Next up this Friday evening, we roll out our usual pre-Gameweek members article, casting an eye over the captaincy conundrum ahead of the weekend’s fixtures. As always, we analyse the Opta data for the main contenders and assess the team statistics and Rate My Team’s reckoning, before rounding off with our opinion on the current poll standings in light of the data analysis, including our view on differential captains.
Captain Poll
Despite failing to score in four of his last five league outings, Sergio Aguero is the top candidate in this week’s Captain Poll as Man City make their way to Bournemouth. Just over 30% are backing the Argentine to produce the goods at the Vitality Stadium, though he’s scored just four times on his travels all season.
Dimitri Payet heads the chasing pack with over 16% of the votes cast. The West Ham playmaker has produced points in four of his last five appearances and carried his domestic form onto the international stage with another stunning free-kick for France over the last few days.
Alexis Sanchez and Harry Kane hover around the 8% mark. Kane has the best form of any player in the top-flight, with five goals and an assist in four, and visits a Liverpool defence with just two clean sheets in ten. Sanchez has the better fixture – at home to Watford – and has hinted at a return to form with a goal and two assists over the last three.
Roberto Firmino – who was ranked second in the Poll earlier this week – has dropped down the pecking order as doubts remain over his availability. The Liverpool midfielder faces a late assessment as he looks to continue the form that has racked up five goals and four assists in his previous six. Although a visit from Spurs is no easy task, Firmino has produced double-figures in three of his last four at Anfield.
Mesut Ozil (6%) is lower down as Arsenal prepare for the visit of a Watford defence with two clean sheets on their travels all season, whilst Cesc Fabregas (5%) is in the mix ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Villa after he scored twice against West Ham last time out.
Elsewhere, Leicester duo Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy remain real differentials with just 2% and 1% of the votes respectively ahead of the home clash with Southampton
Are these current standings backed by the underlying statistics?
Let’s start breaking down the player and team data for their respective last four matches and shed a little more light on the situation.
