Scout Picks

Premium midfielders with appealing matches headline Gameweek 26 Scout Picks

We’ve gone big in midfield and relatively light in attack for the Gameweek 26 Scout Picks, which may raise an eyebrow or two.

As usual, we deliberated over the Scout Squad submissions made by David, Neale, Paul and Geoff over the last few days before coming up with the final team.

We shape up in a 3-5-2 formation, with our team coming well inside the allotted budget of £85.0m.

GOALKEEPER

No goalkeeper received unanimous support among our Scout Squad panel but Alex McCarthy did get three votes ahead of Southampton’s clash with Burnley. The Clarets are in the bottom three for attempts on goal and shots in the box in away games and ranked 20th for shots on target. Southampton, meanwhile, have allowed fewer attempts on goal than all teams bar Manchester City over the last six Gameweeks.

DEFENDERS

All three of our defensive picks this week received universal backing from our Scout Squad panel.

Nine clean sheets in ten matches is reason enough to back a Liverpool defender in Gameweek 26, with Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s assist potential – he has already matched his total number of attacking returns from 2018/19 – another string to his bow. The Canaries have allowed more crosses per home game from their left flank – i.e. Liverpool’s right – than any other club this season.

While Bournemouth have admittedly picked up back-to-back wins at home, they haven’t scored in four of their last five games on the road and Enda Stevens could potentially profit from a Cherries defence that has conceded more chances from their right flank than any other club over the last six Gameweeks. Sheffield United have kept clean sheets in five of their 12 games at Bramall Lane, with only Liverpool conceding fewer goals on home soil.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have not only scored fewer goals than any other Premier League side this season but they have also allowed more crosses from their right flank than any top-flight team over the last dozen Gameweeks. Lucas Digne, therefore, is our Everton representative, not least because 65 of his 81 FPL points have arrived in home fixtures.

MIDFIELDERS

How many top 10k managers played the Triple Captain for Double Gameweek 24?

Mohamed Salah, the leader in our captaincy poll, has registered 16-point hauls in each of the last two Gameweeks and averages 9.2 Fantasy Premier League points per match in 2020 so far. It has to be said that Salah hasn’t been prolific on the road this season, scoring only two goals away from Anfield – although he has supplemented those strikes with five assists. Salah bucked the trend in his last away outing, however, racking up 14 points in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham United. Norwich have shipped 25 goals in 12 home fixtures this season, meanwhile.

Manchester City’s home game against West Ham is arguably the standout fixture of Gameweek 26, with Kevin De Bruyne‘s security of starts – he has made Pep Guardiola’s starting XI for 17 league matches in a row – a big draw given the unpredictability of Guardiola’s selections elsewhere. David Moyes’ troops have conceded 14 big chances and ten goals over their last four matches. De Bruyne tops the league for key passes in his last four, meanwhile.

With Aston Villa the only side to have conceded more big chances than West Ham since Gameweek 21, Son Heung-min is our third premium midfield option selected. The South Korean may be in a more central role at Spurs following Steven Bergwijn’s arrival and he has fired 11 shots in the box in the last four Gameweeks since Harry Kane was sidelined.

Sergio Aguero was a first-choice pick for three of our Scout Squad but, omitted by Paul and with other £10.0m+ options receiving universal backing, the Argentinean was a luxury we simply couldn’t afford. Instead, we turn to Riyad Mahrez as our second City representative. Both Aguero and Mahrez have started 14 matches this season, with the latter proving the more explosive with five double-figure hauls to the Argentinean’s four.

We’re gambling on Graham Potter’s unpredictable team selection as we take a punt on Leandro Trossard extending his reliable home form against Watford. All three of the Brighton winger’s goals this season and four of his five assists have come at the Amex Stadium. When selected, he has been involved in 64% of the Seagulls’ efforts in front of their own supporters. Trossard has averaged 5.1 FPL points per home appearance.

FORWARDS

Crystal Palace are without a clean sheet in nine Gameweeks, so Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a chance to continue his fine form in the Carlo Ancelotti era. The Everton striker is joint-second for big chances when all FPL assets are filtered by their last four matches.

Danny Ings may have blanked for three Gameweeks in a row (one of his run-outs coming off the bench, in mitigation) but there is little wrong with his underlying stats, with the Southampton striker joint-third alongside Calvert-Lewin for shots in the box when players are filtered by their last four matches. The fact that he has racked up those attempts in just 270 minutes of football (out of a possible 360) makes that an even more impressive statistic. Ings has scored in five of his last seven home fixtures.

SUBSTITUTES

No goalkeeper has kept more league clean sheets than Dean Henderson this season and the Sheffield United shot-stopper was the first-choice pick for three of our Scout Squad panel ahead of the Blades’ clash with Bournemouth, who score at a rate of less than one goal per game away from home in 2019/20.

Mason Holgate is an ever-present under Ancelotti and David was keen to see us double-up on the Toffees, with Palace’s shot-shy attack visiting Merseyside.

Jack Stephens was Geoff’s preferred Southampton option, having recorded three assists and three clean sheets in the last ten Gameweeks.

Watford forward Troy Deeney – third for xGI among FPL forwards since Nigel Pearson took charge – this weekend faces a Brighton and Hove Albion defence with only one clean sheet to their name in 14 matches.

THE CAPTAIN

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 26 is Haggis.

They have gone for a 4-3-3 line-up of McCarthy, van Dijk, Doherty, Digne, Stevens, Salah, Mahrez, Moura, Aguero (c), Jesus, Ings.

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.

Community Champion gwitbrock beat our Scout Picks 86-63 in Gameweek 25 and as a result, their winning margin of 23 points is now the target to beat.

3,460 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Francescoli
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    0FT and 1.2itb

    Good to go? Or is double Southampton defence overkill?

    McCarthy
    TAA Holgate Stephens
    Salah (c) Mané KDB Grealish
    Auba Ings DCL

    Henderson; Rico Soyuncu Elneny

    Henderson

    1. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not necessarily overkill, but why take the risk when you have Henderson?

      1. TheBabyfacedAssassin
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This

      2. Francescoli
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I have a feeling Bournmouth more likely to score than Burnley.

        1. LE CHARO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I'd personally play Henderson but if you're confident on a Southampton CS go for it.

          1. Francescoli
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Not confident on any result tbh. Maybe I should hedge my bet and play Henderson.

    2. azambadboy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Henderson much better with great safe

  2. Koroko990
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Henderson
    Taa vvd dunk
    Maddison kdb salah cantwell
    Dcl vardy ings

    Pope soyuncu lundstrom sarr

    Have 2 ft 0 in bank.

    Tempted to do this..

    Maddison and vardy > kun and fleck

    What do you think?

    Thanks

    1. Abra Dubravka
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      You’ll want them both back in a few weeks...

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yes, a few weeks.. so good to get rid now

  3. TheBabyfacedAssassin
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    TAA, Soy, Lundstram
    Salah, KDB, Martial, Doucourè
    Auba, Ings, Firm
    subs Cantwell, Lascelles, Kelly

    A) Lundstram > Stephens, JWP or Egan
    B) Kelly > Tanganga
    C) Save FT

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Kelly to Stephens? Give the lord one more week, please

      1. TheBabyfacedAssassin
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Not enough £

      2. Abra Dubravka
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        That was my exciting transfer this week

    2. Francescoli
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on that your wildcard plans are. I’d bring in Stephens for Lundstram to navigate the game week 28 blank.

      1. TheBabyfacedAssassin
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers. Not worth taking a punt on JWP?
        No WC plan yet. Waiting for more information

        1. Francescoli
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          He could be great but are we sure he is going to start? Stephens less exciting but more nailed on (using information we have at hand).

  4. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    How is this WC team looking too template or Okay??

    McCarthy
    Basham/ O'Connell/ TAA
    Salah(c)/ KDB/ Grealish/ Son/ Fleck
    Ings/ Jimenez

    Bench: Ryan/ Boly/ Martinelli/ Fernandez

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Seems a little weak in attack, maybe too much on the bench.

    2. azambadboy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Basham to Boly

  5. mitt8
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    -dunk+digne for a -4?

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not for a hit

  6. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    play Rico ahead of Soyuncu on the bench?

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same dilemma, currently playing Soy

  7. WannabeScout
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who as s a 4th midfielder this week in a 3-4-3
    A) Mooy
    B) gundogon

    Pope
    TAA Bednarek Lund
    KDB Salah fleck
    Agüero (c) DCL Firmino

  8. Plant Based FPLer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What about this mega differential free hit? Is it better than a free hit for a random starting 11 during gw 31 between a few teams?

    Henderson (Button)

    Robertson TAA VVD Baldock Steven's

    Mahrez Alli Son (Guendouzi) (Davis)

    Aguero Jesus (Martinelli)

    This is based on the theory that Man City have hauled 2/3 times Sterling didn't play this season. I think he's a hard person to know where he stands, so to speak, during a game, and they gel better without him. The other game they beat Everton 2 - 1 with Ancelotti in charge.

    Otherwise I'm pretty template with no City, Salah captain, and 203,000th place.

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It's nice, could pay off. Who knows if it will come through but I like the idea.

  9. azambadboy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    GTG this line up?need your opinion

    Henderson
    VVD TAA Lunds Holgate
    Salah(C) KDB(VC) Traore Mahrez
    Ings Jimenez
    Subs: Reina Fernandez Grealish DCL

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hmmm seems a little weird, I would play one of grealish or DCL, maybe both. Put Lundy on bench.

      1. azambadboy
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        is it lundy not in good performance or injury?coz he is 1 of the best defence in epl..

        1. LE CHARO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          He's become a rotation risk

  10. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Still unsure whether to captain KDB or Salah. Alexa, flip a coin...

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

    2. Abra Dubravka
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

    3. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Moooo

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

    1. Maupay to Jiminez
    2. Lundstram to O'Connell
    3.Do both for a -4 hit

    1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      2 oly

  12. Abra Dubravka
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg?
    Henderson
    TAA, Robbo, Sidibe, Stephens
    Salah(C), KDB, Grealish
    Vardy, Ings, Jimenez

    Bench: Traore, Lord, Maddison?

  13. davies
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which option?

    A) Pope Traore
    B) McCarthy Barnes

    I also own Vardy + Jimenez...

    1. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A all day for me

  14. Quackadoodz
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is this WC gtg?

    Pope (Button)
    TAA, Ward, Egan (Rico, Lascelles)
    Salah, KdB, Son, Mahrez (Hayden)
    Firmino, Ings, Auba

    Looking to remove Auba during dgw for Jiminez or Vardy and upgrade def.

    GTG?

    1. Quackadoodz
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      BGW*

  15. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Done lord to O'Connell..but didn't actually noticed where he plays?is he a centre back?any attacking potentials?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Very little attacking potential from SHU defenders.

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This is incorrect. Both Stevens and Baldock get forward a lot and have huge assist potential. Stevens had a few shots in the box last GW as well.

  16. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    G2G in terms of bench order?
    Lundstram, Soyuncu, Cantwell

    Guaita
    TAA, Rico, Stephens
    Salah, Mane, KDB, Fleck
    Aguero, Ings, Calvert-Lewin

  17. No Pirlo No Party
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Where best to use the 2FT's this week?

    Ryan - Button
    TAA - Robertson - Lundstram - Holgate - Stephens
    Salah - KDB - Martial - Grealish - Dendoncker
    Vardy - DCL - Ings

    2FT with £0.7 in the bank

    Martial to Mahrez?
    Lundstram to Boly?

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Martial to Mahrez is a good move

  18. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Have I got my bench right, Play grealish or Fleck?

    Pope TAA Soy Stevens
    Maddy KDB Salah fleck
    Auba Ings Firmino

    Subs - grealish Rico Williams

  19. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Should I play Dunk at home vs Wat or Ayew away vs EVE?

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Dunk, Everton likely to keep a clean sheet at Goodison

      1. Spoox777
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Don't think so 😉

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I'm with you guys 😀

        2. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          look at the bookies odds. Couldn’t even score against a hapless Newcastle

    2. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Dunk

  20. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A. Play wood and save FT
    B. Wood to Ings...

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  21. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    a) Vardy > Aguero
    b) Ox > Mane & Kelly > Tanganga or Ryan > Henderson -4
    b) hold

    I brought in the Ox as a placeholder for Mane but still 0.1 short. Bringing in Aguero would mean Mane is unobtainable in near future. Aguero has lei, blank, mun next 3. They then play Real Madrid away before Villa away when he could be rested.

    If I hold then I could do b) for free, then Holgate to Egan GW27

    Pope/Ryan
    TTA, Aurier, Rico, Holgate
    Salah, KdB, Ox
    Vardy, DCL, Ings
    Cantwell, Dendoncker, Kelly

  22. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would u start 1. Holgate (CRY) or 2. Lundstram (BOU) this GW?

    1. Uncle Gamst
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      a)

    2. Uncle Gamst
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Please can you look at my question

  23. rodragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Will Maupay start this week?
    1. Maupay to Jiminez
    2. Lundstram to O'Connell
    3.Do both for a -4 hit

    1. Sz21
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'm giving him a go anyway.

      Hopefully plays along with Murray.
      Potter makes changes based on who they are playing. Not necessarily dropped at this point in time.

      He needs to start delivering though!

  24. EMEA
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    RMT - 0 ITB and 1FT

    McCarthy, Button
    Robertson, Aurier, Rico (Kelly, Lundy)
    Martial, Maddison, Salah, KDB (Cantwell)
    Vardy, Firmino, Jimenez.

    1FT done for Maddison—> Fleck

    Question 1: Is Martial worth keeping? Thinking a hit for Martial —> Son/Mahrez..
    Question 2: Starts Rico or Lund?

    Advice?

  25. Kip
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Money no object, who is the best pick out of:

    A)VVD
    B) Robbo

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

      A

  26. Mr Q
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any fellow Ings cappers?

  27. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go? - 2.4 ITB - 0 FT's - WC, BB & FH intact.

    Ryan
    TAA - VVD - Stephens
    Salah - KDB - Mahrez - Maddison - Doucouré
    Vardy - Ings

    (Button, Rico, Lascelles, Greenwood)

    1. Salarrivederci
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Mahrez & Doucouré -> Son & Redmond after deadline

  28. Park the bus
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Start lundstram or soyuncu?

    1. janowsc
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’m going soy, the lords lost his starts

    2. DF
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Both 1 pointers for me. I've started lund just in case he starts

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Soy

      Sold both this gameweek myself though

  29. wanaj84
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish to richarlison
    Ok or not?
    Or others mid?
    Have 8.2M + salah kdb madd cant
    Help me

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Why not keep?

      1. wanaj84
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I think grealish blanks
        Hehe.. How about martial?

  30. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?

    Ryan
    TAA Lund Sidibe
    Salah(C) KDB(vc) Mane Grealish
    Ings Jiminez DCL

    McGovern Traore Soy Williams