Our pre-Gameweek members article, which assesses the main captaincy contenders on offer, arrives once again this afternoon. As usual, we delve into the Opta numbers and also check up on the Rate My Team ratings before offering up a couple of differential options in light of the data analysis.
Captain Poll
In what is already shaping up to be the ongoing narrative of 2016/17, Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the standout contenders in this week’s captain poll.
The City striker’s midweek hat-trick against Steaua Bucharest has convinced over 38% to back him for a trip to the Bet365. Aguero has scored in all four appearances under Pep Guardiola, netting a total of six times, and with the Etihad outfit starting to hit their stride, few would bank against him getting amongst the goals again – particularly with Jack Butland still sidelined for the Potters.
Ibrahimovic also looks an alluring prospect.
Having mirrored Aguero’s nine-point opening day haul with a goal and maximum bonus, the big Swede now braces himself for a first home appearance since arriving at Old Trafford. Back-to-back strikes against Leicester and Bournemouth have dispelled the idea he might have struggled to settle and over 26% are willing to back him over the City frontman.
Eden Hazard heads the chasing pack on 7%. The Belgian seems to have rediscovered his hunger under Antonio Conte and a goal and maximum bonus against West Ham was just rewards for his Monday night display. Having reclaimed spot-kicks from Oscar, he looks set to torment Watford at Vicarage Road.
Harry Kane (5%) is followed by Liverpool duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
Kane’s worrying form without Mousa Dembele is well-known around these parts, though Palace have been dire defensively and mustered two shut-outs in their last 20 Premier League matches. Kane has scored just twice against the Eagles in the last two seasons, though has registered 14 attempts in his last four outings against them.
Coutinho and Firmino manage to convince a mere 4% they are worthy of the captaincy for the trip to Turf Moor. The Reds arrive on the back of a devastating display at Arsenal on Sunday and with doubts over Sadio Mane, the two Brazilians look well-placed to deliver.
Rested for the midweek Europa League trip to Romania, Dimitri Payet earns just 2% of the votes as West Ham host Bournemouth on Sunday. Only the bottom four conceded more on their travels than Eddie Howe’s team last term – the Frenchman looks poised to be unleashed from the start and will be hoping to replicate the goal and assist accrued in his previous clash with the Cherries.
