Here we are again then – me, you and eleven footballers. The Scout Pick selection for Gameweek Six is live and is likely to cause the usual murmurs of controversy once again.
Yes I’ve ignored Andrei Arshavin, Samir Nasri (with no whiff of an injury) and even Steven Gerrard. The truth is I just don’t quite see the big margins of victory on offer that warrant doubling up on either Arsenal or Liverpool this weekend.
Not only will some of Arsenal’s lineup will have tired legs following the White Hart Lane victory, they will also have one eye on the Champions League trip to Belgrade on Tuesday. Will Arshavin and Nasri get a full ninety? It looks doubtful. Can they inflict enough damage on West Brom before their departure? Possibly, but I’ll settle on Marouane Chamakh, threatened only by the unpredictable talents of Carlos Vela on the bench, to represent Arsenal’s potential.
As for Liverpool, they may well spark to life against Sunderland but the signs certainly aren’t good. Gerrard and Joe Cole will be key figures but will their huff and puff give way to inspiration? Again, while I see defensive returns for Hodgson’s men, I don’t see the big win that will bring Gerrard returns. He may see profit from set-plays once more but I see Fernando Torres as the more likely match winner. Three Liverpool players at this point is just too rich for me.
Let’s not waste any further time on those who failed to make the cut though – let’s dwell on those unfortunates who do win the dubious honour of Scout Pick selection this week…
The Defence
Tim Krul
With Steve Taylor sidelined until Christmas, Krul comes into the Newcastle lineup for the foreseeable future and with a budget price tag (4.0 in the Fantasy Premier League game) he looks a strong option. The Dutchman is playing in front of a defence that has proved to be both resolute and organised so far this season with centre-backs Collicini and Williamson adjusting well, protected by the steely central midfield. With Stoke the visitors this weekend, Krul has the opportunity to claim a first clean sheet against opponents who can struggle to break opponents down and are normally too reliant on set-pieces.
Gael Clichy
Assured of a start now that Kieran Gibbs is sidelined with a foot injury in midweek, Clichy offers greater security than Sagan on the right and on average, sees more of the ball in the attacking third. Arsenal are expected to dominate West Brom at the Emirates and while I don’t see a goal fest for Wenger’s side, I can see them coping with the Baggies threat as Di Matteo looks to contain things in a 4-5-1. Clichy should come out of this with defensive returns at least.
Paul Konchesky
The new arrival at Anfield has been simmering under the radar for a fortnight with difficult fixtures at Birmingham and United. With Liverpool’s fixtures now perking up considerably, the potential for defensive returns improved markedly while the stats show that Konchesky could also be a key figure raiding forward down the left. At just 5.1 in the Fantasy Premier League, he offers greater value than Glen Johnson at right-back and could well start fetching the returns at home to a Sunderland side who are normally shot-shy away from home.
Roger Johnson
The Birmingham pairing of Johnson and Scott Dann have emerged as one of the most solid defensive partnerships in the league. Their Fantasy value remains strong as Birmingham’s assets remain camped in the low-to-mid price bracket. Alex McLeish’s side have a plum fixture on paper with visitors Wigan struggling for goals and seemingly unlikely to spoil the Birmingham copybook. There’s little to choose between Dann and Johnson, while Ridgewell offers similar value from left-back. Take your pick.
Carlos Salcido
A risky Fantasy acquisition so early in his Premier League career perhaps, but Salcido did more than enough in his debut at Blackburn to convince that he will be a force in Mark Hughes’ Fulham lineup. Full of pace and ambition coming forward, at 5.0 in the FPL, Salcido offers better value than team-mate Hangeland and perhaps a strong attacking threat in the long-term with assists from the left-flank. A weekend fixture with Everton would normally present a shaky foundation for defensive returns but David Moyes’ side are scratching around for goals and with Cahill rated 50-50 for the game, they may well be without their major threat to Fulham’s clean sheet.
The Midfield
Clint Dempsey
Salcido is joined in the Picks by team-mate Clint Dempsey who gets the nod for his “out of position” potential. Classed as a midfielder across the Fantasy games, Dempsey will surely lead the attack in the absence of Zamora and Dembele and could well play a major role from Fulham’s set-plays. Everton can’t buy a clean sheet right now so goals for Fulham look assured; Dempsey should be in the thick of it.
Nani
With United’s defence likely to be tested at the Reebok, I see Alex Ferguson’s side needing two, maybe three goals to see off Bolton. While Berbatov grabbed the headlines with his hat-trick against the Liverpool defence, Nani has been the tormentor of opposition full-backs and has regular peppered the goal with efforts. Five assists so far indicates that he has found an end product to his trickery and pace and I see Nani being the main threat to Owen Coyle’s defence this weekend.
Charlie Adam
It’s taken several weeks for Adam to begin to make an impact and emerge as the key figure in Ian Holloway’s side, but slowly he’s begun to earn the Fantasy recognition that was anticipated in pre-season. Dominant from Blackpool’s set-plays, that could well be a decisive factor in the home clash with Blackburn who are likely to turn up and provide stubborn opposition to the bold attacking style of the home side. A narrow Blackpool win with FPL Bonus Points for Adam looks could well be the outcome here.
Florent Malouda
An almost ever-present figure in the Scout Picks this season, Malouda’s constant stream of attacking points as a vital cog in the ruthless Chelsea machine makes him impossible to drop. Yes, the trip to City will test the credentials of Carlo Ancelotti’s side and while I see a tight affair, with the bulk of the game played out in the middle third, I still see Chelsea sneaking the win. With City struggling for full-back’s we may see Malouda unleashed on the untested Dedryck Boyata – surely a major concern for Roberto Mancini and an obvious weakness for Ancelotti to exploit. Malouda plays – Malouda returns. It’s the usual equation and it’s difficult to argue against.
The Forwards
Marouane Chamakh
While I’m shying away from a landslide victory for Arsene Wenger’s men, a goal or two for the home side is surely on the cards giving the Moroccan striker every chance to boost his growing reputation further. Clear of any competition for his starting role, Chamakh still may not get the full ninety minutes to impress with Champions League football looming in midweek but with Vela as his only real replacement, he looks more assured than most. He should stick around long enough to earn further returns for his owners.
Fernando Torres
Torres at Anfield normally offers cast-iron assurance of returns but in Liverpool’s current run of form that’s far from being the case. Even so, Hodgson’s side go into the clash with Sunderland as clear favourites for the win and Torres could well be the difference between the sides. A scrappy win with a decisive goal from the Spaniard looks to be a likely outcome.
In Reserve
Finding five potential clean sheets was a thankless task, attempting to find a sixth seems almost impossible. There’s every chance that City vs Chelsea will end in a satisfactory stalemate for both sides of course, but such is the firepower on show in that game, banking on defences coming out on top would be a gamble. Meanwhile, the United back four has looked far from organised of late and finds itself facing the Reebok test this weekend – I’m far from convinced they will emerge unblemished. Similarly Spurs have injuries amongst their defence and will come up against a West Ham side who have attacked relentless without reward – that was until midweek when they recorded their first win in the Carling Cup. Confidence is up at Upton Park then and, as mentioned in the ScoutCast, I actually see them sneaking a win with Scott Parker and Victor Obinna prominent.
So where does that leave my search for a reserve defender? It leaves me looking for an individual who can present attacking potential. Following today’s team news which brought wind of injuries to Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman for Everton, I’ve decided on Seamus Coleman. A star in pre-season, I see Moyes putting Coleman on the right flank against Fulham where he will have a real ding-dong battle with Salcido. Fulham seem the safer bet for a clean sheet, hence Salcido’s selection in the Picks, but I’ve reserved the right to have Coleman on my bench too, just in case my hunch of an Everton win actually materialises. Coleman is a fine attacking player who could yet break through this season – a performance at the Cottage might just be the start.
In midfield and up front I’m spoilt for options. I like the aforementioned Parker of West Ham, while Ben Arfa of Newcastle, Craig Gardner of Birmingham and of course Gareth Bale of Spurs offer strong potential. With the Tottenham man possibly drafted in at left-back, I’ve gone for Gardner in the end who presents outstanding value and who could continue his rich run of goals in the home fixture with Wigan this weekend.
Up front his team-mate Cameron Jerome came close – he remains an option for forthcoming Gameweeks and we have a Watchlist article on him on its way to you very soon. Blackpool’s DJ Campbell also deserves a mention and while Newcastle’s Andy Carroll is the obvious pick and must of course be selected if you have him in your squad, I’ve decided to back a hunch for a West Ham win. Off the back of the recent Numbers Game Members article, I’ve gone for Obinna for my reserve striker spot.