Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 34
Welcome to Football Captain Picks Gameweek 34. I don’t know about you, but for me, FPL frequently gets in the way of life. I spend an inordinate amount of time on my own and other people’s teams, I question my own decisions and doubt my own reasoning time after time. My moods are often dictated by those decisions, good or bad, and if I’m honest it’s perhaps not the healthiest way to conduct one’s day-to-day life. It is what it is.
This weekend however the tables were turned; life got in the way of FPL. An overthought GW33 FH team that resulted in a not disastrous 93pts was marred by the draft I almost went with scoring high triple figures. Such is life. So, I was determined to keep things simple in GW34; Anderson and TAA to Mane and an as yet unidentified defender for a -4.
On Friday I was invited to a celebratory work ‘lunch’ that also entailed drinks, a lot of them, all afternoon. Such events used to be commonplace in the creative industry, these days however they are a rarity, so I embraced it with vigour.
The hours went by at breakneck pace and I suddenly realised the game-week deadline was looming and I’d yet to make my moves. In my slightly inebriated state, I was incapable of choosing a defender to facilitate my Mane move, in the end, it was all too much for my alcohol-addled mind to process. I swiftly made the decision to instead simply switch Anderson to a Leicester mid, choosing Tielemans over Maddison just to be ‘different’. It could have blown up in my face, as it was I ended up 14pts better off – Life 1 FPL 0. Maybe that should be the other way round? Who knows, but I’m sure there’s a lesson in there somewhere.
Saturday morning I woke to the realization that I was finally into the top 100k (small cheer), my joy was tinged with sadness however when I realised I’d forgotten to activate my WC and had missed a few price rises and falls, bugger. I logged into my FPL team and to my surprise, I was greeted by an ‘active’ WC. Not only that, I’d brought in all the relevant ‘risers’ and ditched all the fodder who had dropped in price. I had no recollection of doing this which made it all the more impressive.
I ended Saturday with a decent 49 points but I couldn’t help casting an envious glance at those with (C) on Vardy who was showing as (VC) in my own team, I’m never satisfied. Sunday was all above avoidance with no representation in the Everton v Arsenal fixture, on then to Monday night football and my Captain Eden Hazard.
I’ve often cited my enjoyment of FPL as means to enhance my enjoyment of football (specifically the EPL), rarely has that been the case this season. Sitting down to watch Chelsea v West Ham my hope was for something, anything from my Captain Hazard. I celebrated his magnificent first goal with an enthusiastic fist pump (let’s not get too carried away). As the match drew to a close I was happy with my lot, 22pts for my captain and whilst not on par with Vardy it would do. Then it happened, the ball was played through to Hazard, he’ll miss I thought, he did not. I’m not ashamed to say I celebrated the goal like a Chelsea fan (shudder). For the first time this season, FPL really was enhancing my enjoyment of football, and boy did it feel good. I ended the GW on 83pts, it felt like more. I almost halved my rank moving up to 58k and maybe just maybe I’ll have a decent season after all.
So here I am, on a WC and pitching myself to take over Cookie’s Diary articles next season (Ed: you’ve got the job!), waffling on in a Captain’s article I had no idea I was supposed to be writing* when I should be telling you all who to captain. So here we go.
*This is not strictly true as I was informed on Friday evening, but yeah, I don’t really remember that.
Jamie Vardy – Newcastle (H)
For those of us on a WC, the omission of Jamie Vardy could be a regrettable if not understandable decision. The man who likes to party heads into a Friday night fixture against my lot on the back of a 16 point haul away to Huddersfield that rewarded many who had handed him the armband in GW33. Vardy’s brace (he also grabbed an assist) means its 8 goals in his last 8 games; time to re-think that Wildcard? Whilst Newcastle’s defence is infinitely superior to Huddersfield’s (isn’t everyone’s) it wouldn’t be altogether surprising if it were time for another Vardy party this coming weekend.
Harry Kane (Heung-Min Son)- Huddersfield (H)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 09: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur leaves the field through injury during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
With 4 home games in
Sergio Aguero / Raheem Sterling / Kevin De Bruyne – Crystal Palace (A)
It wouldn’t be a captain’s article without some Cityzen representation. With the rise of Jesus just in time for Easter (I know, I know) threatening Kun’s pitch time my focus switches to the midfield pairing of Sterling and De Bruyne. Sterling is the obvious pick, he’s had his rest so looks sure to start (famous last words) and as the player with the highest number of double-digit returns (8) he looks the safest bet. Teammate ‘KDB’ is more of an outside bet, however, if you watched his dominant display at home to Cardiff in GW32 then that bet looks all the more assured. Should you have faith that Kun gets the game time though then surely that’s the way to go? Cross your fingers and hope they play though, is my best advice on this one.
A Brighton player anyone? Bournemouth (H), Cardiff (H)
My last pick isn’t so much a player but the somewhat romantic notion that in a double game-week you have to surely captain a player with 2 games. The problem is that this week’s double features Brighton and Cardiff. Brighton have the better fixtures and arguably the better players, but are any of them really worthy of the armband? If Glenn Murray had fewer miles on the clock he’d not be a bad shout, as it is he’s 35 years old and plays like a man 10 years older than that, so the likelihood of him starting both fixtures is questionable. Maybe If Pascal Groß had followed up his debut FPL season with similar form and consistency then he’d be a solid pick, but he hasn’t. Knockaert? Ker-no-thanks. Which leaves us with Shane Duffy. Bournemouth’s recent poor form and Cardiff’s lack of goals on the road (the lowest in the league with just 9) mean that 2 clean sheets are not out of the question. He also of course occasionally pops up with a goal, he’s the top scoring defender in the league (5 goals) and he has 2 assists to boot. It would take a braver manager than me, he’s not the most conventional pick, but hey, you never know right?
That’s your lot folks, I wish you all a great ‘DGW’ blessed with green arrows, a clean bill of health and if you captain a Brighton player I doth my cap to you Sir/Madam.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 34. This article was written by Rosco.
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Hey guys,
Yeah Kane did really get the head spinning once agian. Not to sure of Aguero… I have come up with this
I have 1.8m itb for switching Sterling>Salah for 35 & 36. Thoughs ?
Is this a WC team?
Looks OK but I would also consider Vardy to Firmino after this week. If you need Salah then you can still get him for mane if you want.
Yeah its WC, BB in 35. Wont have the fund to go Mane > Salah i kinda think its a sideways move ?
I just meant if you were desperate for him. Mane and Firmino would be fine.
Afternoon all
Mane or Firm in after DGW, punt on Moura playing now and loads of cash spare going forward. Quite happy with this barring any presser news.
Thoughts?
What about Vardy for Deeney for one week?
Good shout!
This is my current draft.
Ben
Pretty much faultless. Good job.
Cheers GP!
Any cash left Ben? Not necessarily to change anything per say but for after it really, although you could always do what GP says just above regarding Deeney and Vardy.
Init – 0.0m ITB
For the DGW in isolation then I’d agree with GP. I’m more inclined to look at Liverpool for 35 and 36 myself though. I’d want to add either Firmino or Salah by 36 at least I think.
Cheers Init. I completely see where you’re coming from. In terms of Liverpool, I’m going to stick with just Manè for 34/35 and then for 36 I’ll probably shift out Sterling and Aguero for Salah and Firmino.
The thought of getting rid of Salah for Manè is making me feel ill 🙁
The choice is Salah, jota, Deulofeu and Bennett
OR
Manè, Eriksen, moutinho and Coady
Is it worth this feeling of dread?!?!?!?!?
Yeah, I’m kind of thinking the same thing so I’m just not going to do it!
I know Kop said he would prefer Mane, it would be interesting if some of our other many Liverpool fans chimed in with their thoughts on Pool assets!
I’m a huge Liverpool fan Rosco and my head tells me Manè but my heart just says Salah, I’m sticking with him!! I’ve had him from day 1 and he will finish this with me
(This will probably come back to bite me)
Well if he’s good enough for you he’s good enough for me!
I feel he’s a confidence player and his goal may have given him some (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it) but at the same time a good player doesn’t become bad overnight, I know his role in the team has changed but surely he’ll get a haul soon?
My other thought is that a lot of people will ditch him in their WC (specifically in my ML) and as i have a little more cash than most I can afford him and its not to the detriment of my team…. I’m trying to convince myself here!!
I am ditching both for the DGW but buying them back for GW36 .My problem is who gets the TC.
Looking to wildcard, heres what I am looking to do:
Leaves me with 1.3 ITB.
Good to go ?
I’d be tempted to down Moura a notch to allow the funds for Sterling to Salah in 36.
anyone in mind ? Kante / Neves / Brooks – possible ?
Doucouré? Does that leave enough cash?
Doucouré – yes it does
Bit left field but maybe even Knockeart or Camarasa and just take the chance with their doubles.
thanks
Am I mad to be considering Hazard?
He has Burnley at home in 35, he could realistically outscore potentially rotated City mids and Spurs given the City fixture.
No I don’t think you are, City in DGW just doesn’t seem to pay off x
No, Hazard instead of Sterling has been in and out of my WC-team. But he never stays there beacuse of their fixtures. 35 looks good and he could outscore DGW players. But the rest looks pretty tough…
Possibly but then he can always be moved out for pretty much anyone in 36 if needed, you could for example go into the Double with 2 pool (I will at minimum) and then bring in a third via Hazard.
Sure! And Hazard is always Hazard. Maybe the most solid player from a fpl point of view right now. Rarely rotated and often delivers…
And BANG goes my big Tips secret ahead of the article release!
Haha sorry mate he’s in my current WC (he never left as I have value so needed to be sure) and the more I’ve thought the more I think he stays! I may keep Tielemans too…. hope you haven’t tipped him!! haha
I’m kidding mate. I’ve made a one sentence mention of him that’s all!
Don’t get coy on me now man 😉
And in that sentence he probably advises to sell the midget!