Friday afternoon continues with our usual pre-Gameweek members article, as we cast an eye over the captaincy conundrum ahead of the weekend’s five fixtures. As always, we analyse the Opta data for the main contenders and assess the team statistics and Rate My Team’s reckoning, before rounding off with our opinion on the current poll standings in light of the data analysis, including our view on differential captains.
The Captain Poll
Once again, Sergio Aguero is the clear leader in our poll. After bagging a brace in City’s 4-0 thrashing of Villa, the Argentine has collected over 56% of the votes cast ahead of a trip to a Norwich side that’s shipped 12 goals in their last four at Carrow Road.
Somewhat surprisingly, Harry Kane has been earmarked by just 20% for a trip to Villa. The Tottenham frontman has netted four times in his last quartet of road trips and is now up against a dire defence that’s conceded 15 times in four and have one foot in the Championship.
Below that duo, Riyad Mahrez (7%) and Jamie Vardy (5%) are shaping us as major armband differentials for Leicester’s home encounter with a Newcastle outfit that’s lost six on the bounce away from home. Whilst Vardy has struggled for returns of late, with a goal and assist in five, Mahrez has stepped up his consistency and produced points in five of the last seven Gameweeks, including an 11-point haul at Watford last time out.
Beyond them, the likes of Josh King, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Christian Eriksen, David Silva and Dele Alli are have the potential to spring a surprise, with 2% or less backing so far.
Are these current standings backed by the underlying statistics?
Let’s start breaking down the player and team data for their respective last four matches and shed a little more light on the situation.
