Scout Picks – Gameweek 36

We move onto Gameweek 36 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 Kings of Lyon

This week’s community team consists of players form only five teams, all at home and against sides with either little to play for or facing relegation. Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic is perhaps the most surprising pick, but he’s always looked lively and deserved to score at least three away at West Ham recently.

For Arsenal, I’ve opted for the clean sheet potential of David Ospina, as well as the dual midfield threat of Mesut Ozil – due to doubts over Aaron Ramsey’s fitness – and Alexis Sanchez, who should do well against Swansea on the back of his Gameweek 35 brace at Hull.

I’ve also selected a trio of Man City players. David Silva and Sergio Aguero, who should have lots of space and shot potential against a weak QPR, while Aleksandar Kolarov offers clean sheet and attacking potential, should he retain his starting role ahead of Gael Clichy.

Christian Benteke is the Premier League’s form striker. Aston Villa will need his goals when toothless West Ham rack up to Villa Park. Meanwhile I’ve also gone for Ron Vlaar in my defence, such is my confidence that West Ham are too busy booking their holidays to put in a good performance.

I’ve turned to Hull for my final two slots as their opponents Burnley look unlikely to score and seem incapable of keeping a clean sheet. I’m hoping Hull striker Dame N’Doye and defender Paul McShane will profit from the Lancashire side’s frailties.

Jonty

With pricey options such as Sergio Aguero and David Silva, who face QPR, and Alexis Sanchez, who faces Swansea, having form and fixtures on their side, I’ve had to search for some cut-price options to keep within the 84m budget.

D1sable’s look at Charlie Adam’s underlying statistics is enough to convince me to take a punt on the Stoke midfielder, particularly as the visitors to the Britania stadium, Tottenham, have just three away clean sheets all season.

In defence I’ve opted for Hull’s super cheap defender Paul McShane, as a Burnley side with only one clean sheet on the road pay visit. Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar is another budget option to consider, with lackluster West Ham visiting. My final budget option is Fantasy Football’s form keeper Kasper Schmeichel, who faces a Southampton side that is failing to convince as the season draws to a close.

That leaves just enough over to opt for John Terry, who looks set to be one of the few Chelsea options likely to start the remainder of the champion’s matches. My second Arsenal player is Mesut Ozil, who I’ve drafted in amid injury concerns around Aaron Ramsey, who took a knock during Gameweek 35’s match with Hull.

A pair of Belgian internationals complete my side. With ten goals in his last eight Premier League matches Aston Villa Christian Benteke looks a reliable bet. Meanwhile, Everton’s Romelu Lukaku may not be as prolific as his international team-mate but with six goals conceded in their last four matches his opponents Sunderland should offer him plenty of chances.

Mark

Going without Hazard was the big decision and, once I’d decided against that, it lead me to bringing in both Alexis Sanchez and David Silva as my midfield heavy-hitters.

The selection up front was simple enough, although Romelu Lukaku came close to breaking up my final trio. Sergio Aguero’s berth was a given, whilst Christian Benteke’s form was impossible to ignore. Of the three, Olivier Giroud was perhaps the most in doubt but, despite his indifferent display at Hull, I’ve opted to double on Arsenal attacking assets for Monday’s meeting with Swansea.

Hector Bellerin and Steve Harper offer me value at the back, allowing me to splash on Leighton Baines and Branislav Ivanovic. Everton have kept four consecutive shut-outs at Goodison so, despite Sunderland’s desperate plight, they have to be backed for returns. I’m less convinced on Ivanovic, but swayed by the hope that he’ll be given more freedom to raid the Liverpool flank now that Jose has the trophy wrapped up.

The selection of Chris Brunt and Sone Aluko are undoubtedly the most interesting elements of my lineup. Both differentials, Brunt has form having delivered four assists over his last four starts and is up against a ravaged and beleaguered Newcastle backline. As for Aluko, he looks set to play off lone striker Dame N’Doye and is a 4.4 midfield option for Hull’s relegation six-pointer with Burnley. He’s a gamble but, at that price, one I’m more than willing to take.

Paul

I’ve opted for Tim Howard between the sticks as Everton host Sunderland. The keeper has registered four straight clean sheets at Goodison and has earned saves points in all but one of those matches. With 33 points in his last four, Wes Morgan is Leicester’s form defender as Southampton pay visit, whilst I’m keeping faith with Branislav Ivanovic for Chelsea’s home encounter with Liverpool.

I’m also opting to overlook Hazard as I feel his minutes could be managed. Instead, I’ll turn to Arsenal pair Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla, with the latter’s spot-kick duties earning him the nod over Mesut Ozil. David Silva comes in for City’s clash with QPR, whilst I’m backing Wilfried Zaha to put in a performance as former club United roll up to Selhurst Park.

Up top, Sergio Aguero and Christian Benteke have the form and fixtures to again bring in the points. Harry Kane’s underlying stats remain solid and I reckon he’ll be able to breach a Stoke defence without a clean sheet in seven.

The Scores So Far

Congratulations to Gameweek 35 Community Champion Wolverine, who beat all three Scouts with 65 points. Mark and I were close behind with 60 and Jonty picked up the wooden spoon with a score of 53.

In the overall standings Jonty retains the overall lead on 1827, followed by myself on 1806, Mark on 1798 and the Community on 1719.