Scout Squad

The Scout Squad for FPL Gameweek 22

After a well-earned winter break, the Scout Squad panel are back to offer their long-list of players to be considered for our regular Scout Picks feature on Friday.

The 72 nominations listed will be narrowed down to a squad of 14 (with the starting XI not exceeding a total cost of £83.5m) ahead of the Gameweek 22 deadline at 11:30 GMT on Saturday.

The usual foursome of Joe, Peter, Paul and Az – who have five top 1,000 finishes between them – are reunited to expand on their notable selections and omissions in the article below.

PaulJoeAzPeter
GKVicente GuaitaNeil EtheridgeKasper SchmeichelNeil Etheridge
Tom HeatonVicente GuaitaTom HeatonTom Heaton
Neil EtheridgeTom HeatonNeil EtheridgeKasper Schmeichel
DFTrent Alexander-
Arnold
Marcos AlonsoLucas DigneMarcos Alonso
Patrick van AanholtRicardo PereiraAndrew RobertsonTrent Alexander-
Arnold
Ricardo PereiraJames TarkowskiSead KolasinacLucas Digne
Sean MorrisonAaron Wan-BissakaDavid LuizJames Tarkowski
Lucas DigneSol BambaAaron Wan-BissakaSol Bamba
MFMohamed SalahEden HazardMohamed SalahMohamed Salah
Son Heung-minMohamed SalahEden HazardEden Hazard
Eden HazardLeroy SaneLeroy SaneRicharlison
Raheem SterlingRicharlisonVictor CamarasaSon Heung-min
Dwight McNeilCallum PatersonSon Heung-minCallum Paterson
FWHarry KanePierre-Emerick
Aubameyang
Sergio AgueroSergio Aguero
Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang
Sergio AgueroPierre-Emerick
Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang
Sergio AgueroHarry KaneHarry KaneAshley Barnes
Marko ArnautovicJamie VardyRoberto FirminoCallum Wilson
Marcus RashfordAshley BarnesAshley BarnesTroy Deeney

Most popular picks: Neil Etheridge, Tom Heaton, Mohamed Salah, Eden Hazard, Sergio Aguero, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (four), Lucas Digne, Son Heung-min, Harry Kane, Ashley Barnes (three)

Paul said…

Finding value in defence could be key to this week’s selection, with a number of big-hitting attackers going head-to-head with less-than-resilient opponents.

That has persuaded me to overlook Marcos Alonso, in spite of Chelsea’s plum home clash with Newcastle.

As the season unfolds under Maurizio Sarri, the Spaniard’s role as a left-back is curtailing his instincts to attack – indeed, Alonso is without a goal or an assist since Gameweek 11.

Patrick van Aanholt and Ricardo Pereira are the top two ranked defenders for goal attempts in the last four Gameweeks, with nine and eight respectively.

Both could also bring home clean sheets in home encounters with Watford and Southampton.

Cardiff centre-half Sean Morrison boasts a big goal threat for the visit of Fulham – his 19 shots in the box ranks third in defence.

The Bluebirds have also tightened up defensively, with three of their five clean sheets for the season arriving in the previous six.

Burnley wide man Dwight McNeil is my differential midfielder and looks a decent enabler at home to Fulham.

Costing just £4.4m, he has a goal and an assist in two appearances since being installed in the starting XI in Gameweek 20.

McNeil’s six shots and five efforts in the box both rank second for the Clarets in that period. Fulham, meanwhile, have conceded 28 goals on their travels, more than any other side.

Joe said…

Among form premium assets, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks the most enticing this week. He takes top spot among my forward selection as he prepares to take on a West Ham side with a solitary clean sheet in their last six Gameweeks.

Strong underlying statistics are also in his favour. Over that same timeframe, the Gunners’ marksman has notched a record 11 big chances, scoring four and assisting a further two goals along the way.

Taking my top midfield slot is Eden Hazard, who is at home to a Newcastle outfit that has conceded the third-highest number of close-range efforts over their last six away matches.

He could do particularly well if Alvaro Morata fails to recover from a hamstring injury, as most of the Belgian’s attacking returns this season have come when the Spaniard has been off the pitch.

Mohamed Salah leads our captaincy poll and should get on the scoresheet against Brighton but I’m not sure he will beat Hazard and Aubameyang’s returns. Over their last six home matches, the Seagulls have only handed opponents seven big chances: the joint-second-best tally alongside Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

Manchester City also face a resilient defence when Wolves drop by but I still think one of Sergio Aguero or Leroy Sane is worth including. While Nuno Espirito Santo’s troops have performed well against top sides, they have conceded in all seven league meetings with Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Burnley and Cardiff look the best teams for bargain-hunting this week as they take on Fulham and Huddersfield respectively.

The Clarets’ backline looks particularly appealing having halved the number of shots they have faced since the goalkeeper’s jersey was wrestled from Joe Hart in Gameweek 20. James Tarkowski looks the safest option. I’ve also tentatively included Hart’s replacement Tom Heaton, even though he now faces competition from last season’s number one Nick Pope, who returned to action in the FA Cup this month following a lengthy injury lay-off.

Az said…

With the festive schedule behind me, I’m turning attention to the battle against my own team’s slide. With so many heavy hitters performing well and there existing a strong template of defenders and cheaper midfielders, I am struggling to find many gems to help make my way back up the rankings.

This week looks a potentially intriguing one with many of the top sides enjoying favourable fixtures, though there are also good-looking home games for teams such as Everton and Cardiff. I really like the look of Victor Camarasa this week, who is in fine company in my midfield selections!

Getting the right heavy hitters in your own FPL teams looks key to surviving the next few months. My top picks this week are Mohamed Salah and Sergio Aguero, the latter of whom I think is being overlooked in everyone’s clamour to get Salah. Aguero looked razor-sharp against Liverpool and should lead the line against Wolves, who do always put up a fight against the top sides but may find the challenge too great at the Etihad.

It’s hard to separate Harry Kane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. I feel as though Kane may be over-performing on his FPL points based on the matches I’ve seen him play, whereas Aubameyang has been very unlucky. I’m reluctant to take Kane out but I do think Aubameyang can do some real damage to me this week and beyond.

My defence selection looks strong and I wouldn’t be surprised to see any of these players make the final squad. Lucas Digne, Andrew Robertson and Sead Kolasinac all offer so much going forward for their respective sides, while David Luiz and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are slightly less exciting picks but both have good-looking home games nevertheless.

Peter said…

Two premium midfielders (Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah) and two premium attackers (Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang) account for nearly half the budget this week, resulting in drastic cost-cutting measures elsewhere. My selections are therefore somewhat sullied as I scratch around at the unromantic venues of the Cardiff City Stadium and Turf Moor.

It’s an odd quirk of the fixture computer that the bottom two sides (Huddersfield and Fulham) visit two sides just outside the drop zone (Cardiff and Burnley respectively) and, despite going all-in on the pair of hosts, I must acknowledge the fragility of both the Bluebirds and the Clarets.

Nonetheless, I’ve gambled on penalty-stopper Neil Etheridge and Sol Bamba to shut out a Terriers attack with eight away goals all season. That said, Huddersfield’s far-from-irresistible force meets an infinitely movable object, with Cardiff’s the leakiest home defence in the division. I may, therefore, be relying on attacking returns from Bamba (level with Marcos Alonso with 16 attempts in the box this season) and from team-mate Callum Paterson, should he continue in his “out of position” role up front.

It’s a fairly similar story at Turf Moor, where I cross everything in hope that Burnley’s defence – almost as porous as Cardiff’s – can repel a Fulham attack which boasts just seven goals in 11 away games. Again, I may be relying on attacking returns from my defender, with James Tarkowski’s three goals leaving him behind only Shane Duffy as the top-scoring defender. I’m also hopeful that Ashley Barnes can continue his slightly improved form against Fulham’s much-maligned defence.

That at least frees up some cash for the aforementioned fab four who, at the time of writing, top the captaincy poll, suggesting I don’t need to wax lyrical about their potential this week.

Instead, I will seek to justify my selections of Lucas Digne and Richarlison, with Everton failing to record a clean sheet in the last eight Gameweeks and Richarlison managing just six shots on target during that time. What better game to bounce back from (from an attacking perspective at least) than against the Cherries, who also appear to have forgotten what a clean sheet looks like (Brighton in Gameweek 18 aside) and are haemorrhaging an average of three goals a game over the last six Gameweeks. This fixture has the smell of goals about it, and I’ve also added Callum Wilson to the squad in anticipation of a Sunday afternoon thriller.

The Community Champion

This week’s challenger is FPL_SUNNY, who is currently ranked just outside the top 20k having reached a season-high rank of 1,829 in Gameweek 10.

The Community Champion who has the best lead over the Scouts during 2018/19 will win a £100 Amazon voucher (currently we can only offer Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com vouchers).

fclackless’s Gameweek 10 victory over the Scout Squad crew by a score of 77-44 remains the deficit to beat.

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866 Comments Post a Comment
  1. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Who to start?
    a. Jiminez (mci)
    b. Kamara (bur)

    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jiminez.. Nailed to start, Kamara likely to be on the bench.

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        The general consensus on the Friends of Fulham forum is that Kamara will start, but I admit its a gamble, so I'd go Jimenez.

    2. Dammed Utd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      #Kamara (£4.5) has had more shots on target in his last 6 games than the below players......

      #Vardy
      #Jiminez
      #Aguero
      #Lacazette
      #Murray
      #Wilson
      #King
      #Kane

    3. pjomara
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks all. Interesting info re. Kamara

      1. Dammed Utd
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

    4. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jiminez seems to do well against the big clubs and unsure on Kamara's minutes so Jim.

  2. bl8master
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Etheridge Lossl
    Robertson Digne Bissaka Doherty Stankovic
    Richarlison Son Hazard Pogba Anderson
    Rashford Jimenez Aubameyang
    0.7 ITB

    any ideas how to get Salah? Son will go for sure but who else? This is for GW 23

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Your only option is Haz -> Salah. With a Son downgrade.

  3. Four Hit Wonder
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Three days from now, people will be taking hits to bring in KDB. Goal and assist if he starts.

    1. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You think? Maybe for those chasing and in search of a differential but IMO he won't outscore Sterling over the next few months. Not even sure he'll start against Wolves considering Bernardo's form.

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I do want him. I'm worried about how nailed he is (crazy though it sounds).

    3. Another Hoops
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Or they could go Hazard to KDB for free 😉

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Waiting one week and avioding hit

    5. S.Agueroooooo
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      hits to get a player who is a confirmed blank in GW27 :O

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        which is 5 gameweeks away... :0

  4. Afghanistanislas
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you play:

    A) AWB
    B) Jimenez

    Who would you captain:

    1) Auba
    2) Hazard

    1. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      a1

    2. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B2

    3. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      a1

  5. HAMMERTIME107
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    £0 mil in the bank but 2 free transfers!?
    *
    Foster |
    Digne | Wan-Bissaka | Pereira
    Mane | Richarlison | Sane | Martial
    Kane | Rashford | Aubameyang

    Speroni | Billing | Dunk | Targett

    1. Another Hoops
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Burn it

    2. Afghanistanislas
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Targett > Bednarek to free up some cash?

      1. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This

  6. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Go away flags on Pogba, Arnie, Wilson.

    Please.

    1. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pogba will be fine

  7. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Worth getting Guaita for Hennessey or is Guaita not considered ad nailed?

  8. Four Hit Wonder
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Jesus scored 4 and Kun is ill. Any chance Kun might not start?

    1. Rhinos
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      jesus scoring 4 against the dog and duck makes no difference, we have to assume kun will survive the sniffles

    2. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Obviously there’s a chance but even if aguero starts there’s an even greater chance of an early sub

  9. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Going to captain Hazard, expecting another solid 3 pointer.

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Torn between him & Raheem

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        For me really is Haz, Kane or Sane and to be honest neither seems like a solid pick.

    2. kime67
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      might be wise. he wont blank 2 times in a row at home?

    3. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Been on him all week and I have Auba.

  10. TheBabyfacedAssassin
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Auba, Son > Rash, Salah this or next GW?

    1. Another Hoops
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Nope. If you do it I hope I'm wrong but that move could punish you this week.

      1. TheBabyfacedAssassin
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, but Salah could punish me as well.Thanks.

    2. Afghanistanislas
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'm doing it next GW (though have Felipe instead of Son)

  11. Fergus1107
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    is Kane/Auba/Aguero up top taking the pish considering ialso have Salah and Pogba in midfield?

    Currently got Kane & Auba, but cant decide who of the three to have long term.

    Thinking of swapping Hazard out to accommodate for Aguero in the near future and just go the rest of the season guns blazing!

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Do it.

  12. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Can Manchester City send their ladies team to play 2nd leg against Burton ?

    1. Rhinos
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No because Pep has more respect for Burton and women's football than that

    2. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Women footballers try to stay on their feet when tackled and don't dive...so no

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Burton would beat the ladies team more than 10-0 easily.

  13. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Fabs
    Digne Robbo TAA
    Hazard Son Martial Anderson Camarasa
    Kane Auba
    (Button - AWB - Jimenez - Doherty) 2ft 0.3itb

    Difficult week to make choices - but hate wasting transfers. These are some options if you could help out.
    A) Digne down to Bednarek/Cedric to free up funds for midfield.
    B) Martial to Redmond (also for funds).
    C) Just do a sideways one week punt (e.g. Martial to Richarlison/Bilva) and reassess.
    D) Burn transfer.
    E) Be brave, remove one of Haz/Kane/Auba and get Salah.

    1. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Martial to Rich might work this week

    2. CROCosta
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      i like B the most, you have solid bench, you could use 1 non-playing fodder

    3. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      did martial to rich it’s bloody time for him to haul

  14. kime67
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    think burnley will have a good 2nd half of the season. when is dyche presser?

  15. balint84
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    captain

    A) Salah
    B) Kane

    1. kime67
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      sala

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. Fergus1107
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Salah.

  16. suddenorgan
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    McNeil to keep his place for Burnley?

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully - could be a good option and a few returns already, but someone else will know more on Burnley.

      1. suddenorgan
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        just contemplating getting him in for the next two and then letting him rot on the bench once I've got the Haz cash next week

  17. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Is the best mid below about 6.5 still Fraser?
    Tempted to do Son and Martial to Sane/KDB and a low 6 or below if there's a good option. Have Camarasa.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      yeah or you can play fixtures and take a punt on Paterson/Camarasa/Redmond

    2. S.Agueroooooo
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      two very good fixtures for fraser coming up, hes been by far the best in that price range

  18. boc610
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Pellegrini to break Arnie owners hearts....??

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Apparently his substitution was precautionary and only happened because another player (nasri) suggested he looked in trouble.

      1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Classic Nasri. Already upsetting people.

  19. HD7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    1 FT

    A)Kola to TAA and double Pool defence
    B) Save
    C) Save but play Camarasa instead of Kola

    or any other idea about this lot?

    Fab
    AWB Kola Robbo Digne
    Salah Anderson Pogba Richa
    Kane Auba

    Subs: Button, Camarasa, Doherty, Success

  20. Edwardio
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Pereyra or R.Neves ??

    1. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pereyra easily

      1. YEAH PITCH!
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I agree. I'm deciding between Pereyra and Jiminez. Any advice?

  21. Ëð
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Would you take a hit and do Hennessey -> Guaita (WAT)? Or just play Fabianski?

    1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Just play Fabs.

  22. Cheshire Duck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Fabianski - Button
    David Luiz - Robertson - Kiko Femenia - Wan Bissaka - Doherty
    Pogba - Sterling - Hazard - Snodgrass - Richarlison
    Kane - Ings - Deeney

    2 FT

    Thinking about : Hazard + Sterling + Deeney > Bernardo Silva + Salah + Firmino

    opinions ?

    1. fakelund
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No way

  23. Alvaro Morata
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Captain this week...?

    1). Hazard
    ). Salah

    1. Alvaro Morata
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      2). Salah

  24. AFBS_1991
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    F.Anderson + Ings -> Richarlison + Jimenez?
    For next 4/5 games...
    Do or not?

  25. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    In the sub 6.5 category, who do you rate best?
    A) Gudmundsson
    B) Redmond
    C) Pereya
    D) Deulofeu
    E) Fraser

    Quite tempted at a punt on one of the first two, but I realise the odds are against me. It would be for Martial, but then Son could be upgraded to KDB/Sane.

  26. MyTeamIsAwful
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Etheridge |
    Digne | Alonso | TAA
    Hazard (c) | Salah | Richarlison | McNeil
    Kane (v) | Barnes | Rashford

    Fabianski | Camarasa | AWB | Doherty

  27. Geordie19
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    HI, advice greatly appreciated
    2FT, 4.4ITB

    Torn whether to do
    Hazard and Alonso (or Mitro) to Salah and Luiz/or another better defender(or striker for Mitro)

    Or just do hazard to Salah (C)

    Fab,
    TAA, Digne, Alonso
    Hazard,Fanders, Pogba, richarlison
    Kane, Rash, Mitro
    Hamer, AWB, Doherty, Elneny

    Thoughts? Thank you!

    1. Geordie19
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sorry, I meant pogba and alonso above

  28. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Laca + Son -> Salah + Kamara (+money itb) on two FT?

    Currently captaining Haz, but could switch to Salah if I do the transfer. Thoughts?

    1. Subzero (-4)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      For me definitely yes. Laca inconsistency and son no good after Utd.

  29. Subzero (-4)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any suggestions where I can find the 0.2 from this wildcard team. Really want auba instead of aguero for my big hitter striker.

    Ethridge
    Robbo taa digne
    Salah hazard pogba Richarlison Anderson
    Rashford aguero

    Button Doherty bednarek kamara.

    Kamara is 3rd on bench every week so contemplating downgrading to 4.3 but seems such a waste having a non playing player.

    Thank you