The Scout Squad – Gameweek 13

Our “expert” panel will go into Gameweek 13 confident it won’t be unlucky for them after securing another victory in last week’s Scout Squad battle.

There’s a certain unanimity about many of the (recently) awesome foursome’s selections this week, with big-ticket strikers Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Gabriel Jesus all heavily backed, as are Manchester midfielders Leroy Sane and Paul Pogba.

It’s at the back where the feathers might fly, as Jonty and Mark big up Nicolas Otamendi, while Paul’s a Kieran Trippier man and Peter plumps for Antonio Valencia as his premier backline pick.

The usual squabbles will no doubt ensure, but they’d better get on with it as the Gameweek starts early with Friday night’s West Ham v Leicester City match.

We’ll be back before that 8pm kick-off to reveal those that made the Scouts’ final cut and in the meantime, here are their longlists, complete with justifications and a quote Albert Einstein never made.

Peter says…

Unlike last week, when the budget selections, in particular, all paid dividends in home bankers, this week there are some tricky fixtures to predict.

For example, my choices reflect that I’m not sure whether that impeccable Anfield rearguard will prevail against Chelsea’s on-fire attack, or what will transpire at Turf Moor when Arsenal visit Burnley.

There is, potentially, some comfort to be had in the two Manchester clubs, both of whom face promoted sides, albeit Brighton and Huddersfield are more than holding their own in the Premier League.

Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku come in for me from United, while Nicolas Otamendi, Leroy Sané and Gabriel Jesus represent a pragmatic spread from City.

Michael Scott, in the American version of The Office, misquoted “Fool me once…strike one, but fool me twice…strike three”, while Albert Einstein never actually stated that “the definition of insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting different results”, but we get the message.

However, I think I know better, so I’m overlooking Harry Kane’s undeniable Wembley failings against the likes of Burnley, Swansea City, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace and installing him as my top choice at home to Pulis-less West Brom.

What’s more, Hugo Lloris and, yes, Ben Davies are joining him in what, at the start of the season, would never have seemed such a questionable selection.

Bournemouth seem to have a spring in their step at the moment, in stark contrast to their hosts, Swansea, prompting me to double up on Asmir Begovic and Charlie Daniels at the back and hope that Callum Wilson has saved a few goals after his hat-trick heroics last week.

Finally, with apologies to West Ham fans, I’m backing Leicester heavily in their visit to the London Stadium with the Irons seemingly in free-fall, having conceded 11 goals in their last four league outings while scoring just three.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez will be licking their lips in anticipation of a trip to that most obliging of defences, while Kasper Schmeichel will be hoping he can recreate the heroics of Heurelho Gomes against the Hammers last weekend.

Joe says…

Clean sheets look hard to gauge this week, particularly among teams we usually turn to for budget options. Burnley’s match with Arsenal at Turf Moor makes the likes of Ben Mee hard to select and, similarly, Liverpool’s resilient home defence may have to be swerved for this weekend’s testing encounter with Chelsea.

As a result, I’ll be favouring a three-man backline with representation from pricier options such as Manchester City’s Nicolas Otamendi against a Huddersfield side that has shipped 14 in their last six.

Spurs’ Jan Vertonghen also looks a strong bet for a shut-out against a managerless West Brom side at Wembley, while David de Gea (5.8) looks an ideal keeper for the picks when Manchester United take on Brighton at home.

Given the absence through injury of centre-back Phil Jones, I’ve also put forward Chris Smalling (5.4) in case his cheaper price tag is needed over the Red Devils stopper.

In fact, I’m keen to triple up on Jose Mourinho’s troops, with Pogba’s goal and assist on his return from injury at home to Newcastle last weekend – and his exceptionally kind 8.0 valuation – making him essential.

Lukaku’s strike against the Magpies, which broke a seven-match club goal drought, also makes him a shoo-in for the Seagulls clash. A 2-2 draw with Stoke City on Monday for Chris Hughton’s side highlighted their fragility at the back.

Richarlison’s 7.2 points per match average on the road makes him another vital pick as Watford travel to Newcastle, as does Wilfried Zaha’s home form when the Potters drop by Selhurst Park. The Crystal Palace winger has scored in each of his three matches on familiar turf since returning from injury in Gameweek 8.

Making sense of rotation among Manchester City’s attack may be a little easier this week after Pep Guardiola offered us some clues.

A promise to rotate over the current busy schedule, and a rest for Leroy Sane in last night’s Champions League clash with Feyenoord, indicates the German, who has five double-digit hauls, will start against the Terriers this weekend.

In addition, Pep has said that in the absence of long-term injury victim Benjamin Mendy, he is unwilling to start Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian’s 26-minute cameo on Tuesday, and the fact he’s made the first XI in all City’s league away games, suggests he will also get the nod.

Finally, I’m backing Leicester to prevail when they drop by West Ham tonight and have nominated defender Harry Maguire, who has three assists and a goal this season, as well as midfielder Mahrez and striker Vardy. The Foxes have scored eight across their six road trips, while the Hammers have shipped ten at the London Stadium.

Paul says…

I’m prepared to gamble on the Spurs full-backs for the visit of West Brom.

Prior to the Gameweek 11 visit of Crystal Palace, Kieran Trippier had played every minute of their first five matches at Wembley. Rested for the midweek clash with Dortmund, I’m backing him to add to his four assists against the managerless Baggies.

Man City’s Sane was also given the night off in midweek and heads my list of midfielders in light of Pep Guardiola’s comments on his importance down the left flank. Although I also expect Jesus to start up top, Sane is a far more explosive option, bettering the Brazilian by five sets of double-digit hauls to two.

The statistics are on the side of Mohamed Salah and Richarlison for their respective clashes with Chelsea and Newcastle. The Liverpool attacker has fired more shots on target (17) than any player at home, while Richarlison is the number one player for shots in the box (20) away from home.

Zaha – with a goal in each of his last three at Selhurst Park – picks himself against a Stoke defence that’s conceding an average of two goals per match.

Kane remains my number one candidate up front for the visit of West Brom – he scored a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last season, albeit at White Hart Lane. The striker may have scored just twice at Wembley, but his numbers are too good to ignore –he’s the top-ranked player for shots (37) and efforts in the box (24) in front of his own supporters.

If we’re going heavy on the budget in midfield, Tammy Abraham and Wilson can offer a third forward option for their head-to-head at the Liberty.

While the latter’s hat-trick against Huddersfield is the headline-grabber here, Abraham is the third top player at home for expected goals in our Members’ section – if fit, he could punish a Cherries side with one clean sheet on their travels.

Mark says…

Yes, I’m sticking with Kane as the weapon of choice and, as it stands, I’ll be tentatively rolling the armband over his bicep come Friday’s night’s deadline. That will be a very sleepless night.

So Kane is preserved in my Scout Squad and will, by hook or by crook, earn a Scout Picks berth alongside Lukaku’s inevitable selection.

I’m backing my own player – Abraham – for the third striker slot should we decided on three up front. While I’m drawn to Wilson as an option, I’m just not convinced on Bournemouth’s away threat and the Swans’ cause is now desperate. I see them nicking a narrow win.

Elsewhere, there will doubtless be tussles about our choice of Spurs defender, with the midweek teamsheet in Europe unlocking both Davies and Trippier as options. The former is still edging that contest statistically, so the Welshman gets the nod for me.

As I’m not backing Liverpool for another clean sheet at Anfield, I can therefore only deduce that Chelsea score. With that in mind, Eden Hazard has to get the nod. Again, there’s bias here, as I continue to celebrate actually getting some decent points from the Belgian by sponsoring him for an unlikely Scout Picks selection.

It will never happen, but I still feel that Liverpool will struggle to silence a buoyant Hazard.

Meanwhile, at the back, my irrational belief in Crystal Palace keeping a clean sheet materialises with the nomination of both Julian Speroni and Scott Dann. I’ve gone with the Eagles stopper as first choice, hoping that he survives his Gameweek 12 error and in a political move to ensure that I get Dann into the XI.

The Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek will be André94PT, who is in his seventh campaign, with last season’s finish of 3,085 his best to date.

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 12’s champion Dingo was beaten 70 – 62 by the Scouts. The champion to beat remains Gregor, who achieved victory over the Scouts by a 33-point margin in Gameweek 5.