Scout Picks

Man City triple-up for Gameweek 4 Scout Picks

A Manchester City triple-up underpins the Scout Picks squad for Gameweek 4 as they prepare to host Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Selecting just three of their players proved difficult and we had to make some difficult choices sifting through David, Neale, Paul and Geoff’s Scout Squad submissions.

This week we line up in a 3-5-2 formation coming in at £82.9m, just £0.1m under our budget of £83.0m.

Goalkeeper

Tom Heaton is our selected goalkeeper for Gameweek 4

Budget goalkeeper Tom Heaton (£4.5m) is our man between the sticks for Gameweek 4 after all four of our Scout Squad pundits included him in their submissions. Aston Villa travel to a Crystal Palace side that has largely struggled in front of goal this season. They may have found the net twice on the counter-attack at Manchester United, but prior to that, they had blanked in favourable fixtures in Gameweeks 1 and 2. Last season the Eagles scored the fewest home goals of any side that survived relegation too. Given Heaton’s history for making saves, we believe he could provide excellent value this weekend.

Defenders

Liverpool’s defence has not inspired confidence this season but Alexander-Arnold is offering plenty of attacking threat

Liverpool’s defence has been hard to trust for clean sheets so far this season, but Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) is still displaying plenty of attacking threat. His 11 chances created so far this season is the second-best in the entire league, of any player in any position, such is his threat both from set-pieces and from open play. Therefore, he stands an excellent chance of being involved in Liverpool’s goals at Burnley. Three of our Scout Squad pundits selected him as the best choice defender this week, David putting him in the second slot.

Lucas Digne (£6.1m) gets into the Scout Picks for the third week in four as Everton prepare to host Wolves on Sunday afternoon. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have been particularly goal-shy in the Premier League so far this season, finding the net just twice, once from the penalty spot and once through a world-class textbook Ruben Neves strike. The Europa League commitments appear to have taken a toll on Diogo Jota especially so it looks as if we’ll be in for a low-scoring affair at Goodison Park. Meanwhile, Digne continues to take set pieces for the Toffees, finding the net with one against Lincoln midweek.

With Brighton coming to the Etihad Stadium in Gameweek 4, a Manchester City defender should prove important. That’s why Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) gets back into the Scout Picks for the first time since Gameweek 1 after David and Paul tipped him in their submissions. Pep Guardiola’s men have conceded the fewest shots and goal attempts in the box over the first three Gameweeks, arguably unfortunate to let in two set-piece goals in both of their most recent outings. Meanwhile, Zinchenko played more key passes than any of his colleagues in the Gameweek 3 win over Bournemouth.

Midfielders

Raheem Sterling was unanimously voted as the best midfield option by our Scout Squad panel

Raheem Sterling (£12.3m) is the best midfielder for Gameweek 4 for each one of our Scout Squad panel. The Manchester City attacker has five goals in his first three matches of the campaign and is also top of the league for shots inside the box and big chances. After registering a goal and two assists in two league matches against a more defence-minded Brighton outfit last season, it seems unlikely that Graham Potter’s new-look forward-thinking side will stop Sterling’s excellent run of form at the Etihad Stadium.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is welcomed back to the Scout Picks XI after a week out in the cold, one in which he punished our lack of faith with a 15-point haul. The Egyptian very much looked back to his best against Arsenal, after underwhelming performances in Gameweeks 1 and 2. Burnley at Turf Moor is not an especially easy fixture, but if Liverpool are to make a breakthrough this weekend, Salah is the most likely to score based on his penalty-taking duties, and more shots on target than any other colleague so far this season.

Kevin de Bruyne (£9.7m) has been an exceptional creator in the league so far this season. He has played more key passes than any other player across the first three Gameweeks, fashioning the most big chances during that time too. We had to choose between Manchester City’s midfield maestro and centre-forward Sergio Aguero for the final member of our triple-up – it was the Belgian who triumphed. We believe that de Bruyne offers better value than his Argentinian colleague and has greater long-term appeal as a more nailed-on member of the first-team, Gabriel Jesus already making great progress coming back from his hamstring injury.

Fully recovered from his dead-leg against Norwich, Mason Mount (£6.2m) makes his debut in the Scout Picks XI. He is the latest differential option to get promoted to the top-flight of FFS advice, this week ahead of Sheffield United’s trip to Stamford Bridge. The Blades are not likely to be pushovers on Saturday afternoon but Mount looks like one of Chelsea’s key players under Frank Lampard already. He ranks top among his colleagues for goal attempts and shots on target, which is why the midfielder averages 6.7 points per game so far.

Todd Cantwell (£4.7m) is looking like a very effective enabler this season given his budget price and attacking potential. The ongoing injury to Norwich midfielder Onel Hernández should ensure the 21-year-old continues to start games on the left flank of Daniel Farke’s attacking 4-2-3-1 formation. That has allowed Cantwell to register three attacking returns in the first three matches of the season. Against a West Ham defence that has not looked solid at all this season, we are backing the budget man to continue his run of form.

Forwards

Sébastien Haller makes his Scout Picks debut for Gameweek 4

Sébastien Haller (£7.4m) gets into the Scout Picks after being tipped by all four of our Scout Squad pundits. Paul was especially fond of the West Ham man, selecting him as the best forward for Gameweek 4. Norwich’s defence has been quite obliging in the early part of the season, conceding more shots on target than any other side, and letting in the highest number of goals so far (eight). Haller looks a decent candidate to capitalise on the Canaries’ weaknesses at the back, having found the net twice against an equally leaky Watford defence in Gameweek 2.

As David mentioned in his Scout Squad submission, Teemu Pukki (£7.0m) has almost become an auto-include for the Scout Picks at this point. He has five goals in the first three matches of the season and from what we can see of the underlying statistics, this output in terms of attacking returns looks sustainable. We’ve already covered how poor West Ham’s defence has been in recent weeks in our entry for Cantwell, so against them, it seems unlikely that Pukki’s scoring run will come to an end.

Substitutes

Emerson (£5.5m) has been showing plenty of potential in the early weeks of 2019/20. The Chelsea left-back is joint-top for attempts on goal among defenders and is joint-second for efforts inside the box. Clean sheets have not been forthcoming for the Blues just yet, but a home match with Sheffield United could be the perfect opportunity for Emerson to deliver his first returns of the campaign.

Daniel James (£6.0m) has been a rare positive spark for Manchester United so far this season, finding the net on two occasions already. The injury to Anthony Martial should see his place in the side assured for Gameweek 4 and given he has had more shots inside the box than any other Red Devil in 2019/20, his goal threat is already making itself known.

Joelinton (£5.9m) gets onto the Scout Picks bench after also making into our Spot the Differential article for Gameweek 4. The Newcastle forward managed to find the net with very little service against Spurs last weekend and may enjoy more opportunities against a Watford defence that has started the season in poor form.

The Scout Picks’ Captain

As we have mentioned many times since the season began, the Scout Picks now has a captain for the 2019/20 campaign.

This skipper is chosen using the conclusions of the latest Captain Sensible article and a four-way vote between David, Neale, Paul and Geoff.

Because the use of Fantasy Football Scout data is used so heavily in this process, the captain we choose each Gameweek will be known only to those who have signed up to Membership for the 2019/20 season.

It will be revealed to the public only when the deadline for the Gameweek has passed.

The Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 4 is InsaneFC.

They have opted for a 3-4-3 of Kepa; Zinchenko, Digne, Alexander-Arnold; Sterling, Lanzini, Mount, Maddison; Haller, Aguero (c), Pukki.

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.

It was a close defeat for the Scout Picks in Gameweek 3 as FPL Mike the Knight won by a 46-44 scoreline.

That means Hot Toddy’s 10-point winning margin from Gameweek 2 remains the current score to beat.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 3

4,990 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Don Rogers FC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    * Rank not Reno

  2. Don Rogers FC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sorry, mispost.

  3. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would you rather :

    A) Play 2 of Greenwood, Dendocker or Lundstram or
    B) Martial > Mount -4

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    3. Willllsonnn!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B, but then undecided who to play out of A1 and A3

    4. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Damn, mixed. I really dont like taking hits, and its a gamble when Martial is expected to be back next gw. But it could work out ofc.

  4. Bobby
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Morning - Start lundstrum or Greenwood?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundy.

    2. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Greenwood

    3. JohnBlack
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Greenwood

  5. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Aguero skip.

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      per

  6. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Good morning Lords,
    Ashely Barnes to wipe those Liverpool cleanie.

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Denied.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Possibly, still keeping my defs for Newcastle now.

    3. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      TAA x2 assists though bro.

    4. Willllsonnn!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Burnley have a good scoring record v Liv tbh

    5. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yup. That's why I've gone TAA though. Honestly looking at him as an attacker where as I look at VVD and Robbo as defenders when I see them in the squad

  7. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start Kelly or greenwood?????

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kelly

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Now start Kelly or lund? Have mount

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kel.

  8. FPLAdmiral
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anything worth a hit chaps? 1.6m ITB - was tempted by Kane > Haller to free up funds.

    Pope
    Digne, AWB, Soyuncu
    Sterling (c), KDB (vc), Mane, Mount, Cantwell
    Kane, Pukki

    (Button)(Greenwood, Kelly, Lundstrom)

  9. Moose™
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope Heaton

    VVD Digne Montoya Lundy Hanley

    Salah Sterling KdB Martial Dendoncker

    Vardy King Greenwood

    1 FT & 0 ITB

    Martial to?

    King to?

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mount Haller

      1. Moose™
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Lanzini + Haller double up? No good?

        1. Zladan
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Chelsea have better fixtures.

    2. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Martial to Moura

  10. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is today the day when KDB will really start scoring some points... Reckon he could do a 20 pointer without scoring a goal.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If he does it probably means he has laid on hat tricks for Aguero or Sterling.

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Agree. I think KDB has to be in addition to one those guys, rather than an alternative.

  11. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone know what changed resulting in Barnes scoring this many goals in 2019?

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Missus threatened to leave him if he didn't score more.

    2. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Hair transplant

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It didnt help Rooney, in fact made him worse.
        This or Stella's and trips to local chippy.

    3. Don Rogers FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He banged quite a few in for a consistent couple of months early in 2019

    4. Don Rogers FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sorry, misread. You probably know that already. I’ll go with the hair transplant in that case.

    5. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He found his zen, became one with the goals.

  12. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Choose 1:

    1) Mount + Perez
    2) FAnderson + McGinn - 4

    1. Aadii
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mount + McGinn

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        -4?

  13. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My GW ends tonight. No players tomorrow, unless Dendoncker makes a surprise appearance from my bench.

  14. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Aguero(c) and no Sterling

    Gulp

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same! Is going to go one of two ways isn't it.....!

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I have a good feeling about Aguero tbh. It’s just that the ownership of Sterling is a concern.

        It could go either way. Sterling blank or a dirty assist and Aguero brace will shoot us up in ranking.

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Could be gold.

    3. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Why not?

      Will probably score more than Sterling again.

    4. Don Rogers FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      KDB Captain, no Sterling or Aguero!

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You sir, must have bigger balls than Makalele

    5. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I have both Kun and sterling and I'm going Aguero (C) ..hope he gets me up the ranks after poor start to season

  15. Game...Blouses
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Firmino haul incoming

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I wouldn’t be surprised

  16. Willllsonnn!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Greenwood or Lundstrom? RMT suggests the former :/

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lund

    2. Plymouth
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      GW obv

    3. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Greenwood

  17. flippetyflop
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mings Mount and Greenwood or Kelly Dendoncker and Barnes on a WC?

    I think Barnes fixtures after this week make him a must have - but Kelly and Dendoncker on a WC feels like a waste?!

  18. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    play one :
    a.lund
    b. soy
    c. kelly

    responses appreciated

    1. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Soy

    2. Paanmonkey
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      lund

  19. Freaki
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    On a free hit: Drop KDB since I already have Aguero and Sterling to free up funds?

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Drop salah

    2. Paanmonkey
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      keep

    3. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Do whatever you do but do not drop KDB

    4. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Keep the best players in the best fixtures on a free hit.

      1. Maddamotha
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        That makes sense tbh

  20. olidooley
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Gtg here? 1 FT 0.2itb

    Pope
    Robertson VVD Zinchenko Digne
    Salah Sterling KDB Mount
    Pukki Jota

    Button Greenwood Lundstram Dendoncker

  21. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Captain
    A) Kane
    B) Sterling

    Start
    1) Lundstram
    B) Pieters
    Also starting Pope.
    First to 2.

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B2

    2. CostaCoffee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B2

    3. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Play Pieters over Lund?

    4. mookie
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B2

  22. Plymouth
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton
    Zinch, Robbo, VvD
    Perez, Sterling(C), Salah, Mount, Pulisic
    King, Haller

    G2G?

  23. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Will Rico start with Daniels injured ?

    First sub:
    A)Greenwood
    B)Rico
    C)Maupay

    (Will most likely play as I’ve Stones)

  24. dhirst
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who’s a better option for the next few fixtures?

    Mings or Pieters?

  25. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    i have 9/10 of the starting outfield scout picks in my team. Just Rashford over Haller and I have Ryan in goal. feeling good about this gw 😎

    1. CostaCoffee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      That usually isn’t a good thing

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I have every faith in the team. Some solid picks IMO - can't go wrong with that back three and i think 3 of the 5 mf are essential. Mount and Cantwell in great form..

        .. I'm setting myself up for a big fail aren't I?

      2. Frucke
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Haha

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you have that many within scout picks then it usually ends in tears

      Nailed on for a 22 pointer GW

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        😀

    3. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’ve 10 of the 11.

      Greenwood/Lunny/Dendo over Cantwell. Just can’t settle.

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I'd probably go Dendo with Gw first sub. Good luck!

  26. Here's Tom with the We…
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    On wildcard

    A TAA and Soy/Dunk
    B Emerson and Zinchenko

    1. Frucke
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Taa and soy, keep taa for the season

  27. Ready Player One
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Barnes > Haller

    For free?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Barnes could easily score, nay

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        LR would you start Barnes or Cantwell? cheers

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Barnes without doubt

          1. Rinseboy
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            cheers

    2. Manamongst
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      yes. times up for Barnes...get rid

  28. Manamongst
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Cue the Mason Mount blank and Lundstram goal just to troll us.

  29. Riggs
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who to bench:
    A) AWB
    B) Mina
    C) Cantwell
    D) Greenwood

    I need to leave one of these four on the bench, and the rest three will play.

  30. davies
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bench order correct?

    1) Dendoncker (eve)
    2) Rico (lei)
    3) Lundstram (che)

    1. Manamongst
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      132