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. Sid07
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    1) lukaku + mahrez to jesus + salah(-4)
    2) lukaku + mahrez to firmino + salah (-4)
    3) 1 or 2 + son to sterling(-8)

    1. tractorjess
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      1

    2. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      1 If Salah starts

  2. pol
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Play one:

    A- Barnes (BHA)
    B- Kenedy (WBA)

    1. tractorjess
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes

  3. tractorjess
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A) Gross + Ibe --> Ramsey + T.Carroll?
    B) Leave as is
    C) Any other ideas

    Pope (Ryan)
    Tarks Dummett Chilwell (Smalling Kiko)
    Salah Willian Mahrez Ibe (Gross)
    Kane[c] Kaku Wood

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Got to be a lot of uncertainty on Ramsey starting.

      I'd start smalling.

  4. Les Bleus
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Repost:
    Which would you prefer? No city attackers in my team

    A) Mahrez to Sterling for free (I don’t have Vardy)
    B) Mahrez and Lukaku to Salah and Jesus (-4)

    1. Jam0sh
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Probably A

    2. tractorjess
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A or save

    3. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A for me

    4. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A

    5. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all. Will be crapping my pants when Pool play

      1. how now brown cow
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Borrow someone else's pants.

        Will soften the blow.

        1. Les Bleus
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Haha. Will do

    6. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A

  5. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    What would you do with this team? Dnt really know which issue to address first.

    DDG
    Christensen*-Lowton-Vertonghen
    Mahrez-Pogba-Willian-Gross
    Barnes-Kane-Lukaku

    Subs: Ryan-Alonso*-Morgan*-Ibe

    1Ft & 0.3itb,

  6. United84
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Play Tarkowski, Davies and...
    A Lowton
    B Dummett
    C Morgan

    1. Heavy Soul
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A or B

  7. Heavy Soul
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A) Firmino > Jesus (-4)
    B) Lukaku > Jesus (no hit)
    C) Hold (save FT)

    1. pressdpm
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      C, do it next week

    2. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Stick

    3. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      save for the dgw in case of injuries etc

    4. United84
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yea id save

    5. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      C

    6. Heavy Soul
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      What a great response. Cheers all!

  8. Waseem
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with Christensen? 1.2m ITB

    De Gea, Ryan
    Vert, Lowton, Chilwell, Morgan Christensen

    United double up? City defence? Upgrade Chelsea? Getting swans next week

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Spurs defender. Vert or bavies

      1. Waseem
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Already have Vert, 3 Spurs in team as a lot of people. Everyone else seems to be rotation risks within price range. Kompany looks the safest but even that isn't certain

        1. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Sorry. My mistake. I have smalling and DDG.

          Considered Newcastle defence?

          1. Waseem
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            I did but they juat keep cleans at home and so only 1 out of next 4 is favourable (this week). Going to avoid

  9. pressdpm
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    1FT and 0.5 spare. Mahrez > Alli/Son/Sterling? Can't afford Eriksen.

    De Gea
    Vertonghen - Chilwell - Lowton
    Salah - Lingard - Willian - Mahrez
    Kane - Lukaku - Barnes

    Ryan - Christensen - Morgan - Ibe

    1. Heavy Soul
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling for City coverage.

  10. Tickle Me Enzo
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    1.4 ITB, want to transfer out Dunk (4.5) = (5.9).
    Vertonghen @ (6.0), can't afford by 0.1
    Can transfer to Davies (5.8), is this a good transfer, or only a good one-week transfer and avoid? Thanks

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I think it's a good transfer.

      Just don't be disappointed if he sits out one of the gw37 matches.

  11. ZeBestee
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Start Barnes or Arnie?

    1. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes

    2. ol3andre
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes

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

      Arnie

  12. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Play groß or Barnes?

    1. ol3andre
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes

    2. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes imo

    3. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      barnes

    4. Ch3ckNorriZ
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes for me...;)

    5. Lecky Legs FC
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes

    6. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Wow. Didn't expect that to be so one-sided.

  13. ol3andre
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who should I bench? I got this bunch but not sure about the choices...maybe play Smalling?

    Lloris

    Rudiger - Tarowski - Lowton

    Willian - Son - Eriksen - Mahrez

    Jesus - Barnes - Vardy

    Subs: Dubravka - Smalling - Pogba - Morgan

    1. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Start Smalling and Pogba

      1. ol3andre
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        For who?

  14. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    thoughts appreciated please guys, is defence in order for this week?
    davies, tarkowski lowton ? morgan an mustafi on bench? cheers

    1. pressdpm
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yup

      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        cheers

    2. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        cheers

  15. Lecky Legs FC
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I know it's very early to be thinking about the DGW but I feel like planning in advance (I usually wouldn't) whicn one would you do for a -4 hit?

    A) Barnes, Lukaku & Mahrez > Arnie, Giroud & Jesus

    B) Barnes, Lukaku & Willian > Giroud, Gundogan & Jesus

    My squad as it stands at the moment:

    Pope
    Lowton Smalling VDH
    Mahrez Salah(©) Sane Willian
    Barnes Kane(VC) Lukaku

    Subs:Ryan,A King, Morgan & Schelotto

    Any advice is appreciated.

    1. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure about Giroud as an option

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Not a lot of people do on here underated for me personally he can score on the pitch and off the bench a nice differential pick and worthy the risk towards end of the season if your chasing

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

    Locked and loaded! G2G? 😎

    Good luck everyone

    DDG
    Smalling • Lowton • Morgan
    Eriksen • Willian • Sterling(v) • Kenedy
    Harry(C) • Lukaku • Austin
    (Ryan / Albrighton / Mustafi / Alonso)

    1. Jam0sh
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck RTG 🙂

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      great team good luck !

    3. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Top Team

    4. DJ1000
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      What no Salah

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

        No! Praying he doesn’t do too much! GL mate (minus Mo) 🙂

    5. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      That looks a lot better than my team. Hmmmm.

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

      Thanks all! Hope you all smash it 🙂

  17. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I'm really tempted to do Auba + Cork > Eriksen + J.Ayew for -4

    Team is:

    DDG
    Mustafi - Otamendi - Lowton
    Willian - Sterling - Salah - Lingard
    Aubamayang - Kane - Jesus
    ____________________________
    Nordfeldt: Morgan, Yedlin Cork

    Yay or Nay lads?

    1. ol3andre
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldnt play Mustafi.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah would be playing Yedlin ahead of Mustafi anyway mate, cheers.

    2. Ryanu2
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes Go for it

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Reckon i will mate, thanks for your reply 🙂

  18. JamesL1988
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    On final draft of WC. Thoughts on this team please? Have bench boost next week...

    Lloris (McCarthy)
    Smalling Lascelles Chilwell (VDH Naughton)
    Arnie Sterling Salah (c) Eriksen Kenedy
    Kane Jesus (J Ayew)

    1. mr messi
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good

  19. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Swansea City's Federico Fernandez and Kyle Bartley have lost their fitness battle ahead of the vital Liberty Stadium clash with Chelsea.

    Walesonline

  20. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    With conte hinting at rotation for the back 3 is it a good idea to do Christensen to Smalling as part of a hit

    Mahrez to D. Silva

    Christensen to Smalling

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

      Christensen missed the FA Cup so will play?

  21. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you take out for salah this week?

    Gross-Pogba-Mahrez-Willian

    1. Viper
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone but probably Mahrez

    2. Viper
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Actually Gross if its that simple

    3. mr messi
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Mahrez

  22. Winners900
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who to start with

    A) Bailly v Arsenal(H)
    B) Dunk v Burnley (A)
    C) Morgan v Crystal Palace (A)

    Cheers

  23. Viper
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Bailly & Mahrez - > Davies & Verthongen (-4)

    Yay or Nay?

    1. Viper
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Davies & Sterling*

      Ill try again later 😆

      1. Les Bleus
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I’d go for it

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

      How are you doing that?

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Everton Davies.

      2. Viper
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Typo. Davies & Sterling

  24. Les Bleus
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Those without Salah, with so many people captaining him this GW, are you going to bring him in?

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

      Nope.

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No. (K)ane and hope law of averages somehow stop Salah.

      1. Les Bleus
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Hope you’re right

    3. Prison Mike
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah it would be a rank killer if he hauls

      1. Les Bleus
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        But if he blanks...

    4. Jam0sh
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Probably not. Decision is not yet final however 😀

      1. Jam0sh
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I'm just not sure about bringing Salah back in this week as I have Sanchez whom I expect to do well vs Salah in the next two gameweeks.

  25. Stevie B
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Which teams will promote this season Wolverhampton and?

    Which teams will relegated this season West Brom and?

    1. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Current bottom three

  26. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Already did Lukaku+Bailly--->Kane+Naughton(-4). Do I do Mahrez to Sterling for -8? Got no City coverage this week:/ ML leader has Sterling.

  27. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Big night for Fulham. Win and they will go 2nd and put the pressure on Cardiff

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      good luck to them nice team

  28. SMOOTH
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    best def under 4.9?

  29. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    DDG
    Lowton | Morgan** | Tarkowski
    Son | Mahrez | Willian | Salah
    Barnes | Vardy | Kane
    Ryan | Alonso* | Robertson* | LCook

    1 FT & 0.0 ITB

    Alonso >> Bavies or Vert?

  30. The Nuttmxn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Sorry for the repost, after opinions.

    Is it worth keeping Azpilicueta looking forward to the double or ditch?

    Am on WC.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      azpi a keeper

      1. The Nuttmxn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers.