This Weekend’s Scout Picks
Apologies for the lateness of the Scout Picks this week but, better late than never, here they come. Could be a rough ride this one - the threat of rest and rotation looms large with the Champions League in midweek. Lampard, Adebayor, Terry and Ronaldo all look at risk. Lovely.
I’ve gone for James in goal. Portsmouth have a decent opportunity of a clean sheet against Wigan and James is certain to play, unlike the likes of Campbell and Hreidarsson who are slight injury doubts. Portsmouth’s fixtures going forward, make James or his defence a very decent proposition as well as a good bet for short-term returns this weekend.
At the back Shorey keeps his place. He faces a Blackburn side who may well be good for a goal or two but I see Shorey as a threat going forward and there is an outside chance that Coppell’s side can nick a clean sheet in this one.
Vidic returns to the picks at centre-back. No real surprise here - United face a Villa side currently suffering a slump in form and United are always strong defensively at Old Trafford. Carvalho slots alongside him. He seems the most certain to lineup for a Chelsea side at home to Boro - which on paper looks a strong clean sheet opportunity. Terry is an injury doubt, as is Cech, while the full-backs are always a risk with Grant rotating to his heart’s content in this area.
Gallas takes the last spot in defence. He’s up against a Bolton side who are struggling to score goals and I see Arsenal grinding out a narrow win at the Reebok. Wenger’s defence normally struggles with Bolton’s aerial power, but I just fancy that they could keep them shutout and nick a 1-0.
Bullard holds his place in midfield. He travels to Pride Park and can be expected to step to inspire Fulham once again in this one. Even without a goal, if Fulham get the win I’m expecting, then Bullard should leave with FPL bonus at the very least. Hunt is selected for similar reasons. He’ll be paramount to Reading’s chances against Blackburn and I see goals in that game, with Hunt in amongst Reading’s attacking points.
Gerrard pips Lampard in midfield with uncertainty surrounding the Chelsea man’s selection. The Liverpool skipper will lead from the front against Everton and I can see them edging a tight game, with Gerrard once again leaving with at least FPL bonus.
Ronaldo is a risk but I’m willing to commit myself and back him to play against Villa. Ferguson will be tempted to rest him but I just feel the opposition carry that little bit of potential to threaten United and that should be enough to see Ronaldo play a part. When he plays, fantasy managers have to select him and, while I can see him taken off the minute Ferguson feels that the result is no longer at risk, I still see Ronaldo contributing as per usual.
Up front it looks as though Adebayor could be rested at the Reebok, Santa Cruz is a slight injury doubt, while Yakubu and Torres will be involved but in a tight game. The United strikers have goals in them but it’s difficult to predict who Ferguson will go with. All that means that Berbatov keeps his place with the Newcastle defence coming to White Hart Lane. He has the edge over Keane simply because the threat of Bent is hanging over the Irishman. Berbatov may lag behind Keane on goals but he’ll contribute via assists and FPL bonus and I see him coming out of today’s game with another decent fantasy return.
Defoe is his familiar partner. He’ll be eager to rip into a Wigan side who will be significantly weakened by suspension and injury. Defoe misses next weekend’s FA Cup semi so he won’t be spared in this one and will surely be the chief architect of a Portsmouth win.
There are some pretty decent alternatives to this lot about. The Spurs defence looks a good bet at home to Newcastle so Hutton looks a sound investment once again. I can also see the Birmingham vs City game as a tight one and that could well be a scoreless draw with clean sheets all round.
In midfield again Spurs offer some potential via Huddlestone and Jenas if selected. Reid and Richardson are decent budget options for Sunderland against West Ham - I see a few goals in that one. Similarly Fulham’s Davies will be a threat to the Derby defence. Bentley is always a good bet of course - he’ll have a point to prove after the England game and as I mention, there should be goals at Reading today.
Up front that’s also the case for McBride - Fulham will look to him at Derby today. For some reason I’ve got an inkling for Sunderland’s Jones against West Ham. Even though he’s gone 10 without a goal, I see him breaking that run here and I also fancy Ashton to continue his form in a game with goals.
As for the FPL captain decsion - again the poll is pretty accurate. Ronaldo is the safe option if you’re protecting a lead, Berbatov a strong alternative if you’re looking to make up ground. If you’re looking for an outside bet then Bullard against Derby and his former manager, Paul Jewell, could offer good returns while Defoe also looks strong against a wounded Wigan side.
I’m the first one to make a comment!! Yay.
Can’t see past Ronaldo for Captain. If Lampard wasn’t a doubt I would have gambled since there has been a funny feeling in my stomach about Chelsea mauling Mboro this weekend. Need to make up 40 on the leaders.
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Too late now but yeah, godda be Ronaldo for captain. It’s very likely Ronaldo will start - Villa have drawn away at Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea and Fergie will know that. For him to be taken off early, United would probably have to be at least two goals in front in which case he probably has a goal or two to his name.
That’s my logic anyway… May be daft but hey I’m top of my league I can let the rest of the fools take the risks!
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Reply by Roberto on March 29, 2008 12:35 pm:
Nice pic! I went for Berby, surely King
Ron 
is due a poor game…sometime?
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Theres a thin line between genius and insanity, think iv just crossed it by gamblig with defore over ron for cap at the last min…
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Reply by CK on March 29, 2008 4:10 pm:
Nice move bud! I ALMOST did the same but opted for Berbatov! (Ronaldo was screaming at me right up to the last minute but Berbative wasnt on for handing back the armband! COME ON BERBATOV!!!!!!
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Reply by sam on March 29, 2008 5:23 pm:
good captaincy then! ( however ,this is before man united have played )
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Reply by puffinboy on March 29, 2008 5:55 pm:
Ronaldo’s equalled Defoe within 40 mins. I doubt he play all the second half though.
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Reply by puffinboy on March 29, 2008 6:39 pm:
I was wrong. Fergie’s taken the defenders off.
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haha apparently defoe has scored twice and got two yellas according to FPL
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Good week to drop Taylor, Mark
Just one of those things, I suppose.
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Reply by Mark on March 29, 2008 4:32 pm:
Aye, just knew he’d come good. Today looked unlikely though given Bolton’s run of form. Like you say, one of those things that makes FF such a pleasure
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noooo, was going to put james in, opted for green, james goes and saves a penalty! god these damn england GK’s!
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another week with Bullard not performing
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yep bullard was a one week wonder for me..can james do it again next week.. might bring him in for howard..choosing bikey ahead of laursen was inspirational for me!! he better get at least 1 bonus point..hmm maybe not as the toffs have derby!! mind you Derby are in scoring form!
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Still no word on United lineup, I’m sweating here, need Evra to start and Ronaldo out!
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presume you’ve seen it now but if u havent , their playing
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Ronaldo! goal and assist so far, thank god i had him captain
the person 2nd in my main league hasn’t got him either!
perfect
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Just writing to commend Mark on a brilliant Scout Pick selection this week…you have it pretty nailed on throughout…Galles scores, James penalty save, Shorey clean sheet, Defoe double, Ronaldo at it again despite the “rest cloud”…can’t get it much better. Also, you have had Taylor in your picks for several weeks and it would only be murphy’s law the week you take him out he scores a double!!
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1 goal 3 assists, not bad eh?
and thats only in the 70th minute
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Reply by puffinboy on March 29, 2008 7:06 pm:
Yes it’s good, but it’s not doing fantasy football any favours in the long run. If he’s not classified as a forward or costs £20m next season, the FPL will be the poorer for it.
And to anyone about to accuse me of sour grapes, of course he’s in my team.
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Reply by Tommyg on March 29, 2008 7:13 pm:
How is it not doing FF good in the long run? Thats the words of man who clearly hasn’t picked Ronaldo in his team!
You can’t penalise a player just for being good…. Or for that matter FF participants for including him in there team.
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Reply by sam on March 29, 2008 7:23 pm:
so what your saying is that if a player is playing out of this world, ff will then change the rules of the game just to make that player less profitable? they will price him high obviously because they have to price players according to how well they are playing.
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Reply by Untitled on March 29, 2008 7:31 pm:
In terms of value (i.e. points / price) Ronaldo isn’t even in the top 10 on FPL. You take your pick, you can spend that extra 13.5 on some very nice players for your team…
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Reply by sam on March 29, 2008 7:34 pm:
ye but in terms of building a team, in my opinion, the points that ronaldo gives you i think you must build your team around him
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Reply by puffinboy on March 29, 2008 10:28 pm:
Fine Untitled, you go ahead and pick those top 10 and leave out the hopeless points per price Ronaldo. I’m sure your team would do just great.
As Disraeli (and Mark Twain) said - there are lies, damned lies and statistics.
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Damn. Second week on the trot I’ve been burned not having Ron as capt. 3 assists and a goal so far.. *gulp*
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Reply by Ichigo on March 29, 2008 7:20 pm:
Jono I feel you, even as a United supporter I went with Berbatov as captain with the ‘rest cloud’ over Ronaldo, now I can only hope Berbatov scores a hatrick and gets some assits tomorrow
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Reply by gwaipor on March 29, 2008 11:37 pm:
same here brother
SHIT
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For some reason I’ve got an inkling for Sunderland’s Jones against West Ham. Even though he’s gone 10 without a goal, I see him breaking that run here
mystic mark ^^^
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had defoe from the minute he signed for pompey, what a signing!
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Any idea why Petrov didn’t play for City?
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Reply by Mark on March 30, 2008 3:24 am:
Hi Shin C. Petrov missed the game through illness apparently.
http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=545027
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The first week you don’t include Matty Taylor in your scout picks and he goes and scores 2.
C’est la vie!
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I must say Mark this has definitely been one of your better weeks for your scout picks.
James, Gallas and Defoe all did brilliantly as well as your call on a Ronaldo being spot on.
I would of been bowled over if you had stuck to your guns for the last few weeks and kept Taylor in your team
But the again there’s no way anyone could have foreseen that after doing s*** all for the past six weeks he scores a double against Arsenal…
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On the Adebayor front. Anyone notice that he’s not the penalty taker anymore? As he was on the pitch when Van Persie took his successful spot kick.
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Reply by Lukeazade on March 30, 2008 11:50 am:
Van Persie is Arsenals penalty taker so he always takes spot kicks when he is on the field.
The only exception is that Van Persie does not take penalties that he wins himself.
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…And now Carvalho’s scored too!
Mark you should put that time machine to better use than fantasy football.
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Put J.Cole as captain instead of ronaldo, cant believe it.
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goal rush at spurs it looks… 433 vs 433…
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Put Carvalho in my lineup before the deadline and boy did it sure pay off!! Also have CRon as captain and Defoe up fron with Berbatov. Looks like it going to be a good week.
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Reply by Roberto on March 30, 2008 6:51 pm:
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Would love to see Lescott going up front again for a bit, wouldn’t mind a nice 6 points to cap off the gameweek…he’s a real fox in the box that man
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no bonus points for gerrard and only one for torres who were the two best players on the pitch. cant quite work that one out
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Hyypia got two. Turtle probably got the three? I agree that Gerrard should’ve got all three though! Perhaps the FPL Gods will intervine & apply some divine common-sense.
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Berbatov you useless
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Reply by Mark on March 30, 2008 10:58 pm:
Suffered from Ramos’ changes today - he was coming deep all too often and just looked unsure without Keane buzzing around him. Cause for concern but Tottenham’s fixtures are just that little bit too good - it would be brave to sell him given the opponents coming up.
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78 points and I had Berbatov captain over Ronaldo, not too shabby
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Berbatov you piece of s**t! Why did I turn my back on Ronaldo??? Well at least my 4 point hit for James paid off!! Sometimes I hate FF!!
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Every time I put Berbatov in the squad he doesn’t do anything. Took a chance this week and got burned again. At least my other players did well.
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85 points could have been 102 points if weren’t for the Berbatov choice of captain over Ronaldo.
As I sit at my computer typing with the fingers I haven’t had burnt recently the philosophy now has to be concentrating on teams who have something to play for (Premiership, fighting relegation etc.).
I think mid-table teams should be avoided, especially as players who might not have had a look in earlier in the season may be given more of an opportunity.
The Spurs result showed their apathy against Newcastle’s desire to avoid relegation, but I didn’t see that result coming whatever…
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