Scout Picks

Scout Picks – Gameweek 25

This evening we roll out Gameweek 24 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 Reedy

gw25picks Costel Pantilimon’s looming frame fills the goal. The Sunderland stopper has earned save points for seven successive Gameweeks, so in the unlikely event that managerless QPR still find a route to goal without the injured Charlie Austin, he’s still likely to bring in the points. Patrick van Aanholt’s attacking forays from left-back have earned him three league assists this season, and they’ve all come against teams in the bottom half of the table.

Arch rivals Spurs may have ended Arsenal’s three-match run of clean sheets but a visit from bottom-of-the-league-Leicester could be just what they need to get right back on track. Laurent Koscielny has been a stand-out performer at the back and Hector Bellerin gives me a chance to double up on their rearguard at a bargain basement price.
My third Gunner of choice, Mesut Ozil, has been impressive of late, too, and deserves inclusion. As does Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, whose trickery and pace will trouble Everton. His team-mate Oscar has also earned a place in my midfield. I’m not expecting the Toffees to put up too much of a fight and I’m hoping that the Brazilian can take full advantage.

Sadio Mane is quite simply in scintillating form. With three goals in three appearances before leaving for ACoN, he wasted no time getting another on his return to the first XI last weekend. There may be competition for places in that Saints midfield but his has to be the first name on the teamsheet.

We all know the Daniel Sturridge dance, which is set to become a familiar sight again after his return from injury. His inclusion here is, admittedly, a bit of a risk, but I think Sturridge will earn a start against Spurs tonight. He’s the kind of player that can grab a haul even if only afforded a cameo role and could be a very handy differential. There is just no way I can leave Harry Kane out and with attacking returns in all three Sunderland appearances, Jermaine Defoe completes my frontline.

Jonty

gw25picks Arsenal dominate my picks as they entertain a lacklustre and, in terms of managerial news, seemingly chaotic Leicester. Over the last six Gameweeks, the North London side has scored 13 times, meanwhile Leicester have the third worst away record in terms of goals conceded. As this is written ahead of some team sheets being announced before the deadline I’m hedging my bets and hoping Alexis Sanchez starts or at least scores as a substitute. Mesut Ozil, with three goals in his last three, is also hard to overlook as is Olivier Giroud, who I hope will escape rotation.

Elsewhere in attack, I’ve opted for Jermain Defoe and his ruthlessness in front of goal against a dire QPR side on the road. With two goals in three matches he looks a shoo-in to score against a side that has the Premier League’s worst away defence, with 27 goals conceded. Harry Kane has a habit of scoring in tough matches recently, as Chelsea and Arsenal fans will know – he looks impossible to drop from my picks on current form.

For Chelsea cover, I’ve opted for Branislav Ivanovic, who has three goals already this season, and Eden Hazard, who offers strong goal and assist potential. My final midfield slot goes to Southampton’s Sadio Mane, who had the most goal attempts in the Premier League during Gameweek 24.

In defence, I struggle to see how a Charlie Austin-less QPR will score against Sunderland, which propels Patrick van Aanholt into my thinking. Aston Villa’s struggles in front of goal hands Hull’s Alan McGregor a place between the posts. Finally, I see West Ham struggle to break down a resolute Southampton, which gives Nathaniel Clyne, who earned two bonus points in Gameweek 24, a defensive role.

Mark

gw25picks My picks are built around two fixtures, with Sunderland’s clash with QPR and Arsenal’s Emirates meeting with Leicester looking as close as you’re going to get for home-bankers.

I’ve recruited six players from those two matches in anticipation of wins, goals and points, with Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud backed to tear into the Foxes rearguard, while I’ve opted for Per Mertesacker in the Gunners defence, purely because he appears to be the most secure option.

For Sunderland, I’ve doubled in defence with Costel Pantilimon and Patrick van Aanholt coming up against a limited QPR attack without the threat of Charlie Austin. Jermain Defoe will doubtless be in many squads going into the Gameweek and he makes my Picks off the back of returns in each of his three appearances so far.

Elsewhere, I’ve tied up City with Sergio Aguero and Chelsea with Eden Hazard. I’ve not compromised here: Aguero’s dry run has got to end at some point and with City desperately hunting three points, I anticipate it will be at the Britannia. Hazard’s a shoo-in for the Stamford Bridge meeting with Everton –particularly with Diego Costa out of the frame and uncertainty surrounding Chelsea’s other midfield starters.

Sadio Mane’s selection needs no justification – his run of four goals in his last four starts explains that. Marouane Fellaini certainly does require some qualifying, however: I point to Van Gaal’s post-match comments following the Belgian’s contribution at West Ham, here. For me, Fellaini starts against Burnley and he may even be thrust up in attack. He’s my towering differential.

The final spot in my back three goes to Joleon Lescott – a bit of a gamble given the recent rotation in Tony Pulis’ rearguard, plus I’m not totally convinced that the Baggies have bought into their manager’s ethos just yet. This is a tentative clean sheet, then, but I still feel that the Swans lack penetration and a goal threat and that’s enough for me to back a West Brom shut-out.

Paul

gw25picks I’m worried that Arsene Wenger might rotate in defence this evening, so have played it safe by selecting David Ospina for Arsenal’s clash with Leicester. Branislav Ivanovic has attacking returns in four of his last five and faces an Everton side with one goal in their last three. I’ve opted for Patrick van Aanholt over Costel Pantilimon as Sunderland cover at home to QPR, with the Dutchman producing a double-figure return in his last home match. Having chalked up the same number of clean sheets as Chelsea, Southampton look a strong shout at home to injury-hit West Ham and Jose Fonte’s threat in the box has been unlucky not to bring home any goals so far.

In midfield, I’m willing to back my gut feeling that Alexis Sanchez will start this evening as Arsene Wenger looks to immediately bounce back from the North London derby defeat at Spurs. Eden Hazard, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane complete my four, with the latter looking excellent value at just 6.5. I’d initially gone for Raheem Sterling but with reports suggesting he could be sidelined tonight, I’ll turn to his in-form team-mate instead. Coutinho – who has produced returns in each of his last four home matches – is expected to recover from a knock and hosts a Spurs defence with a single clean sheet in their last ten road trips.

Up top, Olivier Giroud’s five goals and two assists in seven appearances highlights his improved form since recovering from injury. Jermain Defoe looks vital to Sunderland’s chances of breaching a QPR backline that’s conceded at least twice in each of their last five away fixtures, whilst Harry Kane has shown repeatedly that he has the form to trump any fixture as Spurs face a Liverpool backline that’s racked up four straight shut-outs.

The Scores So Far

With a strong showing in a defence that included Swansea’s Kyle Naughton, I gained a Gameweek 24 Scout Picks score of 55, leaving Jonty’s score of 46, Mark’s tally of 43 and The Community’s 41 in the shade. In the overall standings, Mark continues to lead with a score of 1260, following by myself on 1242, Jonty with 1239 and the Community on 1151.

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1,507 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gooner97
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    FUT is always more disgusting after December

  2. r4ndomduh
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Ings out for Defoe? Or save FT?

    1. AleksanderVN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Make the trade. For me thats seems a no-brainer

    2. Sidowski
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      If you already own Kane Ings into Defoe looks solid.
      Burnley got terrible matches incoming

    3. dgs2
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      if you are chasing in your ML and your rivals have Defoe then do the transfer.. otherwise save for next week as Ings is in hot form and Man Unt defense very likely to leak goals..( might come in Handy if you decide to bring in Costa or Sanchez if you don't have him)

    4. Ne0
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Looks good

  3. radawson
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Who is planning their transfers to get Costa in GW28?

    1. Sidowski
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Thinking of doing Aguero->Costa and putting some of this money into midfield

      1. Mr. Grv
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Dnt aguero cud score anytime when hes fit

    2. Ne0
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Depends on whether Chelsea have a DGW on GW28

      1. C-Dawgg
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Do you know what we are waiting on to hear this? I assume Champions League schedule or something?

        1. Deanamo Jammy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Go to the bottom of this piece. We're waiting on the Leicester/Aston Villa FA Cup match this Sunday.

          http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2015/01/29/navigating-the-blank-and-double-gameweeks/

          1. C-Dawgg
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            Ahhhh that's brilliant. Thanks for the info!

  4. Sidowski
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Own: Downing, Boyd, Navas(wtf?)
    Any of this moves for a -4 hit?
    A:Navas+Boyd->Walters+Mane
    B:Downing+Navas->Oscar+Mane
    C:Downing+Navas->Oscar+Walters

    Also considering folks like Gaston Ramirez, or Eriksen. Not really keen on getting Eriksen since i already have Kane and Spurs are going to play on Anfield this GW.

    Suggestions?

  5. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    BLooking good to save my FT with £0.3m itb?

    Foster (Begovic)
    Koscielny Jones PVA (Wisdom) (Bertrand)
    Hazard Cazorla (C) Puncheon Silva (Sterling)
    Aguero Kane Giroud

    OR...

    Should I bring in Mane for Silva, Cazorla or Sterling?

    Thanks in advance!

    1. JÜrgen Knob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Save!

  6. AleksanderVN
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Guess we will all know tonight if Bellerin is to be trusted.
    If he starts today, Im pretty sure he will play GW 27 also.

  7. JÜrgen Knob
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Good to go?
    Foster
    Clyne/terry/pva
    Oscar haz cazorla punch
    kane kun giroud

    bench: downing wasi hutton

    tempted to bring Back alexis
    or have a go with özil?
    3 mil itb
    or save ft?

  8. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hmmm so if sterling is out...

    A: bench him and wisdom/naughton off the bench 
    B: sterling >> ozil/wally...have giroud already 
    C: sterling + silva/adm >> sanchez + mane (-4).

    1. JÜrgen Knob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      B

  9. Ne0
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Sell Silva or Sterling for Sanchez?

    1. LOCO ABREU
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      sterling

    2. how now brown cow
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      If sterling is out, then him.

      1. Ne0
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        And if he starts?

    3. Doolittle
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Wait for team sheets, but Sterling is allegedly injured.

      1. Ne0
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        but if Sterling starts, who do I sell for Sanchez?

        1. Doolittle
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Then Silva.

    4. dgs2
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Silva output more likely to decrease with Toure and Bony back in the team soon.. Sterling more likely to increase his output once Sturridge is fully up and running.. so sell Silva imo

  10. THAT'S LIFE
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Ozil time - or kneejerky?

    I recall him on a European night game (may have been v Barca) totally running the show. Big diff and cheap at 9m - tempting...

    1. JÜrgen Knob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Same dilemma really tempted to bring özil in

  11. FantasTic
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    pant
    Ivan,Belli,PVA
    Haz,Sanchez,Shelvey,Sterling*
    Kun,Gru,Kane
    who to replace Sterling with
    subs are : Ameobi,Demichelis,Naughton

    1. LMFAO
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Mane if sterling is out

    2. FantasTic
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      for a hit?

  12. Firmy
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Good to go thanks for the help too last night...

    Forster /Krul

    Terry Bellerin PvA /Clyne Trippier

    Hazard Blind Sanchez Silva /Downing

    Giroud Kane Defoe

    4.2 in bank -4 hit

  13. Holmes
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    In last 3 games, Liverpool have scored 12 goals against Spurs! 😯

    1. piquiblanco
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      And hasn't conceded a single one. 😉

      1. piquiblanco
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Or haven't. Club names are singular in my language.

    2. The ghost of a Pug's g…
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      In the last 3 games, spurs had kaboul playing cb

      1. Holmes
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        You are right I guess, Spurs' defense is sh*t

        1. The ghost of a Pug's g…
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Was*

          Their game is changing for the better

          1. Holmes
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            Only attack, defense is still crap 😛

    3. Ne0
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Does this make any difference in today's match?

      1. piquiblanco
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        No difference, everything will be the same. 4-0 incoming.

      2. Holmes
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Dont think so

        1. Ne0
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          With Kane on form and Sterling allegedly out, Spurs can easily beat Pool 3-0 or so.

          1. Holmes
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            Would be surprise if they score more than 1 goal

    4. Woy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Liverpool are a shadow of the team they were.
      Spurs are, imo, a much better team than before.

      1. Firmy
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        1.1 IMO

  14. chrisdale98
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    If Cazorla and Sanchez both play should I do:

    Cazorla to Sanchez for -4?

    1. piquiblanco
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      yes

    2. 1314
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      no

      1. chrisdale98
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        How come?

    3. Ne0
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      No

    4. Holmes
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      No

    5. JÜrgen Knob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Not worth a hit imo

  15. roztad
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Pantilimon
    Clyne, Kosc, PvA
    A. Johnson, Hazard, Di Maria, Puncheon
    Giroud, Aguero, Pelle

    Bench: Foster, Lescott, Boyd, Cameron

    2 FT. 2.9 ITB.

    Not sure about Foster/Panti and Lescott. Thoughts?
    Planning on Di Maria -> Sanchez if he starts. And Pelle to who? Defoe? or maybe save 1 FT.

  16. Sid07
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling to mane(-4)

    1. piquiblanco
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Who would you play if you didn't do it?

      1. Sid07
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Boyd

  17. piquiblanco
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    My front 8 looks like so:

    Sanchez ADM Sterling Hazard Moses
    Kane Aguero Giroud

    Given that I've got 2 FTs Sterling out is a no-brainer, right? Thinking about getting Mane in.
    Or maybe I should just sell ADM? Got him for 9.5 so able to take a fall.

  18. New post
  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    don't like silva in my team, feel another blank incoming

  20. Gandalf !
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Need some help plz : A or B ?

    A- Falcao+ Mane

    B-Pelle+ ADM

  21. Santi sensei
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Itls already 11 pm here .. i think i'm going to bed soon.
    Can't wait for line ups cuz i have exam tomorrow morning..
    Should I leave armband on Walcott (currently) or play safe with Giroud ?

    1. Van Klinkert Delarosa
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Giroud.

  22. Big Bad Barry
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Everyone aiming for three Spurs in the double?

    Lloris Erik Kane?

    Austin if fit!

    1. Zasa
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Kane, Erik. Vert/Rose for me

      1. C-Dawgg
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        +1

    2. Ziro Becomes One
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Lloris is a seriously good idea... enables an extra player.

      1. C-Dawgg
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        How so?

  23. all.new.bob
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Bruce (HUL) or Cissokho (AVL)....or both (Cahill out??)

  24. Ziro Becomes One
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    a quick question.

    If Walcott doesn't start, ship him out for Mane?

    Already have Hazard, Silva, Sanchez.

    thanks.

  25. Monal
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    How can the FFS Scout Pick for GW25 team have:

    Giroud Aguero Defoe

    and still manage to have Kane as a sub?

  26. TFP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    sorry, who to play tonight out of Arsenal's Ospina & Sunderland's Panti?

    FWIW I have PVA of Sunderland but no Arsenal defenders.

  27. okiwatevs
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Aguero-> Defoe for free?

  28. christopherlim
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Little help here. I got 3 arsenal midfield in my team, ozil walcott and sanchez. Do you think walcott and ozil will play today? Should I offload them for other player.

  29. Firmy
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Defoe captain mad or cheeky punt...