Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 23
Gameweek 22 was a bumper week for those playing in claret and blue. Republic of Ireland’s Declan Rice did his chances of an England call-up no harm with an authoritative display belying his teenage years. Of course, now that he’s no longer a teenager, people will be expecting the West Ham starlet to produce 15 points every week. Burnley’s Jeff Hendrick, modest chap that he is, proved that it’s possible to create goals without any individual needing to take the credit. Clattering the ball against a couple of hapless Fulham defenders earned him 2 assists, a handsome 11 point tally and a lifetime membership with the UK Pinball League.
It goes without saying you didn’t captain either of these players. I know this for a fact, because I had some of Marcelo Bielsa’s henchmen draft me up a dossier. Chances are that you instead dined out on Mohamed Salah’s 6th double digit haul of the campaign. Those still looking for a way to fund the 13.4m required to bring him in will have had to make do with some rather more disappointing returns from the likes of Hazard (5 points) and Kane (2).
Gameweek 23 sees several ‘David vs Goliath’ clashes which point to some fairly clear captain options. Choosing the right one won’t be easy u̶n̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶S̶a̶l̶a̶h̶,̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶c̶a̶s̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶y̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶b̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶? So without further ado here are some photos of grown men chasing a sphere, with some text trying to convince you it’s important.
LEROY SANÉ | Huddersfield Town (A)
While Pep continues to do the hokey-cokey with Jesus and Agüero up front, Leroy Sané has started 9 of the last 10 Premier League games and so, for the time being, provides us with a comparatively comforting captaining option. A 73rd minute withdrawal against Wolves further suggests that he will be once again feature in the first XI at Huddersfield Town. The same could of course be said for Gabriel Jesus, but the German winger has a significantly higher ownership and thus feels like a more useful recommendation here.
After a few quiet FPL gameweeks, the Cityzens’ wide-man is once again vying for our armbands. 18 points in two games has reminded us all of his explosive fantasy potential, gobbling up most of the bonus points to boot. Against admittedly depleted opponents on Monday night, Sané carved out 2 big chances and rifled off 4 attempts of his own. Ok, 3 were rifled and 1 was shanked into an amused throng with all the grace of an inebriated golfer trying to execute a bunker shot with a hockey stick. The point is he looked razor-sharp.
David Wagner isn’t stupid. Departing the week before the arrival of Manchester City is like side-stepping off a train track just as the TransPennine Express hurtles into view, leaving Mark Hudson to bear the full fatal impact. 8 defeats and 1 draw since last tasting victory has seen The Terriers unsurprisingly prop up the form table and more worryingly for them, slump to the bottom of the Premier League, 3 points adrift of Fulham. To their credit, Town have earned 2 spirited goalless draws against Guardiola’s galacticos in the past couple of years. No-one could ever question their endeavour, spirit and passion, but they will need every grain of Yorkshire grit to avoid being the latest victims of a Mancunian mauling.
The visitors are in imperious form and the hosts are rock-bottom and rudderless. It seems less a matter of whether City will score, and more who will score them. The quietly consistent Sterling won’t be far away; and whoever plays up front will no doubt star. But it’s Leroy that seems like their best option right now.
MARCUS RASHFORD | Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
With an ownership of 25% and rising faster than any other player, Marcus Rashford bagged his latest goal, a Wembley winner which downed Spurs and surely cemented his spot as the Red Devils’ number one striker ahead of Romelu Lukaku. Recent performances have been a throwback to better times and it feels poetic that Ole Gunnar Solskjær has inherited his very own baby-faced assassin.
As one of the form strikers in the form team notching his 5th goal in 7 games at the weekend and with some kind fixtures still to come, Rashford’s quickly becoming an irresistible option at a bargain price. His 30 points in the last 3 games includes 3 goals, 2 assists and 6 bonus points, highlighting a multi-faceted role which ticks all the FPL boxes. He showed on Sunday how to use his blistering pace against a team defending with a high line, but will likely need to rely on goal-poaching instincts against a struggling team expected to defend deep. His new gaffer knew a thing or two about that.
Visitors Brighton arrive at Old Trafford on the back of a creditable effort in their narrow defeat to Liverpool. This will be cold comfort to Chris Hughton’s men having only registered a solitary win in their past 6 games on the road. A thread of hope is that The Seagulls have beaten their illustrious opponents in both of the previous 2 meetings.
Some may favour team-mate Paul Pogba above the young striker. Little separates them, but Rashford seems to be growing into his role under Solskjær with an ever-increasing assuredness.
MOHAMED SALAH | Crystal Palace (H)
Sometimes if you want a job doing properly, you have to initiate proceedings yourself. Fed up with carrying 200 vinyl records, a gramophone and giant speakers strapped to his back everywhere, Steve Jobs helped pioneer the iPod. As a way to increase physical inactivity and obesity, while reducing critical thinking and social interaction, Philo Farnsworth invented the television. And after waiting for his increasingly frustrated team-mates to prise the Brighton defence ajar, Mo Salah forged his own opening by dancing through a congested area, enticing a clumsy challenge and dispatching the resulting spot-kick. Liverpool are by no means a one-man show, but when it comes to FPL captain choices the Egyptian’s the perennial go-to candidate.
That winner at The Amex positioned Salah alongside Kane and Aubameyang on the top rung of this season’s goal-scoring ladder with 14 goals. It’s taken longer than expected for African’s Player of the Year to attain the same level as last year’s astronomic standards. Sure he’s never been less than unerringly consistent, but (Cardiff thrashing apart) those dynamite double pointers were notable by their absence. It had been a point of contention as to whether his huge price tag was good value. But then GW16 happened and he’s been irresistable since, showing that relentless thirst to be involved in every goal so familiar from 2017/18. A return of 72 points in 7 games now makes his 13.4m look like a January sale.
At first glance Crystal Palace, pointless in their last 3 league head-to-heads with the Reds, look like easy pickings. At second glance, they still look like easy pickings. At third glance, The Eagles could represent a stern-ish challenge. Lying 6th in the form table and on the back of 2 consecutive away wins at Wolves and Man City no less, Roy Hodgson knows his team will play his ex-employers without fear.
The last time Palace visited Anfield, Salah was dropped to the bench. Who knows if Klopp dare rest his talisman again with so much at stake. It’s unlikely. Regardless, if you’ve invested more than 10% of your FPL cash in one player, it’s hard to imagine you haven’t already got that ‘C’ next to his shirt.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 23. This article was written by Bry.
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Southampton
Hey guys, got 4m ITB, 0 FTs. Worth taking a hit to do;
a) Zanka to Shaw (and bench Kamara)
b) Anderson to Sane
c) Quaner to Jiminez (and bench Kamara)
Or am I good as is?
Thanks!
Quaner to Jiménez would be my choice.
Yeah that attack is far far too scary for me. Get Jimenez.
My god Quaner and Kamara. It’s got to be C
Evening everyone. Its been a while since I was last here. Apologies, the wifi was a little scarce where Ive been.
Havent paid for a transfer all season, and lying second in my mini league by 50 points. I have 1370 on the board thus far, but had to play my WC due to Son, Kane and TAA injuries. The resultant squad is this but would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks. Glad to be back in the UK after nearly six months. Have I missed anything? Lol
For a wildcard squad at this moment in time, that’s pretty watertight analyst.
Well done.
Welcome back analyst. We’re still in Europe, just, and it’s still raining, other than that it’s as you were I think.
And yeah no gripes with your WC squad. Other than playing it now but that’s a different argument
Thanks init. Yeah I appreciate WC argument. But i set myself the goal of no hits this season.
I’m not sure I’d have played the WC for that but what’s done is done! Your rank is great so well done on that. With regards to your WC I’d be hesitant on Kun given the recent performances by Jesus. I think I rather go with Sane and use the money saved to upgrade a defender. I’d go with Anderson /Richarlison to Sane, Kun to Jiminez and Bednarek into someone like Luiz. You could also take Kun right down to a cheapie and improve you 5th mid instead and go 352 or likewise at the back and go 442. For me better value lies the further you go back the pitch.
Something like this?
Not sold on Aguero at the moment.
I’d be tempted to go Firmino (or Jimenez) and upgrade Bednarek & Puncheon.
Yes, there will be the odd selection headache but it’s a squad game this time of year. GW27 will be a blank for Everton & Man City. Fine to hold them but worth bearing in mind so you have a backup plan.
Betty
Remarkable stuff as usual. I don’t even care who I captain now.
Well done. :clap:
Bryan is now Betty (obvs).
Do you know something we don’t!? 😉
Ps we do have an edit button although on this one it’s nice for comedic value!
Yeah I’m not editing myself. I’ll take that one on the chin. Because you’re right, it is funny.
Bigger picture/greater good.
I have 5.4m. 1 free transfer as i have already brought rashford in for kane
If you post up your team we’ll give you some advice if that’s what you’re after buddy?
Here it is
Can you afford Ings to auba?
Afraid not. 5.4 in the bank. Could do firmino. If I downgraded lovren I could
Sounds like he be a bit short.
@Oreilly, think I would consider shifting to a 3-5-2 possibly bringing in Sane or some other fifth mid in for Hojberg. The safer option could be Lovren to Robbo.
Ings is not ruled out yet so you might want to wait on him before you make any decisions. Martial to Pogba next GW also could be an option if there is money left over from this week. There really is so many ways you can go with this team.
Who do you want in? Any player in particular you really want in your side right now?
Thanks for the reply. In terms of my league would be good to get city coverage, would like pogba instead of martial and would like a Liverpool defender for the favourable fixtures coming up
Well sounds like you want what we all want.
If Ings is ok for this GW, think I go Hojberg to a City mid or Martial to Pogba, then next GW probably get Robbo if you did Martial to Pogba since there would be plenty of money left over. You could take a hit, but I hate to do it for a defender.
For those of you who are following along with the site team. Let us see your thoughts on what we should do.
Currently we are looking to transfer out Kane and Son and deal with TAA next GW. So far we are considering dropping Kane for Auba or possibly even Firmino and looking to move Son along for Sane, but someone in the committee has been throwing Alli around also. Depending on who we buy we could also reach Sterling on that Son transfer. There is also now talk of a 4 point hit and no, not to sell TAA, but to sell Martial so we can transfer Rashford in for Kane. We have 3 United players so we would need to sell one to be able to bring Rashford in.
Basically we are all over the shop and Mr. Cool (Init) is just watching as the rest of committee agrees on almost nothing.
Of topic but a team where we vote on what should be done would be fun for the next season…
We had one of them. And GP killed it, the bastard :popcorn: :hippo:
I regret nothing.
@Allan that was done for several seasons by GP. It was called the FF247 Community team. We thought it was a great idea, but it was a lot of work for GP setting up the voting and the participation by members didn’t warrant all the work he was putting into it. Plus there were some who volunteered to help him with the team and they always disappeared when it was time to do the work to keep it chugging along smoothly.
No i didn’t.
Auba and Sane seem wise and also pretty damn sexy moves!
We will have to reconsider now, if you think those are good moves. 😉
Cold man real cold 😉
I agree with Init’s stance.
I agree with you. This is pretty much Init at every meeting.
via GIPHY
I don’t even look through the curtain, I can hear this shit from outside.
He looks more manly than before.
For me it’s take the-4 and get rashford in.
I am having trouble getting past that sexy perm and it could be the perm seducing me, but I am starting to lean that way with my vote.
I read that as sexy sperm.
Weird, earlier today I thought I saw you thanking Betty for this article. Maybe you should have been thanking Betty for something different.
I need sleep Legend. I’m burned out.
Auba and Sane if the cash works out for it.
That’s where we are tentatively at. But right before we confirm someone starts to have doubts and we are back to square one. FFS!!
Kane, Wilson, son and martial out. Auba, rash, sané and whoever in.
For -8, you can afford it! 😉
Are you playing the site team in a H2H this week?
Yeah but don’t you worry. -8 is for amateurs! I’m on -12;)
Why not Aguero in for Kane for the site team?
I have the same dilemma/
I have Kane and Son, and need to ditch.
Someone suggested Kane->Rashford, Son->Sterling.
What about a 4ph and do Success->Llorente as I feel I need Spurs cover…lol
@Hammer, you are all over the place, you would fit right in on the committee. Unfortunately we already have someone on the committee who does what you just did. Pivot to your personal team.
Think Kun would have been the choice to come in for Kane if Jesus hadn’t started last GW and scored a brace.
lol@Mito
doesnt help me though..lol
In fact, Jesus hasnt helped me. Neither has Kane helped us. Neither has Son.
Do you or anyone think its worth having Spurs/City cover this weekend seeing as they have very winnable/high scoring points games?
Yeah, Alli has been brought up and is part of the discussion for the Son replacement. Also saw Mitro post a couple of options on his RMT and it seems that Alli was viewed favourably by people who commented on his team.
If I go Alli, I will have to go Rashford upfront.
I could then do a 4ph and do Camarasa to a 9.2m City midfielder
That way I will have city/spurs coverage for the weekend.
A -4 has been suggested. However, I’m not sure the suggestion has been taken seriously!
I took a -4 in a move that included getting Rashford and Pogba and dropping Martial, I am definitely considering voting for that.