Our pre-Gameweek members article which focuses on the main captaincy contenders arrives once again this evening. As always, we take a three-part approach which includes the weekly poll standings, the Opta statistics and our Rate My Team projections to help steer your thoughts on the armband conundrum.
The Captain Poll
Harry Kane’s phenomenal recent form earns him top place in our Captain Poll. Having served up 18 points against Chelsea in his previous home match, over 34% have backed the Spurs forward to get amongst the goals again, though visitors Sunderland could prove stubborn opponents – Gus Poyet’s side have four clean sheets in their last five road trips.
Fit-again Sergio Aguero sits in second spot as City prepare for the visit of Arsenal. Despite being handed just 25 minutes off the bench last weekend, over 21% are confident the Argentine will wreak havoc against the Gunners as Manuel Pellegrini looks for a repeat of the display that saw City win 6-3 at the Etihad in the same fixture last season.
Chelsea pair Eden Hazard and Diego Costa have been selected by just 6% of voters for a trip to Swansea. As we mentioned in yesterday’s Frisking the Fixtures article, all eight of the Welsh side’s clean sheets have arrived against bottom-nine opposition, suggesting the league leaders will pose Garry Monk’s side problems aplenty as they look to retain their two-point advantage over City at the summit. Hazard has delivered a goal or assist in five of his last six – including back-to-back away strikes – though Costa’s form on the road is a worry, with a single goal in his previous five.
Somewhat surprisingly, the red-hot form of Alexis Sanchez has persuaded a mere 4% of voters to back him with the armband. City have conceded twice to Burnley and Sunderland in their last two at the Etihad and face a major task to keep the Chilean on the periphery this Sunday.
Angel Di Maria (5%) is the favoured United option for the trip to QPR. Harry Redknapp’s side are unbeaten in seven in front of their own fans, though, and won’t make it easy for the Argentine, who has managed a mere three assists in his last eight appearances. Wayne Rooney earns 3% of votes, yet has managed only goal and two assists away from Old Trafford all season.
Elsewhere, the likes of Raheem Sterling and Danny Ings have also persuaded 3% to hand them the armband ahead of showdowns with Villa and Palace respectively. The latter’s home comforts came to fruition against QPR last weekend and he’ll be looking for more of the same as the Eagles roll up to Turf Moor – Ings, impressively, has now returned points in seven of his last ten appearances.
