This evening we roll out Gameweek 24 of this season’s Scout Picks, 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, with the budget now sitting at 84.0 apiece for our starting line-ups.
The Community – Managed by Rupert the Horse
A first clean sheet for Newcastle boss John Carver could be the beginning of something great in the North East, which propels Tim Krul into my thinking. Nathaniel Clyne looked impressive last Gameweek as he buccaneered down the flanks and I can see QPR struggling to contain him. Elsewhere in defence, I’ve opted for Martin Demichelis as my Manchester City defender of choice. Hull have only scored once in the last five and quite frankly look pathetic. Among Chelsea’s ranks, I’ve splashed out on Branislav Ivanovic, who offers potential at both ends of the pitch against Aston Villa.
David Silva looks a good bet against Hull, plus he has strong form with five goals and two assists in his last seven. Sergio Aguero may not have the recent form, but I can’t see Hull keeping him at bay. This is set to be his comeback week.
Elsewhere in my midfield, Jonjo Shelvey looks to be handling the role in “the hole” impressively for Swansea, with a goal against Southampton last Gameweek. He is likely to be even more involved when Sunderland visit. Eden Hazard looks primed to administer a sound thrashing this week with both strong underlying statistics and fixture on his side. Meanwhile Santi Cazorla has penalties, a hawk eye for passing and dashing runs. Currently he is the complete attacking midfield package and can’t be ignored. Alongside Aguero in attack, I’m banking on Loic Remy filling the Diego Costa-shaped void at Chelsea and Crystal Palace’s Dwight Gayle to regain his eye for goal against a leaky looking Leicester defence.
Jonty
I’m not among those who believe Sergio Aguero’s form is a concern since returning from injury. According to my attacking players Members Table, he’s the second rated striker in terms of shots in the box over the last two Gameweeks. Not bad at all when you consider that was against Arsenal and Chelsea and I can’t see Hull keeping him at bay as easily. In fact Hull’s dire form has convinced me to double up on Manchester City assets and draft in David Silva who, like Santi Cazorla last week, is riding high in my my assists imminent Members table. Another to feature in this table is Eden Hazard, who faces another woeful side in Aston Villa.
Elsewhere in my attack, the last two Gameweeks’ form is guiding me again and Harry Kane’s 11 goal attempts over that period indicates he could prove too much for Arsenal’s resurgent defence. Sunderland’s backline has some worrying underlying statistics over the last two Gameweeks, having conceded the most shots in the box of any Premier League side over that period. This will prove welcome news to Bafetimbi Gomis’s owners and The Puntmaster, who has included him in his trio of differentials.
My midfield is completed by Cazorla, who has penalties, assists and bonus points in his locker, and Jason Puncheon, who rolls up to struggling Leicester side.
In defence I’ve found myself with a bit of spare cash, which has enabled me to draft in Branislav Ivanovic as my Chelsea cover against a goal averse Villa side. Vincent Kompany gives me security of starts as Manchester City cover. Meanwhile, Swansea captain Ashley Williams’ bonus potential looks hard to overlook, as does my belief that some stern words from Tony Pulis will bring a clean sheet for Ben Foster and the West Brom defence when they travel to Burnley.
Mark
Mark was unable to get online so phoned in his Picks for the week. He’s opted for the security of Joe Hart as a route into City’s backline and rolled out a 4-4-2 formation, as he reckons there’s a lack of real options up top.
Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp has bagged three goals from his out-of-position spot in the left of midfield and after also netting in the recent cup win over Spurs, looks bang in form as Palace pay visit. The Ghana international joins a trio of attacking full-backs – Branislav Ivanovic, Kieran Trippier and Daryl Janmaat – who offer a decent shout for points at both ends of the pitch this weekend.
In midfield, Eden Hazard is the obvious route into Chelsea’s attack for the Villa trip, whilst Raheem Sterling’s form could easily prevail at Goodison. Jonjo Shelvey and Sadio Mane are definite punts in the middle of the park. The former looks poised to continue in the support role behind the lone striker and netted the winner last weekend, whilst Mane – with three goals in as many matches prior to leaving for the African Cup of Nations – looks likely to be unleashed from the start at struggling QPR after appearing off the bench last time out.
Sergio Aguero is clearly needed for City’s home encounter with Hull and with Santi Cazorla ignored in the centre of the park, Olivier Giroud gets the nod for tomorrow lunchtime’s North London derby.
Paul
With City’s boasting an injury-free defence for the visit of Hull, I’m opting for Joe Hart as a hassle-free option in goal. Branislav Ivanovic continues in defence for Chelsea’s trip to a Villa side with one goal in eight Gameweeks, whilst Kyle Naughton, at 4.3, is a decent enabler for Swansea’s home match against Sunderland. This allows me to draft in Jose Fonte as the Saints visit managerless QPR, who have scored once in three home matches now.
I’m opting for five in midfield and rolling out a quartet of big-hitters. David Silva entertains Hull in excellent form, while I reckon there will be goals in the north London derby and cannot ignore Santi Cazorla. At Goodison, I see Liverpool taking the match to Everton and Raheem Sterling is looking in his best form of the season, whilst a trip to Villa looks ideal for Eden Hazard to break his three-match goal drought.
Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez is my punt here. Back from the African Cup of Nations, he produced 14 shots (eight inside the box) and 10 key passes prior to leaving on international duties and will fancy his chances against a Palace side that’s conceded in all three matches under Alan Pardew.
Up top, you’ve got to back Sergio Aguero for the Hull clash. The runaway leader of this week’s Captain Poll, the Argentine has already netted against the Tigers this term and if he finds his form, could run amok. Again, I feel both sides will get amongst the goals in the North London derby and Harry Kane will be brimming with confidence after taking his tally to eight goals in as many league outings last time around with a double at West Brom.
The Scores So Far
Congratulations to Gameweek 23 Champion Innsie, whose score of 73 was the highest by any of our community champions so far. He now leads the race for a £100 Amazon voucher. However, his impressive score was not enough to get one over on all the Scouts. While he beat my tally of 58, Jonathan Walters’ heroics helped Mark to a score of 76 and Jonty accrue 81 points. Mark continues to lead the overall standings on 1217, followed by Jonty with 1193, myself with 1187 and The Community on 1110.
