Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Game-week 1
Welcome to Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Game-week 1
Pre-season friendlies are bizarre affairs. They give Pep, Jose, Jurgen et al the chance to manage their teams like Frank Zappa would probably play Football Manager. Team sheets read akin to the mad ramblings of a deranged coach trolling fans because, “It’s pre-season so if I want Dave from Marketing at left-back, you can’t stop me”. Things escalate further during the game itself, as personnel are rotated in and out like the hokey-cokey shaking it all about on LSD. The 4th official, overworked by a myriad of substitutions, froths uncontrollably at the mouth and falls limply to the turf, incapacitated. Eventually the game stumbles to a shambolic ‘controllers out of the window’ video-game finale. All this happens while most of the star players (the players that people actually want in their FPL side) take picturesque selfies of themselves reclining in deckchairs, sipping on pina coladas.
Despite this, FPL managers cling to every assist and every goal, in the search of uncovering an under-the-radar gem to get the edge in Gameweek 1. But will we ever learn not to read too much into a deflected Josh Cullen shank against The Goat & Tricycle? Probably not, and neither should we, especially when the alternative is watching dressage or the modern pentathlon.
By now the nucleus of your squad will be taking shape and thoughts shall turn to the final piece in your FPL puzzle, the captain. For those playing with a straight bat, it’s a fairly easy choice this week, but the gamblers out there may fancy rolling the die to get out of the blocks sharpish. And if that’s not mixing metaphors, I don’t know what is.
5. RIYAD MAHREZ (away vs Hull City)
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[/three_fourth]The reigning PFA Player of the Year had a quiet European Championship. Those with a basic grasp of geography will argue that isn’t too surprising however, as Algeria is in Africa. 240 points put Mahrez streets ahead of the rest at the FPL summit last campaign, with 17 goals and 11 assists. A late start to preseason has allowed little indication as to what shape he’s in, but he encouragingly completed the full 90 in the Community Shield, suggesting he’s ready to pick up where he left off at a promoted Hull City. With Steve Bruce departed and injuries aplenty, the Tigers seem like a club determined to return to the Championship at the first attempt. They won’t get much sympathy from the current Premier League champions.
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4. ANDRE GRAY (home vs Swansea City)
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[/three_fourth]If judging players on pre-season form is your thing then shut the door, lock it, barricade with plywood and mummify yourself, cos you ain’t gonna need to go anywhere else. With a staggering nine goals, Gray has scored in every one of Burnley’s six friendlies, most notably a hat-trick at Ibrox. It’s worth mentioning that Sean Dyche’s men remained unbeaten throughout pre-season and will carry plenty of confidence into their opener hosting Swansea. Having just lost Andre Ayew, the Swans will be hoping their own excellent preparation hasn’t been ruined. The point is rather moot as in current form, last season’s top scorer in the Championship will feel he can score against anyone.
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3. HARRY KANE (away vs Everton)
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[/three_fourth]Harry Kane. Remember him? He’s that fella that couldn’t take a free-kick or trap a bag of cement during the Euros. Well he’s back, and a brace against Inter Milan last week suggests we’ll get the Spurs version of ‘Arry and not his international imposter. In a rejuvenated Koeman-led Everton, Tottenham have the trickiest task in this top five, but Kane’s 25 goals gave him the Golden Boot in May and has shown time and again that he falls into that coveted category of ‘fixture proof’, just so long as the fixture isn’t against Russia or Wales… or Slovakia… or Iceland. One striking fact about his… striking… is that he had a ridiculous 158 goal attempts last season compared with next best Aguero’s 119. Everyone loves a trier, right?
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2. EDEN HAZARD (home vs West Ham)
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[/three_fourth]2015/16 will be known as the season when the Eden project went temporarily offline. Then, with Hiddink’s tenure winding down, the Hazard lights suddenly flickered into life. Like Jimi Hendrix finding his favourite Stratocaster; or Brian Clough being reunited with Peter Taylor, the Belgian had shaken off his Kryptonite and his mojo was inexplicably restored. 4 goals in his final 5 games propelled him belatedly back into the FPL limelight and no doubt left a bittersweet taste in Chelsea fans’ mouths. A goal and 4 assists at the Euros gives good reason to think the 2015 Player of the Year is going to be back in business, starting at Stamford Bridge as new boss Antonio Conte takes on Bilic’s Hammers in Gameweek 1’s final matchup.
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1. SERGIO AGUERO (home vs Sunderland)
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[/three_fourth]One thing that has been particularly apparent to anyone watching the pre-season Manchester City is that they are in even more defensive disarray than last season. Encouraged to play the Guardiola way and pass their way out of trouble, City’s defence has struggled to adapt. Thankfully, the Citizens look as dangerous going forward as ever, and while new signings Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane will give FPL managers a midfield rotation migraine, it means our boy Kun will be getting chances served on a plate. With Big Sam gone from visitors Sunderland, Pep could hardly have wished for a gentler introduction to life in the Premier League and we could hardly have wanted an easier captain choice. It’ll be a bold move not to give the armband to a man who bagged 24 goals in just 30 games in 2015/16.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Game-week 1. This article was written by Bryan Munich
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Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
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Hey! What’s up guys!
Just wanted a quick RMT, been busy but got a fague idea of a good draft team.
Thanks!
Anyone?
P.s Maloney can be changed to Watson & stones can be changed to funes mori
As far as i’m aware, Ozil isn’t going to make the start of the season. FPL clearly think so too.
Just a thought on Redmond: if Puel wants to convert Redmond to a striker, does that suggest a rotation mess with Long and Austin?
Why would he convert Redmond into a striker?
Looking at Arsenal’s injury crisis: Koscielny isn’t match fit, Gabriel and Mertesacker are out for at least the first 6/7 GWs and Arsene still hasn’t found an exprerienced CB (should have gone for Ashley Williams IMO)…
Could there be a cheap way in to their backline with Chambers or Holding? Both are 4.5m and if one is eventually paired with Koscielny by GW3 – with Cech in goal and Bellerin and Monreal making up the defensive unit, I still think they’ll be pretty strong defensively.
If you were going to pick one, would get the nod Chambers or Holding?
(not interested in other options, just asking about these two)
If Arsenal make a late move to sign Kone from Sunderland, then he gets my pick!
Knowing they don’t have any cb’s and till they don’t sign why would you even go near them? Imo they will be mauled against Pool this week with Holding and Chambers as Cbs. They are almost guaranteed to concede so even cheaper way doesn’t make sense if Gabriel was available it can be understood but with no cbs Naa
I’d ignore the Arsenal defence for now. You could of course pick one of the 4.5m options but you’ll possibly bench him for GW’s 1&2 and by the time GW3 comes about Kos should be back and they’ll probably have bought another CB.
I expect Kos to play but for them to sign a new CB. That Valencia guy will probably sign shortly
Yeah I suppose they could rush him back for the Liverpool game.
Yes, so my plan was to bring one in and bench them until GW3.
Gabriel and Mertesacker will be out for the first 6/7 GWs and with all Arsene’s dithering, I don’t even see them signing a CB this window.
I reckon Koscielny will be brought back early to play in GW1 alongside Holding or Chambers, and I expect they will concede. Then they have Leicester (a) in GW2, so they may concede again there… so I’m thinking Holding/Chambers on the bench as their fixtures GW3-10 are flipping sweet!
Currently I have McAuley in from West Brom. His fixtures look good, but I expect more clean sheets from Arsenal. Alternative 4.5m options I’m considering are Friend (M’boro), Souare (Palace) and Kone (if he goes to Everton). I like the look of Kone at Everton, but not sure how toffees would line up with Jagielka, Williams and Kone to choose from…
(Sorry, to clarify, I currently have McAuley in as my 4.5m pick in DF)
Current team is:
Hart (Jakupovic)
Shaw – Terry – Stones (McAuley – Williams)
Pogba – Sigurdsson – Zaha – Kante (Ayew)
Aguero – Ibrahimovic – Gray
Arsenal were in the market for a CB prior to Gabriels injury so I’ll be amazed if they don’t buy one.
I reckon they might pick up Mustafi… they should have gone for Ashley Williams as a 1-2 year option, and Kone wouldn’t be a bad short-term solution either.
For probably the first time this pre-season, I have finally happy with my team. I have decided to go as cheap as possible down back so that I can fit in as many of the big midfielders and strikers as possible, as this is where the big points come from. Thoughts on this team?
You defence is very very weak. And for a team with no Ibra i can’t see where your moneys at.
His money is at Kun, Lukaku, Costa, Hazard and Firm.
Must have a bit of spare cash there!
Ummmmm….. No, I have nothing in bank lol. I guess I might need to have a bit of a tinker!
Very heavy hitting strikers – wouldn’t have Costa and Hazard.
Pull 1.5mln from your bench and get a decent defender or two. No point in being strong up front when your defence is getting destroyed more often than not.
Gday all. How’s this team looking? Wouldn’t mind Bony at 7.5m if he moves to Everton by the way.
Foster
Shaw – Stones – Fernandez
Hazard – Martial – Tadic – Lamela
Aguero – Vardy – Gray
Jakupovic – Leko – Kone- Smith
Hey Tom.
I like the Martial & Tadic picks, both are being overlooked but could do very well.
Are you happy to play Foster every week as you’re unlikely to want to play Jakupovic.
The bench is quite weak as there are no guarantees that both Leko & Smith will start.
Gday Kop.
Thanks for the feedback. Worth going Lukaku instead of Vardy and upgrading the bench?
I’d hang fire on Lukaku for now as we don’t know how all of the transfer speculation will effect him. Leave Vardy there for now.
TT has made some good suggestions.
Without Williams not keen on putting Swa def on the pitch.
(& I’m a swan!)
Good news is Amat 4.0 likely plays and sit on your bench instead of Smith
Id suggest BUR or MID as 4.5 def to replace Fenandez. esp BUR gw1 when the swans attack looks tragic.
Or Foster+Fernandez -> Valdes/Heaton + McCauley
Think it is overloaded upfront, maybe keep an eye on Bony>Arsenal, Banteke>PAlace
either of those look fpl gold at 7.5 and allow upgrades elsewhere
Yeah I’m thinking of downgrading Vardy and like the look of Bony in particular. Cheers mate!
Reports of Clichy getting the RW spot. That makes him a better pick than Stones right?
Sorry LW
Any sources for this Hatter? Wouldn’t have thought for a second that a defender would get a look in in that attack
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/10528240/how-will-manchester-city-line-up-for-their-premier-league-opener-against-sunderland
Interesting, I guess it would bring with it a high risk of rotation what with Sane etc. available. If he were to nail down a spot then certainly.
Still don’t believe it will happen