Darren Friend's Alternative Captain Picks
Well, what a gameweek it was last week! Two score draw derby's, a fantastic free kick by Gerrard and a jager bomb by jagielka (you like what I did there). Then there's Rooneys red card - he will now sit out the next 3 games against Everton, West brom and Chelsea. Many of you, like me, may have been looking to captain Rooney in this weekends game against Everton. I'm going to give you managers some other players to ponder over, excluding the likes of Mr Costa and Mr Aguero.
Pick one
Graziano Pellé
Becoming increasingly popular among Fantasy iTeam managers and I can see why... He continued his impressive start to the season with a goal against QPR, that's his fourth in six games. And with an assist to his name as well, he's scored 35 points already this season. With his value at 7.7m, he could be the man to replace Rooney, especially if you take into account the Saints next 3 fixtures - after the away trip to White Hart Lane this weekend, Southampton have some favourable games in Sunderland (h) Stoke (h) Hull (a). I expect this guys value to rise along with his points total in the coming weeks.
Pick two
Leonardo Ulloa
Another cheap option, if you're struggling to find funds to get the more expensive players into your teams, Ulloa and Pellé should free up a load of cash. Despite a quiet game against Palace, Ulloa has five goals in six games to his name, that's a pretty good start to life in the EPL. And with Leicester’s next 3 games looking like this - Burnley (h) Newcastle (A) Swansea (a), he could, and probably will add to his already impressive tally of 37 points. With a FIT value of just 6.6m, he should be given some serious thought
Pick three
Raheem Sterling
Although he didn't get a goal or an assist against Everton, he's been a real handful for Premier League defenders this year. I love watching this guy running with the ball at his feet - he is lightning quick and has bags of talent to go with that impressive speed he possesses, and with Liverpool's next 3 games to take into account, he's a must have. Starting with West Brom (h) QPR (a) and Hull (h), he's going to be one of the players, if not the player to kick start Liverpool's sluggish start to the season. Surely he will add to his already impressive tally of 32 points from the opening six games FIT value 7.7
Pick four
Nacer Chadli
He's really impressed me this season so far. He scored his fourth goal in five starts against my beloved Arsenal in the north London derby (dam you Nacer) last weekend and has got off to a flyer with 34 points so far this season. His confidence will be sky high going into the next Spurs game against the Saints this weekend, and apart from the tricky Manchester City game after this weekend, Spurs will host games up against Newcastle and Stoke with an away trip to Villa park sandwiched in-between. Chadli should be on your short-list at the very least - FIT value 6.0.
Pick five
Edin dzeko
Arguably the riskier one of my picks, however, a great 2 goal performance against Hull City has lead him to being my number 5. When he's on form he's a delight for us fantasy football managers, and if you're trying to catch up with the early pacesetters on FIT and in your respective mini leagues, he could very well be worth a punt. With games against Villa,(a fixture in which he scored 3 times in last season) Spurs and West Ham next, along with a Manchester derby, there's a good chance of him adding to his tally of 23 points. There is the small matter of Jovetic's potential return to action this weekend and after his impressive start to the season before injury, there's always the chance he will walk straight back into the team. Saying that, I do feel Dzeko suits a partnership with Aguero or Jovetic more then they suit each other, as I feel they both have a tendency to drift back a little in search of the ball. FIT value 9.2m.
So there you go people, some of my top picks of players to transfer in and captain to ponder and lookout for in the upcoming weeks. It's a tough world this fantasy football business, us budding Mourinho's and Wenger wannabes live in it every Saturday and Sunday. You can find me in front of the TV, screaming and shouting, nine times out of ten its abuse, not in joy, as the news comes though that one of picks has just forgotten to turn up with his shooting boots on the day I put him in my team .
I wish you all luck with whoever you choose to captain and transfer in, not only this week but for the rest of the season
Darren Friend
