Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 13
Welcome to Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 13
Following a GW11 drought, GW12 brought points galore, especially from a captaincy perspective: first Salah with 16 points and then Haaland matching him via his testicles. GW13 sees them facing each other… in a ‘dreaded lunchtime kick-off’ no less! Could either of their prospects be less appealing this weekend? Let’s find out.
Swirly — Son vs Aston Villa (H)
I often like to take a look through the history books and see how players have fared against what will be their future opposition. In this case, it pains me as a Villa fan to say that the Korean has a rather excellent record against the Villans, having scored six and set up another in the seven times Spurs have played them.
Looking beyond that, it’s important to take a look at the form of the two sides, as Villa’s formidable home form has helped to offset their shakier away record. The side’s three defeats have all been on the road this season – Liverpool, Man City and Nottingham Forest the culprits – and while they have had a more successful time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium of late, Emery’s men have just three clean sheets to their name so far this campaign. A close game, possibly, but Spurs failing to find the back of the net isn’t likely – even with the likes of Richarlison and Maddison out of action. Indeed, after the defeats at the hands of Chelsea and Wolves, Postecoglu’s men will be desperate to return to winning ways and keep up with the other sides up there.
Swirly II — Bowen vs Burnley (A)
Firstly, this pick is purely on the basis that Bowen is fit. A risk to still write about him as a captain option when the best part of 40,000 FPL managers have parted ways on the back of different reports about his fluid on the knee.
So, in the hope that the Leominster lad is actually able to make the journey to Turf Moor, a look at the history books unfortunately doesn’t come out as favourably as it does for Son – no goals or assists in the five times he’s played Burnley. However, a look at this season is a much happier picture as eight goals in 12 show Jarrod is in great form. Burnley have also shown themselves to be rather leaky in defence – to say the least. It’s now 30 they’ve conceded, as only Sheffield United’s 31 fares worse. That’s an average of 2.5 leaked each fixture so far and you would put money on Bowen finally ending this Lancashire-based curse. Presuming he plays, of course. Stay tuned.
Jamesimmo — Haaland vs Liverpool (H)
(Photo by Nigel French / Sportsphoto / Allstar via Getty Images)
As alluded to in the intro, this isn’t a fixture that screams “captain me!” for any player, even Erling himself. However, what Haaland offers is genuine hat-trick potential in every match, especially his Etihad ones. Although it’s actually been his latest pair of away matches that have both brought him notable 16-point hauls… at Man United and Chelsea too, by the way, so yeah. He scores a lot and basically against anyone.
You may also have the temptation of him being a slight differential this weekend as a result of (a) said fixture and (b) his “minor setback” / foot injury / yellow flag.
It’s true, Liverpool currently have the joint-fewest PL goals conceded (with Arsenal 
just 10 each) and are looking to make their own title credentials known to the world on Saturday, but Haaland still feels like the best opportunity for double points here. As he has been so frequently already…
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…
DMC — Haaland
The Gallant Pioneer — Haaland
Jamesimmo — Haaland
Ivan — Son
Swirly — Son
Matt — Saka
Loud Atlas — Haaland
Smash — Haaland
Kop — Son
Rosco — Haaland
Ellefcee — Son (although I don’t have him)
Init — Haaland
Gear — Haaland
Stone Frog — Son
OddDane — Maddison Bowen Mitoma hmmm… Haaland
Jamie Mc — Son
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Any bright ideas on what to do with this lot. Been fighting fires almost every week and still half my team are doubts for this week!
Referencing the article, quite like the way OddDane hedged from Maddison to Bowen to Mitoma to Haaland,