The Scout Squad – Gameweek 11

The Fantasy Football Scout selection panel suffered another defeat in Gameweek 10. But like Robert the Bruce, Rocky Balboa and Steven Gerrard, they just keep picking themselves up off the floor and going again.

This week, they’re showing almost unanimous love for forwards both high-rent – Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero – and low (Tammy Abraham).

Debate, however, looks inevitable, particularly in midfield where the old chestnut involving Dele Alli v Christian Eriksen will get another airing, although agreement seems to be the order of the day regarding Mohamed Salah at least.

We’ll be back tomorrow with the finalised fourteen. In the meantime, here are the initial choices of our four wise Fantasy monkeys, complete with workings-out.

Jonty says…

Spurs’ home encounter with Crystal Palace dominates my thoughts, with one of the league’s worst defensive units visiting one of the most attacking sides, as Real Madrid discovered last night.

Their 3-1 drubbing of the Spaniards saw the return from injury of Harry Kane who, with a brace, assist and maximum bonus points in his last home league run-out, is surely a shoo-in for a Scout Picks place.

Christian Eriksen remains the midfielder with the broadest points potential, with three goals, as many assists and ten bonus points. His goal against Real further underlines his threat.

Elsewhere, the fear of rotation among Spurs wing-backs has prompted me to turn to the security of centre-back Jan Vertonghen, who is top in Mauricio Pochettino’s backline in the Bonus Point System (BPS).

Manchester City are the only side where I am prepared to make an exception to the first rule of Fantasy Football – only pick nailed-on starters.

I’m wagering that record goalscorer Sergio Aguero gets the nod up front at home to Arsenal after he was withdrawn after 76 minutes of the 4-2 win in Naples.

With five double-digit FPL points hauls in his last seven league run-outs, I’m also willing to take a gamble that Leroy Sane will earn a sixth league start in a row.

Elsewhere, I fancy clean sheets for Swansea City, Huddersfield, Southampton and Manchester United, as Jose Mourinho prepares his defensive ‘bus’ for the Red Devils trip to Stamford Bridge.

I’m also backing two wingers who disappointed last time out – Mohamed Salah and Richarlison, who travels to Everton.

The Liverpool midfielder missed a penalty but still managed an assist against Huddersfield and faces an injury-ravaged West Ham defence at the London Stadium.

Meanwhile, Richarlison returned just one point at home to Stoke City in Gameweek 10 but this time out is on his travels, where he has shone all season. Impressively, he’s notched as many shots on the road as Harry Kane, with three goals scored.

Finally, Richarlison’s team mate Andre Gray could present us with a decent third forward or a “Spot the Differential” berth.

A three-match ban for Troy Deeney should ensure the former Burnley centre-forward earns a start. In addition, over the last four Gameweeks, no player can match Gray’s shots in the box frequency of one every 18.5 minutes.

Peter says…

As we brace ourselves for the pure, unadulterated excitement of Jose Mourinho’s tactical masterclass at Chelsea, I’ll get my selection of Phil Jones in straight away, even though I have to acknowledge that United will be visiting one of the most potent attacks in the league (like Liverpool, like Spurs…).

The more pressing concern (at the time of writing) is the ‘will he, won’t he?’ surrounding a certain Harry Kane.

Is it good that he started against Madrid?

Better to have him in our picks for now and be guided by any reliable update before the deadline. Of course, it’s perfectly possible that he plays and blanks again at Wembley in a supposedly easy fixture against Palace, but who really wants to take that risk?

Mauricio Pochettino has always had a touch of the Pep about him, particularly in terms of his full-backs, but Kane’s team-mates Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen are my other choices to score heavily against the Eagles.

And speaking of Pep, our blood pressure would probably be a good deal lower if he could only let us know his starting line-up in advance of the FPL deadline each week.

Arsenal’s visit will hold fewer fears for City than our own fears of failing Pep’s bench lottery once again. My gut feeling is that he’ll pick his best XI against the Gunners, which I think means Sergio Aguero starts, along with Leroy Sane.

In terms of clean sheets, Southampton and Newcastle are both more than capable of keeping out Burnley and Bournemouth respectively, although whether they can trouble the scorers themselves remains to be seen.

I’m expecting a somewhat soporific Saturday and am loading up on primarily defensive assets from those sides in the shape of Rob Elliot, Nick Pope, Ben Mee, Jamaal Lascelles and Virgil van Dijk. “Excitement is not enjoyment: in calmness lies true pleasure” and all that.

I’m also backing the potential of the misfiring Richarlison and Mohamed Salah, who between them top the midfield attempts table (35 and 34 respectively) and the shots in the box table (26 and 29) but, tellingly, not the goals scored table (3 and 5).

Nonetheless, opponents Everton and West Ham are far from watertight at the back and surely, by the law of averages, one of those many, many efforts has got to hit the target and even creep in.

Surely?

Paul says…

I’m going all-in on Spurs for the head-to-head with Palace.

At the back, the rotation at wing-back is off-putting – I was all set to select Kieran Trippier but didn’t expect him to start against Real Madrid. Jan Vertonghen looks one of the safest bets against the Eagles, then, particularly with Toby Alderweireld limping off early.

With four of the top five going head-to-head this weekend, the pickings are somewhat slim in defence. The aerial threat of Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk could profit at home to a Burnley side that’s conceded more set-piece attempts away from home (28) than any other.

A role on the bench away to Napoli means that David Silva looks near-certain to be handed an 11th straight league start for Man City’s home match with Arsenal – I’ve gone with the secure Spaniard over the in-form Sane.

I’m also backing Richarlison away to an Everton defence that’s conceded ten goals in five at Goodison – he’s the league’s number one player for shots in the box (16) away from home.

Having proven his fitness last night, I reckon Harry Kane will retain his start at home to Palace as Spurs just can’t afford to fall further behind Man City.

I’m not deterred by Sergio Aguero’s start last night either – by the time Sunday comes around, he’ll have played 76 minutes in 11 days and surely won’t be in need of a rest.

Tammy Abraham remains my favoured budget forward as Swansea host Brighton at the Liberty – he’s bagged three goals and six bonus points in the last three at home.

Mark says…

While both Kane and Aguero started last night, I’m reluctant to believe that one or both will be rested come the weekend.

Spurs can’t afford to take a risk against a plucky Palace, while Aguero will surely be handed a heroes welcome at the Etihad having finally broken that goal scoring record. It would be remiss to bench him, surely?

The third striker also looks a shoo-in, with Abraham offering superb value again ahead of a home match-up with Brighton.

Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is my nomination for the bench – he’s impressed in recent Gameweeks, and I feel that David Unsworth will continue to show the faith for Watford’s visit. There’s goals in that contest.

The main area of contention remains in midfield, and this is where I’m going to be controversial by backing Dele Alli and, in particular, Raheem Sterling.

I admit that Alli’s recent form is worrying but – like his manager – I’m backing him for an upturn so amply demonstrated by last night’s brace against Madrid. If Palace turn up without Mamadou Sakho, then the margin of victory could allow both Kane and Alli to profit.

As for Sterling, while it seems that Sane offers the obvious route to cover Man City’s midfield, I’m sticking to my guns.

When both Sane and Sterling start, I just feel that the latter has the edge. Surprisingly, he’s developed into a player that can poach goals – Sane can certainly provide the spectacular, but his natural instinct to patrol the flank just has me favour Sterling.

I also feel that, with the recent transfer connnections with Arsenal, a mischievous Pep will give the fleet-footed Sterling the chance to run at the Gunners.

The Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek will be YMA, who is in his tenth season and has two top 10,000 finishes.

The community champion who has the best lead over the Scouts during 2017/18 will win a £100 Amazon voucher (currently we can only offer Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com vouchers).

Gameweek 10’s champion Kryten beat the Scouts 54 – 42. The champion to beat remains Gregor, who achieved victory over the Scouts by a 33-point margin in Gameweek 5.