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. S3
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo, Stones, Mitch
    Son, Salah, Bruno, Gundo, Soucek
    Bamford, Watkins

    Steer, Wilson, Cresswell, Holding
    1FT and 6.6 ITB

    Appreciate thoughts on the following:

    A. Wilson >> DCL and play in 11 instead of BamBam
    B. Soucek >> Barnes
    C. Soucek + Wilson >> Barnes + DCL
    D. Holding + Wilson>> DCL + Digne

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

      D

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A or D. D looks great if you want to take a hit.

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

    Re : 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...

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yep agree

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

    Play Mitchell
    Or
    bring in Stones for Dallas -4

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones

  4. subhojit123
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Whom should I replace Kane with -
    1. Antonio
    2. Ings

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

      Antonio. Not even close.

  5. subhojit123
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best keeper option with budget 5.1 ?

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

    Had the armband on Bruno, as had many. Tuesday afternoon I realised I needed to look elsewhere and gave it to If He's Fit. 5 into 10, could have been 16 into 32 easily.

    DCL has joined my XV for the first time ever, and in a show of good faith I'm entrusting him with the captaincy this weekend.

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

      Same here. Captaincy, not first time ever.

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

      Same on both. As someone who never jumped on DCL early on in the season, Im excited to finally own him

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

    Mane or Salah?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you have Salah hold. Otherwise flip a coin.

    2. Pops15
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If I'm bringing one in right now it has to be Mane. Full of energy and leading the attack at the moment. Salah looks tired and not giving us anything

  8. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I am set on doing this for a -4

    Wilson & Bednarek => DCL & Cancelo (Have Stones)

    but thinking a -8

    Coufal => Digne

    What to you reckon? or do the Digne move next week?

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

    1. Grealish > Salah (-4)
    2. Grealish > Son (-4)
    3. Play Grealish
    4. Bench Grealish, play Coufal/Dallas

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      3

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

    On a wildcard. How is this looking?
    Guaita(McCarthy)
    Trent Dias Stones Digne(Dunne)
    Mane Bruno Sterling(Soucek, Saka)
    Watkins DCL Antonio

    Any suggestions on possible changes?

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

      Gundogan?

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

    Play four:

    1. Robbo
    2. Coufal
    3. Dallas
    4. Grealish
    5. Soucek
    6. Raphinha

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1, 4, 5, 6

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

        This ^

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

          Yeah, that's what I'm on now 🙂

  12. Live Lad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Adams or Bamford?
    Don't wanna double up with Raphinha against Leicester, but Adams does nothing recently.
    Thanks.

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

      Southampton v Villa last time around was an open 4-3 game.

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

    Here's a team that actually fulfils my total budget in 2/3 gameweeks time through 4 trades.

    Martinez | Forster
    Cancelo | Stones | Coufal | Dallas | Mitchell
    Salah | Fernandes | Son | Grealish | Gundo/Saka/Soucek
    Vardy | Ings | Bamford

    What are people's thoughts at targeting something like this?

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

    Looks like Bamford gets another week in my side... straight to the bench

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

      I need to field 2 of him, Wilson & Soucek this week.

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

      I moved him on for DCL.
      Came off early last match, just wasn’t working right or sharp

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

        I'm moving Kane to DCL. Will move Bamford to Antonio in a few GWs

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          DCL best replacement for Kane ?

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

            For me, yes. NEW lee mun FUL upcoming fixtures with Rodriguez, Digne, Rich all back as the supporting cast.

            1. Stranger Mings
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Yep totally agree so going for DCL

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

              Bam will stay at the end of my bench this week as I move Antonio in for Kane. I got DCL last week. Next week Bam's out for Watkins. I can't really see past a current front 3 of DCL, Antoni and Watkins. With KDB out as well, some of us are going to need bigger pockets.

              1. Stranger Mings
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                If bam benched who are you playing instead ?

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

                  4-4-2 this week

  15. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi play bamford (leic) or Bowen (LIV)?cheers

    1. SharkyT
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bamford

    2. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bamford, surely

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers will probably go bam then although risk he doesn’t start plus strong chance Leicester keep cleansheet

  16. SharkyT
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    8m ITB 1 FT:

    A) Bissouma > Sterling (c)
    B) Bissouma > Salah
    C) Kane/Biss > DCL + Sterling/Salah -4
    D) Kane > DCL

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

    Kane replacement:

    Top 2 scoring forwards are injured.
    3&4 I've already got
    5 is Wilson!
    Lacazette is up there but bad fixtures.
    Gotta be Antonio, right?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

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

      Best Forwards to own currently, IMO

      1. Antonio
      2. DCL
      3. Watkins

      Perfect.

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        If you have 2 up front? DCL & Antonio?

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

          I'd say so. Watkins looks like he'll have the best DGW26, though.

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

        Heh, just replied the same thing to you above!

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

          Haha, great minds!

        2. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Oh right it's in order.

          1. The FPL Units
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Hehe

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

              Well not the best order for GW21. With Hammers at Liverpool, I'll sell Kane for Watkins this week and get Antonio (for Bamford) next week, thus avoiding a hit.

  18. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Kane+KWP to Watkins+TAA for a hit?

  19. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gundo or DCL c?

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

      The form guy

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Assume gundo - only thing I am worried his scoring run will end ?!

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

          The streak is due to a position change. Pep kept him higher after KDB injury, so it doesn't look like a flash in the pan.

          1. Stranger Mings
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Ok cheers will probably go gundo.

        2. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          No.worse than KdB

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

    Is the Antonio benching justified?

    Johnstone
    Robbo Chilwell Cancelo Stones
    Salah Bruno Son Gundo
    DCL Watkins

    Mccarthy Antonio Coufal Bissouma

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

      Realy ?
      He almost scored 4 goals this week. So probably saved something for pool

  21. Gemma817
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I have kept TAA in my team for 6 GWs, wanted to finally get rid of him this week by getting in Cancelo. Having second thoughts now, he seems to be back in confident. I already have Stones.. Thought guys? Should I do the move?

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

      Liverpool still have CB issues, affecting TAA. City are super-stong at the back. Rotation is an issue but I'd still prioritise Cancelo.

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

      I did the move and despit there not being much between them this week, I still feel Cancelo is the better pick long term as City's defense looks much better than Liverpool's currently.

    3. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think 100% yes... Cancelo is OOP, cheaper, better fixtures, solid CB pairing at the back so better CS potential, better form... only downside is slight rotation risk so you need a playing 4th defender to own Cancelo

  22. Live Lad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain
    (1) Sterling
    (2) Gundogan
    (3) Salah
    (4) Bruno

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

      Sterling

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

      Gundo

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

    A few weeks ago Bamford was a season keeper ... how the mighty have fallen and what a fickle crowd 🙂

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

      Nobody should ever be considered a season keeper

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

      People kept Pukki too long last season.

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

        Behave yourself

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

      We shall see who’s fickle when he starts banging them in again

    4. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you actually believe there is such a thing as a season keeper you are playing this game wrong

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

      Yeah and now people are taking -4 to get Watkins in who blanks 2 out of 3 times whereas Bamford blanked 9/19 times...

  24. Wag the Drog
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Absolutely dreadful week after taking a -8. Trailing ML leader by 130. Time to WC? 0FT with this lot.

    McCarthy
    Stones-Cancelo-Saiss-Justin-Kilman
    Bruno-Rashford-Neto-Son-Biss
    Kane*-DCL-Ollie

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

      Save your WC if you wanna cover 130 points

      1. Wag the Drog
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Neto to Gundo for -4 then?

  25. Jamb0
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pretty set on Bamford -> DCL as my free transfer this week...

    worth it to do Robbo -> Cancelo for -4 too? Already have dias but just keep getting burnt with only 1 city defender!

    Yay or nay?

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

      Cancelo pretty much OOP and one of their main creaters. Go for it IMO

      1. Jamb0
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        thanks mate, my thoughts too... would be my first hit of the season!

  26. S3
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo, Stones, Mitch
    Son, Salah, Bruno, Gundo, Soucek
    Bamford, Watkins

    Steer, Wilson, Cresswell, Holding
    1FT and 6.6 ITB

    A. Wilson >> DCL
    B. Soucek >> Barnes
    C. Soucek + Wilson >> Barnes + DCL (-4)
    D. Holding + Wilson>> DCL + Digne (-4)
    E. Holding + Soucek+ Wilson >> Digne + Barnes + DCL (with the plan of holding all 3 till GW 25 when I wildcard)

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

    What to do this week?

    A. Bissouma to Zaha
    B. Wood to DCL
    C. Both for a -4

    1. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

      A.

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

      B

    4. Pops15
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

    Martinez
    Dias - Robbo - Stones
    Soucek - Son - Gundo - Salah - Bruno
    Bamford - Kane
    ________________________________
    Forster: Dallas: Holding: Brewster

    Was just messing around and figured I could do the following for exact budget:

    Kane + Soucek + Robertson >> DCL + Mane + Digne

    Thoughts on this? (Albeit at a cost of -8, eek)
    Cheers.

  29. kobewan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    who starts against Liverpool who looked very dangerous?

    Soucek or Cresswell

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

    Leaning towards Keeping both Wilson and Bamford instead of going DCL.

    Fixtures in next 3 for Wilson and Bamford are quite decent as well and they have Pens too.