The Scout Squad – Gameweek 22

With five goals, four clean sheets and three assists among our Gameweek 21 Scout Picks, we have a tough act to follow this weekend.

In the Scout Squad, we take a look at the players under consideration for Gameweek 22, offering a greater insight into the decision-making process behind our final selection, as Mark, Paul and I list the 18 players we think have the best chance of success across the four positions, listed in rank order.

The discussions and disagreements that will take place behind the scenes are then showcased, as each of us looks to back our players for a place in the Picks, as well as 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

The Gameweek 22 fixture list appears to be unique in that, across the board, there is almost universal agreement on the nominated players – beginning in goal.

Middlesbrough’s Victor Valdes (4.6) takes top billing over the three squads ahead of a home tie with West Ham United.

The ‘Boro backline have proved particularly resilient at the Riverside Stadium, with four clean sheets and just ten goals conceded in ten matches.

The Hammers will again be lacking the substantial creative talents of Dimitri Payet once again and, despite thumping Crystal Palace 3-0 last weekend, we just can’t see Aitor Karanka’s troops surrendering too many opportunities.

Ben Foster (4.7) and Artur Boruc (4.6) are the only other stoppers under consideration, with Mark marginally fancying the Bournemouth keeper over the 15.1% owned West Brom custodian.

Both have a solid case for inclusion, not only for their budget-friendly price tags but also due to home encounters against travel-sick opponents.

Watford visit the Vitality Stadium having scored just two goals in the last six Gameweeks, suggesting that the 6.6% owned Boruc can help earn the Cherries a fifth home clean sheet of the season.

While the Baggies have kept just two shut-outs at The Hawthorns, a third appears a very real possibility for Foster with Sunderland turning up with a dire record of just six away goals.

Defenders

We shunned Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso (6.5) last week, amid speculation of ongoing injury concerns.

Punished by the wing-back’s 21 point haul, all three of us are eager to make amends by handing him a seat at the summit of our defender selections ahead of Hull City’s visit to Stamford Bridge.

The Tigers should offer the Spaniard points at both ends of the pitch, with 24 goals shipped on the road and just six scored.

One rare area of disagreement this week could centre around our choice of an Arsenal defender.

Certainly, the Gunners warrant interest: Burnley arrive at the Emirates Stadium with the Premier League’s worst away scoring record, having found the net just three times on their travels.

Mark and Paul both favour Laurent Koscielny (6.3), who earned maximum FPL bonus recognition for the third occasion this season in Arsenal’s 4-0 victory at Swansea City.

But I’m more than happy to gamble on the availability of Hector Bellerin (6.5) due to his stronger attacking potential.

The forward-thinking Spaniard returned to training earlier this week after a two-match lay off and is in the top four defenders for penalty area touches, just ahead of Alonso.

Another tussle could centre over the merits of the Southampton defence versus the Everton backline.

Mark fancies Saints centre-back Virgil Van Dijk to deliver a clean sheet ahead of Leicester City’s visit to St Mary’s. Meanwhile, Paul and I believe that Leighton Baines (5.5) can prosper when the Toffees travel to Crystal Palace.

“I like the Baines option, but I’m not so confident in the Everton backline on their travels. Koeman’s side have shipped 16 in 10 outings, and I think Palace will find a way through. I’ve far more confidence in Van Dijk and Southampton against Leicester. Claudio Ranieri’s men continue to wobble, and without the spark from Riyad Mahrez, I don’t see them having enough to trouble the Saints. Van Dijk has been in imperious form and has also shown his threat going forward at set-plays. He gets the nod for me.” – Mark

Given that only Burnley, Hull and Sunderland have scored fewer on the road than the Foxes eight away strikes, Mark certainly has an argument.

Paul and I will be focusing on Baines’ attacking potential and spot-kick duties, as well as Crystal Palace’s failure to earn a clean sheet since Sam Allardyce took charge in Gameweek 18.

Elsewhere, I’ll also be championing Charlie Daniels’ (5.2) cause once again.

With the Bournemouth left-back is also listed by Paul and Mark, I feel confident he can earn a Scout Picks berth for Watford’s visit.

The 13.3% owned defender has four double-digit hauls already this season, strengthening his case for inclusion.

Chris Brunt (5.0) is another with widespread support, with Mark’s third billing for the Baggies defender his highest placing.

Sunderland’s aforementioned poor goal scoring record weighs heavily in his favour, as does his recent home form: Brunt has returned 32 FPL points over his last four Hawthorns outings.

Midfielders

Grapple fans look away now.

Among all of our midfield picks there is just one area of potential discord, with Paul’s selection of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino (8.4) going head to head with West Brom’s Matt Phillips (5.8), backed by both myself and Mark.

Paul’s decision to opt for the occasional “false 9” is part of a proposed Reds double-act with fellow Brazilian Phillipe Coutinho (8.3) ahead of Swansea’s trip to Anfield. With 22 goals conceded on the road, there is certainly a strong argument for stocking up on Jurgen Klopp’s firepower.

“I’m backing the Liverpool double-up at home to Swansea tomorrow lunchtime. The Reds will be looking to build momentum ahead of a midweek cup clash with Southampton as they look to claw back that one-goal first-leg deficit. With a weekend home clash against Chelsea to follow next weekend, I have a feeling that the Coutinho-Firmino partnership could run riot against the Welsh side at Anfield, with the latter back in his false nine position.” – Paul

While Mark and I also fancy Coutinho’s chances of returning to the scoresheet following his injury lay-off, we are reluctant to sponsor Firmino, who has scored just once in his last 10 starts.

Like Brunt, Matt Phillips is another with excellent home form, having scored or assisted in four of his last five in front of the Baggies faithful.

Mark and I fancy the winger’s chances of assisting in particular, given that visitors Sunderland have conceded more headed attempts than any other Premier League side.

Elsewhere, Junior Stanislas (5.2), Eden Hazard (10.4) and Alexis Sanchez (11.9) all get a vote each, with the latter gaining collective support for top spot ahead of Burnley’s visit.

The Chilean’s outrage at being substituted early after scoring at Swansea last weekend, suggests he will be keen to resume where he left off against the Clarets. With attacking returns in eight of his last nine Gameweeks, he looks a shoo-in for the final cut.

Hazard’s home form earns him second place billing from all three of us ahead of Hull City’s visit. The popular Chelsea schemer has scored seven of his nine goals at Stamford Bridge, and his spot-kick duties could be key given that the Tigers have conceded 10 penalties this season, more than any other side and just one short of an unwanted Premier League record.

Penalty duties also add to Stanislas’ appeal, with the 3.1% owned winger in the box seat in the absence of team-mate Callum Wilson. The striker has sat out four of the last six Gameweeks, suggesting that Stanislas will again take responsibility from the spot for the visit of Watford.

“Stanislas has remained largely under the radar, despite his unerring consistency. The Watford fixture provides an ideal platform for the winger to accelerate his ascent with another big return. It’s not just the potential of spot-kicks in his favour: Stanislas will be on set-pieces, including direct-free kicks and will test Jose Holebas’ defensive credentials. A tenth booking of the season may well be on the cards for the Greek.” – Mark

Forwards

Our striker picks are similarly unanimous, with Paul’s selection of in-form Spurs forward Harry Kane (11.1) the only odd man out.

With half of Kane’s six goals since Gameweek 18 arriving on the road, there is certainly a strong argument for handing him a Scout Pick slot, particularly as he travels to face a Manchester City defence that has shipped five in their last two matches.

The 18.8% owned Kane will be up against Romelu Lukaku (9.6) – picked by both Mark and I – ahead of Friday’s shake-down.

On the road, the 26.1% owned Everton forward has proved a potent force, with seven of his 12 goals scored away from Goodison Park. His visit to a Palace side who have conceded eight times in the league during the Allardyce era, earning him top spot in my squad and placing second in Mark’s squad.

Against Stoke City away, Mark favours the reliability Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.6), who has delivered a goal or an assist in nine of his last ten matches.

Meanwhile, Paul hands his coveted top spot to Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud (8.7), backing him to recover from an ankle knock sustained at the Liberty Stadium last weekend.

Should he be available for Burnley’s trip to the Emirates, the 10.1% owned Frenchman looks odds on to score his fifth goal in as many Gameweeks.

“If passed fit, Giroud’s physical presence up top is likely to be key against sides that tend to sit deep and frustrate at the Emirates, and Burnley fit the bill. Since being introduced to the first XI in Gameweek 18, he’s played a part in 75% of Arsenal’s goals when on the pitch – the fact that Sanchez is next best with 30% says a lot about the Frenchman’s recent contribution. I’ve also named Kane lower down – if either Giroud or Costa miss out, I’ll be pushing for the Spurs man to punish City’s dodgy defence.” – Paul

Paul will be the most vocal backer of Chelsea’s Diego Costa (10.3). He has handed him the second slot, expecting the Spaniard to return to the starting line-up against Hull City having missed out on last weekend’s visit to Leicester, amid speculation over his Chelsea future.

The 210,000 FPL managers, who have jettisoned Costa since Saturday, will be hoping he fails to punish their decision.

Elsewhere, West Brom’s Salomon Rondon (6.8) will be fortunate to earn even a bench place given his fifth spot billing across the board.

However, Sunderland’s vulnerability to headed goal attempts will be difficult to ignore given that the 8.9% Venezuelan has five goals via his salmon-like leaps in the box.

Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek will be Alnair, who is in his second season and finished in 375,190 in the overall rankings in 2015/16.

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).

Last Gameweek’s champion HakChak beat the Scout Picks 89 to 73.

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