FPL Captain Picks Gameweek 25
Welcome to FPL Captain Picks Gameweek 25
The finest of margins – that’s what FPL is in so many ways. At the time of writing, the likes of Sterling, Fernandes and Salah have five, nine and seven points respectively – then there’s Gundogan who has almost the total of the three players’ gains combined, with 19 points. Those who not only had him in their team, but also followed our man Init’s tip of captaining him, congratulations! As for the fortunate few who even triple captained him, even better! Regardless of whether he plays his second fixture, that is a tally to be pleased with.
Indeed, being pleased when your points tally is great is key to this game. In these times where we look for escapism from the general naffness of lockdown, nothing beats seeing that green arrow as you move closer towards your season-end goal and, dare I say it, even overtake a few rivals in your league. But, if you don’t do well, console yourself that this is a season and the end of the last have been nothing short of ridiculous. No years have been like them before and, hopefully, won’t be like it in the future either. Whether it’s VAR, the lack of a crowd, extra rotation from the fixture congestion or players testing positive with Covid-19, it’s fair to say we’re up against it. On top of that, there’s the fact there are now eight million managers in this game and therefore much greater competition – that means those points make a greater difference when it comes to shift in rank. I remember when there were about 3.5 million people taking part – and it wasn’t that long ago.
So, let’s take a look at the players in yet another double gameweek who will hopefully deliver the goods and give you that great points tally and another green arrow!
Init – Bamford v Wolves (A), Southampton (H)
Would I captain Bamford in a normal GW? Would I heck. In fact he had one of those last week and couldn’t even find his way in to my starting X1. So why the sudden change of heart; from bench to Captain? Well, DGW’s do that to people.
- Why would I not normally consider him for the armband?
Becasue he’s just not exposive enough.
He tends to score 1 and then check out.
He’s only hit double digits on 3 occasions this season.
He has 12 goals and 8 assists but has only coupled and assist with a goal on two occasions.
He struggles to accumulate bonus points, he only has 16 in total. - So why this week?
Because he’s bloody consistent.
Bednarek.
He always plays, which is always a good start.
Bednarek.
His opponents have proved themselves to be pourous as of late.
Bednarek.
Rosco – Raphinha v Wolves (A), Southampton (H)
Init makes some good points, but if you’re going to captain a Leeds player this week then you’re surely going to choose their best player, right? If you’re in any doubt over who that is, Just ask Gary Cahill.
While Bamford hogged the headlines (for all the right reasons thankfully) his Brazilian teammate was quietly adjusting to life in the Premier League. Just 4 attacking returns in his first 10 league starts but the signs were there that Leeds had shrewdly invested their £17million in a very talented player. Sure enough, he now has 6 attacking returns in his last 5 (2 goals and 4 assists) taking him to 10 in 15 – impressive. So impressive, that the inevitable transfer rumours have begun in earnest (Liverpool and Barcelona if the daily rags are to be believed).
“Go f*ck your mothers in your fish and chips country.” Tweeted one disgruntled Rennes fan when he moved to Leeds. Well, I think I’ll give that a miss, but I do like Fish and Chips, and I may just give him my Captain’s armband this week, so there.
Swirly – Fernandes v Newcastle (H)
If in doubt – and you’re not going for a double gameweek player – you can always rely on Mr Dependable. Just like Mo Salah, even when the rest of Bruno Fernandes’ team isn’t at the races, he still manages to get in and amongst the points more often than not. In fact, there are just eight gameweeks where he has scored fewer than five FPL points so far this season.
Playing against a side who have conceded 10 in the last six, part of a story that has seen 40 let in from 24 fixtures – as only three other sides in the league have a worse tally – you have to fancy the guy we know as Bruno to pick up where he left off the last time Man United played Newcastle. That time, back in Gameweek 5, he scored one and set up another in the Red Devils’ 4-1 victory. Since the full time whistle was blown at the end of the game, the number 18 has gone on to register another 11 goals and nine assists and only needs to hit the back of the net another trio of occasions to catch up with the golden boot race leader, the aforementioned Mo Salah.
Kop – Ings v Chelsea (H), Leeds (A) Or Gundo v Arsenal (A)
Ilkay f**king Gundogan. I was all set to waffle on and tell you why the aforementioned Gundo was a great option this week. It was going to be very cathartic. Why cathartic? Because dickhead here doesn’t own Ilkay f**king Gundogan! I’m not bitter. It’s my own fault. Although, Cookie should take some of the blame.
That’s enough about me, back to the article. I was going to tell you all not to be blinded by the double gameweek lights and how you should instead focus on the leagues form player. However, Pep has thrown a spanner in the works and indicated that Wednesday night’s game against Everton might come too soon for Gundo. Now, I appreciate this is Pep and he has form for being nothing but a baldy liar and Gundo may in fact start against Everton and then start against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. However, I can’t confidently waffle on about someone who potentially has a dodgy hammy… despite Man City having become firm favorites to win the league.
Instead, I’m being drawn towards the double gameweek lights. The above picture of Danny Ings probably gave it all away. You didn’t need all the nonsense about Gundo. You can blame Cookie for that!
Why Danny Ings? Because he’s got a double gameweek and double gameweeks are great. Simples. Unfortunately, he plays for a Southampton side who have lost their last six league games and have scored just four goals in that. Ings himself has started the last five games with just a solitary goal to his name.
I’m not really making a case to captain Ings, am I? Fck it, just captain Gundo!!!
The confessional…
This is where we ask our entire writing team to tell us who they think they will pick this week…. There are more caveats and get out clauses than a Lionel Messi contract but this is their initial gut feeling based upon who they actually own.
DMC — Fernandes
Jamesimmo — Dallas (no longer a joke?!)
Swirly — Bamford
Horse — Bamford
Matt — Bamford
Loud Atlas — Bamford
Smash — Bamford
Kop — Bamford (he’ll blank)
Cookie – Ings
The Gallant Pioneer — Dallas
Rosco — Bamford
Ellefcee — Bamford
Floydeth — Bamford
AT — Ings
Init — Bamford
Mito — Bamford
VOTE ON THIS WEEK’S CAPTAIN POLL GW25
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Hi guys, Hope you had a good gw. I had a nightmare week, fine marginS killing me again, having Sterling rather than Gundogan. Anyway, my first shot at WC this week with aim of BB on gw26. Any thoughts?
I like the majority of the team bar Guaita.
Thanks Matt, budget is an issue. Who would you suggest in place of Guaita?
Sanchez or Areola to be honest. I know neither has a confirmed DGW but they both play easy enough fixtures plus both play in 29.
Yeah hopefully there’s confirmation On the DGW before the dateline. Still have my FH which I might use for gw29.
This is why I was looking at Pickford…
What a week. 120pts on fpl and a third grandson has just been born. Shame the pubs are shut or it would have been drinks all round! Waiting to see how you guys are playing the next few gameweeks before making any moves.
Congratulations Gramps! On both the 120 and the new grandson. I’ll let you decide which one is the greater achievement! :drinks:
Congrats Gramps3! :drinks:
As for the moves I think we are all just waiting on the / any confirmation. Of something / anything. Not even looked at my team yet, never mind the Site Team, although I know a discussion on the latter began and fizzled out earlier. Could be a fairly late and rushed one that.
Congratulations on the new arrival gramps. :good:
I saw with delight the newsflash “Premier league fixture change announced” Then I read the article – Leicester v Villa on 21st Feb has been moved from 14:00 to 14:05. :rofl:
:rofl:
Otieno, while you are here… I’ve seen you post that people sans a FH cannot effectively do WC25, BB26 and expect to survive beyond 29, or indeed for it. Is that correct? I haven’t looked for myself yet, but I do trust your judgment on such matters. What’s the main flaw? Is it 29 itself or just beyond? What’s your considered recommendation for such scenarios? And where does TC come into that? Presumably in 26? TIA
My opinion only but :
Without a FH or a wildcard to use after, consider what team you will want for 29. There are only Tot who play in 29 who have good fixtures 30-38. I’m afraid managers will tie themselves into 3xAVL and 3xLEE in 29 and then have nowhere to go.
TC for me will probably be 26 because I already used my BB but I’m predicting DGW32 for Tot v Eve & Ful which could be attractive.
Ok thanks. Just wanted clarity on what you were suggesting as the best route. And don’t worry, I know it’s only your opinion! Im not exactly one to hold people accountable afterwards.
The 29 thing may be negotiated then if people don’t get hung up on it having to have a full team. I’m thinking 6-8 tops is probably sufficient anyway, given as the fillers will probably return 1’s or 2’s anyway. Big assumption but let’s face it they probably would.
Could well be negotiated in that scenario or am I reading it wrong?
My 2 cents
With Villa, Spurs, Leeds , West Ham and even Fulham playing GW 29, most will have at least 7 I would think of those easily enough for 29.
My understanding is that a few of those teams fixtures turn badly in 31 and it would be nice to be able to wc then.
Excellent points.
The Leeds players however are cheap enough to drop down to the bench afterwards so I feel relatively relaxed about that. Villa I’m limiting to two players, both of whom have very high ownership.
Another strategy I suppose is to slowly divest one’s side of Leeds players before the BGW and just FH then.
That’s pretty accurate of how I’m reading it. A good team for 29 (no FH or WC left) will have 6 top players and then a few cheap fillers e.g. White, Holding, Lewis, SmithRowe, Bissouna who can be used on the bench later.
Kralin – City and Spurs I believe will blank in 33 so that could be a FH option too
Thanks TheDreamers.
I suppose 27 (and 26 for those not BB) is another option as well, if it looks like being a juicy DGW.
Evening all, got 2fts + 1.1 itb. Thinking of moving tonight and doing Digne/Antonio to Dallas/Ings. Sound logical ?
You aren’t usually logical but this I like! :wink2:
Thanks Matt.
Hi Elle – where are you with chips? The reason I ask is that you have a benching problem. Dallas v Raphino comes to mind as an alternative consideration
All chips still in the old sky rocket.
Right ok pretty much sorted for WC / BB 26
This is it
Decided to loose the 2 city Defenders as I can’t be doing with Pep’s Russian roulette every week, will it be “Stones / Laporte / cancelo / Walker..”?….headache !!
so still have 2 city at the back with Dias & Ederson as nailed as can be?
Heard Gundo might be out for longer than we thought..be keeping him just in case.
If not Grealish steps up of the bench :yes:
Got 3m itb for Spurs assets for 26
So this is it
Am I gtg guys?
That seems fine to me.
I fully understand the Ederson move but bear in mind his ceiling – unless he is called upon to take penalties – remains pretty static at 6 per game. So while other keepers are riskier their cheaper price may give you more wriggle room (in terms of spare change) with future transfers. But then of course you’d be fretting over which other City player to get, and be back to square one again.
Yea I get that, but I’d rather guarantee I’ve got a city defender starting with DGW / rotations / CL
If city keep this run going without conceding then I’ll be happy with 6 pts most weeks.
It’s either him or Cancelo tbh and as much I’d prefer Cancelo with Walker fit again and KDB on the horizon he may be rotated more?
Sure re Ederson. It makes sense.
I’m debating Cancelo myself as we speak. Dias seems very nailed and Stones got a breather the other night so I may stick with those two. I’d prefer Cencelo due to his attacking chops but City have an insane amount of games looming, plus the CL.
2FTs and 0.4m in my pocket.
Grealish to Raphinha seems a good move?
I could do Antonio to Ings and play him ahead of DCL?
Or just pocket 1FT for next week. Got an eye on Kane.
All assuming DCL and Gundo are fit out course…
Thanks!
I do like Grealish a lot though so would be hard to let go
I’d just get Ings in (for Antonio).
Sorry my bad. I have to do the Grealish to Raphinha move to enable that
What about keeping Grealish and losing Son beno?
Grealish and Digne to Burn and Raphinha leaves cash ITB for DCL to Kane.
I could get Watkins in for Antonio in the future to get some Villa back