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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What is everyone thoughts on Michu return ?
If you’re looking for the ultimate differential he could be worth a punt!
And hope he regains his form from 2012. 😉
Reposting this one as I got stuck on an old article earlier..
Mannone
Baines, Bruce, Collins
Yaya, Gerrard, Hazard, Snoddy
Suarez, Sturr, Lukaku
Subs: Boruc, Azpil, Parr, Noone
0 ft and 2,4 bank
Willing to take a 4 pt hit this week. But not sure if I should prioritize my defense or Snoddy.
Unfortunately it looks like both Collins and Bruce has lost their spot in the team, so therefore I might do Bruce -> Chester or Collins -> 6.6 defender with double week.
I would also love to get a midfielder with DGW in for Snoddy, in which case I would have 8.3 to spend.
So, prioritize Bruce > Chester or Snoddy > Nasri/Mirallas/AJ?
I could of course do both moves for an -8….
@Ritz, I would move Snoddy for Nolan and Bruce for Colo. I would play Collins and if he doesn’t play at all let Azpi come in for him. I normally wouldn’t advocate that kind of hit, but since I took an 8 point hit myself, I am in no place to talk.
Chelsea: Cech Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpilicueta Ramires Lampard Willian Oscar Hazard Eto’o
Galatasaray: Muslera – Eboue, Semih, Chedjou, Telles – Yekta, Melo, Selçuk – Sneijder – Burak, Didier Drogba
Real Madrid Casillas, Varane, Ramos, Coentrão, Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Nacho, Jesé, Morata, Isco e Illarra.
Schalke 04: Fährmann, Hoogland, Höwedes, Matip, Kolasinac, Ayhan, Neustädter, Obasi, Meyer, Draxler, Huntelaar
What do you guys think the average score will be this week ?
Not sure Jeet but ive worked out that I will get about 113!!! 😉
It all comes down to Suarez. If he has a big double it will be an immense average, if he double blanks (please, let it happen) than average will probably still be high but not outrageous.
My 113 was based on Suarez getting 15 points over 2 games which I think is actually quite conservative!!!
I was hoping he get about 16 points over two games. After you double the score. :p
WWWHHHAAAATTTT!!! I hope not!!! If I get a ton I will be happy I don’t care who gets the points or how and that includes a couple of ‘mystery’ assists for Lukaku!! 😉
I want absolute misery in GW31. Perhaps a Red card for Suarez in the first 10 minutes. :hippo:
Evening everyone.
Busy few weeks for me with work, holiday etc. been keeping an eye on things here.
How am I?
De Gea
Coleman Ivanovic Bruce
Sterling Mata Ki Hazard Navas
Suarez RVP
Bench Parr, Azpilicueta and J Rod.
1FT. Bring In a DGW player and bench a Chelsea?
Thinking even to take a -4 and having eleven DGW players . .
Evening GP,
I wouldn’t assume that Bruce will see much of dgw 31 unfortunately. Chester is back and seems to be preferred. Bruce to Chester would be the obvious swap
May well be worth a hit to get 11 as long as its the right player!
b-Bash
Thanks. Stretching that out then would a -8 hit be worth it if the right players come in? By that I mean certain starters. Two games of 2 points see you break even on your hit.
I’m not having a particularly good season so I see it as a risk worth taking in such a huge week.
Could do Chester for Bruce, Distin for Azpi and Parr to Gibbs or Demel – thinking out loud.
Demel got more chance of starting over Gibbs, who is away to Chelsea anyway. I think Collins will be back this weekend as well after West Ham have lost their last 2, and he is a bit cheaper. Allardyce almost conceded he regretted tweeking!
B-Bash
Yeah thinking that Demel seems the safest way in to the WHU defense which is attractive having two home matches. Seems to be assured of the right back slot.
Evening GP, been anywhere nice in your hols? Glad to hear you have been keeping an eye on us all :shiftyeyes: !
I think it’s risky going into GW31 without Sturridge. Any way you could winkle him in there for J-Rod by downgrading one of your Chelsea bods to aomeone who also has a double? Win, win.
Evening Initt!
I agree.
GP, you have Mata and RVP who are not in form and expensive to say the least! Your Liverpool coverage could be improved. Its adifficult one due to the fact you have 1ft, but could be worth looking at. RVP looked disinterested at the weekend, which is poor for that game.
Even if they do have dgw’s!
Evening basher, congrats on the heady heights of 7th in the world mate,keep up the good work and hopefully we will see you in 1st, good luck for the remainder of the campaign. :worthy:
Elle,
I appreciate that! Them guys up there just keep doing it though! Silva Surfers makes right cappo choice almost every time! And PMans Special Ones who’s 5th took a 12 point hit, so I thought I’d capitalise. Not a chance, scored 73 and remained above me! Respect!
Basher, when did you use your wc ? I seem to remember looking last week + i’m sure you still had yours + no one else did, getting the cappo right is just a bit of luck, in pottys CL i’m 1st, cappoed ladyboy, scores 2, feller in 2nd cappos jese, goes off after 8 mins, pure luck, as he had ladyboy aswell, anyways good luck. Mate.
No mate. Season wc went in gw 6. Only 1 up there still with a wc, Captain Suarez and he’s at 3. Got to fancy him to push on soon! Will keep trying matey!
Basher, he ain’t got it now, must have played it in gw 30, hes got 10 dgw players + already done 1 transfer, so i assume hes turning 11 out this week, how many you got playing ?
9 so far. Hope its enough! I’m not selling Hazard, who is dropping in price tonight! Find that a little bizarre!
Basher, i’ve got 9 + haz + ivan also for a -4pt hit, think people are ditching haz for stevie as its the only way they can fund it.
init,
That too has been considered. It would be J-Rod to Sturridge and Azpi and Ivanovic to Dummett and Demel. Hazard on the bench for one week only. Eleven DGWs in this instance.
Just a trip to Center Parcs with family for a week. Lovely weather but exhausting. Work hectic too but fiding time for FPL and MLS. Just.
Nice GP, love Center Parcs. I seem to spend most of my wages on that place every year! Should have shares by now.
Evening to you too B-Bash. Congrats on your first article too!
Cheers Initt. Only just noticed comment!
TGP
If you downgraded RvP to Sturridge, would you afford upgrading Bruce to Zaba?
Tekno
Thanks. I am loathe to remove any player (even a Man U one!) ahead of a DGW – feel like it is a bit risky. Plans are in place to remove my Man U coverage from next week onwards.