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15 January 2016 801 comments
Mark Mark
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Our weekly members article, focusing on the Gameweek captain conundrum, has undergone some minor surgery this week.

The structure remains the same but with added insight on the specifics involving those players and teams involved at the very top of our current Captain Poll.

We check in on Rate My Team’s reckoning as usual, before rounding off with our opinion on the current poll standings in the light of the data analysis, including our view on differential captains.

The Captain Poll

We’re currently witnessing an almighty tussle at the top of our Captain Poll, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Man City’s Sergio Aguero at loggerheads with 36% and 29% of the vote respectively.

Kane currently edges the duel ahead of Tottenham’s home tie with Sunderland, although the lead has swapped hands several times in the last 24 hours.

Dimitri Payet is riding a wave of confidence following his spectacular contribution to West Ham’s midweek victory at Bournemouth and that’s enough for him to be elevated to third in our poll. However, the Hammers’ playmaker earns just 9% of the vote, considerably less than the aforementioned strike duo.

Further down the list, Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez is backed for a return to form ahead of his trip to basement-dwellers Aston Villa, while Kevin de Bruyne and Dele Alli provide midfield alternatives to cover Spurs and City’s attacking returns – they’re currently claiming just 3% and 2% of the current vote.

Are the current standings backed by the underlying statistics?

Let’s start breaking down the player and team data for the last four matches and throw some light on the situation.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

801 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. tm245
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I own Sanchez -- any word on whether he will start?

    1. LC1
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I personally don't think he will.

    2. Andrew
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      No news yet, I'd guess not, save him for Chelsea at home next week

    3. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Doubt it but you never know.

    4. tm245
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers, will start him and hope for the best.

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Who's on your bench?

        1. tm245
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          It's not pretty -- Stanislas, Simpson, Rangel.

          I went luxe on my wild card and uber on my bench since my four heavy defenders and eight strong attackers approach had been a failure.

  2. sthelenslad92
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Aguero or Payet? :S

    1. LC1
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero

    2. skeyrd
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      own aguero also and leaning towards Payet for sure.

      even though he is coming back from injury, his form looks too irresistable especially against newcastle.

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Really they deserve it (even if they won the title) imo

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        They don't really but its fine as their matches are very entertaining

        1. Eden Hazardous
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          And they are the underdog and have a lower budget , smaller squad etc..

    2. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      still don't think they'll do it.

  3. Surgical Attack
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Links at the end of article aren't working for me.

    1. tm245
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Same for me -- this article is a bit different than the usual ones in the series in a few ways. No Form Attack vs Out of Form Defense section, either. Tables sorted a bit differently as well.

      1. Surgical Attack
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Yes, team statistics defending is sorted by goal conceded (which has less predictive value) instead of big chances.

    2. Surgical Attack
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      any mods around?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Will flag now.

        1. Surgical Attack
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          cool. thanks

  4. Jigger & Pony
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Lukaku or Ozil this GW?

    1. Andrew
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Toss a coin

      1. Sess!
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        ....but call both heads and tails for Ozil and bench him.

    2. Bøss ⭐
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      neither, who else are you starting?

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Kun Kane Lukaku
        Payet Alli Mahrez KdB Ozil

        Tough...

        1. Blanka
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Exact same front 8. Probs leaning towards Ozil.

    3. Murph1
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ozil

    4. Doolittle
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I'm currently benching Ozil.

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Makes sense

    5. skeyrd
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      benching Lukaku. Ozil more consistent, Lukaku more explosive...I think Mesut's ability to rake in the BPS with just one assist is what does it for me

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        But Stoke away? Not been a good fixture for Arsenal.

  5. Bøss ⭐
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Pick 3 to start:

    A) Francis - NOR (H)
    B) Sagna - CRY (H)
    C) Williams - WAT (H)
    D) Moreno - MUN (H)
    E) Bellerin - stk (A)

    I currently have it on ABC, any help appreciated though!

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      ab c/e leaning towards c

    2. _Gunner
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      A B C

  6. Alan Hansen's Emu
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Lost at bottom

    Happy Friday afternoon all!

    Who would you bench this GW?

    A) Mahrez (avl)

    B) Lukaku (che)

    I'm thinking B?

    1. Bøss ⭐
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I think both should be starting.

    2. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      currently on lukaku

  7. Pochecinno
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I have a feeling Stoke are going to win with a clean sheet

    1. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Benching Özil?

    2. FISSH
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I have not the same feeling

    3. Bøss ⭐
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I think Stoke could win, I doubt they'll keep arsenal from scoring though

    4. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I have a feeling arsenal are going to win with a CS.

  8. The Wise Owl
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    My team for GW22.

    Butland
    Alderweireld, Bellerin & Fuchs (McAuley & Ward)
    Mahrez, Ozil, Alli, Silva (Arnautovic)
    Iglaho, Aguero & Kane

    Quite happy actually.

    1. _Gunner
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Its a great team, am leaning towards Arnautovic too

      1. _Gunner
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Benching Arnautovic*

  9. _Gunner
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench?

    A- Arnie
    B- Yaya
    C- Ozil

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      not b

    2. FPL Mentor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      A. isnt he injured? Hamstring?

      1. _Gunner
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Dont think So
        Hughs mentioned nothing about him and he is not flaged

  10. ANON.
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Schmeichel,
    Toby, Dawson, Smith
    KDB, Ozil, Payet, Mahrez
    Aguero, Kane(c), Lukaku

    Butland, Surman, Wollschied, Souare

    2ft, 0.6 in the bank. Don't want to waste a transfer. What should i do? Surman to anyone else under 5m maybe?

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I'd get in a Lei defender.

      1. ANON.
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        I have Schmeichel already. Wollscheid fixtures are poor, could move him out to someone

      2. luke25
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Schmeichel is enough no?

        1. The Wise Owl
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Maybe but Lei have been good recently.

  11. Xna
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Huth, Ivanovic, Dier, Koscielny, Cresswell - bench 2

    1. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Tought.....cresswell and Kos probably.

      1. Sess!
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Strong case to bench ivan though.

      2. Xna
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        its on them currently 😀 but whatever i do it has potential to go wrong with points on the bench instead within the 11

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Cresswell and Kos

  12. Milner4eva
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Özil or Ighalo?

    1. Whazza
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Özil

  13. Cradders
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Mahrez or Payet?

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Mahrez from those

      1. Cradders
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        I'm so stuck between the two, and every time I've picked players due to fixtures over form they've flopped.

        And here we have Payet against a leaky Newcastle side and carrying a goal and assist on from the last game.

  14. flippetyflop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    De Gea to LLoris/Schmeichel make sense? or save?

    De Gea Hennessey

    Williams Moreno VVD Sagna SImpson

    KDB Ozil Mahrez Alli

    Kane Lukaku Aguero????

  15. Daaf
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I am curious. With lots of people having similar midfielders and attackers, are more people looking at their defence for points and transfers? Clean sheets are hard to predict, and people don't like spending transfers on defenders, but is there a case to be made for spending more transfers on swapping defenders out and having 5 actual decent defenders?

    1. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      no because of the reason you stated.

    2. FAITHNOMORENO
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I've spent a fortune in defence and the returns have been very slim.
      Bellerin,Smalling,Walker,Bertrand and Moreno.
      One would hardly argue there are better options around,yet mostly they've all been dire in recent gws.

  16. 50pipsDaily
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with this team? Any idea to get Payet for King? Willing to take a hit.
    2ft, 0.4 itb

    Hennessy, Elliot
    Kolarov, Toby, Bellerin, Evans, Moreno
    Ozil, KdB, Mahrez, Alli, King
    Kun, Lukaku, Kane

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      kolarov→Daniels
      or save then KDB→Payet next week

      1. Milner4eva
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Wouldnt sell Kolarov at the moment.

    2. Daaf
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Not really, I like the team. The cheaper keepers go a long way, the rest of your team looks great.

      Maybe waste the transfer? Or downgrade Moreno to Simpson or something.

      1. Milner4eva
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, I think this could be a good move.

      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      If I were going to get him in for that lot, I'd get him in for Mahrez and probably downgrade Moreno or Bellerin.

      1. 50pipsDaily
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Really stuck on this, keep thinking to bring in Payet, but dont want to lose any player except King.

  17. Is there anyone better than Payet?
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Is anybody else looking at their midfield unable to justify getting Payet in for one of them?

    1. Jigger & Pony
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      He's ahead of most for me

        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        like my midfield isn't perfect and I think he's better than a couple I own but they all have reasons to be kept and I don't see him as such a big improvement that it wouldn't be better to roll the FT this week.

        1. Jigger & Pony
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Yes, short term one can wait but he's gold over the long term. Benching Ozil this week and playing Payet. Would play him over Mahrez too currently based on stats.

            • 12 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            Would you get him in for Mahrez on 1 FT?

    2. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I honestly think he's the best pick in the game, so I didn't have this problem. Getting rid of Ramsey for him was a pretty easy move.

      1. Milner4eva
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        But I had 1ft to burn, so I was in a different position to you.

        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Best. Pick. In. The. Game. 😯 really?

        1. Milner4eva
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Who's better? Costs less than 8m, constant returns both home and away, can get nice hauls off just one assist, the fixtures are great, he hogs all set pieces. Only 15% picked too.

            • 12 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            Best midfield pick right now with the fixtures, maybe. But the big strikers are still more important than him IMO.

      2. skeyrd
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        aye, even with Ramsey's haul, Payet will probably be a better pick moving forward, way more consistent. His creative stats are second only to Ozil, says a lot about the sheer amount of chances he creates, making him a bps darling

    3. 50pipsDaily
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      See above

    4. PurpleCobras
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I'd quite like to bring him in for Mahrez but a) that's a bit ballsy for the likes of me and b) I can't quite afford the switch anyway...

        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        This is what I'd do if I were doing any move but then Leicester are playing bottom of the league...

        1. PurpleCobras
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah... Villa are defending a lot better than they were though and Leicester aren't attacking as well. I think I'll save a transfer this week and if I still fancy it afterwards I'll downgrade a defender and turn Mahrez in to Payet. Not had him all season and I like the cut of his jib.

    5. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      got messy.
      Had the choice last week of Ramsay + Vardy to either Siggy & Aguero or Payet & Costa.
      went the Aguero root.
      Now have to consider whether I sacrifice Mahrez and/or KDB for Payet and another midfielder maybe even back to Ramsay.

    6. ChameLeon Best
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      In the same position... so my intention is to wait until west ham have played City and reassess then.

    7. seanpauldcu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Former midfield of KDB - Mahrez - Ozil - Mane - Alli and chose last week to go for broke start using Alli as 4th MF and get Kun in so sacrificed Mane and Lukaku for Aguero and Stanislas and now have a midfield of KDB - Mahrez - Ozil - Stanislas - Alli.

      Payet far superior than Alli, Stanislas and maybe even Mahrez (though RMT disagrees) but to get him means I need 2.4m from somewhere so either downgrading a striker (Kane, Giroud (Plan to switch to Lukaku next week), Aguero) to Igalho for 2.7m or a premium defender (Bellerin, Toby) to Azpi/Clyne/Cresswell for .3m-.7m.

      Going to sit tight and see how he does against Newcastle away and City, I feel that City could be about to start turning it on and those favorable fixtures for W Ham (new, MCI, AVL, sot, nor, SUN, TOT,eve, WAT, che) may not be so favorable with the relegation sides now properly scrapping for every point.

    8. Futbol Heritage
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Hes the best midfield pic currently, my problem is whos the worst midfield pick in my squad to make way for him. Havent made up my mind

      KDB Ozil Ramsey Mah Alli

      All 5 have been considered, may just drop alli considering dembele is back

    9. Jafalad
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Goldust.

      Going with the Ultimate Power 5: Payet, Mahrez, KGB, Ozil and Rambo.

      Happily going without Kun as Kane, Lukaku and Igloo will do just as well.

      Loving the 4% owned Rambo for the stats he's producing 😉

  18. Fergietime
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Arnie or Silva?

    1. Daaf
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Arnie.

  19. Jigger & Pony
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Is Targett again likely to play oop?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Team news says no

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

  20. ANON.
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Wollscheid to Evans for WBA double up?

    Schmeichel,
    Toby, Dawson, Smith
    KDB, Ozil, Payet, Mahrez
    Aguero, Kane(c), Lukaku

    Butland, Surman, Wollschied, Souare

    2ft, 0.6 in the bank

  21. Rinseboy
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Hows this team looking? bench look ok, nightmare decissions over defence and attack!

    Fabianski
    Toby Azpi Cresswell
    Ozil Mahrez KDB Payet Alli
    Kane Aguero

    Ighalo Wolly Smith

    1. Daaf
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe Smith over Cresswell?

      Benching Ighalo is hard, but understandable and probably the right call.

  22. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one
    Arnie Mahrez KDB Payet Ozil
    Lukaku Ighalo Giroud

    Currently on Lukaku or Arnie but mostly Lukaku.

    1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Arnie to Alli yay or nay?

    2. Blanka
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I'd go Arnie.

  23. ChameLeon Best
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I'm wondering why Ighola huge drop off the past few weeks is being overlooked.
    It was pointed out that Watford vs Spurs game, Watfords attack was nullified by a back 3.

    The league is excellent that copying systems and tactics that work to such an extent and alarm bells should be ringing after seeing a porous Southampton back line (without Waya) revert to a back 3 and comfortably keep a clean sheet.

    My recommendation is move on from Ighola sooner rather than later.

  24. FPL Mentor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Right Team Set In Stone Now..

    Lloris
    Alderweireld Bertrand Huth
    Silva Sigurdsson Payet Mahrez
    Aguero(C) Kane Ighalo

    (Hennessey, Ozil, Bellerin, Moreno)

    Read to Rock and Roll?

  25. Blanka
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    DE BRUYNE OZIL PAYET ALI MAHREZ

    LUKAKU AGEURO KANE.

    Can't decide who to bench! Thinking Lukaku or Ozil?!

    1. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Özil

    2. FPL Mentor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ozil

  26. adidasOriginals
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Kane or Kun for (C) this weekend?

    1. Blanka
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Flip of a coin. I'm going Kun.

      1. adidasOriginals
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Kane scored an OG against SUN last year

        1. Simon Says...
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          That will have a big effect on what he does this year then.

          1. adidasOriginals
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            you never know, la

  27. boyofwonder
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    A nightmare to pick the team this GW. Any advice?

    DDG
    Monreal - Ivanovic - Dier - Toby - Simpson
    Payet - Mahrez - DDB - Fishface - Willian
    Kaku - Ighalo - Kane

    And who to captain? Leaning towards Kane....

    1. Casp123
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I would bench Ighalo and captain Kane