Scout Picks – Gameweek 14

We move onto Gameweek 14 of this season’s Scout Picks this afternoon, where 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.

Once again, we’ve kept the budgets at 83.5 apiece for our starting line-ups.

The Community – Managed by Jarvis

The return of both Cheikhou Kouyate and Winston Reid affords Adrian the chance to collect a second consecutive clean sheet for the Hammers away to a battered West Brom. Leighton Baines is the obvious selection when it comes to defensive attacking returns. Gary Cahill has averaged 6.25 points per appearance over the last four and looks a viable option for returns at both ends of the pitch as Chelsea host Tottenham. Chris Smalling has been selected for his clean sheet potential here – his weekend haul will be a gift, if replicated.

Alexis Sanchez is the most appropriate Arsenal coverage this season and coming up against a demoralised Southampton, I predict a haul for the Chilean tomorrow night. Gylfi Sigurdsson is an obvious choice for Swansea’s clash with Palace, whilst Eden Hazard and Oscar will work their way through a leaky Spurs defence that have not kept a clean sheet since Gameweek 7. These two will be primed to step up in place of Diego Costa, and I just can’t choose between them.

Wilfried Bony and Romelu Lukaku are on par here with goal/assist potential, gifted with the simplest of fixtures, they are both expected to fire. Steven Fletcher is my differential and a very diminished City defense could see a a free-scoring match for both front lines – lets just hope it’s not Sergio Aguero who prevails at the Stadium of Light!

Jonty

With six saves last Gameweek, Burnley’s goalkeeper Tom Heaton has proved he can accrue points from more than just clean sheets. Chris Smalling’s 15 points last week has also placed him on my radar for another easy home tie, this time against Stoke. Elsewhere in my defence I’ve doubled up on Everton, who entertain a Hull side that managed just four goal attempts away to Manchester United last Gameweek. Phil Jagielka offers bonus potential, as does Leighton Baines, who also brings assist potential and penalties to my backline.

In midfield Eden Hazard’s three double-digit scores at home this season demands attention against a Tottenham side with no clean sheets in the last six. Another who likes home comforts is Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has notched at least an assist or a goal in six of his seven Liberty appearances. In stark contrast, West Ham’s Stewart Downing loves to travel. He has two double-digit hauls on the road already this season and looks primed for returns away to a West Brom side that has kept just one clean sheet at home. Yaya Toure is in fine form, after scoring or assisting in each of his last three matches. He offers me a far cheaper and possibly just as effective way into Manchester City’s attack than the 12.8-priced Sergio Aguero.

Up front, Wilfried Bony provides the goals that Sigurdsson assists and offers the chance to double up on Swansea against a QPR side with no clean sheets on the road. Like Toure, Wayne Rooney is also in fine form. I’m going to take a chance that he’s recovered from a knock and can add to the two goals and two assists he’s racked up in the last three Premier League games. With no money for Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal’s home tie against Southampton I’m opting for his cheaper team-mate Olivier Giroud, who last season scored 10 of his 16 goals at home.

Mark

I’ve partnered Bony with the equally powerful but less prolific Romelu Lukaku: I just don’t see a beleaguered Hull City standing up to the Everton tide at Goodison. This will be a handsome home win, with Lukaku on the scoresheet and Baines in profit at both ends of the field.

I have to cover United at home to Stoke City given the Potters’ injury list that has seen them lose the heart of their midfield. Juan Mata is a risk but looks set to start once again given that Angel di Maria is absent, so I’ll back him, keeping my remaining forward slot open for Sergio Aguero – I don’t need to justify his selection, even at Sunderland where City will likely find it tough going.

I can see Chelsea struggling with Spurs and needing at least two goals. Diego Costa is a big loss but, if Didier Drogba starts, his remit will be to bring in the midfield runners. Eden Hazard is on spot-kicks but Oscar patrols central areas and has been more threatening at the Bridge then Hazard – I’ll opt for the Brazilian, then.

My final midfield spot goes to Yannick Bolasie – he carries form and confidence into a clash with a Villa defence that’s nursing casualties. I can see Palace notching a couple in this one, with Bolasie typically instrumental.

At the back, Baines is joined by Burnley’s Kieran Trippier for his assist potential, although I do see Newcastle potentially struggling without both Moussa Sissoko and Jack Colback in the engine room. I’m also anticipating Southampton’s malaise to continue – for me, Arsenal will grind out a narrow win at the Emirates and gain another clean sheet. Finally, David de Gea is between the sticks – I’m struggling to see Stoke breaking United down at Old Trafford – I just think that their injuries in midfield will just see them concede too much possession.

Paul

I’m handing Tom Heaton the keeper’s jersey as Burnley face a Newcastle side blighted with injuries at Turf Moor. Leighton Baines’ points potential at both ends of the pitch makes him a must-have at home to Hull, whilst Chris Smalling has the form and fixture – at home to Stoke – to prevail again. Calum Chambers is the cheapest guaranteed defender for an Arsenal backbone that is slowly but surely starting to rediscover their resilience ahead of the visit of Southampton.

I’ve tried to spread my coverage over a number of home sides in the attacking areas. Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wilfried Bony face a QPR defence that has conceded more than any other on their travels. Eden Hazard is looking for a fourth successive 10+ points home haul against a Spurs side with no clean sheets in six and, having netted two goals in as many matches, Kevin Mirallas will fancy his chances against Hull’s dodgy defence. I’m willing to throw the dice with my other pick – I reckon Ander Herrera’s weekend display has earned him the right to start for United against the injury-hit Potters.

Up top, Bony is joined by Sergio Aguero – he’s capable of tearing apart any top-flight backline and the underlying stats suggest he’s still offering plenty of threat in spite of back-to back blanks. Olivier Giroud is a gamble that could backfire but with both Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck fielded on the flanks to accommodate the Frenchman in last weekend’s line-up, his lack of versatility could work in his favour and is likely to earn him the central role at home to the Saints.

The Scores So Far

The Community, as managed by Beavis, earned 58 points in Gameweek 13, thanks to mainly to his faith in United’s Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney. Mark took second spot with 56, whilst Jonty and myself (52 to 51) battled it out for the wooden spoon.

There’s no change on the overall pecking order, with Jonty out in front on 787 points. I sit in second with 764 points, just two ahead of Mark, with The Community back on 659.