The Scout Squad – Gameweek 37

Up next this afternoon, we turn our attention to the upcoming round of fixtures and roll out some early insight into our Scout Picks thinking for the Gameweek ahead. Whittling down the contenders to a standard squad of 22, we also assess those names in contention for a place in our Spot the Differential article.

Here’s the cast currently under consideration for Gameweek 37, which is mainly populated with those players who are handed a pair of fixtures apiece.

Goalkeepers

David De Gea (5.9) represents one of only two sure-fire routes into a Man United defence that have served up four clean sheets in their last six outings. Whilst a clean sheet at Norwich looks more than possible, though, the Spaniard may have to rely on save points for Tuesday’s trip to Upton Park.

Like De Gea, Heurelho Gomes (5.1) hits the road twice as Watford make their way to Liverpool and Norwich. The Brazilian’s 21-point haul in double Gameweek 34 serves a reminder of his potential as he looks to consolidate his spot at the top of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) keeper standings.

Defenders

With two home matches on his agenda, Aaron Cresswell (5.7) serves as the choice pick in West Ham United’s rearguard on the back of a goal and assist in the last four. The Irons play host to a Swansea City side that failed to score in their previous two away matches before entertaining a Red Devils outfit that posted blanks in two of their last three road ties.

Chris Smalling (6.5) is the safest route into a United back-four that has conceded just five goals in their last eight fixtures.

Patrick van Aanholt (4.7) ranks joint-top among defenders for goals (five) and top for attempts (43), underlining his penchant for marauding runs down the left flank. The Black Cats recorded three clean sheets in their previous five outings and, after hosting Chelsea this weekend, face an Everton attack with four goals to their name in seven league encounters.

As Chelsea’s most attack-minded defensive recruit, Branislav Ivanovic (6.6) factors into our thinking prior to their double Gameweek. The recent return of John Terry and Gary Cahill saw the Serbian shift to right-back on Monday, with those runs down the flank bolstering his appeal.

With Timm Klose sidelined for the season, fit-again Russell Martin (4.2) – who notched three goals in six starts at the beginning of the campaign – presents the best case for investment among Norwich’s back line before their double Gameweek (MUN & WAT).

In the wake of Mamadou Sakho’s suspension, Dejan Lovren (4.8) is arguably the safest way to harness Liverpool’s clean-sheet potential during their back-to-back home ties (WAT & CHE). Despite Jurgen Klopp’s recent penchant for rotation, the Croatian has started each of the Merseysiders’ last three league fixtures.

Midfielders

Having registered just three blanks in his last 10 starts, Dimitri Payet (8.5) offers a consistent path into a Hammers offense that has chalked up 18 goals in seven match-ups. The twinkle-toed Frenchman will certainly fancy his chances of troubling a Swans back line that shipped seven goals in their previous two away ties, whilst he’s already scored against midweek visitors Manchester United in the FA Cup earlier this season.

By virtue of three goals in two appearances, Eden Hazard (10.8) has sharpened back into focus on the Fantasy scene. Considering the magnitude of his impact in the second period against Tottenham Hotspur, the Belgian winger looks set to reclaim a starting berth for a pair of road clashes (sun & liv) over the next week.

In response to the Canaries’ barren run on the goal front, Alex Neil handed Nathan Redmond (5.0) a first start since Gameweek 30 last weekend. Although he failed to score at the Emirates, Redmond’s four attempts on goal suggests he’s set to retain his start for Norwich’s vital pair of home fixtures.

Despite the lack of a double Gameweek, Andros Townsend (5.8) remains in consideration as Newcastle travel to whipping boys Villa. The winger’s winner against Palace took his tally to three goals and one assist in his previous trio of starts as Rafa’s men go in search of a crucial three points.

Riyad Mahrez (7.3) is also in contention for Leicester’s home clash with Everton. With the title now in the bag, there’s no need for the Foxes to tighten up and Claudio Ranieri could go on the attack as he looks to celebrate the Premier League crown in style.

Roberto Firmino (8.3) gets the nod over Philippe Coutinho in our pursuit of Liverpool’s attack. In terms of starts over the last five, the former leads his compatriot by four to two, suggesting that – despite dropping out at Swansea last week – he looks a safer bet for the visits of Watford and Chelsea.

Finally, Alexis Sanchez’s form (five goals and one assist in six) keeps him on our radar as Arsenal make their way to City looking for the win that would take them six points clear of their hosts and guarantee at least third spot.

Forwards

Sergio Aguero (13.5) is the only forward in our squad that plays just once this week. The Argentine just edges out Golden Boot Harry Kane in our thinking ahead of a home encounter with Arsenal that could see City leapfrog their visitors into third. Kane, meanwhile, has failed to score in his last two home outings ahead of Southampton’s visit, whilst it’s fair to say that morale will be low at the Lane right now in light of Monday’s result.

Jermain Defoe (5.3) is in fine form (four goals in seven) ahead of a pair of home fixtures (CHE & EVE) that will define the Black Cats’ campaign. The former Spurs stalwart charted second among all forwards for shots inside the box (13) across his last four matches, highlighting his strong potential for attacking returns.

Andy Carroll (6.5) delivered five goals and one assist in his previous four outings, strengthening his grip on the Hammers’ lone striker berth. Motivated by his side’s slim hopes of a top-four berth and the prospect of making the England squad, the robust target man looks well placed to perpetuate his purple patch.

With five goals and two assists in ten appearances across all competitions, Anthony Martial (7.6) lays claim as the prime pick among Manchester United’s forward contingent. The ex-Monaco starlet will be relishing the opportunity to engage a Canaries defence that charts joint-bottom for shut-outs (five) this term, whilst the Hammers have one clean sheet in seven.

In light of his brace last time out, Troy Deeney (5.3) reaffirmed his status as the most promising forward for Watford’s double Gameweek (liv & nor). Deeney has bagged four goals in seven outings across all competitions, while striker partner Odion Ighalo netted a solitary goal in his previous 14 appearances.

Daniel Sturridge (10.2) netted in five of his last seven outings and was omitted from the starting line-up on just occasion. Although Jurgen Klopp penchant for rotation could see the striker benched for one of their two fixtures, his capacity to punish tiring defences as a sub (as evidenced in the recent Merseyside derby) diminishes that caveat.

Chelsea’s second-half performance against Tottenham portends a profitable end to their season, which in turns piques our interest in Diego Costa (10.5). The former Atletico Madrid marksman racked up eight goals and four assists in 11 outings before succumbing to injury, and will be determined to rediscover that form in an attempt to reclaim a spot in Spain’s Euros squad.

On Standby

In scouring the market for the premier double Gameweek assets, there are a couple of marquee forwards that we’ve reluctantly demoted to this segment.

Harry Kane (10.4) charted second for attempts (17) and top for shots on target (10) among all forwards across his last four starts but has his work cut out against a buoyant Southampton troupe. As for Jamie Vardy (7.4), he recorded three goals in two starts before his suspension, and is pitted against an Everton side that surrendered four goals in their last away encounter.

Shifting the spotlight onto Everton’s choice targets, Romelu Lukaku (8.7), Ross Barkley (7.0) and Leighton Baines (6.0) might play with renewed confidence following the Toffees’ win over Bournemouth last Gameweek. The former has a habit of turning on the style when the Fantasy community least expects it and scored against the Foxes in the reverse fixture. Meanwhile, Baines netted at the Vitality Stadium and possesses decent shut-out potential against a Sunderland outfit that’s registered three blanks in five match-ups.

Elsewhere around the league, Marcus Rashford (4.7) tallied as many shots inside the box (five) as Martial across their last four matches, while Manuel Lanzini (4.9) charts second among the Hammers’ midfield contingent for attempts (10) in their previous six fixtures. Finally, Willian (7.0) served up attacking returns (a goal and assist) in his last two outings and places joint-fourth among all midfielders for shots inside the box (eight) across his last four appearances.

The Community Champions

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.

Red Devil leads the way after beating the Picks by 25 points in Gameweek 17.

Gameweek 36’s community champion Balders defeated the Scout Picks 54 to 45.

The Gameweek 37 community champion, as selected by our lottery, is King Ozil. This is his seventh season, with 2011/12’s finish of 1267 the 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.