Scout Picks
4 April 2017 1075 comments
J0E J0E
Share:

Gameweek immediately follows Gameweek, so we’re diving straight into the Scout Picks to reveal those who have earned a place ahead of this evening’s 6.45pm deadline.

With some enticing cut-price options in our 84 million-budgeted XI, we have spare cash to splash on a return for Burnley’s Tom Heaton, who is now priced at 5.1, from an initial 4.5 valuation.

FPL’s top scoring goalkeeper, who has five double-digit hauls this campaign, takes on a lacklustre Stoke side that seem comfortable to see the season out in their mid-table comfort zone. Given that Mark Hughes’ charges have scored just four times in their last six, we are confident that the 19.4% owned England stopper will earn a sixth Turf Moor clean sheet.

Gareth McAuley (5.3) is a player that can be rarely ignored as a goal threat, given that he has scored six times this season – more than any other defender.

West Brom take a trip to Watford, a side that has conceded 10 headed goals, one fewer than the Premier League’s worst two sides in the air, Bournemouth and Sunderland.

The home team have also handed opponents 10 goals from corners, an unfortunate tally that only Hull can beat.

Hornets boss Walter Mazzarri has highlighted the Baggies’ potent set-piece threat – the visitors have scored 19 from corners and free kicks this season – as a key concern ahead of tonight’s encounter.

The 32.8%-owned Northern Irishman’s ability to annoy opposition defences from corner kicks, in particular, offers him a good chance to add to his impressive goal tally in this clash.

Like Stoke, Sunderland have also managed to find the net on four occasions in their last six, which hands a place to Leicester’s Christian Fuchs (5.2) when the Black Cats drop by the King Power Stadium. The Austrian’s goal, assist and clean sheet in his last four showcases the breadth of points potential he offers.

Completing our backline trio is Ben Davies (4.8), who looks set to continue deputising for the injured Danny Rose ahead of Spurs’ trip to Swansea City. The hosts have managed a mere four goals in as many matches, while the former Swan has created five chances over the same period, more than any other Spurs defender.

Just one shot and penalty box touch by Alexis Sanchez (11.6) while shackled to Arsenal’s left wing against Manchester City at the weekend is a worry, particularly as the Chilean is set to once again be denied central striker duties when West Ham drop by tomorrow.

Nevertheless, we think the 27.5%-owned midfielder will fare better against the Hammers, a team he scored a hat-trick against in Arsenal’s 5-1 rout at the London Stadium earlier this season.

To further boost our confidence in the Gunners’ top scorer, we note that he has delivered attacking returns in all but two of his last ten matches.

Among Mauricio Pochettino’s charges Dele Alli (9.0) looks the keenest to ensure Spurs continue scoring in the absence of their talisman, the injured Harry Kane.

The 31%-owned English midfielder, who with 14 goals is the league’s top scoring midfielder, looks to have secured spot-kick duties in his team mate’s absence. His three goals and two assists in his last four also show that the form guide favours him.

While Paul Clement’s troops might have kept a home clean sheet against Middlesbrough at the weekend, this encounter will be different, considering Spurs have scored 22 times in their 14 road trips.

It has taken Philippe Coutinho (8.3) a while to get going following his long injury lay-off, but last weekend’s Merseyside derby showed what a vital Fantasy asset he can be.

His goal, assist and maximum bonus point return against Everton at Anfield gave him his first double-digit FPL points haul since Gameweek 11. Next up for the Brazilian is a visit from Bournemouth, a side that has shipped 31 goals on the road, the third-worst behind Hull and Swansea.

Given his form and that fixture, it is no surprise to see him drafted in by more than 180,000 FPL managers since Saturday.

Our final midfield place goes to Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (5.7), who visits Southampton in fine away day form, having scored and assisted during the Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

In addition, all but one of the Ivory Coast international’s six strikes, and five of his eight assists, have come on the road. More than 116,000 FPL managers have taken note and drafted him in since his Gameweek 30 heroics.

Given Claude Puel’s troops have conceded 10 goals in their last six, this looks set to be another profitable outing for the winger.

The Scout Picks welcomes back Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.4) following a three-match domestic ban that saw him miss the last two Gameweeks.

With 50% goal involvement and 15 successful strikes in the league, he is integral to the Red Devils’ attack and should be eager to get back to scoring ways against a patched-up Everton defence shorn of Ramiro Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman.

This makeshift backline conceded three times against Liverpool at the weekend and could struggle to contain the 27.3%-owned Swede, who scored against the visitors in a 1-1 league draw at Goodison Park in December.

Four goals in as many matches makes Jamie Vardy (10.0) a shoo-in as Leicester welcome a Sunderland outfit that has lost all but one of their last six away fixtures, conceding 12 times in the process.

The Foxes’ striker, who has been acquired by more than 116,000 new FPL managers this week, scored three goals in his side’s two league encounters with the Black Cats last season.

Sadio Mane’s injury hands Divock Origi (6.1) a chance to impress in the Liverpool frontline when Bournemouth visit. With attacking returns in three of his last four, all from the bench, he should be eager to show Jurgen Klopp what he can achieve if handed more pitch-time. His 4.2% ownership also makes him a strong differential for those keen to climb their mini-leagues.

With just one goal in their last six road trips, Middlesbrough are a gift for home defences, which hands Hull’s Andy Robertson (4.4) a spot on our bench ahead of the Teesiders’ trip to the KCOM Stadium.

His goal at the weekend against West Ham and an impressive 22 crosses in the last four Gameweeks – a tally only bettered by Hammers’ full-back Aaron Cresswell – means he also offers another route to points should Steve Agnew’s troops manage to tear up the form book and breach the Tigers’ backline.

We’ve turned to another Hull option that impressed in Gameweek 30 for our bench, with Kamil Grosicki (5.5) earning a spot after his two assists at the weekend brought his total to four since joining in the January transfer window. With 13 goal attempts in his last five, his underlying statistics suggest it will not be long before he scores his first league goal for his club.

Our final substitute position goes to West Ham’s Andy Carroll (6.3), who collides with an Arsenal defence that he has scored four times against in their last two league encounters. His hat-trick last season against the Gunners will bring back bad memories for Gabriel, who played that day and, due to injuries, is once again set to face the 5%-owned Geordie.

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 Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33-point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.

Last Gameweek’s champion GWitbrock was beaten 47-38 by the Scouts.

The Gameweek 31 champion is Jay, who has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: Jakupovic; Fuchs, Maguire, Robertson; Sanchez, Mahrez, Chadli, Firmino; Vardy, Ibrahimovic, Origi.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

  1. The Count of Monte Cristo
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Foster
    Alonso - Valencia - B Davies
    Sanchez - Eriksen - Sigurdsson - Sterling - King
    Lukaku - Llorente

    Jakupovic - Robertson - Friend - Anichebe --- 0 FT + 5.2m ITB

    1. Llorente --> Origi / Carroll (-4)
    2. Llorente + Sterling --> Coutinho + Origi/Carroll (-8)
    3. King --> Zaha (-4)

    1. GreatCarragherReef
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      play robertson, bench llorente for starters. then i'd probably do 3.
      llorente back for the weekend mot likely with some great upcoming fixtures

      1. The Count of Monte Cristo
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Possibilities that Valencia / King may not play is tempting me to make sure I have a starter like Origi.

    2. Pooodle
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      1

    3. TopMarx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      King to Sane?

  2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I want to do costa to ibra for -4 but i'm too scared 🙁

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Scared of an Ibra elbow or another Costa blank?

      Do it, pays off well in the coming week.

    2. nadman89
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Do it in the long term he'll have a double gw anyways

    3. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Do it

    4. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      When is Kane due back?

  3. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Foster (Forster)

    Alonso Walker Williams (Evans/Amat)

    Alli Coutinho Siggy *Lanzini* (Maloney)

    Carroll Lukaku Costa

    Am I playing the right players? Lanzini is the one I'd transfer out, but for whom? Anyone up to 8.6 an option.

    Any help GREATLY appreciated!

  4. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Yes or no?

    Defoe + Llorente > Origi + Carroll (-8)

    On the bench I have 3 that might not play (Valencia, Snodgrass, Rose)

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      (obviously playing Valencia, but he could end up on the bench, replaced by Mawson)

      1. Pooodle
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Why would Valencia not play? I'd start him and just do Llorente to Origi

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          I am starting him. He's rumoured to be rested this week. I think he wasn't in training or something

    2. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Rose is out but I'd guess the other 2 will play. I tend to stay away from hits unless you are REALLY confident it'll pay off. But I'm a cautious git.

  5. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Jaku over Grant this week - easy choice ?

    1. makaveli123
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Jaku

  6. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Jaku (MID) over Grant (hul) right?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Grant (bur) *

    2. Pooodle
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    3. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah

    4. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

  7. Kabayan
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Play Antonio or Lukaku?

    1. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Kaku

    2. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Luk

  8. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Heaton | Grant
    McCauley | Davies | Alonso | Valencia |
    Siggy | Ali |Coutinho I Son
    Vardy | Costa

    Bench: Grant | Lukaku | King | Amat

    1. Shall I swop Costa or Lukaku for Ibra?!
    2. Play any of my subs? For who?

    Thanks

  9. Pooodle
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Is this good to go? 0.8m ITB, 0FT

    Foster,
    McAuley, Alonso, Walker, Valencia
    Eriksen, Alli, Sanchez (c), Siggy
    Lukaku, Carroll

    (Pickford, King, Defoe, Pieters)

    1. Cesc's old mullet
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      GTG

  10. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Worth a -4 to do:

    Alonso & Siggy

    To

    Davies & Coutinho

    ?

    1. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No.

    2. Cesc's old mullet
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      If Davies was nailed on, I'd say yes, but with Rose coming back in a few weeks it's a no for me

      1. Cesc's old mullet
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        were*

      2. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks, how about Bertrand instead?

        1. Cesc's old mullet
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Not sure Bertrand is an improvement over Alonso tbh

  11. Grounderz
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Start Baines or Pieters?

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Baines

  12. Johnny too hotty
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    is anyone else tempted to play wildcard now? is that a silly move......

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Mental. You don't play a WC two hours before the deadline.

    2. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Probably.

    3. Lawrø
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe.... but I've been considering it the past couple of days anyway...

  13. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Why is McAuley picked over Brunt?

    Oh who am I kidding, I already know the answer.

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      shots fired

    2. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Don't Stop, Big Love.

  14. HD7
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hi All 🙂

    I have put the C on Sanchez but since I bought Vardy for -4 in last gameweek , now Im wondering if he is the better option?

    Cheers 🙂

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Still Sanchez imo

    2. GreatCarragherReef
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      the hit shouldn't affect the decision

    3. Stokelona
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Both are great picks

    4. TopMarx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm on Sanchez and am a Vardy owner. not much in it, Sanchez has more explosive potential.

      1. HD7
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks People 🙂

  15. JohnnyWark
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Squad value 104.5m 0.1m ITB Wildcard active http://imgur.com/a/i18v2

  16. nadman89
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Grant
    Valencia brunt Cahill
    Firmino tadic(c) siggy alli zaha
    Ibra vardy .

    Do or die suicide week

  17. Cesc's old mullet
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hi all,

    just need some quick feeback before going into a meeting at work :

    Sigurdsson + Mawson to Coutinho + Bernardo for a hit, yay or nay?

    My thinking : I'm missing 0.1 to do Siggy > Coutinho, and I don't think I'm going to play Mawson much, and Bernardo has a double gameweek coming up.

    1. Pinky Blinders
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'd do it just to have a dude named Bernardo in my squad

      1. Cesc's old mullet
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        🙂

  18. Tshelby
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    A) Heaton/Mee
    or
    B) Valdes/Mee

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      B

  19. Tatty Bojangles
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Heaton or Jaku?

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Heaton

  20. FPL Pillars
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Is it still Jaku over Grant if I am playing Maguire? Will be doubling up. Could hedge with Grant in goal?

  21. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    With Valencia out (!?!?!) tonight is the night that Baines goes mad!

  22. Pep says
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Is King out then? Zaha in worth a hit? Or Ndidi?

    1. Barcelinda
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Link?

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Not confirmed

  23. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Any news on Defoe today?

  24. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who´s captaining Ibra? Between him an Alexis atm

  25. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Lanzini > ?? (up to 8.6 available)

    Cheers!

    1. majorbriggs
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Coutinho or Zaha?

    2. Visionaries
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'd probably go for Sane/Coutinho unless you can afford Alli/Erikson

  26. majorbriggs
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who to play:

    Barkley (mun) OR Lanzini (ars)?
    Heaton (STO) OR Jakupovic (MID)?

    Currently on Lanzini and Jaku...

    1. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Lanzini and Heaton. One does not bench Heaton at home.

      1. majorbriggs
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Fair point. A double keeper chip would be handy 🙂

      2. maaaaloney
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I don't think the selection is as easy as "one does not bench Heaton at home". Personally I'm playing Jaku over Heaton. MID haven't scored an away goal since 2016

        1. majorbriggs
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Boro seem uncapable of scoring ATM

  27. leocarter27
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Benteke as a 3rd striker?!

    Cheers

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Not a fan of the fixtures

  28. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    To save "What's happening with Valencia/King" questions every 5 secs, how about a HT - isn't this what the new HT page is for?

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      As Long as You Follow.

  29. Deano
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Mahrez stats in the last four GWs anyone? Looking at a POD.

  30. SirStevieG
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Start Lanzini or Siggy?