Our regular Friday members article comes around again, as we focus on the main captaincy contenders in accordance with our Captain Poll. 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
Kevin De Bruyne (31%) is the firm favourite to sport the skipper’s armband in Gameweek 11. The Belgium international notched a goal and an assist during Manchester City’s League Cup win over Crystal Palace and boasts three goals and as many assists in five leagues starts, illuminating his fine form this term. The Sky Blues play host to a Norwich outfit that’s failed to register a single clean sheet, so it’s no surprise that Wilfried Bony (9%; two goals and one assist in last two) is strongly fancied, though Raheem Sterling (1%) could be a differential candidate after grabbing a hat-trick in his last home outing.
Despite drawing blanks in his previous two league outings, Graziano Pelle enjoys 15% of the vote ahead of Southampton’s home tie against a Bournemouth backline that’s conceded ten times in the last two Gameweeks. The 8.4-priced forward netted for the Saints in midweek and has not gone longer than two starts without delivering attacking returns this campaign. The favourable nature of Southampton’s match-up also brings Sadio Mane (4%) – who’s carded three goals in four starts – into the captain conversation.
Harry Kane (10%) lies in third place in the wake of his hat-trick against Bournemouth last time out. Spurs’ chief frontman will fancy his chances of scoring in successive matches for the first time this season, given that a home clash against Aston Villa – who’ve shipped eight goals in their previous quartet of road encounters – is next on the agenda.
Romelu Lukaku rounds off the top five with 5% of the vote. The Belgian marksman tallied five goals through a ten-match stretch that included eight of last season’s top 10 sides, so he’s well placed to flourish as Everton embark on a favourable run through to the New Year. First up is a home clash against Sunderland, who shipped 12 goals in their last five away fixtures.
Alexis Sanchez (5%) slips down the rankings following his blank against Everton last weekend. The 11.6-priced midfielder has netted six goals in his last four starts and is pitted against a Swansea City defence that’s earned just one clean sheet since Gameweek 3.
Jamie Vardy (3%) and Eden Hazard (2%) are closely contesting the lower spots in our top 10, despite their conflicting form. The former has chalked up nine goals in his last seven starts but could be thwarted by a West Bromwich Albion outfit that has recorded five shut-outs in their previous seven. The latter, meanwhile, has just one goal and two assists to his name as the Blues prepare to lock horns with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
