Scout Picks – Gameweek 8

The Scout Picks return after the international break hiatus, following on from our midweek Scout Squad preview. This evening’s article now reveals those players who made the final cut, along with details of the Community champions’ chosen XI that will compete against our line-up.

We are always on the lookout for value between the posts, and Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabianski (4.6) continues to fit the bill. Top of our Watchlist recommendations, the Pole has already served up three clean sheets, earned maximum bonus twice and accrued save points on five occasions.

Another shut out looks likely as visitors Huddersfield have only found the net twice in six matches since their impressive 3-0 opening day victory over Crystal Palace. Over the last four Gameweeks, the Terriers are the only side to fail to record a single big chance.

This week, we’re opting for a 4-4-2 line-up after seeing five defenders achieve double-digit hauls in Gameweek 7.

Chelsea left wingback Marcos Alonso (7.0) could reward our faith with a trip to a winless and goalless Crystal Palace side that is rooted to the foot of the table.

The Spaniard’s raids down the Eagles’ vulnerable right flank could be particularly devastating – their defence have conceded 34 chances and 71 crosses from this side compared to just 18 and 41 respectively on their left.

We also call upon a second left wing-back, Spurs’ Ben Davies (5.9). The Welshman has created more chances than any other defender and a 16-point haul last time out – away to Huddersfield — elevated him back to the top of the defender’s standings.

Meanwhile, visitors Bournemouth have scored just once on the road and are among the worst three teams in terms of away goal attempts, with only Everton and Swansea firing fewer shots.

A visit from Stoke City demands the inclusion of a defender from the ranks of a Manchester City side that has kept five clean sheets in seven and last conceded in Gameweek 3, away to Bournemouth.

Budget restricted our Sky Blues pick to Nicholas Otamendi (5.7), who combines goal threat with strong bonus point potential – only Sergio Aguero has earned more in FPL’s Bonus Point System (BPS) for City.

Our defensive quartet is completed by Burnley left-back Stephen Ward, another darling of the BPS system having notched seven bonus points this term. His opponents West Ham have only scored in one of their four road trips, against Southampton in Gameweek 2.

The 4.6 priced Irishman, who has attracted more than 137,000 transfers in this week, is also FPL’s best value defender, having amassed 41 points on the back of three shut outs, a goal and an assist.

Eden Hazard (10.5) makes his debut in the Scout Picks midfield this season after returning to form and fitness with a brace for Belgium against Cyprus midweek.

With Alvaro Morata sidelined, the Blues schemer could also be handed a central attacking berth to further strengthen his appeal for the Selhurst Park visit.

With a 3.8% ownership Hazard looks an enticing differential against an Eagles side that are ranked worst for goals conceded (17), shots in the box against (70) and efforts on target conceded (44).

Manchester City provide a wealth of attacking options in the centre of the park for Stoke’s visit, with David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling (8.0) all among the top ten scoring midfielders in FPL.

In selecting Sterling, we have factored in his relatively kind price tag, as well a strong potential for goals. No FPL midfielder can match his five strikes so far, while his 19 shots is bettered only by Sergio Aguero among Pep Guardiola’s charges.

Our pick of the budget midfielders this week is Pascal Gross (5.7), who has scored or assisted all but one of Brighton’s five goals. The German, who sits in 13.8% of squads, hosts an Everton outfit that has conceded seven times and has yet to keep a clean sheet on the road.

Bournemouth’s defence have also failed to convince on their travels, conceding six in three matches and handing their hosts an average of 15 goal attempts. With that in mind, we’ve opted to triple up on Spurs assets as Dele Alli (9.5) and Harry Kane (12.7) join Davies in our XI.

Overnight price rises drove us to opt for Alli over Christian Eriksen (9.7), but we remain confident that he can break a four-Gameweek goal drought to punish the 130,000+ managers who have ushered him out ahead of the Cherries visit.

Alli is also far likelier to earn 90 minutes as he remains suspended from midweek Champions’ League duties; Spurs travel to face Real Madrid on Tuesday.

There were no such deliberations in selecting Kane, who this week made the 30-man Ballon d’Or award shortlist after netting 43 goals in 37 appearances for club and country during 2017.

Although he is yet to score in the league at Wembley Stadium, he has already found the net at Spurs’ temporary home three times this season for England and in the Champions League.

Unsurprisingly he is FPL’s most in-demand player, claiming more than 352,000 new owners ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.

Rested from England duties, Jamie Vardy (8.6) is now fully recovered from a hip injury, according to Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare.

The Foxes’ frontman has already scored five goals this season, netting in his last two at the King Power against Chelsea and Liverpool.

Vardy now begins a strong fixture run with a visit from a West Brom side who will likely drop deep to nullify his pace, but may struggle to contain his aerial threat. The Baggies have conceded more headed goal attempts than any other side, while Vardy has already scored twice with his head this season.

The prospects of both defensive and attacking points earn Vardy’s team-mate Harry Maguire (5.1) a place on our bench.

Only three teams have recorded fewer shots than West Brom away from home, while Maguire has already notched two assists and a goal from set-plays this season. His towering presence will be another aerial threat to the surprisingly vulnerable Baggies backline.

With Arsenal nursing injury concerns in defence, we’re backing Watford’s Richarlison to bring the Gunners’ run of clean sheets to an end. Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has produced more shots inside the box than the Brazilian (21 to 18) among FPL midfielders.

Finally, Burnley striker Chris Wood (6.6) is our reserve striker. He hosts a West Ham side that have shipped ten goals in their four away matches, while the Clarets have only failed to score in two of their last 11 league matches.

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.

This week’s champion is Mince n Tatties, who has opted for a 5-2-3 line up of: Courtois; Cahill, Davies, Trippier, Ward, Alonso; Sane, Sterling; Kane, Jesus, Vardy.