Fantasy teams have emerged more or less unscathed after another week of internationals afforded us plenty reason to fret. According to Sir Alex Ferguson, Robin Van Persie “should be fit” for United’s trip to Norwich – the overwhelming armband favourite in this week’s Captain Poll gets the nod to lead the line, then, for Gameweek 12’s Scout Picks:
Jussi Jaaskelainen is drafted in between the sticks ahead of Monday’s home clash with Stoke. With five clean sheets and 48 FPL saves to his name already, the West Ham man is the top scoring keeper with 51 points so far – bearing in mind the visitors have notched in just one of their last four road trips, clean sheet number six could well be on the cards.
The attacking potential of Leighton Baines keep the Everton left-back firmly in our thoughts this weekend. He may have only two clean sheets so far, but Baines has either scored, assisted or produced bonus in seven of his 11 appearances – his remarkable consistency could well be set to continue as David Moyes’ men look to stretch their unbeaten record to nine matches at Reading tomorrow.
With a single goal conceded in their last three at the Etihad, City’s defensive resolve is starting to pick up once again. Up against a Villa side that have scored just once in their last three on the road, the champions could well be set for another clean sheet – with this in mind, we’ve opted for Pablo Zabaleta, after the Argentine recovered from a hamstring injury to take his place in the City XI last weekend.
Fulham’s recent defensive record suggests a clean sheet is perhaps a little optimistic tomorrow, though the Cottagers have kept out their opponents three time in five games at the Cottage. Martin Jol’s side will be boosted by the fact that visitors Sunderland have scored just twice in the last five Gameweeks and with four assists to his name already this term, John Arne Riise has the potential to offer points at both ends of the pitch.
David Silva’s class ultimately proved the difference for City against Spurs last weekend, with his superb chipped pass for Edin Dzeko’s late winner sealing the points for the champions once again. Having been omitted from the Spain squad in midweek, Silva has had time to rest and recuperate ahead of tomorrow’s Etihad encounter with Villa – with an assist in three of his last four starts, the playmaker could have a field day as City look for their fourth straight win in front of their own fans.
Juan Mata’s consistency earns the Chelsea playmaker the nod as he makes his way to the Hawthorns. The Spaniard has racked up 59 FPL points in his last six appearances, with attacking returns in each of those games, and is in better form than any midfielder in the league right now – Steve Clarke’s side have a single clean sheet in their last six and will be without the services of first-choice stopper Ben Foster for the first time at home this term.
Having notched his first away goal of the season at former club Newcastle last weekend, Kevin Nolan is handed the home comforts of an Upton Park showdown with Stoke. The Hammers skipper has averaged seven points per home game so far and with the Potters managing a single clean sheet in six road trips so far, looks a strong mid-price candidate yet again.
With back-to-back double figure points hauls, Marouane Fellaini has received huge investment over the past fortnight. The Belgian has risen 0.6 in FPL due to his recent displays and has scored or assisted five of his side’s six goals since returning from a brief knee injury in Gameweek 9. Fellaini sits on 68 points in FPL, just one off the top of the midfield rankings, and with a trip to a Reading side that has one clean sheet all season, his role in “the hole” could well wreak havoc yet again.
A trip to Norwich is perhaps not as easy as many expect but we keep faith in Robin Van Persie. The Canaries have conceded just one goal in their last four but our faith in the former Arsenal skipper rarely, if ever, wavers. With attacking returns produced in every start for the Red Devils, “Robin Reliant” is impossible to overlook.
Reunited with Martin Jol at the Cottage, Dimitar Berbatov continues to make a mockery of his mid-price valuation across the Fantasy games. The Bulgarian has racked up 50 FPL points from just six starts for Fulham; with his side scoring 14 goals across those games, he is heavily backed to produce yet again as Sunderland arrive at the Cottage on Sunday.
Luis Suarez completes our forward three ahead of a home clash against Wigan. Joint-top scorer with Van Persie on eight goals, the Liverpool man is second only to the Dutchman in this week’s Captain Poll – having played a part in 11 of his side’s 14 goals this season, Suarez has finally delivered on the stats that have hinted at his Fantasy potential for quite some time.
Steven Taylor makes the bench ahead of Newcastle’s home game with Swansea. Although the Magpies have been hampered by call-offs, Michael Laudrup’s side also have question marks hanging over a number of key players and, with a single goal scored in their last four on the road, offer the hosts a strong chance of defensive returns.
Alex Kacaniklic welcomes Sunderland to the Cottage on the back of a goal and nine point FPL return at Arsenal last weekend. Today’s news that Kieran Richardson is out for around 10 days should see him maintain his left wing berth for Fulham and, at just 4.7 in FPL, the Swede offers a cheap route into a side that have notched 24 times already this term, second only to United for goals scored.
Similar to Kacaniklic, Djibril Cisse looks a near-certain start this weekend after Mark Hughes admitted Bobby Zamora is struggling for the visit of Southampton. QPR have hardly impressed in front of goal this term and have notched just once in their last three – the Saints have conceded at least twice in every away game so far, however, and if the hosts are to prevail and climb off the foot of the table, Cisse’s contribution could prove crucial.
