With fireworks illuminating the night sky, it’s been far from a sparkling week for Fantasy Managers who have had to deal with a variety of “will he, won’t he” scenarios.
The dust has almost settled now however, and while there are still unanswered questions wrestling for position amongst in my Friday night brain, I’ve gathered enough composure to put together a selection of players together who at least seem likely to find their way out onto the pitch.
Lock your pets up inside, always read the instructions and never approach if they appear to fail – it’s the Scout Picks…
The Defence
Ben Foster
As budget keepers go, Foster has lived up to his pre-season billing as one of this season’s top purchases. Fresh from a cleanie at Villa Park, the England hopeful will go into the weekend’s fixture with basement club West Ham with plenty of confidence. The Hammer’s record of just 2 goals in 5 away games this term offers little evidence to suggest that this is misplaced.
Leighton Baines
With slight doubts surrounding the security of Seamus Coleman in his midfield role, Baines remains the safer option of the two, whilst offering similar potential going forward. The left-back may play second fiddle to Mikel Arteta at set-plays but his frequent raids down the flank remain a key feature of Moyes’ men home and away. Blackpool at Bloomfield Road won’t be an easy affair for Baines and his back four colleagues, but Everton take a record of just 3 goals conceded in 5 away games and that’s enough for me to back him again.
Chris Samba
The giant Blackburn skipper remains one of the most imposing forces at set-pieces and is often pushed forward late on by Sam Allardyce. That may not be required against Wigan this weekend but there’s no doubting Samba’s potential at either end of the field this Gameweek. Sent off every time I seem to select him in my team, the good news is I sold him a fortnight ago. A goal and a cleanie seem certain then.
Nemanja Vidic
It’s a close run thing between left-back Patrice Evra and the dominant figure of the United skipper but Vidic gets the nod off the back of his two goals and Bonus Point hauls so far this season. United look overwhelming favourites for a clean sheet this week with Wolves in town and Vidic remains the prize asset in their defence right now if you can afford the outlay.
Carlos Salcido
Fulham’s Mexican left-back keeps his Scout Pick place following a clean sheet and assist against Wigan last time out. This weekend he comes up against a Villa side who will be without a first choice striker at the Cottage and have scored just 4 goals on their travels. The omens look good again for Salcido.
The Midfield
Cesc Fabregas
The Arsenal skipper admitted to having a poor game against West Ham last weekend but still produced performance statistics to indicate that he will be amongst the points in a big way once he has shaken off his hamstring troubles. Passed fit for the Emriates clash with Newcastle, we can only expect Fabregas to be free of the niggle that furrowed his brow against the Hammers, allowing him to begin inflicting damage on defences. Newcastle won’t make things easy for Arsene Wenger’s men but three points look likely and if they arrive, it’s almost unimaginable that Fabregas will come out of another 90 minutes empty handed.
Gareth Bale
The man of the moment may well be flagging an hour into the encounter with Bolton at the Reebok, but an hour of Bale in his European form would be enough bring the necessary returns for his Fantasy owners. Spurs will start without the influence of Rafael Van der Vaart which, if anything, puts more onus on Bale to perform. Expect an increased role at set-pieces too.
Tim Cahill
The midfield raids of the Aussie failed to bring returns against Stoke last time out but I’ll keep faith with him for another week as Cahill travels to Blackpool. With Yakubu finding a goal and some confidence last weekend, Cahill may benefit and will surely remain the key threat as he bombs forward to find the end of deliveries from Baines and Coleman.
Craig Gardner
A slight gamble perhaps, but prior to his three-match suspension, Gardner was beginning to emerge as a true budget talent in midfield with his goal-getting. Back in the side and up against a West Ham side without the influence of Mark Noble in midfield, and possibly Matt Upson at the back, Gardner’s peppering of the opponents goal and his late runs into the box could well see further reward.
The Forwards
Javier Hernandez
The second Mexican in our lineup gets the nod to cover United’s attacking potential at home to Wolves. With Nani absent through injury, Alex Ferguson’s side will be looking to Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov for inspiration and the key to unlock the visitors defence. Berbatov is perhaps a more obvious choice but Hernandez has form and is a cheaper alternative. I see a struggle for United with a late goal proving decisive – you wouldn’t bet against the Mexican to provide it.
Darren Bent
The Sunderland striker has the ability to keep his goal tally ticking regardless of his fixture schedule and will surely tempt further Fantasy investment once opponents soften in the weeks to come. As a short-term Pick this week, Bent looks a strong option. The Stoke defence arrive at the Stadium of Light having conceded 8 goals on the road and Bent will likely have Asamoah Gyan alongside him to help share the load. A home win with Bent on the scoresheet looks a very safe bet.
In Reserve
There’s doubts over Elmohamady’s start against Stoke given that Steve Bruce is set to shift to a 4-4-2. Personally I feel he will start – whether he will be on the pitch long enough to register a clean sheet is a slight risk however. There are alternatives elsewhere, with the likes of Scott Dann and Liam Ridgewell offering value in the Birmingham back four and Gary Cahill due a goal and possibly more against a potentially jaded Spurs. I’ve gone with the Everton defence at Blackpool with Baines however, which makes it an easy choice to back them further with the youthful attacking threat of Seamus Coleman.
Clint Dempsey is the safe and obvious fifth option in midfield given that he will surely start up front once more for Fulham. That feels like chasing last week’s points however, so I’ll opt for Jordan Henderson – a player who is enjoying an outstanding season for the Black Cats but is yet to register significantly on our Fantasy radars.
Up front, I’ve kept Mousa Dembele on my bench. As we will reveal in a later Members article, the Fulham striker enjoyed a superb game against Wigan last time out and was somewhat overshadowed by team-mate Clint Dempsey. Against Villa it could be Dembele’s turn to emerge as a match winner. Everton’s Yakubu looks a worthy alternative if you’re shopping for one.
