Captain Sensible – Gameweek 7

This afternoon we publish our usual pre-Gameweek members article, which focuses on the main captaincy contenders according to the votes cast in our Captain Poll. As always, we take a three-part approach which includes the weekly poll standings, the Opta statistics and our Rate My Team projections to help steer your thoughts on the armband conundrum.

The Captain Poll

Boasting 33% of the vote, Anthony Martial is a new entry at the summit of the Captain’s Poll. The former Monaco frontman emerged from the bench in midweek to round off Manchester United’s League Cup win over Swindon Town, bringing his tally to four goals in three domestic outings. Martial has netted with three of his four strikes in the league and now enjoys a home tie against a Sunderland outfit that ranks top for goals conceded (13) this term. By virtue of his good form (two goals and assists in five starts) and the Red Devils’ favourable match-up, Juan Mata joins the Frenchman in the top 10. Mata has recorded just one blank since Gameweek 2 and ranks top among Man United’s midfielders for shots on target (five) this term.

Sergio Aguero slips to the silver-medal position this Gameweek, with just 19% of voters willing to hand him the captain’s armband. After netting against Sunderland in the cup in midweek, last year’s Golden Boot winner will be relishing the opportunity to pit his wits against Spurs at White Hart Lane this Saturday, having racked up eight goals in his previous four starts against the North London outfit. Aguero’s new team-mate Kevin De Bruyne lies in seventh spot, with 2% of voters eyeing up the 10.0-priced midfielder. The Belgium international netted his second goal in as many starts on Wednesday and placed in the top five among his counterparts for attempts (four) last Gameweek.

Dimitri Payet (9%) and Riyad Mahrez (6%) sit third and fourth, respectively, on the leaderboard. The former has tallied two goals and one assist in his last two outings and faces a home tie against Norwich’s generous defence – only Sunderland (13) and Chelsea (12) have conceded more goals than the Canaries (10). The latter, meanwhile, is 12 points clear of any player in the league, having bagged five goals and three assists already this season. Mahrez ranks joint-top among midfielders for shots on target (10) ahead of Arsenal’s visit to the King Power Stadium.

Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard are neck-and-neck at the 5% mark. Sanchez chalked up three more attempts (31) and eight more shots inside the box (14) than any midfielder through the first six Gameweeks but is still yet to open his account. Nonetheless, the fact that the Foxes have conceded in every match-up so far will serve as encouragement for the Chile international. Conversely, Hazard broke his duck last time out against the Gunners but has recorded just 10 attempts this term. The Belgian winger is afforded a chance to build momentum on t as the Blues gear up for a trip to Newcastle United.

Pedro, Harry Kane and Callum Wilson all look differential picks with a mere 1% backing. Since making his debut in Gameweek 3, Pedro has bettered team-mate Hazard for shots (14 to eight) and efforts in the box (eight to five), with the Spaniard continuing his fine form with a goal in the midweek cup win over Walsall.

Kane ranks second in the forward charts for attempts (21) but has tested the keeper with just four of these strikes. A visit from a Man City outfit that’s registered five clean sheets in six matches could prolong the Spurs striker’s barren spell. Wilson, on the other hand, sits joint-top in the scoring charts with five goals. The 6.0-priced forward will certainly fancy his chances when Bournemouth travel to face a Stoke City side that’s conceded five more big chances (20) than any other team.