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. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Fantasy football have ruined the forward selection, the tricky position where if the main man leading the line is injured or out of form there's no choice.

    They've stacked the attacking midfield.

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      352 is a must.

      Also might have to start looking at premium defenders with that cash.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Good call.

    2. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I've been saying that for the past couple of seasons. If Salah, Mane,Aubameyang and Sterling are midfielders then George Best was a defender.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This!

        Even Mahrez is classed by Pep in his Champions League squad as one of 5 attackers.

        The game needs to sort it out.

  2. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to make way for Salah, Raphina or Soucek?

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

    Martinez (Steer)
    Stones, Shaw, Dier (KWP**, Coufal)
    Salah, Fernandes, Son, Gundogan (Stephens)
    Kane**, Vardy**, Bamford

    Vardy & Stephens --> DCL & Barnes (-4)?

    I would then play 3-5-2 and take a view on Kane's injury.

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep good moves

  4. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How to improve team with a -4 ( 2 transfers) or hold?

    A, Coufal to Justin or Digne?

    B, Foden to Gundo or could Phil explode?

    C, Soucek to Barnes?

    D, Bamford to Antonio?

    Martinez
    Maguire, Stones, Dias
    Bruno, C Son, Foden, Salah
    Kane, Bamford, Watkins

    Johnson, Soucek, Coufal, Mitchell

    3.3

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

      Antonio in

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  5. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Assuming we don’t get any Kane news, what to do here??

    A - Hold Kane, Bamford 1st sub

    B - Kane -> DCL -4

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

      A. Then transfer out Kane for free (unless there's some surprise injury news).

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

    Plan on moving both out eventually but who should be priority to get rid of this week out of Bamford or Wood. Planning on getting DCL.

    1. ShaunGoater123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same decision for me. I’m going wood

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

        Probably leaning towards that myself

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

      same spot for me. moving wood out to brewster to change formation and KWP to Diaz or Digne.

  7. as33
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Bamford nailed?

    1. Vlekz
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Doesn't really have competition to this spot

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why do I see nobody planning for a dead end strategy in BGW29, with a WC30?

      Surely planning for DGW26 and BGW29 can be done via FTs no?

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who’s likely to get a DGW26?

      2. Vlekz
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Dgw probably needs 3 spurs(will have none after this gw), plus need to sort out forster Brewster Ferguson if I want to bb in 26.
          I am going hard on fixtures from 20-24 and then wc. I see a bigger upside this way

        • pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Very much on it right now

          As I understand it 29 could well be DGW BGW and that makes dead end 29 even more attractive if no FH

      3. Green O' The South
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Went into GW20 with £8.9m in the bank. KDB to Gundogan, Vardy to Bamford for -4.
        Felt wrong but more than happy with 81pts and a big green arrow. Will be splashing some of that cash but with the twists and turns we are seeing a little in the bank gives you a safety blanket and expensive isn’t always best. I have Mane not Salah which has paid off recent weeks.

      4. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Think the easy move here is wood to DCL. Would you do anything else for a -4?

        Johnstone
        Cancelo / stones / Maguire
        Salah / son / Fernandes / gundogan
        Dcl / bamford / Antonio

        McCarthy / soucek / targett / Dallas

        1. Thomas Jerome Newton
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Save it. Looks good.

      5. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pull th trigger on this -4?

        Kane + Dunne(3.8) > DCL + Cancelo -4?

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yes

      6. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Olly Watkins 8 goals and 6 assists in 6 games and 12 blanks.

        I know he has potential but is he a consistent pick yet?

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Pretty decent return considering he’s had 12 blanks. Missed good chances too.

          With a lack of strikers he’s definitely worth a punt

        2. Athletico Underachieving
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Consistently annoying yes. He’s been quite unlucky, not sure if he’s on pens anymore after missing a couple...good value though

        3. Thomas Jerome Newton
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Got to consider the price.
          At that price, how does he compare points wise to same price midfielders and defenders?

      7. Nedvěd11
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        1 FT 3.5 ITB

        Martinez
        Cancelo, Dier, Dallas
        Sterling, Son, Bruno, Gundogan
        DCL, Firmino, Bamford

        Sub: 4.0, Soucek, Cresswell, Coufal

        A) 4.0 to any other GK
        B) Dallas -> Digne
        C) Soucek -> Rodriguez
        D) Bamford Watkins

        1. The White Pele
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B

        2. KunDogan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          D

        3. Thomas Jerome Newton
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Prefer B.
          Plus considering the fixtures.

      8. The White Pele
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Bad idea to bench Antonio?

        1. Vlekz
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Benching him for?

            1. The White Pele
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Dcl

              1. The White Pele
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Getting DCl for Wood or play Antonio

                1. Vlekz
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    I would play DCL Antonio and bench Watkins. (You already have grealish too), but that's just me.

            2. Make United Great Again
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Yes

            3. Thomas Jerome Newton
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              I'm considering the same.

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Antonio v Liverpool is not a priority for me. I'm losing Kane for Watkins this week and Bamford for Antonio next week (have DCL)

            4. pingissimus
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Play Antonio - could have had a hatful against Palace and Liverpool have no central defence

          • Pedersen
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            What's up with Kane? For how long is he expected out?

            1. diesel001
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Injured his ankle. Don't know how long he is out for.

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Both ankles. We're talking a few weeks. Gotta get rid. Makes Son less desirable too.

              2. Ruth_NZ
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Both ankles. You couldn't make it up.

                At a guess, 4-6 weeks.

            2. Pedersen
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Thanks for the replies mates

          • Slitherene
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Martinez ¦ Forster
            Cancelo Maguire Coufal
            Bruno Rashford Barnes Saka
            Jesus Ings Wilson
            ¦ Soucek Holding Lascelles

            1 FT, 7.2 ITB

            Never had so much ITB, what to do??

            1. The White Pele
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Saka to Salah

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

                0.1 short, sadly

              2. Tambling5
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Or Mane on form

          • cm790
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Going to play 5 at the back this week, risky but I’m confident. G2G?

            Areola
            Cancelo Stones Shaw Mitchell Justin
            Son Bruno Sterling (C) Maddison
            DCL (vc)

            Martinez Antonio Bamford ESR

            1. cm790
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              4.1m ITB to.

            2. Eleven Hag
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Wud start Antonio over Mitchell

              1. cm790
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                I need to have more confidence in West Ham. I support them to ha.

            3. cm790
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Wondering if I should take a hit to bring in Digne for one of my defenders.

          • Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Who to bring first this week?
            A. Grealish
            B. DCL
            C. Mane/Salah

            1. Vlekz
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Depends on who you losing to get them too

            2. Eleven Hag
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Any idea if Kane will be back in time for the WBA game ?

            3. lfcserg
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Hows this team looking for GWK 21?

              Mendy
              Robertson - Cancelo - Stones
              Mane (VC) - Bruno - Gundogan (C) - Grealish - Barnes
              DCL - Antonio

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

                Personally wouldn’t start Antonio - Liverpool did still look a bit shaky at the back but feel like West Ham have been overperforming recently and if Liverpool continue picking up their attacking form there’s the possibility that Antonio won’t see much of the ball anyway.

            4. Silecro
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Would you transfer out Bamford or Adams for DCL?

              A) Bamford making way - cleares my head from benching headache, bad form, bad fixtures, Adams also possible DGW24
              B) Adams making way - even worse form than Bamford, fixtures also not great, would probably rot last on my bench most of the weeks

              1. Pukki Party
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                B

              2. lfcserg
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Adams

            5. Letsgo!
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Will you start bam or antonio?

              1. lfcserg
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                antonio

                1. AC/DC AFC
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  All day long.

                  Bamford on his way...

            6. Pukki Party
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Thoughts on Richarlison for next two? NEW,lee good games. Have DCL already, chasing.

              1. lfcserg
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                ballsy doubling up on their attack, I think Antonio/Watkins is better suited

                1. Pukki Party
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Thanks

              2. Eleven Hag
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                I am looking to double up as well with Richa and DCL

                1. Pukki Party
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Confident that he's better alternative than Watkins/Antonio?

              3. AC/DC AFC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                He is important for Everton but doesn't quite get the assist or goal and points.

                1. Pukki Party
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  That's an issue, not on pens if Siggy on the pitch?

            7. Donny_Rover
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Martinez (Meslier)
              Dias Stones Justin Robbo (Coufal)
              Salah Gundo Grealish Fernandes (Soucek)
              Bamford Watkins (Antonio)

              A) Bamford -> DCL
              B) Bamford -> DCL, Stones -> Cancelo for a -4 (Cancelo has looked a threat all season, if he’s now delivering he’s well worth the upgrade)
              C) Bamford -> DCL, Soucek -> Son (-4) - bench Watkins
              D) Bamford -> DCL, Soucek -> James (-4) - bench Watkins
              E) Bamford -> DCL, Coufal -> Digne (-4) - bench Watkins

              Had lined up Bamford to Kane - glad I didn’t pull the trigger!

              1. lfcserg
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                A

            8. UnitednationsXI
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Those planning to WC25/BB26, it seems that there will hardly be any decent fixtures from teams with cheap players.

              So one option is having a more expensive bench but that means a more balanced squad and then spending transfer subsequently to bring it back to a premium XI.

              Alternatively, just delay the BB to another dgw. Is that an option? Surely there are bound to be more gw's down the line?

              1. AC/DC AFC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                With rotations i wouldn't obsess about BB on dgw.

                Just play it when it falls.

              2. Green O' The South
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Good question. I have BB but no WC. Injury/ rotation such a risk in this packed season maybe a balanced team is the way to go anyway?

            9. Tambling5
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Team is
              Martinez
              Cancelo Stones Digne
              Son Sterling Grealish Bruno
              Antonio Ings DCL
              Subs Justin Mitchell Smith-Rowe
              One free transfer 1.3 in bank
              a) Gtg Yes/No
              b) Justin as sub correct Yes/No
              c) Sterling captain Yes/No
              Thanks

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

                If that was my team I’d bench Antonio for Justin. Sterling definitely the best captain option and a really good team for this week, think it’s worth rolling the transfer.

                1. Tambling5
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Thanks very much. Yes Antonio or Justin. It's trickier than usual with Antonio just the sort of striker to hassle Liverpool's makeshift centre backs!

            10. AC/DC AFC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Kane, Foden and Zouma to

              DCL, Salah and Cancelo

              ... for hits.

            11. Mane Mane Mane
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Who should start this game week, Johnstone or Martinez?

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Never the Baggie in my book

            12. Letsgo!
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Will you do bam to watkins and saiss to rudiger?

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Yeh

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

              Soucek to
              a) Gundogan
              b) Grealish

              1. AC/DC AFC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                A