As the cold snap hits the country hard, the Scout Picks are somewhat at the mercy of the freezing weather conditions as we head into tomorrow’s deadline. Fingers crossed there will be no cancellations, then, as we look to take advantage of a second double Gameweek in succession:
Tim Krul is our keeper of choice as Newcastle prepare for the visit of Reading tomorrow afternoon. As the injury situation starts to ease for the Magpies, they’ll be confident of a clean sheet against a Royals side that have scored a single goal in their last five matches on the road.
Kieran Gibbs gets the nod as our Arsenal defender of choice for the double. The left-back has already provided five assists this season – joint-top at the back with United’s Patrice Evra – and has offered far more attacking intent than any Gunners defender ahead of the games against Chelsea and West Ham. Already, he’s been snapped up by over 46,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers this week; more than any other backline option by far.
Passed fit by Sam Allardyce earlier today, Joey O’Brien is welcomed to the Scout Picks for West Ham’s double Gameweek. Two goals, a pair of assists and eight bonus points have earned the full-back an average of 4.6 points per game over his 16 appearances – considering Winston Reid is the next best Hammers defender with 3.3 ppg, O’Brien makes a persuasive case for selection.
Two goals and a pair of clean sheets in his last three home games highlights the potential of Pablo Zabaleta at both ends of the pitch as City welcome Fulham to the Etihad. The right-back’s chances of further defensive returns are boosted by the Cottagers’ poor away displays – Martin Jol’s side have scored just three times in their past five road trips.
Theo Walcott is a nailed-on option ahead of Arsenal’s double. The runaway leader in this week’s Captain Poll with well over 50% of the votes cast so far, Walcott has also proven to be the most popular player in terms of transfers in prior to tomorrow’s deadline. With attacking returns in seven of his last nine, Walcott has banished any doubts over his consistency and while he returned to a role on the right for the FA Cup Third Round replay win over Swansea in midweek, the fact that he has started the last five league games as the lone striker bolsters his chances of a return up front, in our opinion.
A home game against Stoke affords Michu the chance to continue his superb scoring form at the Liberty. The Swansea midfielder has notched eight times in 12 appearances in front of his own support and will be hoping to capitalise on the downturn in defensive displays that have seen the Potters concede 10 in the previous three Gameweeks.
Marouane Fellaini will be looking to take advantage of the change in management at Southampton as Everton roll up to St Mary’s on Monday evening. With the Saints still reeling from Nigel Adkins’ dismissal, David Moyes will be relying on the giant Belgian to heap further woe on the home support – Fellaini has scored or assisted in four of his last five road trips and has averaged seven points per game across those fixtures.
We felt it was about time to give Steven Gerrard a chance in the Scout Picks. While Luis Suarez’s potential for points against Norwich is undeniable, a possible start for Daniel Sturridge would see a change in role for the Uruguayan – as a result, we’ve opted for the security and consistency of the Liverpool skipper instead. A goal or assist in eight of his last nine has taken Gerrard to fourth in the midfielder rankings and with the Canaries managing a single clean sheet on the road all season, he looks well placed to continue his climb up the Fantasy standings.
A trip to Tottenham is far from straightforward but we simply cannot overlook Robin Van Persie’s incredible consistency. Having conceded goals against Sunderland and Reading in their last three, the Spurs backline affords the Dutchman the chance to continue a run of form that has seen him score or assist in 17 of his 19 starts for the league leaders. United have scored at least three times in seven of their away games already this season, a clear indication of their ability to grab the goals regardless of opponent.
Fit and available for City’s home clash with Fulham, we welcome Sergio Aguero into the Scout Picks. Despite Roberto Mancini’s obsession with rotation, the Argentine had started 10 of his side’s last 11 Gameweeks prior to missing out last weekend due to a hamstring injury – with double figure returns in each of his last two, Aguero could be set for a prosperous comeback against a side that have conceded more than two goals per game on the road this term.
We were all set for Lukas Podolski but the German’s admission that he missed training today through illness is enough to deter us. Instead, Papiss Cisse gets the nod for Newcastle’s home game with Reading. The Royals have lost each of their last six road trips and have picked up just two points away from home all season – installed in a central role in his favoured 4-3-3 formation once again, the Senegal striker will be looking to give the Magpies fans something to cheer about as Alan Pardew’s side go in search of their first win in five tomorrow.
Ben Davies warms the bench as Swansea prepare for the visit of Stoke. The Swans have been in decent defensive form of late and have kept our their opponents in two of the last four – with the Potters failing to score in each of their last three road trips, the 4.2 priced left-back looks a strong cut-price prospect for clean sheet returns.
Mark Noble offers Fantasy managers a budget route into West Ham’s midfield ahead of the double. Passed fit to play by Sam Allardyce earlier today, Noble’s spot-kick and set-piece duties bolster his appeal – he has scored in two of his last three at home ahead of QPR’s visit to Upton Park tomorrow before a tricky midweek trip to the Emirates.
With Shane Long still a doubt, Romelu Lukaku looks set for his fifth start in six as West Brom brace themselves for a midlands derby with Villa. Having notched four times over his last four starts, the Belgian has been in superb form of late and will fancy his chances of finding the net again as Paul Lambert’s strugglers roll up to the Hawthorns.
