Back after another international hiatus, the past fortnight has dragged in after a disappointing Gameweek 30. Finally, Fantasy managers have a chance to put things right but with Monday’s Chelsea v United FA Cup clash hanging over us, the weekend’s schedule has the potential to frustrate and disappoint. We put our faith in City and Arsenal, while Wigan and Fulham supply the Scout Picks squad with a couple of players apiece ahead of tomorrow’s deadline:
David De Gea gets the nod between the sticks for United’s trip to Sunderland. The Spaniard’s security of starts edges it over any other defensive option for the visitors and with five consecutive clean sheets, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have been exceptional at the back in recent matches. With the hosts reeling from the news that Steven Fletcher is out for the season and with Stephane Sessegnon doubtful, it’s not looking good for Martin O’Neill’s strugglers.
With the Lukas Fabianski/ Wojciech Szczesny dilemma raging on, we’ve opted for the consistency of game time offered by Per Mertesacker for Arsenal’s home clash with Reading. Three clean sheets in the last five demonstrates the Gunners’ new-found resilience and, having also found the net once over that run of games, the giant German has averaged 5.6 points per game from Gameweek 25 onwards. With two goals in their last four, the Royals have struggled going forward – new boss Nigel Adkins has a real task on his hands as the Gunners look for their fifth win in six tomorrow.
As Everton prepare for the visit of travel-sick Stoke tomorrow afternoon, Leighton Baines gets the Scout Picks call. The Toffees left-back has either scored, assisted or delivered a clean sheet in seven of his last nine appearances and with the Potters scoring twice in their last seven road trips and just once in the previous four Gameweeks, David Moyes’ side have a real chance to register back-to-back clean sheets, having kept out City last time round.
Similar to Baines, Pablo Zabaleta has proven particularly consistent since the turn of the year. The City right-back has also produced attacking or defensive returns in seven of his side’s nine league games this calendar year, with a goal, an assist and six clean sheets thrown in over that period. Up against a Newcastle side with plenty of their first-team regulars unavailable, Zabaleta’s owners will be confident of further returns, given the visitors have lost each of their last three on the road, scoring just twice in the process.
A groin injury to Theo Walcott helps seal a Scout Pick return for Santi Cazorla ahead of a home clash with Reading. The Spaniard has been snapped up by more Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers than any other player over the past two weeks as many look for a repeat of his first performance against the Royals, which harvested a 23 point return in Gameweek 17. Having registered double figures in his previous Emirates appearance, Cazorla could be primed to hand Nigel Adkins a debut defeat in charge of the visitors.
A trip to Swansea will hold little trepidation for Gareth Bale. Having suffered a rare blank against Fulham in Gameweek 30, he’ll be looking to return to the form which harvested at least eight points per appearance in each of his previous six – with the hosts managing one clean sheet in their last eight at the Liberty, the omens look good for Andre Villas-Boas’ side as they try to recover from back-to-back defeats. Bale tends to keep his more explosive displays for away games, too – six of his eight double figure hauls have arrived on the road this term.
A raft of injuries at the back, compounded by the loss of Cheick Tiote in midweek, looks ominous for Newcastle as they head to the Etihad. Their title aspirations may seem dead and buried but Roberto Mancini is demanding a response and will once again rely on David Silva to deliver. The little Spaniard has registered double figures in two of his last three home appearances and with Sergio Aguero’s return from injury raising question marks over the forwards once again, Silva looks the safest route into City’s attacking options.
Having splashed the cash on some premium priced midfielder, we balance the books by handing Shaun Maloney the chance to impress as Wigan entertain Norwich at the DW. The 4.9 priced Scot has scored or picked up bonus in three of his last five appearances and with spot-kicks also in his locker, his role on the left of the Latics’ front three could see him prosper once more.
With a goal in each of the last three Gameweeks, Dimitar Berbatov is an obvious pick for Monday night’s visit of QPR. The Bulgarian has scored or assisted in four of his last five appearances at Craven Cottage and, with the R’s conceding in each of their last five as they go on the attack in their quest to beat the drop, his chances of attacking points looks promising.
Similar to Bale, Luis Suarez suffered a wobble in the previous Gameweek but we’re backing him to produce the goods as Liverpool go seeking vengeance at Villa Park. Paul Lambert’s side may have picked up in performance of late but remain poor at the back, conceding in each of the last 14 – ideal for Suarez, then, as he looks for a fourth set of double figures in five on Sunday afternoon.
The uncertainty surrounding Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney’s game time for tomorrow’s trip to Sunderland forced us to overlook United’s attacker and instead hand Olivier Giroud a rare Scout Picks outing for Arsenal’s home clash with Reading. Granted, he hasn’t scored in the last five league matches but the Frenchman notched in the recent Champions League win in Munich and also found the net in the recent internationals – with game time looking guaranteed, Giroud will hoping for his third set of double figures in five at the Emirates against the relegation candidates.
Sascha Riether has been key to Fulham’s prospects over the last few Gameweeks. The right-back has provided attacking returns and bonus points in each of his last three and with a couple of clean sheets also collected over those fixtures, has offered superb value of late, at a price of 5.0 in FPL. His propensity for points at both ends of the pitch could come to the fore once again as Martin Jol’s side prepare for Monday’s visit of basement-dwellers QPR.
Leon Osman is a little unlucky only to make the subs bench. With Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar both suspended for two matches and Nikica Jelavic toiling up top, David Moyes will be relying on other regulars to produce – fortunately for the Toffees, Osman welcomes Stoke to Goodison in strong form, having scored in two of the last three Gameweeks.
The last space in the squad goes to Arouna Kone. Since arriving back from the African Cup of Nations, the Ivorian has wasted little time in getting amongst the goals, scoring three times in three league games, including a crucial last gasp winner against Newcastle last time round. Up against a Norwich side with a single clean sheet in their last nine road trips, Kone’s mid-price appeal could persuade plenty to invest.
