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. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    We'll, that's me out of the Cup.

    1. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Aye. Me too. Shocking gameweek, now time for some hits and to have some fun!

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

      Same. absolutely sickened... losing to a guy on 38pts.

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

      mid table team without Kane

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

        We were missing all 4 senior centre backs...

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

          You're always talking about the players missing. Typical Liverpool cry baby lmao.

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

            Mmm those tears taste so good

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

              I'm not a Spurs fan lmao.

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

                No your a deluded Utd fan

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

      It was 3-1 mate, not 2-1

  2. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Funny that Bobby wears a mask on bench but not on the pitch

  3. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Adams to DCL it seems

  4. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone got more than 8 games with players in their first XI this week?

  5. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son a better or worse option with Kane out?

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

      Worse for sure.

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

        If u have, keep. If you don't, Gundo, Barnes etc better options now.

        1. Gazza2000
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Not have him, not sure if I should get him now.
          Spurs looked a different team 2nd half.

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

      worse

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

      Worse definitely

    4. Marcin the Pole
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Worse 100%. And I'm an owner.

    5. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No one knows for sure, if anything son steps up normally when Kane is injured. Different manager tho so will need to wait and see. I’d still be getting son in if I didn’t have him as he’s an elite finisher and will still get chances

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

    Looks like 37 will be the GW20 LMS safety score.

    1. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers. End of the road for this year. Think it's the best I've ever managed, though!

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

        Good luck for the rest of the season.

        1. Better off with a pin and a…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks and thanks for organising!

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

      How the heck am I still in it

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

        How do you know if you are still in it?

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

          If you can still see LMS in your leagues on FPL website and you got more than 36 this week, you're in.

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

      That's the end for me. Gundo bench by a mistake, sold TAA and bringing in 2 Leicester players made me get a whooping 27 points with -8......
      Didn't help with kane injury and robbo blank in the end either....

    4. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why does my heart go on beating?
      Why do these eyes of mine cry?
      Don't they know it's the end of the world?
      It ended with a poor 35

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

        🙁

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

      Predicted 1-2 here. Pleasantly surprised with the result!

      1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You need an Oscar for that

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

          ?

      2. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I wasn’t surprised at all, was just relieved when that firmino goal went in.. Hopefully the floodgates will now open

  7. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Barnes is currently my C, I fail with my C every week anyway! What’s the worst that could happen.

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

    What do people think about Son if he’s without Kane?

    High & central will be his role but without his main supplier...

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

      On Pens. No brainer to get for me. Not © though

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I was gonna cap him but having doubts now, he's effectively played as striker anyway this season but their entire system revolves around Kane.

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

      It’s his time to shine. When we doubt in Son he delivers hauls...

  9. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any ideas here?

    Martinez
    Dias Cancelo Dier
    Grealish Fernandes Sterling Salah Son
    Bamford Antonio

    Subs: Konsa, Dallas, Brewster

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

    His injured is Kane? Will he play this gameweek do we think?

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

      No idea yet

  11. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with Kane? 1m itb. I have
    Salah Grealish Saka Bruno Son
    Antonio Kane Bamford

    1. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think id hold swap or kane to dcl if out period of time

      1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        DCL is very pooh. I prefer Watkins.

  12. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is everyone concluding Kane is out long term?

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No one knows. All speculation.

    2. Marcin the Pole
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wait for the interviews/pressers. Upshot is that no one has a scooby.

  13. FantasyHero
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Think kane might be fine for next game? Maybe was taken off as precaution?

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would Mourinho make a precautionary substitution in a game as important as this?

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It’s Son GW4 all over again

        He’ll announce tomorrow they’ve lost Kane for some time, then start him vs Brighton

        Or maybe Kane’s gone for a month, who knows tbf

      2. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Definitely not.

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

      What? He is injured. Couldn't carry on. Might recover in a week or longer but nothing precautionary.

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

    Plenty of FFSer's through to the next round of the FPL Cup 🙂

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

      Lasting longer in the cup than LMS

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

      I’m still in although I’d have been out if that Son goal hadn’t been ruled out for offside

    3. Long ago I drew a walrus
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Will there be a FFS Cup this year?

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

        I assume so but no news yet.

  15. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bamford to any forward? DCL the obvious option but didn’t do well against Leicester and hasn’t scored in a while

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

      Scored in FA Cup?

  16. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Probably time to get Salah back in now tbf

    Only a matter of time until the duck gets broken

    1. Blue Moon Rising
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Has he ever had this many consecutive blanks?

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah he had 6 consecutive league blanks GW27-32 (Which was also part of 8 blanks in 9 from GW24-32) in 2019 and 5 consecutive blanks GW34-38 last season

  17. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anti climatic GW

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

      could describe most gw's tbf

  18. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Never do early moves. But was so set on Kane and the price rise last night would have priced me out. He’s started every single game. And now he’s crocked. First, and most certainly last time i do an early move.

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

      I've said that so many times this season yet I did it again. I've given up pretending to myself.

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same needed Wilson out of my squad visually

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

    Week from hell

  20. Tinfoil Deathstar
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any ideas on this lot:

    Martinez
    Dias - Stones - Coufal
    Gundo (C) - Son (vc) - Salah - Bruno - Soucek
    Antonio - Bamford

    Subs: Forster; Adams; Ayling; Taylor.

    £7.7m ITB and 1FT. Was pretty set on Adams -> Kane, but assuming Sir Harold is crocked I'm now thinking Adams -> DCL and Ayling/Taylor -> Digne for a -4.

    I can't see any of my other defenders besides Stones & Dias keeping a CS, and hoping Digne can make up that -4 over next four game weeks given he's essentially playing left wing. Considering Chilwell as well but the Tuchel factor unnerves me, a little.

    1. Haa-lala-land
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Keep Adams, Southampton traditionally do well against Villa. Bringing in Digne is smart

  21. Blue Moon Rising
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Why does Mark do a separate podcast?

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The scout cast has disappeared now which is a shame. Not sure the direction this site is going, needs a massive revamp

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

        I really miss when the line up was Jonty, Mark, Az , Andy and Granville - the all star cast of FFS for me

    2. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Because Pumpy Pro asked for one specially

  22. Jersey Boy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yes. Yes it is.

    DCL captain locked in

  23. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with this horror show? I really do not know?

    Mc. Carthy, Johnstone
    Dias, Stones, Robertson, Coufal, Dallas
    Fernandes, Salah, Foden, Soucek, Raphinha
    Kane, Bamford, Antonio

    1 free transfer and 1.0 in the bank.

    Thank you!

  24. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you ditch any of below for gundo
    1) soucek
    2) son
    3) none

    1. Jersey Boy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Defo not 3, he’s playing well

  25. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Draw on points in the cup and same amount of goals scored, what happens now?

    1. Corona is not good 4 U
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If a cup match is drawn, then the following tie-breaks will be applied until a winner is found:

      Most goals scored in the Gameweek
      Fewest goals conceded in the Gameweek
      Virtual coin toss

      1. muc1999
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pity bp don't come in instead of coin toss.bad way to lose

  26. sentz05
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you do Rashford out for Gundogan -4?

    1. Sid07
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

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

    Kane injury means utter shite Wilson stays on for another week. rip.

  28. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sweet 99k overall rank.