Scout Picks

Scout Picks – Gameweek 15

After selecting a 4-4-2 for the midweek matches, we tinker with our tactics and roll out a 3-5-2 this weekend. Liverpool and Swansea’s home games look too good to ignore, whilst Southampton’s ever-increasing injury list could play right into City’s hands at St Mary’s:

Michel Vorm gets the nod between the sticks for Swansea’s home game against Hull. The Dutchman has racked up a clean sheet in each of his last three appearances at the Liberty and is up against a Tigers side with just two goals in their last four road trips – a shut-out for Michael Laudrup’s side could well be on the cards.

Coming in at 4.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Jon Flanagan offers a cut-price route into Liverpool’s defence for the visit of West Ham. Granted, the Merseysiders have been far from resilient of late but the Hammers’ away record bodes well – take away their 3-0 win at Spurs back in early October and Sam Allardyce’s side have scored once in their other six road trips.

A home game against Norwich offers Gareth McAuley the chance of picking up points at both ends of the pitch. The Baggies centre-half will be hopeful of a fifth clean sheet of the season against a Canaries side that has scored just four times on their travels, while his eye for goal has already came to the fore twice in the opening 14 Gameweeks.

Patrice Evra gets the nod as United prepare for the visit of Newcastle. The left-back has somewhat atoned for a lack of clean sheets with a goal, a pair of assists and 10 bonus points already to his name and will be hoping of further attacking returns tomorrow afternoon – the Magpies’ record of two goals in their last three road trips suggests a shut-out may also be on the cards for the most secure option in David Moyes’ backline.

With three sets of double figure hauls in his five home appearances, Mesut Ozil clearly prefers playing in front of his own fans. The playmaker has averaged 9.8 point per game at the Emirates since arriving in London over the summer and resultantly gets the nod as our Arsenal coverage for the visit of Everton, with Ozil’s creativity crucial in picking apart the Toffees resilience.

Eden Hazard is nailed-on for Chelsea’s trip to Stoke. After a slow start to the season, the Belgian’s form under Jose Mourinho goes from strength to strength – with three sets of double figure hauls in the last four Gameweeks, Hazard’s contribution will be key as the Blues look to break down a backline that has conceded just once in the last four at the Britannia.

We hand Samir Nasri the chance to impress as City make their way to injury-hit Southampton. The Frenchman has improved considerably under Manuel Pellegrini’s guidance this term and has delivered returns in seven of his 14 appearances – with David Silva still sidelined for the visitors, Nasri’s midfield trickery could take advantage of the Saints’ under-strength line-up.

West Ham’s visit to Anfield affords Steven Gerrard the opportunity to continue his superb run of consistency. The Reds skipper has now scored or assisted in eight of the last nine Gameweeks and has served up two double figure hauls in the last four appearances in front of his own fans.

Swansea’s problems up front hand Jonjo Shelvey a rare spot in the Scout Picks. The former Liverpool man was moved into an advanced central berth against Newcastle on Wednesday and produced a goal and assist in the 3-0 win – similar to Gerrard, he has now delivered double figures in two of his last four home games and with Michael Laudrup’s forwards hit hard by injuries, Shelvey looks set to carry the Swans’ goal threat at home to Hull.

A staggering 76% of voters in this Gameweek’s Captain Poll have opted for Luis Suarez at home to West Ham tomorrow. Whilst the Hammers have been resilient on the road, the loss of Winston Reid has clearly hit them hard and saw them concede three away to goal-shy Norwich recently – having racked up 57 points in his last three home appearances, the Uruguayan’s Anfield exploits could see him run amok yet again.

Sergio Aguero also gets the nod as City roll up to St Mary’s. Given that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have four, possibly five (depending on Jose Fonte’s fitness) of their first-team stuck in the treatment room, the visitors look overwhelming favourites to register a fourth straight win. City have scored nine times in the five away games Aguero has started – he has scored or assisted six of those strikes, underlining the likelihood of his involvement for tomorrow’s encounter.

Three clean sheets in four sums up Palace’s upturn in defensive resilience. Joel Ward gets the nod, then, as the Eagles look to keep out Cardiff at Selhurst Park – the visitors have failed to score in each of their last three away games, suggesting defensive returns are on the cards again for Tony Pulis’ side.

Ward’s team-mate Barry Bannan offers a cut-price midfield option this week. Coming in at 4.4, he’s scored or assisted each of Palace’s last couple of goals and will be hoping to replicate Tuesday’s eight-point haul against West Ham.

We hand Shane Long a bench role for West Brom’s home clash with Norwich. The Baggies frontman has three goals and an assist in the last four Gameweeks and may well plunder the points against the travel-sick Canaries.

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1,430 Comments Post a Comment
  1. inddets
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hey dudes, RMT please

    Mignolet

    Turner – Dawson – Terry – Gabbidon

    El Ahmadi – Ramsey – Özil (V) – Hazard

    Agüero – Suárez (C)

    Subs: Harper, Figueroa, Ward-Prowse, Rooney

    Any transfer suggestions?

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  2. Jax
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Can see hull and Cardiff scoring.

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  3. jwaltz86
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    likelihood of michu and oscar playing this weekend? any news?

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    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Both out

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  4. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    What are the chances of having a GW like last GW again this season.... Not a high scoring DGW but a SGW

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    1. EatStatic
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      56.5%? What kind of question is that??

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  5. Al Bundy
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Desperate punt for this GW:

    Dont say neither, i have to go for one of them
    A) Valencia
    B) Kagawa
    C) Lamela
    D) Schurrle

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    1. tossula
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      kagawa

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  6. lions
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I have 2 free transfers this week.

    Should I

    A. Draft in Nasri & Long for Januzaj & Remy

    or

    B. Draft in Giroud for Remy and roll the free transfer over to next week.

    I feel like A is pushing a bit as Nasri could easily get a 2, and just doing Giroud gives me more freedom next week in the transfer market and Giroud is owned by a third of the game so is a safer option.

    I'm 21pts (nothing in this game I know) behind in mini league but want to try and be top after week 19 as there is a prize for the half way leader.

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  7. The Great Statuto
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Wasn't there an article or discussion last season that showed those players scoring hatrick one week tended to bomb the subsequent one? Just thinking suarez captain choice could fall foul of that?

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    1. simsey
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      If there was then it wouldnt take a genius to have written it.
      Yes, most players probably follow hattricks up with a blank

      But then again most gameweeks players just have blanks fullstop so its not rocket science!

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    2. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Hat-tricks usually occur at home against weak opposition, and they are usually followed by away matches against stronger opponents.
      The other reason is that some hat-tricks take the opposition by surprise, so the next opponents try harder to prevent a repeat by the same player. But they all know how dangerous Suarez is, and very few teams are capable of stopping him.

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    3. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah..just look at the scores that players record the week after they are top scorers in FPL...heroes to zeros almost always.

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  8. VagnerLove
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Oscar or Shelvey?

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    1. simsey
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      oscar may not start according to Mourinho...

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  9. simsey
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Nasri in for Oscar, a good move?

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  10. scottysinclair11
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Nathan Dyer for Oscar
    Bannan for Arnautovic
    Suarez for Remy

    -4 hit but think it is worth it. Opinions and/or alternatives would be appreciated, thanks

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    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      yeah

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  11. zing
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Vertonghen & Giroud --> Walker & Rooney
    Or
    Vertonghen & Paulinho --> Dawson & Hazard

    Cheers!

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    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      rooney ??!
      hazard is along term deal

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      1. zing
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        So you are suggesting I put hazard and Dawson in?

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  12. MGLSuarez
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hey guys give me little tip pls

    Szczesny

    Mertesaker Flanagan Gabbidon

    Mirallas Ramsey Hazard Yaya

    Suarez Remy Aguero

    SIT: Mggregor , Whittaker , Shaw , Colback

    How about Mirallas ----> Lampard

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  13. Manishbravo
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    vorm
    ivanonic, mertesacker, zabaleta
    amalfitano, hazard(VC), cabaye, dyer
    giroud, suarez(C), lukaku

    sub:mignolet, jageilka, shawcross,colback..

    suggestion guys..!!

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    1. MGLSuarez
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      vorm ---> Mignolet

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      1. Manishbravo
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        thinkin abt it..any other changes i should make?

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        1. MGLSuarez
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          i think no more changes need your squad , maybe u can add some MCI forward or mids

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    2. zing
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I'd struggle having a £5.7m defender on the bench, I'd suggest downgrading your defence, maybe Ivanovic to Dawson or something, then upgrade midfield, get Ramsay, coutinho, lampard Nasri or whoever you can afford!

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  14. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Not sure what to make of this and it's driving me nuts.

    “Oscar is also much better and I have to decide whether to play him or not, but he’s much better. It was the injury against Southampton, something in his ankle, but he’s much better.”

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    1. Manishbravo
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      most probably he'll be on the subs...they have to keep him fit for champions league too..!!

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  15. OneTwo
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Rooney to Welbeck or Hernandez? -4 ...I need to take a gamble and make up some points in my ML.

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  16. Millie7
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hi guys a bit of help with my team please. I have three everton and arsenal and both ravel and clone out for the weekend. Any ideas on transfers? I would like to get Rooney in there soon too.
    Thanks in advance
    Migs. Lewis

    Coleman. Mert. Walker. Clyne. Chico

    Ramsey. Yaya. Hazard. Ravel. Barkley.

    Suarez. Lukaku. Giroud

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    1. Shed ender
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Get rid of Barkley for Shelvey or Bannan or El ahmadi maybe.

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      1. Millie7
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Was thinking that but Barkley is actually playing really well, plus he's coming into a good set of fixtures next gameweek. Any other ideas

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        1. Shed ender
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Or else transfer mert(eve,city,che) or walker(sun,liv,soton) for a chep def like ben turner or any other..so u can get rooney the next time
          But this surely would be a gamble as mert has been consistent in the past few weeks
          and walker always poses an attacking threat.
          Think about it.

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  17. Your Mum Zohore
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hi Guys, my team for the week:

    Migs

    Gabbidon/Walker/Lovren

    Y.Toure/Lallana/Cabaye/Ramsey

    Lukaku/Suarez(C)/Giroud

    Bench: Jagielka/Ward-Prowse/Rosenior

    1 FT, 1.7m in the bank

    *Thinking of replacing Lovren. What do you think?

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    1. Shed ender
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Very nice thought..poor run of fixtures for soton..can see only 1 clean sheet in the next 6.
      Go for Terry or an Everton def

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      1. Your Mum Zohore
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Might opt for Terry, was thinking of Evra as well, good run of games for MU till the new year.

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        1. Shed ender
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Yes..but united has become unpredictable this season..Still, not a bad choice.

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          1. Your Mum Zohore
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Alright, thanks man! All the best for GW 15

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  18. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hi guys, Rate my team please for GW 15

    Marshall (Boruc)
    Baker Johnson Shawcross Fonte (Whittaker)
    Ozil Oscar Barkely Brady (Colback)
    Giroud Lukaku (Rooney)

    £1.5 in the bank

    Who should I captain?

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    1. Shed ender
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Get SUAREZ!!!!!

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      1. Shed ender
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        You cannot miss out on the best player in the premier league

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        1. Gooner97
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          I just bought Rooney two weeks ago; maybe I need more quality in defence or centre

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          1. Shed ender
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            In that case, I would recommend you to transfer out fonte for coleman or terry

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            1. Gooner97
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              Thanks

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              1. Gooner97
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 3 months ago

                So who should I captain in my team for this GW?

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                1. Shed ender
                  • 10 Years
                  10 years, 3 months ago

                  Its a tough one..but i would choose giroud.

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                  1. Gooner97
                    • 10 Years
                    10 years, 3 months ago

                    thank you very much mate

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  19. AIRMILES
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    How many times do the scout selections feature the words "gets the nod"? This week they've only gone and used it five time! Why can't the writers be a little more imaginative?

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