Scout Picks – Gameweek 8

We’re onto Gameweek 8 of this season’s Scout Picks, where every Friday, Mark, Jonty, a different member of the community and I 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.

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

The Community – Managed by Davros

The Community voted for a team of differentials and, with less than 10% ownership, these players might be unfashionable, but they have the stats to produce.

At the back, I have doubled down on West Ham against shot-shy Burnley, as their away defensive stats are superb, and James Tomkins offers incredible goal threat. Cesar Azpilicueta and Alberto Moreno are cheapish entries into defences that should return clean sheets.

In midfield, James Milner is the man in form, having created most chances in the previous Gameweek and scored 17 points in the last three – Tuesday’s trip to Russia shouldn’t impact Mr Fitness’ pitch time. Dusan Tadic, Santi Cazorla and Stewart Downing all offer great attacking threat, with the Arsenal man expected to play in ‘the hole’ behind Danny Welbeck.

Up front, I fancy Radamel Falcao to produce against West Brom after racking up five attempts in the box last Gameweek. Papiss Cisse looked impressive on his first start last time out and will be the focal point against Leicester. Romelu Lukaku was a last minute swap for Daniel Sturridge, who may be eased back in with Wednesday’s match against Real in mind – the former ranks in the top five for shots in the box in home matches.

Jonty

I’ve opted for a mixture of security and budget punts in a post-international Gameweek that traditionally is susceptible to team sheet surprises and unlikely points scorers.

West Ham stopper Adrian looks a good bet against a Burnley side that has scored just three times this season. In front of him in my expensive defence sits Everton’s Leighton Baines and Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand, who have the fixture, form and attacking potential to shine. Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta joins them based on some excellent bonus point research this week in community articles by Mata Is The Juan and Innsie.

I’ve opted to swerve Diego Costa but, with seven assists already this season, Cesc Fabregas gives me great Chelsea cover. Alexis Sanchez is my Arsenal player of choice this week after coming out favourably in RMT this week. With rotation and fatigue threatening the likes of Raheem Sterling I’ve opted for the safety of Steven Gerrard as my Liverpool cover.

With Yaya Toure potentially suffering from international fatigue, Frank Lampardmay be set for a rare start. Giggs Boson’s minutes per goal table was a great help in picking the former Chelsea man as well as my selection of Newcastle’s rejuvenated striker Papiss Cisse.

Completing my frontline is Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, who scored a brace in this same fixture last season, and Southampton’s Italian striker Graziano Pelle. No other striker has made more goal attempts in the box than this pair.

Mark

While I deliberated with a few risks – notably backing Palace to notch against Chelsea and one of Hull’s Andy Robertson and Leicester’s Jeffery Schlupp in a back four, I settled on a pretty standard lineup. I’ve backed my own defensive three – Leighton Baines, Branislav Ivanovic and Ryan Bertrand because, certainly this week, they combine strong clean sheet promise with a convincing attacking threat. West Ham’s Adrian is between the sticks, with James Tomkins almost edging his way into the Picks for a second week running.

In midfield, I’ll continue to show faith in Dusan Tadic as cover of Southampton’s St Mary’s meeting with Sunderland. I don’t think the Black Cats will roll over and let the Saints tickle their tummies but I reckon the craft of Tadic, with Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane providing the cutting edge, will find a way through once or twice.

I have to back rested Raheem Sterling at QPR given the confidence in the R’s defence, while Eden Hazard looked electric in Chelsea’s win over Arsenal – enough to convince me that he’s the way to go over Cesc Fabregas for my Blues’ cover at Selhurst Park. The rejuvenated Stewart Downing gets the nod for the fourth spot in the engine room – he’s at the hub of all things good for the Hammers and I can see them notching at least once at Turf Moor.

There’s no Diego Costa up front, then, as I plump for Sergio Aguero as my big-hitting striker – I just can’t see Spurs keeping him out at the Etihad and I’ve a feeling Spurs will push them into requiring at least a couple of goals to secure the points. Papiss Cisse claims a start on the basis that the Leicester back four just doesn’t look capable of stemming the tide of goals, while Danny Welbeck claims the final spot. I believe Arsenal will need three goals to kill off Hull City’s challenge which should mean returns for Welbeck and probably Alexis Sanchez.

Paul

West Ham’s Adrian come in between the posts for a trip to face a Burnley side that’s scored in only one of the last six. Elsewhere at the back, I’ve opted for a trio of defenders with points potential at both ends of the pitch – Branislav Ivanovic, Leighton Baines and Ryan Bertrand.

Raheem Sterling has had more shots and efforts on target than any midfielder ahead of a trip to basement-dwellers QPR, whilst Angel di Maria has the underlying stats to back up his recent haul of three goals and as many assists in the last four. Stewart Downing and Victor Moses have been in great form in the mid-price bracket – the latter faces a Swansea side that have allowed their opponents 38 shots inside the box in the last four, the second worst record in the league.

Up top, I couldn’t choose between Graziano Pelle and Danny Welbeck so have decided to grab them both. As mentioned in yesterday’s Captain Sensible article, both players have excellent underlying stats ahead of home clashes with Sunderland and Hull. Finally, I’m opting for Sergio Aguero as my big hitter up front – while I take Jose’s concerns over Diego Costa with a pinch of salt, I reckon Palace could put up a fight and will, for once, overlook the Chelsea frontman and hand City’s top scorer a spot in my XI instead.

The Scores So Far

Myself and Mark drew for top spot last time around on 61 points, with Jonty right behind on 60. The Community – as managed by Green Windmill, with the help of the RMT rating – chalked up 53 points.

This means that after seven rounds of fixtures, I have 393 points, Mark has 385, Jonty has 363 and The Community has 331.