The Scout Squad – Gameweek 2

This afternoon finds us looking forward to Gameweek 2, as we present the early thinking behind the Scout Picks.

The “Scout Squad” has been revamped for 2016/17 campaign, offering a greater insight into the decision making process behind each Friday’s selection.

Each midweek Mark, Paul and myself will list the 18 players we think have the best chance of success across the four positions, listing them in rank order.

This article will then highlight some of the likely discussions and disagreements that will take place behind the scenes as the Scouts look to back their players and secure a place for them in the Scout Picks as well as our Spot the Differential articles.

Finally, we will also reveal the Community Champion who has been selected by our lottery to represent the community and be in with a chance of winning a £100 Amazon voucher. The budget for the Scout Picks starting XI and the community picks has been set at 83m, which will be reviewed as the season progresses.

Goalkeepers

Disagreements are unlikely when it comes to picking goalkeepers this week, with Paul and I listing the same trio, albeit in a different order, and Mark claiming two of our picks.

Mark and Paul both place Swansea’s Lukaz Fabianski, who earned a bonus point and notched three saves against Burnley in Gameweek 1, as their top choice. The 5.0 priced keeper is owned by just 2.6% of Fantasy Premier League managers, arguably due to a daunting run of fixtures from Gameweek 3 (lei, CHE, sot, MCI, LIV). For this weekend, the Poland international has a far easier encounter with Hull, but the Yorkshire side’s victory over Leicester last weekend does merit a degree of caution.

I’ve opted for the value of West Brom’s Ben Foster (4.5) as my top pick. With a clean sheet and maximum bonus against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 1, he looks primed for points again, when Everton visit. All three of us are also backing another budget keeper, Sunderland’s Vito Mannone (4.5) ahead of Middlesbrough’s visit to the Stadium of Light.

Mark’s second choice keeper Adrian could come in the reckoning, but, at 5.0, he looks unlikely to get the nod over the value that Foster and Mannone offer or the popularity of Fabianski among the three of us.

Defenders

In stark contrast to our goalkeeper picks there should be plenty of discussion behind the scenes around defenders.

With four goals and three assists last season, and Crystal Palace visiting, Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld (6.5) is Paul and Mark’s top choice for the Scout Picks backline. I also back a clean sheet for Spurs but value has driven my selection of Kyle Walker (5.5), who registered an assist and earned a FPL bonus point against Everton in Gameweek 1. If money is tight Walker may get the nod over his more expensive team-mate.

Paul faces a tough task trying to convince Mark and I that Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia should miss out. I put the 5.5 priced right back, who faces Southampton at home, top while Mark lists him as his second choice. His attacking instincts were in full flow against Bournemouth in Gameweek 1, suggesting that returns at both ends of the pitch are a very real possibility.

It looks like Paul and Mark will win out when it comes to including a Swansea defender in our picks, should Fabianski not secure the goalkeeper spot.

While Paul has opted for Kyle Naughton (4.5) Mark believes budget option Jordi Amat (4.0) has done enough to cement a role in the starting XI. Covering a Swansea clean sheet in Gameweek 2 looks key.

“Swansea have a great home defensive record under Francesco Guidolin, conceding just four times in seven games at the Liberty under his management” – Paul

Paul will be turning to even more recent statistics in his quest to include Manchester City’s John Stones (5.0) in the Scout Picks to take advantage of their away tie at Stoke.

“I’m backing Man City at both ends of the pitch against a Stoke side with one shot on target at Middlesbrough.” – Paul

Currently Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt (5.0), looks a shoo-in, after getting the nod from all three of us. The Dutchman scored an impressive six goals last term and hosts Middlesbrough this weekend.

Fresh from his assist and bonus point against West Ham on Monday, Chelsea’s 12.9% owned Cesar Azpilicueta (6.0) is another being backed by us all to deliver attacking and defensive returns.

Midfielders

Eden Hazard (10.0), Dimitri Payet (9.5) and Roberto Firmino (8.5) all look strong bets for inclusion after earning three votes apiece.

We are backing Firmino to turn his strong underlying statistics against Arsenal on Sunday into Fantasy returns when Liverpool visit Burnley. Hazard’s wrestling of penalty duties from Oscar and maximum bonus points against West Ham has also impressed us, while an expected return to the West Ham starting XI against Bournemouth looks like an ideal time for Payet to kickstart his season.

“Payet will surely start as West Ham look to bounce back from their late loss at Chelsea. The Hammers defence is unconvincing so they’ll need to go on the attack”. – Paul

Areas of disagreement will centre around Leicester, Manchester City and whether to double up on Liverpool’s wide range of attacking assets.

With five of his seven goals last term coming at home, I’ve been put off backing Kevin De Bruyne (10.5) to deliver when he visits Stoke.

Paul and Mark disagree, particularly as Stoke still have concerns over Jack Butland’s availability.

Another to score from a surprise penalty in Gameweek 1 was Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez (9.5) who looks to have taken spot kicks off Jamie Vardy.

Mark is backing him to deliver returns at home against an Arsenal side that conceded more shots in the box than any other team in Gameweek 1. Paul and I remain unconvinced, and believe Arsenal will surely tighten up after shipping four goals to Liverpool last Sunday.

“Mahrez saw even more of the ball against Hull that he did on average last season. Back on penalties and up against a fragile Arsenal defence, I don’t see why we should turn our backs on last season’s top FPL scorer for GW2” – Mark

Speaking of Liverpool, I’ve been so impressed by their midfielder attackers that I’ll be doubling up on their assets, with Sadio Mane (9.0) joining Firmino in the picks. His stunning solo goal against Arsenal looks to be a sign of things to come this season.

Forwards

Incredibly there are still Fantasy managers who believe Harry Kane (11.0) can score well when his team mate Mousa Dembele is absent.

“I can’t bring myself to turn my back on Kane just yet. He has 20 goals over his last two seasons and faces Palace in a first home game of the season. I refuse to write him off on the basis of an unfounded theory.” – Mark

Last term Kane managed just one goal when the Belgian, who is currently suspended, was absent and again in Gameweek 1 he failed to deliver. Kane’s failure to register a single goal attempt against Everton is a key statistic I will use to urge Paul and Mark to end their belief that the “no Dembele” theory is hokum.

If I can win that Kane argument then the Scout Picks forward line looks likely to consist of Sergio Aguero (13.0), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.5) and Jermain Defoe (7.0), who all win our support this week.

Andy Carroll (6.5), who is backed by Paul and I, and Salomon Rondon (6.5), who gets the nod from myself and Mark, will also be pushing for inclusion. The West Brom striker was joint top for goal attempts in Gameweek 1.

Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 2 will be Moin, who is now in his sixth season. His finish of 3,442 in 2013/14 is his highest overall rankings finish to date.

The community champion who has the best lead over the Scouts during 2016/17 will win a £100 Amazon voucher (currently we can only offer Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com vouchers).

Gameweek 1’s champion Frankie the Gent failed to beat the Scouts, registering 27 points to our 42.