The Scout Squad – Gameweek 27

Choosing the right mix of Michelin-starred big-name players and their bargain bucket counterparts could well lead to some serious selectorial indigestion among our Scouts this week.

One midfielder, Alexis Sanchez, appears to be too rich for the blood of our entire ‘expert’ panel, the key ingredients of which are Fantasy Football Scout regulars Jonty, Paul and Mark and Career Hall of Fame luminary Peter Kouwenberg.

But trying to find room on the menu for the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Marcos Alonso is going to require a serving or two of some rather more humble Fantasy Premier League (FPL) pies to keep things from spilling over the Scouts’ budgetary waistband.

That could mean a start in goal for a Swansea City stopper and a dish or two made from the finest Stoke City pottery.

So before this entire food analogy passes its sell by date, here’s a taste of the Scouts’ creations, complete with simple, step-by-step instructions as to how they cooked them up.

The final 11-course meal will be served later in the week.

Jonty Says…

I’ll be arguing the case for value this week, particularly in midfield with an array of well-priced options on offer.

Controversially, this means there is no place for Alexis Sanchez.

Yes, his Gameweek 26-high shot tally of six against Huddersfield Town impressed. But he lost the ball more times than Man United player in a single fixture this season and it that continues to blight his bonus point potential, I’m concerned that he will struggle to justify his 11.7 price tag.

So I favour the slightly cheaper Romelu Lukaku for United attacking cover and have instead focused on some budget options to stock our midfield.

The same rationale applies to my omission of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, who is not producing the sort of home returns I’d expect from a 10.6 midfielder.

The Belgian has only scored two of his nine goals at Stamford Bridge, both arriving in Gameweek 15 when Newcastle dropped by. I think Marcos Alonso (7.4) and Olivier Giroud (8.2) offer far greater value among Blues assets, and they also ensure we keep another midfield slot free for bargain hunting.

Everton’s clash with Crystal Palace puts Theo Walcott (7.3) in my thoughts as the first of three strong value midfield offerings. In his previous Goodison Park outing, the former Arsenal winger scored a brace, while the Eagles have failed to keep a clean sheet and have shipped seven in their last four road trips.

Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri (6.1) is another kindly-priced midfielder worthy of our attention. The Swiss international scored against Bournemouth last time out and hosts a Brighton defence that has just one shut-out in their last six away days.

The midfield bargains keep coming with Watford’s on-loan Barcelona man Gerard Deulofeu (6.0) impressing with a goal and assist against Chelsea on Monday. Next up for the former Everton winger is a visit to a free-falling West Ham unit that last earned a clean sheet back in Gameweek 18.

Meanwhile, in goal, I’ll be arguing for the inclusion of Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabianski, who has racked up more saves (102) than any other stopper. A shut-out looks likely too, as visitors Burnley have struggled on the road, scoring just three times over their last six away matches – the third worst tally in the Premier League over that timeframe.

Paul Says…

Along with the usual suspects, I’m bringing in a pair of Potters for Stoke’s home clash with Brighton.

Paul Lambert’s side have claimed clean sheets in both home matches in his charge, while their visitors have scored just one goal in their last seven road trips.

Since being handed a debut in Gameweek 23, no defender has produced more key passes or successful crosses (six on both occasions) than their new right-back Moritz Bauer.

Shaqiri’s Fantasy potential looks to have improved with Lambert at the helm over the last three Gameweeks.

During that stretch, the playmaker has bagged a goal and assist, while only one midfielder – Kevin De Bruyne – can better him for both shots on target (five to seven) and chances created (eight to nine).

Costing 1.6 less than Sergio Aguero, De Bruyne is also my preferred Man City attacker for the home encounter with Leicester.

I’d rather have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a second premium striker for the north London derby.

Spurs won’t be sitting back and looking to defend against the Gunners, and I just feel that the new arrival’s pace, allied with the creativity of Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, can thrive on the space afforded from the vast Wembley pitch.

Peter Says…

There’s a bit of tension between form and fixtures this week at several grounds, notably Stamford Bridge (where a struggling Chelsea welcome bottom of the table Baggies) and at Wembley, where post-Sanchez Arsenal will be hoping to repeat their North London derby victory from earlier in the season.

I’m struggling to predict the outcomes, but I’m confident enough that goals are on the menu at the Etihad and St Mary’s Stadium.

Mohamed Salah’s incredible form effectively means that we are just choosing four to go with the Egyptian, and the recent form of James Ward-Prowse gives me a budget solution in that Sunday afternoon fixture.

Aguero is joined by De Bruyne in my squad, with the Belgian consistently returning both goals and assists, although I also think Jamie Vardy may keep to form and score against another big opponent – City look more vulnerable at the back than usual.

I expect to get pilloried for backing Hazard over Sanchez as my third big-money midfielder and I won’t be shocked if the Chilean makes the final cut.

But even when Chelsea turn in a totally abject performance, Hazard is more than capable of salvaging FPL points.

Add to that the fact that West Brom’s defence tends to be more porous than Newcastle’s, and I’m going bravely/blindly with the Belgian.

Both form and fixture favour a Bournemouth win at Huddersfield – I may have brought Callum Wilson in last week just in time for him to blank, but Huddersfield’s defence has been one of the worst in the league recently.

As indeed has its attack, which is why I’m also installing Charlie Daniels (Nathan Ake a sensible enough alternative) in my side.

And Ben Mee…well, he’s GOT to score this weekend, surely?

Mark Says…

I’m hopeful that some frugal business in defence can allow for a big spend in attack, paving the way for a Harry Kane and Aguero partnership.

Throw in the Shaqiri and Walcott options in midfield and Friday’s Picks could well be very unfamiliar, perhaps even deployed with three up front once again.

I’ve overlooked Man United’s attack entirely, conceding to include David De Gea as my only nomination from Jose Mourinho’s men. For me, the more assured options – Sanchez and Lukaku – just don’t justify their outlay. With Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba uncertain of their roles and even their pitch-time, that renders the United attack a no-go.

I can see Hazard’s inclusions as the major flashpoint come Friday’s shake-down; a battle that I’m unlikely to win.

Chelsea’s form and confidence are both woeful, but a reaction against the lowly Baggies would be a surprise. I also feel that, without Andreas Christensen, Chelsea will need two or even three goals to win the match. In that scenario, I believe we need to cover, and if I lose the fight for Hazard, I’ll be pushing for Olivier Giroud’s inclusion.

The Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 17 will be PKW, who is in his seventh season, with 2015/16’s 3,154 finish his best to date.

The community champion who has the best lead over the Scouts during 2017/18 will win a £100 Amazon voucher (currently we can only offer Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com vouchers).

Gameweek 26’s champion Tigerite was narrowly beaten by the Scouts 42-41.

The one to beat remains Gregor, who achieved victory over the Scouts by a 33-point margin in Gameweek 5.