The Easter eggs are only half-eaten, yet here we are again. With the Gameweek 33 deadline approaching at 11.30am tomorrow, it’s time to roll out another XI from the Scout Picks Selection Committee. Newcastle and United are firmly backed, while Everton also feature strongly in light of the Toffees’ recent form:
Tim Krul gets the nod between the posts ahead of tomorrow’s home showdown with Bolton. The Magpies keeper has been in sparkling form, conceding just a single goal in the last four Gameweeks and, with the Trotters failing to score in four of their last five on the road, a clean for Alan Pardew’s side is more than a distinct possibility.
This afternoon’s 2-0 triumph over QPR added yet another clean sheet to Jonny Evans’ recent tally. That’s five in a row now for Evans as United’s defence continues to prove profitable for Fantasy managers. A trip to Wigan should hold no fear for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side and with the Latics scoring just four times in the last six at the DW, Evan’s looks likely to pick up the points yet again.
With just a single goal conceded in their last five at Goodison, Everton’s recent home form has proven to be particularly reliable. No surprise, then, to see us give Leighton Baines the nod ahead of a home clash against Sunderland. While the Black Cats have produced the goods at home, they have failed to score in three of their last six on the road and, with set-piece and penalty duties also capable of boosting the left-back’s returns, Baines’ owners will be confident going into tomorrow afternoon’s match.
A home game with West Brom brings Vincent Kompany into this Gameweek’s line-up. City will clearly be devastated after today’s result but their Etihad form is unlikely to be troubled by Roy Hodgson’s side; the Baggies have netted just once in their last three on the road and looks set to afford City the perfect pick-me-up in light of their Emirates defeat.
With Steven Pienaar cup-tied for Everton’s semi-final with Liverpool, the South African looks certain to turn out in Monday’s Goodison encounter with Sunderland. Pienaar has shone in recent weeks, notching back-to-back assists in Everton’s last two league outings. The Black Cats will provide stern opposition for David Moyes’ men but we feel Pienaar could be the key figure, particularly if the Everton boss rests striker Nikica Jelavic ahead of the weekend meet with Liverpool.
Having scored in his last two league outings, Theo Walcott drew a blank in the 1-0 win over City but nonetheless remains pivotal as the Gunners look to seal third place. Like so many midfielders in the Gameweek, Walcott could suffer from rotation for the trip to Wolves on Wednesday but with Arsenal playing their Gameweek 34 fixture next Monday, there’s every chance that Walcott will be given another opportunity to add to his recent goal tally when Arsenal pay visit to the basement club.
Gylfi Sigurdsson is a must for a Swansea away day. Having scored all six of his league goals on the road, the graceful Icelander remains a top Fantasy target for the Swans’ visit to Loftus Road. Sigurdsson maintained his recent form with another display bristling with goal threat in Friday’s defeat to Newcastle and, despite drawing a blank, showed enough for us to back him to keep his start for the R’s clash and provide the cutting edge for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Clint Dempsey’s brace at Bolton will have frustrated many Fantasy managers, having previously provided such disappointment on the road. Shifted to a striker’s role in the absence of ankle injury victim Pavel Pogrebnyak, Dempsey’s two strikes proved devastating and take him into the local derby with Chelsea brimming with confidence. With Pogrebnyak still struggling to overcome his knock, Dempsey looks set to lead the line and the threat for Martin Jol’s side in Monday’s clash.
Bolton’s visit to the Sports Direct Arena hands Papiss Cisse another chance to plunder the Fantasy points. The Newcastle forward’s incredible run of six goals in the last three games has Fantasy managers queuing up in their thousands to get in on the action – a price rise of 0.8 since Gameweek 30 is indicative of the show of faith. With the Magpies gunning for their fifth straight win, Owen Coyle’s side have an unenviable task ahead tomorrow, given Cisse’s irresistible form.
When you’ve gone four games without a goal, the best possible remedy is a showdown with Wolves. Robin Van Persie and on-form Arsenal now roll up to Molineux and, with the midlands outfit shipping an average of three goals per game since Terry Connor’s installation, the Gunners skipper is surely set to profit once again on Wednesday evening.
Wayne Rooney’s trip to Wigan is impossible to overlook. While Cisse has been lauded for his form, the United forward has been almost as reliable, notching nine times in his last nine games as the champions edge ever-closer to retaining their title. With an eight-point gap now established at the top, Sir Alex Ferguson will be determined to go for goals once again – United have averaged three goals per game over their last five away fixtures and the Latics are likely to afford them plenty chances for further attacking returns.
While Peter Crouch is doing all he can to squeeze his lofty frame onto England’s Euro 2012 plane, Stoke have scored just two goals in their last six away league outings. With that in mind, and having seen Villa defend like lions at Anfield, we’ve opted for James Collins for the defensive role on the bench. Always a magnet for impressive performance statistics, Collins will be integral to keeping Stoke at arms length on Monday night.
QPR’s Adel Taarabt claims the place on our bench for the midfield role. The Moroccan has come to the fore in recent home matches and with Djibril Cisse still suspended, Mark Hughes will likely look to Taarabt to lend his influence to QPR’s ailing attack as they scrap for points against Swansea.
Steve Kean shifted Junior Hoilett back out to the flank for the trip to the Hawthorns and duly saw his side slip to defeat. With Liverpool due at Ewood Park on Tuesday, Kean will surely look to renew Hoilett’s partnership with Yakubu against a Liverpool side with just one clean sheet in their last eight. Both Hoilett and Yakubu offer value, then, but we prefer the trickery and FPL price tag of the influential Hoilett for our bench role.
