We’ve been somewhat swayed by the allure of a double for Sunderland and Reading this week. With City playing host to United, we’ve opted to ignore the Manchester duo and drafted in a couple of players from both the Black Cats and the Royals in what has proven to be a cut-price Scout Picks this time round:
Two home matches at the Stadium of Light is enough to earn Simon Mignolet a place between the sticks. The Black Cats keeper welcomes a Chelsea side with one goal in three under Rafa Benitez, while Reading have failed to score in three of their last six on the road – with save points to fall back on should his side concede, Mignolet seems the safest bet at the back for Martin O’Neill’s side.
Nicky Shorey is our Reading double Gameweek defender of choice. The left-back’s creativity has been crucial to the Royals in recent games, with his corner kick duties and delivery from the flank helping him to four assists in his last four matches – at 4.1 in FPL he’s hard to ignore ahead of trips to Southampton and Sunderland and his attacking potential more than atones for a lack of clean sheets.
We welcome another cut-price protagonist into defence, with Swansea’s Ben Davies earning his place. The Swans have picked up in resilience of late, conceding just once in their last three, while Davies has received bonus twice in that trio of fixtures – he entertains a Norwich side with a mere five goals in eight road trips this term.
Ciaran Clark is the final defender as he prepares to welcome Stoke to Villa Park. Paul Lambert’s side have failed to concede in each of their last two at home and with the visitors scoring twice in their last five away, a home clean sheet could well be on the cards. Factor in Clarke’s aerial ability in the opposition box and he offers a decent chance of points at both ends of the pitch tomorrow.
A brace against Arsenal last weekend has persuaded many to hand Michu the armband as Swansea prepare to entertain Norwich at the Liberty. With the Manchester derby lessening Robin Van Persie’s appeal, the Swans midfielder has leapt to the top of the Captain Poll and with four goals in his last four, is in the type of form to benefit against a backline that has produced a single clean sheet on the road this season.
It’s impossible to overlook the consistency of Marouane Fellaini as Everton square up to Spurs at Goodison. The Belgian has produced attacking returns in each of his last six matches and has registered double figures in both his previous two appearances in front of the Merseyside faithful – he looks in irresistible form heading into Sunday afternoon’s encounter.
He’s been far from prolific this season but the recent form of Stephane Sessegnon has earned the Sunderland midfielder plenty of new suitors ahead of home games with Chelsea and Reading. A goal, assist and maximum bonus contribution at the Stadium of Light in Gameweek 13 is indicative of his capabilities and with Gareth Bale’s owners looking for a midfield alternative, in addition to doubts over Steven Fletcher for the Black Cats, Sessegnon has been a popular transfer in for the double.
Kevin Nolan is the final midfield pick as West Ham welcome Liverpool to Upton Park. With Andy Carroll now sidelined for a few weeks, Nolan’s importance to the Hammers cause will be even more crucial over the festive period – Liverpool arrive at Upton Park with one away clean sheet all season, giving Nolan’s owners plenty encouragement after a recent run of tricky ties has lessened his Fantasy output.
Having taken four points from their previous two at St Mary’s, Southampton go in search of another victory in front of their own fans as Reading arrive tomorrow. Rickie Lambert has already notched four goals and a pair of assists over his eight home matches and will be confident of producing the goods against a side without a single clean sheet on their travels so far.
Olivier Giroud is the priciest player in this week’s Scout Picks. The Frenchman shifted to the bench last weekend, with Gervinho handed the lone forward role, but injuries to Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski suggest the Ivorian will move to the flank tomorrow. Rested for the midweek Champions League match in Greece, Giroud has scored three times in his last two starts at the Emirates and will be tasked with getting the Gunners back on the winning trail at home to West Brom, after the dismal Gameweek 15 display against Swansea.
A double Gameweek is never quite the same without taking a punt here and there. Adam Le Fondre arrives in strong form for Reading – with three goals and an average of six FPL points per game over his last four, the 4.9 priced forward has been particularly threatening in recent weeks and is likely to be the Royals’ key attacking protagonist over their upcoming trips to St Mary’s and the Stadium of Light.
West Ham’s Joey O’Brien warms the bench as Sam Allardyce’s side prepare for the visit of Liverpool. The Hammers have conceded just twice in their last three at Upton Park and with Luis Suarez suspended for the Reds, the hosts chances of a clean sheet are set to be boosted. With a goal, two assists and three lots of bonus in his last five, the full-back has proven to be a reliable source of points in recent matches.
With Jimmy Kebe struggling to overcome a groin injury, Hal Robson-Kanu’s role on the Reading right flank looks secure as we head into the double. A goal against United at the weekend, allied with a recent assist against Wigan, has earned the 4.3 priced midfielder 17,000 new suitors ahead of the trips to Southampton and Sunderland – Brian McDermott will be confident his side can produce goals, having notched at least twice in three of their last four matches.
While Wigan may be toiling on the road, Arouna Kone has remained a key contributor at the DW. The Ivorian has scored or assisted in five of his seven home starts so far and with the Latics struggling for numbers at the back ahead of the visit of QPR, attack looks the only option as Roberto Martinez’s side attempt to recover from Monday’s hammering at the hands of Newcastle.
