While some are gearing up for the First Round of the Fantasy Football Scout Paddy Power VII Cup, the rest of us are licking our wounds after failing to make last week’s cut. Whichever side of the fence you happen to sit on, here’s hoping this week’s Scout Picks come in handy:
Asmir Begovic gets the nod between the sticks for Stoke’s home clash with QPR. With three clean sheets and one goal against in his four matches at the Britannia, the Bosnian international faces a side that have scored more than a single goal in just one of their 10 fixtures so far.
Leighton Baines continues to be an immovable object when it comes to selecting the Scout Picks. While Everton’s defence have registered just two clean sheets in their opening 10, Baines has more than atoned for his side’s lack of resilience at the back, with two goals, three assists and 11 FPL bonus points – more than any other defender. Typically, his attacking form is enough to earn the left-back a spot in our XI but the visit of goal-shy Sunderland affords the Toffees a strong chance of nullifying their opponents for the first time since Gameweek 5.
Rafael’s threat down the United right has already produced two goals and a couple of assists for the Brazilian. Handed no more than a late sub role in the midweek Champions League win over Braga, he’ll be refreshed and raring to go as the league leaders roll up to Villa Park in Saturday’s evening kick-off. Similar to Everton, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have only kept out their opponents twice but with Villa scoring just four times in their last six, and eight all season, an away clean sheet could be on the cards.
Emmerson Boyce has started to work his way up the defender rankings after a less than impressive start. With a goal and clean sheet in his last three Gameweeks, Boyce’s out of position role on the right of Wigan’s midfield four boosts his Fantasy potential. The Latics prepare for the visit of West Brom on the back of two consecutive wins and, with their opponents mustering just three goals and two points in their first four on the road, the 5.0 priced FPL defender could continue his recent return to form this Saturday.
He may have just one assist to his name in four home matches but our faith in Santi Cazorla remains steadfast ahead of the visit of Fulham. The Spaniard has offered a greater source of creativity at the Emirates than on the road and has also been unlucky not to find the net; the Cottagers arrive with the joint second worst away defence in the league (12 goals conceded), offering plenty hope to Cazorla’s Fantasy owners tomorrow afternoon.
Marouane Fellaini served a reminder of his capabilities last weekend with a 15 point FPL haul at Fulham. Tucked in behind Nikica Jelavic in Everton’s default 4-4-1-1, the Belgian’s Fantasy returns and Opta stats back up the fact that he is basically offering the potential of a forward within David Moyes’ flourishing side. Averaging over six points per game so far, he has already produced double figures in three of his nine appearances and will be key to the Toffees chances of registering a first win since Gameweek 6 against out-of-sorts Sunderland.
In any given Gameweek, backing a forward who is set to face Southampton always seems a viable tactic and this Saturday, Michu is no exception. Moved from his role in “the hole” to lead the line in recent matches, the Spaniard offers us a strong out of position prospect against a side that have conceded two or more goals in all but one of their 10 games so far.
Back after a brief rest due to a hamstring strain last weekend, Juan Mata looked sublime in Chelsea’s Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk. His importance to Roberto Di Matteo’s side is obvious – they have scored a single goal in the two league games Mata has missed this term, compared to 21 in the eight matches he has started. An average of 7.8 points per game is greater than any first-team regular thus far, even knocking Robin Van Persie (7.2) into second spot; Liverpool have plenty reason to worry ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Bridge.
Given his consistency and upcoming schedule, Robin Van Persie is likely to lead the Scout Picks line for many weeks to come. The Dutchman travels to Villa Park on Saturday evening with an average of over nine FPL points per away start – with the hosts hampered by injury worries and suspension at the back, United could well be set to extend an away scoring record that has seen them find the net three times in all but one of their last four road trips. No surprise, then, that the former Arsenal skipper has received 53% of votes cast in this week’s Captain Poll.
Fantasy owners of Demba Ba breathed a sigh of relief after Alan Pardew admitted the forward’s shin complaint “looks fine” ahead of Sunday’s home clash with former club West Ham. Ba has been afforded a seven-day break since being subbed off in last weekend’s draw at Liverpool and, having averaged six points per home game so far (9,2,9,2,8), could well be set to plunder the points again at St James’ Park this Sunday. With the visitors still sweating on the availability of James Collins and James Tomkins at the back, Ba now sits as fifth favourite for this week’s Captain Poll.
There’s no denying that if Sergio Aguero can hit form, his explosive potential could rack up the Fantasy points but, so far, it’s been Carlos Tevez who has offered the greater consistency of both starts and returns for City forwards. Tevez has averaged 8.75 points per home start, producing attacking returns every time he has featured in the City first XI at the Etihad, and with six days until his side’s next game, rest and rotation is unlikely to be an issue against Spurs this Sunday.
Steven Taylor is the first name on the bench, with a home clash against West Ham on the menu. With Fabricio Coloccini suspended for the next three, Taylor will be tasked with shackling former Magpies favourite Andy Carroll at St James’ Park this Sunday – while Alan Pardew’s side have managed a single clean sheet this season, they’ll be buoyed by the fact that the Hammers have scored just three times in their four road trips this term.
Having highlighted Adam Lallana in a Watchlist piece earlier this afternoon, we decide to hand Gaston Ramirez a place on the subs bench ahead of Southampton’s home clash against Swansea. The summer signing was just beginning to settle at St Mary’s, with a goal and assist over his first two starts, before a leg injury sidelined him for three matches. While he failed to produce the goods upon his return at West Brom last Monday, Ramirez’s attacking contribution will be crucial for the hosts as they look to engineer a climb off the foot of the table.
In spite of a series of strong displays in front of his own fans, Wigan’s Arouna Kone continues to stay firmly under the Fantasy radar. He has racked up 24 FPL points over a total of four appearances in the first XI at the DW, mirroring Demba Ba’s average of six points per home start. West Brom pay visit this weekend and for all their great home form, the Baggies have failed to register a clean sheet on the road – Roberto Martinez will be reliant on Kone to help his side register a third back-to-back victory.
