Are England going to win the World Cup? Yes, probably... but that's quite enough brilliant insight into this summer's tournament. More pertinently, we now face perhaps the most exciting part of the season. In the next seven weeks there will be eleven gameweeks, injury crises, more rotation than Pep can shake a stick at, shock results; and by the turn of the year, battered and bruised, only the most astute fantasy managers will have hung in there. If you have resisted the urge to wildcard so far, you may be rewarded or thwarted, as this part of the season is harder than not getting fat on the Pret Christmas sandwich. It's just so. damn. good.
Wassssaaaaappppppp!!!!
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Balls Out Option - Harry Kane (£12.7m) vs. Arsenal (a)
Can you back Kane at the Emirates? Yes, you can. The Spuds have been great away from home this season, and the multi-season wonder has more chance of closing his permanently-open mouth than Arsenal have of keeping a clean sheet.
The gunners are terrible against other teams in the top six, so back Kane to hit the net this weekend, if you have the cojones. Honorable mention goes to the people who captain Aguero, who had to go to hospital mid-week after passing out at half time - presumably from the shock of losing to Nigeria. Good luck to ya.
Balls In Option - Mo Salah (£9.4m) vs. Soton (h)
More Salad has only scored one fewer goal than Kane - seven to his eight - and has three assists, despite missing the majority of his chances this season. Soton have been poor this season, albeit miserly, so take this with a pinch of salt, but Liverpool are approaching full strength, with Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, and Henderson all set to be fit for the weekend, which can only aid Salah.
Some might plump for Lukaku, as United have Newcastle at home, but this would be lazy captaining for the weak of mind, the 10am-half-asleep-in-bed-on-the-mobile-on-a-Saturday-morning mandem who haven't noticed that ol' Lukakucakes hasn't scored in four matches for a United side who look bereft of forward options and balance without Pogba.
BUY LOW
Wilf Zaha (£6.9m) vs. Everton (h)
We done TOLD YOU THIS already, and you may have listened, but it's worth reinforcing. Whatever you think about Woy Hodgson, and only thing you should think about him is that although undoubtedly a nice man who reads books and speaks 17 languages, including old norse, mongol, and the hootings of the great barn owl, he is a awful manager.
Regardless, Wilf remains Palace's best player, and is being deployed up front with Andros Townsend, scoring in both his home games since his return from injury. With two relatively easy home fixtures coming up against rudderless Everton and a very un-Stoke like Stoke City, you can bring him in, expect returns and even a cheeky price rise.
"AAARRRGHHH!"
"KEEEEEE!"
"KRAAAAA!"
FOOL'S GOLD
Glenn Murray (£5.8m) vs. Stoke (h)
Do not bring in Glenneth Murray. If you do, you must also not pass go and go straight to Fantasy Football jail for a long think.
Glenn Murray is 34. Glenn Murray is a decent, Championship-level striker. He is not Fantasy Football gold, nor Fantasy Football goals.
"But he's scored four goals in his last three" you argue, "AND he's up against a Stoke team in terrible form". Whilst he may score this week against Stoke, Brighton then face United, Liverpool and Spurs in their next five. Even with decent fixtures, he's not the man for the busy Christmas period of games.
