The Captain’s Poll this week is unsurprisingly dominated by the Double Gameweek candidates with the pull of two fixtures in a Gameweek proving as strong as ever. Where does your armband go though? Follow us in an orderly manner as we run the rule over the most polled players so far…
Nani
Pros
- He’s selected by 39% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers and is leading our poll on 45%.
- If you’re a Nani owner, then selecting him as captain is without doubt the safety first option.
- He’s got a proven track record that has him ranked as the top scoring midfielder in FPL and he also has the highest Points Per Game (7) that’s a nice little profit if he can return on par.
- There’s also the small matter that he is at home to Birmingham and away to Blackpool this week – pretty obliging opponents by all accounts.
Cons
- Is the safe option best for you? If you’ve a lead to make up, skippering Nani may not hand you the opportunity to make up ground. Are you better backing a differential or a hunch?
- Seeing Nani skulk off on 60 minutes (his first league substitution in four months) after an anonymous performance at Spurs last week was a little worrying. Not the reassurance required ahead of a double fixture.
Wayne Rooney
Pros
- The words Wayne Rooney and double Gameweek brings back all sorts of memories for Fantasy Managers, namely the 32 points he served up the last time a United double arrived.
- Selected by 12% of FPL teams means he’s a “safe differential”. He’ll provide an alternative choice to the many thousands backing Nani, but doesn’t present the same kind gamble that say, a punt on Damien Duff would offer.
- Taking penalties and the odd set-piece means that Rooney has the opportunity to pick up points even on an off day.
Cons
- He’s only just back from injury and could lead to extra concern over his pitch time, be it an early substitution or a bold call by Alex Ferguson to give someone like Javier Hernandez a start instead.
- His performances this season have been sporadically ranging from the Rooney of old to the Rooney of New York Red Bulls. There’s also some doubt over his role – could he drift out wide or come too deep over these two games to be effective as a Fantasy prospect?
- The Bonus Point judges haven’t been too fond so far this season.
Fernando Torres
Pros
- King Kenny is now in charge and the signs are that he may start to get the best out of one of the world’s most potent strikers.
- Despite beating Liverpool to nil just a few weeks ago, the head to head of Torres vs the Wolves centre-backs shows clear positive signs. Following that, Fulham make their way to Anfield with a record of one away victory in over one and a half seasons.
- Torres is “one of those” strikers who can 2/3/4 goals at the drop of the hat with no regard for how a game is going (he single-handedly beat Chelsea back in October). If he’s in the mood in both games, a mammoth score could follow.
- Steven Gerrard is absent for the first fixture but Torres will have his sparring partner back for the home clash with Fulham.
Cons
- He’s not exactly living up to expectations. Improved performances are a nice sign but Fantasy Managers need returns, not just shots on goal
- Torres has already played more minutes this season than last, yet he only has 7 goals compared to the 18 notched in 09/10.
- Scoring is obviously Torres’ game so it almost goes without saying, but if he doesn’t grab a goal your points returns are almost inevitably going to be low. He won’t be a big provider of assists and if he draws a blank, you can surely forget Bonus returns.
- The petulant yellow card is always a fear with Senor Torres.
Dimitar Berbatov
Pros
- Feast – Berbatov has already knocked in a brace, a hat-trick and even 5 goals in a game this season. He may well have another explosive burst of scoring in him.
- His 29% FPL ownership hardly presents a differential, but Berbatov will still provide a tempting alternative to Nani backers, with just 7% of those polled so far favouring the Bulgarian.
Cons
- Famine – he’s prone to this too. If Berbatov drew a blank across both matches, it wouldn’t come as any great surprise to even his most ardent admirers.
- Alex Ferguson has shown he is willing to drop/rotate Berbatov if he sees fit – he even dropped him to the bench immediately after his 5 goals against Blackburn. Do you dare give the armband to Berbatov with the worry he will only to play at home to Birmingham this week and sit out the Blackpool trip?
Charlie Adam
Pros
- Have you ever met a harvester of Bonus Points before? Charlie Adam could come away from this Gameweek with 12 points without even notching a goal or assist. The judiciaries of these awards just love the Scottish playmaker.
- He certainly is a differential when it comes to captain selection with only 3% favour based on our polling so far.
- He is a complete set-piece dominator be it penalty or corner. Alongside David Vaughan, he is the heartbeat of the Blackpool side and is invariably involved in attacks, be it supplying the opportunities for his forwards or firing in an audacious long range attempt himself.
Cons
- Blackpool will be facing two of the sterner defences (Sunderland and United) this Gameweek; even Ian Holloway’s swashbuckling wave of orange may struggle to find the net and that could limit Adam’s returns.
And then those were just the leading five candidates (all double Gameweek players); the likes of Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas at home to Wigan could just as easily match or better any of these options. Carlos Tevez always threatens double fixtures, and then peripheral poll choices like DJ Campbell, Charles N’Zogbia and Nemanja Vidic could prove to be inspired picks for the rare few gamblers.
If you haven’t placed your bets yet, then head on back to the frontpage and mark your ballot, then share your views with your Fantasy Manager peers right here.
