Scout Picks – Gameweek 33

We move onto a somewhat condensed Gameweek 33 of this season’s Scout Picks, 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, with the budget now sitting at 84.0 apiece for our starting line-ups.

The Community- Managed by Athletico Timbo

Clean sheets look tricky to pin down this week with the exception of Everton’s tie at home to Burnley. For this reason I’ve decided to double up on their marauding full backs, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines. West Ham’s depleted attack sees me opt for Joe Hart in goal in the hope of a rare City clean sheet and my final spot goes to Ryan Bertrand, another attacking full back from the best defence in the league away to Stoke.

My midfield consists of two big hitters in Eden Hazard and David Silva and two cheaper options with form on their side, in Yannick Bolasie and Aaron Lennon. Chasing points, I hear you say, and you’re probably right!

My attacking front three starts with Sergio Aguero. Out of form, some have said, but I disagree and I’m hoping for a reaction from City to last weekend’s derby defeat. Harry Kane is next on the agenda, another player whose team seems on the slide but with one major positive in his favour – he’s playing Newcastle. The last spot goes to the latest star to shine brightly, as Glenn Murray welcomes a crumbling West Brom. Get on him now folks, it surely won’t last!

Jonty

Everton, Crystal Palace, Leicester and Manchester City dominate my picks in this seven-fixture Gameweek. For Palace, Scott Dann is the stand out pick among defenders, with two goals already to his name. In midfield Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie both offer strong potential. I’ve opted for Bolasie after this Members table revealed a surprising upturn in accuracy in front of goal. With five goals in the last six Gameweeks Glenn Murray is a more than worthwhile inclusion too.

For Everton, I’ve doubled up on clean sheet potential. Tim Howard and Leighton Baines look assured of points when a Burnley side, with one goal in the last six, visits. The Puntmaster predicted Aaron Lennon’s improving form last month and with two goals and an assist in his last four he has been proved right.

Manchester City have to beat West Ham to have any hope of catching Chelsea in the Premier League title race. With 37 points in his last three home appearances, David Silva looks vital this week. Sergio Aguero has just 13 in his previous trio of Etihad displays and represents a surprising gamble in comparison, one that is arguably well worth taking.

Second behind Manchester City in the goal attempts chart over the last four matches sits Leicester. I’ve opted for their two most attacking players over that period, Jamie Vardy and Robert Huth. That’s right, I said Robert Huth.

Mark

Yes, I’ve doubled on both the Everton full-backs. The way I see it, I could have gone with Aaron Lennon in midfield but, by opting for both Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman, I’m arguably gaining similar attacking threat with the opportunity for clean sheet points thrown in. Burnley have scored just a single goal in their last six league outings, while Everton have tightened up considerably of late – that tells me that it’s worth putting faith in both the Toffee’s full-back raiders.

Their inclusion means I’ve shifted to 4-3-3, mainly because I couldn’t see another midfielder who could provide the same promise. Given the form, Yannick Bolasie has to be in there along with his team-mate Glenn Murray in attack, while David Silva and Eden Hazard are the reliable heavy-hitters to complete the midfield trio.

I’m backing City to make a recovery from the Old Trafford display against West Ham – mainly because their opponents appear to be drifting to the season climax. Both Silva and Sergio Aguero should be in the points and I’ll be backing the latter with my captaincy.

Finally, I’ve gone for David Nugent over Jamie Vardy – I like the differential here and with Nugent likely to remain on spot-kicks, despite his recent miss against West Ham, I’m content with his selection.

Paul

The stats help select my defence this week. Tim Howard is picked between the posts for Everton’s clash with Burnley. The Toffees have four clean sheets in five, whilst their visitors have one goal in six.

Over their respective last four matches, Leighton Baines has created more chances (nine) than any defender, Robert Huth leads the way for efforts in the area (six) and Aleksandar Kolarov has fired more shots (seven) than any other backline option. All three have plum home clashes against sides hit hard either by a lack of form (Burnley) or injuries up front (Swansea and West Ham).

In midfield, consistency is key. Eden Hazard has returned points in five of his last six and will fancy his chances against injury-hit United. Yannick Bolasie has delivered in three of his last four ahead of a clash with a Baggies backline that’s shipped ten goals in the previous three, whilst David Silva’s last three home hauls (17, 11, 9) cement his spot. I’m doubling up in Palace’s midfield and go for Wilfried Zaha – his five shots in the box over the last four is just one less than Bolasie.

Up front, Sergio Aguero’s brace at United brings him back into form at home to a West Ham side with one clean sheet away from home all season. I’m going all in on the Palace attack by grabbing Glenn Murray (six goals and four assists in six), whilst Newcastle’s dire defence (two clean sheets in 20) allows Harry Kane to return to form as he searches for a fifth double-digit away haul.

The Scores so Far

Loic Remy and Daniel Sturridge’s absences hit all four Scout pick squads in Gameweek 32, with Jonty scoring just 39 points, while the Community notched 44, I picked up 46 and Mark gained the week’s highest score of 47. In the overall standings Jonty retains the lead with 1667, followed by Mark on 1649, myself on 1636 and the Community with 1552.