Captain Sensible – Gameweek 1

Our pre-Gameweek members article returns this evening as we count down the hours until the 2015/16 Premier League campaign gets underway. As always, we take a three-part approach – the first section will be free for all visitors to the site and will analyse the chief protagonists in our Gameweek Captain Poll, though the latter two parts will be members-only, as we delve deeper into the Opta and Rate My Team projections.

The Captain Poll

Eden Hazard and Wayne Rooney are running neck-and-neck at the summit of the Captain’s Poll, with both earning 29% of the votes cast so far. The Chelsea winger served up a timely reminder of his world-class talent against Barcelona last week, slaloming through a cluster of challenges with balletic poise, before executing a precise finish into the bottom corner. Hazard – who currently resides in over 57% of teams in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game – drew just 16 blanks in 38 outings last term, furnishing Fantasy managers with a stable pick in an otherwise unpredictable opening Gameweek. The fact that Diego Costa is still uncertain to feature due to a hamstring injury for Swansea City’s visit hasn’t deterred 2% of voters from backing the Spain international. Both Blues recruits will fancy their chances against a side they rattled nine past last season, with the corresponding fixture ending in a 4-2 victory for the champions.

Rooney, meanwhile, boasts the second-highest ownership (39%) of any forward. With Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao leaving for pastures new, the Red Devils marksman has been reinstated in his favoured centre forward berth, which could engender a revival of his big-hitting exploits for the visit of Tottenham tomorrow lunchtime. Elsewhere in United’s camp, 2% of our voters are taking a punt on Dutch starlet Memphis Depay, who underlined his finishing prowess in the Eredivisie with 22 strikes in 30 outings and has been fielded in “the hole” behind Rooney in recent matches.

Theo Walcott – who netted twice in pre-season – sits in bronze medal position with over 10% of voters bestowing him the armband. Beset with injuries over the past two campaigns, the Gunners’ jet-heeled forward looks primed for a start up front against a West Ham United unit that conceded the third-most shots inside the box on the road last term. Despite Walcott attracting the bulk of the attention in north London, Mesut Ozil (2%), Santi Cazorla (1%) and Aaron Ramsey (0.8%) all harbour the attacking potential to emerge as real captaincy differentials.

Scanning further down the list, Romelu Lukaku’s pre-season form (four goals, including a hat-trick) has encouraged 5% of voters to captain the imposing frontman when the Toffees play host to Watford, though it remains to be seen if he’ll shrug off a hamstring concern in time. Christian Benteke rounds off the top five with 4% of the votes cast. The Reds will be out for revenge after being humiliated 6-1 on the final day of the previous season, with their forward contingent doubtless buoyed by the absence of Potters stalwart Ryan Shawcross.

Meanwhile, Southampton embark on a trip to Newcastle United in Gameweek 1, yet Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane are peripheral figures in our poll. Given that the Magpies were joint-bottom for goals conceded at home (27) in the previous campaign, the Saints duo could be surprise gems, yet only 1% are prepared to hand them the armband so far.