Scout Picks

Gameweek 27 Scout Picks – Goals on offer at Old Trafford this weekend

There could be goals at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon as Manchester United and Liverpool meet in Blank Gameweek 27.

That’s why a player from each of those two clubs has made it into our Scout Picks XI for the weekend.

After sifting through the Scout Squad submissions from Paul, Az, Neale and Peter, we have come up with a starting XI that comes in at £82.9m, just under our £83.5m budget.

Goalkeeper

Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) was overwhelmingly chosen as the best goalkeeper for Blank Gameweek 27 by our Scout Squad pundits. Az, Neale and Peter all selected the Newcastle shot-stopper in the number one slot ahead of Huddersfield’s visit to St James’ Park. Newcastle have recorded two clean sheets in their last three home matches while the Terriers have not scored an away goal since Gameweek 19.

Defenders

Sead Kolasinac (£5.1m) gets another place in the Scout Picks after picking up top spot in each of our four Scout Squad selections. A home match against Southampton could potentially offer returns at both ends of the field for the Bosnian wing-back, who has three assists in his last six Premier League outings. Only one defender has recorded more touches in the penalty box than Kolasinac since Gameweek 23, which means he should take up more dangerous positions this weekend. Meanwhile, Southampton, are in the bottom five for goal attempts conceded in the box across the last four away matches, and only two clubs have mustered fewer shots of their own in that area of the pitch in such fixtures.

Ricardo Pereira (£5.3m) looks set for a long spell of competing for a place in the Scout Picks given Leicester’s fixtures, and he makes the cut ahead of a home clash with Crystal Palace. The only Scout Squad pundit not to pick him in second place among defenders was Az so the versatile right-sided player is already popular. Capable of playing on the right flank of Leicester’s attacking midfield, Pereira has a healthy balance of goal threat, creativity and bonus potential compared to his team-mates, as Members recently found out.

Fabian Schär (£4.6m) completes a Newcastle defensive double-up ahead of the visit of Huddersfield. We already know the clean sheet potential as covered above but the Swiss international can also offer attacking returns. In the last four Gameweeks, Schär has recorded two goals and an assist.

Midfielders

Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) may have just one goal against top-six opposition this season but Blank Gameweek 27 looks a good opportunity for him to get his second. Just three players have had more shots on target than the Egyptian in the last four Gameweeks, and he has attacking returns in five of his last seven on the road. Meanwhile, Manchester United are yet to keep a clean sheet at home since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over in December.

Son Heung-min (£9.0m) was by far the most popular midfield choice among our Scout Squad pundits for Blank Gameweek 27, with Paul, Az and Peter naming him as their first choice, Neale placing him second. It’s easy to see why the South Korean is such a fashionable asset right now, having averaged 8.9 points per appearance since Gameweek 13.

All four of our Scout Squad pundits selected Paul Pogba (£8.8m) in third place ahead of Manchester United’s big clash with Liverpool. The Frenchman is one of the top form players in the Premier League right now, with just one blank in the nine Gameweeks since Solskjaer’s arrival at Old Trafford. In the last four home matches, nobody can match Pogba’s 12 shots on target, buffed by eight key passes too. Meanwhile, Liverpool are currently on a run with just one clean sheet in three away matches.

Felipe Anderson (£7.2m) is our chosen representative from West Ham as they prepare to host a Fulham side that has conceded more goals than any other side this season. The Brazilian and his Hammers colleagues have had a tough time of it going forward recently but there is a glimmer of hope that they can get back to their free-scoring ways against the Cottagers. In the last four home matches, only three players have created more chances than Anderson’s 12, which should put him at the heart of any goals scored on Friday night.

Forwards

We expect Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) to keep his place in the Arsenal team when Southampton come to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. While he played 90 minutes against BATE Borisov on Thursday night, while Alexandre Lacazette sat out suspended, the nature of the Europa League tie should mean Aubameyang is in a good place fitness-wise. Having played each match of the festive schedule, this turnaround should be no problem for him. In his last four home matches, he is joint-top of the league for shots in the penalty box and has not blanked at the Emirates against non-top-six opposition since Gameweek 12.

Raúl Jiménez (£6.8m) has shown great value as a Fantasy option this season and, accordingly, has earned more price rises than any other player since Gameweek 1. Ahead of a trip to Bournemouth, the Wolves forward has four attacking returns in as many Gameweeks and travels to the Vitality Stadium offering the potential for both goals and assists. Since Gameweek 23, he has registered as many shots as Marcus Rashford and recorded more key passes than Pogba.

Josh King (£6.4m) gets his place in the Scout Picks after selections from three of our pundits. Paul, Neale and Peter all chose him in their Scout Squad submissions in time for this weekend. The Bournemouth forward has had 11 shots in the last four Gameweeks, nine of which were in the box and five were on target. Meanwhile, his role as the leader of the Cherries’ attack in the absence of Callum Wilson and David Brooks means he has also played five key passes in that team.

Substitutes

Sol Bamba (£4.6m) and the Cardiff defence could grind out a clean sheet against Watford on Friday night. The Hornets come to the Cardiff City Stadium with the lowest number of shots on target of any team over the last four away matches. Meanwhile, centre-back Bamba scored last time out against Southampton.

Ryan Fraser (£6.1m) was selected in three Scout Squad entries this week but just missed out on a place in the starting XI. If Bournemouth can get back to goal-scoring form at home, then Fraser is sure to be involved. Only three players have created more chances than the Scottish international this season.

Marko Arnautovic (£6.8m) has averaged 3.7 shots per game in his last four home matches, which bodes well for attacking returns against that woeful Fulham defence. Ultimately, what cost the Austrian a place in our starting XI was his security of starts. Arnautovic has featured from the beginning just once since Gameweek 23.

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 27 is Pirlo’s Pen. They have opted for a 3-4-3 formation of: Dubravka; Lascelles, Schär, Maguire, Kolasinac; Son, F Anderson, Eriksen; Aubameyang, Lacazette, Arnautovic.

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 Scouts were victorious in Gameweek 26, beating Pep Pig by a 58-48 scoreline.

fclackless‘s winning margin of 33 points (77-44) in Gameweek 10 is the current target to beat.

383 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I think there's a very good chance Aguero plays both the ful / CAR fixtures in DGW32. A few days after CAR, they will likely have an FA Cup semi-final. This could be against Man Utd but is more likely to be against Watford/Palace/Brighton. Three days after that, they will have the first leg of the Champions League quarter final which Kun is more likely to play in.

    So, projected:

    30 Mar - Fulham (a) - AGUERO
    3 April - Cardiff (h) - AGUERO
    6/7 April - FA Cup semi-final - JESUS
    9/10 April - CL quarter-final - AGUERO

    1. cheeky moses
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      That would be splendid

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Surely Jesus will play in one of the easy PL games ? why would Kun play 3 in 11 days ?

      Its not worth even trying to guess Pep though 🙂

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I told myself that for arsenal, Everton and Chelsea

    3. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Surely he’s rested against Cardiff and plays cup semi!

  2. cheeky moses
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play Lindelof or do Bennet —> Schar (-4), and play Schar?

    1. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Play lolderoff

  3. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play with 10 or -4 for AWB to Bednarek?

    1. cheeky moses
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Why Bednarek?

      1. Maizena
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Good question, god awful fixtures. Maybe he means Dubravka? 😀

  4. JWilson3
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Start 2 from:

    A) Mitro WHU (A)
    B) Pereyra CAR (A)
    C) Jota BOU (A)

    1. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A and b

  5. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one (repost): TAA, Bennett, Niasse, Harvey Barnes. Thanks

    1. JWilson3
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Bennett

  6. Claudio555
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with AWB, transfer to?

    A. Schar (-4)
    B. Kolasinac (-4)
    C. Play with Billing (who might not start).

    I have no other substitutes.

  7. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    City DGW32 or are people/me jumping the gun?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks pretty much certain if Man City beat Swansea

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Nice, cheers

  8. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A) Richarlison to Felipe Anderson for -4

    B) Play Tarkowski v Spurs

    I wasn't convinced about Anderson for a hit but AWB's injury means I might have to. What do you think? Worth it?

  9. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Here is my plan up until GW31, feedback would be greatly appreciated 🙂

    GW27: Etheridge and Laporte out
    Fabianski and Lascalles in

    GW28: Hold

    GW29: Moutinho, Auba and Rashford out
    Anderson, Higuain and Arnie in

    GW30: Hold

    GW31: Son and Jimenez out
    Mane and King in

    That would line me up with 11 playing players. Does this sound like an ok plan? I can be flexible with the sort of players (eg--> Firmino and Fraser instead for GW31)

    1. Macam Dave
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I've just been planning my run in out too. Re yours comments :

      Don't like taking laporte out so early as have three good fixtures and could be least two clean sheets in there.

      Don't like bringing in Arnie and Anderson as West ham are so unreliable. What about barnes instead of Arnie?

      Like higuain shout

      I debated mane in to make up three Liverpool players bug in end going for van dyke as his value re points to cost is so Good. Couldn't have mane as well

      Good luck!!

  10. moogzilla
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Help. Right now I have Laca as captain and Pogba as V-Captain. I have a dreadful feeling I should switch it up? Should I?

  11. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which is a better use of TC chip?

    a) Salah v Fulham (BGW31)

    B) Salah vs Huddersfield (GW36)

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Haz if he gets TGW

    2. Macam Dave
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      That's not what he is asking!!

      I think Fulham personally

      Tho tbh i almost think tripple captain is wasted on both games as everyone will be captaining Salah that game so if he gets 10 say you get thirty but everyone else gets 20 so your gain is only 10. I'm leaning towards picking less obvious game eg an aguero pick where many mightvsptian Salah

      1. Macam Dave
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Oops sorry! Phone flipped out there! Hopefully u get the point!

  12. asquishypotato
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Arnie or Anderson?

    Anderson seems sensible, but Arnie seems so much more fun, if a lot more risky.

  13. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone changing their FH plans from 32 to 31 in light of the potential City DGW 32 of (ful, CAR) and looking to TC then instead?

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd rather get Sterling, Aguero and maybe Sane in on FH for it.

      1. Macam Dave
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Agree

  14. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Fab
    Robbo TAA Doherty Bednarek
    Salah Son Sane* Gunarrson
    Rashford Aguero*
    (Stek Richarlison WB Ings)

    A) Sane Aguero -> Pogba Auba
    B) Sane Aguero Ings -> Pogba Auba Arnie (-4)

  15. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Lejuene or Clayne

  16. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Antonio a better shout compared to Anderson?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Good differential, Lanzini lurking.

      1. Totally Hammered
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        A fit and starting Lanzini won’t impact on Anderson whilst it’s a few weeks away you should be safe with Antonio for a couple of GW’s

  17. goran
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Lacazette or Arnautovic?.

  18. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I might actually captain Lascelles

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      ive just got in and tempted. 15 point time

  19. Lukakuna
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is selling AWB for Schar worth it? He could be back soon right?

  20. Fantasy Pig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Yay or Nay?

    Auba + Son + Kola -> Aguero + Sterling + Diop/Balbuena (bench)

    1. Fantasy Pig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      For a -4

      1. Macam Dave
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Not sure re West ham pick as although have fix form is poor

        Otherwise it like it for a different defender

        Tho sterling or aguero could be rested this week with extra time tonight

  21. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Do you think TAA is nailed?

    Thinking if I should transfer Laporte out now for TAA or save transfer and play Bennett (vs Huddersfield)

    Thanks.