FPL Captain Picks Gameweek 3
Welcome to FPL Captain Picks Gameweek 3
There were goals and assists galore last week, unfortunately not that many from the obvious picks! To illustrate how odd it got we had 4 picks for you in GW2 and they managed 1 goal and 2 assists between them. Kane got a goal and 4 assists all on his own. KDB was probably the least obvious of our picks and he accounted for 2/3 of those ‘returns’. Or to put it another way, when Leicester score 4 and Vardy is involved in exactly none of the goals you know it’s going to be one of those weeks. Let’s not even mention how the ‘confessional’ went…
So let’s go see if we can fare any better for you this week…
Cookie: KDB vs Leicester City (H)
Back in his stride on Monday night at Wolves, KDB looks as if he ready to carry on just where he left off last season and keep producing the goods for his owners. Already a goal and an assist to his name and of course on penalty duty, certainly at the very least until Kun returns, there seems little that can stop the Belgian churning out the points week after week. With attacking options in abundance, City look primed to mount a more clinical challenge to Liverpool this year and with goals never a problem for City who better to give the armband to than their chief creator, their penalty taker, their conductor. There is even the thought that it may just be the safe play to ‘perma-captain’ De Bruyne given his consistency.
Loud Atlas: Kane vs Newcastle United (H)
You may have heard the celebratory/sorrowful clamour on the boards recently: the Kane and Son double-act really got going last gameweek. After one goal, four assists and three bonus points, Kane had plenty to show for his 83 minutes on the pitch: 21 fantasy points! He became the first player in PL history to solely assist four goals by one player and even José wanted Son’s well-deserved Man of the Match award to go to Kane (see Son’s post-match interview!). His passing, vision, decision-making – all of it was top-notch. Some might say he was even KDB-esque at times. Frankly, Harry Kane was ace.
Spurs fans will rejoice that at last, he and the team are brimming with confidence. And with Gareth Bale expected to start at some point in October (well-timed with the golf courses getting a bit wetter over here), Spurs will have a front three to rival the very best out there. But let’s not jump to conclusions, dear scroller, let’s get September out of the way first.
Looking back to their last meeting, only two months ago, Kane scored twice against Newcastle in a 3-1 win. This coming weekend Kane faces a Newcastle side deflated by a 3-0 loss to Brighton. During that game, the Magpies failed to get a shot off until the 40th minute and couldn’t muster a single shot on target during the whole game. Another problem they have is a very large Dubravka-shaped hole between the sticks. All of this points to one thing: Newcastle are ripe for the picking and who better to do the picking than Captain Kane?
One slight caveat to this is that Kane and chums travel to Macedonia to play in the third qualifying round of the Europa League versus Shkëndija on Thursday at 7pm. After that warm-up game’s out of the way, the match on Sunday will go swimmingly!
Swirly: Salah vs Arsenal (H)
Before I was asked if I would like to feature in this article, I had done a bit of research of my own to look at who is best for the armband. After sifting through stats, Salah was the leader and will, indeed, be my captain this gameweek. In just seven times he has played Arsenal, he has scored six and set up another four. Then you look to Liverpool’s record against the Gunners at Anfield – they haven’t lost a game against them there since 2012 and in the eight games across all competitions since, have netted a whopping 30. The hat-trick and resultant 20 points in Gameweek 1 against an admittedly quite different team could still very well be an omen now the Egyptian is back at his home ground. His high ownership of 37.6 per cent also offers a bit of an insurance policy.
Kop: Raul Jimenez vs West Ham United (A)
When I agreed to write a piece for this week’s article, I said I’d confirm my choice at a later date. This was a stupid move on my part as it meant that the obvious choices were snapped up. Ah balls, I thought. But then it hit, Mr. Consistency A.K.A. Raul Jimenez! Having scored 17 last season, he has already picked up where he left off with a goal in each of Wolves’ opening fixtures. His stats are never the best but he’s always there or thereabouts. His eight goal attempts are only bettered by two forwards while his three attempts on target are only bettered by three forwards. For good measure he’s the designated penalty taker which appears to be a pre-requisite for capo material these days. He faces a West Ham side who have lost a couple of players to Covid and you’ve got to assume they could potentially lose a couple more ahead of the game. There’s also the fact that the Hammers have conceded two goals in each of their first two games.
Smash: Werner vs West Bromwich Albion (a)
Timo ‘Turbo’ Werner has not exactly got off to the fast start we were all hoping for. It’s probably been more Skoda like (not bad) than a turbo charged Ferrari. Over 300k FPL managers have had enough of waiting and shipped the German international out of their team ahead of this gameweek. Is that too dissimilar to Son last week? Well we all know what happened there – 4 goals and a massive headache for those that sold him. So what has Werner actually contributed so far? Well not that much, In two games so far, granted one was against Liverpool with ten men, Werner has registered 6 shots with 5 of them taken within the box. The data suggests he’s certainly due a goal. Werner has won a penalty in each of his Premier League outings and come close to scoring on a few occasions. Those are not exactly stats to jump out of your chair about.
So why captain Werner this week?
Chelsea prepare to face West Bromwich Albion in Gameweek 3 – that’s the real reason. It’s a classic example of chasing the whipping boys and West Brom may be just that! The bookies make him the odds-on favourite to score this week with anytime scoring odds at 55% just ahead of Salah and Kane. We are only two games into the season and West Brom have already conceded 8 big chances this season, 5 of them to the opposition’s strikers. For context, two of them were when they were down to ten men. The Baggies have conceded the joint-highest number of shots over the first two matches and already given up two penalties in that time as well. After Jorginho missed from the spot last time out for Chelsea, Werner might now even be on penalties himself.
West Brom’s xGc (expected goals conceded) of over 7 in two games is comparable to a certain Norwich side in their slump after project restart and we all remember that Norwich side which we targeted last season for fantasy points. At least Michail Antonio owners certainly do! West Brom away certainly seems like a game for Werner to finally go off. A turbocharged hatty will be nice!
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 — Harry Kane
Jamesimmo — Kevin De Bruyne
Swirly — Mohamed Salah
Horse — Kevin De Bruyne
Matt — Timo Werner
Loud Atlas — Mohamed Salah
Smash — Kevin De Bruyne
Kop — Mohamed Salah
Cookie – Kevin De Bruyne
The Gallant Pioneer — Kevin De Bruyne
Rosco — Mohamed Salah
EFC — Mohamed Salah
Floydeth — Mohamed Salah
AT — Kevin De Bruyne
Init — Timo Werner
Mito — Kevin De Bruyne
VOTE ON THIS WEEK’S CAPTAIN POLL GW3
Thanks for reading FPL Captain Picks Gameweek 3. This article was written by everyone.
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Any Everton fans how has Coleman looked this season?
Attacking wise, not so much, or maybe I haven’t noticed him much, but he has been defending brilliantly and with a lot of confidence.
I am not an Everton fan but watched their first two games. He looked alright. Solid at the back and good runs and crosses on the other end. Not like in the good ol’ days but still decent.
Gabriel Jesus update from his Twitter account.
Also confirmed here https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8773739/Pep-Guardiolas-injury-crisis-deepens-Gabriel-Jesus-latest-Man-City-ace-struck-down.html
Anyone going to consider delap at 4.5m now? He’s their only recognised striker.
Sterling will probably play there.
I would say, those on a WC going 3-5-2 will get him instead of fodder like Davies or Brewster :yes:
I am still going Brewster :laugh2:
Tornado, it’s all about the colour scheme :laugh2:
With Marcal out injured for now, is it looking more likely that Vinagre will play this weekend? If you have him are you playing him.
Depends who on rest of ur team I have Antonio so considering Mitchell starting although v Everton and hoping Wolves concede with Anto smashing a couple!
My team:
whats the best combo out of:-
jiminez and zaha
or
werner & podence
cheers
jiminez and zaha are proven and in the PL longer. Given the choice I would go with them.
However I must add because of a lack of funds I have both podence and werner lol
lol
Probably Jimenez and Saga but it’s half million more but you have 2 penalty takers against none so JS!
JZ!
Ugh. Had Jesus in my WC then heard the news. I really wanted double City. I have elected to replace Jesus with Martial, but is it worth it to add Foden and downgrade Wood?
I WOOD’nt for the next 3, could be quite tasty given the opposition defences so far
Lol. Ya, fixtures are good. Thanks.
Zaha to Foden and Martial to Werner?
Yes, that could work nicely. Thanks SF.
FTx2
ITB – 1m.
Looking at doing Auba->KdB
For the other transfer – not sure whether to do ASM->Podence, or Wilson->DCL, or do a 4ph and do both.
Considering sticking the armband on Werner.
Thoughts please.
That’s the main thinking this week but if u wanted to do something different as there is a slight risk with KDB you could go Bruno and Jimmy for Auba and Wilson?
WholsRonaldo – I did consider Bruno at the start, but he isnt filling me with confidence at the moment. Think I need City coverage, and KdB has always been on my radar.
SpecialK. – Yeah had banked on bringing the 2 FT so I could bring in KdB, as as above the other was going to be Bruno for Son, but that wont happen as Son is on fire, and Bruno is a damp squib at the moment. Need to sort out ASM, and bringing in DCL would mean ditching Wilson. Is that a wise move though?
How is Bruno a damp squid. He’s played one game plus everyone was saying that about Son after one game
Smash – compared to the fact that I want Kdb, and Son has performed so well, I cant get rid of him (ok, not much of a comeback argument, sorry).
So what should I do Smash?
Bring in Kdb, Podence and also do Wilson-DCL for a 4ph?
Hammer, I did the same as you and kept my 2 FT’s. I brought in KdB and Podence for Auba and ASM. Looking at your team I would look to strengthen your front line. DCL is in fine form!