Scout Picks – Gameweek 32

After a thrilling end to the previous round of fixtures, we move onto Gameweek 32 of this season’s Scout Picks, where Mark, Jonty, a different member of the community and I pick an XI for the upcoming set of matches. 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, with the budget now sitting at 84.0 apiece for our starting line-ups.

The Community – Managed by Pompeyfan

I’ve doubled up on Southampton as they’re playing a Hull side who have scored only two goals in their last six away from home. West Brom also have a great fixture and I’m banking on Chelsea regaining some defensive form when they visit QPR. More importantly, Ryan Bertrand, Branislav Ivanovic & Joleon Lescott all have the potential of attacking returns.

Without Costa, Chelsea will be even more reliant on the in-form Eden Hazard. There is, of course, the possibility of Alexis Sanchez being rotated, however, I just feel Arsene Wenger will not want to interrupt his welcome return to form. Saido Mane should be well rested and ready to retake his spot as the focal point of their attack and Raheem Sterling is up against a low in confidence and injury-ravaged Newcastle.

In attack, Harry Kane and Olivier Giroud are in great form, and Loic Remy should deputise for Costa in a match against QPR which should have goals in it. For me, that trio are strong captaincy options this Gameweek as all their opponents have leaky defences; with Villa and QPR conceding 20 in the last 10 and Leicester 16 over the same period.

Jonty

Southampton look the best bet for a clean sheet this week when relegation-threatened Hull visit. I’ve decided to double up on both their attack-minded full-backs to offer potential at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Doosra’s dangerous defenders Members table has prompted me to pick Leighton Baines, who has created the most chances of any defender over the last six matches.

In midfield, Jordan Henderson is my Liverpool pick, after notching up 40 FPL points over the last five Premier League matches. Eden Hazard is another consistent performer. Since the beginning of the year, he has delivered attacking returns in seven of his last 11 matches. Opting for Henderson over his more expensive Liverpool midfielders gives me enough cash to invest in Alexis Sanchez this week. Manchester United’s Juan Mata faces an out-of-sorts Manchester City with the comforting thought that he has scored 20 FPL pts over the last two Premier League matches. Form is on his – and the red half of Manchester’s – side.

In attack, I’ve doubled up on Chelsea and Arsenal assets, with Loic Remy and Olivier Giroud offering strong potential for goals. Completing my picks is Harry Kane, who has a favourable home clash with Aston Villa.

Mark

Daniel Sturridge is undoubtedly the shock selection in my Picks line-up but I’m earmarking Monday’s Anfield meeting with Newcastle as the match that finally signals a return to form. He earned a decent run-out in the FA Cup in midweek and I’m backing him and Liverpool to rip into a beleaguered Newcastle. Were it not for the Gameweek 33 blank, I’d definitely be seeking a way to work both Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho into my own line-up.

Elsewhere, I’m gambling on Alexis Sanchez and Sadio Mane to earn starts for Arsenal at Burnley and Southampton at home to Hull, respectively. If they’re on the pitch, I’d expect both to be amongst the points in convincing wins. With that in mind, I’ve no qualms in selecting Olivier Giroud up front. Admittedly, the Clarets have been resolute at home of late but, in my opinion, Arsenal’s firepower and motivation will be too much for them.

At the back, I’ve doubled on the Southampton rearguard. In a week where clean sheets look precious commodities, a St Mary’s meeting with an ailing Hull City side looks a gift. I’m expecting Dejan Lovren and Hector Bellerin to start: they offer the most efficient route into the Arsenal and Liverpool defences.

Harry Kane and Eden Hazard will surely be in everyone’s Picks and line-ups going into the weekend. The pair will no doubt monopolise the armband, with Kane the favoured option. I’m wavering here, though. Unlike a patchy Spurs, Chelsea have clear motivation and I’m expecting QPR to put up some strong resistance to draw the sting from Hazard and his team-mates.

Paul

My front three square up to struggling sides that simply cannot afford to stay on the defensive this week. Olivier Giroud and Harry Kane carry form into showdowns with Burnley and Villa, whilst Loic Remy should get the nod against his former club QPR. As mentioned in this afternoon’s Captain Sensible article, Chelsea have created more big chances than any other side over their respective last four matches and I expect Jose Mourinho to unleash Remy at Loftus Road before handing Didier Drogba a start against United next weekend.

At the back, a Southampton double-up is too good to ignore. Ronald Koeman’s side have registered ten of their 14 clean sheets at St Mary’s and face a Hull side with two goals in their last six road trips. Branislav Ivanovic is nailed-on as a potentiall source of points at both ends of the pitch, whilst I pick Per Mertesacker for Arsenal’s trip to Burnley. The Clarets have a single goal in five and are joint worst for aerial attempts conceded this season, suggesting the big German could benefit from dead-ball situations.

Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez plundered 13-point hauls last weekend and approach Gameweek 32 in fine form – intriguingly, both have already registered goals and double-figures against their respective weekend opponents. I’m also backing Sadio Mane to return to the Southampton XI for the visit of Hull, whilst Philippe Coutinho’s midweek cup winner against Blackburn persuades me to select the Brazilian for Liverpool’s Anfield encounter with Newcastle on Monday night.

The Scores So Far

During double Gameweeks, only scores from the first ten matches count towards the final score for the Community challenge, so that all community champions have an equal shot at the top Gameweek score of the season prize of a £100 Amazon voucher.

To ensure that our Scout Picks were still focused on the Double, myself, Jonty and Mark stocked up on assets from Aston Villa and QPR while Gameweek 31’s champion Saniul opted to ignore players with two fixtures. Despite this, Saniul picked up the Gameweek 31 wooden spoon with a score of 47, behind my tally of 53, Mark’s 55 and Jonty’s score of 61. In the overall standings Jonty retains the lead with 1628, Mark is in second with 1602, I have 1590 and the community is on 1508.