The Weekend Scout Picks

Double gameweeks will inevitably warp our team selections – and so it proves with the picks this week. Villa and West Ham have four players in the squad, with in-form Villa getting three players in the eleven. Pure folly or just common sense? Read on for some reasoning…

It starts with the inclusion of Friedel between the sticks. Not an obvious selection perhaps, given that both Dunne and Collins present attractive options in the back four. But then again the Villa keeper is top of the rankings, even though he is without a clean sheet in the last four starts. Friedel faces two away games however and should earn save points at both Everton and West Ham that will boost his returns. He’s also been known to turn in the odd big week profit courtesy of a penalty save – so he is certainly worth a punt in a week when keeper selection has been a touch fraught.

In front of Friedel I’ve gone for a back four that combines attacking potential, with perhaps the best clean sheet offerings on the table. It starts with United’s O’Shea who looks a certain starter with Neville suspended, and offers a decent bet for a cleanie against Blackburn at Old Trafford. While O’Shea offers little attacking potential, my other three defenders certainly do. Stoke’s Shawcross looks strong defensively at home to Wolves but also offers a substantial threat from set-plays, while Burnley’s Alexander again looks a tidy clean sheet option at home to Hull City and is on Burnley spot-kicks. Bikey is your other option here of course, if pennies are short.

The final selection in the back four is a risk. Liverpool look far from secure defensively for the trip to Fulham but with Aurelio, you’re getting a defender who is likely to start on the left of the Liverpool midfield. He carries excellent assist potential then – plus, with Gerrard out of the side, he’ll surely be looking to stake a claim at direct free kicks. Aurelio is certainly an expensive option – which goes against the grain when it comes to the current trend in points scoring. However, he is short-term differential and looks worth a gamble if you need one.

Moving into the midfield and you first find Fabregas - an almost automatic selection. Arshavin is your alternative – he looks certain to start and will surely run Fabregas close when it comes to midfield fantasy returns against Spurs. I’m sticking with the Arsenal skipper though. He should guarantee more minutes on the pitch and continues to attract FPL bonus points when Arsenal perform (and sometimes when they don’t).

Villa’s Milner takes his place alongside the Arsenal man. Ashley Young is of course the other option here, but Milner has outshone Young in recent weeks and looks a stronger and cheaper option. By all means look to Young if you need a differential and have the cash.

Sunderland’s Andy Reid gets the nod, simply because he is the most creative midfield player on show in a game that promises goals. Sunderland are likely to need a couple to get past West Ham and Reid should be good for FPL bonus at the very least.

Portsmouth’s Prince Boateng – a favourite around these parts and a player who will be the big threat to Wigan at Fratton Park, gets the final midfield spot.

Moving up front and Agbonlahor completes the Villa trio. It’s a case of eggs in one basket – a factor that almost persuaded me to look to West Ham’s Carlton Cole (who takes the place on my bench) or play safe and opt for a Van Persie or Torres – both should bring returns this week. Agbonlahor gets the spot though, mainly because he provides the key goal threat for Villa in two away games they can easily win. Everton are nursing injuries, while West Ham are nursing a horribly inconsistency. I see Villa goals in both fixtures and so Gabby should offer some profits.

I’ve certainly played safe with his strike partner though – Drogba is essential right now if you ask me. Chelsea will need a couple at the Reebok I believe, and Drogba will surely be central to those goals. He’s my first name on the team sheet right now; that doesn’t change this week.

Looking to the bench and I’ve gambled on Belletti for my sub defender – simply because he offers some short term value. I’m not entirely convinced that the Chelsea back four can keep Bolton’s set-pieces at bay, but Belletti offers reasonable value in there and is set to start at one of the full-back positions with both Bosignwa and Ashley Cole injured, and Ivanovic a doubt.

In midfield there are plenty of options. United’s Ryan Giggs would have been in my eleven had he not taken a knock in midweek and go into the weekend a slight doubt. Liverpool’s Benayoun, Portsmouth’s O’Hara, Burnley’s Wade Elliot, Fulham’s Dempsey, West Ham’s Noble and even Sunderland’s Henderson – one of my Podcast desert island risks this week, were also in the reckoning. Benayoun gets the sub spot in the end – for some reason he always seems to perform well for Liverpool at the Cottage.

Talking of which, Ricardo Fuller was also tipped in the podcast and, reluctantly, I left him out of the picks this week. I still fancy him to cause the Wolves defence plenty of problems at the Britannia. Birmingham’s Benitez was my other risk this week – he will be key to Birmingham’s hopes at home to City.