The Scout Squad – Gameweek 21

Following a break for FA Cup fixtures, we continue our preparations for Gameweek 21 with a look at those players under consideration for a place in this Friday’s Scout Picks.

This article aims to offer a greater insight into the decision-making process behind our final selection, as Mark, Paul and I list the 18 players we believe offer the best chance of success across the four positions, listing our nominations in rank order.

The disagreements rumbling behind the scenes are then previewed, as each of us seeks to back our players for a Scout Picks berth, as well as a spot in our Spot the Differential article.

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.

Goalkeepers

With an erratic Southampton dropping in on Turf Moor, Burnley stopper Tom Heaton (4.9) claims unanimous top place billing between the sticks.

The Clarets’ captain’s 83 saves also offers us the security of alternative points should the 16.4% owned stopper concede to the visiting Saints.

However, should we need to free up funds within the Scout Picks’ 84 million budget, all three of us have also put forward Sunderland’s Vito Mannone (4.3) for consideration, ahead of Stoke City’s visit to the Stadium of Light.

The Italian is another to provide strong save point potential, having made a sensational 13 stops in their Gameweek 20 stalemate with Liverpool – no keeper has made more saves in a single match this season.

Mark’s choice of Bournemouth custodian Artur Boruc (4.6), my selection of Hugo Lloris (5.5) and Paul’s pick of West Ham’s Darren Randolph (4.4) offer alternative options, but with Mannone’s cheaper price tag and Heaton’s strong fixture, all three look set to be ignored.

Defenders

Again, we discover a unanimous verdict vote at the very top.

Spurs’ Danny Rose (6.0) looks destined for a Scout Picks selection when West Brom visit White Hart Lane this weekend, with all three of us identifying the left-back as our first choice pick.

Owned by 8.5%, Rose offers a variety of avenues for points, having registered more goal attempts than any other defender, as well as providing a stream of chances for team-mates from both open play and dead-balls.

A clean sheet is also within reach for Gameweek 21, with West Brom often focusing on defence when travelling to face strong opposition.

On their travels this term, the Baggies have failed to score against Arsenal and Chelsea, although they did find the net once away to Liverpool, albeit from their only shot on target.

Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels (5.2) also claims universal support, however, I may still have my work cut out convincing my colleagues that he deserves a coveted Picks spot.

While I rank him just behind Rose in terms of points potential, Mark and Paul have handed the 10.8% owned defender a modest fifth-placed nomination.

With four double-digit Fantasy Premier League points hauls already this term, and only Chelsea pair Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill having a higher total FPL points tally among defenders, I’m optimistic I can build a convincing argument.

While on the subject of Azpiliceuta (6.6), he looks to have become our Blues defender of choice, given concerns over a niggling season-long injury for Marcos Alonso and the rotation risk at left wing-back posed by the recall of Nathan Ake.

Mark has handed 21% owned Azpilicueta second billing for the Blues’ visit to Leicester City, while Paul and I have shunned Chelsea’s defensive assets altogether.

“I don’t quite understand the sudden knee-jerk reaction to Chelsea’s defeat at Spurs. Antonio Conte won’t let his side dwell on that setback and the Blues still have an efficient defensive unit very capable of repelling Leicester City at the King Power. Claudio Ranieri’s men will be without the guile of Riyad Mahrez and the menace of Islam Slimani and I think that will ensure that Chelsea reclaim their clean sheet mojo.” – Mark

Before conceding in their last two matches, the London side registered 10 clean sheets in 12 matches, offering Mark an obvious argument for Azpiliceuta’s inclusion.

The three of us do agree on a former Chelsea man, however, withPatrick Van Aanholt (5.0) earning recognition.

He hosts Stoke City in Gameweek 21 and, with the Potters conceding 19 goals on the road, the 4.3% owned Dutchman can offer strong attacking potential: he is second only to Rose for goal attempts among defenders.

“Patrick van Aanholt has struggled for points on his travels but it’s another story altogether at the Stadium of Light. Both the Sunderland left-back’s clean sheets have arrived on Wearside, as have his three goals and single assist for the season. Handed a share of dead-ball duties by David Moyes, the Dutchman has created more chances at home than any defender. Up next, he hosts a Stoke defence that’s shipped at least three goals in three successive away matches.” – Paul

Mark and I have also nominated Middlesbrough’s Calum Chambers for a place, with his 4.4 price tag a possible makeweight should we find ourselves stretched for funds elsewhere.

My nomination of West Ham’s Winston Reid (5.1) may also be called upon if we decide to take advantage of his clean sheet potential for the visit of Crystal Palace.

Since Sam Allardyce arrived as Palace boss, only West Brom have mustered fewer goal attempts than the south Londoners.

Midfielders

I’m joined by both Mark and Paul in showing little faith in the Eagles defence, with all of us opting to select West Ham’s Michail Antonio (6.8), with Paul handing him third spot in his squad ranks.

The 10.5% owned Hammers winger, who has scored eight goals already this season, looks primed for points as Palace continue to seek a first shut-out under Big Sam.

Mark is undeterred by West Brom’s inevitable “bus-parking” tactics and has endorsed two Tottenham midfielders, Christian Eriksen (8.6) and Dele Alli (8.5), for the Baggies’ visit.

Tony Pulis’ men have shown resilience on the road, having conceded just once at Arsenal and Chelsea this season.

However, while Paul and I have a case to argue against Mark’s proposed Picks partnership, one of the in-form Spurs pair looks destined to make Friday’s cut.

I’m backing Alli as the current hot property, having scored seven goals in his last four outings, while Paul favours the 14.4% owned Eriksen, who has delivered five double-digit hauls in his last eight Gameweek starts.

“I hear the arguments backing West Brom to put up a strong resistance but, at the same time, I just feel that Spurs will take such confidence into the White Hart Lane clash, they could still ease to a comfortable victory. It’s a 2-0 win for me at least and, if that does transpire, I have to back both Alli and Eriksen to be involved in the goals.” – Mark

There will be no such disagreement over Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (11.9)’s place in our Scout Picks.

The current Captain Poll leader looks guaranteed of a berth ahead of the Gunners’ visit to Swansea City; the 36.5% owned Chilean has struck 10 times on the road, while the ailing Welsh side have leaked 23 goals at the Liberty Stadium.

Hull City are another team suffering from a dire home record, shipping 20 goals at the KCOM Stadium. But, surprisingly, I am alone in backing a midfielder or forward from among the ranks of visitors Bournemouth.

However, I’m optimistic I can convince Mark and Paul to offer a place to 1.7% owned Junior Stanislas (5.2), who boasts two assists and had the same number of shots on target as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, over the last two Gameweeks.

Despite my lack of faith in the Tigers’ backline, all three of us have admiration for their playmaker and set piece specialist Robert Snodgrass (5.8), who has two goals in his last pair of matches.

“I’m backing Robert Snodgrass’ explosive home potential in Marco Silva’s first league match in charge of Hull. The Scot has served up four double-figure hauls in front of his own fans already and welcomes a Bournemouth side that’s conceded three times in all but one of their last four road trips.” – Paul

Paul also has confidence in Eden Hazard (10.4)’s ability to improve as a Fantasy asset away from home, as Chelsea prepare to drop in on champions Leicester City.

He may have a tough task persuading us that the 34% owned Belgian deserves a place, given that just two of his nine goals have been scored on the road.

Forwards

There’s a chance that precious funds could be saved up front, with Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe (7.8) claiming top spot in all of our selections, ahead of Stoke’s visit to Wearside.

The 25.7% owned former England striker is in fine form, with three goals in his last two matches.

But there is set to be considerable discussion over the remaining places up front.

Paul and I are backing Olivier Giroud (8.6) to earn a fourth successive start and continue his rich vein of form when Arsenal travel to Swansea City.

The 4.9% owned Frenchman has scored in each of his last three games and turned provider on two occasions in the dramatic 3-3 draw at Bournemouth in Gameweek 20.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.6), Diego Costa (10.7) and Sergio Aguero (12.8) all earn a vote from each of us, but there’s no guarantee any of that trio will make Friday’s cut given their fixtures.

With Manchester United hosting Liverpool, Ibrahimovic, who is currently recovering from illness, only claims fifth spot in my rankings. Meanwhile, Paul has given the same lukewarm billing to 44.5% owned Costa, although he does earn second spot from Mark ahead of his King Power Stadium trip.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s marksman’s fourth place nomination from Mark hardly inspires confidence.

The 21.6% owned Aguero does boast four braces on the road but he will have his work cut out away to an Everton outfit that has shipped just seven goals at Goodison Park; a home defensive record bettered only by Spurs and Chelsea.

A final mention goes to Mark’s selection of Andre Gray (6.2), who may earn a place on the bench or among our Spot the Differential picks.

Owned by just 4.6% of FPL managers, the Burnley striker has four goals in his last two home outings and takes on a Southampton defensive unit that has conceded 10 times in their last four matches.

Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek will be Hakchak, who is in his sixth season, with last season’s finish of 19,050 his best yet.

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 19’s champion Game of Throw Ins beat the Scouts 40 to 23.

The current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33 point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.