Pro Pundits - Az

Is it time to take captaincy punts as FPL premium assets continue to blank?

I’m writing this article in quite a good mood.

Despite having Tomas Soucek (£5.3m) on my bench and not taking a hit for the mighty Ilkay Gündogan (£5.7m) as I planned, the second half of the season has started pretty well for me.

João Cancelo (£5.9m) has finally delivered on all of his promise and Raphinha (£5.4m), who I’ve had for what seems a decade, got me a nice double-digit return.

I’m really hoping a decent Gameweek 20 can be the catalyst in my average season and I can start getting some decisions right. The last few seasons have seen me struggle until around this point and then I’ve managed to turn it around – so here’s hoping I can pull that off again this year.

I’ve got a plan going forward, so here it is:

Operation Target Everton and Manchester City players

Sky Fantasy Football: Sticks and Stones? Who to bring in before the Overhaul? 2

You don’t need to be an “expert” (and I’m certainly not) to know that a) Man City are pretty good and b) we should probably get in some of into our teams.

The question is, who do we go for?

Going with two defenders from the same team normally fills me with fear, but I don’t have any concerns when it comes to City. Going three at the back is also an option, where rotation looks less likely with the likes of John Stones (£5.1m), Ruben Dias (£5.9m) and of course Cancelo all looking strong.

Ederson (£6.0m) is the most nailed on player in the whole team – but getting in an expensive goalkeeper and missing out on defenders with an attacking threat, or limiting yourself to not being able to move for a midfielder, does not seem sensible to me.

For me though, I think it’s now time invest in a Man City midfielder and, Kevin De Bruyne’s (£11.9) has paved the way for quite a few options to come into the reckoning.

Mark and I talked extensively about Gündogan on FPL BlackBox and it was nice to see those who took a punt on him rewarded straight away.

Cancelo finally delivers big haul as Gündogan shines in KDB's absence 18

His stats are brilliant this season and any fears of him playing too “deep” were allayed with a fantastic performance against West Brom. He’s my pick of the lot. As my fellow Top Gun Luke said to me, if Gündogan was valued at £11m, people wouldn’t have hesitated to get him in and would probably have captained him against West Brom. I think he’s right, the German being such a cheap price, leaving people with lots of money in the bank and no idea what to do with it, probably puts people off.

Gündogan’s form doesn’t mean that players such as Raheem Sterling (£11.5m), Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) and Phil Foden (£6.3m) should be completely off people’s radar though. In fact, this might be the time to grab two midfielders, rather than two defenders. This would make the most of what promises to be a rather incredible run of games for City, likely involving lots of Double Gameweeks – and the likes of Sheffield United (home) and Burnley (away) who you would expect them to steamroll.

Everton

Returning Digne can help Everton's attacking assets return to form in Gameweek 20

So, along with my three City players (most probably Stones, Cancelo and Gündogan), I’m also looking at Everton who have literally just scored a goal against Leicester as I write this (it must be a sign).

They currently have two games in hand, have a couple of good fixtures to come against Newcastle (home) and Leeds (away) and crucially, they’ve got their players back. Losing the likes of James Rodriguez (£7.7m) and Lucas Digne (£6.0) is enough to unsettle any side – but these two are back and looking class when I see them play.

I’m hoping that this means extra service for Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) and he can get back to his early-season form. Digne is playing on the left of midfield tonight. I’m going to find it very hard to resist him, knowing his quality and with the upcoming fixtures and this new potential out-of-position classification.

I think I’ll be getting both Digne and Calvert-Lewin in my team this week.

Time to take some captain punts

Calvert-Lewin offsets longest goalless streak with another Fantasy assist

It was a really interesting chat with Mark on BlackBox about how myself and most people I know are much more likely to take a punt on transferring in a player rather than rolling the dice with a captain option.

There’s an element of fear when it comes to captaincy, but this season should be teaching us to perhaps think outside of our normal realm. The likes of Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and even the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes (£11.4m) have all let us down on occasion and with the likes of West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Aston Villa surpassing our expectations, I believe it is time for us to start widening the net.

The likes of Cancelo and Gündogan were overlooked this week as people (myself included) flocked to Bruno Fernandes, who became the most captained player ever in a Gameweek (and the full-time whistle has just gone, he’s blanked at home to Sheffield United!!!). The logic of Fernandes was completely sound of course, but there is huge potential to get ahead if you can get the captaincy call right.

The captaincy allows us to roll the dice for one week and if we want to elevate our seasons to the next level, getting on the right end of some of these calls could be a great way to rise up the ranks.

It’ll be a fortnight until my next article, so I’m planning on mixing things up a bit and captaining my City and Everton players, who at this point, are likely to be flying a bit under the radar when it comes to captaincy and will hopefully mean I can maximise their potential in the games ahead. One of Gündogan or Calvert-Lewin (or maybe even Digne if I’m feeling particularly brave) is likely to be my captain in three of the next four Gameweeks.

I’d feel really good about captaining a Leicester player this week against Leeds too. Either Harvey Barnes (£6.8m) or my favourite player, James Maddison (£7.2m). I think I’d swing for Barnes in this one though as I expect Phillips to do a good job on Madders, with Barnes causing havoc down the wings. I think I need to prioritise getting Gündogan in this week, but if I had a transfer spare, it would likely be captain Barnes for me.

The biggest test for my new brave outlook on captains will be the Spurs vs West Brom game in Gameweek 23. With the Baggies conceding goals for fun it will be hard to back against Son Heung-min (£9.7m) or Harry Kane (£11.3m).

Can Chelsea can get their act together so we can consider one of their players versus Sheffield United? Or maybe Bamford can find his shooting boots again before they entertain a pretty woeful Crystal Palace side. Man City also play at Anfield in what could be a title-deciding match – we’ve seen goals in this fixture before, so depending on the Liverpool’s centre back status, the likes of Gündogan may still be a shrewd move.

Az <p>One half of the FPL BlackBox YouTube series with Mark Sutherns.</p><p>Former Membership Strategy Manager for FFS&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

2,504 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy zouma > dcl digne -4?

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would wait on the zouma move I think as we don't know Tuchel's team yet.

    2. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yeah good move

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yip

    4. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all

  2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Better option of these 2 this week
    A) Soucek + 4
    B) Dcl

    1. Bielsa Murderball
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably A...it's close

  3. Goodricke
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bamford or Antonio to DCL?

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd wait but I'd want Antonio more than Bamford

  4. Bielsa Murderball
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play OOP Dallas or sell Kane for -4 ?

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kand injury that bad?

      1. ChelseaGuy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        *Kane

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      sell

  5. De Gea is GOAT
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi guys.

    Haven't really had the chance to read the news too much regarding Kane. Do we think hes out for a while?

    Best to wait for presser before targeting other players? My plan was to bring him in this week.

    Thanks a lot 🙂

    1. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      We don't know much aside from the tweets, but it looks like he's done for a week or two minimum.

      Definitely wait for pressers (same as every week)

      1. De Gea is GOAT
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Roger that. Thanks mate

  6. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2 quick questions!!

    Out : Saka or Soucek?
    In : Grealish or Zaha?

    1. Bielsa Murderball
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek & Grealish

    2. Kabayan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Save, Grealish (4 YCs) in, next gw

  7. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one for the short term

    A DCL
    B Foden
    C Barnes

    1. Kabayan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why short term?

    2. Bielsa Murderball
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      barnes

  8. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez | Fabianski
    Cancelo | Stones | Dallas | Coufal | Mitchell
    Fernandes | Son | Grealish | Gundo | Soucek
    Kane | Bamford | Wilson

    No idea how to navigate my transfers with 6.7 ITB and Kane injured.
    Also, further $ tied up in bench positions from a BB in the DGW, cheers.

    1. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just Kane out to whoever you fancy, don't worry about all of the cash, good position to be in.

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeh, possibly Ings.

      2. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I have enough $ after Kane to Ings to do Soucek to Salah for a -4, is that worth doing?

    2. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same boat but I was stupid and got Kane in yesterday. I will ride out one GW miss but bad news and I will take my medicine

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It feels as though it will be longer than a week, and a week at the moment is 3 games.

  9. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stick with it or pull the trigger and Kane->DCL

    Martinez
    Dias James Cancelo
    Salah Bruno Gundo(c) Grealish Soucek
    Antonio Kane*

    Johnstone Bamford Cresswell Dallas

    0.9itb

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If Kane out for long then yes

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      wait for pressers

  10. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Everton likely to get a DGW in 26?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      S'ton beating Spurs

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Actually, could double vs City or WBA if Everton beat Spurs in FA Cup

        1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Wow interesting!

    2. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hard to call, probably wont be a FA cup blank but could still have their postponed fixture there

    3. Avery
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Everton could have two Double GWs before Gameweek 29 or just the one Double GW in either 24, 26 or 27 depending on outcomes

  11. noquarternt
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone looking for a differential, Zaha is your man.

    1. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If only he were classified as forward

      1. noquarternt
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hard to fit them all into midfield isn't it

    2. PapaWengzz
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I am but i dont trust Zaha

      1. noquarternt
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He's got more points that a fair few stalwarts this season. Incredible fixtures etc.

        1. PapaWengzz
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Fair. With cash to burn i think im going for Mane

    3. Kabayan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Might bring him in 24 if he has dgw

    4. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      After the Wolves game, sure.

  12. PapaWengzz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pogba out form? Cash to burn
    A) Mane
    B) Son
    C) Barnes

    1. PapaWengzz
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      For*

    2. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  13. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    With the template narrowing down even further, I just dont see how a GW 25 WC can possibly be justified for those with no bench boost left. Most of the current in form players are on track to have a DGW 26 anyway and even if some do miss out, it wont be difficult to have a great XI in GW 26 using free transfers.

    I think there would be far more value in saving it for after the BGW where you can take advantage of the fixture swings and not have to consider the DGW or the BGW when building the WC team.

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      what is the template ? this place is a tiny part of FPL

      1. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I generally like to think of top 10k highest ownership as the template

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          nothing stops you from buying differentials, especially now with Kane out

          1. The Knights Template
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            What a horrible thought!

    2. Avery
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you have a wild card left you’ll most likely want to use it after GW29

  14. mojoindojo
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This week's highest scorer is a dead team with no transfers.

    1. Dwotle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The irony.

    2. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wow lol

  15. ChelseaGuy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone have the possible DGW sheet?

  16. Akshatjazz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who should I play ?
    a) Soucek Vs Liverpool
    b) Dallas Vs Leicester

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      a

    2. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      b

    3. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek, Leeds always concede anyways

  17. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    After this Kane injury, almost the entire game would have got Vardy and capped him this week if he was fit

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No chance

  18. George Sillett
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Maddison captaincy punt ?

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not for me mate, prefer more direct players for the armband

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Greatly tempted !

  19. Akshatjazz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with this team ? Have 1ft and 8.1 itb

    Martinez
    Dias, stones, Dallas, AWB
    Son, Salah, Bruno, gundogun
    Bamford, Antonio

    Bench - McCarthy, Soucek, coufal, Brewster

  20. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Damn, had a feeling Liverpool would turn up today but still surprised to see it happen. TAA back on the menu and Mane hitting form, Salah blanking yet again. Kane injury puts a spanner in the works, there's surely no way he plays the next match and possibly the ones ahead of that - even if Jose has a track record for being misleading?

  21. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which to start?

    A) Martinez
    B) Johnstone

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  22. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cresswell/Soucek/Antonio as potential captain candidates following Kane out. Interesting.

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Huh?

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      walk on the grass. dont smoke it.

      1. b91jh
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I forgot to type GW23. Lol

  23. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on keeping Rodrigo instead of Bamford as 8th attacker?
    Will be hardly used and when I need funds I'll look to downgrade anyway

  24. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How much does everyone have ITB?
    I have 6.7 and that is before trading Kane out.

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kane -> DCL gets me up to 10M ITB

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        yep that would give me 10.2 also.

    2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      5.2 with Kane still in the team

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes so similar, are you interested by Salah/Mane?

        1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I am, but have other priorities ATM.

    3. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      0.9 with Kane still in the team.

    4. Kabayan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      9.1 if i take out Kane

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who are you thinking of going Kane to?
        No obvious choice from first glance.

        1. Kabayan
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Looks like DCL will in this week.
          Salah or Son next gw.

  25. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lots of potential changes to make. Blow it up with a WC or stick with it and make incremental changes? Starred are those players I'd look to get out.

    Martinez - Mendy*
    Dias* (for Cancelo) - Robbo* - Stones - Coufal* (for Creswell) - Dallas*
    Gundo - Raphinha* - Soucek* - Grealish* - Bruno
    DCL - Bamford* - Kane*

    5.2 ITB, no FTs

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't use a WC, will need it around BGW/DGWs and KDB and Kane returning from injury.
      Kane the obvious trade this week.

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Funny enough, I can actually just bench him this week (although doing so risks a price drop, obv.).

  26. white lightning
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just after some advice please with 1 ft & 7.6m bank. Current team:

    Martinez, Areola
    Cancelo, Stones, Cresswell, Dallas, Mitchell
    Salah, Fernandes, Gundogan, Soucek, ESR
    Vardy, Bamford, Antonio

    If I sell ESR who do you prefer:
    (a) Mane or (b) Son
    If I sell Vardy who do you prefer:
    (c) DCL or (d) Watkins
    I might take a -4 hit selling both ESR & Vardy

    Thoughts & thanks.

    1. waldofeen
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mane and DCL

  27. waldofeen
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    On a wildcard. Kane and KDB both injured for me. How is this looking?
    Guaita(McCarthy)
    Trent Dias Stones Digne(Dunne)
    Mane Bruno Sterling(Soucek, Saka)
    Watkins DCL Antonio

    Any suggestions on possible changes?

  28. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cap Sterling or Gundo?

    1. waldofeen
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling all day long

    2. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely Sterling

  29. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best non Liverpool and City defender for the next 4-5 GWs?

    A. Digne
    B. Targett
    C. Mitchell
    D. Justin
    E. Anyone else?

    1. waldofeen
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Digne

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers! 🙂

  30. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If I'm happy with my team moving forward, I don't need to see having Rodrigo as my 8th attacker as a big problem right? It's not like I need the extra funds anyway at the moment...