Sky Sports Focus

Once again the topsy-turvy battle at the summit of the Sky Sports Scout League continues with another turnaround. With the finishing line in sight, we look at the current cream of the crop, examine the transfer market trends of the past week and sneak our head around the door of the Fantasy Football Club dressing room…

The Scout League

Chris Pearce is the new leader of the Scout League. Having climbed to second last week, he topples Simon Davies’ “Nags Head Rovers” lineup to claim a ten-point lead over Paul McAnulty’s “Housewives Favourite” squad. Lewis Nicklen’s “Dreamboat” sit in fourth, while Pascal Evans’ has two teams sit in fifth and sixth respectively.

Our man Chris is some way off the top prize, however, with Simon Ward still out in front, a hefty 92 points ahead of the leading Scout contender in the race for the £25k top prize. With six managers in the top 20, the community’s Private League is still out on top but the lead is not as comfortable as it was: there’s only seven points between us and our nearest rival now.

A reminder that if you’re playing the Sky Sports game and have yet to join our league, you can sign up to the FFScout League with this Pin: 8004519. We have a home cinema system, worth £600, available to the winner.

Market Trends

The stunning hat-trick at Wigan not surprisingly lifted the profile of Luis Suarez and ensured that, after suffering an ownership loss last week, he’s back on the climb this time around. Over 40% of the transfers made this week saw the Uruguayan come into squads. Suarez is now well out in front on the value for money stakes when it comes to forwards, fetching 22.8 points per million, compared to Rickie Lambert’s 20.6.

As always, Robin Van Persie’s stock remains volatile and, with Suarez subject to so many acquisitions, it appears that the Dutchman has suffered again. He was transferred out as part of 40% of transfers this week, with only 10% seeing him transferred in – a big swing in ownership. Absent this weekend of course, the trade has been mirrored in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game where Van Persie has lost over 50,000 owners this week – easily the most transferred out forward on show. Despite the losses, Van Persie remains the most owned player in the Sky Sports game with over 47% of managers including him in their squads – in the FPL, that figure stands at just over 39%.

As expected, Gareth Bale’s stock remains strong with his run of goals continuing: he’s been party to over 30% of the transfers made in the last seven days – his ownership has climbed from 17% to just under 19% in the last week.

Defensively, it’s City pairing, Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta that are the big movers. They have benefited from a recent run of six clean sheets in eight by picking up further owners off the back of the win and shut-out at Villa on Monday night; combined, they have been part of over 43% of the transfers in made this week, despite facing a blank this weekend.

The Fantasy Football Club – Tonight 10pm

It’s a special night for the Fantasy Football Club as Noel Gallagher shuffles into the dressing room to talk all things City. It will be interesting to see if he feels the title race is still on. Join Noel, with Fenners and Merse from 10pm tonight on Sky Sports one, or catch the repeat on Sky Sports two tomorrow morning at 9am.