This week’s Captain Poll is in full swing, collecting your votes in the middle column of the homepage now.
With over 900 votes already cast, the results are interesting once again. Wayne Rooney’s back-to-back hat-tricks are playing their part, keeping him right up there with Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie, despite the United man facing the Chelsea defence at Old Trafford. Clearly few are backing Andre Villas-Boas’ side to keep the relentless Rooney machine at bay.
Van Persie’s potential is undoubted – a trip to Ewood Park looks promising, even for an Arsenal side struggling to find fluidity and goals this season. The Dutchman does have form however, the midweek strike in Germany another reminder of his quality and with so much faith placed on Rooney and the Man City strikers, Van Persie currently looks an unlikely differential for those willing to take the punt.
City’s attacking assets are hard to ignore of course and, right now, the consistent brilliance of David Silva has carried him to third place in the poll. A trip to Craven Cottage to face a Fulham side that has stuttered out of the blocks and who face Europa League opponents tonight, looks a profitable one for Roberto Mancini’s side. Below Silva, it’s interesting that Edin Dzeko is currently edging team-mate Sergio Aguero in the poll. Both started against Napoli last night and it’s a tough call as to who will drop out to allow a likely recall for Carlos Tevez in Sunday’s game. Those burned by Dzeko in Gameweek four will be praying for the Italian’s teamsheet to fall their way.
Leighton Baines makes a welcome surge in our Fantasy thinking – his fixture against former club Wigan looks attractive and makes him nailed-on for Scout Pick selection. Fourth place in our poll is surprising for a defender but Baines proved last weekend against Villa that he can offer the kind of creative influence that many midfielders fail to produce. No player created more goalscoring opportunities than Baines in Gameweek four and the Latics defence looks to be there for the taking if, and it’s a big if, Baines’ team-mates can rise to the occasion and match the performance of the raiding left-back.
West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie and Liverpool’s Luis Suarez stand out as leftfield captain choices – both have undoubted quality but will need to produce on their travels to repay the faith. Odemwingie returned to the Baggies starting lineup in form at Carrow Road but the trip to Swansea will be testing – particularly if Brendan Rodgers’ side continue to retain possession as they have in their previous games. Suarez is a player who can produce against any opposition, but two consecutive blanks against Bolton and Stoke have dented the confidence and seen Fantasy sales of the Uruguayan. The next two Gameweeks could be crucial to his future in our Fantasy sqauds – fail to notch at Spurs or at home to Wolves in Gameweek six and we’re likely to see the transfers out increase markedly.
Bolton’s Martin Petrov is there as your real risk and reward option. The Bulgarian has been outstanding for Owen Coyle’s side this term and, despite talk of tweaks to the Trotters starting lineup, Petrov looks nailed on for a start. Norwich are at the Reebok and should afford Petrov opportunities to add to his blossoming Fantasy reputation this term.
Plenty of options – could this be the Gameweek that Rooney fails to return and creates a differential for those without the United striker? It will be interesting to see how confidence in Rooney develops as more votes roll in. Don’t forget to cast yours via the homepage before Saturday’s deadline.
