This week’s Captain’s Poll remains an interesting affair – while we have a clear leader, with a range of Fantasy heavyweights recovering from injury and/or up against beatable opponents, the Fantasy Premier League skipper decision is far from straightforward. Several of the big names have the potential to “explode” – only by placing the armband correctly can you avoid the flak. Let’s take a look at our top five ticking Fantasy bombs…
Wayne Rooney
While Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov battle for that second striking spot (one that the diminutive Mexican is currently winning) Wayne Rooney has built up the level of his performance enough to see him firmly entrenched as the leader of our poll.
Man United will be welcoming Bolton this weekend and with the defence missing the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, the onus will be on United to score at least a couple – something they manage quite well at Old Trafford. With five goals in his last six games, the returning thoughts of the Bonus Point judges and the soft cushion of a penalty, Rooney’s backers – 24% on the last count – look well positioned.
Rafael Van Der Vaart
As fragile as Cesc Fabregas in the hamstring department, Van der Vaart is nonetheless [seemingly] fit right now and looks set to welcome Avram Grant’s Hammers into his backyard this weekend. A strong 15% of those polled are going with the Dutchman, with high hopes pinned on his knack of popping up on the end of Peter Crouch knockdowns and his role at set-plays and penalties.
Robin Van Persie
Van Persie is penalty taker number three at the top ranks of our poll and, with Arsenal now focused on the league and up against a side deep in a relegation battle (West Brom), the Dutchman looks another good option for heavy returns. So far, 14% of those polled are backing the Gunners striker to pick up right where he left off (scoring 16,15,7, 12, 13) before his season was derailed by another injury setback.
Ashley Young
Missing a penalty and scoring nil-points away at Bolton last gameweek hasn’t deterred 9% of our poll voters ahead of Aston Villa’s derby clash with Wolves. Now revelling in his role “in the hole” after years on the flanks, Young has become integral to Villa’s attacking play and again, is another good option for set-piece involvement – he might even stay on spot-kicks.
Luis Nani
After his ‘miraculous’ recovery from the “Carragash” sustained in United’s painful loss at Anfield, we have seen votes gradually trickle the way of the Portuguese winger in the last few days. With a record at Old Trafford that would make even Cristiano Ronaldo proud (yeah, he’s not that good… but he’s been pretty damn good) Nani is another who can easily deliver a double figure return – and he doesn’t even need penalties to pull it off.
Following this “Famous Five” we have a cast of confident also-rans that include the likes of Frank Lampard at home to Manchester City (he bagged a brace in the same fixture last season) following an 18 point haul at Blackpool, Darren Bent is up against the obliging Wolves defence, while Gareth Bale who is looking to make his first start for Spurs on his own road to recovery following some back trouble. All three are gathering votes at pace and the battle for the armband rumbles on.
The Captain’s Poll will close early tomorrow morning so be sure to register your vote prior to the gate swinging shut. Head back to the frontpage and do the business. Will you be the manager to give Fernando Torres his fifteenth vote?
