The Captain’s poll is about to go into overdrive over the festive period as Gameweeks seamlessly merge into one. We’ve got Gameweek 19 looming tomorrow morning, before the next creeps up on us almost immediately after squad lockdown.
Here’s a quick stroll through this week’s key candidates; the next poll will be go live on Sunday so keep your wits about you…
Nani
Runaway leader, at the time of writing, Nani is now one of the most reliable Fantasy performers available; it’s not something we haven’t said [many] times before but it still is a surprising ascent for the Portuguese winger given his previous inconsistencies. United have a home fixture against a Sunderland side who are scratching around to find centre-backs these days which helps to make Nani a clear favourite. With an average return of 9.3 points a game on the right wing at Old Trafford, it’s easy to see why.
Tim Cahill
Cahill and Everton play at home against less than steady travelers Birmingham on Boxing Day – it seems almost inevitable that we’ll see our Antipodean friend make one or more trips to the corner flag for his now familiar goal celebration. Cahill is a man on fire, with 9 Premier League goals (his highest tally in the last 5 years at least) already this season, he bears the brunt of the goalscoring responsibilities for David Moyes’ side. How they will miss him in January.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is slowly creeping back onto our Fantasy radar but needs a strong Gameweek to convince the masses. With Nani so much more popular as a selection in the United attack, it would be a huge feat for him to top our poll but he’s still got plenty of backers ahead of the Sunderland game. Despite the fact he hasn’t scored in open play since March, is yet to catch the eye of the FPL Bonus Point judges and has taken to missing spot-kicks, he will always pose a threat. His owners will be relishing the prospect of the Rooney differential coming good against Sunderland.
The rest…
A whole raft of players follow in the wake of the leading three with Fernando Torres the closest to nip at the heels, as he hopes he’ll get to play at Bloomfield Road and pick a pocket or two in the Blackpool defence. Rafael Van Der Vaart is fit again and faces an Aston Villa defence that has been as steady as Bambi on the booze, while Carlos Tevez remains a prospect at Newcastle now his short-term future at City seems settled.
His solid form, which Mark has hinted could improve further, means Morten Gamst Pedersen is also scrapping along as a “differential” selection. A few weeks ago a home tie for Bolton would have had Fantasy Managers salivating, the bubble, at least as far as the armband goes, seems to have well and truly burst in a case of once bitten, twice shy as Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander struggle to attract votes.
If you’ve not yet placed down your marker in our poll, get to the frontpage and let us know who’ll be getting a Captain’s armband in their stocking this year. The poll will close at midnight tonight; pumpkins optional.
