From now on, we’re shifting our Captain Sensible article to a Thursday evening slot, giving you more time to assess the data on offer. Once again, we roll out a three-part approach, which takes in the weekly poll standings, the Opta statistics and our Rate My Team projections to help steer your thoughts on the Captain conundrum.
For the second section, we’ve reverted back to the formula from the end of last season, creating our own custom tables from the Members area and looking at player and team statistics over the last four matches as a gauge of form.
Captain Poll
Unsurprisingly, it’s one-way traffic in this week’s Captain Poll as Chelsea prepare for a home encounter with Villa. After serving up a 17-point return in his previous appearance at the Bridge, Diego Costa has been nominated by 55% of the voters so far, with Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas persuading just 1% of Fantasy managers that they’re worthy of the armband.
A goal and assist in each of his last two appearances makes United’s Angel di Maria second only to Costa – 11% have given the Argentine the nod, with 2% opting for Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao. Despite netting against Leicester last weekend, Robin van Persie has been selected by less than 1% ahead of the home clash against West Ham – an indication, if ever, of our collective loss of faith in the Dutchman’s capabilities.
Southampton’s Graziano Pelle is also highly fancied, with over 7% giving him the nod. The Italian, who has delivered three goals and an assist in his last three, entertains a QPR side that has conceded four goals in both away matches under Harry Redknapp so far. Five goals in as many matches brings Leicester’s Leonardo Ulloa into consideration as he travels to Palace – the Argentine has been selected by 3%, the same as compatriot Sergio Aguero, for City’s visit to Hull.
