The fourth edition of The Scout Debate sees how several of the site contributors think the core of your fantasy budget should be spent. We all have those players that cost 9 million and above, it’s just deciding who and where these players fit into your team that’s the problem. This is a key decision for any FPL manager, as these are the players likely to be your captain, which we all know is an important choice to make…

Akers: “I think it’s too early to be make any sweeping generalisations about what is the better option. I currently have the Gerrard and Lampard combo, with Berbatov giving me what I feel is a bit of balance. For this gameweek in particular I’m very happy with my expensive midfield duo on the back of midweek goals and injuries elsewhere. Past this however, and I really don’t know what to do.

I keep thinking I’d be a fool to miss out on Arsenal’s glorious run of fixtures starting next week, but the only options I want to consider are Arshavin and Fabregas, with Van Persie just too much of a rotation risk. That’d mean either downgrading Berbatov and having rather expensive midfield, or removing Gerrard or Lampard.

From this personal conundrum you can pretty much see where I generally stand on this issue: I love the security of expensive midfielders. Rooney, Drogba and Torres is a mouthwatering prospect, but what has put me off up to now is what I see as a high possibility of a woeful 2 point return from my captain. However, it is the talisman Rooney and free-kick hoarder Drogba that are swaying me a little. If they continue to bring in the goods, then I’ll be forced to change tact and abandon ship on the expensive midfielders front.

Sorry to sound wholly unhelpful and have absolutely no insight into the situation at all, but I’m playing it safe (or at least that’s what I think I’m doing) and I think many of you are in the same boat as me. I know how good Gerrard and Lampard are, what I don’t know is how long the strikers can keep up out-scoring them. I’ll make up an equally unhelpful motto that serves as a summary of my thoughts: “If in doubt, sit it out.” Good job I still have my wildcard, because the longer I go on bottling out of making decisions, the more I can see my squad rotting away.”

greek fan: “I wish I knew. Torres and Drogba have always been players I wanted in my team, but I never had them. I have always been dreaming of a midfield containing Lampard, Gerrard, Arshavin and Fabregas, but then I check my Bank account and I see I lack the resources. For the moment, Arsenal’s fixtures at the start of the season helped me choose the two England midfielders and I thought that Berbatov would bring the goods this season and save me some quids. Apart from his price, I picked the Bulgarian because I couldn’t find any other Man Utd players I fancied for my side. He can rather be considered an expensive asset, and if he continues to slump and his price keeps on tumbling, he will prove even costly.

Dropping him and Lampard for Drogba and Fabregas at some point is the most likely option for me right now. Lampard’s way of playing, discussion in this site and Sir Paulos’ technical reports have almost swayed me against Frank. At least, if this plan fails, I can always blame Paul. I couldn’t feel safe without at least two defenders from “Big” Clubs, so my expensive players’ formation usually is 2-2-1. My second thought is Defoe, who I guess will bring similar if not more points to Berba, in a better price. I would have gone for mid-to-low price strikers then and I don’t know if I should destroy what in my mind represents team balance. However, team balance doesn’t play ball, neither score fantasy points.

Anyway, I think it’s too early in the season, I have missed some action being on holidays too, so I am still waiting, checking the trend and watching matches before I make a better judgment.”

SIR PAULOS: “Midfielders or forwards? Certainly, there is a case to be made for both, but basing my judgement on what has happened so far this season, I reckon the case for defenders is just as strong, particularly full-backs. The way I’m looking at it, a top class full-back and a medium-to-expensive forward/midfielder from the same team  is arguably better than a budget-busting midfielder and a cheap second player.

By high-priced players, I’m assuming most people will be glancing at the top 4, so it’s those teams I’ll take as this Scout Debate’s point of reference:

Looking at Chelsea for instance, the combined price of Drogba and Ashley Cole is 17.9m, which is Lampard plus 5.4m. Or in the case of Liverpool, Kuyt and Johnson together would cost you 17.3m, which is Gerrard and 4.7m  or Torres plus 6.3m.

Liverpool and Chelsea’s tactics so far this season have given both Cole and Johnson license to attack and already, they have scored three goals between them. Plus both will pick up clean sheets aplenty. So far, there is also a definite lack of real mid-price midfield options too, which, factored into the equation, makes this attacking full-back option more viable.

Man Utd too, with no CR7, have Evra bombing forward and providing width far upfield down the left, as ahead of him, Nani has a tendency to cut inside. With no real midfield threat FPL-wise, Wayne Rooney upfront is doing the damage and is their only real attacking pick so far.

Arsenal, the only other team with high-priced midfielders, are a different beast altogether; they can never be sure of clean sheets but goals will always be guaranteed. Arshavin or Fabregas? Providing both are fit, you could flip a coin, really, though the little Spaniard through the middle looks great in this new 4-2-1-3 of Wenger’s. One or even both are essential, particularly with the Gunners having a nice little run of fixtures starting Game Week 6. RVP, being a set-piece taker, is also worth consideration.

With all the top 4 either changing formation or losing key players during the close season, there are definite signs there’s a better balance to be had now by spreading your budget rather than banking on certain past histories continuing to repeat themselves. So it’s one top-priced midfielder and forward, and two or three expensive full backs for me, then.”

SUPERIOR BEING: “At first glance, it seems that expensive strikers are the way forward this season. Take a look at this season’s point totals on the FPL site and it can be seen that the top 3 strikers outscore all midfielders and they tend to be cheaper too. Using prices at 10^th September 2009, let’s compare the 3 most expensive strikers (Torres, Rooney & Drogba) with the 3 most expensive midfielders (Gerrard, Lampard & Arshavin). The strikers would cost you £33.3m and would’ve returned 89 points over 12 games played (an average of 7.4 points per game). The midfielders would cost you £36m and would’ve returned 67 points over 11 games played (an average of 6.1 points per game). From these basic stats, it is quite clear that the expensive strikers have a strong edge then.

Real life examples seem to back up the stats too: in Ronaldo’s absence it could be argued that there is more emphasis on Rooney this season, his expected points per game also takes a boost after successfully converting a penalty (unlike a certain Mr Carrick – grrrrr!). Drogba is back fully fit and firing in a 2 man strike force, he has also stolen some direct free kicks away from Lampard. There are hints of Gerrard playing deeper to cover some of Alonso’s old duties. Arshavin’s points output seems better when playing off the striker rather than out left.

This evidence points towards heavy striker investment. The statto inside me is screaming for more data though, after all – only 4 gameweeks have passed. Don’t forget the dreaded ‘R’ word – rotation, I would think that the top strikers will get rotated more than Gerrard or Lampard.

Oh wait I have just remembered, Drogba misses 3 Champions League matches – perhaps I will pull out my Wildcard and replace my bargain bin strikers after all!”

This topic was suggested by Andy. If you would like to suggest next weeks you can, by emailing me at akers@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk.