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. Killitzer
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Not quite sure on my logic but brought in Firmino for DCL this week leaving myself potentially short for defence-

    TAA Soy Lundstram Williams Kelly

    Plenty in the bank but whether to take a hit. Will need a CS to justify it.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Lund to Egan probably your best bet.

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kelly to Egan?
      Kelly injured and has most likely list his place anyway

    3. Queens of the South Age
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If its a hit then I'd just play Lund and hope for the start. Sub at 60 mins and clean sheet locked in.

  2. Bruno Commando
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Last decision for WC..

    A) Gomez + Tanganga + Mooy
    B) Fernandez + C.Taylor + Henderson

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B. Tanganga may be under threat from Davies returning now

  3. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Lund Holgate
    Salah Traore Grealish KDB
    Auba Vardy Jimenez
    (Button Rico Dendoncker Soy)

    1FT and 0.2ITB

    1) Lund > Egan
    2) Vardy > Ings
    3) Lund & Soy > Egan & Gomez (-4)
    4) Lund & Vardy > Gomez & Ings (-4)

    1. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      1 or 3 for me

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        3

    2. matpower_
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      1. Maybe 3.

    3. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      2

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        3 Sorry

    4. AD2110
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      3

  4. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Simple Question Who to get for at least 4 GWS
    A- Son
    B- Mahrez

    1. RUUD!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Son. Hes nailed and no blank in 28.

    3. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Thxxxx

    4. matpower_
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Son

    5. fabo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

    6. AD2110
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Son

  5. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Team for the GW

    Henderson (Button)
    TAA Holgate Lund
    Salah (c) Traore KDB Grealish
    Vardy Jimi Ings
    Bench - Cathcart Dendoncker Lascelles

    A stick
    or for a -4
    B Traore to Son
    C Lund to Egan
    D Lund to Stephens

    1. COLLIN QUANER
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I did C

    2. matpower_
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A or C

    3. fabo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A or C. You are going to need a second keeper soon.

    4. Uncle Gamst
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If you play Cathcart the hit +2 = the likely 6 points that C or D will get.

      With blank and next 4 in mind, how about Grealish > Son?

  6. RUUD!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Aguero or Salah captain?

    1. matpower_
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Flip a coin

    2. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kün for me

    3. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kun for sure and just hope no benching

    4. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Flip a coin...Salah for me

    5. AD2110
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I’m going with Kun

    6. COLLIN QUANER
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Aguero if I had him 100%

  7. matpower_
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thinking of bench boosting - thoughts?

    Foster (@BHA) Stephens (vsBUR) Traore (vsLEI) Hayden (@ARS)

    1. Warby84
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No not with the mdf options, Traore still a doubt.. Could be very risky

    2. Zaruto
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No! Better opportunities later in DGW

  8. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Is Gomez a viable option for 3rd Liverpool pick?

    1. Bruno Commando
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If you cannot get 3 of Salah, Mane, Robbo, TAA and Firmino, Gomez is probably the best option you've got.

    2. matpower_
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  9. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Any good reasons to cap kdb over salah?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Both as good an option as the other this week. The only thing is West Ham are probably a bit worse than Norwich

    2. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      For me, yes. I've taken it off Salah. He gets a long break and then has a key Champions League game 3 days after his GW26 tie. Against Norwich, I expect him to get hauled off on 59 mins (Maybe Mane gets a 30min run-out).

      City players play tomorrow and then get a long break. They play Leicester, then their CL match 4 days later and another break (BGW). It just seems to me City players will be given more minutes this extended GW, making Kun, Kev or Riyad more viable candidates. I say that as someone who TC'd and C'd Mo for sumptuous returns these last 2 GWs.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Good point made there, you made me reconsider captaincy.

      2. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Me too

        Ok that’s a good reasoning

      3. Warby84
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yep I bought Aguero in for a hit in order to Cap for this reason..

      4. Cruz88
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Any concerns over the weather conditions tomorrow though?

        1. _Ninja_
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          If the games off then kun wont play at all and Salah will be vc.

          1. Cruz88
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I don't expect it to be off. But the wind could affect play somewhat

      5. Duffy Dunk
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        This.
        LIV being so far ahead in the league & playing Atletico 3 days after NOR are enough reasons to prefer KDB over Salah.

  10. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months 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.

    Thanks

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Hold.

      1. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Hold

      1. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks

  11. Maddamotha
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Maddison out worth a hit? Got 9.4 milli to play with.

  12. ooooo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Which one?
    A) Haller to Ings and play Soyuncu over Kelly/Lundstram
    B) Haller to Ings, Kelly to Vvd(-4)
    C) Kelly to VVD

    1. matpower_
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

    2. Udo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A, don't take a hit. If Liv conside that will backfire, if not, you won't gain neither. Unlikely to get Bonus.

  13. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I can feel a Vardy party next Friday night

    1. Udo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I count on you! Don't fart me down!

  14. CloudSky
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Would anyone play Rico over Lundy?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No

    2. Just a fountain
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Definitely Rico for me. Is anyone thinking Lund can start?

      1. Bubi
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Ay! I think at home he can start when they need more offensive player like him 😉

  15. Differential C (Mark)
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Only 5 players playing this weekend. (Sidibe, Ryan, Rico, Mahrez(c) and deBruyne).
    Hate when the GW is stretched like this, jeezus. Really limits team news pre-Deadline and lengthens the anxiety that come with FPL.

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Possibly 6 if Connolly plays and Mane is unavailable vs Norwich.

    2. Pukki Party
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Everyone in similar situation

    3. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I've got 4

    4. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I’ve got 2

  16. Flippo_
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Any last-minute replacement options for Kelly (Crystal Palace)?

    Currently having TAA, Holgate, Lundstram & Dunk as defenders

    1. Pukki Party
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Taylor

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Stephens

      1. Ha.
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I’m going Stephens

  17. Pukki Party
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Captainsy and bench order correct?

    McCarthy
    TAA Aurier Lundstram Holgate
    Salah C Mane KDB VC Moura
    Vardy Deeney

    Martin Fernandez Cantwell Greenwood

  18. doppelganger
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Is Foster to McCarthy worth -4?

    1. Warby84
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No

  19. Warby84
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    McCarthy
    Stevens Trent Bertrand Robertson
    Saint-Maxime De Bruyne Salah
    Jimenez Aguero (C) Ings

    Dubravka Traore Mooy Fernandez

    Auba Grealish out For ASM Aguero -4

    Gtg?

    1. DandyDon
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I’d play Mooy over Sou triple up in defence. Do you have 4 Southampton?

      1. Warby84
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        No Bertrand/McCarthy/Ings, but Bertrand been looking good recently..

      2. Warby84
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        E.Stevens...

        1. DandyDon
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Ah good to go then

  20. DandyDon
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Son or Moura?

  21. MikeLowrey
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Kelly to Stephens? Team after the transfer

    Hendo
    TAA VVD Soyuncu Stephens
    Salah KDB Mahrez Martial
    Vardy Ings

    (Button Lund Maupay Dendoncker)

  22. Ha.
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Kelly > Stephens for double SOU def?

  23. WrightnBright
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Bench one chaps:

    A) H Barnes
    B) Traoré

    I’m starting Boly & Jiménez. No Vardy

    1. Ha.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

  24. AD2110
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Current defence and have 0.2 ITB:

    TAA, Lund*, Baldock, Kelly*, Holgate

    Thinking of doing Lund —> Boly

    Or are there any better options to get in??

    1. Ha.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Get rid of Kelly first

  25. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Can I get a bit of advice?

    I have all my chips and I’m a bit confused on how to play the next couple of weeks. Any advice?

    Ryan
    Baldock, Robertson, TAA
    Grealish,Traore, Salah, KDB
    Vardy, Ings, Jiminez

    Button, Rico, Dendoncker, Kelly,

    I have 0FTs and 2itb

  26. wan
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Bench One:
    1) Martial (che)
    2) Fleck (BOU)
    3) Grealish (TOT)

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      1

  27. Bobadoba
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Traore out for Liverpool's Henderson or stick?

    1. Ha.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No

  28. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Who should I BENCH?

    Fleck (BOU)
    Martial (Che)

  29. Gideons Rolling Another One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone considering Mane, now he's back in training and potentially in for Norwich? Those on wildcard or those without considering it?

    1. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nope. Overpriced when compared to defence. Salah is the goat so no need for him

      1. Gideons Rolling Another One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Valid point. Over the last ten GW played, which is what we are getting towards in terms of GW left:

        SALAH: 80
        TAA: 79
        VVD: 67
        MANE: 64

        So valid that he is not worth it over a defender.

  30. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA / Pereira / Lundstram*
    Salah / KDB / Son / Martial
    Ings / Deeney / DCL

    Button // Traore / Rico / Masuaku

    A) Lundstram/Martial > Stephens/Mahrez (-4)
    B) Lundstram/Masuaku > Stephens/VVD (-4)
    C) Lundstram/Masuaku/Ryan > Stevens/VVD/McCarthy (-8)

    I think the reason I'm quite hell-bent on two defender transfers, is that I don't want to play Pereira & Rico very much for the next two, and Ryan/Masuaku are also trash.

    Not going double Liverpool defence feels dangerous, as does no SHU coverage.

    As I plan to get Jiminez for GW27, A does not allow room for 2 x Liverpool defender until GW28, basically.