The Scout Squad – Gameweek 18

As always on a Tuesday evening, we give you an early heads-up on our Scout Picks thinking for the Gameweek ahead. This list of 22 players will also include some names in contention for a place in our Spot the Differential article, though will, of course, be subject to change, depending on the injury situation as the week unfolds.

For Gameweek 18, here’s the players currently on our radar…

Goalkeepers

Stoke City carded seven clean sheets in their previous 10 fixtures and are next pitted against a Manchester United outfit that’s bagged just seven goals in eight outings, ensuring that Jack Butland (5.0) remains a strong selection between the sticks.

Man City have struggled of late defensively, but Joe Hart (5.6) will fancy his side’s chances of rebuffing a Sunderland attack that’s notched five goals in six fixtures.

Defenders

By virtue of his propensity for the occasional assist (three so far this term), Aaron Creswell (5.5) represents the prime route into a West Ham United back line that’s recorded a trio of successive clean sheets. The Irons are afforded a great opportunity to extend that streak, given that a home encounter against Aston Villa – who’ve notched four goals in six outings – is next on their agenda.

Tottenham Hotspur boast the joint-best defence in the league (14 goals conceded) and entertain a Norwich City team who’ve drawn blanks in two of their previous three road clashes, rendering Toby Alderweireld (5.9) a near certainty for our Scout Squad.

Hector Bellerin (5.9) and the Arsenal rearguard look well placed to keep it tight against a floundering Southampton outfit who have failed to net in three of their last five league clashes.

Crystal Palace possess the joint-best road defence (seven goals conceded) ahead of a trip to Bournemouth, which brings the 5.5-priced Scott Dann (three goals and one assist) onto our weekend radar.

Ashley Williams (4.8) serves as the most secure route into a Swansea City defence that will endeavour to register back-to-back clean sheets as they play host to West Bromwich Albion, who chart joint-second-bottom for away goals (six).

Midfielders

With four goals and assists already in his debut top-flight campaign, Delle Alli (5.2) has swiftly established himself as a prime pick in the fifth-midfielder bracket. In light of Christian Eriksen’s inconsistency and Erik Lamela’s knack for assisting the assister, the England international arguably represents the second-best source of Spurs attacking coverage (behind Harry Kane) as they welcome a Norwich squad that ranks bottom for clean sheets (one).

Oscar (8.2) appeared rejuvenated in Chelsea’s first fixture since Jose Mourinho’s departure, capping off an effective performance with a goal from the penalty spot. The Blues have lacked creative spark from that number-ten berth, so a return to form for the Brazilian would greatly enhance their attacking prospects. Given that Willian is yet to score a goal from open play in the league, we’re giving the edge to Oscar – who registered five attempts against the Black Cats – prior to Watford’s visit.

Despite failing to breach West Ham’s defence, Swansea displayed shoots of recovery, chalking up the second-highest tally of attempts (21) among all teams last Gameweek. With a home tie against West Brom – who are without a shut-out in seven outings – next on the agenda for the Swans, Andre Ayew (7.0) could be the beneficiary of caretaker manager Alan Curtis’ fresh outlook. The Ghana international will be hoping to retain his out of position berth after being fielded up front against the Hammers last time out.

Although Leicester City face a challenging road clash against Liverpool, Riyad Mahrez (7.0) is impossible to refuse on current form (six goals in three) and will be relishing the opportunity to punish the Merseysiders’ embattled rearguard.

On a similar note, Mesut Ozil (9.8) last drew a blank in Gameweek 6 and has racked up seven more assists (15) than any player this campaign, almost certainly guaranteeing him a slot in our Scout XI.

Kevin De Bruyne (10.8) remains the pick of Manchester City’s midfielders as Manuel Pellegrni’s squad gear up for a home tie against a Sunderland side that’s places top for away goals conceded (24).

All seven of Georginio Wijnaldum’s (7.1) goals have arrived at home this term, making him an intriguing differential for Everton’s visit to St James’ Park.

By way of three goals and four assists across five starts, Ross Barkley (7.5) has solidified himself as the premier route into the Toffees’ midfield.

Forwards

Sergio Aguero (13.0) struggled to impart his influence against the league’s joint-best defence on Monday evening, but – with 62 minutes under his belt – the Argentine marksman is likely to enjoy greater success against the Black Cats’ generous rearguard. Aguero’s explosive potential is manifest, but the question marks surrounding how much pitch time he’ll be afforded could force us to plump for team-mate De Bruyne instead.

Olivier Giroud (9.0) has been quietly excellent over the past three months, amassing seven goals in nine starts and drawing just two blanks in the process. With Alexis Sanchez out of the picture until Gameweek 21 at the earliest, greater emphasis will be on the French frontman to prolong his fine scoring form and spearhead the Gunners’ ascent to the summit of the Premier League.

In spite of Villa’s dreadful attacking output ahead of their home clash with the Hammers, Jordan Ayew (5.5) earns a place in our squad. The summer signing has scored four of their six goals in the previous eight outings, including a leveler at Newcastle last time out.

We’d be hard pushed to omit Harry Kane (9.7) from the final XI, considering that only Sunderland (24) have conceded more away goals (19) than the Canaries.

Romelu Lukaku (9.2) is gunning down Jamie Vardy’s record as he strives to score for the eighth consecutive Gameweek when Everton travel to the North East. Speaking of the Foxes’ man, Vardy’s (7.7) pair of assists against Everton continued the form that’s seen him fail to produce points just once this season.

The red-hot Odion Ighalo (6.1) will duke it out with a Chelsea defence that recorded just three clean sheets in their previous 11 match-ups.

On Standby

Waiting in the wings are a half-dozen players that could yet force themselves into contention.

Pedro (8.9) scored against Sunderland and ranks top among Chelsea’s midfield contingent for attempts (11) and shots inside the box (seven) over the last four Gameweeks, while Marko Arnautovic (6.2) charts joint-second for shots inside the box (nine) during that same period.

David Silva (10.0) is yet to rediscover his groove following an injury layoff but should be afforded ample space against the Wearsiders. Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.0) also has nothing to show for the last two Gameweeks but ranks top joint-top among midfielders for attempts (10) and joint-second for shots on target (four) across that stretch.

No midfielder managed more attempts (15) than Yannick Bolasie (6.2) over the last four Gameweeks, with only Riyad Mahrez (10) besting him in terms of shots on target (six). Aleksandar Mitrovic (6.2) could profit from a sustained run of starts in the wake of Papiss Cisse’s groin injury.

The Community Champion

Having scrapped the weekly vote idea from last season, we now operate a lottery system to pick our weekly candidates. 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.

Gameweek 17’s community champion Red Devil beat the Scout Picks by 69 points to 44. He now takes the lead to claim the £100 Amazon voucher.

Gameweek 18’s Community Champion as selected by our lottery, is Saint Slaven. This is his ninth season, with his 5,170th overall finish in the 2011/12 campaign his best to date.

In addition to a shot at the £100 Amazon prize, FantasyBet are offering a chance for further prizes to Community Champions that are eligible to play their games. More details can be found here.