Scout Picks
28 April 2017 950 comments
J0E J0E
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After listing the players under consideration in our midweek Scout Squad article, the time has come to reveal who has earned a coveted spot in the Gameweek 35 Scout Picks.

Claudio Bravo had been earmarked for a slot ahead of Manchester City’s trip to shot-shy Middlesbrough, who have scored just 14 times at the Riverside – the worst total of any Premier League side at home.

However, after the Chilean hobbled off with a possible season-ending injury in last night’s Manchester derby, we have turned to team-mate Willy Caballero (4.7), who is owned by a mere 0.8% of FPL managers.

Problems at Manchester United have also influenced our defensive decisions, with Timothy Fosu-Mensah also picking up a shoulder injury last night to further limit Jose Mourinho’s options.

This is likely to see Daley Blind (5.2) retained at the heart of defence for Swansea City’s visit this weekend. With two clean sheets over Gameweek 34 and bonuses in eight matches this season, the 4.5%-owned Dutchman looks primed for points against the Welshman who have scored just once in their last four road trips.

The inclusion of 0.6%-owned differential Martin Kelly (4.2) is also influened by misfortune. He looks certain to start, given injuries to fellow defenders James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho, as Crystal Palace welcome a Burnley attack that has scored just ten times away from home this season.

An own goal in Leicester City’s 1-0 midweek defeat to Arsenal will have dampened interest in Robert Huth (4.9), but we think he will bounce back for the trip to a West Brom outfit seemingly counting down the days to their summer holidays.

The Baggies have failed to score, while conceding four times, over their last quartet of matches, which presents points potential at both ends of the pitch for the 2%-owned German. Huth has two goals and an assist in his last seven since Craig Shakespeare took charge of the Foxes. He also loves to quieten a crowd – all six of his league goals for the Foxes have come away from home.

This week we have managed to construct an XI nearly four million below our 84m budget, thanks primarily to the inclusion of two budget-friendly attacking midfielders with favourable fixtures.

Bournemouth’s Josh King (6.1) offers exceptional value as he travels to Sunderland on the back of ten goals in his last 11 starts. He also earns a place given the Black Cats’ porous defence, which has conceded nine times over the last six matches.

King’s ownership has leapt to 16.1% on the back of his recent goalscoring heroics, with 47,000+ bringing him in this week.

Three goals in his last four home matches makes Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic (7.1) another attractive investment, particularly as he prepares for a visit from a West Ham side that has shipped ten in their last six.

With a mere 1.2% ownership, he looks a strong differential option for those looking to take a one-week punt ahead of a Gameweek 36 Wildcard.

That’s plenty of spare change accumulated, so we’re able to splash out on Chelsea schemer Eden Hazard (10.4), who has picked up double-digit FPL points hauls in four of his last nine starts, scoring six times and providing two assists over that period.

The 31.6%-owned Belgian will attempt to maintain this fine run of form against a resilient Everton defence that has only conceded 13 times at Goodison Park – a tally only bettered by Manchester United and Spurs.

Dele Alli (9.2) is another in-form midfielder we’re backing ahead of the North London derby at White Hart Lane. The 35.1% owned Spurs man is particularly prolific at home, scoring in four of his last five league run-outs in front of his own fans.

Arsenal’s concession of nine goals over their last six has prompted us to double up on Spurs assets and recruit the 17.2%-owned Harry Kane (11.6).

He is another to enjoy home comforts, with 15 of his 20 goals arriving on familiar turf. Kane’s taste for local bragging rights, scoring in the last four North London derbies, sweetens the deal further still.

The only player with a better home scoring record than the Spurs talisman is Everton’s Romelu Lukaku (10.5). His 16 successful strikes at Goodison Park hand him a place, particularly as visitors Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet since Gameweek 22.

Despite his good home form and Chelsea’s problems at the back, the Toffees marksman has been jettisoned by 56,000+ FPL managers this week.

Our three-man frontline is completed by Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini (6.4), who tops our Gameweek 35 captain poll ahead of Hull City’s visit to St Mary’s.

The Tigers have been abysmal on their travels, shipping 13 in their last four road trips and losing seven of their last eight away matches – the worst Premier League record of 2017.

The Italian marksman’s assist midweek against Chelsea could herald a return to his early form for Southampton, when he scored four in as many matches after joining in January. His finishing is deadly – those goals have come from just seven shots on target. Hull’s generous defence look ill-equipped to silence Gabbiadini.

With 59,000+ transfers, the Saints striker is the most popular acquisition in FPL’s transfer market this week.

Charlie Daniels’ (5.2) four goals and three assists this term, coupled with Sunderland’s meagre two-goal tally over their last nine, offers the prospect of returns at both ends and earns the Bournemouth left-back a bench spot.

Middlesbrough’s tendency to concede to top sides at the Riverside has ensured we find space among our substitutes for Manchester City’s Leroy Sane (7.6). The German winger has two goals in his last five, while Boro have shipped two against Arsenal and three to Manchester United in recent weeks.

Christian Benteke (7.4), who has been drafted in by 51,000+ FPL managers this week, is unlucky to only make the bench ahead of Burnley’s visit, given he has scored five goals in his last six and Sean Dyche’s troops have shipped 33 on their travels. On the downside, only three of his 14 league goals this season have come at Selhurst Park.

Community Champion

The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season.

The current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33-point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.

This week’s champion, Kings of Lyon, has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: De Gea; Valencia, Blind, Kompany; Townsend, Hazard, Firmino, Arnautovic; Jesus, Defoe, Gabbiadini.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

950 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. TorresMagic™
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Huth to score.

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Another own goal.

  2. FFFoxy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Tadic or Redmond?

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Neither

    2. L S P
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Tadic

  3. F4L
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Zaha?

    1. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      nah..

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I think I am

  4. TheTinman
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Dr Steelhammer

  5. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Kaku in the picks..Brace inc 😀

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Actually a worry for Kaku owners 🙂

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Do you mean 2 pts? Because that is what he got last week when in the picks. Will benching Benteke be a mistake again?

      1. Chucky
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        He wasn't even on the bench last week.. wouldn't mind a tekkers brace as well,have both 🙂

  6. My Name Is Pepu
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero to Jesus for a hit is crazy? No?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yes

    4. seanysheep
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yup

    5. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Aye

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Aye thanks for the response people, just wanted to check what the response would be like 🙂

  7. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    For this week only?

    A) Brunt > Huth/Cedric/Yoshida
    B) Valencia > Bertrand/Kompany/Daniels

    Valenica more likely to start than not, no?

  8. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    How's this looking? 🙂

    DDG
    Walker • Valencia • Stephens
    Sanchez • Alli • Coutinho • Sane
    Kane • Lukaku • Gabbiadini(C)
    (Jakupovic • Zaha • Stones • Chambers)

    Thanks & GL all!

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Looks nice with the dots.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        And the team? Bench? Captain? 🙂

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I doubt valencia or stones will play.Good captain choice.

    3. My Name Is Pepu
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Aye you can play Zaha ahead of Lukaku!!

    4. Prøfeßör …
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I would probably play Zaha ahead of Sanchez.

  9. Scheister
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Rate my WC team please:

    Cab
    Bailly Yoshi Stephens
    Sanchez Hazard Alli King Sane
    Kane(C) Gabbi(V)

    Pickford Anichebe Monreal Kosc

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      All the right picks! Very good mate! GL

  10. F4L
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Gabbi or Kane captain? Which one hmmmmmmm

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Kane

    2. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Haz

  11. Shifty
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Should WCers be considering BOU defenders as a SGW option?

    1. Okladomah
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I think Bournemouth fixtures look great so I've picked up Smith.

  12. The Dynamics
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Which keeper should I bring in for the rest of the season? I currently have Pickford and Robles (who I want to transfer out)

    1. JÆKS ⭐
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Caballero

    2. Sahil Yadav
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Mark Sutherns chose Cech and Pickford

    3. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Willy

  13. Sims
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Pieters (WHU)
    Walker (ARS)
    Alonso (eve )
    Brunt (LEI)

    Who would u bench?

    1. seanysheep
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Brunt

    2. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Brunt

  14. Sahil Yadav
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Play Heaton or Jaku?

  15. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling and Baines to Hazard and Stephens for a hit.
    Yeah or neigh.

    1. Sahil Yadav
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

  16. A.T
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Nice picks there KOL. Good luck 🙂

  17. LewanGOALski
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    which 1 of those for this week:

    A. Gabbiadini (HUL)
    B. Jesus (mid)
    C. Benteke (BUR)
    ??

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. seanysheep
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A or C...I chose C

  18. UnitedFan
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Play?

    A) Heaton (cry)
    B) Pickford (BOU)

    1. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. UnitedFan
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

    2. L S P
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      same choice - can't decide esp as i'm playing King/Tekkers :-/

  19. JÆKS ⭐
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    So does this look good then? (on WC)

    Caballero
    Vert Bailly Yoshida
    Sanchez Hazard Eriksen King
    Kane (C) Benteke Gabbi

    Subs: Pickford JWP Alonso Gabriel

    Benteke to Jesus next week

    1. Shifty
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Nice. Benching Alonso though? Would play him ahead of Vert imo.

      Very nice team.

      1. b✪mber
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        this

      2. JÆKS ⭐
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I'm not sure, Spurs at home are very very solid. Everton is a good team as well at home so think Vert has a better chance on points than Alonso

  20. Winston.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    On WC next week...which of these?

    A. Pickford and Bailly
    B. DDG and Holgate

    Thanks.

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      B

  21. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    This week is giving me a bit of déjà vu. Every season the end of year DGW's prove harder to navigate than they ever looked a few weeks ago. Just as easy to make a complete hash of it as it is to have a beano...

    This year may actually be worse with United and City in the thick of it.

  22. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Would you rather have Kaku or Gabbi this week?
    Gabbi right?

    1. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yes

    2. seanysheep
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Think so

  23. Pixelated Doughnut
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Benkeke or Lukaku --> Gabbi?
    Thanks for the help

    1. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'd keep Benteke this week. Ship out Lukaku, imo.

      1. Pixelated Doughnut
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah I was thinking that and bringing him back for Swansea

  24. Donnie Brasco´s
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    If I play my WC for GW 36(activating just when gw 35 starts) can I use Bench Boost in the same GW?
    I am confused....

    1. The Rock
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No, you can't use 2 chips in the same week.

      Use WC GW36 and BB GW37 though!

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Can't use 2 chips in the same GW i.e. after GW35 deadline.

    3. Donnie Brasco´s
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks!

  25. TheRealDog
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Any thoughts of a one week punt before wildcard? 0.0 ITB.

    Pickford
    Alonso Bailly Pieters
    Sanchez Alli Eriksen King
    Kane Lukaku Benteke

    Valdes Zaha Baines Evans

    1. Pixelated Doughnut
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Lukaku --> Gabbi as a differential?

  26. matiakez
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    How's this

    Willy pickford
    Vertongen Gabriel Holgate Stephens alonso
    Hazard alli sanchez king Albrighton
    Gabi kane jesus

    0.0 in the bank??

  27. KJT123
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Play Siggy or Son?

    Or take a -4 for Hazard?

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      play Son 100%

  28. F4L
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Chambers ➡ Yoshi for FT and Bench Zaha? Or Play Zaha in a AOA

    1. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      the AOA option.

  29. Holmes
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Abel to Gabriel Jesus
    Valencia to Yoshida

    Knee Jerking? Will do Luka to Costa next week

  30. A.T
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Another page another poll. This time by special request, will Rashford start?

    Yes or no? Marks set go

    1. A.T
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No

    3. F4L
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe 😉

    4. JÆKS ⭐
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Don't think so

      (did you already do the one with Jesus? 😀 )

      1. A.T
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Yes it was about even 😯

        1. JÆKS ⭐
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Think I'm still going with Benteke for 1 week though!