The Scout Picks – Gameweek 1

As announced earlier in the week, the Scout Picks are set to undergo something of a revolution this season. Essentially, every Friday, myself, Mark and Jonty will pick a XI and we’ll also have a team picked up a different member of the Community each week to go head-to-head with our line-ups. We’ll keep a tally of the points as we go.

For this week we’ve been sympathetic to the maximum possible FPL budget and kept our picks within 83 million. From this point on, with inflating player prices, we’ll go a little more astray – within reason.

Our final Scout Picks (published in the top right as normal) reflect the most popular players amongst those four teams, obviously within a valid budget and formation. Click here to find out more and get involved in future Gameweeks.

For Gameweek 1, we thought we’d start at the top and ask the FPL defending champion, Tom Fenley, to take the reins of the Community XI. Without further ado, then, here’s how our picks take shape…

The Community – managed by Tom Fenley

In goal, Asmir Begovic is selected for Stoke’s home game with Villa. Next up is the inevitable Chelsea defender, with Gary Cahill earning our vote for Monday’s trip to Burnley. At 4.5, Callum Chambers is a cheap route into the Arsenal defence against manager less Palace and with QPR looking good for a clean sheet against Hull, the ever-threatening Steve Caulker gets the nod in a three-man back line.

Aaron Ramsey is our first midfield pick. After a goal against City last week, he is a unanimous choice as Palace roll up to the Emirates, whilst at Anfield on Sunday, Raheem Sterling should do well on the wing against a new-look Southampton back-line.

Next up we have the enigmatic Marko Arnautovic. We needed someone from the Stoke attack against Villa and the Austrian is our preferred option. Finally in midfield, I’m pinning our hopes on Ashley Young in Louis Van Gaal’s wing-back role: if he produces anything at all for 5.5, we’ll be happy.

Up front is the easy bit: Wayne Rooney is an obvious choice at home to Swansea. Diego Costa also takes his place as Chelsea roll up to Burnley on Monday evening, while Daniel Sturridge is impossible to overlook for Liverpool’s encounter with the Saints.

Mark

I’ve turned my back on the Man United defence and the budget option that is Ryan Blackett but managed to compile a strong 3-4-3 lineup regardless. Steven Caulker and Branislav Ivanovic offer goal threat from the back and I’m optimistic on Mathieu Debuchy working effectively with Alexis Sanchez down the right against Palace. Asmir Begovic is my keeper – good clean sheet prospects, with save points on offer and even a goal threat (I used to pick Victor Moses and the threat is about the same).

Aaron Ramsey picks himself in midfield and I’ve doubled on United’s attacking potential via Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney, purely because I’ve an inkling that Louis van Gaal’s team will need three goals to kill off Swansea. Philippe Coutinho is a bit of a flair pick, with Raheem Sterling perhaps the preferred option for many, but I’m happy to back the Brazilian on day one to see how this unfolds. Jordan Mutch is my midfield enabler – a very decent low-to-mid price asset who is proven at this level. I did, just for a few minutes, consider Junior Hoilett.

Up front, Rooney is a given, with Diego Costa giving me coverage of the Chelsea attack at Burnley and in the in-form Stevan Jovetic offering me a route into City’s attack at Newcastle.

Paul

I’ve invested heavily in Chelsea, Arsenal and United for their opening fixture. For the Blues, I reckon skipper John Terry is a secure starter, while Eden Hazard and Diego Costa look irresistible options as Jose Mourinho’s side look to take advantage of promoted Burnley.

For the Gunners, Callum Chambers, at 4.5, joins team-mate Aaron Ramsey for the home clash against managerless Palace. I’ve opted for two United attackers. Ashley Young earns the nod over QPR’s Jordon Mutch as a cheap differential – at 5.5, with 5% ownership, he was the club’s second top goalscorer over the summer. Wayne Rooney is an obvious candidate up front.

This leaves me with four players. Stoke had the fourth best home backline last year, which hands Asmir Begovic a spot between the sticks as Villa pay visit. QPR new boy Steven Caulker fired more efforts on goal from inside the box than any defender last season and comes in for the home clash with Hull. Raheem Sterling and Stevan Jovetic have arguably been the form players for Liverpool and City over the summer and afford me a route into the two most clinical sides of 2013/14.

Jonty

Even with a combined price tag of just £83.0 I’ve managed to steer away from differentials and risky punts. True to my dullard tag I’ve instead focused mainly on players from teams I believe will be pushing for a Champions League place this year. The main strikers at Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are my three pricey diamonds here as I opt for a tried and tested 3-4-3 formation.

Ashley Young looks secured of a start given the injury situation at Manchester United and Jordan Henderson has an easy fixture on paper. With a licence to shoot, the Liverpool man could make a mockery of his lowly 6.0 price tag and prove a lucrative differential among my fellow pickers.

Elsewhere in midfield the all-action attacking verve of Cesc Fabregas and Aaron Ramsey get the nod. In defence I’ve taken advantage of Arsenal man Calum Chambers’s security of a start in the absence of Per Mertesacker. John Terry is a player that has consistently delivered for me and is too hard to ignore. Steven Caulker has potential at both ends of the pitch and in goal, Stoke’s Asmir Begovic gets my vote for a shut out when lacklustre Aston Villa visit.