Scout Picks
26 January 2021 1761 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
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Manchester City assets form the spine of our Gameweek 20 Scout Picks team.

We have chosen three of their players as they prepare for a favourable trip to West Bromwich Albion.

This XI of our favourite players for Gameweek 20 has been chosen using the Scout Squad submissions made by DavidTomAndy and Geoff over the weekend.

We line-up in the classic 3-4-3 formation this week and come in at £80.6m, £2.4m inside the budget of £83.0m.

GOALKEEPER

Fantasy Premier League’s top-scoring goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (£5.1m) was an easy inclusion in this week’s Scout Picks. Eight of his nine clean sheets have come against sides in the bottom half of the table this season while Burnley remain the joint-lowest scorers in 2020/21 with 10 goals.

DEFENDERS

Gameweek 19 Scout Picks features all double game players

After earning a rest in the FA Cup and against Crystal Palace in Double Gameweek 19, João Cancelo (£5.8m) looks set to return to Manchester City’s starting XI for Gameweek 20. With Aymeric Laporte back in the picture, he is arguably a more sure starter than the centre-backs moving forward and, considering his impact and the fact he hit the bar against Aston Villa, an away trip to West Bromwich Albion carries huge points-potential for the full-back.

Harry Maguire (£5.4m) is the most nailed-on way of capitalising on Manchester United’s appealing home fixture against the division’s joint-lowest scorers Sheffield United (10 goals). The Red Devils have clean sheets in three of their last five league matches and in three of their last four at Old Trafford too. Meanwhile, no Manchester United defender has put up more shots in the box this season. 

Newcastle have failed to score in five of their last six Premier League matches, which bodes well for Stuart Dallas (£4.8m). The Leeds full-back scored in his last meeting with the Magpies and has the third-highest number of touches inside the box of any colleague over the last four matches.

MIDFIELDERS

Phil Foden hauls again as City defence shines in win over Brighton 1

Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) has proved something of a ‘flat-track bully’ this season, having done well against the struggling sides thus far. Of his 10 attacking returns, eight of those have come against teams in the bottom half of the Premier League table. Only two FPL midfielders have been involved in more goals against such opposition this season. A Gameweek 20 meeting with West Bromwich Albion could see Sterling deliver once again.

Bruno Fernandes (£11.3m) is one of those two midfielders, with five goals and five assists against teams inside the bottom half of the Premier League table in the first 19 Gameweeks. Manchester United’s penalty-taker is also top among all players in the Premier League for shots on target over the last four matches.

Harvey Barnes (£6.8m) is our chosen representative from the Leicester attack as they prepare to face Everton. While James Maddison has outscored him over the last four matches, Barnes has produced more touches in the box, shots in that area of the pitch, big chances and shots on target over the same period compared to his colleague.

Ilkay Gündogan (£5.6m) has been a Fantasy revelation since moving into a more advanced role for Manchester City. As well as assuming the responsibility for penalties in Kevin De Bruyne’s absence, the German international ranks best or joint-best among all colleagues for shots in the box, big chances and shots on target since Gameweek 13.

FORWARDS

Harry Kane (£11.2m) is our chosen Spurs attacker ahead of a meeting with Liverpool. The Reds have one clean sheet in their last three Premier League matches and displayed even more fragility in their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. We fancy Jose Mourinho’s men to find the net on Thursday and considering Kane has created more big chances, shot more times in the box, produced more shots on target and has a higher goal conversion rate than Son Heung-min in the last four matches, the striker gets the nod.

Patrick Bamford (£6.7m) has just one goal in his last five matches but a trip to Newcastle bodes well for the Leeds forward. They are facing a shortage of defensive options for Gameweek 20 and have conceded the third-highest number of big chances over the last four matches.

Michail Antonio (£6.4m) has goals in each of his two matches since returning from injury and faces a Crystal Palace side in Gameweek 20 without James Tomkins, one of the key factors in their recent defensive improvements.

SUBSTITUTES

  • Alex McCarthy (£4.7m)
  • Lewis Dunk (£4.8m)
  • Matt Targett (£4.7m)
  • Bukayo Saka (£5.3m)

THE CAPTAIN

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

We choose the Scout Picks captain using a four-way vote between our Scout Squad pundits.

Because we use Fantasy Football Scout data so heavily in this process, the skipper we choose each Gameweek is known only to those with a valid Fantasy Football Scout subscription and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 20:

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

  1. umerlfc
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Am I mad to consider starting Cresswell over Robertson?

    1. Moderately content penguin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. Pukkipartyy
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I would start Cresswell over Robbo atm.

    3. Karan_G14
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I am starting him over Robbo

  2. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play Wood or targett?

  3. tbos83
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Dallas (v New) or Targett (v Bur)?

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas

    2. Moderately content penguin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Targett

    3. Tanaka'd
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd go Dallas

    4. tbos83
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks - this is a really tricky one. I'm leaning Targett as I don't have Martinez and of the two I think Avl have more chance of CS.

  4. ‘Tis the Season
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed - Play Watkins or Soucek? Play alioski or coufal?

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Watkins and Alioski

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      watkins coufal

    3. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Watkins and Coufal

    4. ‘Tis the Season
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      cheers guys

  5. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What to do here?

    A) Play Zouma / Justin
    B) Zouma to Cancelo (-4)

    0FT 6.5ITB
    Martinez
    Stones Coufal Zouma*
    Salah Bruno Son Gundogan
    Antonio Bamford Watkins

    McCarthy / Soucek Justin Holding

    Thanks!

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  6. Feed tha Sheep
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A. Cancelo (-4)
    B. Soucek

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. La Roja
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

    3. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

  7. Miguel Sanchez
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Afternoon all, GTG

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Coufal
    Bruno(c) *Rashford Son Gundogan
    Martial Wilson Antonio

    Soucek Holding Mitchell

    1. aleksaa2
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      G2G

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Couf/Souc marginal, but you know that.
      GL

    3. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yup, good luck!

    4. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      No Salah but fully loaded on United 🙂

    5. Moderately content penguin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nice

      Very close to mine

      Targett Barnes DCL for Coufal Gundo Martial

  8. Totti
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    reposting looking for replies

    who to play?

    A) bednarek
    B) holding

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. La Roja
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

  9. For Fuchs Sake
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Start Saka or Soucek?

    1. Totti
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      saka for sure

    2. aleksaa2
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Saka

  10. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Mane to:
    A) Gundogan
    B) Son
    C) Hold

    1. La Roja
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      C

    2. Disco Stu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A short term C for the long term

  11. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play Justin or Holding? Rate my team tool fancies Holding by a smidge

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Justin IMO

    2. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, RMT had Justin benched when I was thinking of bringing him in.
      Hence next week.

    3. Connor's Calling
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      i'm on Holding at the mo

  12. La Roja
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bottom of previous page

    Start 2 please

    A) Coufal
    B) Zouma
    C) Pieters
    D) Dallas

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      AD

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Agree

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas and maybe Zouma (presumably he is 90 or zero), then Couf

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        BD

  13. lekalatch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who do you think score the most this week?
    A) Salah
    B) Gundogan

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      a

    3. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. Moderately content penguin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A 2
      B 3

  14. The Tinkerman
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?

    Martinez
    Stones, Cancelo, Justin, Coufal
    Salah, Bruno (C), Son (V), ESR
    Kane, Bamford

    McC; Soucek, Ayling, Brewster

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      yay
      ESR an interesting one

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Just for this week. Grealish in next week and he becomes bench fodder. I would guess Odegaard will restrict his minutes after he comes in.

    2. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks on paper like 100 point week 🙂

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Hope so, given it took a -8 to replace Vardy and KDB in an appropriate way.

  15. colby_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play 2:
    A) Coufal
    B) Ogbonna
    C) Charlie Taylor
    D) Robbo

    1. HuthTheMagicDragon
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      AD

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

        Cheers.

  16. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Ederson,
    Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko
    Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo
    Sterling, Jesus, Foden

    https://twitter.com/SmuelMartinFPL/status/1354063721702830081?s=19

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks about right

    2. ‘Tis the Season
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Does that mean 2x holding mids - Guno & Rodri?

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No, same formation. Rodri in holding.

      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No, not really. Same as before.

    3. Moderately content penguin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mahrez to mess it up!

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

      (Note he doesn't say its confirmed, just that this is the one doing the rounds.)

      Could just be somebody's guess since that's what I would have guessed anyway.

  17. HuthTheMagicDragon
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Start Dallas or Bamford?

    Current Team:

    Martinez
    Dias Cancelo AWB
    Son Salah Fernandes Foden
    Antonio Kane Bamford

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      bamford

    2. aleksaa2
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Bam

    3. HuthTheMagicDragon
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers guys, much appreciated

  18. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Would love an opinion:

    A) No Hit this week. Play Raphinha (alongside Bamford). Get Kane (for Adams) and Grealish (for Soucek) next week.

    B) -4 to do Soucek -> Sterling and play over Raphinha. Ignore Spurs for now

    C) -4 to do Soucek -> Grealish and play over Raphinha. Get Kane next week.

  19. lekalatch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who out of Cancelo and Stones would you get in?

    1. HuthTheMagicDragon
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Cancelo if funds allow, Stones won't score for the rest of the season or assist....that haul was a one off.

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      cancelo if you have dias. if not stones

  20. jimbo_smells
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hi all,

    Whilst the WC16 and BB19 has given me the security of a solid bench, it has also left me with a (severe) benching headache!

    Need to play 3/bench 3 of these:

    Coufal, Justin, Robertson
    Soucek, Lookman
    Rodrigo

    Currently playing Robbo, Coufal and Lookman(!) and my bench is:

    1. Justin
    2. Soucek
    3. Rodrigo

    Agree? Disagree?

    thanks 😉

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      That’s probably the worst benching headache I’ve seen. No idea. Good luck! 😀

      1. jimbo_smells
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks. Probably should have saved my BB for this week! :‑D

    2. Tanaka'd
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd swap Lookman with Rodrigo

    3. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I think you've made the right call.

  21. JELLYFISH
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hi guys, who is the best budget defender to go for other than Mitchel (by budget thinking 4.3 or less)?

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      bogle, lascelles

      1. JELLYFISH
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Bogle an interesting option

  22. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Can't decide. Please reply.

    Play

    A. Coufal
    B. Targett

    Martinez
    Maguire Cancelo XX

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Couf cos Martinez

    2. ‘Tis the Season
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A for sure

    3. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers both

    4. ‘Tis the Season
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A for surePlay Watkins or Soucek? Play alioski or coufal?

  23. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Soucek > Sterling for a hit? Have gundo and stones.

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      no

    2. aleksaa2
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nah

  24. sthelenslad92
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What do you think are the chances of Foden getting 90 minutes?

  25. Tatty Bojangles
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one from

    (a) Robertson (tot)
    (b) Coufal (cry)
    (c) Dallas (new)

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

  26. FFFoxy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Would you start:
    A) Watkins
    or
    B) Lookman?

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

  27. Threat Level Midnight
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Reallllllly want to get Rashford in and captain. I think he still starts and hauls. If hes fit, absolutely no reason hes rested when he just was prior to the cup match.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Brave choice, I would have done if he hadn't limped off even if he is back

    2. aleksaa2
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      He was my differential captain for the whole week, but I chickened out, becuase of the possible managed minutes and went with Bruno

    3. Moderately content penguin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Did it - for a hit. SH look there for the taking

      Lost Mo in the process!!!!

      1. Threat Level Midnight
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You convinced me! I have Kevin last on my bench anyway. Why not!

  28. Pickle juice
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which one of the below for -4 swap with Neto (I already have bruno and gundo

    A. Rash
    B. Foden
    C. Silva
    D. Someone else
    E. Play Nero (no hit)

    Thanks

  29. FPL ElasticO
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    How is this team G2g? Is benching Soucek too risky?

    Martinez
    Stones / Robbo / Targett / Coufal
    Salah / Bruno (c) / Gundogan / Son
    Bamford / Antonio

    Bench:: Johnston / Soucek / KWP / Brewster

    1. krumcake
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Benching Soucek is not risky.

  30. thom830g
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    start Justin or Coufal?

    1. Pickle juice
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal