Captain Sensible – Gameweek 27

Our usual pre-Gameweek member’s article arrives this Friday evening, as we dive into the data to help with your armband conundrum.

With Manchester City and Stoke City the only two teams to play twice in this round of fixtures, it’s something of an understatement to suggest that all roads point to the Etihad Stadium after a rampant City netted ten times in their last pair of matches under Pep Guardiola.

The Captain Poll

Having racked up four goals and a pair of assists in his last two appearances across all competitions, Sergio Aguero is the overwhelming favourite with over 69% of the votes cast.

Considering that the Argentine delivered 22 points against Sunderland and Stoke over the first two Gameweeks of the season, it’s easy to see why some are planning to throw their Triple Captain chip his way for Gameweek 27.

City pair Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane offer in-form, if somewhat less explosive, alternatives.

Favoured by 10%, Sterling is the most consistent City option around, with a goal or assist in eight of his last ten league outings. Yet with just one double-digit haul since Gameweek 5, can he really emerge from Sergio’s shadow?

Sane has produced four goals and three assists in his last seven starts across all competitions. Handed the full 90 minutes in each of City’s last four Gameweeks, the German has quashed any concerns over his pitch time after finally settling in his new surrounds.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads the single Gameweek players with a mere 4% backing.

The veteran kept his tally ticking over with six goals in four appearances since United’s last league match and could barely have a more favourable fixture as Bournemouth roll up to Old Trafford. Given that the Cherries have shipped at least two goals in nine of their last 11 away matches, Ibrahimovic owners can be confident of another haul.

Harry Kane and Gylfi Sigurdsson muster just 2% of the votes ahead of home encounters with Everton and Burnley respectively.

The Spurs’ frontman has returned seven goals and 43 FPL points in his last three at the Lane, but with the Toffees conceding a mere three goals in their last five road trips, our enthusiasm is understandably curbed. Kane will be assessed tomorrow but is expected to recover from a knock to face Ronald Koeman’s defence.

Second only to Sterling when it comes to transfers in among midfielders this week, Sigurdsson has produced points in six of seven league outings under new head coach, Paul Clement, and faces a defence with a single clean sheet on their travels this term.

Diego Costa collects just 1% of the votes as Chelsea make their way to West Ham.

With just one goal in his last five away appearances, though, the Blues’ forward faces a near-impossible task to convince us of his armband merits.

Alexis Sanchez is, for once, deemed surplus to requirements with a mere 0.6% backing ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool.

Up against a defence with one clean sheet in seven, the Chilean has already bagged eight double-figure tallies, with five of his 10+ points hauls arriving on the road.