The issue of captaincy selection in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for Gameweek 10 has become a topic of discussion. Erling Haaland, despite being a premium player, has had only two double-digit points returns this season, which raises questions about his captaincy potential. On the other hand, Mohamed Salah has consistently scored at least 10 points in four of the last five game weeks, and players like Ollie Watkins and Son Heung-min have shown good form.
To make an informed captaincy choice, several core values should be considered. It’s essential to pick a premium player from a top-performing team.
Teams like Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa are leading the Premier League, and their players are strong captaincy candidates. From these teams, players like Son, Haaland, Bukayo Saka, Salah, and Watkins have been a stand out so far.
Top 5 Captaincy Candidates for Gameweek 10
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland, priced at £14 million, is likely to be the most popular choice for the captain’s armband in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for Gameweek 10, despite his recent form of only two goals in the last four matches leading up to the unpredictable Manchester derby. Lately, there has been a noticeable decrease in Haaland’s shot attempts, with just five efforts on goal and two significant goal-scoring opportunities, as defined by Opta, in the past four game weeks. This dip in performance raises doubts about his suitability as a captaincy option.
Additionally, Manchester City faces a scheduling challenge as they have one less day to recover compared to their opponents, Manchester United, following a busy midweek in the Champions League. To complicate matters, the fixture takes place at Old Trafford, which historically has been a tough ground for City. While Haaland has previously enjoyed success against Manchester United with three goals and two assists in two Premier League appearances, it’s important to note that all those returns came in a high-scoring 6-3 home victory last season, with United securing a 2-1 win in their home fixture.
Given these factors, some FPL managers may consider looking beyond Haaland for the captaincy in Gameweek 10. But Haaland on his day can win you games thus, he can’t be avoided as a Captain’s choice.
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Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah, valued at £12.8 million, is currently the preferred choice for the captaincy across many FPL teams this time. His appeal is bolstered by his recent performance, having scored five goals in the past four games. Furthermore, he has the advantage of playing at home in a fixture against Nottingham Forest, a team that has shown defensive vulnerabilities in away matches against strong sides like Arsenal and Manchester City this season.
Salah’s reliability is further accentuated by his consistent 90-minute appearances in six matches this season. He is typically rested during midweek European fixtures, which ensures his freshness for domestic league matches. Additionally, he holds the responsibility for taking penalties, with Liverpool having been awarded four penalties already in the current season.
In terms of historical performance, Salah has a track record of success in this particular fixture, having scored in a 3-2 victory last season. His recent form is also impressive, as he leads the league in terms of shots, with 15 attempts in the last four game weeks.
Importantly, he has capitalized on all five of his significant goal-scoring opportunities and has also contributed by creating three big chances for his teammates. These factors make Salah a compelling choice for the captain’s role in Gameweek 10.
Bukayo Saka
Priced at £8.5 million, Bukayo Saka presents an enticing captaincy option for the upcoming Gameweek, particularly because he has been a consistent source of attacking returns in every home game at the Emirates Stadium this season. However, it’s important to acknowledge that Saka’s underlying statistics have been inconsistent lately, largely due to his recent injury concerns. Therefore, the extent to which his playing time is managed in the Champions League could significantly influence his suitability as a captaincy choice.
Saka’s advantage lies in the fact that he faces Sheffield United, a team that has been struggling defensively. They have conceded a whopping 24 goals this season without managing a single clean sheet. This vulnerability of their defense makes Saka a viable candidate for the captain’s role, especially since he also plays a crucial role in taking set pieces for Arsenal.
One caveat is that penalty-taking duties for Arsenal have been shared with Martin Odegaard. Nonetheless, Saka’s home form, the opponent’s defensive frailty, and his set-piece involvement all contribute to his appeal as a potential captain for Gameweek 10.
Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins, valued at £8.3 million, is certainly a worthy consideration for the captaincy role in Gameweek 10, especially with newly-promoted Luton Town visiting Villa Park. Watkins has been in scintillating form, providing an attacking return in each of the past five game weeks, amassing five goals and five assists during that period.
What makes Watkins a strong captaincy prospect is the fact that 80% of his goals this season have been scored at home. Furthermore, he boasts an impressive record of 15 shots taken within the opposition’s penalty area in the last four game weeks. Additionally, he’s shown his creativity by registering eight key passes during the same period, making him the top forward for creativity among his peers.
Watkins has a reputation for performing exceptionally well when on a prolific goal-scoring streak. Moreover, Luton Town’s struggles in keeping clean sheets, with zero clean sheets in nine games and 17 goals conceded, further enhance Watkins’ appeal as a differential captaincy option in a competitive Gameweek. However, it’s important to note that he is not the designated penalty-taker for his team. Thus, keeping him as the skipper might turn out to be a blessing in disguise if things don’t go your way.
Son Heung-min
Another significant candidate for the captaincy in Gameweek 10 is Son Heung-min, who’s valued at £9.5 million. Notably, Son has been deployed out of his usual position as a striker and enjoys the advantage of not having to contend with a midweek fixture prior to Tottenham’s away trip to Crystal Palace.
While Son’s playing time has been managed in recent weeks due to a nagging injury concern, it hasn’t hindered his ability to produce excellent returns. Over the last four game weeks, he’s notched four goals and provided an assist, highlighting his effectiveness in front of goal.
Son’s impressive statistics further bolster his case for the captaincy. During this period, he’s taken 16 shots, four of which were categorized as significant goal-scoring opportunities. Notably, Son is renowned for consistently outperforming his underlying metrics, with five returns from an expected 3.3 goal involvements.
Also Read: Fantasy Premier League Tips: Team-wise best picks for FPL Gameweek 10
One of the few potential downsides for Son is that he’ll be playing an away fixture. However, it’s worth noting that five of his seven goals this season have come in away games. Additionally, Crystal Palace, although they’ve kept four clean sheets this season, recently conceded four goals to Newcastle United and three to Aston Villa.
Tottenham has been prolific in terms of creating goal-scoring opportunities, leading the league with 95 shots this season. There’s also speculation that Son is the first-choice penalty taker under manager Ange Postecoglou, although official confirmation is pending. These factors collectively make Son a strong contender for the captain’s armband in Gameweek 10.
In conclusion, the choice of captain for Gameweek 10 is a complex decision, and factors like form, fixtures, and player-specific attributes should be carefully weighed when making the selection.