Scout Picks

FPL Gameweek 1 Scout Picks: Five in defence, Kane over Haaland

The votes are in and most of the press conferences have been watched: now we can choose our best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players for Gameweek 1 ahead of Friday’s deadline.

The final selection is partly based on the Scout Squad consensus picks but budgetary constraints and injury updates from the pre-match pressers are all factored in, too.

We line up in a 5-3-2 formation this week and, as ever, are limited to £83.0m for our first XI.

CHANGES FOR 2022/23

While the maximum starting XI budget remains the same, there has been a slight change to how we nominate substitutes.

Our Scout Picks bench was previously made of players not just serving as bench fodder or to make the budget up to £100m but rather to give some alternative, viable options who don’t cost as much as some of the names in our line-up.

However, the people have (just about) spoken – and we will indeed be price-capping our substitutes, too.

Given that we’ve opted for a 5-3-2 this week, that decreases our starting budget to £82.5m, as £17.5m is now the minimum that one goalkeeper, two midfielders and one forward can buy.

GOALKEEPER

Fantasy community eyes Burnley clean sheet in first Double Gameweek match

Nick Pope (£5.0m), nominated by three of our Scout Squad panel, gets the nod between the posts this week. While last season’s form could end up being this season’s chip paper, there’s not a great deal else we can go on until we’ve seen a ball kicked in 2022/23 – and Newcastle did finish the last campaign with four clean sheets in their last seven home fixtures. Improvements in the Magpies’ underlying defensive numbers under Eddie Howe are worthy of note, too, and the Tynesiders have further bolstered their backline with the acquisition of not just Pope but also Sven Botman (£4.5m).

DEFENDERS

 

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Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

1,897 Comments Post a Comment
  1. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    What's better:
    A) James, Neto + 0.5 ITB
    B) Neco & Mount

    A gives me the options to switch between a 4-4-2 & 5-3-2 but the midfield is weak (Salah, Martinelli, Neto, Bailey, Pereira)
    B gives me the option to jump on a man city midfielder easily from Mount, but 1 of Bailey & Pereira always has to start

    1. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

  2. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Start Zinchenko or Bailey?

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Bailey, think he's more likely to get a goal contribution than Zinchenko is to keep a clean sheet

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

    3. fploutcast
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Why own Bailey if you're not going to start him these first two weeks?

      His position isn't nailed for any lenght + his fixtures turn qucikly.

  3. Tomerick
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Here we go. Got a good feeling about this team

    Ward
    TAA, Perisic, Trippier
    Salah, Mount, Martinelli, Bailey
    Haaland, Nunez, Jesus

    Sanchez, Dalot, Neco, Andreas

    1. fploutcast
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      GL

    2. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Check Klopp presser

      1. Tomerick
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        I don’t think that was negative at all. More being respectful of Firmino. I fancy Nunez to come on and grab a goal even if he doesn’t start and then start the second game. I can even see him starting this one tbh.

    3. Avery
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      No worried about a cameo from Perisic?

      1. Tomerick
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Maybe but he could easily grab an attacking return if he had a cameo. I think he starts tbh though.

  4. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Does Rashford 100% start

    1. Big Fella
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Probably as Martial is injured, Sancho may not be ready (but probably is) and Ronaldo started preseason very late

    2. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Never 100% but I'd say 95%. Martial is out so his position will depend on whether CR7 starts or not.

  5. Big Fella
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) Bowen Saka Ederson
    Or B) KDB Martinelli Mendy

    1. SH1M1
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

  6. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Anyone on the Cucuwagon?

    1. fploutcast
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Such a quality player! Not for me atm but always looking at him as an option

    2. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Will he be available for GW1?

  7. fploutcast
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 7 months ago

    I've got a free league with the winner getting a jersey of their choice.

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/emtaft

    1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      how would you feel about shipping a jersey to australia when i inevitably win

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      How do I contact you after winning

    3. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Joined. tx.

  8. iCon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Which 4.5m fwd most likely to get minutes?

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Archer and Greenwood

    2. fploutcast
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Archer (maybe) but none will start.

    3. GoodFella93
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Seems like Greenwood and Archer both...

      As a Leeds fan, Greenwood defo gets minutes through the season. Behind Gelhart as a youngster for the first team, but can play midfield as well. I expect Gelhart to start a fair few this season where as Greenwood will be limited mostly to sub appearances barring first team injuries.

      1. iCon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Cheers lads

  9. cm790
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    G2G?

    Ward
    TAA Cancelo Dalot Perisic
    Diaz Salah (C) Martinelli Maximin
    Jesus Haaland

    Sanchez N.Williams Andreas Greenwood

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Looks good. Only thing would be perhaps moving Maximin and Dalot to James and Bailey.

  10. GoodFella93
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    So with the news about Perisic and Doherty....

    How confident can I be for a 1 week punt on Sessegnon?

    1. fploutcast
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I wouldn't

    2. Big Fella
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      About 0 % confident. It's not news, just speculation

    3. Daniel Exeter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      What news?

      1. GoodFella93
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Well, the ITK guy on twitter giving his predicted line up seemingly based on bibs in a training video - added in with Conte's comments over the last two weeks.

        https://twitter.com/PlanetFPLPod/status/1555519874675490817?s=20&t=W_KAlJmQPfeiu1BSRF09hg

  11. j-money45
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 7 months ago

    GTG?

    Sanchez

    Cancelo-TAA-Cucurella-Zinchenko-Dalot

    Martinelli-KDB

    Jesus-Haaland-Kane

    Subs:4.5 bench & 4.0 keeper

  12. Kane Toads
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    My last RMT:

    Ramsdale

    TAA/Cancelo/James/Perisic
    (C)Salah/Mount/Bailey/Martinelli
    Jesus/Kane

    Ward/Neco/Pereira/Archer

    Good luck everyone for the new season -

    1. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Very good if the Perisic uncertainty doesn't bother you.

  13. Mona Lisa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) Saliba
    B) Bailey

    1. Kane Toads
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Bailey

    2. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

    3. SH1M1
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

  14. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    On a scale of 1-10, how annoyed will you be if Prisic starts?

    1. Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Perisic*

    2. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I think most of us expect him to but aren't willing to take the risk

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      7

    4. WVA
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      9 for sure

    5. Original Sin
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Would be glad as Doherty is my 1st sub just for this

      1. GoodFella93
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Perisic will defo get on the pitch

  15. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    last decision

    A) Sanchez/Ward rotating, Saka, Gabriel, 4.5mid (bench)
    B) Ward/Inverson, Mount, Martinelli, 4.0m def (bench)

  16. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Meslier , Neto & Trippier
    B) Ward , Rashford & Dalot

    1. Big Fella
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Short term B

    2. SH1M1
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

  17. Cal1umz
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Please choose

    A Ramsdale - Perisic - Bailey - Neto
    B Ward - Digne - Dasilva - Grealish 0.5m

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A

  18. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    perisic to
    1) tripper
    2) walker
    3) cash
    4) keep

    1. Big Fella
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Short term 1, then asses Perisic situation

    2. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      1 or 3

    3. SH1M1
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      2

  19. GC123
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Many going with Saka over Martinelli? Or is the £2.0m too tempting? Just concerned Arteta might rotate Martinelli with Smith Rowe when he’s fit. And Saka is presumably on pens

    1. Kane Train
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Saka is the better pick. It’s just the extra 2.0m is so helpful

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        this

      2. GC123
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Agreed. The extra £2.0m enables Walker > Robbo if that helps you advise me? But means Diaz > Mount to free a Pool space

    2. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I've found a couple mil to make sure I keep Saka.

  20. Original Sin
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Just checked Rodrigo's points in 2020/21 season, 89 points in 1279 minutes, thats equivalent to 208 points for 3000 minutes ( normal for a regular starter), which drastically reduced to only 85 points in almost 2300 minutes in 2021/22 season. Any Leeds supporter can enlighten on this? What caused this huge drop in FPL potential for him?
    Is there a chance that he might get similar point potential this year as well? Would be a steal at 6.0 mil then

    1. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Hard to compare how Leeds players did that season. I personally think Bielsa's Leeds benefited from the lack of crowds and urgency from teams during that season. Leeds's level of intensity really stood out when many matches were like training or friendly matches.

      1. Original Sin
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Makes more sense now, thanks

    2. GoodFella93
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      20/21 he got a late flurry of goals which defo skews it.

      21/22 he was one of the worst suffers from the downfall under Bielsa, but put in a good shift once Marche took over.

      Defo has the potential still but with Bamford upfront, it's Harrison, James, Aaronson and Rodrigo fighting for the three spots behind. Very hard to rank them. James and Harrison can only play wings, Aaronson can play wing or CAM, Rodrigo is only CAM.

      1. Original Sin
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Thanks for the insight and putting things into perspective.

  21. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    is it worth having a 4mill leicester keeper on the bench?

    1. lugs
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      well i wouldn't have a more expensive one

      1. barton fc
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        their not a chance they drop in price?

  22. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Aaronson is new Michu

  23. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    best option?
    A) James + white
    B) Gabriel + neto

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      a

    3. SH1M1
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A

  24. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) James + double Leicester keeper
    B) Perisic + Sanchez and Ward

    1. Barnabus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      a

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Ta

  25. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Ederson - James - Rashford
    Or
    B) Ramsdale - Walker - Kulu

    1. SH1M1
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A

  26. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Anyone favouriing ESR over Martinelli?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      no

    2. tyiocoyg34
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      nope not gonna happen

  27. The Mighty Hippo
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    This final decision is doing my head in.

    a) Leicester keepers + James
    b) Ramsdale + Trippier

    Having James allows me to move to Perisic if needed in a couple of weeks, but this is probably offset by lower returns from the goalkeeping position.

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I'll probably go a

      1. tyiocoyg34
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        c ) Mendy + Gabriel

  28. tyiocoyg34
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Is anyone going with Sancho in midfield?

  29. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Trippier or Gabriel?

    1. Zogzeg
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I've gone Gabriel due to fixtures

  30. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) Ramsdale & Bailey
    B) Sanchez & Neto

    In a 4-4-2 Bailey, Pereira & Neco Williams don't rotate too well whereas in a 5-3-2 Bailey, Neto & Pereira rotate much better

    1. sumatera
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A all day long