Scout Picks – Gameweek 3

We roll out the third set of Scout Picks of the 2015/16 season this evening, as the hours count down to tomorrow morning’s deadline. This week, we’ve doubled up on Palace and Man United ahead of enticing home fixtures, whilst we also opt for a couple of options from in-form duo Man City and Swansea.

For the start of the season, the budget for the Scout Picks and Community XI is capped at 82.5m, though this will be increased as the campaign progresses.

At a price of 4.0, Alex McCarthy comes in for Palace’s home encounter with Villa. The home side’s chances of a clean sheet look decent, given that Tim Sherwood’s side have scored once so far, whilst McCarthy’s save point potential (he’s made seven stops in two appearances) should help if the Eagles backline is breached.

We’re placing our faith in Aleksandar Kolarov for City’s trip to Everton. Granted, Gael Clichy is now available again but the Serbian’s understanding down the left with Raheem Sterling has been a major feature of his side’s displays in the last couple of outings and we’re backing him to continue in the starting XI as the league leaders look for a third straight win.

Having earned two bonus points in each of the opening couple of Gameweeks, Matteo Darmian has proven a reliable option for United. With a home clash against a Newcastle side that scored 14 away goals last year, the Italian looks on course for further joy this weekend.

Given that seven of their 13 clean sheets in 2014/15 arrived on the road, Swansea will have no fear ahead of a trip to struggling Sunderland. With the Black Cats looking to tighten up at the back, the Swans look in line for a shut-out and we’re backing Kyle Naughton to pick up the points, with his raids down the right bound to pose the hosts’ problematic left flank plenty of problems.

Yohan Cabaye is our second Palace player for the head-to-head with Villa. The Frenchman has already opened his account for the campaign and has fired more attempts on goal than any team-mate ahead of the Selhurst Park encounter.

Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez is in a rich vein of form ahead of a home clash against Spurs. The Algerian’s three strikes in the first two Gameweeks – allied with his spot-kick duties – is more than enough to convince us to call upon his services against a defence that sits second-bottom for big chances conceded (five) so far.

Dimitri Payet earns the nod as West Ham look to bounce back from last week’s home loss to Leicester. The consistent Frenchman has picked up points in both his league appearances to date and with set-piece duties in hand, he looks the likeliest to break down Bournemouth’s backline at Upton Park.

We’re backing Alexis Sanchez to get the better of Liverpool at the Emirates this Sunday. Granted, the Chilean has yet to score but his underlying numbers could barely be more encouraging – a total of nine shots inside the box is joint-top for the season despite the fact he was unleashed from the bench in Gameweek 1.

A midweek brace against Club Brugge will have worked wonders for Memphis Depay’s confidence. Shifted over to the left flank in the previous Gameweek, the United midfielder fired seven shots without success against Villa and with Wayne Rooney toiling, Depay is likely to provide the Red Devils’ main goal threat against Newcastle tomorrow lunchtime.

Back in the City starting XI and firing on all cylinders, Sergio Aguero was unlucky only to score once at home to Chelsea last time out. Bearing in mind that Watford score twice away to Everton in Gameweek 1, a trip to Goodison should hold little fear for the Argentine as Manuel Pellegrini’s men look to build momentum with a third straight win.

After scoring in each of the first two fixtures, Bafetimbi Gomis will fancy his chances against Sunderland’s dodgy defence. Garry Monk’s men have carved up more big chances (seven) than any side so far and considering that the Wearsiders have conceded the most shots inside the box (25) so far, Gomis’ 7.1 price tag could be set to rise again one the weekend is over.

We’re backing Aaron Cresswell to bring in the points for West Ham’s home clash with Bournemouth. The Hammers earned seven of their nine clean sheets at home last term and the raiding left-back’s two goals and four assists in 2014/15 highlight his offensive threat.

Andre Ayew is once again unlucky to be squeezed onto the bench. Having scored in both his Premier League outings so far, the Swansea midfielder could easily take advantage of Sunderland’s defensive woes at the Stadium of Light this weekend. Ayew sits third amongst midfielders for attempts inside the box – only Sanchez and Mahrez have bettered his six close-range efforts.

Troy Deeney will be hoping to breach Southampton’s rearguard and open his account this weekend. Even at their most resilient last season, Ronald Koeman’s men managed just four shut-outs on their travels but with injuries hitting hard and new signings taking time to gel, the Hornets lone striker looks a viable budget option at 5.5.

THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Having scrapped the weekly vote idea from last season, we now operate a lottery system to pick our weekly candidates. 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.

Last week saw Daniel Levy – Not the Spurs Chairman beat us by an eight-point margin, though Fuzzy Warbles still leads the way with a 12-point advantage gained in Gameweek 1.

This week’s champion is Patch who has opted for the following side:

Courtois, Azpilicueta, Smalling, Kolarov, Depay, Montero, Yaya Toure, Mata, Payet, Aguero, Gomis.

With only five of the same players, this looks a more varied head-to-head, after the first two weeks saw the Community pick eight of the same starting XI as our Picks.