Scout Picks – Gameweek 38

For the final time this season, we roll out the Gameweek Scout Picks, where myself, Mark, Jonty and a different member of the community pick an XI for the upcoming round of fixtures.

Each week, our lineups have gone head-to-head and, over the course of the season we’ve been keeping a tally of the points – you’ll find the latest standings at the foot of the article.

With the Fantasy Premier League budget now sitting at 84.0 apiece, you’ll find our individual Picks below and the collective Scout Picks for the Gameweek at the top of your right sidebar.

The Community – Managed by Andy85wsm

I’ve opted for Kasper Schmeichel in goal at home to QPR, hoping he can keep recent heroics up for one more game.

At the back, I’ve gone for the rock that is Ron Vlaar up against a poor Burnley side and I’ve also selected Seamus Coleman for Everton’s clash with Spurs – the visitors have looked poor recently and I hope he can get some attacking returns. Lastly, I’ve opted for John Terry – I reckon that Jose Mourinho will want to make sure Chelsea win their final match of the season after a poor display against West Brom.

In midfield, it’s cheap players ahoy. Gylfi Sigurdsson has looked good recently and I see goals in the match against Palace, which is why I’ve drafted in Yannick Bolasie, someone I’ve wanted in my own team for a while but never had that spare transfer. Ashley Young has looked lively on United’s left and I’m hoping that with Hull needing to attack to win, he will exploit space left in behind. Lastly I’ve gambled on a start for Theo Walcott: I feel he will be in the goals should he be named in the Arsenal XI against the Baggies.

Up front, I’ve backed Romelu Lukaku, who I’m looking to bring into my own team against a poor Spurs side. If Christian Beneke starts, then I don’t see him drawing a blank at home to Burnley. With a FA Cup final coming soon, Tim Sherwood will be hoping he continues some form here. The final spot in my attack goes to Leicester’s Leonardo Ulloa, even with money left over for Sergio Aguero. I think a party is imminent at the King Power stadium and the Argentine will be at the forefront. QPR have nothing left to play for and have several first team members out, so I’m expecting the points to flow.

Jonty

With my Gameweek 38 picks I want to combine some risks with good old-fashioned reliability. The first name on my team sheet was Romelu Lukaku, who has notched up four goals on the final day over the last two seasons and tops my Attacking Players table over the last couple of fixtures. With already relegated QPR visiting and Leicester safe, I fancy an old Brighton favourite, Leonardo Ulloa, to add to his 10 goal tally. Sergio Aguero has been one of the few heavy hitting success stories this season and deserves a place as he looks to add to his Golden Boot winning 25 goals when Southampton drop in at the Etihad.

In midfield, JK’s article on James Milner convinced me of the differential threat the much-maligned Manchester City man poses. Two goals and two assists in his last three indicates that he really is in the form of his life. With an average of 11 FPL points per appearance over the last three Gameweeks, Milner’s colleague David Silva looks irresistible, particularly for those looking to ditch dental surgery victim Eden Hazard. Alexis Sanchez continues to show some impressive underlying statistics in attack, but I fear rotation and want to take a punt on Theo Walcott starting and impressing ahead of the FA Cup final, while Yannick Bolasie offers budget potential as Palace host Swansea.

In defence I’ve opted for the security of Leicester’s Wes Morgan, Chelsea’s John Terry, Everton’s Seamus Coleman and Arsenal stopper David Ospina. All have, on paper easy opposition and should start.

Mark

Selecting an XI from the final day lottery was far from easy. Eden Hazard’s back teeth and Arsene Wenger’s hint that he’ll rest players has ensured that this task was made all the more difficult. Subsequently, I’ve largely ignored Chelsea and Arsenal for my attacking talent.

Theo Walcott is my only exception: a old favourite of mine, I suspect he’s the most likely to break into Wenger’s teamsheet, although I’m a little concerned that the Gunners boss may want to avoid a giving himself a selection dilemma for Wembley. Walcott looked sharp coming from the bench in midweek and, if he plays against West Brom, I think he’ll have an impact and push for an unlikely FA Cup Final appearance.

Given their form, I’m happy to rely on the City duo of Sergio Aguero and David Silva for my other attacking heavy-hitters. Around that pair, I’ve committed to another Leicester City win by acquiring both Riyad Mahrez and Leonardo Ulloa for their King Power date with the relegated R’s. Jeffrey Schlupp also makes one last appearance in my back three.

Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young are my final day differentials – both are in bloom and are up against defences that should grant them opportunity to build on recent form.

My defence won’t surprise many – Branislav Ivanovic looks a certain starter and will bring his usual menace going forward, while I just fancy Hector Bellerin to retain his Arsenal starting berth. The young Spaniard was a vital attacking ploy against Sunderland and, with Mathieu Debuchy sidelined, I don’t see Wenger benching him.

Paul

Five clean sheets in six is enough to justify Kasper Schmeichel’s selection at home to QPR. I’m doubling up on Chelsea’s defence to keep out a Sunderland side that have drawn blanks in each of their last two, drafting in John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic. Everton have four clean sheets in five at Goodison and I reckon Seamus Coleman could profit at both ends of the park.

In midfield, I feel Theo Walcott will be handed a start at home to West Brom as Arsene Wenger rotates. The in-form David Silva comes in for City’s home clash against Southampton, whilst I opt for Yannick Bolasie and Moussa Sissoko as my final two midfielders – a selection helped by our recent Members article on final day differentials.

Up top, Sergio Aguero welcomes a Southampton side with a single point in their last six road trips. Leonardo Ulloa could be in the points as Leicester host a QPR outfit that’s conceded more away goals than any other side, whilst I’m backing Tim Sherwood to unleash Christian Benteke against Burnley as Villa look for a morale-boost ahead of next week’s Wembley date.

The Scores So Far

With a little help from Southampton’s hat-trick hero Sadio Mane, Gameweek 37 Scout Pick champion S Kuqi emerged with a score of 54, nine ahead of Jonty and leaving my score of 24 and Mark’s 25 for dust.

For the purposes of our Scout Picks challenge, where the champion with the highest Gameweek score amongst the champions wins a £100 Amazon voucher, only the scores from the first ten games of the Gameweek counted.

In the overall standings, Jonty takes a commanding lead going into Gameweek 38. He has 1954, while I’m on 1889, Mark has 1879 and the community has 1852.