Scout Picks – Gameweek 16

We arrive at Gameweek 16 of this season’s Scout Picks this evening, where Mark, Jonty, a different member of the community and I pick an XI for the upcoming round of fixtures. Each week, our line-ups go head-to-head and over the course of the season we’ll be keeping a tally of the points as we go along. Once again, we’ve kept the budgets at 83.5 apiece for our starting line-ups.

The Community – Managed by Dusan Citizen

I have picked West Bromwich’s Ben Foster, due to his high chance for a clean sheet against an Aston Villa side that is still weak in attack, even with the return of Christian Benteke. Leighton Baines looks a good bet for a clean sheet, too, up against a QPR side that have only scored twice on the road this season and are without the suspended Charlie Austin. Gary Cahill is my Chelsea defender of choice against another struggling team, Hull, whilst City’s Aleksandar Kolarov is my luxury risk. I think he’ll start against a hapless Leicester side and the champions can certainly do with his extra fire power, with Sergio Aguero absent through injury.

With a rest in midweek and solid recent statistics, Alexis Sanchez is still the main threat for Arsenal, up against a Newcastle side down to their third choice goalkeeper. Eden Hazard’s fine home form makes him a must this week and Stewart Downing’s excellent away displays make his a shoo-in too. In addition, Diafra Sakho’s return for West Ham gives Downing even more chance of racking up assists. Stoke’s Jonathan Walters is my midfield punt, unfashionable but bang in form.

Wayne Rooney at home against Liverpool looks a good bet for points, as does Everton’s Romelu Lukaku against QPR. With Aguero out my final pick is his deputy Edin Dzeko, who along with Kolarov should have no problem dismantling the Foxes.

Jonty

I’ve turned to Rate My Team to unearth the best budget keeper this week. The Professor’s computer has placed West Brom’s Ben Foster at the top of that list, as the Baggies square up to a Villa side that has scored just four goals on the road. With Christmas approaching and a match in midweek, I fear that my usual Chelsea defensive pick Cesar Azpilicueta may earn a rest and have opted for the well-rested John Terry instead just to be safe. Liverpool will be left punch drunk from their Champions League exit and I’m backing The Puntmaster’s pick of Jonny Evans and a Manchester United clean sheet. Leighton Baines is testing my patience but against a QPR side that has been largely ineffective on the road, I feel he’ll at least get a clean sheet, even if his attacking points have dried up.

Sitting at the summit of my Goals Imminent Members Table is Yannick Bolasie, whose attacking statistics are so impressive that even this Brighton and Hove Albion fan is willing to take a punt on a Crystal Palace player. Suspended in Europe, there are high hopes for Yaya Toure this week. The Ivorian has three double-digit FPL points hauls in the last four Gameweeks and now has penalties all to himself. Eden Hazard’s five goals at home demands his inclusion.

I’ve opted to double up on Swansea returns this week, with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wilfried Bony facing a Tottenham side that has already conceded 12 goals on the road. As well as Bony, my attack also features two other mid-price Sergio Aguero replacements. Edin Dzeko has no current form, so I’m opting for the nostalgia of last season where he ably deputised when the Argentine was injured. With four goals at home already and QPR without a single away clean sheet, Romelu Lukaku has good latest statistics to back his inclusion.

Mark

Chelsea and Everton provide the backbone, with fixtures that really should deliver goals and defensive points for both sides. That means a Scout Picks recall for Branislav Ivanovic against Hull and Leighton Baines for his meeting with QPR – both were rested in Europe and should be bombing forward in the Gameweek.

I’ve paired that attacking duo with perhaps the ultimate forward-thinking defender – Aleks Kolarov. I’m not brave or silly enough to acquire him for my team but, as a short-term pick, he will have his moments and I think the trip to basement-dwellers Leicester could be one of them. With Vincent Kompany back, a City win with a shut-out looks on the cards.

Frazer Forster is between the sticks for me – I just don’t see Burnley finding a way past the organised Saints’ defence now that Toby Alderweireld is back from injury.

Hazard is a given in midfield, having notched in the last four Stamford Bridge outings. I’ve selected two in-form prospects alongside him in Palace’s Yannick Bolasie and City’s Samir Nasri. The latter will be brimming with confidence ahead of his trip to the King Power Stadium, while Bolasie, along with Wilfried Zaha, will carry the main threat to Stoke at Selhurst Park.

My final midfield spot goes to Gylfi Sigurdsson. I opted against Wilfried Bony up top so Siggy is a worthy compromise; hugely effective at the Liberty Stadium with a goal and seven assists so far, he’ll have a point to prove against Spurs on Sunday.

Up front, Diego Costa is recalled because I can’t see anything but 2-3 goals for Chelsea at home to hapless Hull; that should ensure that Costa is in profit. Similarly, I don’t see QPR keeping Everton out and it was a case of either Kevin Mirallas in midfield or Romelu Lukaku in attack: I opted for the latter.

The final spot goes to a “Differential” and my Scoutcast “Fantasy Island Risk” – Sunderland’s Steven Fletcher. He should start against the Hammers and I think the Scott will be the key figure for the Black Cats. At 5.3 in the FPL, only his fitness concerns prevents him from being a major consideration in the budget bracket.

Paul

I’m tripling up on the top two for this weekend. As highlighted in yesterday’s Captain Sensible article, Chelsea versus Hull and City against Leicester are perfect examples of in-form attacks against out-of-sorts defences and both will fancy their chances here.

For the league leaders, Branislav Ivanovic’s raids down the right could come to fruition against the Tigers, whilst Eden Hazard and Diego Costa have both averaged over seven points per appearance in front of their own fans. Jose Mourinho will be looking for a reaction after last week’s loss at Newcastle and the Blues will surely come firing out the blocks.

City look equally enticing from back to front. I reckon Gael Clichy is due a rest, which should see fit-again Aleksandar Kolarov earn a start, and his raids down the left will torment Nigel Pearson’s side. Samir Nasri’s goal and assist in Roma underlines the Frenchman’s form, whilst Edin Dzeko, at 8.1, affords a route into the most prolific attack in the top-flight.

I’ve also opted for two Swansea players at home to Spurs. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s superb Liberty form should pose his former club problems aplenty, whilst Wilfried Bony has shown he’s a fixture-proof option in recent weeks and faces a backline with one clean sheet in eight attempts.

This leaves me three players to call upon. Ben Foster comes in as my cheap keeper for West Brom’s derby clash with Villa. Yannick Bolasie has fired at least five more shots than any midfielder in the last four Gameweeks, whilst Everton’s home encounter with QPR will surely bring Leighton Baines back into the points.

The Scores So Far

Mark emerged victorious in Gameweek 15 with a score of 47 points – Leroy Fer and Jan Vertonghen proved crucial to his win. Jonty took second with 43 points, whilst The Community – managed by Kurren – took third with 40 points, ahead of my miserable 33; doubling up on the Chelsea defence wasn’t such a clever move.

This means that after 15 rounds of fixtures, Mark leads with 872 points, followed by Jonty (864) and myself (855), with the Community on 748 points.