Our weekly analysis of the Captaincy contenders arrives once again this evening. As always, we take a three-part approach which includes the weekly poll standings, the Opta statistics and our Rate My Team projections to help steer your thoughts on the armband conundrum.
The Captain Poll
Sergio Aguero is the runaway leader in this week’s Captain Poll, having earned 34% of the votes cast so far. The City striker is in imperious form as he rolls up to face a QPR defence that has conceded more goals (20) than any other outfit – having scored in four of his five away appearances to date, he could wreak havoc on a backline that has been breached at least twice in eight of the opening ten Gameweeks.
Southampton’s top scorer Graziano Pelle is also highly fancied ahead of a plum home clash against Leicester. The big Italian has delivered returns (13, 9, 15 and 5 points) in each of his previous four appearances at St Mary’s, and up against a side with a single clean sheet this season, seems poised to continue his ascent up the Fantasy standings.
Angel Di Maria is the top-rated midfielder, earning 13% of the votes as Man United prepare for the visit of Palace. The Argentine has been somewhat hit-and-miss at Old Trafford this term – racking up 14 and 13 points against QPR and Everton respectively but blanking against West Ham and Chelsea – whilst team-mate Wayne Rooney, who has scored in all three home appearances this term, has persuaded just 2% to hand him the captaincy. Like QPR, Palace have also conceded at least twice in all but two of the first 10 rounds of fixtures, with Neil Warnock’s installation proving detrimental to their defensive prospects.
Arsenal’s in-form Alexis Sanchez has just 9% of backers despite moving up front in recent weeks. The Chilean took his tally to 11 goals in his last 13 appearances with a midweek strike against Anderlecht and has racked up three consecutive double-figure hauls ahead of a trip to Swansea – Garry Monk’s side have conceded just three times in front of their own fans, though, and will be hoping to derail the Sanchez bandwagon this Saturday.
Diego Costa is regarded as the man most likely as Chelsea travel to Liverpool on Sunday. The Blues’ star striker has collected 5% of the votes so far, whilst Eden Hazard and Raheem Sterling sit around the 1% mark – a sign that few will be willing to roll the dice on the Anfield encounter.
West Ham pair Stewart Downing and Diafra Sakho have been largely overlooked for the visit of off-form Villa. Paul Lambert’s side have now conceded at least twice in each of the last six, and whilst Downing has managed just two assists in front of his own supporters this season, fit-again Sakho has scored in each of his three home starts against Liverpool, QPR and City and has averaged over eight points per appearance at Upton Park so far.
