CAPTAINCY HYPE 2018/19: FPL Gameweek 6
Picking a Captain to double down on in the Fantasy Premier League is the most important question asked ahead of each of the 38 Gameweek's in the Premier League season. There's a lot of self-help out there for FPL enthusiasts, with our Hype Team providing three major considerations for the armband for each and every Gameweek. We'll be detailing the Essential choice for captain, a popular alternative that's pushing the consensus, and a Wildcard pick to add to the chaos. Captaincy can make of break a Gameweek so strap in tightly, it's time to lose your marbles. All aboard.
Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 6 Deadline
For the 2016/17 Premier League season, the FPL deadline will be one hour before the commencement of the week's first game. The Premier League website lists each FPL deadline, you can always ask on social media, and you can also view a real time countdown on our Weekly Hype page
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE ESSENTIAL PICK
Our Essential picks for captain are selected each and every week on our main Twitter account, @RealHypeTrain, with four highly selected FPL options battling it out for alpha status amongst fellow FPL players.
Gameweek 6: Essential Captain
Player: Mohamed Salah (LIV)
Position: Midfielder
GW6 Fixture: Liverpool vs. Southampton
Player Price: £13.0 million
Player Selection %: 45.4%
The infamous tune of the Champions League is back, as is the orchestral vibrations of the Europa League. Top clubs across Europe begin their path to continental success, with this patch of the season typically a turning point for FPL players, and that appears to be the case again this season as we rapidly approach Gameweek 6.
After much chopping and changing with our captaincy poll, which initially included Harry Kane (TOT) and Romelu Lukaku (MUN), community pressure to include Hazard and Mane had us rewrite our plans. The result is a hotly contested poll that was won by Mohamed Salah.
This now means that Salah and Aguero have shared top billing for captaincy 3 times each, with The Egyptian King winning out on the three occasions Liverpool have had a home fixture on the horizon.
Salah's victory this week puts his name in the headlights yet again, though their is a lot of sub-context to understand that is putting Fantasy players off the Egyptian altogether.
The last time Salah was in this position he commanded 54.4% ownership during Gameweek 3's 1-0 home victory against Brighton, in which Salah scored the only goal of the game. Now, fast forward through an international break and the start of Liverpool's Champions League run, confidence is at an al-time low with Salah since his return to the Premier League.
A poll victory was achieved this week with just 35% of the vote, the first time an essential captain has failed to reach a majority. Salah won 51% of our vote during GW3's win over Brighton, and a massive 71% of the vote during Liverpool's rout of West Ham during Gameweek 1. The poll numbers for Salah have been dropping radically each time Salah is put in this position, meaning that despite winning, more Fantasy players are seeking alternatives.
Issues for FPL players stems largely with Salah's £13.0 million price, which after a 9.0% drop since Gameweek 3, has not yet resulted in a price fall. A major alternative in Eden Hazard has cropped up to command a chunk of Salah's ownership, a move which was vindicated in Chelsea's recent 4-1 home win against Cardiff, which saw Hazard score a first Premier League hat-trick since 2014.
Matters in the Champions League haven't furthered Salah's cause this week. The Egyptian gave the ball away on several occasions and was largely sloppy on the ball in Liverpool's 3-2 win against PSG. Salah was the reason PSG equalised with just minutes remaining and was subbed just minutes later for Xherdan Shaqiri. Obvious signs of frustration were there for Salah, even when Roberto Firmino scored the eventual winner for The Red's, all which equate to ominous signs for FPL players - one which is making it harder for a chunk of Salah's owners to bid farewell for now.
Looking at a more positive note, Southampton aren't inspiring confidence that it won't be a potential rout at Anfield this weekend, with the south coast side leaking a brace of late goals against Brighton in a recent 2-2 home draw at St Mary's. Salah has a point to prove this weekend and might very well take his performance to the next level to restore confidence on the pitch, and on the Fantasy board.
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE ALTERNATIVE PICK
Our Alternative selection for captain typically commands a smaller FPL ownership percentage, but can be reserved for The Hype Train's own gut instincts on who could be captaincy inspiration.
Gameweek 6: Alternative Captain
Player: Romelu Lukaku (MUN)
Position: Forward
GW6 Fixture: Man United vs. Wolves
Player Price: £11.0 million
Player Selection %: 10.7%
If you would have started the season with a Forward from both Manchester clubs, namely Sergio Aguero and Romelu Lukaku, your team would be 66 points better off, a little titbit we didn't think we would be uttering so soon after a World Cup year.
Many FPL players have been caught off guard by how quickly Romelu Lukaku has started the season, scoring in 3 of his 5 league appearances and notching twice against Burnley during Gameweek 4.
Largely overshadowed by the likes of Aguero, Firmino and Kane, Lukaku's turning into a deadly alternative to consider, and one that we heavily fancy for a home tie against Wolves this weekend in a 3pm kick-off.
Each of Lukaku's goals have come from open play, with Luke Shaw's great form a big factor in supplying the Belgian with superb delivery into the box this season. With Dalot and Shaw highly-praised after a comfortable win against Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday, Lukaku could find himself as a traditional target man this season with a host of wingers and full-backs all vying for advanced positions to find their finisher.
Despite a busy World Cup in Russia, Lukaku unlike Kane looks like he has the legs to continue a green patch of form, and despite Wolves keeping successive clean sheets, we envision a harder test of their defensive capabilities when a visit at Old Trafford is at hand.
Lukaku's appearance against Watford last weekend also means that he has reached 100 Premier League appearances, and more often than not after a feat such as this, how often do you hear the Match of the Day commentator talking about the news after scoring or assisting? Far too often.
With red filling our captaincy article this week, Lukaku is the perfect Forward to bank on if you're looking for an alternative route to the likes of Salah and Hazard this weekend.
CAPTAINCY HYPE: THE WILDCARD PICK
Our Wildcard selection is one of the ten differential picks that is featured in our Weekly Wildcards article. This captaincy selection has a very small percentage of owners in the FPL, and is our left field option.
Gameweek 6: Wildcard Captain
Player: Alexandre Lacazette (ARS)
Position: Forward
GW6 Fixture: Arsenal vs. Everton
Player Price: £9.4 million
Player Selection %: 4.3%
Arsenal have been winning games under the guidance of Unai Emery, and that is not surprisingly down to his hindsight of choosing to start Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman has been in fine form and already has more points his strike partner, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. One goal and three assists are the tally from just the last three games since the Frenchman has been starting games. Arsenal finally have a focal point, no it isn’t the Gabon striker, it is Lacazette.
Aubameyang has been better occupying the channels down the wings, leaving the central spot for their most lethal marksman. The Frenchman is cheaper, more of a threat, and playing in his correct position compared to Aubameyang, and yet is the lesser owned of the two which makes him a very valuable differential to have. Everton, the team making the trip to the Emirates, showcased their vulnerable defence against West Ham, so just imagine what better players are going to do to it.
Lacazette is a player who everyone will have on their minds but won’t have the courage to trust, but all we see is an in-form striker against a weak defence.
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, live sport, and professional wrestling.
As well as providing FPL articles on our website, we are a founding Contributor to the new Fantasy Football Hub, where you can find more unique articles, including weekly Power Rankings, from The Hype Team. You can support us and read exclusive members only content for just £2 per-month by clicking here.
The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog 2016' by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), with the final presentation held at Old Trafford in Manchester.
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All aboard.
