Scout Picks

Gameweek 30 Scout Picks – Man City and Liverpool dominate selection

Manchester City and Liverpool account for five of our Scout Picks XI ahead of another big weekend for the Premier League title race.

Three of the main Gameweek 30 captain options have made it into the selection after we carefully deliberated over the Scout Squad submissions from Paul, Joe, Neale and Peter.

As per usual, we are lining up in the 3-4-3 formation and have come in under budget at a value of £83.1m.

Goalkeeper

After a tricky spell earlier in the campaign, Manchester City and Ederson (£5.6m) seem to have rediscovered their ability to keep clean sheets, recording six in their last eight Gameweeks. No team has conceded fewer goals or shots in the box in the last four home matches as the Citizens either. Meanwhile, Watford have blanked in two of their last three on the road, hence why three of our Scout Squad panel selected Ederson as the best goalkeeper for Gameweek 30.

Defenders

We have overridden the Scout Squad vote for a second week running, this time putting Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.5m) in over Andrew Robertson. The latter received considerably stronger backing from the pundits but we believe that Alexander-Arnold could reward his owners with another big haul this weekend. In the last four away matches, Burnley are in the bottom two for shots conceded from set pieces and headed goal attempts allowed. With Alexander-Arnold having a hand in corners and free-kicks, his assist potential for Gameweek 30 is high, as are his chances of a clean sheet.

Our Scout Squad pundits were keen to exploit the current run of Jeffrey Schlupp (£4.5m) in the Crystal Palace side, three of them selecting him in their submissions. The former Leicester man has started the last five matches in a row in midfield for the Eagles and has been contributing attacking returns too. Since Gameweek 25, he has a goal and three assists. With Crystal Palace boasting the joint-best home defensive record outside of the top-six so far this season, there’s every chance that Schlupp could be in for a double-figure haul against Brighton on Saturday lunch-time.

Fabian Schär (£4.7m) is our chosen representative from the Newcastle defence for Gameweek 30. There was plenty of support for the Magpies’ back-line in the Scout Squad submissions, so we’ve gone with the cheapest out of Dubravka and the in-form Schär. In the last four home matches, only Wolves and Chelsea have conceded fewer big chances than Newcastle, while Everton are bottom of the league for big chances of their own in the last four matches. Schär himself has a goal and assist in his last four outings, having had the same number of total goal attempts and shots in the box as Paul Pogba in that time.

Midfielders

Mohamed Salah (£13.4m) is the chosen representative from Liverpool’s attacking ranks this week as Burnley come to Anfield. Two of our pundits selected him as the best midfield option for this Gameweek and we are backing the Egyptian to rediscover his form in front of the Liverpool fans. In the last four Gameweeks, no player has registered more shots on target than Salah who is averaging one attacking return per home game this season, ten goals and four assists in 14 appearances at Anfield.

Like Salah, Raheem Sterling (£11.4m) was selected as the best midfield option for Gameweek 30 by two of our pundits, Paul and Peter to be precise. The Manchester City man is preparing for the visit of Watford to the Etihad Stadium, hoping to continue a decent run of form at home. Sterling has registered attacking returns in each of the last four matches he has started in front of the City faithful, combining for three goals and five assists. Meanwhile, the Hornets come to Manchester having lost 5-0 to Liverpool in their last away match.

With West Ham set to face a Cardiff side without Sol Bamba and Sean Morrison still rusty upon his return from injury, Manuel Lanzini (£6.4m) gets into the Scout Picks for the first time this season. The Argentinian has looked good since returning from injury in 27 and appears to have already re-established himself in the Manuel Pellegrini’s side. In the last four Gameweeks, Lanzini is showing the best minutes per chance of any Hammers midfielder.

David Brooks (£5.0m) makes a great budget enabler for our Scout Picks XI as Bournemouth prepare to face Huddersfield this weekend. While the Cherries have been poor away from home of late, the Welshman’s return from injury could be just the catalyst they need to get back to winning ways. In the seven matches before his injury, Brooks registered three goals and three assists.

Forwards

Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) has proved the king of the Etihad Stadium in recent weeks and months. For that reason, he was chosen as the best forward option by all four of our Scout Squad pundits for Gameweek 30. The Argentinian has scored seven goals in his last four home matches coming from eight shots on target, only Roberto Firmino has more. Crucially, those efforts have come in just 245 minutes proving how even more damaging Aguero can be if given the full 90 minutes. Pep Guardiola will have to consider his assets ahead of a midweek Champions League meeting with Schalke 04 but with Gabriel Jesus available again, it could be the Brazilian that is used on Tuesday night.

Jamie Vardy (£8.9m) was another player whose inclusion in the Scout Picks was fairly straight forward. Selected by all four of our pundits in their Scout Squad entries, the Leicester forward has the most appealing fixture of the Gameweek: at home against Fulham. It’s three goals in his last four Premier League outings for Vardy, while the Cottagers’ defence has allowed more shots in the box than any other side over the last four Gameweeks.

Salomón Rondón (£5.9m) looks like he could be the budget forward to turn heads in Gameweek 30 based on his underlying statistics. Over the last four Gameweeks, no player has had more shots inside the penalty box or more efforts on target. Meanwhile, he has played 10 key passes, which could be setting him up for an all-action performance against Everton at St James’ Park.

Substitutes

Gameweek 30 could finally be when Ricardo Pereira (£5.4m) finally rewards those who signed him for Leicester’s appealing fixtures. Only Huddersfield have scored fewer away goals this season than Fulham who could allow the Foxes’ wing-back the chance for returns at both ends of the pitch this weekend.

No player has had more shots in the last four Gameweeks than Harvey Barnes (£5.5m), so he offers a serious chance of attacking returns against Fulham in Gameweek 30.

Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m) will be licking his lips ahead of a derby match with Brighton on Saturday lunch-time. He has scored five goals in nine matches against the Seagulls in all competitions. In his last six Premier League outings, he has been involved in six goals, five of his own and one assist.

Community Champion

Our Community Champion this week is Bøss star, who has gone for a 3-4-3 line-up of Guaita; Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Robertson; Anderson, Brooks, Sterling, Mane; Vardy, Aguero, Zaha.

1,029 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Lascelles or Schar?

    1. barcaa7
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Schar

      1. Slitherene
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Why did he get subbed off at 64 mins in the last game?

    2. Fantasydreamer
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Be cautious over Schar, one yellow away from suspension

      1. Slitherene
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Thanks!

  2. barcaa7
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Pogba to Mane and Kola to Rice for free
    yes or no?(FH on 32)
    ?

    1. NIKO.
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Yep

  3. CrouchDown
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Which option is better below? Will likely have 11 for GW31 anyway.

    Son, Pogba, Auba(-4) to:

    (A) Hazard Brooks Aguero
    (B) Hazars Mane King

  4. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Go maverick and captain Vardy or go with the obvious choice in Salah?

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Salah

  5. MadMarcelo
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    0.5 ITB 2FT (6 gw31 atm)

    A/ Son + Jimenez or rashford => brooks + higuain for free
    B/ son pogba Jimenez rashford => brooks hazard Wilson higuain for -8

    If A/ Jimenez or rashford out?

  6. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Who scores more this week?

    A. Son + Doherty
    B. Maddison + Azpi

    1. GertJan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      B without a doubt.

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      No idea
      Spurs are being totally overlooked
      Maddison great stats but not so great end product

  7. CHARLIE HULL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Think my transfers for this week depend on what team I want for GW 31. Which looks strongest?

    A) Fab. Robbo Digne Ricardo TAA. Salah Hazard Brooks Maddison. Vardy Rondon.

    B) Fab. Robbo Digne Ricardo Rice. Salah Mane Brooks Maddison. Higuain King

  8. CLASS OF 78
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Best 2 for GW 30/31/33 please.

    (a) Maddison
    (b) H Barnes
    (c) Brooks
    (d) Fraser
    (e) Lanzini
    (f) F Anderson
    (g) Snodgrass

    1. barcaa7
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      C D

  9. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Pick two transfers please!!!!!

    A) hojbjerg --- mcneil
    B) son --- lanzini
    C) son --- siggy
    D) doherty --- pereira
    E) shaw --- diop
    F) shaw --- ake

    1. barcaa7
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      None

      1. AYLD28
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        I think I threw up

        1. Nespinha
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 21 days ago

          relax, its to get playable guys on gw31

          1. AYLD28
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 21 days ago

            I was only messing. I’d target Bournemouth, Liverpool, Leicester and Chelsea. Thats it imo

    2. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      F and B but I'd do b after this week

      1. Nespinha
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        that might be a good idea, i can field 9 players on 31 if I take a hit

        1. Ohh1454
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 21 days ago

          Ya I think nine is sufficient and one hit isn't to bad

    3. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      DF 🙂

      1. Nespinha
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        actually think thats a good move, wolves has hard fixtures ahead so I wont add their defenders again

        1. Tev
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 21 days ago

          Yeah I like it mate. Any room for a Bournemouth attacker?

          1. Nespinha
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 21 days ago

            My attack is Aguero, Vardy and Jimenez, think ill kepp it like that. But I have fraser!

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Yeah interesting. I expected Chelsea Brighton in 32 but looks like spurs. Not as good for the CHE double

  10. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    With foster playing city this week and blanking gw31 could it be worth a hit to do foster > kepa this week ?

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      I would

      1. Ohh1454
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Ya was leaning towards it even if kepa just gets playing points over the next two weeks I'd still break even and factoring gw33 aswell I think it's the right move

  11. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Anyone noticed the tiles on the articles page are sometimes in colour, but mainly black & white?

  12. Gooner Kebab
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Pick one, FT before FH next week.
    a) Saiss to Pereira
    b) Saiss to Chilwell
    c) Button to Boruc

    Fab
    DLuiz, TAA, AwB
    Pogba, Fraser, Sterling, Salah
    Kun, Rondon, Jiminez
    (Button, Saiss, Doherty, McArthur)

  13. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    GTG?

    Allison
    Pereira VVD Rudiger Kola
    Salah Pogba Hazard
    Jimmy Vardy Rondon

    Button Deulofeu Camarasa Doherty

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Good team

  14. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Just Puncheon to Brooks?

    Or take some hits?

    Fab
    TAA/Shaw/Pereira
    Salah/Hazard/Mane/Pogba/Brooks*
    Kun/Jim

    Hart/Doherty/ABarnes/Bednarek

    1. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      No hits required, nice transfer

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Thanks, good luck 😉

  15. Merlinho
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Start two from Chilwell, H Barnes and Mitrovic?

    1. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      The Leicester boys

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        This

    2. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      I'd go the Leicester players

  16. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    I'm tired leading my MLs since the beginning of the season. It's a long aul haul...

    1. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Is that you Jurgen?

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Yep it's me.

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        LOL

  17. Gríma Wormtongue
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Pick one

    A) Ogbonna + Mane + Vardy

    B) TAA + Brooks + Higuain + 2.8 more ITB

  18. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    I've asked this before but need some more views because it's a big decision, what do you think about triple captaining Aguero this GW? I'll be using TC in SGW anyway so it will be Salah vs Huddersfield maybe and I think I prefer Aguero!

    1. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Could be a master stroke, and will be nice to sit in for evening kick off with a beer and a TC

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Yeah mate could go either way 🙂
        I’ve been told the opportunity will present itself blatantly and I have seen no other as thus! Most likely I'm going for it!

    2. lankdog
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      I think Fernandinho absence could be worth considering

      1. Winners900
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        I think its to risky with the rotation risk.

  19. gonzalocampos
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    I am chasing by 18 points on my $3K winner ML. (the race its only between 1st place and me)

    I have Aguero he doesn't, most likely he will put Salah as C. Would you play it safe with Salah, or go with Aguero? I am leaning towards Kun.

    1. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      3k? Blimey. Go with your gut.

      1. gonzalocampos
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Yeah, $3,000. We have a 29 friends ML. The third place its about 85 points behind so I believe the race its only about the 1st place and me (second).

  20. jorgenoj
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Fraser or Brooks?

    1. AYLD28
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Brookside

    2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Brooksy

  21. AYLD28
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    GTG?

    Boruc
    TAA AWB Pereira
    Salah Mane Sterling (C) Brooks Pogba
    Rondon Higuain

    Debravka Jimenez Doherty Kolasinac

    2.6m ITB

  22. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Who is the most nailed Newcastle defender?

    1. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Fear Lascelles is due a rest.

      1. AYLD28
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Shar but 1 yellow from suspension

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Gots to be Schar

      1. Slitherene
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        Schar is one YC away from suspension.

    3. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Has to be Lejeune then. Then again what if Fernandez gets a start?

  23. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Will have 3FTs -- two this week, one next -- so I could have one of these groupings headed into gw31.

    But which?
    1) TAA, Brooks, Higuain
    2) Rice, Mane, Barnes

    1. AYLD28
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Can’t have 3 lol

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 21 days ago

        I explained it already. I have 2FTs now, then will have one more next week.

        1. AYLD28
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 21 days ago

          And I explained you can’t get 3 transfers lol.

          Max is 2 FT. Next week you will have 2 FT, meaning you have lost 1

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      1

  24. CHARLIE HULL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Thinking my transfers for this week depend on what team I want for GW 31. Which looks strongest?

    A) Fab. Robbo Digne Ricardo TAA. Salah Hazard Brooks Maddison. Vardy Rondon.

    B) Fab. Robbo Digne Ricardo Rice. Salah Mane Brooks Maddison. Higuain King

  25. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Bench Luiz or Jimenez?

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      I am planning to bring in Luiz and benching jimi

    2. L S P
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      i'm starting both but would bench jimi if i had to

  26. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Mane or Hazard as potentiel replacement for Son

    If hazard, won't be able to afford to bring a Liverpool defense
    If Mane, won't be able to bring a Chelsea attacker
    Thanks

  27. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Son to Mane a good transfer? Already own Salah

    1. lankdog
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      If you have no other pressing issues, seems okay to me

  28. The Blackadder
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    I have Fraser, Doherty & Kolasinac on the bench, should any of them take Pedro’s place in the starting 11? I have Hazard.

  29. lankdog
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    Need some help here
    Wanna make the move Auba >> Aguero, but need to free up £0.8m to do so - where from? I'm considering Pogba/Son >> Maddison/Anderson or similar, but I don't love the move. Robbo > TAA is a possibility but seems a bit sideways. Any ideas?
    Team with the Aguero move is:

    Etheridge
    Robbo Pereira AWB
    Salah Pogba Son Redmond
    Aguero Vardy Jim

    Speroni Doherty Bednarek Camarasa

    2FT, -0.8m ITB

    1. lankdog
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 21 days ago

      Am FHing in 31 btw