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12 August 2016 2993 comments
J0E J0E
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It’s time for the first pre-Gameweek members article of the 2016/17 season as we check out the main captaincy contenders on offer. As usual, we analyse the Opta numbers and also check up on the Rate My Team ratings before offering up a couple of differential options in light of the data analysis.

The Captain Poll

Not surprisingly, Sergio Aguero is the outright frontrunner for our Gameweek 1 Captain Poll, with over 55% of the votes cast ahead of City’s home encounter against Sunderland.

The Argentine netted 15 of his 24 goals at the Etihad last time around and faces a Black Cats backline that was breached more times on their travels than any other side in 2015/16.

Sunderland managed just two away clean sheets all season and given that Aguero has scored in both his pre-season matches, we can’t see the visitors spoiling Pep Guardiola’s first match in charge.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic takes the runners-up spot ahead of his Premier League debut for United. The second most popular player in Fantasy Premier League, he’s selected by 14% after notching twice over the recent pre-season matches, including a Community Shield winner against Leicester.

Having already clinched the first silverware of the season, United will roll up to Dean Court in confident mood. Bournemouth boasted the second-worst home defence in the league last year – only Villa conceded more – and managed just four clean sheets in front of their own fans.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez head the chasing pack behind the big Swede.

Selected by just 5% and 4% respectively for Leicester’s trip to crisis club Hull, the duo look very viable differentials this weekend – both bagged double-figure goal hauls on their travels last term, with 12 of Mahrez’ 17 strikes arriving on the road.

Further down, Eden Hazard (3%) and Burnley’s Andre Gray (2%) offer form alternatives for their home encounters against West Ham and Swansea.

Having scored nine times over the summer, the latter, in particular, could prove a very brave punt – the Swans conceded in all nine away fixtures under Francesco Guidolin in 2015/16 and are reeling from the departure of former skipper Ashley Williams.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

  1. TheBear
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    RMT

    Courtois
    Shaw Stones Morgan
    Ayew Hazard Kante Alli
    Aguero Vardy Gray

    Heaton,Fischer,Friend,Amat

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Don't like the Kante pick at all. The rest is good.

    2. Garlana
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Kante isn't really liked as a fpl asset, won't often be in on the points. Ayew is also a bit of an unknown at this stage, personally I'm waiting to see what happens with him.
      Defence and forwards are solid.

      1. TheBear
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Was struggling to get a better midfield TBH! Any better ideas?

        1. Jönny
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          You might as well downgrade to a 4.5 (Hojbjerg, Capoue, etc.) and save the cash..

          1. Jönny
            • 16 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            Also, not much point having Courtois and Heaton. Might as well save 0.5 on your second GK, and then you can upgrade Kante to Phillips/Ramirez/someone else @ 5.5 who has attacking potential.

        2. Garlana
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Well you have a pretty expensive defence. Which isn't a bad thing. Just something else is going to suffer, namely your mids. Ayew might work but if not. Maybe tadic, or Redmond? Try free up some cash to upgrade kante to a more attacking option.

  2. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    I feel I'll be doing a lot of late tinkering..

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Mind those hairy palms. 😉

    2. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Is that a euphemism?

    3. SAY SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      I don't tinker on Saturday's as a rule. I'm done.

  3. lickwidice
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    1) Hazard + Gray
    OR
    2) Deulofeu + Vardy?

    1. Clickzy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      1

  4. Sánchez
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Any point posting anymore?

    1. TJ_777
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Nope just wait for all these people to leave

    2. awgJose
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      No

  5. Pedram
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    What should i change in this team ?

    Heaton (Foster)
    Shaw - Stones - Friend (Evans - Amat)
    Hazard - Mahrez - Tadic - Townsend (Capoue)
    Aguero - Vardy - Gray

    1. Ohhhhh Gary Macca!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Mahrez > Mane/Firmino

    2. Twelve years a slave
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Change its name to scout picks

      1. Ohhhhh Gary Macca!
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Lol

      2. Pedram
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Hey Triggerlips, how ya doing ? heard you're making money of your FPL team.

  6. Ohhhhh Gary Macca!
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Please pick one.

    A) Tadic
    B) Ayew
    C) Lamela (double up with Eriksen)
    D) Barkley

    1. Clickzy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      A

  7. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Bolasie still a Palace player?

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Currently, yes.

  8. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    I bet this has been asked but are ppl planning to get pogba? How does that affect the thinking on zlatan or other man utd options?

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Very few on here consider Pogba to be a good FPL option.

    2. Twelve years a slave
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      He hasnt really been talked about

    3. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Don't think Pogba will be great from an FPL perspective - better players for points in his price bracket

    4. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      No chance.

    5. The Curse of Falcao
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Hold fire on Pogba, he misses the first game anyway, if he is looking good he's not too expensive so he's easy to bring in.

    6. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Not much of an option himself. If he plays well though then obviously it should benefit Zlatan and the other FPL options in the team.

    7. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Good replies guys cheers. Personally I think he could turn into a good option but not banking on it

  9. NED KELLY
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Triple captain Kun!! Who's with me? Let's get off to a flyer

    1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Wait for DGW

    2. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Nah, I like to win it on the last day of the season.

  10. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    So it's officially FPL day!

    Who's ready with no more tinkering needed?

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      o/

      1. skindogg
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        how's it going Doos? how many hammer have you gone for?

    2. Twelve years a slave
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      aye aye captain

    3. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Me! o/

      1. Optimus.
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Shouldn't you be carrying him over the threshold? 😉

    4. Jönny
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      OMG, we'd better go to sleep or He won't come!

      I'm almost there I think, but hope to get some sleep and make some rash changes in the morning.

      1. dcarlito
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        I'm leaving milk and some cookies out. Josie will be coming down the chimney and leaving a Zlatan brace under the tree 🙂

    5. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      I'm done too! Only late injury / early lineup news could change things now

    6. Frank Black
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      I'm almost ready, trying to decide my fifth defender(haven't really changed my team much in a few days).

    7. Twelve years a slave
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Did Jonty stick with his Ibrahimovic pick?
      He lookd to be wavering in the scoutcast as he suddenly realised he was no longer in the majority

      1. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        There's plenty of hours left but I think he's going with his Vardy + money ITB suggestion from the scoutcast

        1. Twelve years a slave
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Had a feeling he was leaning that way

    8. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      o/

    9. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      o/ . What could possibli go wrong ?

      1. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        After the Scoutcast I said to Mark+co - "can you imagine if we go through another GW1 where we get 25 points"

        Lets hope it doesn't go that wrong!

        1. Twelve years a slave
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          At least we should be able to cope better this season after the horror start last year

    10. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Have to get Siggy out of my team apparently... The extra money will ruin my team.

    11. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      My team looks awful, but I think I'm done. 🙂

    12. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      \o/

    13. oghash
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Have been settled for days once I forgot about Ramsey.

    14. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Finished but being on here late at night full of pop is not beneficial.

  11. Jönny
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry for the repost, but anything goes on FPL Eve, right?

    Foster, Jaku
    Valencia, Stones, Funes Mori, Friend, Amat
    XXX, Firmino, Deulofeu, Redmond, XXX
    Aguero, Zlatan, XXX

    Options for the missing spots:

    Hazard, Phillips, Gray
    Oscar, Hojbjerg, Vardy

    Balanced budget, or seriously top heavy? Appreciate your thoughts!

    1. Khal Drogba
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Similar to my team. Slightly Prefer option A.

      In the end I got rid of Zlat so I could afford Hazard and Vardy.

  12. FPL Disorder
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Albrighton as a cheeky mid?
    Must be nailed on, but likely to be an early sub for Gray in many games.
    5.5m for a winger in a champion side is tempting for me.

  13. Lucy.
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Good luck everybody. I'm done. 🙂

    1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      GL, Lucy!

    2. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Nice one Lucy, promice we won't stealanymore of your players

      1. Optimus.
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        or something that resembles the english language
        🙂

    3. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      How was the wedding day Lucy and the honeymoon?
      All the best to you both and if you ever fancy a bit of walking in the Peaks call us up,

  14. Tmel
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    a) Hazard Sanchez Redmond Deulofeu Capoue
    b) Hazard Firmino Tadic Deulofeu Ramirez

    Strikeforce is Kun, Vardy & Gray

    1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      B, just

  15. Frank Black
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Since i don't like Friend's fixtures i could opt to bring in a Bournemouth DF, who would fit in my rotation.

    Is Adam Smith a better option than Francis? Everything points towards that, he scored only five points less than him but with only 2100 minutes played compared to Francis' 3386 minutes. Two goals against four assists and he got more BPS too.

    Is Francis more nailed on than Smith? Other option would be Akè.

    1. Jönny
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      You don't like Friend's fixtures? MID have a great opening run, IMO.

      1. Frank Black
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        When you look closely at their fixtures they don't look that good at all. Stoke is a good attacking team, Sunderland and WBA are the only two good fixtures in there and then Palace(probably with Benteke), Everton, Spurs, West Ham, Watford(good) and Arsenal. Don't like them at all.

    2. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      MID rotate v well with WBA and SUN, do you have a defender from either, I would hold if you do.

  16. Dananz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Ibrahimovic and Silva, or Aguero and Deufoleu? Playing 5-4-1. Already have Sanchez and Hazard. Not trolling.

    1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      AD

    2. GloryBXI
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      5-4-1? Are you new to FPL..

      1. Dananz
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Nah just bored. Id rather have 6 premium defenders than some half-rate punty mids or fowards. Doubled up on man city, man u and chelsea D. The clean sheets will come eventually.

  17. Bullet Tooth Toney
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Scouts, just listened to the podcast, great work as always.

    By the way, the centreback at Sunderland is pronounced...Dil-o-bod-gee!

    But maybe best to just go with Papy!

  18. patrickdoran
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Question!

    If you had to pick a 4 mill defender who would it be?

    1. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      John O'shea TC

      1. patrickdoran
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        O shea is 4.5 lol

        1. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          No u. John O'Shea is by definition a 4.0 player.

  19. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Fairly settled just wondering about midfield...

    Have Tadic and Townsend in at the moment but am wondering if Redmond would suit better but that means removing Tadic?

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Prefer Tadic myself. More secure game time + set pieces. Can always downgrade to Redmond later if/when he's firing.

    2. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Why are everyone on here crazy for Townsend??? I just don't get it...

      1. George Sillett
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Agree

      2. JoeJitzu +42
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Good fixtures, free kick taker, delivered points while with Newcastle.

        That's my attraction.....

        1. patrickdoran
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          hes useless

  20. Gonna mesut up
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Hey all, if you could lend me a little advice a poor sod who cant make a decision that would be lovely. Choosing one of the bottom... Have mahrez if that helps.

    A)Foster or B)Hennessey
    Hazard Alli
    Lamela Puncheon
    Negredo Vardy

    1. il Brutto
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Hennessey, Hazard, Lamela, Negredo

      1. Gonna mesut up
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        thanks, been set on this for a few days but just started to panic about vardy and how i shouldnt havent ignored him last year for ages.

  21. Bobby_Baggio
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Apart from Ibra who else in UTD would you go for?

    1. Jönny
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Martial seems a good pick given classification, but a bit expensive for the start of the season, compared to other midfield options.

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        cheers Jonny

  22. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone else going Leicester-less?

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      right now, alot of emphasis being put on one fixture.

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Arsenal probably have Kos back for GW2..and maybe Mustafi as well. Not too keen myself

        1. andy85wsm
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          But then you're only looking at 2 fixtures 😉

          Burnley, Swansea and Hull in first 5 is how I'm looking at it. But it's only 1-2 transfers away from getting someone else if needed

          1. Davido989
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            Good point

          2. Frank Black
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            CoughCoughBentekeCough....

      2. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Agreed bemba, past this first fixture, i reckon it'll be back to good old normal Leicester

      3. Frank Black
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        They could do a lot of damage to Arsenal's defense too in GW 2 and there's Swansea in GW 3....

    2. Gashead9
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Me currently but having a last minute panic over Haz and thinking about Mahrez and 0.5!

    3. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    4. Bobby_Baggio
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Nope, going with vardy

    5. Dananz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Yup. The Lannisters are back.

    6. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Currently, though that's the last dilemma to address tonight so could change.

    7. NED KELLY
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      I'm giving the musa a chance

      1. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Had he been a mid I would.

    8. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Taking the risk but feel very nervous as Hull are garbage.

  23. Ohhhhh Gary Macca!
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Why no love for Barkley? Havent seen him in many teams..

  24. Loftus Toad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Okay I'm split between Carroll and Negredo. Carrol, proven in Prem, strong team but dodgy fixtures, injury prone/rotation. Negredo class forward, great fixtures but rotation worry and boro unproven team. So tricky... I'm leaning towards Carrol due his explosiveness but any suggestions?

  25. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Can someone talk me out of Oscar please? 2.5 cheaper than hazard, plays number 10, great pre season. Any reasons not to save the cash from hazard?

    1. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      I'm getting him. I mean I have him.

    2. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Will he start every game?

  26. NED KELLY
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Im looking forward to the Friday night games this season

  27. Telpuialion
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    I have no Spurs players but do have Redmond.

    Then in that case,
    Tadic or Eriksen as 3rd mid?

    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Too early in the season to double up on attackers

      1. Telpuialion
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Thought so. Eriksen it is.
        Either that, or I go Tadic and Feghouli.

        So I guess, that brings it to:

        A) Eriksen and Redmond
        B) Tadic and Feghouli

  28. Jay_
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Will wildcard post gw3. I'm so torn with going with going with a cheaper, barely no attack potential defence and leaving 2m ITB to possibly get Kane or Ibra for Vardy or maybe sort my Oscar punt. What do you prefer?

      A: Valencia VVD Dann Kone Naughton

      Valencia plays all 3, VVD and Dann gw's 1&3, Kone and Naughton play gw2.

      This leaves me 0 money in the bank with no Spurs attacker.

      B: Valencia Stones Friend Kone Amat

      With 2.0m in the bank for the likes of Payet/Martial/Alli/Kane/Ibra gw2

    • Ninja Skrtels
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      A) Sanchez + Oscar
      B) Hazard + Eriksen/Dele

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        B all day

      2. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Don't like either but B if had to (with Erik)

    • adstomko
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      RMT

      Valdes (Jakupovic)
      Valencia, Stones, Souare (Evans, Amat)
      Hazard, Mahrez, Firmino, Townsend, Redmond
      Aguero, Vardy (Diomande)

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Lacks Zlatan