Captain Sensible
13 August 2021 2001 comments
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Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers face a number of selection dilemmas as they put the finishing touches to their squads ahead of tonight’s 18:30 BST deadline, one of which, of course, concerns who to captain.

While one, all-too-familiar name leaps out as the leading candidate for the armband this week, there are other FPL assets whose cases deserve examining.

First, we will assess the fallout of the Gameweek 1 captain poll, then analyse the leading candidates and Rate My Team (RMT) ratings ahead of this evening’s curtain-raiser in Brentford.

THE CAPTAIN POLL

As you can see from the current results, Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is the runaway leader of the Gameweek 1 captain poll. The Egyptian midfielder has accumulated 61.95% of total votes from our users at the time of writing.

Only one other player has garnered more than 10% of votes at this stage, with Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) currently in second place, backed by 14.68% of users.

There is also a surprise inclusion, as Ivan Toney (£6.5m) occupies third place with 4.62% of votes, with Sadio Mané (£12.0m) and Kai Havertz (£8.5m) just behind the Brentford forward.

MOHAMED SALAH 

  1. Pedram
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bissouma or Brownhill for the 4.5 midfielder spot?

    1. Pukkipartyy
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Brownhill

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gilmour?

    3. @FPL_Chess
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I agree with MY HEART GOES SALALALALAH.
        Gilmour.

      • WVA
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        They are all rubbish which makes 352 even more appealing

      • Kiwi Don
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Don’t think it will make or break your season, lol. Either one is fine.

      • Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Brighton spots are prescious imo, so no to Bissouma. But Brownhill is a good pick, provided Burnley don't sign anyone.

        But I think I prefer Gilmour. He's a key player now Skipp's gone and I hear he's on set pieces. He's a player always looking for the forward pass. Will probably get a few assists over the season.

        Not a huge decision at the end of the day...

      • Zalk
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I actually think there will be an abundance of 4.5 mids playing this year. Here are a some I think will start:
        Bissouma, Gilmour, Brownhill, Allan, Romeu, Longstaff, McArthur, Matic, Etebo

    4. Pukkipartyy
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Final decision.

      A) Barnes + Toney
      B) Benrahma + Wilson

      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        A

      2. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Depends if you wanna go a bit different. A is template and B is differential. Close call

      3. Poetry in motion
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Not much between them imo, I like B a bit more

    5. Gudjohnsen
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A. Mahrez, Antonio
      B. Harrison, Vardy

      1. @FPL_Chess
          4 years, 3 months ago

          A

      2. @FPL_Chess
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Last call. All are welcome...
          https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/3v58je
          Global FPL Chess League♞ since 2010/11. Grandmasters listed on pinned tweet @FPL_Chess
          750+ players.

        • Shark Team
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Best 5.5 Def apart from Shaw? (Digne Maguire Stones Rudiger into consideration)
          I think I'd love ManUtd defensive double up for the first 4

          1. cassanata
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            At the moment I am going to double up on the Utd defense and get AWB

          2. WVA
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Digne's fixtures are amazing

        • diesel001
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          This team should stop you from getting a bad start. Can't guarantee a fantastic start, but you won't be totally screwed with this:

          Martinez - (Foster)
          TAA - Shaw - Digne - White - (Tsimikas)
          Salah - Fernandes - Grealish - (Bissouma) - (Gilmour)
          Ings - Antonio - Toney

          Has the 2 most selected GKs and 9 of the 10 most selected outfield players in the starting eleven.

          1. schlupptheweek
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            It's a very different structure which is interesting. I'd play Tsimikas over White considering White's upside is low.

            1. diesel001
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Every starting player (and Foster) in that squad has ownership above 20%. Really Digne should be Dias, but that makes it unaffordable.

              I accept it is boring, but getting off to a bad start is bad for FPL. Whereas being in the pack is fine as you can pull away later.

            2. @FPL_Chess
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Yep. I agree. It's a good team though.

            3. WVA
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Its a very good team and will probably do better than mine

          2. Babit1967
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Everyone all set? I haven’t changed my team in a few days and ready to go, only dilemma is captaincy

            1. @FPL_Chess
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Having Salah in your team removes the dilemma.

                1. Babit1967
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Got Salah but thinking Man U will give Leeds a doing thus making Bruno a decent shout

              • Poetry in motion
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                The least of my worries for this GW is the captaincy

            2. 03farmboy
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Ings and Raphinha
              Or
              Antonio and Barnes

              Really hard to decide??

              1. Babit1967
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                I went A but either either seems great

              2. @FPL_Chess
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Ings for the short-term, Raphinha for the long-game.

                • Hansel
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 15 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  B

                • WVA
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  I've got all four, bargains

                • Stockport Hatter
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  I have all 4. I suppose that doesn’t help though.

                • Poetry in motion
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  A for me

                • space mercenary
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  I have all 4 too.

              3. Ppss90
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Thoughts on the team:

                Sanchez
                Digne shaw trent
                Mane greenwood barnes benrahma
                Ings martial firmino

                Bench- white sarr amartey

                Looking to get rid of ings, firmino and martial to load up on romelu around gameweek 3 and make way in the mid for a sancho or city player

                1. Hansel
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 15 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  It's different than the template 🙂 Wouldn't go near Firmino or Martial myself but I like that you are trying it out

              4. Hansel
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 15 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                A) Greenwood, Toney
                B) Greenwood, Benrahma +0.5 ITB
                C) Greenwood, Raphinha
                D) Wilson, Benrahma

                1. FPL Emu
                  • 15 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  A

                2. WVA
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  C
                  It's a toss up between Raph and Toney 352 or 343, personally i think Raph is the better play in the better team and is a proven prem play so aint gonna be a sheep

              5. FPL Emu
                • 15 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Are there any 4.5 defenders that have at least moderate chances of attacking returns?
                Would ideally like one that has a decent fixture for GW2

                1. potatoace
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Lowton, Ayling, Taylor

                  1. potatoace
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Forget Ayling.

                    Pieters.

              6. Custard Gannet
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Help please!

                Mahrez + Toney OR Grealish + Wilson / Antonio

                1. FPL Emu
                  • 15 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  M + T

              7. The Finnisher
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                A. Barnes & Son

                B. Mahrez & Ings

              8. Vlad Tepes
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Two questions:

                Last fixes before deadline.

                1. Bachmann/Foster or Sanchez/Foster? Do you think Brighton is more solid in D compared to Watford?

                2. Pick one A or B.

                A) White/Raphinha/Bruno/DCL
                B) Shaw/Son/Greenwood/Bamford

                B) Means skipping Bruno but the team feels more solid but it is a risk of course.

                Cheers

              9. Fletch69
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Last decision: for goalie and mid

                A. Sanchez & Raphinha
                B. Martinez & ESR

                1. The Finnisher
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  A

                2. Champ
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 15 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  A

                3. Hansel
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 15 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  A

              10. AzzaroMax99
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                G2G?

                Sanchez
                Shaw Tsimikas Digne
                SalahC Mahrez Bruno Benrahma
                Ings CWilson Toney

                Foster White Ayling Gilmour

                1.5 idb

                1. AzzaroMax99
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Or to switch Toney+Benrahma to Antonio+Saka/Raphina

              11. Redranger
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Can’t decide between these two options?

                A) Son and play 442
                B) Barnes and go 343 with Toney

                1. Stormbringer22
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Difficult to say without the rest of the team

                  1. Redranger
                    • 10 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Just think of the template and you’ll have it haha.

                    Sanchez 4.0
                    TAA Tsmiskas Shaw White 4.5
                    Salah Bruno Raphina 4.5
                    Ings Antonio

                    Either Son & a striker or Barnes and Toney with 1m ITB

              12. _Gunner
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Which is better?

                A- ESR and Digne
                B- Toney and Vestergaaard

                1. Stormbringer22
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  B, but Vest won't play GW1. Is that a problem? Have you got decent cover?

                  1. _Gunner
                    • 11 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Yeah he will be benched gameweek 1.
                    Playing Shaw TAA and White/Tsimikas

              13. DavidKent
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                A: Mount + Barnes

                Or

                B: Rapiniha + Grealish

                Or

                C: Jack Harrison + 7.5-8.5 (who?!)
                They’d be my 3rd and 4th midfielders in a 343.

              14. Wirtzle Gummidge
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                The "Balls Deep 442"

                Sanchez
                TAA / Tsimikas / Shaw / Coufal
                Benrahma / Grealish / Bruno / Salah
                Lukaku / Toney

                Steele / Amartey / Gilmour / Scarlett

                1. Stormbringer22
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Great team, but no bench is a worry. Also, Lukaku not going to play GW1 most likely

                2. Lignja
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Like it, you expect Lukaku to start?

                3. Warby84
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Use a placeholder if you really want Lukaku..

              15. Radzio
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Sanchez 4.0
                Shaw Tsimi Amartey Ayling White
                Salah Bruno Mane Benrahma Raphinha
                Ings Antonio 4.5

                Really like it for the moment, Mane first 2 should be great, weak defence but for 1-3 should be enough, what do you guys think?
                Minuses ofc no TAA and no City for Norwich, would like Gundo but don't know where to downgrade.

              16. The Red Devil
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Go on then, gimme your thoughts

                Martinez
                TAA Shaw coufal Tsimikas
                Salah Bruno Mahrez Barnes
                Wilson Antonio

                Bench- Foster Brownhill omo Obafemi

                0.0 ITB
                no funds ITB & no Leeds could be a concern but I like Wilson & Martinez for first few weeks.
                Thoughts?

                1. The Pesci challenge
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  I would do coufal & Wilson to Ings and a 4.5 def

                  1. The Red Devil
                    • 10 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Wilson apparently has a good record against West Ham
                    Which 4.5 would you suggest?

              17. OBAMA
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                pick one;

                A) son, gundo, 4.5m striker

                B) toney, mahrez, raphinia

                1. Stormbringer22
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  B

                2. The Pesci challenge
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  I like B in yours, below?

                3. Kiwi Don
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Hard without seeing the rest of your team but slightly b although I really want Son as well but can’t fit him in.

              18. The Pesci challenge
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Which one?
                A. Toney, Raphinha & amartey
                Or
                B. Grealish/Gundogan, 4.5 ST & 4.5 def

                1. OBAMA
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  B

              19. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Don't forget, anyone who's come in the top 100 to join the Top 100 Anytime League.

                After 10 years, I'm sure there's plenty more.

                Code: pztxjt

                1. GoonerByron
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Will you be monitoring this? Have joined but can see quite a few in the league already with no top 100 finisj

                  1. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 16 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Tbf I haven't for the last couple of years. Generally been too busy for much focus on FF.

                    I will this year, though.

                    And, please, if you haven't been in the top 100, people, don't be a d*ck. 😉

              20. Mattador
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Is there a decent nailed on 4.5 mil keeper?
                Have Sanchez and Foster but don't trust foster to start and like having two playing keepers.

                1. GoonerByron
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Foster won’t start, Bachman at 4.5 will

              21. GoonerByron
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Which of these for a Bench Boost?

                A - Pickford + White

                B - Bachman + Tierney

              22. OBAMA
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                thoughts please

                Sanchez

                TAA, Tskimikas, Coufal (Ayling, Amartey)
                Bruno, Mahrez, Salah, Raph (Gilmour)
                Toney, Antonio, Ings

              23. mrtapio
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Leaving 4m itb so I can get Lukaku in for Ings or Antonio. Can afford price rises if I transfer Antonio out. With Ings I can't, and would most likely have to pull the trigger after this weekend.

              24. SpaceCadet
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Does Jota start this gw?