Captains
4 October 2018 789 comments
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Just as Sergio Aguero dominated the thinking in Gameweek 7 regarding the Fantasy Premier League captaincy debate, there is another premium forward who is the blindingly obvious candidate for the armband this weekend.

Harry Kane and Tottenham Hotspur welcome Cardiff City to Wembley on Saturday and the England striker, who has attracted over 200,000 new FPL owners this week, will surely be handed the captaincy by the vast majority of the Fantasy managers who own him.

For those who don’t, the leading Premier League goalscorer, Eden Hazard, is perhaps viewed as the best of the rest as his Chelsea side make the trip to the south coast to face Southampton.

The meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday is likely to deter many Fantasy managers from entrusting the likes of Aguero and Mohamed Salah with the FPL captaincy, but it should be repeated that this fixture ended in 4-3 goal-fest in 2017/18.

In the below article, we’ll look at the current results of our captain poll as well as data from the last four Gameweeks concerning individual players, team attacking numbers and opposition defensive statistics to scrutinise the leading captaincy options for Gameweek 8.

The Captain Poll

Given that Spurs are about to come up against a side who have conceded the joint-highest number of Premier League goals this season (including a total of 14 in their last four matches), it is perhaps surprising that Harry Kane (£12.5m) isn’t dominating our Fantasy Football Scout captain poll by a bigger margin.

Kane has polled 48.4% of the Gameweek 8 vote at the time of writing, almost 15% fewer than Aguero managed ahead of Manchester City’s home match against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend.

That figure could, of course, reflect Kane’s relatively modest ownership, with the England striker currently sitting in just 29.4% of FPL squads. Aguero, by contrast, features in more than one in two Fantasy teams.

No FPL forward has been involved in more goals than Kane in the last two Gameweeks, with his brace in the 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town his second double-digit haul of the season: both of which have come away from home, interestingly.

Eden Hazard (£11.1m) is clear of the chasing pack in second place, having garnered 23.5% of the vote.

Southampton have a nasty habit of conceding late goals and Hazard seems perfectly suited to capitalise on that particular weakness: five of the eight league goals the Belgian has been involved in this season have arrived in the last 20 minutes.

The Chelsea midfielder has delivered attacking returns in all but one of his seven league appearances in 2018/19, despite two of those coming off the bench.

There’s a scrabble for third place in our poll, with Sergio Aguero (£11.4m) a nose ahead of Kieran Trippier (£6.2m) and Mohamed Salah (£12.9m) – all featuring around the 3% mark.

Aguero and Salah, along with Sadio Mane (£9.9m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.4m), all delivered attacking returns in the seven-goal epic at Anfield last season, with the Egyptian emerging from the encounter with a double-digit haul.

Salah has also scored eight FPL points in every home fixture so far this season.

Aguero, meanwhile, is averaging only 3.3 points away from the Etihad in 2018/19. The Argentinean forward has, however, delivered attacking returns in each of his last four Premier League fixtures and scored again in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

Trippier has three double-digit hauls to his name already this season (including one goal and three assists) and has created more chances than any other FPL defender bar Jose Holebas (£4.9m).

Jamie Vardy (£8.9m), Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) and Marko Arnautovic (£7.0m) all scored or assisted last weekend and the trio of forwards are hovering around the 2% mark in our captain poll.

Having garnered just over 100 votes at the time of writing, Anthony Knockaert (£5.5m) also surprisingly features in the top ten of our poll.

The Brighton winger has delivered attacking returns in every Brighton home match this season and the Seagulls welcome West Ham United to the Amex on Friday evening.

James Maddison (£6.9m) and Romelu Lukaku (£11.0m) complete the “G11” of captaincy candidates who are polling around 1% of the vote or higher.

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789 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Monkey Hanger
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard to hit 100% within half an hour?

  2. Jay_
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Patricio
    Bellerin AWB Shaw Alonso
    Fraser Hazard Richarlison Sane
    Aguero Kane
    (Hennessey Jimenez Bennett Schneid)

    A) Leave it
    B) Swap goalies
    C) Swap Jimenez for AWB

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Jimenez to AWB

    2. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I'd play Jimmy over AWB personally, so C.

    3. Jay_
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers lads

  3. Tsparkes10
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Is H-Odoi to Rich leaving me 0 itb stupid? Would mean benching Fraser or Lucas and struggle to get Mendy in if he returns

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I wouldn't do it tbh... May as well stick to your guns and play Fraser+Lucas. I reckon both should play this wkend

  4. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Glad I didn't hold onto Mendy in the end... swapped for Trippier last week, and it's now only a 0.1 cost to get Mendy back if he starts firing again.

  5. Demel
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Which player that you don't own are you looking forward to owning?

    Salah, KDB, TAA in that order for me.

    1. Demel
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Actually Mendy in front of TAA.

    2. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Bernard if he settles

      1. Demel
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        He could be great value.

    3. toerag
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      mendy 2nd

    4. MTPockets
      7 years, 10 months ago

      At some point - Stanislas, Sane, KDB. Some I like watching play

    5. jtreble
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Sterling.

    6. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      KDB

    7. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Manè & Arnie

  6. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    How did Kolasinac look tonight?

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      About 6ft and 80kg ish. I wasn’t watching the match for long to see how he played 😉

  7. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Thinking of bringing in Kane for Aguero this week. I've got 2 FTs. Would you:

    A) D Silva and Aguero for Maddison and Kane
    B) Ederson and Aguero for Hart and Kane
    C) Something else?

    Currently on 2 FT, 0.8 ITB:
    Ederson (Hamer)
    Alonso / Chilwell / Wan-Bis (TAA / R Bennett)
    Hazard / Mane / D Silva / Richarlison (Hojbjerg)
    Aguero / Mitro / Zaha

    Thanks!

    1. MFC Lad
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I like B

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers. That would give the option of upgrading Hamer in a week to a rotational option too.

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Or a more radical option, D) Zaha, Ederson and D Silva >>> Kane, Hart and a

  8. johnnys balloons
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Who would you bench out of
    A) Mane
    B) Sane
    C) Fraser
    D) Richarlison
    E) Mitrovic

    For now I am on Fraser. Torn between Fraser and Richa really

    1. Monkey Hanger
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      C. By a distance too.

    2. child of God
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Fraser for me. Richalison very likely to be involved if everton score

    3. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      fraser

    4. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Fraser

  9. child of God
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Any chance Arnautovic rises again before Saturday?

    1. MTPockets
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Don't know, but gw deadline is tomorrow and won't rise tonight

  10. JustPark
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Trippier nailed?

    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      pretty much, that set piece quality is always needed

    2. johnnys balloons
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Aurier is injuried so he should be nailed but wouldn't be supriced if Poch rest him somehow this weekend coz "its just Cardif"... And I am Trippier owner

      1. JustPark
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        He is? That settled it then.

  11. Catsandhats
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    No idea what to do here, 2FT and 0.4 itb:

    Hennessy Hamer
    Alonso Robertson WB bennet Doherty
    Salah Dilva hazard Fraser Hoj
    Aguero mitro ings

    Any ideas?

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Don’t think much adjustment needed.

      So use one transfer and carry the other.

      Hamer to Bettinelli or Lossl.

      Why? Look at Hennessey fixtures from Week 10-13 (might want to pop Henn onto your bench), then look at Bettinelli’s and Lossl’s on those four weeks as might be an option for you. Then Hennessey gets better fixtures from week 14. Hamer on other hand is dead wood.

      1. Catsandhats
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Thanks, not a bad idea - I knew I had a keeper issue coming up but not sure if anything else is more pressing, don’t feel great with my team and lack of spurs

        1. FPL Forward Thinker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Cardiff will win 1-0 (says a Trippier and captain Kane owner)

          1. FPL Forward Thinker
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            I’m only saying Cardiff will win 1-0 so you do the right thing and sell Hamer. Although Hamer might get his place back 3 weeks ago.

  12. I drink and I know things
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I need a cheap midfielder to replace Lucas Moura who has blanked ever since I bought him. I will wait until after Cardiff game, but would you buy

    A - Fraser - 6m and fixtures getting tough
    B - Schurrle - 5.9m and good stats
    C - Knockaert - 5.5m and great fixtures, but Brighton only win at home...

    Very grateful for any views!

    1. MFC Lad
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      C

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Consider Gudmundsson too. Schurrle could work with Cardiff, Bournemouth and Huddersfield after this gw.

    3. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Gudmun or Milner

  13. abaalan
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Robbo to trippier for a one week wonder hit,?

    Bench Patricio (cry a) or foster (bou h)??

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Don’t do it for a hit. Bench Foster.

    2. J T
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      No & pat

      1. J T
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Sorry play pat*

    3. MFC Lad
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      No and bench pat

    4. Men in green tights
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Waste trippier being rested this weekend

      1. jtreble
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Sure, that makes sense. :).

    5. abaalan
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Should have said have Doherty too.

      Wouldn't mind trip being benched since all rivals have him!

  14. #FPLBhuna
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone considering aguero to vardy this week

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      For real?? Please step away from the transfer screen!

  15. stat
    7 years, 10 months ago

    A) Aguero + Dilva -> Kane + Maddison (for free)
    B) Wilson + Mane + Dilva -> Kane + Maddison + Elneny (bench fodder) for -4

    Feels strange getting rid of Aguero - even without being at full fitness he's still consistently scoring points and looking threatening.
    On the other hand Mane hasn't scored/assisted in over 500 mins of football but has good fixtures coming up.

    1. MTPockets
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Of those A, although I still don't really get selling Aguero.

      1. stat
        7 years, 10 months ago

        I think I'll regret getting rid of Aguero more than I would regret getting rid of Mane

    2. Demel
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I would just captain Hazard myself.

  16. Erez Avni
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    play AWB or Fraser?

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      fraser

  17. YouReds
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Need a mid up to 7.4 for a one week punt, on WC next week....

    Moura?
    Maddison?

  18. Four Hit Wonder
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Is Salah the new Michu?

    1. jtreble
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Machu Picchu.

      1. jtreble
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Lovely place.

  19. Erez Avni
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    choose 2 to play

    a. TAA
    b. AWB
    c. Duffy
    d. Bennet

    1. The Train Driver
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B and C

  20. The Train Driver
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Bench 1.

    Fraser
    Pereira
    Mané

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      F

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      There is no point in owning Mane if you’d even consider benching. I’d bench Pereira probably but I’m a fan of Fraser.

      1. The Train Driver
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        The reason is they are playing a tough game and I think he will have limited minutes. Sometimes it can be better to play a cheaper player than a more premium one, it's not as simple "if he's expensive and you bench then no point in owning him". Maybe I will play him the rest of the games but consider benching this time...

  21. JustPark
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Salah to Hazard? Got Mane and WC intact.

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      wouldn't really feel comfortable with just mane. not on the best form, but also not as capable as just exploding into life as salah imo. can you do mane to haz instead?

      1. JustPark
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Can't get Trippier that way.
        I'm on 2FT with Mendy.

    2. Four Hit Wonder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Good fixtures for Salah coming up.

  22. aidmata
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Fab Foster

    Robertson Shaw Doherty Wan-B Tomkins

    Stephens Salah Mane Hazard Fraser

    Ings Aguero Arnautovic

    2FT with 0.2 ITB, WC intact so will be getting Kane for this week and then Aguero back the week after one way or another. Would you do:

    a) Aguero and Ings --> Kane and Success
    b) Aguero and Mane --> Kane and Maddison

  23. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    All set to roll the FT I think. 2 could be useful next gameweek with no gaping problems for this week (0.3 ITB 1FT)

    So, everything look alright?

    Fabianski
    Alonso Trippier Robertson Doherty
    Hazard(C) Salah DSilva Fraser
    Aguero Mitrovic

    Hamer AWB Billing Kamara

    1. Ceci
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Yup g2g.

  24. Spartac Mac
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Vardy... 21pts in last 3 gameweeks, lovely fixtures upcoming.

    Am I mad to consider him over Kane?

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      certainly not mad, I've looked at him too. I think I'm preferring the Silva to Maddison move more though

    2. MTPockets
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Has better fixtures for longer, cheaper and seems a little forgotten. But not sure he's comparable to Kane this gw, so depends on timescale.

  25. rogerbarton
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    For 4th and 5th MF:

    1) Fraser + Knockaert
    2) Maddison + Obiang

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      2

    2. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      1, even though maddison is a good pick.

  26. Ronnies
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Bench 1:

    a) ings - home to chelsea

    b) wan bissaka - home to wolves

    c) bennett - away to palace

    Thanks guys.

  27. PrincessPorkie
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Kane or Aguero?

  28. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I'm looking at a goalkeeper to replace Etheridge. I'm too impatient to wait for Cardiff's good run of fixtures and uncertain that they will gather a form to exploit them.

    A) Hart
    B) Schmeichel
    C) Foster

  29. madame shelly
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    bench
    a-doherty
    b-zaha
    c-robertson