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
City’s home clash with Hull ensures Sergio Aguero is the runaway winner in this week’s Captain Poll. Despite failing to score in his last three league outings, the Argentine has been backed by a massive 67% of the voters so far as he squares up to a side that has lost four of their last five. Surprisingly, Aguero has drawn blanks in five of his seven home starts in the top-flight this term, though his 19-point haul against visitors Spurs in Gameweek 8 underlines his capabilities.
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard takes second as the league leaders roll up to Villa Park. Despite failing to score for the third successive Gameweek, the wide man earned an assist and maximum bonus in Saturday’s draw with City – having netted in two of his last three road trips, he’ll fancy his chances against a dire Villa side with a single goal in eight Gameweeks.
David Silva is further back on 4% – he’s struck three times in the previous four at the Etihad, though has blanked in each of the last two in front of his own fans as the champions struggle for cohesiveness without Yaya Toure. With Alexis Sanchez ruled out for Arsenal, though, Fantasy interest in the City playmaker has stepped up over the last few hours.
In-form north London rivals Harry Kane and Santi Cazorla are also in consideration ahead of Saturday lunchtime’s derby at the Lane. Eight goals in as many league matches sums up Kane’s outstanding recent displays but he’s drawn a blank in two of the last three in front of his own fans – the one exception, of course, being the 18-point monster haul against Chelsea on New Year’s Day. Encouragingly for his growing band of new owners, Cazorla, like Kane, has been more consistent on his travels – the little Spaniard has delivered returns in five of his last six away appearances.
Elsewhere, Daniel Sturridge leads a pack containing a number of Arsenal and Tottenham options. The Liverpool striker, along with team-mate Raheem Sterling and the likes of Christian Eriksen, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, looks a real differential option as the Reds make their way to Goodison.
