Our pre-Gameweek members article, which focuses on the main captaincy contenders arrives once again tonight. 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
This week’s Poll is something of a landslide, with Sergio Aguero’s return to form persuading just under 49% of voters to back the City frontman as West Ham pay visit. In spite of his double at Old Trafford, it’s fair to say the Argentine has toiled in front of his own fans this term – he’s netted in just four of his 12 Etihad appearances, with only one double-digit haul (albeit a monster 19-point return) at home all season. With Big Sam’s men conceding in all but one of their road trips, David Silva (3% votes) looks a real differential candidate, having served up 37 points (17, 11, 9) in his last three Etihad showings.
Palace duo Glenn Murray (17%) and Yannick Bolasie (5%) are amongst the most-favoured options as Alan Pardew’s side look for a fifth straight win this weekend. Six goals and four assists in his last six highlights Murray’s sublime form, with the 5.2-priced striker racking up three successive double-figure hauls ahead of the Baggies’ visit. Bolasie’s 24-point return at Sunderland has kick-started an almighty bandwagon – over 88,000 FPL managers have snapped up the midfielder, who has now delivered three goals and four assists in his previous four. Bearing in mind that the Baggies have shipped ten in their last three, Tony Pulis could struggle upon his return to Selhurst Park.
Harry Kane is just ahead of Eden Hazard (7% to 6%), despite his recent patchy form. Three blanks in the last four have diminished his armband appeal but a trip to Newcastle looks the ideal opportunity to return to scoring form – four of Kane’s seven double-figure hauls have been on the road this term. The Magpies have just two clean sheets in 20 league fixtures now and look unlikely to improve upon that record, judging by their insipid display at Liverpool on Monday night.
Hazard’s home encounter with United has deterred many. With a goal or assist in five of his last six, there’s no doubt the Chelsea winger is one of the most consistent options around, though it’s worth nothing that he’s scored in just one of his last seven at Stamford Bridge. Given that the visitors have just two clean sheets in their last six road trips – at QPR and Newcastle – Jose Mourinho’s men will be confident of getting amongst the goals on Saturday evening.
Elsewhere, the likes of Leighton Baines and Romelu Lukaku sit around the 1% mark as Everton entertain Burnley. The Toffees have four clean sheets in five at Goodison and with Sean Dyche’s side scoring once in the last six, a clean sheet, at least, looks on the card for the Merseysiders.
