Captaincy & Booster strategies for Gameweek 34: Alternatives to Ollie Watkins double header

OLLIE WATKINS (£5m) remains the standout captaincy option for Gameweek 34 but some Dream Team managers will be open to other suggestions after Aston Villa’s defeat on Thursday night.

Unai Emery’s side are the only team with two fixtures to fulfil this coming Gameweek in the form of Brighton (a) and Olympiacos (a) and so their top scorer is seemingly the logical choice.

However, the appeal of this double header has waned in the wake of the Villains’ 4-2 loss to the Greek giants in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final.

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That being said, Watkins did score at Villa Park, his 24th goal of the season in all competitions no less.

Gaffers who adopt a fixture-centric approach will captain Watkins without a second thought but who are the leading alternatives?

Erling Haaland (£7m) came off the bench against Nottingham Forest last weekend to score his 32nd goal of the campaign (all comps) and is currently the most-popular recruit among Dream Team bosses this week.

Assuming the Norwegian poacher is fit enough to lead the line from the get-go at home to Wolves on Saturday, he has to be considered a viable skipper.

Haaland averages 8.8 points-per-game this season and with Manchester City homing in on another Premier League title, it’s difficult to envisage them slipping up against a bottom-half team on home soil – although Gary O’Neil’s upset the odds in the reverse fixture back in September.

Alexander Isak (£4.5m) backers must be tempted to double his points in Gameweek 34 with Newcastle set to face Burnley.

Granted, the Clarets have shown more resolve in recent weeks but the Magpies’ form has picked up too, mostly because of the potent threat provided their Swedish striker and his accomplice Anthony Gordon (£3.9m).

Isak is now an outsider for the Golden Boot having scored nine goals in his last eight league games – a fruitful spell that has also yielded 79 Dream Team points.

Bukayo Saka (£5.8m) is generally among the most-popular captains when available and with good reason.

Arsenal’s No7 averages 7.9 points-per-game this season and is now within three points of Phil Foden (£5.8m) at the top of the overall rankings.

The Gunners host Bournemouth this Saturday lunchtime and while the Cherries are an opponent to be respected having jumped into the top half of the table, it’s simply a fact that only West Ham and the bottom four clubs have conceded more league goals this term.

Mikel Arteta’s side remain highly motivated amid a two-horse title race while Andoni Iraola’s men have earned the right to be ‘on the beach’ psychologically.

Saka was among the best performers in Gameweek 33 having taken neighbours Tottenham for 16 points last weekend.

In terms of Booster strategies, selecting the aforementioned Watkins as a 12th Man seems the most sensible play for those who have the option.

Gaffers with Park the Bus and/or Max Captain still in holster should wait for Gameweek 35 when six teams will play twice.

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk