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. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lots of pressers today, hold those transfers !

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

      Don’t waste your breath, if they’re silly enough let them

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

    Johnstone or Martinez to start this GW?

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

      J

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez - WBA are a shambles

    3. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Johnstone for me

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

      I have both and going with Martinez. WBA are just awful. Southampton havent really been scoring much lately so dont feel too bad about Martinez

  3. rjcv177
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Morning guys. After Kane to DCL

    Fab
    Cancelo, dias, Maguire
    Salah, Bruno, gundo, Barnes
    Dcl, antonio, bamf

    Coufal, Mitchel, anguissa

    A) anguissa to grealish
    B) coufal/Maguire to Digne

    Thkx in adv

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

      A and drop Bamford to the bench.

      1. rjcv177
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thkx. GL 2 u

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

      A and bench Bamford

      1. rjcv177
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thkx. Grealish would be cover on ML...digne Will be a diff

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B - Grealish with 4YCs and 1 game left is off-putting. If he gets a YC in the SOU game (19th league game), he will get a one match ban

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

    Martinez (Fab)
    Stones, Dier, Lowton (Alioski, Coufal)
    Sterling, Gundo, Bruno, Son, Soucek
    Kane*, Bamford (Wilson)

    Kane, Alioski > DCL, Digne (-4)?

    Yay or nay?

    (Next week Wilson, Fab > Antonio, 4.0)

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

      Just play Wilson

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I like those two moves

  5. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    KDB>

    1. Gundo (c)
    2. Salah
    3. Mane
    4. Barnes

    Probably take a punt on Cancelo captaincy wise if not Gundo

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

      2.

      Mainly because he's due imo

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

        Is he still on pens?

    2. GS456
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1

  6. ㅤRising
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Was thinking to transfer Watkins for Rodrigo, but already have very strong bench. Now thinking I could transfer Bamford to Watkins or DCL instead and just play Souchek everyweek because I'm tired of benching his points.

    What do you think?

    Pope Johnstone
    Robbo Cancelo Justin James Coufal
    Salah Fernandes Son Gundogan Souchek
    Bamford Antonio Rodrigo

    2.1£ ITB

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

      Bamford to DCL looks good

  7. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Are any of these worth a -4? (Will play Adams if not)

    A. Adams > Watkins/Antonio
    B. Anguissa > Son/Grealish
    C. Any other mid or striker up to 10 (have salah Bruno gund DCL)

    1. Dr Ennet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Don't think any of them are worth a -4, but time will tell. 🙂

  8. vova
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hey guys, any moves to make?

    Martinez Johnstone
    Dias Stones Dier Mee CTaylor
    Salah Fernandes Son Gundogan Anguissa
    Kane Antonio Watkins

    Was going to save the transfer but now Kane is injured so I guess I need to get someone else in but no idea who.

    0.0 ITB
    1 FT

  9. GS456
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Odds on Mourinho telling porkies, Kane starting and scoring 2 and the player you swapped him for blanking?

    Been that kind of season.

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

      He’s in my starting XI

      1. GS456
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It’s just going to be isn’t it. Keeping an eye out for anything from Kane on social media.

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yeah just bruising I hope - bit of ice

      1. GS456
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sounded like it when he said they are swelled up.

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

    Soucek to:
    a) Grealish
    b) Gundo

    1. GS456
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

      Is it wise to sell Bamford?
      What is the logic behind DCL? Only fixtures?

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

        post fail

  11. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Starting:
    Dallas
    Raphinha (Soucek for Kane)
    Bamford Kane

    Got 1.5m but can’t seem to get a plan. DCL for Kane obvious but terrified with no Gundo and hate triple Leeds with their fixture.

    Dias or Gundo instead could be a play and hold Kane assuming Mou is lying

    1. GS456
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d swap Raphinha to Gundogan

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who do you think will score more this week ? DCL v Newcastle or a City player v Sheff U tied?
      Think I’d trust City more with their form.

      1. PompeyUpNorth!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sterling is going crazy this weekend

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

    Martinez
    Cancelo(c), Dias, Dier
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Grealish
    Antonio, Bamford, Adams

    (Soucek, Dallas, Coufal)

    Save the free transfer? Have 3.5m in the bank and biggest issue is no MCI attack.

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

      Cancelo *is* MCIs attack

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

    Captain:

    A. Sterling
    B. Salah
    C. Cancelo
    D. DCL

    1. GS456
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      A

  14. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Funny how "orange" flagged Kane will drop like crazy unlike "red" flagged KDB

  15. Paulie Walnuts
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish, Bamford
    To
    Gundo, DCL

    Can only do the DCL move with the other one due to funds

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

      nah crazy

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tricky because I would like to keep jack, what’s the rest of your mids.

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

      Not a good move

    4. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not for me

  16. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do we think Chilwell starts against Burnley?
    Considering one of Coufal,Dallas or Chilwell > Digne.

    If I remove one of the cheaper options means I’ll have Dias,Cancelo,Chilwell,Digne(Coufal/Dallas) at the back.

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

      Big D

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

      Return of Alonso is imminent

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeh thinking this but Burnley at home. Will feel silly if I remove Chilwell and he plays.
        Might just keep and start and remove One of Coufal or Dallas. Which isn’t an easy choice either. Probably keep Dallas with the extra fixture.

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

          Fair. Though that extra Dallas fixture is a long time away, will be after gw26 sometime

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably but a lot of talk about Alonso before the Wolves game and he was heavily filmed in the training video as well. Too much uncertainty for me at the moment so I won't be bringing in a Chelsea player

  17. vova
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Kane to DCL yay or nay?

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

      Nay

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yay

    3. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      wait for news - if it's a fracture then yay. Just bruising....no.

    4. Dr Ennet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wait for news.

  18. Man Chest Hair United
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rashford to son still a good call even with Kane out?

    Best move here?

    A Rashford to son
    B keep Rashford
    C Bamford and Rashford out Dcl and Zaha in

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

      C

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

        Keep Rashford. Bam out for DCL

  19. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Didn’t everyone use to say son does well without Kane ?

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

      He did during Kane’s last long term injury

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Why has that changed now? He will be on pens as well, moura and ndombele are hardly chumps

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He did post good stats previously with Dele and Eriksen. Now that Spurs heavily rely on Kane and Son link-up play, I think Son is worse off if Kane is injured

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

      Yeah keep it a secret

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

    Is Bamford still on pens?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, until he misses one

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

  21. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you get rid off any of these midfielders for Son?

    A. Salah
    B. Sterling
    C. Bruno
    D. Saka
    E. Soucek

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

      It isnt urgent to remove any of them

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no

    3. Dr Ennet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

  22. ㅤRising
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it wise to sell Bamford?
    What is the logic behind DCL? Only fixtures?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fixtures and main players back from injury, Digne, Rodriguez and Rich

  23. Neo-Viper
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Repost

    Play Raphinha or Bamford.

    Souchek and Coufal the other subs

    McCarthy Johnstone
    Coufal Robbo Stones Justin Dias
    Bruno Son Gundogan Raphinha Souchek
    Antonio DCL Bamford

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

      Be brave and bench Bruno for the arsenal game.
      Raphinas current form is much better than Bamfords

  24. King Drogba11
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone for Rich over DCL ?

    1. Dr Ennet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That is not a bad call. Most going for DCL so Rich would be a nice differential.

  25. CapK
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G here? Or play someone over Raphinha?

    Martinez
    Stones / Chilwell / Cancelo
    Bruno / Salah / Gundo (C) / Soucek / Raphinha
    Antonio / DCL

    Meslier / Bamford / Justin / Coufal

    Thanks!

    1. THL33
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      all good I think

  26. tvinsnes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one:
    A) Raphinha (LEI) a
    B) Adams (AVL) h
    C) Soucek (LIV) h
    D) Targett (SOU) a

    Thanks!

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

      Raph

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

        My thought too!

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

      Soucek he's on fire

  27. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Soucek or Bamford?

    Will start Antonio.

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

      I have both and starting Bamford. I see the logic for Soucek since Liverpool dont look set up for set pieces so Soucek could punish them. But it's a striker vs CDM in the end. Have to back the striker even if he looks out of sort at the moment. Thinking Bamford still has pens which is a big bonus as well. If Soucek didnt have such a big haul

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

      ** If Soucek didnt have such a big haul recently would have made the decision much easier, playing on everyones minds

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

      Soucek. Always go with form, and Bamford is most definitely out of it.

    4. Dr Ennet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I have the same dilemma. Bamford has looked out of sorts a while now and Soucek keeps getting into goal scoring positions. Haven't decided myself but leaning towards playing Soucek.

  28. KKapur
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Will my TC Gundogan pay off this week or hold off till next week?

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

      Wait

  29. KKapur
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Shall I TC on Gundo this week?

    1. Dr Ennet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough call. Would probably wait till a DGW to maximise that chip.

  30. Dr Ennet
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good Evening all! 🙂

    Who to play:

    A) Bamford (lei)
    B) Shaw (ars)
    C) Soucek (LIV)

    Cheers!

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

      C

      1. Dr Ennet
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers Optimus!

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

      A