Scout Picks
5 May 2017 1417 comments
J0E J0E
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We can now reveal who has made the cut from our midweek squad list to earn a coveted Scout Picks place ahead of this evening’s deadline.

Two fixtures each mean Southampton and Arsenal assets feature prominently in our XI, particularly in defence, where we have decided to double up on Gunners players for their trip to St Mary’s and an Emirates clash with Manchester United.

Petr Cech (5.3) earns a spot with the Southampton match in mind for a clean sheet, given that Claude Puel’s troops have only scored in one of their last four at home. With 16 saves in his last three matches, he also offers us the security of points should the Red Devils stick to the form book, which has seen them score eight times across their last four road trips.

We’ve decided to spend a little extra on the security of starts Laurent Koscielny (6.1) offers, particularly with the news that fellow centre-back Shkodran Mustafi is back in training to threaten the cheaper Gabriel’s starting berth.

With 19 bonus points – more than any other defender – the 11.4%-owned Frenchman joins his Czech team-mate in offering us multiple routes to points.

Another secure starting double Gameweek asset to win a place is Southampton’s 4.6%-owned Maya Yoshida (4.5), who is also a useful enabler for our 84m budgeted XI. Of his two fixtures, the home match with Arsenal looks the likelier for shut-out points as Arsene Wenger’s charges have failed to find the net in two of their last four away days.

Our remaining two rearguard picks are claimed by two of the Premier League’s most attacking defenders facing favourable home ties against travel-sick sides.

Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso (6.8), who has five goals and as many assists this season, takes his place ahead of a Stamford Bridge encounter with a Middlesbrough side that has only scored in one of their last four on the road. The Spaniard’s credentials are boosted further by the fact that he has attempted the most shots (39), and is second for touches in the opposition penalty area (67), among defenders this season.

We have also turned to the goal scoring and clean sheet prospects offered by Robert Huth (4.9). His Leicester City side host a Watford attack that has failed to find the net in all of their last four away days.

The Hornets’ concession of 22 goals from crosses and 11 from corners – an unwelcome record only beaten by Hull City – also gives us hope that the imposing German, who has netted twice in his last seven, can deliver attacking returns.

With a mere 2.1% ownership, the Foxes defender is an intriguing differential option for the season run-in.

Just one double Gameweek player earns a start across our midfield and forward picks, which shows how poorly we view Arsenal’s and Southampton’s attacking form.

Both sides have managed a mere three goals apiece over their last four, with only West Brom, Watford and Sunderland scoring fewer over that time frame.

But if any attacker is to break this slump, we believe it will be Arsenal’s top scorer Alexis Sanchez (11.5), who has netted 19 times and assisted a further nine this season. Although just one of the Chilean’s goals has come in the last six matches, his 16 shots over that period suggest that he is a player we cannot afford to ignore.

His form might be patchy, but his pedigree is not in doubt – only Romelu Lukaku, with 30, has more goals and assists combined than Sanchez’s 29 this season.

Lack of form is something Eden Hazard (10.5) certainly cannot be accused of, with the 33.3%-owned Chelsea schemer facing Boro on Monday on the back of four goals and an assist in his last five.

It’s a good time to be bringing that run to face Middlesbrough’s defence – they’ve conceded 17 goals in their last nine fixtures (1.9 per match).

Another in-form goal scoring midfielder we’ve included is Bournemouth’s Josh King, who continues to make a mockery of his initial 5.5 price tag having claimed 11 goals in his last 12 league matches.

The Norwegian, who is now priced at 6.2 and has attracted 67,000 new owners this week, collides with a Stoke City defence that has shipped 10 in their last six on the road. The Potters have also kept just one clean sheet in their last seven fixtures.

We wanted to include a Spurs midfielder in our selection, but both Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli’s price tags proved prohibitive. Instead, we have turned to the value offered by Manchester City winger Leroy Sane (7.7), who hosts Crystal Palace at the weekend.

The German differential, who is only 6.6% of teams, has a goal and assist in his last four and Sam Allardyce’s troops are in poor defensive form, without a shut-out from their last four.

In the absence of Eriksen or Alli, Harry Kane (11.7) is our sole representative from Spurs, who travel across town to take on West Ham.

The 18.9%-owned England striker has struggled to replicate his home form on the road, with only five of his 21 goals scored away from White Hart Lane. But we think his love of the capital, and West Ham’s shaky home defence, will ensure he prospers at the London Stadium.

Kane’s last 15 goals in all competitions have all been scored in London and he thrives in both local derbies – 18 strikes from his last 20 of those – and when facing the Hammers, against whom he has scored five times in his last four appearances.

Slaven Bilic’s side has shipped 27 goals in front of their own fans, which ranks them as the Premier League’s third-worst home defensive unit, ahead of only Swansea City and the already relegated Sunderland.

Gabriel Jesus (8.7) has hit the ground running after a seven-week injury lay-off, scoring in his first start on his return away at Middlesbrough last week. In fact, he now has four goals from just five shots on target during his fledgeling Premier League career.

We anticipate another start and more attacking returns for Palace’s visit, particularly given that the Manchester City striker has three goals from his last four run-outs, which included a five minute Etihad cameo in Gameweek 34 against Manchester United.

With 147,000+ new owners, the Brazilian is by some distance the week’s biggest attraction in FPL’s transfer market, beating Sanchez’s 100,000+ acquisitions with ease.

As the best-priced defender, according to FPL’s season value list, Charlie Daniels (5.2) is unlucky to only make the bench ahead of Stoke’s visit to the Vitality Stadium. The Potters have only scored four times in their last six, while the Bournemouth left-back has hit four and assisted a further three this campaign to offer the prospect of returns at both ends of the pitch.

Despite having the sixth best total points tally among FPL defenders, Daniels is still only in 9.9% of teams.

If Swansea City are to beat the drop, they will need our second substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.4) to deliver at home to Everton. Attacking returns in his last two, following a five-match drought, indicate he has the form to reward the 11% of managers who have clung on to him and punish the 19,000+ who have moved him out this week.

Having delivered just one assist since returning in Gameweek 33 from an injury lay-off, Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini (6.5) can count himself lucky to earn inclusion.

The Saints tough pair of fixtures – Liverpool and Arsenal – also count against him. But with four goals in his first three starts when he joined from Napoli in January, we have handed the 8%-owned Italian a substitute’s role in the hope he can recapture that impressive early form.

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, Coleymc3, has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: Jakupovic; Cahill, Cook, Maguire; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Lallana, Tadic; Kane, Costa, Jesus.

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

  1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Fabregas cappers unite

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      All one of them.

      1. Ginola14
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        anichebe cappers unite

    2. Reggie Nainggolan
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      *Cricket sound*

    3. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      So i am not alone

  2. Kno
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Anyone on the vardy party bus? Getting him over costa would allow me a davies -> vert switch. Pretty sweet fixture this week as well

    1. FPLord
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Vardy is a great pick but not instead of Costa

      1. Kno
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Yeah pretty much my conclusion as well. Cant justify picking him over kane and jesus either.

  3. Junior ⚽
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    RP
    Where can I find £0.1m?
    Willy | Pickford
    Alonso | Monreal | Vertonghen | Holgate | Stephens
    Sanchez | Hazard | Alli | King
    Kane | Anichebe | Jesus
    1.1 ITB
    Put Yosh instead of Vert

  4. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Pick one

    A De gea > Cech -4
    B De gea > Forster -4
    C keep De gea p

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Cech by some distance.

    2. Ibracadabra
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      A for me.

      That said a sneaky "D" De Gea -> Willy C if you can do something with the extra funds could work out nicely.

  5. Weasel51
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Need a hand choosing which week to use BB and TC chips! Cheers in advance!!

    A) Gw36: TC Sanchez (MUN, sou) + GW37: BB = Pickford (SWA, ars) Holgate (WAT), Kelly (HUL), Ward-Prowse (mid, MUN)

    B) GW37: TC Hazard (wba, WAT) + GW36: BB = Pickford (hul) Holgate (swa), Kelly (mci), Ward-Prowse (liv, ARS)

    C) GW37: TC Jesus (LEI, WBA) + Gw36: BB = Pickford (hul) Holgate (swa), Kelly (mci), Ward-Prowse (liv, ARS)

    D) GW37: TC Sanchez (stk, SUN) + GW36: BB = Pickford (hul) Holgate (swa), Kelly (mci), Ward-Prowse (liv, ARS)

    1. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      if it will stop you spamming

      A

      1. Weasel51
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Apologies

    2. That Was Easy!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      I have Pickford, Holgate, JWP, Stephens on my bench this week, can't decide whether I want to play it or not. the CS potential is higher in 37 for me, but the TC options outside of 37 are awful.

      1. Weasel51
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Think I'm going BB this week even though I have a weak bench. Those captain choices are crazy.

    3. Pep says
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      You could make it alot simpler than you have done.

      1. Weasel51
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Probably

  6. Beard of Zeus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Should I play..

    A Stephens
    B Jags

  7. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Choose one for Wildcard

    1. Sane
    2. Pedro

    Cheers

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Sane

    2. Kno
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      1 me thinks

  8. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Hey guys, best defender for 5.3m or less? Only need him for DGW37

    Cheers

    1. Ibracadabra
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      how much is Bertrand? He could be an option, otherwise Clichy or ARS' Gabriel for me.

  9. KUNingas
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    how many games Davies will play?

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      1 more

      1. Pep says
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Rose won't just come in and play 3 games in a row, not happening. Davies will start at least 3 more games

  10. UnitedFan
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    RP. Start one:

    A) Blind (ars)
    B) Fernandez (EVE)

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      a

      1. UnitedFan
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Thanks

  11. Puzzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    1. Sane & Davies
    2. Pedro & Vertonghen

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      2

  12. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Walker to kos for another hit?

  13. Plagued by indecision
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Need an 8-point hit to get Sanchez in and it means losing Alli or Eriksen.

    1) Worth it
    2) Hell no

    What price glory?

    1. Ginola14
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      saw your team earlier, no easy way to say it id be bricking it with no haz costa or sanchez

      1. Plagued by indecision
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        70 points clear in my minileague so probably worth it hey?

        1. Ginola14
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 27 days ago

          go for it

  14. 8ball
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    TC Sanchez this week or save till gw38?

    1. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      i have used it this week. 2 games is better than 1 (I hope). And 38 is a bit of a lottery

      1. 8ball
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Coutinho gw38 vs (MID) looks like a good choice too. Think I will go with Sanchez this week as well. Thanks

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Play.
      Read my opinion below

    3. Football Weekender
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Same dilemma. Sánchez TC is now locked in for me... 12 points incoming.

  15. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Picked Gabriel on my WC, should I replace him with someone else but who?

    Yoshida, Stephens, Alonso, Vertonghen, Gabriel

    Thanks

    1. Football Weekender
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Depends on your budget, but if around the same price range B.Davies is the pick of you have a Spurs slot available. If not then Holgate, although he only has one game, has a good chance of a cleanie in GW37. I quite fancy a Koné punt personally, just as a differential.

  16. Loker Joker
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Pick one? Cheers.
    a) Cech, Kosc, Yoshida
    b) Pick, Monreal, Vert

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      B

  17. El-Kloppico
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    With Mou set to play a B team, I think those doubting Alexis for the armband are at fault.. Arsenal is in need of the 3points and Wenger will push for a win with the growing doubts among fans.

    Bailly and Valencia will most probably be benched. Pogba and Rashford also.

    I can see Alexis bagging a brace..

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      No way he gets a brace against us with the form he's in. While we might be weakened, we still have depth and Mou knows how to park a bus

    2. Reggie Nainggolan
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Mourinho hates losing to wenger hence it's never happened. He'll park the bus like he did vs Liverpool back in 2014 and win. He got a great chance to sack wenger. He not gna miss out. Plus sanchez has been poor esp on left with giroud up top

  18. Reggie Nainggolan
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Please help choose one. BB Gw37

    ??? Pickford
    ??? ??? Azpi Yoshida Stephens
    ??? ??? Alli Sanchez King
    Kane Jesus ???

    A) Willy Davies Gabriel Hazard Pedro Anichebe (3-5-2)
    B) Jaku Holgate Gabriel Hazard Eriksen Anichebe (3-5-2)
    C) Willy 4.7 def Gabriel Eriksen Pedro Gabbiadini

  19. united07
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Help!

    A) Vertonghen, Pedro and Gabbiadini

    OR

    B) Monreal, Eriksen and Anichebe

  20. tbhogal
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Guys stuck here your help needed!

    Monreal and Cech OR
    Gabriel and Willy

    1. Manani
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      a

  21. JÆKS ⭐
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Posted on an old article

    So comes down to benching one of these 3:

    A) Gabriel (MUN, sou)
    B) Vert (whu)
    C) Yoshida (liv, ARS)

  22. TSILIKAFENEIAKOS
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Vert or Huth ? He is my 3rd Spurs spot.

    1. UnitedFan
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Vert easy

      1. TSILIKAFENEIAKOS
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        how about :

        A. Vert + Monreal
        B. Huth + Kosc

        1. UnitedFan
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 27 days ago

          A

  23. Scheister
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Willy
    Yoshi Gabriel Alonso
    Sanchez(TC) Hazard Alli King Sane
    Kane Gabbi

    Pickford Stephens Bailly Anichebe

    --------------------------------------------------

    Really wanting to get Jesus in. Worth a hit:
    Gabbi to Jesus and Alonso to a 4.8??

  24. Manani
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Sanchez hazard King Alli Pedro
    Kane Jesus Anichebe

    i need to downgrade for 1.0m to get some arsenal defender, should I do it or not?

  25. smix
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Pedro or Tadic for this GW ?

    1. Robben Mee Blind
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Tadic

  26. Robben Mee Blind
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Which one to play?
    A) Heaton (WBA)
    B) Jaku (SUN)

  27. Henning
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Hi all do i gt the right Bench

    Jakupovic
    Monreal Yoshida Cahill
    Alli Hazard Sanchez Pedro King
    Kane Jesus

    Bench: Caballero Vertonghen Stephens Anichebe

  28. davies
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Settled. 😎

    Caballero / Pickford
    Alonso / Huth / Gabriel / Stephens / Holgate
    Sanchez / Hazard / Eriksen / Sane / King
    Kane / Jesus / Gabiaddini

  29. Footballfriend
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    A bit of a different one, RMWC please. Rival has hazard, and costa so cannot get them.

    Cech, Caballero,

    Alonso, Azpi, Monreal, Stephens, Yoshida,

    Alli, Eriksen, Sanchez, T Carroll, Albrighton

    Gabbi, Kane, Jesus

    Playing 4-3-3, too light in the middle? Maybe Stephens to Holgate to diversity

    1. Junior ⚽
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      with no BB ok

      1. Footballfriend
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        I have BB 37. Albrighton double and carroll easy fixture

  30. BecAuse79
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Wc ON

    A) Alonso Albrighton

    C) Davies Pedro

    Cheers