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What the Bookies, Form and Fixtures Say – Gameweek 10 Captaincy

Last week I took a look at Captaincy Options for Gameweek 9 taking into account odds, fixture and form.

For the third week in a row this method correctly predicted the best captaincy option among the names flagged up, with Romelu Lukaku’s assist proving enough to prevail in what was admittedly a poor week for many armband favourites.

REFINING THE ODDS

For this method I take six popular captaincy options and rank them 1-6 according to their likelihood to score according to the bookies. I then give the same 1-6 ranking according to the difficulty of the fixture, which is worked out using goals conceded, big chances conceded and goal attempts in box conceded from the last four games.

I then apply the same ranking to form, looking at points per game, goals and assists over the last four games.

I understand that the odds segment can sometimes heavily outweigh others (e.g. Aguero is always likely to be low odds for scoring) so the fixtures and form elements could be used separately if you so wished.

With that in mind let’s take a look at Gameweek 10’s results.

Odds

RankPlayerOddsImplied Probability %
 1.Ibrahimovic17/2054.05
 2.Aguero10/1152.38
 3.5Sanchez19/2051.28
 3.5Lukaku19/2051.28
 5.CostaEVS50.00
 6.Coutinho17/1037.04

Fixture

RankPlayerFixtureGoals ConcededBig Chances ConcededGoal Attempts in box concededTotal
1.Ibrahimovic(BUR) 5 75163
2.Sanchez(sun) 7 44758
3.Aguero(wba)574052
4.5Lukaku(WHM)483446
4.5Coutinho(cpl)773246
6.Costa(sot)222630

Form

RankPlayerPPGGoalsAssists
1.Coutinho7.522
2.Sanchez6.2512
3.Costa621
4.Lukaku5.7521
5.Aguero3.7520
6.Ibrahimovic1.500

Results

RankPlayerOddsFixtureFormTotalTotal Rank without odds factored in
1.Sanchez3.5227.51st
2.Ibrahimovic11683rd
3.Aguero235104th
4.Coutinho64.5111.52nd
5.Lukaku3.54.54125th
6.Costa563146th

Taking odds, fixture and form into account, Alexis Sanchez is the most likely to deliver attacking returns this Gameweek with Zlatan Ibrahimovic a close second. Sanchez also leads the way without odds factored into the equation too.

Those who have remained faithful to Ibrahimovic may consider him for the armband as Burnley top the charts for goal attempts in the box conceded.

Diego Costa sits bottom in both rankings as Southampton’s defensive resolve continues with an impressively low two goals conceded in the last four gameweeks.

39 Comments Post a Comment
  1. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Three out of three success rate is something we can't ignore. You're starting to persuade me to go for Sanchez now for (c).

    Thanks for posting. Looks great with the tables. 🙂

    1. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      That is because Wally is not included 😉

      1. J0E
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Yep. Walcott has the far better recent stats. But Sanchez has that habit of bringing in huge pts hauls against terrible teams away from home. And Sunderland are truly awful.

    2. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Very good read and the stats and success rate seem awesome. Might have to switch from Kaku to Sanch.

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Bit of a reply fail but goes here too.

  2. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Where's Wally?

    1. Swanremainsthesame
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Not on the page
      or the pitch

  3. devils advocate
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Nice work.

    Sanchez it is then (it was always going to be him anyway 😉 ).

  4. Individual
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Great post.

    I'm still probably going Lukaku. Just to help all other Sanchez captainers finally get a return. Hate early captain (irrationally) and fancy kaku to get 2-3 vs. west ham!

  5. Slartibartfast
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Makes me feel more confident about going with Zlatan as captain this week, but also worried that I don't own Sanchez, so I guess those two cancel out and I feel the same as I did before I read the article.

    Still enjoyed it, though.

    Thanks YMA, great post. Hope they continue.

  6. Mr. Blonde
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Any Deeney love?!

    1. Seahawk
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      50/50 between Sanchez and Deeney for me

  7. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    The Burnley stats make me want Heaton more than Zlatan 😀

  8. SAY SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    I'm captaining Walcott. Same fixture as Sanchez, obviously, but better form. Goalscorer odds surely not that much longer either.

  9. Krul Runnings
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Good job on the formatting guys. Much better.

    Well done YMA & Jonty.

  10. That Fantasy Guy
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    I have the top 4 of that list. So hard to choose between ibra and sanchez (c). Great article

  11. KDF
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    This is exactly why I really want Sergio back on form, easy captain choice

    I have swapped my captain so much already this week and now I am thinking back to San(c)hez

  12. GRIMANDI [formerly boring M…
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Great stuff. Think that has confirmed Sanchez for me.... Must say its funny you haven't followed your own articles when it comes to selecting your captain each week

  13. Toonmad
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    anyone else captaining Deeney?

    1. Ballz
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      considering...

  14. Darklord_bg
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    So, Kun or Alexis for captain this week?

    Sanchez seems to be the logical choice, but Kun and CIty are due for a big victory and WBA seems to be a good match for that.

  15. jonnoinnit
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Great work again - thanks!

    Whose odds are you using out of interest? Want to see if I can apply the same methodology across my current front 7...

  16. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Just an idea with the odds section. Rather than listing the Implied Prob. %, you could list the amount of cash is needed to win £100. People would then realise now huge a difference there is between say 4/6, and 6/4 ie £150, and £66.66.

  17. LakhaneeFC
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Is anyone considering Deeney or Holebas as a captain option this week?

    With Hull seemingly the whipping boys, this might be a very successful punt - wanted to see if the idea has any merit?

  18. A.T
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing.

  19. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Great work YMA. Be great to work out points possibilities for the rampaging defenders like Holeobas, Bellerin. They have a great headstart with cleansheet potential.

  20. dcarlito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Great article, keep up the good work 🙂

  21. Econ Man
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Given this you would definitely like to captain Sanchez, since he is a midfielder, and because he is more likely to get an assist. Must admit I'm slightly surprised the market thinks a Sanchez goal is that likely. My own model has him at something like 1/3 (for 1 goal or more), and it loves Sanchez (rates him as the best FPL player). Wouldn't second guess the market though.

      1. Get up ya bum
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        His popularity effects the odds. They do it to minimise risk

    • HNI
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Fact of Matter#

      Lukaku has scored in all of last 9 matches vs Westham since he joined Everton
      Sanchez 2 in last 6 h2h matches

      Make of that what you will But now I aint that confident of Sanchez (c)

    • Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Great article, thanks! Have a feeling in my waters that Sanchez is the one to back this week, especially with Walcott being a risk and Giroud / Ramsey up Wenger's sleeve. Glad to see that confirmed here.

      Sanchez(c) for me.

    • COYS Down Under
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Still sticking to Alli. Solid as a rock.

    • BillyDawson97
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Which one do I go with?
      Walcott and aguero out
      Ali and Ibra or lukaku in?

      Or stick with aguero and captain Sanchez?

    • J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      YMA - you've nailed the captaincy selection four gwks in a row now.

      Time to hand back Biff's Sports Almanac I think. 😉

      1. Your Mum's Athletic
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        😆 it's going alright isn't it! 🙂

    • John t penguin
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      well done YMA, convinced me to go sanchez over firmino

      1. Your Mum's Athletic
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Giggity