Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Gameweek 22
Welcome to Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Gameweek 22. 2017 is already shaping up to be the year of the incredible sulk. While Diego Costa has one eye on a slow boat to China, Dmitri Payet would seem content just to leave E13. Or E20. Or wherever the heck it is that the Hammers call home now. Even Alexis Sanchez threw a strop when his manager had the audacity to relieve him of duty 4-0 up at the Welsh branch of Managers-R-Us.
So which players should you trust with your captaincy, and which should you cast aside, risking mutiny? That’s clearly none of my business. But here are 5 players worth considering:
5. PHILIPPE COUTINHO (home vs Swansea)
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[/three_fifth]A swan’s grace as it glides along the water is said to belie the unseen frenzied activity of its paddling feet, which cannot be said for their Premier League incarnation. The Reds’ next opponents have been frantic and haphazard from every angle; Swansea are currently splashing about with all the grace of ‘Debbie Does Dallas’.
Prior to Sunday’s clash of the North-West giants, Coutinho had failed to accrue a single point in 7 games. However he had also failed to register a single minute of game-time, giving him an average score of 0 ÷ 0 which… broke my calculator, proving that even when he doesn’t play, the Brazilian’s stats are untouchable. 30 minutes at Old Trafford and a likely FA Cup run-out against Plymouth should see Klopp’s talisman return to the FPL fold in earnest this weekend. Liverpool have been prolific scorers this season, but their scattered distribution of goals has always made the likes of Lallana, Firmino and Mane gambles for the armband. Liverpool’s no. 10 was flying before his injury and will surely offer captaincy-worthy returns as he closes in on his best ever season at Anfield.
4. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC (away vs Stoke City)
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[/three_fifth]Maybe we got Zlatan wrong. Arriving on British shores with a reputation for arrogance, the Swede has demonstrated an unselfish appreciation for those around him. While Romelu Lukaku left viewers feeling awkward with the kind of statuesque Cantona celebration best left only to Cantona, Ibra used his goal to whip Old Trafford into a frenzy. In stark contrast to certain other players right now, Man Utd’s 35 year old’s professionalism has shone through playing (November’s Arsenal game excepted) every minute of every game.
9th placed Stoke will welcome United in good fettle following encouraging victories over Sunderland and Watford, though they struggle against decent teams. Winter match-ups against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all ended in convincing defeats, despite promising patches of play. Mark Hughes will be keen to turn up and spoil United’s momentum, but even if they do you’d fancy the man-bunned meister to make a mark. Mourinho’s Red Devil revival has been in no small part to his striker’s 10 goals in 10 games, which interestingly makes a goal-per-game average of…. ummm… well if Coutinho hadn’t broken my calculator I’d be able to work that out.
3. EDEN HAZARD (home vs Hull City)
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[/three_fifth]Fighting off serious competition from the hipster’s choice, Marcos Alonso, Eden Hazard presents us with a more familiar captaincy route into Chelsea’s David and Goliath encounter with Hull. Uncertainty over top-scorer Costa’s availability remains, but his teammates have won 3-0 in both of his recent absences with Hazard garnering 16 points. Diego must be wondering what he has to do get some attention.
Hazard’s recent returns have been solid if unspectacular. However an advanced role against the Tigers could reignite the fire we saw from him in the autumn. Hull have shown admirable resilience at home, but haven’t had much joy away from the KC since gameweek 2 at Swansea. Marco Silva’s men won’t roll over at Stamford Bridge, but without a clean sheet in 10 games even the most optimistic among the amber and black ranks must fear being put to the sword by the Belgian this Sunday.
2. HARRY KANE (away vs Manchester City)
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[/three_fifth]Having destroyed Tony Pulis’ back-four with a triple whammy, it must be with some zeal that Kane now switches focus to a rearguard that’s more permeable than a phospholipid bilayer cell membrane [citation needed]. In his search for beautiful football, Pep Guardiola has created a Frankenstein defence. Altruistic, yet hideous. The idea that John Stones offered a cheap way into a great team now seems a distant horror, like a Glastonbury Festival veteran’s sober epiphany that last summer’s stellar sexual conquest was in fact a farm animal.
An exceptional 6 goals in 4 games have been no statistical anomaly with Kane hitting the target more times (11) than anyone else over the same period. Just don’t talk about ‘that’ penalty. It feels strange to see an away fixture at Man City as a captaining opportunity, but this owes as much to Spurs’ recent explosion of form as it does their opponent’s ineptitude at the back. Dele, Christian and Harry will be queuing up for a pop at Pep.
1. ALEXIS SANCHEZ (home vs Burnley)
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[/three_fifth]I don’t know about you, but when I get told I can leave work early I’m out of the door before the end of their sentence. Not our Alexis. No, he wants to stay behind and help clean the changing rooms, wash the kit and probably drive the team coach. Providing Sanchez’s tantrum wasn’t a ruse to orchestrate a January exit from the Emirates, this attitude should continue to stand him in good stead against a Burnley side that are the epitome of hard work. Sean Dyche must be brimming with pride at the Clarets’ achievements which have seen them soar giddily into the upper hemisphere of the Premier League. Though while imperious at home, they’ve shockingly taken only a single point from a possible 27 on their travels, conceding 20 goals.
Arsenal’s Chilean superstar at times seems peerless and sits atop the FPL standings with daylight between him and the chasing pack. Sanchez shows no sign of slowing down, averaging 8.75 points across the last 8 games, making it hard to overlook him for the armband. If you do, he might sulk.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Premier League Captain Picks Gameweek 22. This article was written by Bryan Munich
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Fixture Tracker – the next 6 games
Hello Gang
Hope everyone is well
So i have 1ft and 1.6m in the bank
Good to go?
Looks good Neilos but you will have to deal with Ake & Amat at some point , like the Haz pick for Cap
Cheers Silvers – Was thinking Ake to Jones – Ake is gonna drop soon. Or was contemplating upgrading Clayton for Stanilas…! Need to sort it quicktime.
Neilos Either of them moves are good but your def needs sorting first 😉
Jones is a good option
Yep, superb team for this week.
@Silvers – Ake out !
@Init – Cheers bud !
I’d wait on Ake just in case Giroud is out and you can fix that first. Maybe do Ake if it looks like he’s defo ok.
Agree with Init
Funny fact, that’s the motto in the FF247 HQ too, only it has Or Else on the end
Was looking at Ake upgrades – was thinking would Mustafi be worth a shout ?
I wouldn’t upgrade to Stanislas unless you’re prepared to drop one of your forwards.
Agree with the others, Ake/Amat are your weak points.
Thanks Cap – thats what im looking to switch
Hi guys would like your thoughts on fpl essential. Would be good to get views of these top midfielders and forwards in order of ranking 1 being the most essential.
Mids
Sanchez
hazard
alli
eriksson
coutinho
strikers
kane
costa
giroud
zlatan
lukaku
defoe
aguero
Dont think ive missed anyone
Thanks in advance.
Great question. The mids is difficult as I think ideally anyone would have 4 out of those 5 and probably wouldn’t care a great deal which one missed out.
As for the forwards I’d go –
Zlatan
Costa
Kane
That’s given a handpicked choice of just 3. I’d probably rank Defoe and Lukaku next as level due to both’s consistency. The other 3 are just playing for better teams so you’d probably bank on them getting more chances to score points.
Zlatan
Kane
Costa
Kun
Giroud
Defoe
Luk
Sanchez
Eriksen
Hazard
Coutinho
Alli
Thk that look ok 😉
I’d maybe only put Sanchez in the essential bracket, as for the rest you could all argue for but not complain against if you saw them in people’s sides, only thing for certain is you can’t have them all, the only player I wouldn’t consider from that lot though is Defoe.
Hi saloba
1 Eriksen
2 Sanchez
3 Alli
4 Hazard
5 Coutinho
1 Kane
2 Lukaku
3 Costa
4 Giroud
5 Ibrahimovic
6 Aguero
7 Defoe
Based on a huge number of factors and is only a snapshot in time. Could and probably would be different this time next week.
Any specific reason why Zlatan would be 5 in your list Sir?
Just feel the ones ahead could be in for bigger points in the weeks ahead nishant that’s all.
This like I said, depends on a few factors like a fit Giroud and a playing Costa.
Indeed
A fit Giroud will save a lot of worries though
so truee could all change in a few weeks. Maybe a man u mid could step up and become an essential.
With all due respect, that would require some serious fall in forms of the Spurs, the Pools mids and Sanchez to name a few
With budgets minions like Phillips, Stan, Mirallas Fraser etc delivering, a ManU mid + Zlatan might be overkill
That is assuming people already own Zlatan
Zlatan Costa Kane
Sanchez Eriksen Alli
would you say having atleast of the spurs plays be essential. if so which two ?
Sorry didn’t get you mate
May be I do
Kane and Eriksen would be my picks
Sorry mate.
would you say having atleast two of the spurs mids/fwd players is essential. if so which two ?
thanks
Sal you don’t need two Spurs att cover they have a few tough games with a few easy ones 😉
interesting view guys, thanks to those who have responded so far. Do u guys believe there are any defender who are essentail. Im assuming its mainly the spurs and chelsea defenders and potentialy baines.
I wouldn’t say essential mate
But closest to essential would be Walker and Alonso. Wouldn’t mind owning them for the rest of the season
Baines at 5.5mn is definitely a must grab. But the essentiality factor wouldn’t be a must here
Sal you should have at least one premium def Alonso , Bellerin , Walker , Baines , Daniels all of these are cable of getting attacking points .
You called it – any nailed on Spurs or Chelsea player I think. Azpi is great for bonus points and Alonso, Rose and Walker all have great attacking potential!
Evening
I trust everyone is well?
Assuming that giroud is ok what should I be doing with my team for this GW? I have 1FT & 2.6 ITB
Amat to Baines
Hey Mitro thk I would just draft Yosh in for either Amat or Love the rest looks set mate 😉
Cheers fellas!
Alli?
Lol
Round one 😉
1 FT and 4.4mn ITB
No that’s not Kun money
Thoughts will be appreciated guys
Cheers
Two moves i see nishant.
Philips to Pedro
Amat to Rose (or Walker)
Thank you Sir
Will it be worth a hit?
I don’t think so. Arguably you could leave Phillips in and save the transfer but Pedro would be the one I would do this week of those two moves.
nice team Nishant, how abput lukaku for defoe?
That’s also a nice shout nishant.
Lots of decent moves.
Hey Nishant wouldn’t be dropping Phillips this GW take a punt on Barkley for Marney 😉
Cheers all. Appreciate your help
If i were to play my wildcard to try and get as many “easentials” as possible this is the team i would have. You could argue that having 3 spurs players is an over kill so could lose either Alli or Eriksen for Countinho and upgrade Fraser to Stanislas.
i feel that although id have more “essentials” i totally lose the balance of my team.
essential team
sorry essential team below
current team
I think I actually prefer your current squad saloba.
Thanks mate i hate my front 3. could swop aguero and defoe for kane and lukaku
Sal I don’t like this team you don’t need 3 Spurs players or the front 3 look at the fixtures & form
Yeah i feel i have done that throughout the weeks and built a balanced team. My current rank is 68k and second in my ML.
Sal you have a great rank & doing well in you ml I would just keep one Spurs player & upgrd Fraser & Davis