Yep, you’ve read it correctly, this week’s Scout Debate is entitled “Fantasy Fantasy Football”. All the contributors were asked “If money was no option, which two fantasy players would you sign up tomorrow?” The aim is to give you, the reader, an insight into the players the site contributors rate in fantasy terms but are not currently in their fantasy squads.

Akers: “Firstly, out go two of my rubbishy budget players. That’s better. Now, as soon as this debate had been chosen, almost without thinking, I had decided on Fernando Torres . Easily the best striker in the Premier League for me, with unbelievable skills and talent. This guy will be key to any success Liverpool achieve this season, and without him I don’t give them a sniff of anything at all. Whereas the likes of Rooney and Anelka will have purple patches throughout the season, Torres will score goals anywhere at any time.

My second choice took a little bit of time deciding between Andrei Arshavin and Robin Van Persie. I’ve gone for the Russian in the end. He’s a delight to watch always pops up with something. I’m sure that he’ll end up in my real fantasy squad before long, and offers what I believe is a greater consistency than RVP.”

Andy: “If I had no budgetary restrictions, the two players I would buy tomorrow are Yuri Zhirkov and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. I’ve got a feeling I might be the lonely Scout heading over to Russia here. Call me crazy (“you’re crazy!”) but I actually have a starting eleven I’m currently happy with*, so I would use the unlimited funds at hand to actually take the risks I otherwise probably couldn’t afford or wouldn’t dare to normally make…

Zhirkov is a brilliant player with the potential to be an even greater choice than Glen Johnson, nearing fitness and a likely midfielder (at Chelsea!) classed as a defender, a tantalising out of position candidate. He is still a complete unknown quantity though, so I’d be much happier to risk him over someone like Stephen Carr if I could. As for Bily, well, in his first 2 starts (Europa & Carling Cup) since his £9m move to Everton he has already shone like a star with 5 assists (yes – five!), not half bad eh? With Evertons upcoming fixtures I would absolutely love to take that risk if such an option was made available.

A little bit left-field I know, but hopefully you can see there is reasoning behind my choices.

*There is one more player I would consider – but I’m currently deliberating over their purchase, so feel that negates their selection in this here debate.”

greek fan: “The first two names, which easily spring to mind, are Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres. I admit I have been skirting them since the start of the season, but I have always been looking away in the end. I did that because I have opted for Gerrard and Lampard instead and this brings one more factor into the equation. Spread of risk and comprehensive club utilization. Having these two as the stalwarts of my squad, I‘d rather have Fabregas or Arshavin. I am sure they will come good, no matter what formation or position they play in and now Arsenal also seem to have a nice set of fixtures at last. If I had to pick one of them, I guess it would be Fabregas. Having the Gunners covered, my other choice would have been Rooney. I had kept on believing Berbatov again on August. Now he is out of my team and I only have Evra from the reigning champions. Unable to trust any of their midfielders, I would like to have Rooney, in order to take the spoils of their attacking guile. Funny is that at the end of this “trying-to-be-rational” string of thoughts, the names that haunt my mind are still Torres and Drogba.”

SIR PAULOS: “Who would I buy with money no object? It’s a process of elimination, this one. Top 4-wise, I have 2 Chelsea players and 2 Liverpool, but only 1 Man Utd and 1 Arsenal. Bearing that in mind, I would like a better balance.

When it comes to Man Utd, there’s only one player; Wayne Rooney. Revelling in the importance of his post-Ronaldo position, he’s shown a consistency that’s taken many by surprise. So much of United’s attacking play revolves around him, and it shows in the stat that he’s had 31% of all their shots on goal.

Arsenal is a different matter. Thomas Vermaelen has been a revelation at the back but as I have a defender from each of the other Top 4 I’ll give him a miss. Robin Van Persie is clearly Wenger’s choice as CF and takes a lot of set-pieces, but as I mentioned in a recent chalkboard, he’s missed a helluva lot of goal attempts.

Andrei Arshavin, once back to full fitness, will once again show the Premiership his true quality. Pre-season, he was regarded as the third part of the “new trinity” and there’s no reason to dispute that.

Rooney and Arshavin, then…”

Mark: “Much as it pains me to say it, Ashley Cole is currently top of my most wanted list. Ancelotti’s diamond and the inability for anyone to pin down the left flank role for Chelsea has opened things up for Cole to bomb forward so often this season. He’s already notched two goals as a result. Zhirkov’s return to fitness could cloud the issue somewhat but I honestly don’t see Cole losing his starting role. Plus, it’s only a matter of time before Chelsea start bringing in the clean sheets with some regularity.

As for my other pick, I’d have to go for Wayne Rooney. This is dead greedy though, as I’ve already stuck loads of cash in my forward line with Van Persie and Drogba. Right now, I just about prefer those two over the United man but it’s a very close call. I’ve got my eye on treating myself to Rooney for Christmas, with Drogba off to the African Cup of Nations in the New Year. If either the Chelsea man or Van Persie suffer injury before then (pretty likely, let’s face it), then Rooney will be in like a shot.”

As always, the subject of the weekly debate is always up for, ah, debate. To suggest something please feel free to do so by emailing me at akers@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk.