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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This is my current side now that Kane is gone. Which of these combos do you feel is better?
A. Sterling and Mane with 1.3 itb that I don’t know what to do with.
B. Salah and Son with 1.0 itb for Eriksen to Mane later on.
B for me Matt.
B
B for me Matt
Cheers everyone that’s what I was leaning towards. Maybe Kane out is a good thing. Haha
Evening
Current WC team, what should I do?
Vardy will become jiminez for GW35
I’m not sure I like this team Mitro. Too much uncertainty in Bilva, Kola (all the away games), Trippier rotation, Auba being benched all the time.
Obviously I will wait until the pressers. If fit bilva will start, I could possibly downgrade to Jota, fair comment on trippier, I can go with Vertonghen instead or even Toby, I like kola and he has done well me for when he was in my squad. PEA could become laca but I my gut tells me he will be back in the points now emery has provided some clarification on his recent absence from the starting 11.
Fair enough mate. Just keep an eye on those pressers and make sure those yellow flags go away.
Drawing board beckons.
WC Team with BB next GW
0.8m in the bank
Thanks
Looks decent just be aware of Trippier rotation.
With whom? Spurs does not have a RB – may be Kyle Walker Peters. They have to play Ben Davies or, Sanchez in that position – none looks the first priority. The only concern is fitness of Trippier.
Vardy to Firmino in 36?
Personally I’d have Laporte in for Trippier.
Otherwise looks pretty solid to me.
Evening all, which of these do you prefer?
Essentially you are saying Mane + Firmino or Salah and Deeney (the others dont matter).
I’ve a bias towards having Salah so I would say that one. Interesting you kept Hazard
Team two shades that.
Hughes could be a little gem for his price.
1-1 ! Anyone else!?
prefer the 2nd one among the two
This is an extremely tough one bro but I’d say team A wins it just as it has more nailed on players.
Interesting you still have Hazard in there Roscoe,i’m struggling to let him go too as that Burnley fixture in gw35 just jumps out at me.But if you include gw 34’s fixtures in there aswell Erikson has Huddersfield,(if he starts) City and Brighton.So Erikson shades it for me.
Yeah he may still go to Erik but will decide tomorrow!
2-2
Top team for me Rosco. Also got to take TC into consideration if you’ve still got it. I know theres a few games until liverpool face huddersfield at home but it’s a lot easier to change Salah to mane rather than vice versa dependant on form
Thanks mate, that’s kind of why I’m swaying to Salah and I’ve never owned Mane with out him! How you doing mate?
I can’t decide Rosco. Think the Salah team shades it because I’d be more comfortable using triple captain on him
This is a very good point, it’s been Salah all the way but I was concerned I was blinded by it all!!
Team 1 sans Hazard.
I like 2 but would go Vardy instead of Firmino then swap for 36.
I think this is the best I’ve come up with. 0.2 in the bank for Vardy to Firmino next GW
Very nice.
Don’t worry about the Kane thing (on a more serious note than earlier), everyone’s the same.
Decent follow up move on Vardy as well.
Though this might be better actually
I prefer Team 2 actually.
Yeah I think I do as well. First team I’ve done that looks alright I think
Side 2 looks a bit better to me. Have you thought about Sterling as a placeholder for Salah for GW36? Take some of the financial pressure off, get Eriksen in.
I’m starting to veer, slightly reluctantly, to Vardy out and bringing Deeney in, to enable other moves.
A front line of Kun/Jiminez/Deeney isn’t bad, moving forward.
Haven’t got rid of in-form Vardy yet though.
I’m not sure on Deeney. Does he do the business often enough. I’ve tried putting him in but not come up with a decent side with him in it. I’m not sure I have ever owned Erikson usually annoys me because of how deep he is, not that makes a lot of sense.
Think of how annoying Hazard has been in the past.
I’m under the impression Eriksen is not playing that deep – and as a consequence is creating a fair few chances at the moment. Or that’s how I’m talking myself into getting him over Mane or Salah. I’m losing interest in Moura and Llorente, just focusing on Son and Eriksen as the deadline looms.
He has been further forward recently.
9 of the 10 players on the first page on fpl statistics are in my team!! Could it be a template?
Or you have a decent team
No Liverpool,1 city def, 3 spurs,3 shampton,3 wolves,2 Brighton and 3 watford.
Value 88.1 with 15.4 itb for gw 36. Crazy but worth the gamble as they should all start both games. Will yours?
Probably not. Howls of frustration all round. But it’s all but a sport and a pastime.
I like a manager who plays their own game. Good luck with your attractively-priced entourage.