in the past 3 weeks and Nolan has two home matches! Good move? I now have 9 DGW players, everyone other than Ivanovic and Hazard. I now have Mannone, Coleman, Davies, Ivanovic, Hazard, Sterling, Nolan, Mata, Suarez, Giroud, Aguero. On the bench I have Ruddy, Mutch, Shaw, Gabbidon. Do I need to take a hit (against that but still) to bring in another DGWer? Thanks :red-flag:
hello mate
i would have taken a hit to bring in either Yaya or Silva for Mata
be seems to be crap from d FPL point of view and that high price tag
Hi Nishant, had fun yesterday? I’m not too sure about selling mata, I’ll probably give him one more week. I can’t help but feel Man Utd will pick up form in the coming weeks, and finish fifth. Also, I already have Aguero and I think (actually want) City’s season will fall apart and they finish fourth. That’s just me letting any support for arsenal get in the way :p I’ll remember this advice you’ve given me!
surely did enjoy a lot yesterday
and yes Mata has got what it takes. but he is just not being effective
in fact the whole of Man Utd except Rooooooney are sh*t
Great write up B-Bash.
Congrats on reaching a magnificant seventh. (see what I did there?)
I was wondering what people are thinking about holding a WC.
Last year a WC was worth its weight in gold.
This year I am not so sure.
I still have mine but have a FT and already have 8 DGWers (albeit including Ki and Mata).
I am quite happy to play Ivan at the back at the The Bridge this GW so it does not seem worth playing the WC this week.
But neither GW34 nor GW37 seem paved with gold.
What are other WC holders planning to do??
Also if you have already played your WC, did it work out well for you or do you wish you have kept it for now?
I played my WC in GW 2, you can check my link about how well that worked… From what you’ve told me a WC this week seems a bad idea. It was mentioned in one of he articles earlier that most managers have most of their team playing two this week, so you would be wasting your WC.
Cheers Veer for your response.
Looking at your team it seems that playing your WC early has really improved your season and you’re doing really well now.
In my first season of FF I used my WC early as I got into a mess and ended the season looking on enviously as others had held theirs and iused them in DGWs
My second season of FF I held my WC until late and used it to devasting effect and cleaned up my mini leagues.
So this season I thought I had FF cracked and kept my WC late this season.
However, I am beginning to suspect holding a late WC may not be the holy grail I thought it was.
Anybody else got a view on this????
Thanks! It wasn’t my WC, take a look at GW 2 it was terrible! I started recovering after my 24 point hit in GW 4.
Hello Horse,
I saved my WC until last week and used it to set up for the DGW whilst also getting back the City coverage that I had sold two weeks earlier. I got 65 points (should have captained Suarez) and have 10 doubling in the DGW alongside Hazard. So personally speaking it has gone well so far but ask me again after the DGW results. I know a lot of managers have aimed for getting good DGW coverage but it appears they did that at the expense of points in GW29 and GW30.
There are few very good DGW options left now so the benefit of holding on is diminishing. However, if you have good coverage this week then playing it in GW34 could be an advantage for the final few games. You do have some you could look at changing – Ki, Chambers, Johnson, and maybe Lallana. Just my opinion.
Cheers Odd1
Well done on GW30 and good luck in DGW31.
Yes it’s true what you say about the DGW option especailly after GW31.
I may well have to keep Ki.
He has gone down in value by 0.5m to 4.3m so decent replacements.
Could well get rid of Hazard to free up funds to get the likes of YYT in.
Horse
I played my WC early, and next season I will definitely hold it for situations like these and rather take some big hits early on if necessary.
It’s hard to say if you should play your WC as you already have a lot of DGW players. However I don’t really think there’s many better oppurtunities than this, and your team could still use improvement. If you played your WC, you could field a team like this:
Ivan -> Zaba/Baines
Mata -> Yaya
Chambers -> Chester
Hart
Zabaleta – Chester – Coleman
Yaya – Nolan – Johnson – Hazard/Ki
Studge – Lukaku – Suarez
The only other time to play your WC would be for GW 37, however you have 6 FTs until then and prob won’t need your WC. Don’t see a better time than now.
And as for if it’s good to hold a WC this late or not…
If you didn’t have 8 DGW players already, you’d be ecstatic about still having a WC so you could fully exploit an oppurtunity such as this GW.
Thanks Tekno for your reply.
The team you suggest looks nice.
I guess the other thing to think about is that the DGW players are going to rise in value and leaving the WC to GW37 will give me a lot less purchasing power.
I could go the whole hog and clear out Hazard for Stevie G.
Then start loading up on Benteke, Evra etc from GW35 onwards
I will have another think after the Chelsea game tonight.
Good to hear what you think about WCs in general. Cheers
Horse, i’ve still got my wc in both my teams, this linked 1 + my money league 1. In my money league i’m doing 2 transfers for -4pts, i’ll have 9 dgw players plus ivan + haz, don’t really see the point of , what i think, will be a waste of a wc for just 2/3 players, i’m 3rd, but close enough for now, a big haul in weeks 34 or 37 may just put me clear.
Cheers Elle,
You’re getting rid of Lallana I guess.
His fixtures get harder.
GW34 could be the one to go for, with 37 in mind.
Shame Hull and MUN have a blank.
WBA and Villa don’t look very enticing.
Thanks for your thoughts Elle.
Much thinking to do.
Horse, yip, lallana + shaw for gerrard + chester, 2fts.
Makes sense Elle.
Do you think Liverpool are THE team for GW31.
Thinking of Hazard< Gerrard
to keep Surridge and Suarez company.
Then getting rid of Stevie G in GW34 with my WC.
I would like to keep Hazard though in GW35 Chelsea are at home to Sunderland and that is the Banterbury Cup Final that GW.
Horse, we are flying at the minute, gerrard is a good move, i’ve got migs + SaS, so to get stevie i’d have to use another transfer, mig to mcgregor poss, but means -8pts, don’t know about that one, have to ponder it, i’ll ask the chicken later.
A great debut article B-Bash…I realise you’re a busy man as you’re plan to dominate the world of fantasy football slowly comes to fruition 😉
great write up B Bash
congrats for your achievement
7 th in the world is itself a great thing
Bravo!!!!
Suarez for captaincy this week