The line has barely been drawn under Gameweek 24 but we’re back already with another set of Scout Picks for your perusal. This time round, Arsenal, United, Everton and QPR play a major part in our selections, with a couple of players from each side finding their way into the XI. Here’s who we’ve opted for:
Julio Cesar gets the nod between the sticks as QPR prepare to welcome Norwich to Loftus Road. With clean sheets against Chelsea, Spurs and City in his last four, the Brazilian has been in outstanding form for Harry Redknapp’s side – the Canaries have been far from impressive in front of goal, with a single strike in three suggesting Cesar could be set to pick up the points once again.
Afforded a brief second-half sub role against Southampton in midweek, Rafael looks a good bet to return to United’s first-team as the league leaders roll up to Craven Cottage. With Dimitar Berbatov sidelined due to a hamstring injury, the hosts’ chances of breaching the Red Devils’ backline look less likely – Rafael will be looking to replicate the goal and couple of bonus points he returned against Martin Jol’s side earlier in the season.
We handed him a spot in the midweek picks and it’s fair to say Leighton Baines did not let us down. The Everton left-back has produced three goals, a pair of clean sheets and six bonus points in the last four and is afforded a strong chance of maintaining his recent form against relegation candidates Villa at Goodison tomorrow afternoon.
A home game with Swansea brings Winston Reid into our thoughts. While the West Ham backline have hardly impressed in recent matches, Sam Allardyce will be buoyed by the fact that his visitors have scored in only one of their last five road trips. Reid’s aerial threat from set-pieces could well prove problematic for the Swans as Allardyce looks to continue the home form that has harvested four points from their last two at Upton Park.
Adel Taarabt gets the nod ahead of QPR’s crucial home clash with Norwich. The Moroccan has averaged 4.8 points per game since Harry Redknapp’s first official match in charge in Gameweek 14 and with attacking returns or bonus in three of his last four is starting to put together a series of consistent performances. The Canaries arrive with a single clean sheet in 12, boosting Taarabt’s mid-price appeal ahead of tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off.
Moved to the right flank in Gameweek 23, Theo Walcott has responded by grabbing a goal in each of his last three. With attacking returns in 10 of his 12 starts since cementing a regular role in Arsene Wenger’s XI, Walcott looks in irresistible form ahead of Arsenal’s home game against Stoke – with the visitors conceding at least twice in each of their last five, there’s no surprise to see him sitting second in our Captain Poll.
Back amongst the goals at Carrow Road on Wednesday, Gareth Bale is afforded further chance to wreak havoc as Spurs roll up to the Hawthorns. The Baggies have been dire at the back in recent matches, conceding two or more in each of the last five, and with seven of his 10 goals arriving on the road this term, Bale’s away form is impossible to ignore.
There’s no denying Marouane Fellaini’s Fantasy potential has been dented in the past couple of matches but the return of Darron Gibson may afford him the chance to move back to his regular support role. Gibson looks set to add a bit more bite to the Toffees central area, freeing up the Belgian to tuck in behind a lone forward as David Moyes utilises his aerial threat to expose a Villa backline that has conceded two or more in six of their last seven.
A rare blank against Southampton won’t deter our faith in Robin Van Persie. The Dutchman has scored of assisted in 10 of his 11 away starts this term and has produced three sets of double figures on the road – up against a Cottagers side with a single clean sheet in their last 16 matches, he tops this week’s Captain Poll by some margin. Earlier this evening, Wayne Rooney revealed he has handed over spot-kick duties to Van Persie – boosting his mighty appeal even further.
Olivier Giroud is drafted into the Picks for the first time this season after making a persuasive case for inclusion. Back-to-back double figure returns in the past two Gameweeks, in addition to a brace at Brighton in the FA Cup, highlights the Frenchman’s incredible turnaround in fortunes as Arsenal welcome Stoke’s porous backline to the Emirates.
Without a start in the last two Gameweeks, we reckon Demba Ba will return to the Chelsea XI ahead of a trip to former club Newcastle. Granted, Juan Mata is unquestionably the man in form for the visitors but we’ve a feeling the Senegalese striker will rise to the task against the Magpies as Rafa Benitez looks to recover from Wednesday’s late setback at Reading.
Ian Harte is called up to the bench as Reading welcome Sunderland to the Madejski. Both sides go into this one in decent form, though the Royals will be buoyed by the fact the Black Cast have failed to score in two of their last four – with set-pieces also in his locker, 3.8 priced Harte offer a real cut-price option this weekend.
Shaun Maloney has picked up in performance in recent Gameweeks. The out of position midfielder has provided an assist in two of his last three and plays host to a Southampton side that have conceded twice in each of their last two road trips.
We’re expecting goals at the DW tomorrow and with that in mind, Rickie Lambert gets the nod. The Saints striker has notched in four of his last five away games and looks a real prospect – the Latics have conceded at least twice in six of the last seven in front of their own fans.
