Scout Picks
27 April 2018 1311 comments
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There’s a full quota of matches to choose from this time around as we reveal the players from our midweek Scout Squad article to make the Gameweek 36 line-up.

Premium assets among Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester City’s ranks are a priority, so we’ve gone bargain hunting to fill many of the remaining berths in our 84 million budgeted XI.

This starts between the sticks, with Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka (4.5) earning a spot for the visit of bottom club West Brom.

Clean sheet prospects look strong for the Slovakian, given that the Magpies defence has conceded just once in their last four St James’ Park encounters – a record tally they share with Liverpool.

We’ve made further savings by drafting Burnley defender Kevin Long (4.1) into our three-man backline. With regular centre-back Ben Mee still on the sidelines, the Irishman looks certain to start once again at home to Brighton to promise points in both penalty areas.

Long has earned a goal – from a corner – and an assist since deputising for Mee over the Clarets’ last four matches. Meanwhile, Chris Hughton’s side are particularly vulnerable from set-pieces, shipping 20 goals, including a league-high 14 from corners.

The Liverpool recent resilience at Anfield has persuaded us to loosen the purse strings and turn to centre-back Virgil van Dijk (5.7) for the visit of a Stoke City side that has mustered just three goals from their last six away matches.

We also harbour some hope that the Dutchman can deliver attacking returns. Always a threat at set-plays, he has already scored once for his new club, in the FA Cup, and has four goals in the league since arriving in the English top flight in 2015.

Ben Davies’ (5.8) potential is strong ahead of Watford’s visit to Wembley on Monday. The Hornets last scored on the road in the league on New Year’s Day and have shipped 14 away goals over that period.

The Welshman, meanwhile, has been in excellent form this season, involved (either scoring or assisting) in nine goals, which is more than any other defender. His rate of one key pass every 49 minutes also makes him the season’s most creative regular starting defender.

Team-mate and fellow left-back Danny Rose is expected to return to the squad for Monday’s encounter, but we’re still willing to take the risk on Davies retaining a starting berth and delivering returns.

Liverpool’s top-four status is still far from secure, so it looks like Mohamed Salah’s (10.6) potent threat will be required against Stoke, despite the small matter of a Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Roma to come in midweek.

Jurgen Klopp’s press conference suggested that he would make few changes to the line-up that defeated the Italian side 5-2 at Anfield.

So it seems that Salah will start and he will be primed to add to a tally of 31 league goals, particularly as it took him just 23 minutes – off the bench – to deliver a brace and 13 points against the Potters in the reverse fixture.

Salah is also on a scoring run of seven straight league matches at home, while the Stoke defence have been dire on their travels conceding 37 goals – only West Ham have allowed more (42).

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling (9.0) will collide with that Hammers defence at the London Stadium on Sunday.

The winger found the net, and also earned an assist, to grab 11 points against Swansea City last weekend and has delivered attacking returns in each of his last five appearances. That form has made him the most popular midfield signing ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.

Spurs’ Son Heung-min (8.3) takes another of our five midfield places, based on his strong home form and Watford’s frailties in away matches.

The South Korean has delivered nine goals and five assists at Wembley, where he is top for goal involvement (43%) among Spurs assets. He also has a taste for big scores against Watford, returning 19 points in last season’s encounter and finding the net at Vicarage Road in Gameweek 15’s reverse fixture.

Similarly, Wilfried Zaha (6.9) scored in Crystal Palace’s 3-0 away victory over Leicester City in Gameweek 18. We’re backing him to find the net again when the two sides meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Three goals and two assists in the Eagles’ last six four builds a case for his inclusion, as does the Foxes’ solitary clean sheet from their last four road trips.

Since cementing a starting berth in Gameweek 10, set-piece specialist Johann Gudmundsson (5.0) has been pivotal to Burnley’s attacking ploys, with more assists (seven) than any team-mate. He’s also scored twice over that period and has four assists from the last five Gameweeks.

Brighton’s visit to Turf Moor should hand him plenty of opportunities to add to that tally, given the Seagull’s fragility on set-plays.

Harry Kane (12.9) has plenty of motivation to put Watford to the sword on Monday night as he attempts to chase down a Salah’s five-goal advantage in the race for the Golden Boot.

Over his last four run-outs Kane has mustered just seven shots, two off Son’s figure and substantially behind Christian Eriksen’s 14 attempts.

But across the season, his Wembley form has been strong, knocking Salah into second for shots (101 to 82), shots in the box (64 to 61) and efforts on target, by 43 to 40.

Kane is currently the top Gameweek 36 target among FPL managers, with more than 139,000 transfers-in, and also leads our captain poll.

Gabriel Jesus (10.2) looks set to escape Pep Guardiola’s rotation while Sergio Aguero continues his recovery from knee surgery. The Brazilian faces West Ham’s erratic defence having found the net three times and collected as many assists over his last four starts.

Southampton boss Mark Hughes will surely have earmarked his side’s home encounter with Bournemouth as a must-win match in their bid to avoid relegation. This has prompted us to hand a bench spot to right-back Cedric Soares (4.7), who has earned two assists and a clean sheet in his last three run-outs.

Marko Arnautovic (7.0) also merits a mention on the back of an exceptional run of form, with four goals and an assist in his last eight starts, including a 16-point FPL haul at home to Southampton in Gameweek 32.

This should be enough for him to reward our faith against City, who may well rotate their backline with the title secure. The Sky Blues failure to keep a clean sheet in three of their last four run-outs also bodes well for the Austrian.

We have turned back to Southampton for our reserve striker selection, with Charlie Austin (5.8) claiming a call-up.

Even though he has been benched in three of the last four matches, Austin has made the most of his chances, firing in a shot every 32 minutes and scoring in an 18-minute cameo off the bench against Arsenal in Gameweek 33.

The Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 33 is Nani. R U Ok?, who has opted for a 3-5-2 line up of Pope; Gomez, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold; Willian, Son, Hazard, Eriksen, D. Silva; Lukaku, Firmino.

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 champion to beat remains Gregor, who achieved victory over the Scouts by a 33-point margin in Gameweek 5.

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

  1. Hammarby IF
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Not a valid Scout Picks team.
    4 Defenders + 6 Midfielders

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Ha ha. Excellent point!

    2. kennethrhcp
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      remember it said before but its 1 sub each position

    3. Rash
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      😆

  2. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    DDG
    Lowton, Vert, Tarkowski, Christensen
    Mahrez, Hazard, Willian, Son
    Kane, Lukaku

    (Ryan, Cork, Morgan, Quaner)

    What to prioritize? 1FT, 0.5itb Thanks

    A) Hazard out for Salah or Sterling
    B) Lukaku to Jesus
    C) Both for -4
    D) Mahrez to Sterling
    E) Roll FT

    1. zotter
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      B and D for a hit ?

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Little nervous of City rotation with Sterling esp if taking a hit.

  3. President Giggs
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Still think i'm going to captain Kane over Salah. Got 60 points to make up in my ML and i'm not going to do it by captaining the same player as everyone else. Would absolutely captain Salah is I was leading or the gap was much tighter though.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I'm doing the opposite.
      My rival has no Salah and will captain Kane

      Salah (c) it is

  4. Hi I'm Jose
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Lol thought i was getting David Silva but just transferred in B.Silva instead. I hope he will play.

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Could work out for you, did u not think he seems a bit cheap

      1. Hi I'm Jose
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Im using the app for FPL, just touched the screen for Silva lol

    2. kennethrhcp
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      no way... that's a fair silly error. hope it pays off

  5. yakirh
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Got 7 players from scout picks starting 11
    I hope they nail it this time

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Beat me to it mate! Which ones have you got?

      1. yakirh
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Sterling Son Salah
        Kane Jesus

        And also Lowton & Klavan similar to Long & VVD

        1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Similar to me except I've got Vvd and long and zaha instead of son. Good luck mate

          1. yakirh
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Thanks mate good luck !

  6. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Christ I've got 7 scout picks in my team. Doomed to fail now I guess!

    1. Lets jump straight into it.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      buggar

  7. Rash
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Zaha in the picks and not Barnes.. May be that solves my benching headache

  8. Pylynen
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Captain Kane or Salah if leading?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Salah

    2. President Giggs
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Definitely Salah

  9. nevins84
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play Chambers r swap to Cedric???

    1. yakirh
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Cedric

  10. yer old da
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Decided on Alonso & Willian > Bavies and Sterling. Good?

    One of the main reasons I’ve opted for Mahrez over Willian is my rival in a league worth £700 is 43 points behind and has Mahrez but not Willian so I’m cancelling that one out.

  11. Hi I'm Jose
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Any chance that B. Silva starts?

    1. Andy'81
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      He'll probably make way for Sane this week, he'll start at least one of the double though I'd imagine.

  12. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Could this article please get a new pic next season? Mawson's ass is really a disturbing scene.

    1. arndff_
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      😆 😆

      1. arndff_
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Your post should be marked as a hot topic! 😀

    2. kennethrhcp
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      who's ass would you prefer TC? 😉

  13. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Repost

    Hey guys, what should I do with this team?

    DDG-Ryan
    Lowton-Duffy-Dummet-Alonso-Simpson
    Mahrez-Salah-Willian-Grob-Albrighton
    Kane-Lukaku-Barnes

    1 FT and 0.0 in the bank.

    Cheers

    1. weaver93
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Difficult..

      Mahrez - Eriksen
      Lukaku - Jesus

  14. COLLIN QUANER
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Chances of Sane starting tomorrow? Should I keep or use my FT to get Sterling instead?

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Keep

    2. kennethrhcp
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      id keep. we all know its a gamble with city mids at the mo

  15. Lignja
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    This week only

    A. Jesus
    B. Lukaku

    1. zotter
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A

    2. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Jesus

  16. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Just wanted to get another opinion. I got Sterling and will get Jesus next week but I want one more city midfielder. Which of these would u choose?

    A. Sane
    B. DSilva
    C. BSilva

    1. zotter
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A by far

    2. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I wouldn't get another one this week. Wait and see how plays, then wait for Peps presser, if there is any indication David Silva plays at home for the Hudds match when the loft the trophy (he prob will do), then I'd opt for him

  17. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    ScoutPicks graphic said GW36 with GW35 players. Now changed back.

    Free WC?

  18. arndff_
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    As I had decided to keep Mahrez, I made this on Monday night:
    Ryan, Willian, Lukaku > Nordfelt, Sterling, Jesus (-8!)

    Hope it won't backfire spectacularly...

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Poor for -8

      1. arndff_
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Had exact money. At least I'm now set for GW37.

      2. arndff_
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        BTW, I asked about it a few times and also I answered whether your team's G2G (4 days ago). So where were you when I needed help? 😉

  19. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Just looking back a few weeks. Spurs, City and Everton scored 2 each against Stoke. Leicester, Burnley and Leicester got 1 each against then while the Saints scored 0. That's 9 conceded in 7 games, not too bad. Fighting for their survival tomorrow I think they put up a damn good fight and lose by the narrow margin. Not bringing back Salah for -8

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Or Liverpool get a quick goal tomorrow and Stoke begin to crack..if they get a feeling that survival would be slipping out of their hands I could really see a Liverpool route. I just can't justify doing Sanchez -> Salah now so just probably have to turn off tv and phone for a while

      1. zotter
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Sanchez will be ok four games v salah 2 I think (one Chelsea). Can’t see him playing v Brighton

  20. weaver93
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    ..Any changes here guys??
    A -Alonso -B Davies
    B. Alonso & Mahrez - Davies & Salah = -4
    C. Mahrez & Lukaku - Salah & Jesus = -4
    D - All three for a -8..

    DDG, Ryan
    Alonso*,Morgan,Chilwell,Tarkowski, Lowton
    Alli,Mahrez, Willian,Lingard, Cook
    Kane,Lukaku, Barnes.
    1FT 1.4 ITB
    thanks

  21. flippetyflop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play Austin or Gudmunsson tomorrow?

    1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Austin

  22. DeadStarComing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    For anyone who has seen the leaked Liverpool team do you think it means someone like Gomez in the midfield 3? I doubt it's a 5-2-3 Klopp will play.

    1. XabiAlonso
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I think it's taa in right midfield Gomez right back

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      TAA played as a midfielder and winger in the youth teams

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Just wondering this. Considering getting Salah back in but not sure how that team will be setting up.

      Could be a Chelsea-type 3-4-2-1 formation either?

      1. DeadStarComing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Possibly yeah. Like you I can't quite figure out if it's good or bad for Salah. Still I guess formation should be little concern with the form he's in.

    4. Rash
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      343 maybe?

  23. danishdynamite
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    I have Bailly and Alonso, and one of them needs to go

    So who’s toast?

    1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Bailly, but depending on how much you need to shed, you could take a punt on Jones to keep the coverage

    2. weaver93
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      bailly

    3. danishdynamite
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Thx chaps

  24. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Probs not gunna make much difference in the long run, but which backup keeper should I go for with Lloris (WAT, DGW, LEI):
    a) Hennessey (LEI, stk, WBA)
    b) McCarthy (BOU, DGW, MCI)

    Bench boosting 37

  25. Guru Mediation
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Auba > Jesus?

  26. rokonto
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Are david silva... sterling.. and jesus playin on sunday

    1. weaver93
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      jesus will be..

  27. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Should I use my WC now, or for GW 38? I already made two FTs to get this team.

    Pickford
    Azpi, Naughton, Schindler (Cresswell, Mbemba)
    Salah (c), Sterling, Son, Mili (King)
    Kane, Jesus, Aubameyang

  28. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Start Groß or Milivojevic?

    1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Gross

    2. Kun Tozser
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Mill

    3. yakirh
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Milli

  29. as33
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Kane, Jesus or Hazard to Captain?

    1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Kane

  30. seanie3
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    leading my mini league by 60 points and just want to win that, nearest rival has jesus, sterling & d silva and I have no city cover.

    my team is below, what is my best move this week

    ddg (ryan)
    lowton, tark, long (alonso, morgan)
    salah, willian, mahrez, son (king)
    kane, lukaku, murray

    a) lukaku & mahrez to jesus & sterling (-4)
    b) murray & mahrez to ayew & sterling (-4)
    c) alonso & mahrez to davies & sterling (-4)
    d) alonso & mahrez to smalling & sterling (-4)

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      a. I'm considering this anyway