Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain options for Blank Gameweek 28?

Liverpool and Leicester assets are at the centre of an intriguing captaincy debate for Blank Gameweek 28.

With Manchester City out of the picture thanks to the EFL Cup final, we have fewer options to draw on – but that does not make picking a skipper any easier.

As the Friday night deadline hurtles closer, we have executed a deep-dive into the Opta data to help you chose the best captain for Blank Gameweek 28.

As this article uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those signed up for the 2019/20 season, the half-season package or a monthly membership can access it in full.

Captain Poll

After scoring in Monday night’s 3-2 win over West Ham, Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) tops the Blank Gameweek 28 captain poll by a considerable margin.

The Egyptian faces a Watford side that has lost the momentum of Nigel Pearson’s December appointment, conceding at least twice in three of their last four matches.

Returning to the scene of his first-ever Premier League goal for Liverpool, Salah has scored four times since Double Gameweek 24, more than any of his colleagues. That has led to 42.1% of voters lending him their support for the Blank Gameweek 28 captaincy.

However, Salah has struggled for goals on the road in 2019/20, netting just twice in league games outside of Anfield. In fact, Salah is still yet to score in an away match that Sadio Mané (£12.3m) has started this season.

The Senegalese international has scored in back-to-back games since returning from his Double Gameweek 24 injury and has a total of five goals away from home this year, compared to Salah’s two. Involved in three assists in such matches, admittedly fewer than the Egyptian’s five, Mané still has more goal involvements on the road than his colleague on the other flank of the attack (eight to seven).

Despite that, the former Southampton attacker is a long way off the top of the captain poll, with just 12.1% of our voters selecting him as the best option for the armband this weekend.

Ahead of him is Jamie Vardy (£9.7m), who, despite not scoring a Premier League goal since Gameweek 18, when Leicester were beaten 3-1 at Manchester City, has attracted the backing of 20.2% of the voters.

The Foxes face a Norwich side that, despite recent improvements at the back, were well-beaten by Wolves in Gameweek 27, conceding three times at Molineux.

Daniel Farke’s men remain in one of the worst sides defensive at home so far, averaging two goals conceded per match at Carrow Road after 13 outings there. That’s the second-worst in the Premier League.

The question is whether an out-of-form Vardy can capitalise on that this weekend. Interestingly, only 1.9% have leant their support to his team-mate Harvey Barnes (£6.0m), who has outscored the forward by 33 points to 14 from Gameweek 19 onwards.

That is good enough for fifth-place in the poll, just behind Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.7m) on 7.6%. The Liverpool right-back has not blanked in a game he has started since Gameweek 13, still on a remarkable run of reliability.

He did not even need a clean sheet to get two assists, maximum bonus and 10 points against West Ham, suggesting there could be more to come against Watford.

Despite his Gameweek 27 blank against Aston Villa, Danny Ings (£7.1m) has been backed by 1.6% of our voters as Southampton prepare to face West Ham. Meanwhile, his colleague Shane Long (£4.6m), who outperformed and outscored Ings last weekend, was chosen by 0.2%.

Roberto Firmino (£9.7m) comes into Blank Gameweek 28 with more away goals than any other Liverpool player this season but only 1.6% of the voters believe he is worth captaining against Watford.

James Maddison (£7.4m) and Ayoze Pérez (£6.2m) are the other alternatives in the Leicester attack for the trip to Norwich, pulling in 1.5% and 1.3% support respectively.

Teemu Pukki (£6.5m) and Bruno Fernandes (£8.2m) are the only other options backed by more 1%.

Player statistics – Last four matches

663 Comments Post a Comment
  1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Come on Utd!!! We can do this

    1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Bring on the soccer!!

      1. AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Soccer?

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Gone off meat pies and sausage rolls?

      1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Huh?

      2. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Lol

      3. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Where is meatpiesausageroll?

        That poster always makes me hungry.

  2. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    What to do here?
    1FT 3.9ITB

    plan was Stevens > Doherty but now its more complicated...can see a lot of 1 poiters and non starters

    McCarthy
    TAA - VVD - Holgate* - Rico*
    Salah - Martial* - Barnes - Traore*
    Igns - Greenwood*

    Auba - KDB - Stevens

  3. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    I'm doing Auba to Vardy and traore to Harry Wilson.

    Will have enough in pot to bring Auba back, and have 6 so far for gw 31

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      I’m doing the same with the Auba transfer to Vardy, have enough to bring him back, but I’ll see if Vardy look sharp vs Norwich.

      May I suggest Barnes if you can stretch that far? BOU just look awful at the moment

  4. Young Lingard
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Who would you transfer Martial out for ?
    a) solskjaer
    b) Woodward
    c) glazer
    d) the unnamed overpaid physio
    e)boue I wish he was still in the league

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Eboue for sure

  5. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    This is likely to be my team for gw28. Bb29 so any player i bring in needs a favourable fixture next week and to play in gw31 . 0ft. 0.2mitb

    Mccarthy (hendo)
    Taa robbo boly soy stephens
    Salah traore barnes (kdb fleck)
    Ings jiminez (auba)

    A....stick with this team.

    B....traore to doucoure - 4 (watford have liverpool then palace)

    C.....traore to mcneil - 4 (newcastle and spurs)

    Thanks

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      I'd stick. Not keen on McNeil or Doucoure

  6. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Got Rico first sub if Martial is out. Hard to trust what Solskjaer says.

  7. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Tempted to do Henderson, Martial, Cantwell to Patricio, Mount, Barnes :/

  8. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Now I pondering Bruno back to KDB after GW28...

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Fascinating.

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Lol

  9. TheBrazilianRonaldo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Who to play:
    Traore or Ali
    Thoughts appreciated.
    And yes I’ll sell Ali after this gameweek. I don’t like taking hits

  10. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Hi all, so are people here getting rid of Adama then? Do you reckon he's lost his place? Seems a bit strange as he's done well this season

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      I'm undecided right now, but it's not looking good for him right now

    2. TheBrazilianRonaldo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Is he not just being used wisely in games where they need pace?

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 21 days ago

        I'm keeping and hoping it was to do with his recovering shoulder

    4. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      McCarthy
      TAA Taylor Lascelles Mendy*
      Salah Mane Barnes Traore
      Ings Jiminez

      Non playing bench. 4.1 ITB. 1FT. What would you do?

      I had plans Mendy -> Pereira but with Traore likely not to start is it worth getting Vardy in for a hit? If City do have a double I'd be tempted to keep Mendy and do the hit, but that doesn't seem likely IMO.

    5. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      You want advice in the Traore & Wolves formation situation?

      https://www.molineuxmix.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/3-4-3-or-3-5-2-5-2-3-or-5-3-2-for-the-pedants.216502/

      This thread here.

      1. TheBrazilianRonaldo
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Great link - thanks

      2. Greasy Grealish Gang
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Thanks for sharing mate!

      3. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Interesting read. A lot of flexibility in the Wolves side and although Jota/Traore might shine at different times, Jiminez will be the consistent performer throughout.

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        You posted the link - what does it say?

        1. FPL Bond @ Twitter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 21 days ago

          He is out foe the weekend..

          1. squits
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 21 days ago

            Doesn't say that. Says he is out for tonight coz got injured in training. Doesn't say how long for

    6. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Earlier today Traoré was the answer due to higher ceiling, still same?

      Play Troare or one of Taylor & Boly?

    7. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Confirmed. Martial is yellow flagged.

      1. FPL Bond @ Twitter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Yes

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Got Holgate coming on for him.

    8. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Going to have to make a gut call on whether Martial is out or not. OGS bloody useless when it comes to injury news.

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Meh

      2. FPL Bond @ Twitter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Seems out..

        1. I Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 21 days ago

          Quote on the previous page said he doesn't know for the weekend.

    9. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Bruno POST!

    10. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      People saying Traore won’t play against Spurs now because he’s played today. So surely that’s the same with Doherty? I’m starting Traore, I expect he starts vs spurs

      1. Klaren
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Depends on who you have on the bench of course, but would be playing RWB even if he starts which is further behind than where he used to play. Still not a terrible choice though with all the problems Spurs have.

    11. New Post
    12. gomez123
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Exact money for Grealish to Maddison....but people keep saying about Harvey Barnes??...he has only completed 3 x 90 mins since start of season??

    13. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      of course the one week I don't have a bench Martial gets injured

      and weeks where I have 12-20 points on bench, no subs needed!

    14. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      So of arsenal lose today then DGW 29 for city and arsenal?

    15. FPL_BUCCANEER
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Pope
      TAA Soy Lascelles Stephens
      Salah Mane(C) Traore
      Vardy Ings Greenwood

      Button Egan KDB Grealish

      1m ITB 0FT

      G2G?

    16. Holteenderinthesky
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Torn between Perez and Barnes.

      What's the best option ? Perez seems most likely to haul but most seem to prefer Barnes. Any reason behind this ?

    17. Whits
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Martial (flagged) to Bruno Fernando's for a hit? Cantwell on bench