Scout Picks – Gameweek 22

This evening we reach Gameweek 22 of this season’s Scout Picks, where Mark, Jonty, a different member of the community and I pick an XI for the upcoming round of fixtures. Each week, our line-ups go head-to-head and over the course of the season we’ll be keeping a tally of the points as we go along, with the budget now sitting at 84.0 apiece for our starting line-ups.

The Community – Managed by Brooksyp

West Ham’s Adrian looks a must against a Hull side short on confidence. Leighton Baines has looked better and better each week and I fancy a clean sheet for the Everton man when West Brom visit. Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel, meanwhile, offers good attacking threat, just in case Aston Villa muster a rare goal. Finding a secure starter in Chelsea’s back four is becoming an increasingly tricky task – thankfully, though, Branislav Ivanovic has escaped rotation so far.

In my midfield, Nacir Chadli will be fully refreshed after playing just 30 minutes in Spurs’ midweek FA Cup replay, meanwhile Stewart Downing has fixture and form on his side as does Alexis Sanchez – I expect goals when Arsenal vist Manchester City, with the midfielder sure to be involved. Eden Hazard is my Chelsea option this week. He still looked threatening last Gameweek even if he failed to deliver.

Up front, Sergio Aguero is a big match player and is key for the hosts in this must-win encounter for the title contenders. Harry Kane is now the first name on most team sheets on current form and finally Danny Ings’ nice home fixture against Crystal Palace makes him a must for my XI.

Jonty

Only Manchester United have less goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks than Sunderland, which propels Hugo Lloris into my side when the north east side visit White Hart Lane. Also in London, Aaron Cresswell offers similar clean sheet potential, when his West Ham side entertain a Hull side whose frontline is ravaged by injury. Newcastle have also been shot-shy in recent weeks and Southampton have been resolute at the back, which brings Ryan Bertrand into my thinking. Finally, in my defence I’ve turned to Rate My Team, which predicts strong returns from Leighton Baines this week.

In midfield, Cesc Fabregas is my default Chelsea option for potentially tricky road trips – so far, the Spaniard has been involved in just under a half of all the London side’s away goals. With four goals and seven assists this season, Stewart Downing looks primed for points this week, as does Nacer Chadli when Sunderland visit White Hart Lane; the Spurs midfielder has accrued 28 points in his last four matches. Alexis Sanchez is Fantasy Football’s current must-have asset and faces a Manchester City side that has conceded 10 times in the last six Gameweeks.

How can Harry Kane be dropped from my picks after scoring 39 points over the last four matches? When filtered to the last six Gameweeks Charlie Austin sits comfortably at the summit of my attacking players Members Table, which is sorted by shots in the box. This demands his inclusion for a home tie against an out of sorts Manchester United.

Finally, Sergio Aguero’s return sparked my wildcard and many others into life this week. With 14 goals in just 13 starts he looks irresistible against an Arsenal side with just one clean sheet in the last six Gameweeks.

Mark

I’m guessing my Scout Picks rivals all went for Sergio Aguero and, after deliberation, I thought better of leaving him out of my XI. I have, once again, neglected Alexis Sanchez who will grace the same pitch on Sunday – despite being burned by the Chilean last weekend. For my sins, I’ve backed Raheem Sterling for Liverpool at Villa, hoping that he’s refreshed and roaring to run at a damaged back four.

Elsewhere, Harry Kane was a shoo-in and his inclusion meant I avoided the Nacer Chadli option in midfield, deciding on Stewart Downing and Jason Puncheon alongside Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. I was encouraged by Alan Pardew’s shoot on sight policy in the win over Spurs so I’m expecting goals at Turf Moor with Puncheon again providing the Palace menace.

In defence I’ve gone on the attack, with all three of my selections in there for their double-barrel appeal. I’m expecting at least some attacking returns from my trio of Martin Skrtel, Leighton Baines and Aaron Creswell, whilst in goal, Fraser Forster should be good for at least some save points as the best defence in the league pays visit to Newcastle.

Paul

West Ham’s Adrian is drafted in between the sticks at home to an injury-hit Hull side that have scored in two of the last seven Gameweeks. I’ve opted for a trio of attacking full-backs who have all been in the points recently – Leighton Baines and Branislav Ivanovic have two assists apiece in the last three, whilst Tottenham’s Danny Rose, at just 4.8, has scored in each of his last two home matches in all competitions.

Alexis Sanchez’s stunning form is sure to trouble a City defence that have conceded twice to Burnley and Sunderland in their last two at the Etihad, whilst Eden Hazard, with a goal in each of his last two away appearances, has finally found his form on the road. Both Nacer Chadli and Stewart Downing offer excellent mid-price coverage at just 6.5 apiece and look crucial to their side’s respective chances of home wins over Sunderland and Hull.

Up top, Sergio Aguero’s return to fitness earns him a place in my starting XI as City hope to replicate last season’s six-goal home haul against Arsenal. Harry Kane, with six goals in as many matches, is an obvious selection at home to the Black Cats, whilst the stats once again strengthen my belief in Charlie Austin – no player has been afforded more big chances in front of their own fans than the QPR forward, who looks in red-hot form as United roll up to Loftus Road.

The Scores So Far

Tony Hibbert (Community) won the Gameweek with 67 points, followed by myself (63) and Jonty (60), whilst Mark earned 57 points despite his decision to leave out who Alexis Sanchez.

Mark retains the overall lead with 1084 point, then, with myself (1080) and Jonty (1068) in hot pursuit, followed by The Community, on 979 points.