Another 'Triple Captain' temptation

 

This week's major talking-point in FPL-land seems to be whether to punt the first Triple Captain chip on Erling Haaland this weekend.

Well, I say 'talking-point'; but in fact, there's been next-to-zero actual discussion or rumination on the issue. Most people on the forums are just exultantly announcing that they're going to do it.

Of course, there's a strong case for it. Promoted sides are almost always among the League's most vulnerable, especially early in the season; and Ipswich have looked pretty porous at the back so far. And Haaland is obviously a prime candidate for the Triple Captain chip - one of the few players who reliably returns multiple double-digit hauls each season, and can usually be depended on to come up with at least something against weaker opponents.

But the case against: Ipswich have shown signs of improvement over the last few games (in particular, Christian Walton looks a lot more formidable in goal than the error-prone Kjell Scherpen, who he's replaced in the last two games - in which they've conceded only a single goal each time [although, admittedly, against rather poor opponents]); they also offer quite a lot of attacking threat through players like Enciso, Fatawu, and Davis (I'd still fancy City for the win; but it might not necessarily be all that comfortable for them...). Haaland might be a bit tired after the gruelling game against PSG in midweek; and you'd imagine he'll certainly be taken off quite early, if City can get the game safely in the bag. So, this fixture really doesn't look like an absolute gimme for a big haul, either for City or for Haaland.

But, as always, the major concern with a decision like this should be opportunity cost - are you missing out on stronger options for the chip later by committing to using it now?

Although Haaland is just about unique among our current crop of players in the number of big hauls he produces each season,... at the moment, Joao Pedro is also in extraordinary form for Chelsea (and is actually looking like he could wrest the Golden Boot from the Norwegian this season). And Chelsea under Xabi Alonso have looked so free-scoring so far that you fancy them to be able to net multiple times against just about anyone; whereas City, still getting used to Enzo Maresca, are often misfiring a bit in their attack.

Moreover, midfielders get more points than forwards for the same attacking contribution; and there are a fair few of them who - at least occasionally - also bag multiple goals in a game. Bruno Fernandes, of course, has already done so this season (in what might well prove to be the season's highest gameweek total), and Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka have proven that they are capable of it as well; we might now add Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, and Morgan Rogers to that list. So.... Haaland isn't the only candidate to use the chip on.

And Ipswich probably aren't the weakest opponent to target. Forest and Palace have so far looked at least as bad, if not a bit worse in the last few games; Spurs have looked much, much worse (though you feel they must have the potential for a massive improvement sooner or later); and Fulham have looked much, much, much worse.

So, Haaland against Forest in GW10 or Fulham in GW11 (the other side of the second international break, alas; so, there are elevated doubts about form and fitness after that interruption) are credible alternatives to Ipswich this week.

And Joao Pedro (or Palmer or Rogers) against Spurs next week or against Palace at the start of December might be even more tempting.

Those who love the thrill of a wild gamble might even try their luck on Saka against Forest this weekend!

Haaland is a good solution, but not the only one. You shouldn't make a decision like this without carefully weighing all the possible alternatives first. (And most FPL managers just don't seem to do that!)