The Scout Squad – Gameweek 24

Braced for the second set of fixtures within a week, we take time to check out the players currently under consideration for the next Scout Picks.

This article aims to give a greater insight into the decision-making process behind our 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” rumbling behind the scenes are then revealed as each of us seeks to back our players for a place in the Scout 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

All of our selected stoppers cost no more than 5.0 as we look for value between the posts. For Mark and I, West Brom’s Ben Foster (4.7) is the top budget custodian for the week, second only to the 18.2% owned Tom Heaton (5.0) in terms of saves at home.

But the goal threat offered by defensive team-mates such as Gareth McAuley and Chris Brunt could prevent Foster’s selection ahead of Stoke City’s visit to the Hawthorns. With six goals in the Potters’ last three away fixtures, West Brom’s defenders may need to deliver attacking points.

That could leave the door open for Paul’s top pick of Watford’s Heurelho Gomes (4.9) to take a Scout Picks berth. The Brazilian will be looking for his third clean sheet of the season at Vicarage Road when travel-sick Burnley drop by – Sean Dyche’s men have netted just four goals away from home this season.

Crystal Palace’s first league clean sheet of the Sam Allardyce era, against Bournemouth this week, has handed Wayne Hennessey (4.3) a spot in all three of our selections. But, as with West Brom, the Eagles’ attack-minded defensive options are likely to sway opinion.

Defenders

Mark’s pick of Scott Dann (5.2) and Patrick Van Aanholt (5.0), who is backed by Paul and I, are the two key Palace defenders we are considering for Sunderland’s visit on Saturday. Both have a strong case for offering returns at both ends of the pitch, with Dann notching his third goal of the season, against the Cherries on Tuesday.

Van Aanholt has also scored on three occasions and, along with Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso, tops the defenders goal attempt table.

“I’m sticking with Dann as my weapon of choice in that Palace backline. While I like Van Aanholt, I need to see if he’s going to be given the license to bomb forward quite as much under Allardyce for the Eagles. Having gained the clean sheet at Bournemouth, the Palace boss will have a taste for it and I think he’ll prioritise defensive stability and maybe curtail Van Aanholt’s attacking instincts a little. Dann, at set-pieces, will always be a threat and he’s got another 2-3 goals in him before the season is out.” – Mark

Our likely West Brom defender of choice for Stoke City’s visit will be Chris Brunt (5.1), who gets three nominations and second place billing from Paul.

His crafty left foot has already amassed three double-digit FPL points hauls at The Hawthorns. With a mere 3.3% ownership, a guaranteed fixture in Gameweek 28 and a kind run of opponents throughout February, he looks to be among the best differentials to consider.

Seamus Coleman (5.7) looks to have surpassed Leighton Baines as our preferred Everton defender.

Owned by 9.3%, he is another with universal support, after scoring four times already this season and supplying the assist for Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross’ own goal in last night’s 1-1 draw at the bet365 Stadium. His opponents Bournemouth have conceded 10 goals in their last four league matches – more than any other Premier League side.

Once again I’m on my own in favouring the value offered by Phil Jones (5.0) as our Manchester United defensive pick ahead of their trip to Leicester City. Granted he was forced off before the hour-mark after taking a knock against Hull last night, but I think he’s still worth considering given his later assurances that the injury was a minor set-back.

As with last Gameweek’s squad, Mark and Paul believe his team-mate Antonio Valencia (5.5) is worthy of the extra cost as the Premier League’s most prolific crosser from defence. With no goals and seven conceded in their last four matches, his opponents Leicester City certainly offer the prospect of a double-figure return.

Midfielders

After Spurs failed to score away to Sunderland, I’ve withdrawn my support for doubling up on their midfield attacking assets – a tactic that failed miserably for the Scout Picks in Gameweek 23.

Instead, I’ve opted for Dele Alli (8.8) as the likeliest source of points for Spurs when Middlesbrough drop by White Hart Lane. Eight goals in his last seven Gameweeks certainly builds a strong argument.

Paul has also ditched this double-up tactic and instead favours Christian Eriksen (8.8). With six double-digit FPL hauls in his last 11, the Dane also has a strong case for inclusion.

“It’s a tough call between Alli and Eriksen for the Middlesbrough match, but I feel the Dane’s home output more than merits a place in our Picks. Eriksen has produced double-figure hauls in four of his last five at the Lane and with that sort of explosive and consistent form, it’d be tough to leave him out” – Paul.

Mark, however, reckons that fielding the duo can still pay off, with both featuring in his selection.

Whether Liverpool can prosper away to a revitalised Hull City side is another area of contention. With 21 goals conceded at the KCOM Stadium this season, Paul and I feel that a Reds asset is a must.

I favour Sadio Mane (9.0), who has returned from the Africa Nations Cup and has netted three goals in his last four away games. Meanwhile, Paul fancies Roberto Firmino (8.4) to once again silence his critics.

The 11.2% owned Brazilian followed three successive blank Gameweeks with a brace against Swansea City in Gameweek 22 and looks set to continue in his favoured “false 9” role this weekend.

Mark remains unconvinced that Jurgen Klopp’s troops will prosper, with the Tigers resilient performance at Old Trafford on Wednesday night hte latest indication of their progress under Marco Silva.

Alexis Sanchez (11.9) presents us with a classic form versus fixture debate this week. Mark and Paul are backing the Arsenal attacker, who has delivered returns in 10 of his last 11 league games. But a trip to Chelsea’s resilient rearguard means I’m ignoring the Chilean altogether.

“I just can’t support the idea of overlooking Sanchez. He’s been the top points scorer away from home and, while I acknowledge that Chelsea are the strongest defence in the league, this is a must-win game for Arsenal having dropped points against Watford. They have to go for the win and that will surely see Sanchez be a major factor in Saturday’s early kick-off. He won’t be getting the armband, but to omit him altogether just seems a risk too far.” – Mark

West Brom’s Matt Phillips (5.9) looks a shoo-in at home to a Stoke City side that has shipped 11 goals in their last six league matches.

But our discussion is less certain when it comes to Manchester City.

Mark and Paul like the look of Raheem Sterling (7.7) for Swansea’s visit to the Etihad, while I think Kevin De Bruyne (10.5) is worth the extra cash.

A goal and seven assists in Sterling’s last eight shows impressive consistency in a run that has seen him blank only twice. For me, though, the Belgian’s 13-point haul at home to Spurs in his previous Etihad outings, allied with last night’s goal at West Ham, makes him a more explosive option, worthy of the extra outlay.

I’m also on my own in backing Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (5.5) for a place, ahead of Sunderland’s visit.

Although he failed to score on his return from Africa Cup of Nations duties against Bournemouth, the 4.7% owned Ivory Coast international looked impressive. Fielded in an advanced role he notched as many goal attempts as Christian Benteke (7.3), which bodes well for his role in Sam Allardyce’s set up.

Forwards

At least there’s consensus around Benteke’s involvement. The Palace frontman features in all of our picks after scoring for the first time in eight Gameweeks against Bournemouth in midweek. He looks the favourite to take a third striker spot should we find ourselves unable to select a full trio of premium priced forwards.

Claiming top billing in Mark’s list is Romelu Lukaku (9.6) ahead of a home clash with Bournemouth’s obliging defence. The Everton striker, who enjoys unanimous support, has a pair of goals and an assist in his last two home ties, making him a likely survivor of our Friday shake-down.

Harry Kane (11.2) also collects three nods and looks another front runner to make the final cut.

Six goals in as many outings is powerful evidence of the 20.7% owned striker’s form, although, with visitors Middlesbrough keeping two clean sheets in their last four, he may suffer limited opportunities to deliver, as he did against Sunderland on Tuesday evening.

Last night’s goal and assist in the 4-0 romp over West Ham has persuaded Paul to hand Man City new boy Gabriel Jesus a place at the top of his list for the home encounter with Swansea. Mark also gives the winter signing the nod in light of his electric display at the London Stadium.

“I reckon we have to fast-track Gabriel Jesus on the back of his first-half display alone last night. His impact in the central role looks to benefit those around him, with the new boy’s pressing and non-stop energy perfect for Pep Guardiola’s plans. After his display against the Hammers, he’ll surely retain his starting role at home to the Swans on Sunday” – Paul

Then there’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic to consider ahead of Manchester United’s Leicester trip. At 11.7 we may have to make concessions elsewhere to squeeze him into our budget. With attacking returns in six of his last eight league matches and three votes, the 43.9% owned big Swede could be impossible to ignore.

However, after failing to score against both Stoke and Hull in the last two Gameweeks, there are concerns he could be about to embark on another goalless drought.

Elsewhere, I favour the budget price tag of Andy Carroll (6.3), who squares up to Southampton’s makeshift defence on the south coast this weekend. Despite failing to find the net at home to Manchester City on Wednesday, the West Ham frontman has scored three goals in his last trio of road trips.

Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek will be Oddjobleff, who is in his fourth campaign, with 2014/15’s finish of 93,557 his highest so far.

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 Athletico Timbo was beaten 45 -27 by the Scouts.

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