Captaincy & Booster options for Gameweek 24: Dare you take on the imperious Erling Haaland?

FOR many Dream Team managers the captaincy conversation is an open-and-shut case.

Erling Haaland (£7.3m) plundered 19 points in Gameweek 23 via a match-winning brace against Everton and so there’s every reason to keep the armband on Manchester City’s No9.

The prolific poacher has scored 21 goals in 24 appearances this season and he’s the focal point of a team that have won their last eleven games in all competitions.

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Haaland is the default captain for a reason.

That being said, some gaffers may feel the need to go against the grain at this stage of the season in order to significantly improve their overall ranking and/or Mini League position.

In that case, Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) seems to be the most appealing alternative.

Arsenal’s No7 thoroughly enjoyed himself against West Ham last weekend, pocketing 17 points despite being substituted midway through the second half.

The 22-year-old scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season against the Hammers and was briefly the outright top points scorer in Dream Team until Phil Foden (£5.3m) leapfrogged him in midweek.

Looking ahead to Gameweek 24, Mikel Arteta’s side have the luxury of a Premier League match-up with Burnley at Turf Moor this weekend.

The Clarets have the worst home record in the top flight at present.

Arsenal will then travel to Portugal for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with Porto.

The combination of a favourable league game plus an additional midweek fixture certainly brings Saka into the captaincy conversation – he averages 8.1 points-per-game in 2023/24.

Some Dream Team bosses may even be tempted to take on Haaland by backing one of his team-mates instead.

Pep Guardiola’s side will host Chelsea and Brentford at the Etihad in Gameweek 24.

The aforementioned Foden is in fantastic form and Kevin De Bruyne (£5.9m) was actually the only player to take more points (20) from Gameweek 23 than Haaland.

The superstar midfielders are more than capable of justifying a captain’s armband but if you’re going to back City for plentiful returns then there’s a danger of overthinking it if you select anyone other than Haaland.

In-form strikers Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) and Diogo Jota (£4.3m) deserve a mention since Liverpool also have two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 24.

The Reds travel to Brentford before welcoming Luton to Anfield in midweek.

In terms of Booster strategies for Gameweek 24, a Park the Bus XI built around Arsenal’s solid defence has potential.

Opting to double the points of a back five that features William Saliba (£3.1m), Gabriel (£3.7m) and Ben White (£3.3m) alongside a couple of Liverpool/Man City regulars could be just the ticket.

Efficient Park the Bus opportunities are becoming less frequent as the campaign progresses but we’re not yet in the realm of use-it-or-lose-it so there’s no need to pull the trigger if you’re doubtful.

With the Premier League’s three title contenders having two fixtures each this coming Gameweek, some gaffers will be tempted to activate their 12th Man Booster.

Saka, Foden, De Bruyne, Haaland, Nunez and Jota all feel borderline essential looking at the schedule but fitting them all in is easier said than done.

Selecting one of these in-form stars as 12th Man with a view to outscoring your Mini League rivals in what should be a fruitful Gameweek is a perfectly viable tactic.

Lock in your transfers, captain and any Boosters you wish to play before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk