The Captain Poll – Gameweek Twenty

Now that we’ve had a couple of days of turkey (and goal) feasts it’s time to try and get back into a fantasy routine once more, albeit an incredibly hectic one, as gameweek twenty looms large before the current one has even finished.

The captain’s poll has been updated for gameweek twenty and with under a day until the deadline closes in on us anyone looking for a vote and opinions of their peers will need to get cracking, sharpish. Here’s a few folks we expect will be the hot contenders…

Steven Gerrard/Fernando Torres
Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool. Based on results and recent history you can’t really consider them one of the big clubs any more as they look to fight for a place in the Europa League once more next year, but when a favourable fixture at Anfield comes along, you can’t help but recall, and almost expect, The Reds of old to return. Steven Gerrard always leads his club with a full heart and with the back-up of set-piece and penalty dominance at least has a safety cushion to fall back on.

Team-mate Fernando Torres has a record at Anfield that Fantasy Managers always want a slice of with his 44 goals in 48 home league appearances. The visit of Mick McCarthy’s Wolves means that the Spanish hitman and his captain will surely be dominating the thoughts of managers far and wide – whether they want them to or not. At least they’ve now got double fixtures in gameweeks 22 and 24 to help compensate any wary investors too.

Carlos Tevez
A home form that has seen the Argentine striker score just 14 points in his last five gameweeks at Eastlands (breakdown: 1,2,1,8,2) means the idea of Carlos Tevez competing at the top of the poll seems somewhat convoluted – but we all know it’s not that simple. Well, technically it is, but it isn’t really. Manchester City may be one of the least potent home offences (two goals in those last five games at Eastlands) but a solo talent like Tevez will always attract attention. Add a club like Aston Villa- who seem to being through a bit of an identity crisis at the moment- into the fray and the outcome could end up something special. Things might not always turn out that way, but it’s surely not long before the away form gets reciprocated in front of the home ground – perhaps even this week.

Rafael Van Der Vaart
The Dutch midfielder has settled into the Premier League like an absolute dream, while his niggling injuries have been frustrating for Fantasy Managers to contend with (an extra week off due to the weather last week may have actually been a godsend, in a manner of speaking), everything else has been nigh on perfect; particularly when it comes to bringing home the all important fantasy bacon (Mmmm, pigs in blankets – me).

Van Der Vaart has the highest points per game returns of any player in the FPL spectrum, takes penalties, attracts the bonus judges rewards and on top of that is frankly everywhere, cropping up in the right place at the right time to notch goals with consistent regularity. A home game against Newcastle is just another chance for the Tottenham talisman to fizz, bang and whistle this festive period following his 16 point haul at Aston Villa yesterday. Fantasy Managers new favourite toy, and at a comparatively low price to boot.

The rest…
All of the candidates we think that might just be on the periphery of our front three are certainly not lesser lights, in fact they’re some of the most owned and most proficient fantasy selections on offer. The triumvirate of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda will be hoping that Bolton haven’t suddenly mastered the art of the clean sheet after 17 weeks between their last two.

Gareth Bale and his army of well over 50% ownership will be hoping he does what he does best, and offers a reasonable outlet for opportunity while Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas travel to a Wigan known to be able to concede a goal or nine and Nani of course is also very much a regular points scorer these days, even if he’s heading to St. Andrews. We haven’t even got to mentioning the Sunderland strikers up against an always open Blackpool defence. Options aplenty this week.

Head back to the frontpage and place your marker as we make an assault on another gameweek. The poll has to get into a real groove at some point, so let’s go out of 2010 with a bang.