Scout Picks – Gameweek 12

After naming the players under consideration in our Scout Squad article earlier this week, we reveal those to make the cut for our Gameweek 12 Scout Picks.

With the bulk of our 84 million budget reserved for attacking output, we have sought value between the sticks and once again turned to Stoke’s Lee Grant, who faces Bournemouth at the bet365 stadium.

Even though regular Potters keeper Jack Butland is back in training, his 4.1 priced deputy will be the custodian in Gameweek 12, before soon coming under threat for the number one jersey.

With the Cherries languishing among the bottom six sides for away goal attempts, we anticipate Grant could justify his Scout Picks spot with another clean sheet.

Goal threat dominates our defender selections.

With a goal in Gameweek 11 against Everton and as part of a Chelsea rearguard that has kept five clean sheets in a row, Marcos Alonso (6.0) has more than earned a place in the Scout Picks. The 3.5% owned wing-back travels to a Middlesbrough side that has scored just ten times to date.

FPL’s fourth highest owned defender Gareth McAuley (4.7) is among an elite group of six defenders who have claimed two goals. The West Brom defender hosts a Burnley outfit that boasts the lowest number of away goal attempts, with just a single goal on the road all season.

We had the funds to shop for Kyle Walker ahead of Spurs’ derby meeting with West Ham on Saturday evening but opt for his cheaper team-mate Danny Rose (5.9), who we believe offers greater scoring potential.

Owned by just 5.8%, the left-back tops the goal attempt table for defenders over the last four Gameweeks and has created more chances than Walker over the same period.

Declared fit earlier today after suffering a midweek knock with Belgium, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (10.1) takes centre stage in our midfield selection. The 28.6% owned schemer has amassed a peerless 49 points over the last four Gameweeks. It’s a brave FPL manager who progresses without him at this point and we feel he will sparkle again at the Riverside on Sunday.

Injury doubts in Liverpool’s midfield have propelled Roberto Firmino (8.7) into our thinking for the Reds’ visit to Southampton. With attacking points in his last three league away trips and returns in four of five outings, the 15.9% owned ‘false 9’ should provide ample cover of Jurgen Klopp’s vibrant attack.

Hull City start a kind four fixture run with a trip to Sunderland on Saturday, presenting Robert Snodgrass (5.5) with a chance to cement a place in our Scout Picks over the coming month.

With designated spot-kick taker Abel Hernandez absent through injury, the 3.9% owned Scotland midfielder adds penalties to his armoury as he look to improve a tally of four goals so far.

We had hoped to include Kevin De Bruyne ahead of Manchester City’s visit to Crystal Palace. Sadly, his 10.8 price tag proved too much, driving us to turn to cover Spurs’ attacking prospects at home to West Ham.

The 4.7% owned Christian Eriksen (8.1) may just provide a worthy alternative. Over the last four Gameweeks, no player has registered more goal attempts without scoring.

Our forward trio has been in place for much of the week and was never likely to budge.

Form, fixture and top ranking in our Captain Poll have combined to ensure that the 46.6% owned Sergio Aguero (13.2) takes pride of place among our striker selection.

The Argentine was largely rested while on international duty and visits Selhurst Park with a stellar away record. He has scored three braces this season on his travels, while Crystal Palace have conceded eight times in front of their home fans and are without a shut-out all season.

Romelu Lukaku (9.9) is another that demanded selection.

The Everton striker, who is owned by just over a third of FPL managers, has scored in all but one of his league appearances at Goodison Park and hosts a Swansea City side that have allowed nine goals in four matches under Bob Bradley.

Our final place is handed to 15.3% owned Jermain Defoe (7.4), who goes in search of a seventh league goal and 150th Premier League strike. The Sunderland forward hosts a Hull City side that have conceded 13 goals on their travels already.

We turn to the Toffees for our first two bench places, with 4.6% owned Seamus Coleman (5.5) claiming his berth. Even if the Everton defence is breached, the raiding right-back offers attacking prospects against the porous Swans backline.

Yannick Bolasie (6.1) offers a cheap route into the Everton attack for Swansea’s visit. The 6.4% owned Congolese winger has delivered attacking returns in three of the last four Gameweeks.

With doubts surrounding the fitness of West Brom’s Nacer Chadli, who underwent minor surgery during the international break, we’ve opted for 4.5% owned Baggies striker Solomon Rondon (6.5). Burnley have conceded nine goals in their last four away encounters ahead of Monday’s visit to the Hawthorns.

The Community Champion

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. The current champion to beat is VS10_, who had a 32-point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 6.

This week’s champion is Ziro who has opted for a 3-5-2 formation of: Foster; Brunt, Coleman, Cedric; Philips, Sigurdsson, Eriksen, Ozil, Mane; Kane, Aguero.