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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Any thoughts on the team lads??
Not a bad team. Goalkeeping options are a bit weak – personally I wouldn’t want to have to play Foster every week! Personally I would have Mahrez for the opener and bring Ozil in once you know he’s fit and ready.
FDMS
Think the defence could do with a bit of work. Amat and Souare are a bit risky. If Souare is confirmed fit then he’s OK – if not you could stick with Palace and go Kelly, Delaney or Fryers.
Amat would be changed to some Middlesbrough cover I think – I expect they could keep games tight.
I agree that I would take Mahrez to start over Ozil.
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Look a page back, you dirty little monkey. 😉
Got it Raz that’s what started me off :smiling:
😉
Mail sent :thumbup:
Hi everyone. Could I get your thoughts on my team please? I was in two minds whether to go with Alli and Ibra or Mané and Kane. Cheers
Nice team. I see a lot of people with Friend. Isn’t he dangerous with the imminent signing of Fabio?
I can see that midfield biting you in the arse pretty quickly. Hazard and Alli are solid but the other two are a serious hit and miss.
Yeah fair point. Obviously money is an issue and I thought they were the best options at that price. Both good attacking players capable of scoring points if they get a good run in the team.
bren
Agree with NiN
I’d chase Deulofeu and Gradel from there personally. Ayew, Davis, Redmond, Townsend should all be more consistent than those.
Option 1) Stones & Deulofeu
Option 2) Pieters/McAuley (rotating) & Lamela
??
1 with a better mid preferably. Townsend?
Do you really think Townsend is better than Deulofeu? I’m seeing him as a very popular pick, but he’s hugely inconsistent, as is Deulofeu I suppose!
I do yes.
Great write up Bryan! I’ll be going with the ever reliable Kun but you got me re-thinking having no Leicester attackers, thus I’m onto my latest dilemma… Bear in mind I already have Valencia, so DDG would be doubling up on Uniteds back line, also I’ve no other WBA defender or Liverpool attacker (first 3GWs only in mind).
A) DDG & Firmino
or
B) Foster & Mahrez
B
Cheers NIN, Leicester playing Hull on Saturday morning would have me behind the couch!
That’s a definite A for me. I can see Firmino carrying his form on. Maybe swap Valencia for Baines to avoid a double up? Or JT? Quite a few nice defensive options at 5.5. Or go with a different Premium GK? Nice problems to be having I’d say.
Rambo
A for me. DDG you can stick in there and forget about hopefully. With Foster I can see you using a transfer to shift him at some point.
Firmino and Mahrez should each do very well though – that’s a tough one.
Thanks BM & GP! That is the problem as you both mention, I can see both Firmino & Mahrez carrying on their form but I’ll have to leave one out with having Kun, Ibra & Hazard… 11.29am decision on Saturday morning, which I’ll be regretting at half 2 after Hull surprise all of us by beating the Champions 1-0.
Hi all, come up with this but really not happy with it due to the bench. Can cope with one £4m defender of I have to but definitely not two!
Where would you get the £0.5m from? Not willing drop a keeper.
Bench shmench 😉
Haha NIN, no way I’m starting GW1 without two starters in the bench (Maloney counting even if injured)
Baines –> Williams
Lamela –> Townsend
Firmino –> Cazorla
All possibilities.
Cheers NIN
This team’s really similar to mine. How do those keepers rotate? I’d probably drop Lamela to a 6.5 option.
Like a dream Banjo, minus Citeh/United GW10 and something at GW17 I can’t remember haha
Want Spurs cover but looking like my best option aha
Is that rotation purely on a home/away basis? GW2 you’ll be playing Foster v Everton?
Lamela has been in and out of my draft a few times, but I don’t think he’ll be making the final cut, for the same reasons that you’re struggling with.
I don’t count Everton as a scary team as of yet so no it’s not H/A but it mainly is just home fixtures.
You need to be aware WBA didn’t get Clean sheets on home/way or fixture difficulty last season.
They got more clean sheets away, and more clean sheets against top 10 teams than bottom 10.
Reason is simple, they tried hard to score at home and against weaker teams thus conceding regularly.
They tried to grind out bore draws away and to stronger teams thus conceding less often
Palace were just plain random, & Stoke were got more CS against top5 than bottom5, tho Swansea were extreme fit to fixture & home.
I know that make life complicated but without handling that complication using home/away/fixture can be worse than just tossing a coin
Cheers TT, food for thought.