Scout Picks – Gameweek 3

We approach Gameweek 3 of this season’s Scout Picks, where every Friday, myself, Mark, Jonty and a different member of the Community pick an XI for the upcoming round of fixtures. Each week, our line-ups go head-to-head and over the course of the season we’ll be keeping a tally of the points as we go along.

Similar to last week, we’ve kept the budgets at 83.5m apiece for our starting line-ups.

The Community – Managed By Innsie

I’ve opted for three Manchester City players as they welcome Stoke to the Etihad. Stevan Jovetic looks certain to start up front after his brace against Liverpool, while I’m confident in Sergio Aguero’s potential for points whether he starts or comes off the bench. Aleksandar Kolarov’s attacking prospects ensures he is selected over other City defenders.

Alongside the Serb at the back, I’ve chosen Mathieu Debuchy and Steven Caulker, two attacking defenders who have a good chance of getting a clean sheet this week. At 4.5m and home to Crystal Palace, Tim Krul gets the nod in goal.

In midfield, Aaron Ramsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson are popular picks for a reason. I’m expecting them to do the business again this week, with strong form and favourable fixtures. Cesc Fabregas is my Chelsea midfielder of choice due to price restrictions and set piece duties, while I’ve also gone for a differential in Siem De Jong, one of Newcastle’s new arrivals. I’m expecting De Jong to start, and with penalty duties potentially in his locker, I think he’ll notch his first goal of the season against a Palace side that have conceded five goals already. Up top, Wayne Rooney slots in up front to complete an all-Manchester front three – his trip to Burnley looks too good to ignore.

Jonty

With Crystal Palace still trying to sort themselves out after their early season turmoil, I fancy Tim Krul to help Newcastle to a second clean sheet of the campaign. Manchester City look a sure bet for a clean sheet as Stoke pay visit and Gael Clichy, at 5.5, offers assist potential as well. With more goal attempts than Diego Costa, QPR’s Steven Caulker is surely due to score this week, while Ashley Williams gives me Swansea clean sheet cover when West Brom visit.

Like Caulker, Spurs’ Christian Eriksen is another that has been unlucky to score. Liverpool’s defensive frailties offer me hope he can open his goal scoring account this week. With strong form and good fixtures on their side, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson and Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas pick themselves. Meanwhile, up front, I’ve doubled up on Manchester City’s assets. Sergio Aguero saved my blushes in the picks last week and I’m backing him again to score. Stevan Jovetic gives me further Manchester City attacking power. Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney is eating at the last chance chippy for many Fantasy managers. Surely against Burnley he can do well?

Mark

I have to back the City attack against Stoke and, given Sergio Aguero’s impact from the bench on both occasions this season, he edges in ahead of David Silva to partner Stevan Jovetic up front in my lineup.

With a budget defence in place, I’ve been able to spend big elsewhere with a heavyweight midfield complimented by Siem de Jong’s presence: I fancy Newcastle’s Dutch playmaker to get his first league start pushed up behind the striker against Palace. Wayne Rooney remains in my picks because I feel that Angel Di Maria’s arrival will spark some reaction, with Louis van Gaal’s side knocking a couple past Burnley. Rooney is a reliable source of points away from home and I just can’t see an obvious alternative who offers more.

Paul

I’ve tripled up on City for the Stoke clash. Stevan Jovetic and Sergio Aguero are the form forwards, while Joe Hart looks a guaranteed starter between the sticks.

Three Arsenal players also make the cut. In-form Aaron Ramsey has to be involved for the trip to Leicester and the inclusion of Alexis Sanchez essentially gives me a fourth forward, due to Olivier Giroud’s injury. The Foxes have conceded 21 shots inside the box so far – only Hull (24) have a poorer record. With Kieran Gibbs still injured, Nacho Monreal looks secure at 5.0 in the left-back berth – Leicester have managed just six efforts inside the box so far.

Paul Dummett (4.0) comes in for Newcastle’s home clash with Palace and Steven Caulker is my final defender – six shots in the box is joint-top in the league. The consistent Gylfi Sigurdsson is joined by Siem de Jong in midfield – the Dutchman looks set for his first league start and may be the man to end the Magpies’ goal drought, having scored 10+ goals in four of the last five seasons at Ajax. Captain Poll favourite Wayne Rooney comes in for United’s trip to Burnley.

The Scores So Far

I had a decent week in Gameweek 2, picking up 65 points thanks mainly to Aaron Ramsey and Emmanuel Adebayor. The Community, managed by HVT, finished second on 56 points, while Mark edged Jonty into fourth by 47 points to 44.

After a couple of Gameweeks, I’ve jumped from last to first on 113 points, with the Community next on 108 and Mark tied with Jonty on 97 points apiece.