Scout Picks

Premium midfielders with appealing matches headline Gameweek 26 Scout Picks

We’ve gone big in midfield and relatively light in attack for the Gameweek 26 Scout Picks, which may raise an eyebrow or two.

As usual, we deliberated over the Scout Squad submissions made by David, Neale, Paul and Geoff over the last few days before coming up with the final team.

We shape up in a 3-5-2 formation, with our team coming well inside the allotted budget of £85.0m.

GOALKEEPER

No goalkeeper received unanimous support among our Scout Squad panel but Alex McCarthy did get three votes ahead of Southampton’s clash with Burnley. The Clarets are in the bottom three for attempts on goal and shots in the box in away games and ranked 20th for shots on target. Southampton, meanwhile, have allowed fewer attempts on goal than all teams bar Manchester City over the last six Gameweeks.

DEFENDERS

All three of our defensive picks this week received universal backing from our Scout Squad panel.

Nine clean sheets in ten matches is reason enough to back a Liverpool defender in Gameweek 26, with Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s assist potential – he has already matched his total number of attacking returns from 2018/19 – another string to his bow. The Canaries have allowed more crosses per home game from their left flank – i.e. Liverpool’s right – than any other club this season.

While Bournemouth have admittedly picked up back-to-back wins at home, they haven’t scored in four of their last five games on the road and Enda Stevens could potentially profit from a Cherries defence that has conceded more chances from their right flank than any other club over the last six Gameweeks. Sheffield United have kept clean sheets in five of their 12 games at Bramall Lane, with only Liverpool conceding fewer goals on home soil.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have not only scored fewer goals than any other Premier League side this season but they have also allowed more crosses from their right flank than any top-flight team over the last dozen Gameweeks. Lucas Digne, therefore, is our Everton representative, not least because 65 of his 81 FPL points have arrived in home fixtures.

MIDFIELDERS

How many top 10k managers played the Triple Captain for Double Gameweek 24?

Mohamed Salah, the leader in our captaincy poll, has registered 16-point hauls in each of the last two Gameweeks and averages 9.2 Fantasy Premier League points per match in 2020 so far. It has to be said that Salah hasn’t been prolific on the road this season, scoring only two goals away from Anfield – although he has supplemented those strikes with five assists. Salah bucked the trend in his last away outing, however, racking up 14 points in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham United. Norwich have shipped 25 goals in 12 home fixtures this season, meanwhile.

Manchester City’s home game against West Ham is arguably the standout fixture of Gameweek 26, with Kevin De Bruyne‘s security of starts – he has made Pep Guardiola’s starting XI for 17 league matches in a row – a big draw given the unpredictability of Guardiola’s selections elsewhere. David Moyes’ troops have conceded 14 big chances and ten goals over their last four matches. De Bruyne tops the league for key passes in his last four, meanwhile.

With Aston Villa the only side to have conceded more big chances than West Ham since Gameweek 21, Son Heung-min is our third premium midfield option selected. The South Korean may be in a more central role at Spurs following Steven Bergwijn’s arrival and he has fired 11 shots in the box in the last four Gameweeks since Harry Kane was sidelined.

Sergio Aguero was a first-choice pick for three of our Scout Squad but, omitted by Paul and with other £10.0m+ options receiving universal backing, the Argentinean was a luxury we simply couldn’t afford. Instead, we turn to Riyad Mahrez as our second City representative. Both Aguero and Mahrez have started 14 matches this season, with the latter proving the more explosive with five double-figure hauls to the Argentinean’s four.

We’re gambling on Graham Potter’s unpredictable team selection as we take a punt on Leandro Trossard extending his reliable home form against Watford. All three of the Brighton winger’s goals this season and four of his five assists have come at the Amex Stadium. When selected, he has been involved in 64% of the Seagulls’ efforts in front of their own supporters. Trossard has averaged 5.1 FPL points per home appearance.

FORWARDS

Crystal Palace are without a clean sheet in nine Gameweeks, so Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a chance to continue his fine form in the Carlo Ancelotti era. The Everton striker is joint-second for big chances when all FPL assets are filtered by their last four matches.

Danny Ings may have blanked for three Gameweeks in a row (one of his run-outs coming off the bench, in mitigation) but there is little wrong with his underlying stats, with the Southampton striker joint-third alongside Calvert-Lewin for shots in the box when players are filtered by their last four matches. The fact that he has racked up those attempts in just 270 minutes of football (out of a possible 360) makes that an even more impressive statistic. Ings has scored in five of his last seven home fixtures.

SUBSTITUTES

No goalkeeper has kept more league clean sheets than Dean Henderson this season and the Sheffield United shot-stopper was the first-choice pick for three of our Scout Squad panel ahead of the Blades’ clash with Bournemouth, who score at a rate of less than one goal per game away from home in 2019/20.

Mason Holgate is an ever-present under Ancelotti and David was keen to see us double-up on the Toffees, with Palace’s shot-shy attack visiting Merseyside.

Jack Stephens was Geoff’s preferred Southampton option, having recorded three assists and three clean sheets in the last ten Gameweeks.

Watford forward Troy Deeney – third for xGI among FPL forwards since Nigel Pearson took charge – this weekend faces a Brighton and Hove Albion defence with only one clean sheet to their name in 14 matches.

THE CAPTAIN

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 26 is Haggis.

They have gone for a 4-3-3 line-up of McCarthy, van Dijk, Doherty, Digne, Stevens, Salah, Mahrez, Moura, Aguero (c), Jesus, Ings.

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.

Community Champion gwitbrock beat our Scout Picks 86-63 in Gameweek 25 and as a result, their winning margin of 23 points is now the target to beat.

3,460 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Snooze ya lose
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kelly or Lund to Stevens?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Kelly

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Kelly as out injured and from Wilder words Lundstram might start

      1. FCSB
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Do you think he starts?

        Should I play Lundstram in the hope he starts or stick with Dunk?

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Mmm difficult but I say play him. Just feel he will start and Brighton not been doing clean sheets

          1. pavlev
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            I think horrid risk of cameo... This will be the trouble with lundstram now, with their fixtures especially

        2. gooberman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Play Dunk. Strong chance the lord will be benched and come on again for another 1 pointer.

    3. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Taa

  2. jdogg
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Henderson
    Taa gomez soyuncu
    Salah kdb son trossard
    Aguero dcl ings

    Button rico kelly dendonker

    1ft 0itb

    Was thinking kelly to lascelles or taylor?

    Also cant decide between salah or aguero for captain?x

    1. Man Chest Hair United
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Go Aguero and live a little! I would go Lascelles over Taylor

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      L & A

    3. jdogg
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers guys.that was my thoughts.x

  3. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pick 2 of these 3 to start:

    Cantwell, Soyuncu, Lundstram

    1. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Soy Lund

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Above

  4. popcoin
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Sell Madds or Martial?

    1. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'd probably sell madds first. Give Martial one more game with Bruno.

  5. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who you got

    A) sarr to mahrez -4
    B) martial to mahrez or son -4
    C) no hit and play 4 at the back (TAA, O’Connell Stephens dunk)

    1. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      C, I wouldn't want to be benching one of that four for a hit,

      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Sound logic, though losing one of those mids is tempting

  6. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which one homies?

    A. Lundy to Stevens, bench Martial
    B. Martial to Mahrez

    1. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Like b

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        ta

  7. XabiAlonso
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Keep vardy one more week or to aguero for -4

    1. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero

    2. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on your playing style, high risk high reward with Aguero and you probably want him out again soon with blanks and rotation. Will you cap him this week?

    3. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Keep

    4. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldn’t do it for a bit. I’m wildcarding and bringing in aguero but I’ll want Vardy in from GW28 onwards

    5. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Add up your expected scores for Vardy over next 3, and your expected scores for Aguero next 3 (which is 2 as he blanks)

      Then -4, and also consider rotation risk and that you will need to us a transfer maybe -4 again in GW28

    6. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers guys. I'm not scared of a hit, would be for just 2 weeks then easy move back if I do.

  8. bautasten
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    On WC:

    A) Boly, Stephens
    B) Lascelles, Bertrand

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B rotates nicely

      1. bautasten
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Boly rotates pretty good as well and plays 31, but like Bertrand more than Stephens. Tough one, thanks!

    2. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  9. Young Lingard
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Wild-carded McCarthy (H) and Pope (A)
    They play each other and I own Ings
    Does anyone have them both and who do I start this GW ?

    1. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Start McC

    2. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      McCarthy for sure

  10. Kvelertak
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Can't decide what to do with my team, do many options to consider.. Any inputs?

    Pope - Burton
    TAA - Digne - Soyuncu - Lund - Kelly
    Salah - KdB - Martial - Grealish - Dendoncker
    Vardy - Firmino - Jimenez

    Im set on Vardy-> Ings, but have one more FT

    Lund -> Stephens and leave it for now?
    Son, Mahrez, SU defender are candidates..

  11. Manani
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kelly > VVD
    or
    Madison > Son

    feeling like the first one is better, as I have 4 blanks in blank gw right now (excluding kelly)

    1. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

  12. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Stephens (BUR) or Traore (LEI)

    Leaning Traore

    1. FeverPitch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stephens

    2. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stephens

    3. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stephens

  13. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would you keep Mane even if no money tied up? Or sell him for Kun on a -4? (Mane/Haller->Kun/Bergwijn)

    1. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      That looks like a good hit to me

    2. Eastman
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I have him and Salah and may as well keep him now

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Keep Mane, he is a great differential now, especially if Salah is rested

  14. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Williams -> Taylor? 0.1 ITB, 1 FT.

    McCarthy
    TAA, VVD, O'Connell
    Salah, KDB, Grealish, Traore*
    Aguero, Aubameyang, Jimenez

    (Button, Lascelles, Hayden, Williams)

    Cheers.

  15. FeverPitch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A) Lund to Stevens
    B) Kelly to O’Connell

    Thanks

    1. Cookie Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B - then if you’re lucky and Lund plays you’ve got double sheff Utd cover

  16. HD7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Right order of starters and bench, mates?

    Kasper
    TAA Stephens Robbo
    KDB Fleck Salah Grealish
    Ings Aguero DCL

    Subs: Button, Dunk, Fernandes, Hayden

  17. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    1) Lund to Robertson
    2) Muapay to jiminez
    3) Lund + vardy to Stephens + aguero (-4)
    4) vardy to aguero

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      For one week 1. But after this week 2.

  18. HTL
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    My team is very similar to the Scout Picks, does it still act like the kiss of death?

    1. Cookie Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      26 points confirmed

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Only when they fail.

  19. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    In a bit of a pickle. Got to start two out of

    Maupay
    Grealish
    Lundstram
    Sarr

    Obviously they all (apart from maybe Grealish) have severe mitigating factors. Any help would be much appreciated.

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Grealish definitely, wouldn’t want to start any of the other 3, use a transfer or take a hit?

      1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, Grealish is the one i’m most sure on, just wanted to give the option because when I assumed they would all be available he was on the bench.

        Sadly it’s a hit, and the leicester vs wolves game slightly sours that one for me.

        Thank you

  20. Klaren
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A) Maupay, Martial to Ings, Barnes (-4)
    B) Firmino, Martial to Ings, Son (-4)
    C) Lundstram to Stephens
    D) Save FT to do Aguero, Maupay to Jimenez, Ings for free next GW.

    D would mean playing Maupay and Rico this GW.

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B looks tasty to me. Otherwise D but I don’t love what it does for your eleven this week.

      1. Klaren
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I really want to do B as well and not too bothered about the hit but just worried Firmino might punish me. I prefer Robertson over Firmino as my 3rd Liverpool player in the long term though so perhaps it's still the better option.

        1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah, I think you need to look long term with it, and I agree Robertson will likely provide better value.

          Ings and son have great games this week, I would go for it. I’m excited for you.

  21. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anything worth a hit lads?

    McCarthy
    TAA Stevens Soyuncu
    Salah(c) KDB Martial Traoré
    Vardy Firmino Ings

    Button Cantwell Mings Kelly

    1.1 itb

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely not requiring a hit.

      1. Belli2007
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        No, GTG

  22. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Start one:
    a) Chilwell (Wol)
    b) Lascelles (Ars)

    1. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Easy a

  23. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    On WC

    A Alli Redmond ( as below)
    B Son Mooy ( Max 4.8 m) and play Barnes with Mooy first on bench

    Henderson
    TAA Stephens Stevens
    Salah KDB Alli* Redmond*
    Firmino Ings Jiménez

    Pope Barnes Boly Fernández

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B, Son played the 2nd half v City up front and looked a lot better than Moura imo

  24. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    2 FT and 2.5 ITB.

    McCarthy
    Lundstram / TAA / Sidibe / Cathcart / Rico
    Salah / KDB / Grealish / Traore / Hayden
    Vardy / Firmino / Ings

    Thinking Traore > Son and Vardy > DCL. Anyone got any better ideas?

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Can you do Jimmy instead. DCL fixtures poor

  25. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who to replace Maddison with?

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stating budget and other mids would be helpful

    2. Eastman
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Thinking Mahrez if you can afford him

  26. Konstaapeli
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any news on Mane?

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Enjoying his holidays

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Good to hear that

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Nope, players coming back from injury don't tend to start though so even though he's most likely fit I'd guess he comes off the bench

      • StayoutheSpiceZone
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Mate, he will play. They have Madrid a few days later and I’d imagine he’d get 70mins. He’s only missed one or two games

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Martial & Maddison, both not performing, swap one for Mahrez with FT?
      No value tied up in Martial & Maddison has tasty fixtures arriving?

      1. Eastman
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I’m doing Maddison to Mahrez

    4. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Really need the 40% cs for soton not to happen.
      Mc Carthy also cant rise until then

    5. MichalFPL
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It is worth to bring Auba/Aguero for DCL? In next GW save FT, and for blank GW28, I can swap Grealish and Auba/Aguero for Maddison and Vardy to get Leicester cover for great fixtures. My team, ITB 6.3 :
      Button/Henderson
      TAA/Lascelles/ Lund/ Webster/ Tanganga
      Traore/ KDB/ Salah/ Son/ Grealish
      DCL/ Ings/ Greenwood

    6. Blue Gaffer
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Vardy, Traore, Lundstram to Ings, Mahrez, Taylor/Tanganga -8 yes or no?

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        -8 too much