Scout Picks
5 May 2017 1417 comments
J0E J0E
Share:

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. ONE PUNCH MAN
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    How many games will Gabbi play out of four?
    I think 2 max.
    Should he be in wc team? or go cheap on anichebe and play heavy defense

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Why not all? Especially if he finds shooting boots.

      1. Stats Don\'t Lie
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Southampton have nothing to fight for, looked poor vs hull tbh, and noone will play all the games except maybe forster and the cbs

      2. ONE PUNCH MAN
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        long is back,austin nearing return. And could you explain his 59 min sub last match?

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      he'll play all 4.

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

    GTG?
    Willy | Pickford
    Alonso | Koscielny | Vertonghen | Holgate | Yoshida
    Sanchez | Hazard | Alli | King
    Kane | Anichebe | Jesus
    0.5 ITB?

    1. bowsy51
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      5th mid?

    2. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      You've missed out a midfielder but looks very good!

    3. Kingtekkerz
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Who is the 5th mid?

      1. HearMeRoar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Trying to find one for 0.5m 😛

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

      I'm guessing Sane

  3. andymck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Alonso Davies Stephens Gabriel Holgate

    Gabriel > Huth or Yoshida or leave as is?

  4. bowsy51
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    On WC, any changes needed?

    A) Costa/Hazard/King -> Kane/Pedro/Ozil
    B) Get Kane in somehow
    C) Leave alone

    Jaku
    Alonso - Koscielny - Yoshida
    Sanchez - Hazard - Eriksen - Sane - King
    Costa - Jesus

    Caballero Stephens Davies Anichebe

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

    Coutinho or Benteke?

    1. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Preferably neither. Why?

    2. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      neither tbh

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

      Coutinho

    4. Deus
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      I play Benteke as diff

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

      Play one I mean!

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

        Coutinho still

  6. Stupendous
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Alright I'm all set! Gtg?

    Caballero
    Koscielny Huth Alonso
    Sane Alli King Sanchez Hazard
    Kane Jesus

    Pickford Anichebe Stephens Holgate

  7. Sergeant Garcia
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Siggy or Sané?

    Already have Jesus and thinking Siggy could outscore Sané, definitly this week.

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

      sane

    2. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Sane

    3. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Sane.

    4. Pirlø's Pen
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Leroy

    5. Sergeant Garcia
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      DGW fever kicking in, I presume 😛

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

    G2G for this GW?

    Heaton
    Blind - Baines - Alonso
    Sanchez (C) - Eriksen - Hazard - King
    Kane - Jesus - Barnes

    Pickford - de Roon - Fernandez - Chambers

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

      Groot

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

        Good? Thanks

  9. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Dear Fellow community....choosing my team properly on the last day and narrowed it down to two so can i PLS get some opinions....

    A: Willy Pickford
    yoshida stephens alonso MONREAL VERT
    alli hazard sanchez king TADIC
    costa jesus ANICHEBE

    B: willy pickford
    yoshida stephens alonso GABIREL EVANS
    alli hazard sanchez king SANE
    costa jesus GABBI

    A right? just never tried a 3-5-2

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

      why no Kane?

    2. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      B

    3. Prison Mike
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Yeah, A for me!

    4. Pirlø's Pen
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      A

    5. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Came down to Costa versus Kane and I choose the former

  10. Prison Mike
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Who to play ?

    A) Bavies (whu)

    B) Yoshida (liv, ARS)

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

      A

    2. Yome
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      A

    3. Prison Mike
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Cheers guys

    4. Pirlø's Pen
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      B

  11. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Did Lukaku > Jesus earlier and it felt goooood

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

      I did Benteke > Jesus -4. Felt even better 😉

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Lovely jubbly

  12. Ian Davis
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Which looks best?

    A) Ozil/Pedro

    B) Sanchez/Kante

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      A

    2. Kingtekkerz
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      A

    3. Pirlø's Pen
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      A

  13. Yome
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Repost, anyone fancy Holding instead of Holgate on WC?

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Not yet. Still think Wenger is fixated on Monreal, Kosc and Gabriel as his back three. And then Mustafi will play and Gibbs will come out.

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

        Monreal could play wing back then mustafi and holding partenring Kos

  14. Djemba-Djemba
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Any news on coutinho? Thinking of dropping him and bringing in King. But already taken a - 4 hit this week.

  15. jimmy.floyd
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Zaha to

    Sane
    King
    Sterling

    1. Pirlø's Pen
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Sane

  16. dhirst
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    So we think Bavies is nailed for next 3 then?

    1. Pirlø's Pen
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      nobody really knows tbh, worth the risk imo

      1. Prison Mike
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        this

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

    Hey guys, Huth or Davies? Only need for DGW37.

    Cheers

    1. ***00tennis***
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Davies

    2. Prison Mike
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Davies

  18. thisisdiz
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Gabriel replacement?
    Need to replace?

    1. KickIt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Not this GW, maybe next

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

    Repost.
    Hi all do i have the right Bench

    Jakupovic
    Monreal Yoshida Cahill
    Alli Hazard Sanchez Pedro King
    Kane Jesus

    Bench: Caballero Vertonghen Stephens Anichebe

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

      Yeah, strong team

  20. Lizard Lips
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    (A) Vertongehen JWP Anichibe OR
    (B) Holgate Ndidi Gabbiadini

    Cech - Cab
    Alonso - Monreal - Vert - Yoshida - Stephens
    Alexis - Hazard - Erik - King - JWP
    Kane - Jesus - Anichibe

    Cech - Cab
    Alonso - Monreal - Yoshida - Stephens - Holgate
    Alexis - Hazard - Erik - King - Ndidi
    Kane - Jesus - Gabbiadini

    What say you!?

    1. Sergeant Garcia
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      A

      1. Lizard Lips
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Why A? Gabbiadini is class no?!

  21. tm370
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    A) Baines (also own Holgate), Sig, Zaha for Huth, Hazard, and Tom Carroll (5th mid)
    B) Valencia, Sig, Zaha for Huth, Hazard and Capoue (5th mid)

  22. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    This week Coutinho to King -4
    And
    T.Carroll to Sane next week ?

    Cheers !

  23. money face bandwagon
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    so after all the hype and captaining him last gw everyone sold gabbiadini now in dgw?

    1. KickIt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Keeping, he might do a Negredo (City style not DGW style)

  24. KickIt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Really struggling on who to bench this week:

    Cabellero / Pickford
    Alonso / Yoshi / Gabriel / Stephens / Holgate
    Sanchez / Hazard / Eriksen / Alli / King
    Kane / Jesus / Gabiaddini

    Currently considering to bench Alli, Stephens and Holgate.

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

      I agree

      1. KickIt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 27 days ago

        Thanks

  25. ONE PUNCH MAN
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    why people going for yoshida over cedric?? cedric has 2 assists in past 5 gw,more chances of bonus. so points on both sides

    1. KickIt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Goal threat

  26. Js31
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Right lads, captain:

    Haz or Sanchez?

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

      Stuck between these two and kane

  27. CS
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Triple Captain Sanchez this GW36?
    Thinking i will play bench boost in GW37..
    Got 12-13 players with DGW in GW37.. Thoughts?
    *Overall rank: 6980*

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 27 days ago

      Very good OR! I'd prefer TC'ing Sanchez / Hazard this week and BB'ing next GW. I did a similar thing last year and it worked out big time, so I'm going along the same lines this time around (although WC this week, BB next).

  28. The Count of Monte Cristo
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    Not sure what I could do with a somewhat limited TV. (WC + 0.0m ITB)

    Caballero - Cech
    Alonso - Monreal - Davies - Stephens - Holgate
    Hazard - Sanchez - Eriksen - King - Carroll
    Kane - Jesus - Anichebe

  29. karvs155
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    A) Cech + Blind (bench Blind this gw)
    B) Pickford + Monreal (bench Vertonghen)

  30. Sonic Huth
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 27 days ago

    TC locked for guys with TC,BB left??