Scout Picks

The Scout Picks – New for 2015/16

Having experimented with a new system for the Scout Picks last season, once again, we’re tweaking the setup for the forthcoming season – hopefully for the better.

We’re still giving you, the Fantasy Football Scout community, the opportunity to get involved and take on our lineup.

We have, however, decided to scrap the weekly vote which, at times, could sometimes result in spam comment posting and the occasional exploit.

Instead, we’re turning to a lottery to select a community member to select their picks in each Gameweek.

If you wish to submit a Scout Picks squad and be the community’s champion in the forthcoming Gameweek, you’ll need to submit your details via this form.

Twenty-four hours later we’ll announce the selected champion and he/she will then have until Thursday afternoon to submit their picks.

This will then go head-to-head with our squad, which will be selected using the old traditional method of argument and discussion behind the scenes – at which point I’ll put my foot down and pick Leighton Baines regardless. So there will only be one set of Scout Picks from us this season.

We’re also planning a couple of new articles, centred around the Scout Picks.

We’ll bring you a Provisional Scout Picks selection on Tuesday detailing our early thinking. This article will also be used to announce the community champion for that week.

We’re also planning a new ad-hoc article that will reveal some of the discussion and tension going on behind the scenes, as a way of letting you get a view of our own selection process and any particular dilemmas in a given Gameweek.

Then, on Friday, you’ll get the final Scout Picks from us and your champion.

We’re still offering a prize alongside this process. The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season.

How Do I Get Involved?

Would-be community “Champions” must put themselves forward by submitting their details on the Scout Picks Champion Entry form.

We will create a community article on Monday each week to announce that applications are open and link to the form.

An applicant will be chosen at random the following day and announced in our Provisional Picks article.

The successful community “Champion” must supply their final Scout Picks XI to Jonty (jonty@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk) by 3pm on Thursday of that week. They have the option to tweak their Picks until 3pm on Friday.

Community Champions may seek the help and advice of others on the site once announced.

Should the community “Champion” fail to provide an initial or final Scout Pick selection, then an “Assistant Manager”, chosen by us, will gain control of the selection to represent the community for the Gameweek in question.

What do I need to do if I become the Community Champion?

You must select an Fantasy Premier League squad of 11 players in any valid FPL formation and using the regular FPL rules – eg: only three players per team permitted.

We will set a budget for your XI. Initially, this will be 82.5 and will increase as the season progresses and prices rise.

You may consult with the community in order to gain advice on building your Scout Picks for the Gameweek.

You do not need to submit any test to accompany your Picks but we may use a contribution should you wish to submit up to 200 words.

How Will the Scout Picks Be Scored?

We will total up the FPL points for both our Scout Picks and the community’s Picks.

No captain will be applied.

No chips will be applied.

Are there any other rules?

Yes there are. Plus, we reserve the right to make up some more along the way once we get started.

For now, we’re stipulating the following:

  • Community Champion Nominations must be registered users on Fantasy Football Scout and must not be under moderation at the time.
  • Scout Picks cannot be posted as a nomination on behalf of another user.
  • Nominees must be willing to supply a valid email address for contact throughout the selection process.
  • Any nominee or Champion voted by the community, who is later put under moderation, will not be considered for that Gameweek.
  • We reserve the right to change and overrule the selection of the chosen Community Champion at anytime.

We are now accepting applications for Gameweek 1 so head over to the entry form if you fancy getting your name in the hat.

You have until 2pm on Tuesday to get your application submitted.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

2,355 Comments Post a Comment
  1. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    I like it 🙂

    1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Gotta be better than last year. Scout picks just became a non-event for me last season when i used to look forward to them and utilise them before!

      1. J0E
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Although last year was our most successful year for the Scout Picks...pretty much nailed it every week thanks to the community input.

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 9 months ago

          Jonty..RMT surgery this Wednesday and Friday or only just the former?

          1. J0E
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 9 months ago

            Wed and Friday.

            1. Gashead9
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              8 years, 9 months ago

              No Team IDs allocated yet, how do we complete the form?

              1. ArseneWanger
                • 8 Years
                8 years, 9 months ago

                Go to Pick Team, then View Gameweek History, and it's in the address bar.

        2. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 9 months ago

          Well that's good i suppose.

          Can't Mark just do them every week as before? His is surely the opinion most people wanna hear anyway?

  2. Doctor X
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Who would you go for?

    Courtois @5.5 (or) Azpi@6.0

    1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Azpi

    2. Bolt-on
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I've gone court

    3. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Azpi

    4. Tadic is the new Eriksen
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Azpi

    5. Bobby_Baggio
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Azpi

    6. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Azpi. Bonus vs a lack of saves.

  3. GreenWindmill
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Seems like a good adaptation to me - remove the often unpopular canvassing but retain the community involvement. (Cue someone building a better fool 😉 )

  4. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Sounds good.

  5. Lestat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    who is a better pick??

    A - Deeney

    or

    B - Wilson

  6. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Is tadic worth a spot in midfield?

    1. bar low tell me
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      with 1.0 cheaper than mane, i think he is worth it

    2. Adriano
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Watchlist for now. I've got two 7.0 sports, so if he starts well, he's in.

    3. Daaf
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Don't think so.

    4. Sánchez
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      No. Mane is the man

    5. M00N
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Didn't do enough last season for me. I'd pick Chadli over him.

    6. Pinturicchio
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      It's a gamble, but it's one of the better gambles. His peripherals are good, he was struggling with fitness last year, and he's had a year to adjust. He's probably underpriced, but there are so many good players around that price point that it's a crapshoot.

  7. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Spurs only half way thru there pre-season friendlies, two in the next two days.

    What's that all about??

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I assume the youth academy will play

  8. SG8
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    2nd draft, any comments appreciated

    Butland - Ruddy

    Mertesacker - Cedric - Gomez - Lescott - O'Shea

    Hazard - Fabregas - Cazorla - Henderson - Wanyama

    Kane - Benteke - Pelle

    1. SGTMacaroni
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Lescott horrible fixtures

      1. SG8
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Should I change the Lescott/O'Shea combo?

        1. SGTMacaroni
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 9 months ago

          If you want a 5.0 then i think williams rotates well with SUN

          Otherwise id advise getting a 4.5 in

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Why are folks putting Pelle back in? Seen it a lot. Based on preseason? OR that Rodriguez is back?

      1. SGTMacaroni
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Pre season form, best fixtures, nailed on, not many good alternatives.

        JRod will not start first game at very least

        1. Limbo
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 9 months ago

          So what about last season? His lean spell not exactly broken - makes me think he hit a purple patch and he's fairly inconsistent.

          1. SGTMacaroni
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 9 months ago

            Yeah, folks are thinking he could hit a purple patch, Good fixtures + good pre season form

    3. Bolt-on
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I'm not sure oshea is a starter with Coates and Kaboul being mooted to start ahead of him

  9. Ludo
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Interesting, seems like a good solution! Cuts down on the spamming, and I much prefer the uniformity of having one set of picks from the Scouts.

    1. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah I much preferred only one set of scout picks!

  10. Lingardium Leviosa.
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Scout picks!!!! Yess!!!!!!

    1. Lingardium Leviosa.
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      🙁

  11. SGTMacaroni
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Much prefer the sounds of this Scout picks!

  12. Harry's Car Window
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    RMT

    Ruddy, Butland
    Azpi, Williams, Kaboul, Francis, Bassong
    Silva, Fab, Ozil, Afellay, Wanyama
    Aguero, Rooney, C.Wilson

    Cheers.

  13. Adriano
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    352 lovers, who's your 4.5 guy? I can't justify spending an extra .5 for someone who might not even start. They go at the end of the bench anyways. I'm on Hooper atm

    1. Jigger & Pony
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Rotating Wilson and Sakho

      1. Over Midwicket
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Same with me, lovely rotation for the first 8 weeks plus.

  14. Hooky
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Leighton Baines in the article is surely a typo and should read Kieran Trippier?!

  15. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    https://twitter.com/FantasyEagles/status/623085141779419136

    Are these types of minileagues just scams? If you enter, and win, how would the person running the league possibly get in touch with you to give you the cash prize?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      provide an email on the league's forum?

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        None of them ever ask you to do that though. I guess you could... but you'd think they'd give those instructions if they intended to pay out. I've seen loads of these free leagues with cash prizes and just dont understand how they go about contacting.

        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 9 months ago

          Maybe you have to contact them? Send a PM on twitter with your log-in details, perhaps.

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      looks like a way of getting more followers

      no idea how they would pay you, would you trust giving them your address or paypal?

      1. Wilshere Knowledge
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        You only need to give them your paypal email to be sent money.

  16. Bolt-on
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Could I please get a couple of opinions?

    Courtois

    Huth Mertesacker Clyne

    Hazard sterling Walcott Milner

    Kane Rooney Defoe

    Bench; ward waynyama baker

    1. ArseneWanger
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Defoe will disappoint but apart from that it's fairly textbook.

      1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        For 5.5m? He's have to get carded every week for that!

        1. ArseneWanger
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 9 months ago

          Is that some sort of word play on 'disappoint'?

  17. scout666
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    A- ox +3M

    B- Walcott

    Worried about game time for ox

  18. bar low tell me
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    who is the best 5.0-5.5 you have in mind??

    i'm tinkering between mahrez and sinclair
    they both play pretty forward, decent fixture, the only concern for me is their game time
    who is more of a secure starter for their team

    1. MOBAFFILIATED
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Mahrez for me, he seems 100% nailed on. Every formation Ranieri rolled out during pre season had Mahrez as the primary playmaker

  19. GreenWindmill
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Picture quiz of footballers when they were younger. Seems to vary wildly from the blindingly obvious to some pretty damn tricky ones... http://www.sporcle.com/games/DoctorR127/footballers-in-their-younger-days

    1. Gashead9
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      23

      1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Exactly!

  20. 1-1 at Newcastle
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Who's on penalties for Liverpool, does anyone know?

    1. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Until we learn otherwise its Henderson first choice.

    2. yemzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Henderson. But could change with Benteke's arrival

    3. Adriano
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I'm assuming Henderson, perhaps Benteke for confidence? Wait and see for now.

    4. GREENDREAMS11
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      people think Henderson but theres a possibility Benteke might come into that category now

    5. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I don't but Benteke over Costa looks more and more appealing

      1. GREENDREAMS11
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        thanks for this

    6. bar low tell me
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      currently hendo but benteke might take it away

    7. 1-1 at Newcastle
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      So Henderson but maybe Benteke... Thanks all

    8. SammyD
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Tekkers or Hendo I would imagine

  21. jimbobmij
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Currently debating between Ritchie and Lens for that 4th midfielder spot.. but now I'm thinking why not Ox?

    He's Arsenal's best right winger, he'll surely be getting minutes. This could be his break out season, seems a similar gamble to Ritchie or Lens, both of whom are unknown to the premier league.

    Both Ritchie and Lens are of course more nailed than Ox, but I believe Ox will be first choice on the right wing this season with Walcott sharing minutes with Giroud up top. It seems worth the risk to gamble with Ox at 6m compared to a gamble for a lesser team at the same amount.

    Thoughts?

    1. Narcissist
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Walcott will share mins with both Giroud and Ox IMO.

    2. SGTMacaroni
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Not assured of starting, even if he does he will likely only get 60-70min

    3. Daaf
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I like your thinking but would wait so see what happens. If someone gets injured and he gets a run in the team I would surely consider putting him in. Now not so much.

    4. yemzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Risky. Don't forget sanchez and welbeck still to come back, Ox could easily drop to the bench. Maybe for the first few GWs but even then walcott could still be played on the right.

  22. M00N
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    So..

    5.5 defender (Mert or Kolarov?) & Bentekers.

    OR

    4.5 defender (O'Shea or Huth?) & Kaneinho

    ???

  23. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    So long as a lurker doesn't log on for the first time on Friday and just copy an awesome team

    1. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      They'd have missed the deadline by then. Community champion is picked on a tuesday.

  24. Shifty
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    interesting idea

  25. Narcissist
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Ruddy / (Butland)
    Azpi / Mertesaker / Monreal / (Wisdom) / (Saylor)
    Fabregas / Ozil / Richie / Sterling / (Wanyama)
    Rooney / Benteke / Kane

    RMT please, comments welcome

  26. Raheem S. Archer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Which is better?
    Chadli/Mane/Sakho or Kane/Tadic/Sinclair

    1. Adriano
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      a

    3. Daaf
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      first one. By quite a few miles.

  27. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Sky Sports News HQ ‏@SkySportsNewsHQ 3m3 minutes ago

    BREAKING: Leicester sign Yohan Benalouane from Atalanta. Reaction on #SSNHQ

    Anyone's place now risky?

    1. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Sounds like a Wasilewski replacement, as well as temporary Wes Morgan cover.

      1. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers

    2. bar low tell me
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      where does he play?

    3. SGTMacaroni
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Worrying as a Huth owner

      1. Ludo
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Don't worry, Huth is their best defender.

      2. Detweiler
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Huth not under threat at all

      3. 11 Angry Men
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        This!

    4. Pinturicchio
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      The centre backs.

  28. exammy
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    For 5th mid - thoughts on spending 0.5 more and having Sinclair to rotate with your 3rd striker?

    1. Daaf
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      People don't really like to do that. Also depends on your 3th striker offcourse, but I don't think this plan will pan out. Spending 5.0 on a 5th midfield player by the way seems fine to me, it's just the planned rotation part that I don't think will work out.

  29. Hibbo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    I beat the scouts last season.

    One of the few from the community who delivered.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      you never let us down, tony

      1. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        That I most certainly do not.

        I bleed fantasy football.

        How's the team shaping up?

  30. 1966 was a great year for E…
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    I got excited for a minute there, Scout Picks on a Monday!