Scout Picks

Scout Picks – Gameweek 20

With the deadline for the final set of festive fixtures looming at 11.30 am tomorrow, we opt for a late night reveal for the Gameweek 20 Scout Picks.

Our latest search for value between the sticks has us acquire Middlesbrough’s Victor Valdes (4.5) ahead of Leicester City’s visit to the Riverside Stadium in Saturday’s early kick-off.

In their nine road trips, the Foxes have mustered an unimpressive eight goals, which immediately promotes the short-term stock of the Middlesbrough stopper.

In addition, Claudio Ranieri’s men have mustered 39 goal attempts from outside the box away from home – joint top for that metric. That gives us the added security that Boro keeper may just add save points to his Gameweek 20 tally.

Swansea City’s dreadful form ahead of their visit to Selhurst Park has prompted us to welcome Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann (5.2) into the fold.

Dann has recorded more close range efforts than any other defender this season and earned an assist from a set-piece when the two sides last met in the 5-4 goal-fest back in Gameweek 13.

The Swans have also scored just seven goals on the road, indication that we may even catch sight of the lesser-spotted Eagles clean sheet.

Hull City share a similarly dreadful away record to the Swans, which has put West Brom’s Chris Brunt (5.0) on our radar ahead of the Tigers’ visit to The Hawthorns.

Owned by just 1.9%, we’re backing Brunt for another start and a role on the flank. From open play or from dead-balls, Brunt’s assured delivery can promise attacking returns and, given that Mike Phelan’s side have scored just five goals in nine away games, Brunt is a candidate for double-digits.

Completing our three-man back line is Manchester United’s Phil Jones (4.9), who looks assured of a start away to West Ham United, given that he was rested at home to Middlesbrough in Gameweek 19.

Alexis Sanchez (11.9) is one of three premium picks squeezed into our 84 million budget, recruited ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Bournemouth.

The Chilean’s peerless record on the road is behind his selection.

With nine goals away from home, more than any other player, Sanchez is simply too strong an option to ignore. Eddie Howe’s men seem likely to be driven forward by their faithful, Arsene Wenger will therefore perhaps resort to “plan A” and deploy Sanchez back in the central striker role.

To help fund the Gunners man, we have joined more than 106,000 FPL managers who have drafted in West Brom’s Matt Phillips (5.6).

He scored his fourth goal and earned his seventh assist of the campaign, away to Southampton on Saturday.

Granted he played the full 90 minutes in that encounter, but we think his relentless form should ensure that Tony Pulis once again turns to the winger for the visit of Hull City.

Although Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (5.8) departs for duty at the Africa Cup of Nations after Swansea’s visit, we feel that he represents a convincing option for this Gameweek.

The 12.3% owned winger has eight assists and three goals to his name and, while Zaha has blanked in his last four, it’s the Swans’ obliging backline that convinces us. The Welsh club have leaked 13 goals in their last four Gameweeks; 18 in their last six.

As with Phillips, we are hoping that form can trump the fatigue factor and ensure that Adam Lallana (7.6) earns a start for Liverpool at Sunderland.

The 23% owned midfielder has been sensational in recent matches, racking up his seventh assist with a sublime cross in Saturday’s win over Manchester City, adding to a season record that shows the same number of goals.

Our heavyweight attack features the re-introduction of Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero (12.8).

Despite marking his return from a four-match ban with a tepid blank against Liverpool on Saturday, we just couldn’t overlook his stronger prospects of returns when Burnley drop by the Etihad Stadium.

The Clarets have shipped 18 goals in eight matches away from home, while the Argentine has scored 10 in his 12 Gameweek starts. In addition, Aguero has already put Sean Dyche’s side to the sword once this season, claiming a brace in City’s trip to Turf Moor in Gameweek 13.

Consistency drives our selection of Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.6), who has now delivered at least a goal or assist in all bar one of his last eight Gameweek starts.

With Jose Mourinho recently referring to Manchester United’s talisman as “undroppable” , we feel that Ibrahimovic can also offer us security of start in a Gameweek that could be littered with rest and rotation concerns.

Swansea’s aforementioned defensive record sees us double up on Palace assets and welcome aboard Christian Benteke (7.6) in the XI.

The 9.2% owned Belgian will be hoping to join Spurs’ Harry Kane, West Brom’s Salomon Rondon and Middlesbrough’s Alvaro Negredo to become the fourth striker in succession to earn a double-digit points haul when receiving a visit from the Swans.

Speaking of Rondon (6.7), he claims a spot on our bench with Hull’s unenviable away record the key factor.

The striker was rested to the bench at Southampton on Saturday, but we expect him to start against the Tigers; five of the Venezuelan’s seven goals have arrived at The Hawthorns.

Middlesbrough’s Gaston Ramirez (5.3) claims our midfield bench role and is another player who will feel will outperform his price point in Gameweek 20.

The Uruguayan schemer, who has two goals and a pair of assists so far, looks a certain starter against Leicester City, given that he was only used from the bench against Manchester United in Gameweek 19.

Watford’s current cast of injuries and form that has seen them score just twice in their last four outings, has us turn to Stoke City’s Erik Pieters as our reserve defender.

The Dutchman is expected to take up the role of wing-back against the Hornets and, with Walter Mazzarri’s side nursing a list of casualties on their right-flank, he may even get some joy as the Potters look to build on an encouraging display at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Community Champion

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 current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33 point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.

The Gameweek 19 champion Game of Throw Ins opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: Heaton; Azpilicueta, Holgate, A Valencia; Sigurdsson, Alli, Hazard, Lallana; Aguero, Lukaku, Carroll.

Ahead of Sunday’s games, the Scouts were trailing Game of Throw Ins 16 to 25.

Due to the tight turnaround of games the community champion contest is taking a break for this round of fixtures and will resume again for Gameweek 21.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

4,857 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Snow storm imminent.....

  2. Tansey
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Looking forward to this GW

  3. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Oh my god Tommie! I can't believe nobody found you all this time. Hang in there. I'm getting assistance!!!!

    1. Ziro
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Quick before TM deletes the whole article and Tommie is lost between space and time for eternity!

      1. Scoredelario
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Poor Tommie. He stand no chance in the face of the ruthless TM.

        RIP Tommie

      2. Heels_Over_Head
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        😆

  4. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Excellent call on the Benteke, Zaha picks.

    1. Tansey
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Dunno. Not a good side under Pardew, I reckon they should sack him

  5. Get up ya bum
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Tommie my boy. Drinks tomorrow bro? I'll drop in around 5

    1. Scoredelario
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      I'll drink to that

  6. Sims
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Cmon west Ham, put liverpool back in their place.

  7. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    This is hilarious

  8. Viprin
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Almost missed this article, ready for Zlatan(C) hattrick

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Bolasie (c) for me. He's due.

  9. Heels_Over_Head
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Tommie, with Swansea avoiding the drop now, would you still bring in Siggy for 38?

  10. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    I hear voices in my head, they council me, they understand, they talk to me...

    1. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      He's a terrible wrestler. Tommie would kill him

  11. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    I wonder if Tommie has a round friend called Wilson?

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I only understood this reference now haha never seen the movie until recently +1

  12. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    It's damn cold in here. Does the weather never change?

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Nothing escapes not even light. We are here for eternity now

  13. Swan - Villa Proud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Tommie can you hear me.

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Hear me hear me hear me

    2. Heels_Over_Head
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Dang... that was so obvious. Why didn't we realize the endgame of the joke sooner?

  14. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Need a Zaha brace asap.....

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Tommie will grab you one

  15. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    He's gonna come back tomorrow and either be very confused or continue being Tommie

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Tommie will always be Tommie. Keep keeping it real brother Tommie. We love you.

    2. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      He will continue until people get the joke.

    3. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Don't think he reads the posts here before posting. Bookmarked on his phone or PC and he just comments.

  16. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    This forum is awesome. Miles better than that FFS rubbish

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      This. Imma become a regular here.

  17. Brap.
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    This is the "other place" top-boy posters talk obliquely about

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      This is not Nirvana

  18. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Anyway... Transfer thoughts for 38? I'm thinking Coutinho in

    1. Vinyl78LP
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      ...thats my plan A, but plenty of football to get thru this gameweek first.

    2. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Could do a lot worse. I think Danny boy is calling me. Probably that prik Josh King to enable it

    3. Brap.
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Why, that's 18 gameweeks in the future!!!!!

    4. Heels_Over_Head
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Ozil Coutinho and Sturtidge for the win -4.

  19. Abel Xavier
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    I finally understand Inception. Thanks Tommie.

  20. Swan - Villa Proud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    This Tommie guy is posting in a thread where no one can see him...or hear him...or feel him. And he goes by the name Tommie

    Google it younger ones 🙂

    1. Brap.
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Bro you totally killed the vibe

  21. Get up ya bum
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Just checking in. Hi Tommie.

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      I'm still patiently waiting for him to come back

      1. Elvy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        He's back!

  22. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Hope he's OK

  23. Tomm
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Arsenal starting line-up: Petr Cech, Héctor Bellerín, Kieran Gibbs, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding, Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka, Olivier Giroud, Mesut Özil, Alexis Sánchez.
    Substitutes: Francis Coquelin, Alex Iwobi, Mohamed Elneny, Gabriel, Theo Walcott, David Ospina, Danny Welbeck

    1. Heels_Over_Head
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Dude. You're a celebrity. At least ask a question.

    2. Scoredelario
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Tommie!!!!!! You're OK!!!!!

    3. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      He's aliveeeeeee

  24. Tomm
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Kane / Costa or Couts for Captain !!!!

  25. Tomm
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    My Squad Fixture Analysis
    GKP 100% DEF 64% MID 86% FWD 99%

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      You had a good run buddy.

  26. Back on the horse
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    RIP Tommie.

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Tommie lives on in all our hearts.

        • 10 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        He was a good bloke old Tommie

    2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Missed this… can we invite him to Nirvana?

      1. MJ6987
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        This

    3. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Yes, he used to be a nice boy, he used to cut the grass

      1. MJ6987
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        I heard he used to work on the docks

        1. NorCal Villan
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Did I ever tell you about the time Tommy was in a production of ‘The King and I’? On opening night, Tommy chloroformed the entire cast and slowly eats them in front of the audience for two hours. The production got pretty good reviews.

        2. NorCal Villan
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Did I ever tell you about the time Tommie took me out to go get a drink with him? We go off looking for a bar and we can’t find one. Finally, Tommie takes me into a vacant lot and says, ‘Here we are.’ Well, we sat there for a year and a half. Sure enough, someone constructed a bar around us. Well, the day they opened it, we ordered a shot, drank it, and then burnt the place to the ground. Tommie yelled over the roar of the flames, ‘Always leave things the way you found them”

  27. MJ6987
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Anyone thinking of starting with Darwin Nunez? Depending on price and fixtures of course.

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      You think he’ll hit the ground running?

      1. MJ6987
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Not sure, and will he be eased in by Klopp anyway, as Diaz was?

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Don’t be stupid, he costs like £80m

          1. MJ6987
            • 13 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Still young though, and new to the league. And don’t call me stupid, idiot.

      2. NorCal Villan
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Unchained, nothing stays the same

    2. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I think he could be the missing link

      1. NorCal Villan
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Tommie or Nunez?

      2. Sheffield Wednesday
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        The Darwin jokes are starting early this season.

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Gives them time to evolve

  28. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Why are there recent comments on this 5 year old article?

    1. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Ours is not to reason why

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Reading above did one of the posters pass away? 🙁

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Tommie tanked? 🙁

        2. NorCal Villan
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          people don't live or die people just float

  29. MJ6987
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Gaston Ramirez is a bargain at £5.3m

  30. Casualspotted
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Watched Diaz a lot last season. He is far better player than Haaland, Norwegian Andy Carrol

    1. Casualspotted
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I mean Nunez