With Man City due to face Villarreal in the Champions League next Wednesday, we’re caught in something of a quandary with this week’s Scout Selection Committee Picks. Ignoring the forwards on offer at the Etihad this weekend for fear of Roberto Mancini rotation, we’ve fallen for the allure of a lanky Dane and sought solace in the talents of Tottenham instead ….
Wigan’s Ali Al Habsi takes his place between the posts, with a home game against Fulham on the horizon. Martin Jol’s side have found the net just once on their travels so far and with Antolin Alcaraz now fully fit and residing at the heart of the Latics back-four, Roberto Martinez’s side may never have a better chance of chalking up a clean sheet.
So far this season, Vincent Kompany has never failed to deliver when Man City have been at home. A run of three clean sheets in his first three was spoiled by Aston Villa last time round but the City skipper had the perfect answer, netting in the 4-1 win over Alex McLeish’s previously unbeaten side. Averaging 7.75 per home game so far, the Belgian plays host to Wolves next.
Spurs are hardly renowned for their clean sheet capabilities and with two to their name so far, have been true to form. As QPR roll up to the Lane this Sunday, we’re plumping for Kyle Walker to carry on the attacking form that has helped the right-back rack up a goal, assist and 3 bonus points over the previous three gameweeks.
It’s a Scout Picks policy never to double up on defence so we’re giving the nod to the most attack-minded Swansea option on offer. Right-back Angel Rangel has created more goalscoring opportunities than any of Brendan Rodgers’ defenders and with four clean sheets from four, is a nailed-on pick as the Welsh side look to pass a beleaguered Bolton into submission at the Liberty Stadium.
Runaway leader in the Captain Poll, Rafael Van der Vaart was the first name on the teamsheet. The Dutchman is the ultimate example of form and fixture this week- with 5 goals and 11 bonus points in his last four fixtures, Van der Vaart welcomes a QPR side that shipped six in their previous game on the road. Neil Warnock will be making his excuses already.
Scott Sinclair’s spot-kick duties have proved a handy weapon of late. He may have failed to find the net from open play, but the winger has returned double figures in each of his last two home games thanks to converted penalties. Bolton have shipped an average of 3 goals per game since gameweek two and he’ll fancy his chances of adding to their woes.
Having highlighted the merits of Jonathan Walters in yesterday’s Watchlist article, it’s no surprise to see him earn a place in the Scout Picks. The out-of-position midfielder has harvested 28 points at the Britannia thus far- an average of 7 per appearance. If Cheik Tiote’s knee problem keeps the Ivorian sidelined on Monday night, Newcastle may well taste defeat for the first time this campaign at the hands of Tony Pulis’ Potters.
With Roberto Mancini today promising “seven or eight changes” from the side that mauled Wolves at Molinuex in midweek, we’re taking an educated guess and bringing in David Silva. It may well be that he only gets an hour or so at home to Wolves with that Villarreal game in mind- certainly if City have the game wrapped up early, he’d be odds-on to make his way to the safety of the bench, but it’s just too much of a risk to neglect the little maestro.
The first of our front three is a player regarded by Sunderland’s Nicklas Bendtner as one of the best forwards in the world- it’s Sunderland’s Nicklas Bendtner. There’s no denying the big Dane can be a frustrating pick- he’s as capable of hitting row Z as he is of finding the net, but his loan move to Wearside has been a definite success thus far. Bendtner has returned 32 Fantasy points in five games- an average of 6.4 per game for the Black Cats- and welcomes Aston Villa to the Stadium of Light with strong form on his side.
We’re backing Spurs big time this weekend, with Emmanuel Adebayor the third player from Harry Redknapp’s on-form side to grab a place in the Scout Picks XI. Having scored three goals in his first two Tottenham appearances, Adebayor has hit something of a barren streak , with no goals in his previous four fixtures. Despite this, he’s still racked up the Fantasy points, with assists and bonus helping him to 40 FPL points from six games- QPR should afford him the perfect opportunity to plunder the points yet again.
Robin Van Persie earns the final slot in our gameweek ten selection. Again, the Man City dilemma raised its head-ideally, we’d love to plump for Sergio Aguero or even Mario Balotelli- there’s no question they have the potential to run riot against Wolves this weekend but that niggling doubt of reduced game time casts a cloud over their possible inclusion. Having been granted a mere twenty-five minutes against Stoke game last Sunday, Van Persie –according to Arsene Wenger in midweek- is looking like an assured starter for Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea. Andre Villas-Boas’ defence have been more than obliging this term and with just a single clean sheet to their name, offer the Dutchman a chance to continue the form that has seen him bag 6 goals in his last four fixtures.
