Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 1
Welcome to Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 1
With 45 attacking returns (36 goals, 9 assists) in the 22/23 season, it’s hard to imagine betting against the Norwegian meat shield (that’s Earlng Haaland to the uninitiated!) in any given game week. However, a closer look at his numbers and you’ll see that 30 of those 45 returns came at the Etihad so if you’re going to go against the masses at any point this season then I’d recommend that you limit those dalliances to the weeks that City are playing away.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not recommending that this is something you should do on a regular basis, and indeed there is every chance that in doing so you end up worse off, but on occasion, you ‘might’ end up better off looking elsewhere. With that in mind, we’ve asked some of our greatest minds (ahem) to come up with this week’s best alternatives! And him…
Just before you go asny further though, we have been quite busy in pre-season so don’t forget to check back over the previous articles where you will find analysis of all three promoted teams, as well as our comprehensive guide to pre-season friendlies which The Gallant Pioneer has updated meticulously as they have happened.
As for our core articles please check out these four beauties –
Rosco – Rashford v Wolves (H)
So, with City travelling to Burnley in GW1 we have one such opportunity, but, are you brave enough to go against Haaland and his 85%+ ownership? If you are then Marcus Rashford at home to Wolves is certainly worth the conversation. A disappointing 21/22 season saw Rashford come in at just £6.5m (in 22/23) and he proved to be something of a bargain, finishing the season with 205pts, some 31pts higher than his previous best. 32 starts produced 24 attacking returns (17 goals, 7 assists), much like Haaland, Rashford excelled at home, starting 18 matches at Old Trafford and picking up 18 attacking returns (13 goals, 5 assists.
The Red Devils face a Wolves side that struggled for much of last season. In their 19 away games they managed just a single shutout and their 38 goals conceded was the fourth worst in the league, whilst it’s a new season and defensive recruitments have been drafted in, the jury is still out on how Julen Lopetegui’s men will perform this season. So, I guess once more it comes down to your risk profile, the gains are there to be had, but the risks should not be dismissed out of hand!
Kop – Haaland v Burnley (A)
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
I’m all about the easy life, so when the call went out for GW1 writers I immediately plumbed for the Norwegian as capo…
I could obviously bamboozle you with stats at this stage, but given that he currently features in 86.3% of teams, I don’t really see the need. He scored 36 goals last season and nobody will be surprised should he better that tally this season.
How’s he done in pre-season? I honestly have no idea. However, if you were to tell me that he’s spent the summer selling sausage rolls at the local Greggs, I’d still give him the armband in GW1!!
I hope you all enjoy this article, as there’s unlikely to be a need for many of them over the course of the season…
OddDane – Saka v Forest (H)
Next in line is a genius move, if I may so boldly say, and I will… In fact I just said it! Forget what you´ve read so far and most importantly, ignore the Norwegian pony-tail guy.
Saka is your pick, and I´ll tell you why in two words.
Nottingham Forest.
That´s right my friends, your captain is playing Forest up next. At home. The team that lost 5-0 against some Rennes team, that´s surely some kind of mustard, right? (Okay, okay, that´s a good team I´ll admit…). It is also the very same team who lost 2-0 against Leeds (that’s not good, surely!). In fact, they haven´t scored in (or won!) any of their last seven friendlies (apart from the 2-1 win against Levante, and.. err.. a 1-0 win against Notts County seven games ago… Wherever that is). Yes, impressive right?
So that´s the clean sheet secured! And Haaland doesn´t get any of those, that´s the beauty of it – you´re already ahead in the count!
Next up, Saka can take corners. Haaland does not. Assists galore!
And goals? Saka has two goals and three assists in pre-season, and Haaland has how many pre-season goals? Erm, also two you say..? Moving on…
(mumble mumble Saka gets one more point from goals… mumble, mumble, shush now! Don´t tell the silly Haaland holders…)
Well, he´s on pens! (Probably. Having just missed one, the verdict is maybe not certain) And Haaland? He gets subbed off and City loses in a penalty shoot out. Ha! Got you there!
Finally to end on a high note, Forest ended the league with 68 goals conceded and had the third worst xGA record. They´ve also lost their star keeper (well returned him from loan more like it) and are signing Arsenal´s Turner who is 2nd choice between the post (or was he 3rd in line?). Granted, they may get Henderson or some other unlucky fella. Alas, not in time to stop you getting these genius, yes genius, captain points!
The confessional…
This is where we ask our entire writing team to tell us who they think they will pick this week…. There are more caveats and get out clauses than a meeting with Daniel Levy but this is their initial gut feeling based upon who they actually own. And they promise that their picks will be allowed to leave for free if a better offer comes along…
Loud Atlas — Haaland
Kop — Haaland
Rosco — Haaland
Ellefcee — Erling
Floydeth — Haaland
Init — Haaland
Gear — Haaland
Stone Frog — Haaland
Jamie Mc — Haaland
Smash — Same as everyone else in the game
DMC — Same as Smash
The Gallant Pioneer — Haaland
Jamessimmo — Same as Smash and DMC
Ivan — Rashford
Swirly — Haaland
Matt — Saka
OddDane — Probably not the same as Matt
VOTE ON THIS WEEK’S CAPTAIN POLL
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 1.
FPL FIXTURE TRACKER
Fantasy Football 247 League Codes:
This is our main public FF247 League for the 2023/24 season, which anyone is welcome to join and can be accessed using the code below or this auto-join link
League Code: 9srch6
Our Regulars League* for 2023/24 is sponsored by FF247! The total cash prize pool is £250. The first 4 places are paid out in a tiered system.
To enter this one you need to be an active and recognised site member and you need to e-mail us for the league code:
jamie251069@yahoo.co.uk
Our FF247 Cup is also included and attracts a prize of £50 for the winner.
*terms and conditions apply and the FF247 Management reserve the right to review membership of this league on an ongoing basis which is dependent upon regular comment / community activity.
Both leagues will be shut to new entrants as of 01/01/24.
Jackson/Maddison or Son/Mbeumo?
I like both but maybe Son combo just nicks it
This is me at the moment. I’m in the Salah camp, thinking it would be a lot easier to get rid if hes shite but a lot harder to get if he goes off on one.
I like it mate
Looks almost exactly like my Salah draft, so I must say I really like it
Ta, that’ll do me.
Near enough the same as mine apart from 2 player’s Gvardiol and chilwell
I’ve settled with this for the time being all this tinkering is doing my head in
Put the phone down
Looks as good as any Salah draft I’ve seen. Guess Enciso’s minutes are a risk, but I’m sure you know that!
Thanks
I’m hoping with no Mac allister he will play a lot more could be a gem
It’s not over yet
Man Utd, Chelsea and PSG all want Harry Kane
https://www.teamtalk.com/news/harry-kane-bayern-rocked-stunning-hijack-man-utd-chelsea-back-in-race-psg-in-mix
How does this team look?
0.5 itb
I’m not a fan of Garnacho but rest looks good
Nice team. Gakpo & Trossard are risky for game time. But you’ve countered that with a decent bench, so they’re actually quite nice differentiators. I’d swap Areola to Turner (he’s finally a Forest player now!)
I think I’m settled on most of this. Just the defence that could still change. Shall I…
1) Stay put, good to go!
2) Get Estu, in place of Stones/Chilwell
3) Downgrade Stones to Akanji/Gvardiol and leave 0.5 ITB for some flexibility
Thanks!
I like it very strong
I like it but I’d probably get Estu to cover that EO. I’ have him but plan on selling before Gw3
So in place of Chilwell and then switch for Chelsea’s nice run? Just always hate a planned transfer. Especially before a ball is kicked!
Hmm see I actually think Chilly could do well against Pool. With your set up maybe it isn’t worth Estu and just hope it doesn’t hurt you.
I’ve got a very similar team apart from Eze instead of Fernandes who’s money I splashed on Mubama and Kabore upgrades …one being Etupiñan
I wouldn’t necessarily get him in over the 2 you mentioned unless you don’t mind planning a transfer as I think after the 1st couple of weeks he becomes less of a commodity and you’ll potentially transfer back to who you’ve currently got
As for Stones/Gvardiol ,I’m trying to decide myself but my current thinking is
– Gvardiol is rated as one of the best in the world and cost them a fortune
– Pep apparently has a habit of throwing his new expensive defenders straight into the team from the 1st game of the season
– Every City defender played around 1800-2000 mins last season (Akanji most at 2200 I think) so on that basis are Stones/Diaz really more ‘nailed’ and worth the extra 0.5 over Gvardiol??
With it being likely no defender is nailed at City, the extra 0.5 could be well worth upgrading one of your bench defenders as decent cover for the inevitable