After a week’s reprieve for international distractions, it’s once again time to disrupt my Friday feeling with a run through another carefully selected set of footballers.
The Scout Picks for Gameweek 8 are alive in your sidebar and the justification follows…
The Defence
Tim Krul
The Newcastle stand-in gets another call-up to the Scout Picks. The Magpies defence has impressed so far this season and our Members stats demonstrate that Chris Hughton’s side have conceded the fewest efforts on goal in the league. A home fixture with Wigan offers a strong clean sheet possibility for the Dutchman to pay back the meagre 4.0 price tag in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game.
Patrice Evra
With rotation doubts surrounding John O’Shea’s start at right-back, the route to a cheap United defender seems blocked, so we’ll have to spend more to acquire a member of Ferguson’s back four. It looks money well spent however with West Brom set to travel to Old Trafford without their main attacking threat Peter Odemwingie. Evra is the most expensive option but with doubts surrounding the fitness of both Ryan Giggs and Ji Sung Park, we could see Evra given extra license to attack down the left flank. There’s even a chance that he’ll start in a wide midfield role with O’Shea keeping his start at left-back.
Chris Samba
The Blackburn skipper has been at his dominant best this season and continues to be a major threat for opposing defences when he makes those forays forward for set-pieces. With Sunderland possibly travelling to Ewood Park without Darren Bent, defensive returns for Blackburn and Samba also look far more likely.
Leighton Baines
I felt much more secure in Baines’ selection when Fernando Torres looked doubtful for Liverpool – with the Spanish striker fit I may now need attacking returns from the Everton full-back to justify his inclusion. That’s on the cards though, with Baines such a vital component of Everton’s attacking ploys. You can read more on that in our Watchlist article posted earlier today.
Johan Djourou
A risky choice but Djourou is the likely benefactor of Laurent Koscielny’s absence from tomorrow’s clash with Birmingham and the big Swiss defender, priced at just 4.3 in the FPL, appears to present great value as a one-week selection as a result. Despite the injuries in Wenger’s back four, Arsenal’s clean sheet prospects look fairly strong against an out-of-form Birmingham who will likely travel to the Emirates without Cameron Jerome who is a doubt, and leading scorer Craig Gardner who remains suspended.
The Midfield
Martin Petrov
The Bulgarian flyer got his Fantasy tally moving with a goal and an assist against United and should have added to those points at West Brom last tim out when he missed a sitter. Bolton’s main supplier of a crossed ball, with a decent shot and a role at set-pieces Petrov has a good opportunity to further his reputation amongst us Fantasy Managers and start to justify the pre-season hype when Stoke visit the Reebok this weekend.
Mikel Arteta
Everton’s playmaker has been in strong form all season but has failed to stand out in Fantasy terms with just a single goal to his name. The FPL Bonus judges haven’t given up on him though and three maximum returns so far tell the tale – Arteta remains hugely influential and has strong Fantasy returns to come. The Merseyside derby will be keenly contested but Arteta’s probing and threat from set-pieces could prove vital and decisive.
Nani
The Portuguese winger has become an essential member of Alex Ferguson’s side and, as a result, a key Fantasy signing. With Wayne Rooney continuing to stutter, the onus is on Nani to provide a touch of the unexpected and help blow down the doors of opposing defences. He failed to make the breakthrough at Sunderland last time out, but a home clash with West Brom is likely to afford him more opportunities and the prospects of more returns look good. Nani is currently top of our Captain poll.
Samir Nasri
The absence of Cesc Fabregas against Birmingham will allow Nasri to remain in a role that’s likely to see him provide support and the link with Chamakh in the Arsenal forward line. That should give Nasri ample opportunity to cash in and exploit the sparkling form he’s shown in recent weeks. Nasri should also be on penalties once again.
The Forwards
Andy Carroll
Dropped for the visit at Man City, I fully expect Carroll to be reinstated to the Newcastle lineup for the distinctly winnable home fixture with Wigan. Doubts surrounding the fitness and availability of Antolin Alcaraz in opposition surely only promotes Carroll’s chances of making an impression and, off the back of a new five-year contract, the big striker will be out to prove his worth in a week when England turned their back on his potential.
Dimitar Berbatov
Like Nani, Berbatov has emerged from the shadow of Wayne Rooney to provide the creative spark and cutting edge for United. With Rooney likely to drop deep to set up play, the emphasis will once again be on Berbatov to lead the attack and offer the biggest threat to the West Brom goal. A return with FPL Bonus looks likely.
In Reserve
Both Jose Enrique and Seamus Coleman offer defensive prospects and worthy alternatives to my selection of Krul and Baines. Alternatively you can look to the City defence at Blackbpool, although Toure presents the only real secure option here. I’ve once again gone for Sunderland’s Elmohamady with his potential for attacking returns from his right midfield position. The tussle at Ewood on Monday could well fail to deliver desirable TV fare – a 0-0 looks a distinct possibility.
Midfield options are plentiful this weekend, with Rafael Van der Vaart taking his speeding bandwagon to Craven Cottage for the first of three away games in four. I prefer Blackpool’s Charlie Adam, although I’ve reservations about the likelihood of the home side getting too much from what is likely to be another organised and resolute City performance. Gael Kakuta offers a real short-term prospect for those looking to gamble on a differential – at 5.4 and a confirmed starter for Chelsea at Villa, he is a decent one-week prospect. In the end I opted for one of my “reliables” though – Fulham’s Clint Dempsey will likely lead the line against Spurs, despite Mousa Dembele’s return, and could well be amongst the points again.
Up front I’ve opted for Bolton’s in-form Johan Elmander who could well profit yet again with Stoke at the Reebok. The aforementioned Dembele is once more worth consideration on his return from injury, while Blackpool’s DJ Campbell offers outstanding value if you fancy Holloway’s men to breach the City back four. At the other end of the scale and in opposition, Carlos Tevez owners will again be expecting returns as the Argentian’s broad shoulders carry the attacking burden for Roberto Mancini’s men.
