Captain Sensible

Kane and Sterling headline Gameweek 3 captaincy debate

Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are the three teams being considered for the Gameweek 3 captaincy.

They face Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal respectively, and the lack of clean sheet potential for each of those opponents has some Fantasy Premier League managers scratching their heads.

In one sense there is plenty of choice for the armband in Gameweek 3, but a spread of potentially viable options can also increase the risk of falling behind.

As ever, we have assessed all the candidates based on their individual form and the defensive capabilities of their upcoming opponents in Captain Sensible.

As this article includes data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those who have signed up for the 2019/20 campaign can access it in full.

Captain Poll

Captain Poll results as of Thursday morning

Harry Kane (£11.0m) is the people’s choice for the Gameweek 3 captaincy after he won the latest poll.

The Spurs forward claimed a 38.8% share of the vote this week ahead of Newcastle’s trip to north London.

It seems likely that his backers were swayed more by his Gameweek 1 display than the largely anonymous outing against Manchester City.

That is completely understandable given a meeting with Aston Villa is likely to bear more resemblance to a clash with Newcastle than visiting the reigning Premier League champions.

Against Villa, Kane topped the Gameweek 1 charts for shots in the box and scored twice.

This week’s runner up is Raheem Sterling (£12.2m), as Manchester City prepare for an away match at Bournemouth.

The England international currently shares the summit of the Premier League goal-scoring charts with Norwich’s Teemu Pukki (£6.8m) on four goals, having failed to blank yet so far this season.

That has led to 29% of the voters in our poll backing Sterling for the Gameweek 3 captaincy.

Bournemouth are certainly favourable opposition too, having failed to keep a clean sheet in either of their 2019/20 matches.

Furthermore, both of these were against newly-promoted sides Sheffield United and Aston Villa. That should see Manchester City prove too much for the Cherries.

Salah’s stock has fallen somewhat after Liverpool’s poor display at Southampton

Some way off in third place in the poll is Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Salah (£12.5m).

The fixture is definitely a favourable one for Liverpool’s attackers given that Arsenal kept the fewest number of clean sheets, but the captain interest looks to be elsewhere.

While Sterling and Kane are both sitting on more than 30% in the poll, Salah has just 6% backing at the time of writing.

It seems likely that the Gameweek 2 blank, in which Liverpool were severely tested by Southampton, has played a part in this.

Just behind Salah in fourth place is Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne (£9.6m) who has a 3.8% share.

After a seven-point haul in Gameweek 1, the Belgian international registered two assists and maximum bonus the following weekend to take home 11 points.

De Bruyne’s creativity is the key factor in his appeal, as well as reliability of returns for someone who seems nailed-on in this Manchester City side.

De Bruyne is seen as the alternate Manchester City option at this stage

However, the fact that he is not viewed as much of an ‘explosive’ option compared to Sterling, is probably why on a handful of Fantasy managers are considering him for the Gameweek 3 captaincy.

Creeping into the conversation already is Pukki, who lit up the transfer market this week following his hat-trick against Newcastle.

3.4% of the voters believe that he can continue his hot form against a Chelsea side still searching for its first clean sheet of the season.

Another in-form option is Anthony Martial (£7.7m), who scored his second goal of the season against Wolves in Gameweek 2.

The returning Son Heung-min (£9.5m) has been selected by 2.3% in the poll, although what role he will play on Sunday afternoon remains to be seen.

Lucas Digne (£6.0m), Sadio Mané (£11.5m) and Marcus Rashford (£8.6m) are the only other assets with more than 1% support in the poll.

Player statistics – Last two Gameweeks

Lessons learned from Gameweek 2

1,460 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FiddySmith
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Gomez or Lundstram?

    1. claretparrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Difficult to justify having Gomez if you don't play him ahead of your 4 mill option

      1. Saint & Reevesy
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        ^this^

    2. alexdelarge
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      On the other hand you have a midfielder with clean sheets points going against a team that scored once in two games...

  2. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Robbo Montoya Digne
    KDB Salah Sterling (c) Perez
    Pukki Adams

    Button Lundstram Dendon Greenwood

    Bottomed 🙁

    1FT with 0.9ITB, any suggestions? Lundstram in for anyone or GTG? Appreciate any thoughts. Thank you

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Looks good.

      Save FT and then use 1 of those to do Adams -> Barnes next week.

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers BF.

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Actually, do that move the week after.

          You could do Perez to Mount next week.

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      TAA to AWB, or Perez to Mount

  3. MaxOut FC
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mane + Firmino (21m) vs Kane + Son (20.5m) over the next 3 ? A double up on either could well prove a big differential with each having two "easy" fixtures and a game against a defensively shaky Arsenal

  4. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    deadline needs to hurry up

    1. claretparrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Agreed! My decision to hold tight is in constant jeopardy

  5. thomashl
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Final WC dilemma:

    A)
    Pope (Button)
    AWB Zinch VvD Montoya Lundstram
    KdB Mané Sterling Martial Dendo
    Pukki Rash Wickham
    0.4itb

    B)
    Pope (Button)
    AWB Digne VvD KWP Lundstram
    McGinn Salah Sterling Martial Dendo
    Pukki Kane Wickham
    0.2itb

    1. the vanisher
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

      1. thomashl
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        cheers, that's what I'm currently on. KdB fomo tho...

        1. the vanisher
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Kane fomo is bigger imo.

          1. the vanisher
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            and i prefer the Digne pick as well

            1. thomashl
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              cheers that's good to know. I was reluctant to include him from the start as I don't really trust EVE defensively – but he seems to be the most attacking defender in the league, so I guess he's worth it!

          2. thomashl
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Yeah. I guess it's a case of risking getting bypassed by more "casual" players and some hardcore fpl players (Kane) or less casuals and more hardcore players (KdB)

          3. thomashl
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Can't have them all, that's for sure. Kane will surely score some goals this season

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

      1. thomashl
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        thanks mate

  6. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    West Ham are 42 percent to keep a CS. City are 52 percent to keep a CS.

    So play Diop (wat) OR Wilson (MCI)?

    1. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Wilson

  7. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Solskjaer said: "I'm sure you're going to see Paul Pogba score a penalty for Man United again. Definitely.

    "Let's see when we get the next one. We're practising penalties still and Marcus and Paul are still on them."

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Take or score?

  8. Timothy
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Emerson good pick?

    1. mrtapio
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes, imo. He looks good.

    2. thomashl
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      offensively yes, defensively hmmm

    3. tissae
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Personally not convinced yet by Chelsea defence, although Emerso seems to be attacking a lot

      1. Timothy
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Alonso is not a risk?

    4. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I will get him if/when kante is asked to keep his ass back in their own half

  9. tissae
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    When Zinchenko gets rotated, are you guys swapping him to another City defender (Laporte?) or moving away from City defence?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Probably ederson

    2. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      City defence cover is essential in my opinion, they will keep so many clean sheets this season

  10. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What do we think, play Lundstram or Montoya?

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Monty

  11. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Gomez to start ahead of TAA this week I think.. can’t see Klopp exposing him to Auba or Pepe, asking for trouble. This is the kind of fixture he will be rested for imo, just as he was hooked early in the community shield with Sterling tearing him apart.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      We're going to see these comments every week aren't we. TAA can't defend yet was part of the best defence in Europe last season and has defended against the likes of Sane, Ronaldo etc.

      1. Bruno Bruno!!
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        he isnt a good defender last year VVD covered pool defensive frailties, now VVD isnt at his best pool are being found out

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          VVD defends on the inside left channel, not right.

          Liverpool are being found out all of a sudden.. gotta love the overreactions on this site sometimes.

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Defensive stats in the members area will enlighten you.. they were starting to regress to the mean late last season

      2. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        He is soooo slow

      3. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yes that’s true but fact remains sane. Klopp could prefer Gomez vs Auba

      4. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Agree

    2. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Klopp trusted him against Messi, Suarez and Coutinho, i think this myth where he doesn’t play against talented front line is extremely flawed.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It's definitely a myth. Baffling really!

    3. mrtapio
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Gomez started for TAA 1st leg against Barca last season. TAA started the 2nd leg.

      1. mrtapio
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        We all know how that went

    4. jackx13
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Have watched Klopp since his early days. TAA should be the preferred guy at right back and maybe Gomez fills in next to VVD this time round for extra cover. But the way Klopp uses his wing backs - TAA is better for that.

    5. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Depends how Klopp views the game. If he think its there for the taking, and views Monreal and whoever starts as wide forward (Nelson, Aubemayang, Pepe) as a weakness, it's Alexander-Arnold surely.

    6. claretparrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Other way of looking at this is that draws hurt Liverpool's title bid last season.

      Klopp knows they're good enough to outscore most opposition (certainly including Arsenal), so he's going to let the reins off this season and accept that they won't keep as many clean sheets but expect to win more games.

  12. LangerznMash
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Percentage chances of the following starting?

    A - Matt Targett
    B - Frédéric Guilbert
    C - Charlie Taylor

    Are there any £4.4m defenders with a chance of starting GW3?

  13. AJBucko
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Captain.................

    Sterling or Kane Sterling or Kane Sterling or Kane Sterling or Kane Sterling or Kane Sterling or Kane Sterling or Kane Sterling or Kane Sterling or Kane

    1. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This article literally addresses this....

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you own Kane and don’t captain him against Newcastle at home, should you own him? Genuine question

      I think I’d feel forced to go Kane if I had him

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        But if you have Sterling and Salah or Mane who do you pick?

        Kane against Newcastle looks like a plum match up, but we know Kane's ability to blank in plum match ups.

        Seems inconceivable that City aren't going to spank Bournemouth, though.

      2. Saint & Reevesy
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Hmmmm not sure of that logic given City v Bournemouth and Stirling’s form.

        Kane’s in my team based on his fixtures for the next 6-7 weeks.

        I’m still going Stirling with the armband this week

    3. TheTruth
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tourettes?

  14. cjhewitt92
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Should I hold Perez for this week or look at Mount

    1. ibenji
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      mount for me, he could be a wagon, and perez could be going opposite.

      1. cjhewitt92
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I have Abraham already but not sure he will start

    2. Gearoid
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Hold at this point I think

    3. ritzyd
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Now Perez already dropped in price may as well give him the Sheff Utd game.

      1. claretparrot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        My thoughts exactly

    4. shaun_drift
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'd say drop him, for a couple of reasons. On the eye test Perez and Vardy do not seem in sync yet, there was some avoiding of eye contact after spurned chances in the Chelsea game which suggests they've not clicked up top yet. Also, I don't think Leicester fixtures are that good at the moment, whereas Chelsea's are turning for the better. Mount is teacher's pet to Lampard as well, so I think he's fairly safe in the team and was involved in nearly all attacks last weekend, while Chelsea's tails were up in the first half. Against Norwich, if both teams are going at it from the off I think the first half could be an open game and I'd back Mount to be at the heart of Chelsea's attacking play again.

  15. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Early thoughts on the following moves:

    VVD + Wesley -> AWB + Pukki (-4)

    1. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      for gw4

    2. thomashl
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes if you have other pool defs

  16. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    No Kane, so it's Sterling (c) for me.

    1. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      ok

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Isn't Sterling's record vs Bournemouth highly skewed by the home stats?

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        What's that got to do with anything?

        I'm captaining him as I don't have Kane and think Sterling is a better option than Salah.

        It's him or KdB for me.

      2. shaun_drift
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        He's got 2 goals in 3 games played at Bournemouth.

        Then it's 6 goals in 4 games against them at home.

        Skewed somewhat, but still an OK record at their place.

  17. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start 2 out of
    A) Chilwell (Shu)
    B) Micheal Keane (Avl)
    C) F. Anderson (Wat)
    D) Ndombele (NEW)

    Thanks

    1. the vanisher
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      ACBD

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      AD

  18. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Want to change team structure to go Kane + Pukki up top. Kane might become Auba (or even Kun) later on. Is it worth a -8 to do it this GW, in order to save WC for later?
    Will also mean downgrading VVD to Lundstram (keeping TAA). Thinking it needs to be done now due to Kane(c) this GW.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you're not keeping Kane then is there any point in doing that.

      You're taking an 8 point hit for it.

      Not saying don't do it but don't just do it for one GW.

  19. Gaffa914
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pérez to Martial for a -4?

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I did

  20. Thunder Warrior
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Kdb and Firmino
    or
    Salah and Barnes?

    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

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

    Dendonker Or Douglas Luiz?
    Already have Cantwell

  22. jackx13
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    No Sterling here so Kane (c) is the obvious choice but I will probably go for KDB as only one of my ML opponents have him (in 3 leagues - watching round 12 opposing teams - all have Sterling, 4 Kane, 1 KDB (no Kane)). Sounds good or should I stick with Kane?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kane

  23. Defaid Daniel
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Will kean start tonight?

  24. Defaid Daniel
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    In order to start?
    A)van d
    B)Montoya
    C)Lunds

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      In order...

  25. M.I.A.
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Dendoncker or Lundstram?

  26. finnish92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Pope (Wolves A) or Heaton (Everton H)?

  27. Godspeed
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bench Zinchenko and play 3-5-2 or bench Lucas and play 4-4-2?

    My gut tells me Poch will bench Lucas and play Son instead of benching Lamela, but if i’m wrong Lucas get to play NEW @home

    thoughts?

    Adrian
    TAA,Maguire,Walker-Peters, (Zinchenko)
    Sterling,Perez,Martial,Dendoncker (Lucas)
    Kane, Jimenez
    Bench: King, Lundstram and...???

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lucas was benched last week!

  28. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I want Kane for a week but Two of these have to go:

    Digne KDB Mane Sterling Martial Puki Firmino. Present Squad.

    The other issue is it costs 4 points to put my side back together.

    Any ideas?

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would give Puki and Firmino a pause then, maybe Martial

  29. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton
    Digne - VVD - Zinchenko - Lundstram
    Martial (vc) - Bilva - De Bruyne - Salah
    Kane (c) Wesley (don’t ask)

    Pope - Barkley - Greenwood - Hanley

    0 FT 0.0itb