FPL: Don’t risk triple captaining Erling Haaland against Bournemouth

Oscar Wilde once said: “I can resist everything except temptation” with the Irish poet struggling with a simple choice should he be around in the modern day.

For the purpose of this article, let’s just say, he’d be playing Fantasy Premier League and would have made the mistake of choosing Erling Haaland for his triple captain.

The temptation is too much for a football fan to resist with the chance of easy points bankrolled early on.

Haaland’s selection for Gameweek Two has increased to 57.7% twelve hours before the deadline with players going off the back of his two goals at West Ham.

Goals are formality with the tall Norwegian predicted to bully the young AFC Bournemouth defence, with many saying he’s going to do better and score a hat-trick or four, or even five.

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Wishful thinking but it has led to a number of players going early with their triple captain pick. A bad move, we feel, and here are the reasons why.

Bournemouth are different since last time in the PL

Now, let’s not disrespect Bournemouth (believe it or not, I’m a lifelong cherry with a soft spot for City) the south-coast side has changed under the leadership of Scott Parker with clean sheets becoming more of a priority than the scintillating football played prior. The Eddie Howe era has gone.

The team now play five at the back with Jefferson Lerma becoming more advanced when in possession, and leaving the wing backs a little further forward. This isolates the midfield with a two or three in the middle dropping a little deeper to create two low blocks.

Now, should they go with this formation, it will leave Haaland little room to run in behind, relying on crosses and him turning and running at the defence to get his fair share of opportunities.

Now, that’s not to say he will not score goals but a frustrating tactic will limit the chances to score points. Clinical performance required at the Etihad.

Alvarez may be preferred

Erling was brought in as a starter, but the signing of Julian Alvarez may force Pep Guardiola to limit the number of game time the Norwegian has, with the Bournemouth home fixture an ideal opportunity to try something different.

The Spanish manager is known for breaking FPL hearts on gamedays with his shock selections, normally leaving out the big players in order to rest and rotate. There is no reason to say he won’t on Saturday.

However, given that we are playing just weekends, there is no reason for this to change until the Champions League starts. A chance to settle him into the preferred starting XI.

Our Man City Square writer, Laura Graves, certainly thinks so in her predicted line-up for the game. I’m not one to argue with her predictions.

Save it for a double-game week

Triple captain is a luxury, when used at the right moment helps wins the purse at the end of the season or allows gloating to be increased.

That time is when we have a double game week – two chances to score big for your chosen captain. This is despite the likely limited number of opportunities we will have this season (unlike the last two campaigns).

Save it for then!

For me, too many risk factors so early into the season but I could be licking my wounds post full-time. Saying that, I have got him as my captain with super Jack Grealish as my vice. Damage limitation, you may say!

Let us know if you have triple-captained Erling Haaland for the Bournemouth fixture.