It’s been an eventful last few days for Fantasy managers, with Theo Walcott’s season-ending injury and Wayne Rooney’s groin problem impacting many a squad. We reassess our Scout Picks XI plans and draft in a couple of players from Everton and Tottenham ahead of their strong home fixtures, whilst league leaders Arsenal also supply us with two options for the weekend ahead:
David Marshall is selected for Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s first home match in charge of Cardiff. The Bluebirds welcome under-fire West Ham to Wales tomorrow afternoon, intent on avenging their Gameweek 1 loss to the Hammers – with the visitors’ morale at a real low after a couple of cup humiliations, we’re backing the hosts to give Big Sam further reasons for concern.
With five goals and eight clean sheets to his name already this season, Seamus Coleman has been the standout defender across the Fantasy games. The Everton right-back is afforded further opportunity for points at both ends of the pitch against a visiting Norwich side that have notched just twice in the last four Gameweeks.
A trip to goal-shy Villa offers Per Mertesacker the opportunity to pick up the points again. Arsenal have conceded just once in the last four Gameweeks and are up against a stuttering home side with just three strikes to their name in the last six. With Ron Vlaar still a doubt for Paul Lambert’s backline, the big German will be hoping his threat in the box will boost his quest for a third league goal.
We opt for the attacking potential of Kyle Walker as Tottenham welcome Palace to the Lane. Tim Sherwood’s attacking approach will ensure his full-backs push on against the Eagles and offer threat from out wide – having registered a shut-out in their previous home match against Stoke, Walker’s hopes of defensive points are boosted by the visitors’ recent record of two goals in four league matches.
Recovered from a shoulder problem that forced him to miss the last couple of league matches, Mesut Ozil is welcomed back to the Scout Picks for Arsenal’s Monday evening trip to Villa. With Theo Walcott sidelined for the season, the German’s contribution will be crucial as Arsene Wenger’s side look to retain their position at the summit – with three double figure hauls in his last six appearances, Ozil should prosper against a defence with a single clean sheet in seven attempts.
A home game with West Brom brings Adam Lallana into consideration. The Southampton skipper has already registered three sets of double figures in front of his own fans and has shown impressive form in recent weeks, with attacking returns in three of the last four Gameweeks – without a clean sheet in each of their last six road trips, the Baggies poor defensive away form bodes well for Lallana tomorrow.
Passed fit by Manuel Pellegrini earlier this afternoon, Yaya Toure is our City midfielder of choice ahead of a testing trip to Newcastle. The Ivorian has four goals in his last four away matches and has already racked up a double figure haul against the Magpies this season – with Alan Pardew potentially devoid of three of his first-choice back-four, Toure’s growing band of owners will be looking for yet more returns in Sunday afternoon’s encounter.
With options limited up top for United, we draft in Adnan Januzaj as David Moyes looks to avenge last week’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of Swansea. The youngster has scored or assisted in three of his last four league starts and may well provide the spark for the hosts against a backline that has registered a single clean sheet in the last 11 Gameweeks.
The runaway leader of this week’s Captain Poll, Luis Suarez makes his way to Stoke on Sunday. With the Potters still devoid of Asmir Begovic and Robert Huth, Liverpool will be confident of breaching the hosts’ backline – Mark Hughes’ side have shipped five to Everton, five to Newcastle and three to Tottenham since the big German has been sidelined with a knee injury. An average of eight points per away game sums up the Uruguayan’s potential and, with Daniel Sturridge back to wreak havoc alongside him, he’ll be looking for his ninth set of double figures in 16 appearances.
Romelu Lukaku earns a call up as Everton welcome Norwich to Goodison. The big Belgian has frustrated Fantasy managers in recent weeks but has, nonetheless, produced a goal or assist in four of his last five home appearances – Lukaku will be looking to benefit from Michael Turner’s hamstring injury absence for the Canaries tomorrow afternoon.
A home game with Palace hands Emmanuel Adebayor the chance to continue his recent revival. With Tim Sherwood determined to go on the attack, the Togo international has become a key figure for Tottenham since the departure of Andre Villas-Boas and has produced at least eight points in three of his four appearances under the new man in charge.
Sascha Riether is selected for Fulham’s home game against Sunderland. Granted, the Cottagers haven’t been the most resilient in recent matches but, with Gus Poyet’s side failing to score in three of the last five Gameweeks, the hosts may well be on course for a clean sheet. With a trio of assists already accrued, the right-back offers a decent chance of points at both ends of the pitch.
Two goals, an assist and six bonus points in four games under Tim Sherwood sum up Christian Eriksen’s recent performances. The Tottenham playmaker welcomes Palace to the Lane this weekend and looks in the mood to replicate his 13-point haul against United in the last Gameweek.
Dimitar Berbatov is more than a little unlucky to only make the bench. The Fulham forward has notched in each of his last three league games under new boss Rene Meulensteen and squares up to a Sunderland backline that conceded twice to Cardiff in their last road trip.
