Captains

Captain Poll – Gameweek 26

More time, fewer players: the captaincy decision for Gameweek 26 is somewhat unique.

While the Premier League takes a weekend off to concentrate on the FA Cup, our latest poll has to make do without assets from EFL Cup finalists Southampton and Manchester United, as well as their respective league opponents Arsenal and Manchester City.

This could hand Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (10.2) and Diego Costa (10.5) an opportunity to compete for the summit, as they prepare to welcome a resurgent Swansea City to Stamford Bridge.

While the Swans are much improved under Paul Clement, they have still mustered just a single clean sheet and conceded nine goals in his five matches in charge.

Costa’s strong track record against the Welsh side could also weigh in his favour: he’s scored seven goals against them over three seasons.

As mentioned in last night’s Stock Check, however, Costa’s form is coming into question: he’s delivered a modest three goals over his last eight Gameweek starts.

Hazard’s remarkable home record perhaps edges him above the striker in the armband pecking order, with five of the Belgian’s six double-digit hauls arriving on home turf.

The pair of Blues assets are owned by around a third of FPL managers.

Pedro (6.9), who found the net against Burnley on Sunday, is another Chelsea player that enjoys home comforts, with three of his five double-figure returns arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Having torn into a hapless Bournemouth in his previous home outing, Romelu Lukaku (9. 9) will surely be heavily backed for the visit of an erratic Sunderland defence.

The Black Cats earned a surprise 4-0 away victory against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 24, but were sunk 2-0 at West Brom in their previous road trip, and shipped four without reply at home to Southampton on Saturday.

Ross Barkley (7.1), who scored and earned an assist in the 6-3 rout of Eddie Howe’s side in Gameweek 24, could also attract attention.

Liverpool look to be the other prime source of captaincy candidates as they prepare to visit a Leicester City side in freefall.

The Foxes have shipped nine goals in their last four league encounters and last kept a clean sheet back in Gameweek 20.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s troops look resurgent following the return of winger Sadio Mane (9.2) from the Africa Cup of Nations. A quick-fire brace against Spurs on Saturday evening should establish him as the favoured Reds option over team-mates Philippe Coutinho (8.2) and Roberto Firmino (8.4).

The Brazilian pair have 13 goals between them this term, but Firmino has registered returns in just two of his previous seven Gameweek starts, while Coutinho’s last goal was back in Gameweek 11.

However, it should be noted that as mentioned in our recent Stock Check and this report, there’s a possibility that Liverpool may yet miss their Gameweek 26 fixture should Millwall take Leicester City to a replay in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

With a four-man defence favoured in the absence of the injured Danny Rose, the Spurs attack has struggled of late. Since the left-back hobbled off away to Sunderland in Gameweek 23, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have scored just once.

While this may temper interest in their key attacking assets Harry Kane (11.2), Dele Alli (8.8) and Christian Eriksen (8.7), a home clash against Stoke City could yet revive their stock. On the road, the Potters have conceded 21 goals, keeping just two clean sheets.

West Brom’s Chris Brunt (5.1) must rank among the top differential armband options on offer. He faces a home tie against the league’s most obliging defence when Bournemouth pay visit.

The injury-ravaged Cherries rearguard has shipped 13 goals in their last four matches ahead of a meeting with Manchester City tonight. Meanwhile, Brunt has served up 61 FPL points, including three double-digit hauls, in his last seven Hawthorns matches.

The Irishman’s strong track record is likely to give him the edge over Baggies striker Salomon Rondon (6.7), who last scored in Gameweek 16, and winger Matt Phillips (5.9), who will be looking to avoid his sixth successive blank.

Hull City’s Oumar Niasse (5.6) is another potential punt. With Abel Hernandez sidelined, the Everton loanee will be relied upon as a source of goals in the forthcoming Gameweeks, starting with their home encounter with Burnley. The Clarets remain a travel-sick side, shipping 24 goals and earning a solitary shut out on the road.

Harry Maguire (4.4) may well be another candidate among the Hull’s ranks, providing the promise of points at both ends of the pitch.

The Clarets attack has scored a mere five times on the road, while Maguire boasts more goal attempts than any other defender since he gained regular starts in Gameweek 15.

The Captain Poll is now live in the middle column on your homepage on desktop, or via the slide-in menu on mobile and tablet under recent comments.

We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later ahead of next week’s deadline when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

653 Comments Post a Comment
  1. martyhan
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Best Jones replacement? Have 5.2 to spend
    Defence is
    Heaton jaku
    Brunt Alonso Jones Dann Coleman

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Mawson

  2. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    People shipping Arsenal, Man Utd and City assets before knowing the fallout of the FA Cup fixtures is absolute madness.

    If you've shipped Sanchez for Mane and Chelsea go out the cup and Liverpool blank in GW28, you're gonna wish you held off to get Haz.

    If you can already field 11 in GW26 you needn't be making transfers right now unless you're bringing in players guaranteed to play in GW28.

    The focus atm should not be on maximizing points in GW26 but planning to have 11 players starting in GW28. If you're discontent with Siggy's fixture away to Chelsea or your Stoke assets at Spurs, realise that this far-from-perfect-reality is nothing compared to only having 8 players (or fewer) to field in GW28.

    1. Rh4ziel
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      +1

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      So if Hazard scores a brace at home to Swansea and you have him captain, what then? Likewise Mané.

      There is no right/wrong way. Play it safe or take a risk. Simples.

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        There are sensible risks and there are foolish risks.

        If you want to put all your eggs in one basket then that's what you should do.

    3. Jersey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      of course it's better to wait until after the FA fixtures this weekend, but shipping Arsenal assets is not absolute madness, especially if you do it for players who play both 26 & 28 and have no games until then . . . Barkley or Siggy, for instance. some people will be frozen out of such a move by a Sanchez drop or a Siggy rise.

      both Arsenal and Leicester have to lose for their GW28 fixture to take place, and Arsenal play Sutton Utd. rather than be frozen out of Sanchez to Siggy, i'd take my chances.

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Like I said, the only transfers being made at the moment should be for those guaranteed to play in GW28. Shipping Sanchez for siggy is a sensible move in my opinion. Shipping Sanchez for Haz/Mane/Alli is very risky.

        1. Jersey
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          ahhh.

          sorry, i missed that in your post.

          ok then, i agree.

      2. My Name Is Prince
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Can't be frozen out by a Sanchez drop or Siggy/Barkley rise lol

        1. Jersey
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          you can if you habe 0 itb and plan to buy Sanchez back again, or the point move would require a second move

          1. Jersey
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            *have*

          2. My Name Is Prince
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Yes, but still it's wiser to wait, one can plan getting Sanchez back later with two moves as well...

  3. LakhaneeFC
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez vs Ibra

    Assuming most of the teams have both of them, I think it makes sense to drop one for the next 3 GWs – it’s wayyyyy too much money on the bench, even if you can field 9+ players for the upcoming blank

    For me, it has to be Sanchez, and here’s my reasoning:

    Arsenal next 5 fixtures:
    GW 26: Blank
    GW 27: Liverpool
    GW 28: Blank (mostly)
    GW 29: West Brom
    GW 30: Man City

    United next 5:
    GW 26: Blank
    GW 27: Bournemouth
    GW 28: Blank (mostly)
    GW 29: Middlesbrough
    GW 30: West Brom

    The Liv game in the middle and the City game at the end are major reasons for concern. If you want to keep someone that expensive on the bench for 2 GWs, you would want him to make up for it in the remaining – by captaining him. With Sanchez, you really only can do that for the West Brom game

    Plus, considering the fact that Sanchez will mostly also start on the wings if Giroud/Welbeck get a run in, while Ibra is a guaranteed starter and the attacking focus of the team, losing Sanchez over Ibra becomes a no-brainer

    Finally, you have a very good differential captain pick in Ibra for Bournemouth (in between Lukaku captaincy picks)

    TL;DR: Lose Sanchez, keep Ibra

    Would love to know your thoughts on this!

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      For me it comes down to your team, number of players you have for blank weeks and their positions, and the alternative options. This leaves me with two choices to make;

      A) Ibra - Blank, BOU
      B) Costa - SWA, whm

      1) Sanchez - Blank, liv
      2) Hazard/Mane/Anyone else

      Costa wins that H2H easily, so I am already set on losing Ibra. The second is less clear. I'd like to think Hazard, but he's just not cutting it at the moment. The fact that there is no clear choice for me, unlike Ibra > Costa, makes me hesitant to ditch.

      1. LakhaneeFC
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks for the reply! Makes a lot of sense.

        I already have Costa, so I brought in Lukaku for Sanchez - which gives me a clear run for both the blanks in terms of strikers

        In the mid, the idea is to lose Alli/Eriksen for assets once we are clear on who else i blanking in GW 28

    2. Sess!
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Lots are keeping both, but I think there's decent logic in ditching Sanchez short term like you say. Let's be honest, they're guaranteed to blank gw28.

      1. LakhaneeFC
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        They should, right?

        The only concern I have is that I want to be able to buy him back later on, considering he will have DGWs

  4. ROOTY7
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    This Hebknut really is going to win it isnt he? Hardly ever seems to have a bad GW, and even if they are they arent disastrous.

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Consistant without taking hits.

    2. Ephurion
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      GW 28 could hurt him, though, with that team. His gap might be almost gone in that GW alone, and he has no TC/BB chips left.

      1. It's his Job.
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        W/C

      2. ROOTY7
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        If he keeps going the way he is, them chips wont matter as his lead will be too big.

    3. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Hope so. Cool guy that only just started to play fpl this season seriously, last season he quit midway. Been on a couple of norwegian podcasts, one of them have subtitles (think it is called gameweek)

  5. It's his Job.
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Play Mawson? or Chambers? with Coleman Brunt Alonso as back 4

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Chambers

  6. Kings of Lyon ★
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    @Lawro Good game. H2H was so bloody close. Watching Burnley Chelsea was tough

    1. ROOTY7
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Saw your frustration on twitter when Sanchez got that pen.. i also felt your pain 🙁

      1. Kings of Lyon ★
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Aye, it was a rollercoaster of emotions 🙂

    2. Lawrø
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Congrats mate 😀

      That Burnley-Chelsea game was upsetting... I'm quite happy it didn't come down to Brunt not getting that assist though then I would've been angry! I have some catching up to do now but by no means throwing in the towel 😉

      1. Kings of Lyon ★
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you. Looks like you against David next GW too. I dont fancy my chances in my tie so its all to play for 🙂

        1. Lawrø
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Thank you for a cracking tie! Both will end up on 60pts or above 😀

  7. Unbelievable Jeff!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Best upgrade for Amat:
    a) Maguire
    b) Mawson
    c) Chambers
    or another for £4.5m or less? (already have WBA cover)

    1. mogadishu
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I like Maguire, he's due some goals

  8. mogadishu
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Whats everyones thoughts on Ibra --> Lukaku ? Scared to go without Kaku but can't help but feel it seems a bit sideways considering Ibra's GW27 captain potential. Other striker is Kane.

  9. thisisdiz
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Mignolet
    Coleman baines walker alonso
    Siggy phillips alli
    Lukaku costa carroll

    Bench : gibson, t. Carroll, sanchez

    0.7 itb, 1 ft

    Keep ft? Wanna sell sanchez but for who? Or sell someone else?

  10. as33
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Hi, when is the best time to use WC? gw26 thinking to swap Sterling>Ericsen(Siggi), Ibra>Costa(Kane) sounds good?

    1. Darklord_bg
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      After GW28 for sure.

      To be more specific, after we get the complete schedule for the games rescheduled due to cup ties.

  11. Greek Flair
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like people are already pulling the trigger on Ibra and Sanchez then

    Ibra > 47k
    Sanchez > 23k

    I know theres value in waiting for the FA cup results, but in truth the results are a formality in this case? is it better to get your moves done now before the price changes. FFS had highlighted the lowest likelihood of a blankl as Middlesbrough beating Oxford at 83%

  12. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    I checked yesterday around this time and 37K people bought Gabbiadini

    Now it is 51K

    Zing

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Nutters!

  13. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Heaton, Randolph
    Alonso, Baines, Brunt, Friend, Amat
    Sanchez, Eriksen, Antonio, Phillips, de Roon
    Costa, Kane, Lukaku

    1ft, 2.1 itb.

    A) Friend -> Coleman (0.7 left itb)
    B) Amat -> Coleman (0.3 left itb)

    It makes sense to do this move before Coleman rises, right? He plays in 26 and 28, and especially Amat is ice cold on the bench.

  14. Crow
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    What's on with the mawson craze? OOP?

  15. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Stanislas to king or markovic?

    1. harvard
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Same dilema. Think going with markovic. He has been talked up a lot and the official site put him in their team. Plus hull have better fixtures.

      Who did u go with?? I'm yet to make the transfer so I might switch

  16. Gio Saade
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Lukaku, Ibra or Costa

    1. Gio Saade
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Lukaku, Kane or Costa*