This is it, then. The final Gameweek of the 2011/12 season. The Scout Picks Selection Committee have knocked their heads together for one last time before our thoughts turn to Euro 2012 next month. We’ve carefully picked through the options in the Chelsea squad, backed City big time and even found room for our Victor, as Wigan take on relegated Wolves…
Ali Al-Habsi gets the nod between the posts ahead of Wigan’s home clash with Wolves. The Latics welcome the relegated midlanders to the DW with a strong home defensive record – Roberto Martinez’s side have returned three back-to-back clean sheets in front of their own fans, with Stoke, United and Newcastle all failing to score. The visitors, on the other hand, have failed to find the net in four of the last five Gameweeks, suggesting a clean sheet is on the cards for the Latics this upcoming Sunday.
We’ve opted for the security of Vincent Kompany as City go hunting for the title. While Gael Clichy has caught the eye with three assists in the last four and Pablo Zabaleta has impressed without quite returning the Fantasy points, Roberto Mancini’s penchant for full-back rotation has us thinking twice over their selection, with Aleksandar Kolarov and Micah Richards waiting in the wings. Kompany’s guaranteed starts win us over, then, and with four clean sheets in his last five and a 14 point haul in his previous home game, the City skipper has the edge.
John Terry’s suspension from the upcoming Champions League Final makes the Chelsea skipper a nailed-on candidate ahead of the visit of Blackburn. With David Luiz and Gary Cahill both ruled out of the Rovers clash, Roberto Di Matteo’s central defensive options are particularly threadbare right now. Steve Kean’s strugglers have scored just one goal in their last four on the road and, with Terry grabbing five goals from the back already this term, the potential of points at both ends of the pitch looks promising.
We’ve called up Kyle Walker as the final defender ahead of Fulham’s visit to the Lane. The Cottagers have scored just four goals in their last five road trips and this afternoon’s news of Clint Dempsey’s absence certainly enhances the right-back’s chances of a clean sheet on Sunday. Harry Redknapp’s side need a win to stand any chance of overhauling Arsenal in third, with Walker’s attacking thrust from the right flank likely to torment Martin Jol’s men throughout.
We’ll finish the season how we started by backing Victor Moses once again. With their top-flight safety now secure, Wigan have a pressure-free game against basement-dwellers Wolves to look forward to at the DW. Moses has produced attacking returns in three of his last four home fixtures, with the most recent being a two goal, 16 point FPL haul against Newcastle. With Wolves shipping 15 goals in six away matches under Terry Connor, Victor’s chances of an end of season flourish could hardly look more appealing.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the Chelsea lineup – Juan Mata, for example, has started just one of their last five league games – Ramires seems a solid pick for the visit of Blackburn. Like Terry, his suspension for the Bayern game suggests the 7.0 priced midfielder is a likely starter against Steve Kean’s beleaguered side and, with a goal and assist in the last three Gameweeks, he’s been in decent attacking form of late. His recent exploits have clearly caught the eye of Fantasy managers; so far, he’s the most transferred-in player from Roberto Di Matteo’s side, with nearly 8,000 snapping up his services.
Loan signing Gylfi Sigurdsson is afforded the chance to sign off in style as Liverpool roll up to the Liberty Stadium. The Icelandic international plays his final game of a hugely successful spell at Swansea and has impressed in front of his own fans of late – Sigurdsson has picked up 19 points over his last couple of home encounters and, up against a side with a single clean sheet in their last six on the road, looks poised to produce the goods yet again.
With a goal in each of his last three home starts, Rafael Van der Vaart is an obvious choice. The Dutchman has also picked up an assist and eight bonus points over those fixtures, averaging over 10 points per game – clearly, his form makes him a strong armband option as Spurs go hunting for a crucial victory in the London derby with Fulham. With just two clean sheets in their last ten Gameweeks, the Cottagers may be set for a difficult time this Sunday afternoon.
Robin Van Persie will be desperate to sour Roy Hodgson’s final match in charge of West Brom this weekend. A victory would ensure third place for Arsenal and clinch qualification for the Champions League; though the Gunners’ task looks far from straightforward , with the Baggies producing five clean sheets in their last six at the Hawthorns, if there’s one man who is more than capable of spoiling the party, it’s Van Persie.
It’s little wonder that Sergio Aguero is the runaway leader in the Captain Poll thus far. The Argentine has notched 15 of his 22 goals at the Etihad Stadium, with six lots of double figures also produced at home. Sunday’s game with QPR offers Aguero the perfect platform to fire his side to the title and, with QPR arriving with the worst away record in the league, the summer signing from Atletico Madrid has already been transferred in by over 30,000 Fantasy managers prior to Sunday’s deadline.
Fernando Torres vindicated our Scout Picks faith in Gameweek 36 with a hat-trick against QPR and we’re turning to the Spaniard once again to see out the season. With Didier Drogba continuing to be rested for cup competitions, Torres has played every minute of Chelsea’s last five Gameweeks – up against a Blackburn side with the worst record on the road for goals against, he could have a field day against the relegated Lancashire outfit.
Onto the subs, then, and it’s time for a punt. Ryan Bennett has played every minute of Norwich’s last seven matches and welcomes goal-shy Aston Villa to Carrow Road. The visitors have scored just two goals in their last six on the road and, priced at a mere 4.0, Bennett offers a cut-price route into a backline that looks a strong bet for a clean sheet as Paul Lambert’s side look to end the season in style.
Martin Petrov is next up, with a trip to Stoke vital to Bolton’s chances of survival. If City beat QPR, a win at the Britannia will clinch the Trotters’ survival and a look at the Bulgarian’s recent form highlights just how crucial he will be this Sunday. With two goals, three assists and seven bonus points in his last five, and with spot-kick duties also in the bag, Petrov’s performance against the Potters could well be the difference between Premier League and Championship football for Bolton next season.
The final place goes to Grant Holt. Paul Lambert’s switch to a 4-3-1-2 at Arsenal last week saw Holt grab his 14th of the season as the Canaries shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller. With only the top six scoring more often this term, there’s plenty potential amongst the Carrow Road squad and with Villa returning just two clean sheets in their last nine, Holt looks primed to add to his impressive goal haul once again this coming weekend.
