THE average Dream Team manager spends their Friday stressing about injury concerns and mulling over captaincy options.
Let's address the latter.
As it stands, the most engaged gaffers seem to be divided between Cole Palmer (£5m) and Bruno Fernandes (£7m) ahead of Gameweek 33.
This is understandable as they are the top two points scorers among the exclusive group of players set to play twice.
GAMEWEEK 33 DOUBLE HEADERS
- MANCHESTER UNITED vs Bournemouth (a) & Athletic Bilbao (a)
- TOTTENHAM vs Liverpool (a) & Bodo Glimt (a)
- CHELSEA vs Everton (h) & Djurgarden (a)
- NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs Man City (n) & Brentford (h)
Palmer's form is a concern as he's returned just 14 points across his last five appearances.
In fact, the 22-year-old hasn't scored since January!
However, the Blues' Conference League semi-final gives them the most favourable double header of Gameweek 33, with all due respect to their Swedish opponents.
And Palmer remains the man most likely to take advantage despite his downturn in the second half of the campaign – he still averages 7.8 points-per-game in 2024/25.
While the England international has faded, Man United's captain has gone from strength to strength since the turn of the year.
Fernandes tops the midfield rankings by a wide margin having amassed 384 points via 17 goals and 18 assists.
Dream Team bosses are unlikely to have much faith in the Red Devils given they sit 14th in the Premier League having scored just 38 goals in the top flight this season.
But Fernandes has proven himself capable of plentiful points even when everything else crumbles around him.
Elsewhere, Chris Wood (£3.6m) has to be considered a viable captaincy option for Gameweek 33.
The New Zealand target man has scored 19 league goals this campaign and was on target with a trademark header against Spurs last time out.
A rare double Gameweek for Forest allows gaffers to back the 33 year-old striker.
Away from the double headers, Alexander Isak (£5.9m) is a captaincy candidate ahead of Newcastle's game against Ipswich at St James' Park on Saturday.
The Swedish forward bagged a hat-trick in the reverse fixture at Portman Road and the Magpies rank second in the league for home goals this season.
Or perhaps we're overthinking it.
Could it be that the best captain for this coming Gameweek is the man at the top of the rankings, Mohamed Salah (£7.2m)?
Liverpool's main man has not scored in his last six outings but most pundits are predicting a comfortable win over Spurs at Anfield to seal the league title.
With a Europa League semi-final to consider, Ange Postecoglou may even rest some key players as there is no hope of the North Londoners salvaging a respectable league finish.
Arne Slot's side scored four goals against Spurs in their most recent meeting to reach the Carabao Cup final and they scored SIX goals in the reverse league fixture back in December – Salah will be licking his lips.
Dream Team bosses have until 11am on Saturday to select their captain (and vice captain).
Good luck, gaffers!
