The Scout Picks

Dominated by no less than ten sides with two fixtures, this is a far from ordinary gameweek. Sadly, when it comes to the Scout Picks, I really can’t do it justice. Prepare yourself for the probably the most predictable and certainly the easiest Scout Picks I’ve ever selected…

For once I think I’ll spare you the long-winded explanation – well almost. The justification behind the lineup is really pretty obvious, as is the message. If you can afford to fill your side with double gameweek players, there really are few reasons to resist. While the likes of Fabregas, Rooney and Torres may come good, the fact that the latter face off against each other at Old Trafford really does compound matters.

Finding the right double players is of course the trick, so my selection does require some background. You can of course read through our “Scouting the Doubles” articles for full analysis but I will indulge myself a little here.

For starters I’ve opted to double up on the Villa defence with Brad Friedel in goal and James Collins in the defence. Of all the double sides, Villa look by far the most likely to return two clean sheets. O’Neill’s side will face Wolves and Sunderland – two sides who have struggled to notch on their travels. Heavy investment in the Villa defence looks a wise move then.

The Blackburn defence should be good for one clean sheet with Birmingham at fortress Ewood in midweek. Martin Olsson has attacking potential, although he could find himself shackled at left-back given the doubt surrounding Givet’s fitness. Even so, Olsson is a steal at just 3.8 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

Everton’s Leighton Baines and Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic are regulars in the Picks and retain their places here with two fixtures a piece. A clean sheet or two could be on the agenda and both have potential for assists.

The midfield has Villa’s James Milner of course – a no-brainer after he came good at Wigan on Monday. His two home fixtures will surely bring further returns. Chelsea’s Florent Malouda has suddenly transformed into a key player for Ancelotti and could have a field day against Blackburn judging by the way that Gareth Bale ravaged the Rovers defence down the left last weekend.

I almost preferred Everton’s Tim Cahill to Mikel Arteta but in the end I’ve elected to play safe with the Spaniard who always promises FPL bonus points and returns from dead ball situations. Man City’s Adam Johnson meanwhile is the closest I get to a gamble. He is surely assured a start at Fulham this weekend after his stunner which won them a point at Sunderland last time out. If he can impress at the Cottage, he should also be good for the home fixture with Everton that follows. Nice price too.

Up front things are even more painfully obvious. Didier Drogba surely picks himself. Any fantasy manager going into this gameweek without him will be left praying that an injury or a red card strikes. The chances that Drogba will fail register another goal or two against Blackburn and Portsmouth look very remote.

His partner is Man City’s Carlos Tevez who should be good for two more matches up front with Adebayor still serving his four-match ban. Tevez has calmed a little after a frenzy of goals and fantasy points in January but looks a strong bet for a goal and some further FPL bonus from his two fixtures.

That completes the eleven then but it must be said that the Arsenal pairing of Cesc Fabrgas and Nicklas Bendtner were very very close to breaking the double gameweek monopoly. The message is clear with these two – if you have them, you play them. The home fixture with West Ham should bring at least a couple for the Gunners and Fabregas and Bendtner should benefit.

I’ve gone for Bendtner as my bench option striker though and sat Blackburn’s David Dunn and Man City’s Javier Garrido alongside him as my midfield and defensive reserves. Both should be in line for two starts and Dunn in particular looks attractive with his home fixture with Birmingham who arrive at Ewood with just one clean sheet in nine.

Portsmouth’s Jamie O’Hara, Sunderland’s Andy Reid (if fit) and Everton’s Steven Pienaar are your other midfield options that look worthy of a glance.