Scout Picks

Gameweek 18 Scout Picks – Time for Man City triple-up

We are bringing you our best XI for Gameweek 18 several hours earlier than usual because of the Friday night deadline.

As usual, we have assessed the squad of players submitted by our Scout Squad panel Paul, Joe, Az and Peter to come up with the optimum line-up.

We are inside our budget of £83m this week, and are lining up in the traditional Fantasy formation of 3-4-3.

Goalkeeper

Lukasz Fabianski (£4.7m) was the most popular goalkeeper with our Scout Squad this week, with two of them picking him as the best option between the sticks, while Joe had him as the second choice. The West Ham shot-stopper has recorded a minimum of eight points in three of his last four Premier League outings and prepares to face a Watford side with two blanks in their three most recent away trips.

Defenders

Aymeric Laporte (£6.1m) is our Manchester City representative for Gameweek 18 after Joe and Peter picked him out as the best defender this weekend. The Frenchman is easily the most assured of a start even during this busy Christmas period. Pep Guardiola’s defending champions may be without a clean sheet since Gameweek 13, but the visit of Crystal Palace seems to be the ideal time to record their ninth of the season. Only Huddersfield have scored fewer goals than the Eagles in 2018/19.

Stephan Lichtsteiner (£4.5m) comes into the Scout Picks XI for the first time ever, as we look to cover the Arsenal defence in Gameweek 18. Sead Kolasinac was actually the player chosen by our Scout Squad panel with Paul and Az tipping him as the best defender for the weekend. However, with Kolasinac still a slight doubt in our minds for the visit of goal-shy Burnley (Emery “thinks” he will be okay to play rather than declaring him 100% fit), we’ve gone for the safer option. Lichtsteiner looks to be the only option available at right-back, with Hector Bellerín now ruled-out, which is more can be said for the left-flank where either Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal or Ainsley Maitland-Niles are likely to be used.

Matt Targett (£4.2m) played his way into our thinking for Gameweek 18 after his impressive display against Arsenal. With Ryan Bertrand currently out of the Southampton team, Targett has made the left-back spot his own and has been offering some creative potential too. The Saints have a real chance of showing what defensive improvements they have made under new manager Ralph Hasenhütll this weekend too, as they travel to face the division’s lowest scorers Huddersfield. The Terriers have found the net just three times at home in 2018/19 thus far.

Midfielders

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) is the first of our Manchester City double-up as Crystal Palace prepare to visit the home of the champions. Guardiola’s men have scored five goals against the Eagles each of the last two times they came to the Etihad Stadium, and the way they are playing there this season suggests we could be in for another goal-fest. After having some rest against Everton and Leicester midweek, Sterling should be preparing to start Gameweek 18, especially with his direct competition in Riyad Mahrez playing the full 90 in the EFL Cup. In his last six Premier League starts he has five goals and five assists and it should be no surprise that the Englishman was unanimously tipped as the best midfield option by our Scout Squad panel this week.

Eden Hazard (£11.0m) also forced a unanimous decision out of our pundits, with all four of them selecting him as the second-best option for Gameweek 18. The Chelsea midfielder is in very reliable form having recorded five assists and a goal in his last four matches. That stems from some very impressive underlying statistics both for goal threat and creativity, meaning he is one of the likeliest players to get a double-figure haul this weekend.

Leroy Sané (£9.7m) completes our Manchester City contingent as they prepare to host Crystal Palace. Once again, it was a unanimous decision from the Scout Squad panel with all four of our pundits putting Sané in the box for third-choice. The German international has been keeping pace with Sterling’s underlying statistics in recent weeks, as Fantasy Football Scout members will know more about from the latest Captain Sensible article, making him just as likely to deliver as his English colleague. We think Sané is more likely to start as well, having had his minutes managed at Everton and absent from the EFL Cup win.

Ryan Fraser (£6.3m) and his Bournemouth colleagues may be on the chopping block for some Fantasy managers, but we believe Gameweek 18 is the right time for faith in your Cherries assets. They host a Brighton and Hove Albion team allowing more shots from set pieces than any other side in away games this season. This is where Fraser specialises as Bournemouth’s corner taker, so we’re expecting him to continue ticking over for the campaign on Saturday, with Joe and Az his backers.

Forwards

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.5m) is another player who should be regarded with patience by his owners. The Arsenal man has received the backing of all four of our Scout Squad pundits this week, with Joe, Az and Peter picking him as the best option, Paul the second-best. Aubameyang has been unfortunate not to have scored since his Gameweek 14 brace against Spurs and we believe that a home match against Burnley, who are still giving away plenty of chances, is the opportunity he needs to get back in the goals.

Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (£6.5m) is our West Ham representative this week, ahead of that visit of Watford to the London Stadium. The Mexican forward has scored three times and assisted twice in his last four matches and he continues to appear the first choice for the Hammers with Marko Arnautovic out. Meanwhile, the Hornets have just one clean sheet away from home this season and are likely to concede in the wake of Manuel Pellegrini’s in-form attacking side.

Salomón Rondón (£5.9m) completes our Scout Picks XI for Gameweek 18 as Newcastle face Fulham at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon. The Cottagers have conceded an average of 2.67 goals per away match this season, suggesting that there are attacking returns on offer for the Magpies this weekend. Rondón is easily their in-form man with a goal or an assist in each of his last three Premier League outings, and underlying statistics which suggest that output is sustainable.

Substitutes

David Luiz (£5.8m) could be the man to capitalise on Leicester’s troubles in front of goal in Gameweek 18. The Foxes come to Stamford Bridge on the back of successive blanks while fitness doubts remain over Jamie Vardy.

We would have loved to include Felipe Anderson (£7.4m) but just ran out of funds to do so following his most recent price rise. We feel we have sufficient cover in Hernandez but have to point out the Brazilian was well-backed by our pundits, three of them asking for him to be included. Indeed, he has two goals and two assists in his last four appearances.

Marcus Rashford (£6.9m) looks likely to start for Manchester United in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game in charge and stands a decent chance of getting some attacking returns, with his accuracy in recent weeks. Ultimately what cost him a place in the full XI was the uncertainty around the Red Devils with Solskjaer’s impact as yet hard to measure.

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 18 is ochili. He has opted for a 3-4-3 formation of: Leno; Luiz, Lovren, Delph; Fraser, Sterling, Hazard, Pogba; Rashford, Wilson, Aguero.

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 Scouts have won nine and lost seven so far, with #FPLGuru defeated 47-43 in Gameweek 17.

fclackless‘s winning margin of 33 points (77-44) in Gameweek 10 is the current target to beat.

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1,480 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Blue&White85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Play Kenedy or Ings?

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      The chap who plays upfront and is on pens

    2. RyanC
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      The one who isn't useless.

  2. Edmond
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    What to do with this lot?

    Fabianski Hamer
    Alonso Robertson Doherty Digne AWB
    Salah F. Anderson Richarlison Brooks Hojberg
    Kane Aubameyang Wilson

    2 FT, 0.0 ITB

    a) Salah > Hazard
    b) Salah > Sterling/Sane
    c) Salah + Richarlison + Alonso > Hazard + Sane + D. Luiz (-4)
    d) Any other ideas.

    Cheers all.

  3. Cheeky Onion
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    How do we feel about this WC team? (leaves 0.0 ITB)

    Fab
    Alonso - Doherty - Digne
    Hazard - Sane - Rich - Snod
    Kane - Auba - Jimenez

    Hamer - AWB - Zabaleta - Stephens

    Cheers!

    1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Templatey. Which is usually safe enough

      1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Personally i think robbo and Sterling are more important than alonso auba.
        So i would swap those around with billing and a cheap striker
        But thats just my opinion

        1. Cheeky Onion
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Not a bad shout, will definitely consider

      2. Cheeky Onion
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I take much comfort in the template 🙂

    2. RyanC
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Looks good!

    3. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Don’t double up on West Ham defence, zabeleta to chambers or Schindler.

      Rest looks good but I prefer one or none premium strikers. If I WC I’d go with ings jimmy and Wilson with haz sterling sane salah in mid

    4. RustyBz
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      If I was WCing I'd want Raheem and probably wouldn't have Auba...

      Also Felipe Anderson > Snodgrass.

    5. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I'm currently doing my wc team. Going without Kane to get both Sane and sterling. Losing Salah though. Makes me afford Alonso and Robbo in defence,

  4. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Choose one for this weekend only ...

    A) Torreira

    B) Deulofeu

  5. Tvaara
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    play Brooks on Jimenez?

    1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      He would win alot of headers

  6. Ahmed Adam
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Please select the best 3 to Play:

    1) Allison
    2) Fabiansky
    3) Schurle
    4) Dunk
    5) Jemenez

  7. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Can't believe Kane as captain is being so readily dismissed. Almost certain to start and play 90, exceptional record versus Everton as well

    1. soup natsi
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Everton looked good in big games and Spurs will be tired.

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kane will always be a c candidate but his record is slightly irrelevant considering he is playing a different role this season compared to the gung ho kane from season pasts

    3. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      exceptional record against Everton when he played as a striker - not as an OOP attacking mid 🙂

    4. Legendash
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Most difficult captain choice this season I think, I have sane, sterling, Kane and Auba and no idea who to captain.

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        One of them.

  8. soup natsi
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    play one:
    A. Balbuena (WAT)
    B. Lovren (wol)

    Have Robbo, no Fab. ML rival have both Fab and Balbs.

  9. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Can’t think of a move. Got any ideas

    Ederson De Gea
    Alonso Robertson Laporte Trippier Kiko
    Salah Hazard (c) Sterling Sané Son
    Kane Auba(v) Rondón

    2ft. O itb

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Your Tv Must be though the roof

    2. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Downgrade a keeper to fab

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      funny

    4. The_FF_King
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      No way is that your team

    5. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Just read it properly
      Clown

    6. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      What's the point of this?

    7. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Lol - upgrade Rondón to Aguero

    8. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Rondon gave the game away

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        ...and who puts DDG in goal?

  10. ASAP Rocky
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    1 FT. Stick or transfer?? 0 ITB.

    Patricio - Hamer

    TTA - Robertson - Alonso - Bennett - Peltier

    Sane - Son - Richarlison - F Anderson - Camarasa

    Kane - Aubameyang - Hernandez

  11. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Bellerin to Delph and make a double up on City defence? Nonsense right?

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Absolute nonsense

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks. Any suggestions for a Bellerin replacement?

        1. Rossaldinho
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          sideways swap to Monreal

        2. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Digne/Holebas/Lovren/Luiz

  12. Ghost86
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    On WC

    A) Kane Snodgrass Alonso Kiko

    B) Auba Fanderson Luiz Schindler

    1. ASAP Rocky
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

      1. ASAP Rocky
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        although would find a way to get Anderson in with this tasty run of fixtures

    2. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B

  13. Gimli son of Gloin
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    WC team. Set in stone. Until I tinker some more.

    Fabianski
    Laporte - Luiz - Lovren
    Hazard - Sane - Anderson - Martial
    Kane - Rashford - Hernandez

    (Hart - Richarlison - Doherty - AWB)

    Thoughts?

    1. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Would probably just pick one of the Man Utd boys until you know how they'll shape up

      1. Gimli son of Gloin
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        On the fence.. tempted to either go all in on a fun United festive period, or Ings and a Spurs mid

  14. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    What are pro's for captaining Kane ?

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      If he scores, you get double points

      1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        This makes up for the nonsense above

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      He could score many goals

    3. RyanC
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      He sometimes scores goals.

    4. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      He'll score goals.

    5. Patch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      If you are in the Top 100k then that will propel you into the 60k mark

  15. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Defender upto 4.7?

    A) Holebas
    B) Targett
    C) Other?

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

      Bertrand May win his spot back

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

  16. Norsemen
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    GTG?

    Fabianski

    Alonso - Trippier - Digne
    Felipe Anderson - Fraser - Sterling(vc) - Hazard (c)
    Wilson - Kane - Mitrovic

    Doherty - Gunnarson - AWB

  17. as33
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Whos gonna play in MU attacking defend?

    1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Classic oxymoron

  18. Marquis-Cha-Cha
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    G'morning.

    A. Play Doherty instead of Digne?
    B. Billing instead of Jimenez?

    Fab
    Robertson / Alonso / Digne
    Richarlison / Sane / Salah / Fraser
    Jimenez / Wilson / Kane

    Button / Billing / Doherty / AWB

  19. Herju
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Auba or Lacazette?

    1. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Laca this week

      1. Rossaldinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Run out of patience with Emery - why he is not playing lacazette 90 mins is beyond belief! 4 points swapped for Rashford

  20. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Should I do Martial to Sané?

    I have no other city cover

    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Nah, Martial looks worth keeping now with fixtures and new manager.

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      You're a fruit short of a lemon.

  21. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Feels like I need another City asset. But taking a hit to get Sané feels a bit rash. Still... 1FT, 1.0itb

    1) GTG/Save
    2) Son, Fraser > Sané, Snodgrass (-4)

    Fab
    Doherty, Robbo, Luiz
    Sterling(c), Son, Hazard, Fraser, Anderson
    Kane, Wilson
    Bench: Button, Kamara, Bednarek, AWB

  22. ryacoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I have Salah, Hazard, Kane, Laca but 0 Man City players this week.

    Should I sell Salah to Sterling/Sane or just roll with it?

    1. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I’d sell Salah but really having no city is a differential too I guess ? 😉

      1. ryacoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Not the kind of differential you want to back though 😀

  23. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Mark looks very cute on the FF Show

  24. Mulla
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Hazard essential for Xmas lads?

    Laca & Duffy & Mendy (Leicester one) >>>> Haz, Bednarek & Kamara for -8 ??

    Gives me..
    Fabianski
    Alonso. Digne. Doherty
    Salah. Sane(C) Haz. Peyrera. Snoddy.
    Kane. Jimenez

    Button. Kamara. Bennet. Bednarek

  25. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    What are you Brooks owners doing? Good chance he'll start at the weekend.

  26. ASAP Rocky
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Stick or transfer?? 1 FT. Thinking of getting rid of Patricio and/or Bennett. Thoughts?

    Patricio - Hamer

    TTA - Robertson - Alonso - Bennett - Peltier

    Sane - Son - Richarlison - F Anderson - Camarasa

    Kane - Aubameyang - Hernandez

  27. Tibbs
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Captain dilemma:

    A)Sane
    B) Sterling
    C) Aubu??

    1. Miles105
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling for me , tried and tested bare points at home

  28. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Bring in Lovren for TAA

    OR

    Snodgrass for Brooks

  29. Alvaro Morata
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one.

    Doherty (Liv)
    Bednarek (Hud)
    Richarlison (Tot)
    Snodgrass (Wat)

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      a

      1. ASAP Rocky
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Bednarek

  30. Gaffa914
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Shaqiri and Lacazette to Rashford and Mane for free?