Scout Picks

Wolves and United double-ups in our Gameweek 31+ Scout Picks selection

Wolves and Manchester United are set for an appealing Gameweek 31+ according to our latest Scout Picks selection.

We have chosen two assets from both clubs for the midweek round of action, as well as a double-up from Liverpool.

Our best XI for the Gameweek was chosen by the editorial team of David, Neale, Paul and Geoff, and came in £0.1m under our budget of £85.0m.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope (£4.9m) may have conceded five at Manchester City on Monday evening, but the Burnley defence is a completely different animal at Turf Moor. They have kept the joint-highest number of clean sheets in home matches this season (seven) and face a Watford side with just two goals in their last four away trips.

Defenders

Man United defence boosted by Bailly's excellent return

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.8m) looks like the obvious best option to consider from Liverpool ahead of Crystal Palace’s trip to Anfield. The Eagles remain one of the most goal-shy in the division, Norwich (25) the only team to have scored fewer goals than them this season – while Alexander-Arnold has produced a return (either offensive or defensive) in five of his last six at home.

Harry Maguire (£5.3m) may have been at fault when Manchester United conceded against Spurs in Double Gameweek 30+ but he could prove the hero when Sheffield United come to Old Trafford midweek. The Blades are yet to score since the Premier League restarted and will be susceptible in the air without John Egan and potentially Jack O’Connell too. Maguire has more headed attempts than any of his defensive colleagues so could exploit their atypical lack of height.

Matt Doherty (£6.4m) has been in scintillating form of late and looks set for another potentially explosive score in Gameweek 31+. Wolves have been one of the best defensive sides in the league since Willy Boly returned from injury, while Bournemouth offered nothing in attack against Palace. Meanwhile, Doherty has more shots in the box than any defender over their last five matches and has averaged 8.7 points per match over his last six.

Jamaal Lascelles (£4.3m) offers great value for Gameweek 31+ as Aston Villa come to St. James Park. Like Burnley, Newcastle are joint-top for home clean sheets this season (seven) while Villa’s recent defensive improvements appear to have tempered their attacking threat since the Premier League’s restart.

Midfielders

Sadio Mané (£12.5m) may have struggled against Everton but he remains a more reliable bet at Anfield. Since his return from injury in Gameweek 26, the Senegalese international scored 21 points across two home matches.

After a Monday-night rest, Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) looks more than capable of continuing his incredible 2019/20 form into a midweek meeting with former club Chelsea. He has more attacking returns against last season’s top-six than any other FPL midfielder thus far, producing four goals and four assists against such opposition, finding the net the last time he faced Chelsea.

Son Heung-min (£9.7m) has scored 73 points since Jose Mourinho took over at Spurs, more than any of his colleagues, averaging at an impressive 6.1 per game. That makes him an important asset for the Tuesday-night meeting with West Ham. David Moyes men have kept just one clean sheet since Gameweek 21, conceding at least twice in six of their last eight.

Bruno Fernandes (£8.7m) looks the most likely to benefit from Sheffield United’s defensive absentees in Gameweek 31+, which also includes Dean Henderson missing out as an ineligible player. The Portuguese international has been involved in six of the nine goals Manchester United have scored since his Gameweek 25 debut and also appears first in line to take penalties.

Forwards

Bournemouth’s defence has conceded at least twice in five of their last six and with just one clean sheet on the road since Gameweek 11. That bodes well for Raúl Jiménez (£8.2m), who has been the right kind of consistent in recent times. The Mexican’s goal at West Ham was his third in the last four Gameweeks, and sixth in the last eight.

Norwich have conceded more shots in the box than any other team over their last four matches, opening the door for Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.5m) to continue his excellent form. Only one player has registered more shots in the box than him over his last four matches, the Everton forward also ranking joint-fourth in the Premier League for shots on target in that time.

Substitutes

Martin Dúbravka (£5.1m) is an alternative route into the Newcastle defence, for those without the space in defence. He has made more saves than any other goalkeeper this season.

Those with enough spare funds, unlike us in this case, could consider upgrading Lascelles to Federico Fernandez (£4.6m), the former Swansea man besting his captain for shots in the box this season.

While Newcastle’s defence looks strong and Aston Villa’s attack lacking a little clinical edge, the prospect of an out-of-position midfielder playing up-front for Keinan Davis‘ (£4.3m) price is hard to turn down, especially for those on a Wildcard.

If he can get a full 90-minute outing under his belt, Diogo Jota (£6.4m) could match or outscore Jiménez in Gameweek 31+. Over the last four matches, he has recorded better scores than his colleague for minutes per shot in the box, minutes per big chance and minutes per shot on target.

THE CAPTAIN

The Scout Picks 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 is usually known only to those who have signed up to Membership for the 2019/20 season and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

1,726 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Never bench KDB right?

    1. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If you're going to bench him you might as well sell, especially with all the options this week

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thing is I don't want to especially with that sea of green fixtures on the horizon...

    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      i recommend to log off

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        If you've nothing constructive to say, then why bother say anything?

  2. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Select a pair for next two GWs

    Mahrez+son
    Kdb+bergwijn

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Very tough, I’d say B

    2. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Very tough indeed, I honestly would have to flip a coin. The only reason I'm keeping KDB for this week is because of the value tied up in him and his reduced minutes last match, next week he could easily be Mahrez or even Foden

  3. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any early team news haha

  4. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    My team value isn't as great as I'd hoped, so Martinez is as much as I could stretch to in goal, but I'm fairly happy with the rest of this WC team. Thoughts?

    Martinez
    Taa, Doherty, Lascellas
    Mane, kdb, son, Bruno
    Rashford, DCL, Jimi

    Button - holgate, Hayden, Robinson

  5. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    DCL or Barnes?

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      dcl

    2. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Isnt Barnes injured?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Harvey not Ashley

        1. Mufc202020
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Ohhh then id go Barnes

  6. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Lascelles or Holgate on WC?

    Also I know it's limited but best Def 4.1m and under likely to play? Got Jack Robinson at the moment

  7. Mufc202020
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who would you rather start

    A) Hayden
    B) Soy
    C) Ali/Bergwijn (on a hit)

    1. CostaCoffee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Soyuncu

  8. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On wildcard. Thoughts please chaps?? Think I'm set????

    Pope Button
    TAA Doherty Aurier Fernandez Holgate
    KDB Salah Fernandes Sako Hayden
    Rashford Jiminez DCL.

    1. AlexDelPiero
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Drop fernandez to lascelles and upgrade aurier to maguire IMO

      1. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Not sure I agree Aurier to Maguire is an upgrade though I do agree with the Fernandez to lasca is worth the swap if you can use the money elsewhere.

        1. AlexDelPiero
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I think based on fixtures and the relative stability of either defence I'd back Maguire, plus its 50/50 if Aurier gives a pen away or gets a red in any given game xD

  9. bruuuno
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    This WC good to go or is the bench too weak?

    Patricio
    TAA Doherty Ritchie Aurier
    Mane KDB Fernandes Son
    Jimi Rashford

    Martin Guendouzi Greenwood Ngakia

    1. bruuuno
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      0.0 ITB

    2. Releasebreaks
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You need good bench for the incoming weeks, will be rotating everywhere, so better invest more in bench

  10. hogree
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone looking at Jesus on a WC?

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not even pep

  11. Releasebreaks
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyonde with (c) Vardy ?

    1. YouReds
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Between him and Son...

      Wish I had Salah!!!

      1. Releasebreaks
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I have Salah and Bruno, but could go Vardy for differential

  12. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    We are about to go through the craziest fixture congestion in epl history and yet all I see are benchless WC teams. The injuries and curveballs(a cancelled/postponed match due to any body in an entire team or staff getting covid etc) are going to pile up and there are barely any games left for hits to fix teams. Get a bench. Trust me.

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Interesting point about cancelled fixtures - so do you think triple ups are a no go?

      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        You can predict which games so not against triple ups.. however I've made a backup keeper(Martinez) and a good bench (Ward, Lascelles etc) compulsory in my team. Even my attack has a good bench with Dcl and Mount both as my cheapest attackers. Splurging the cash on my bench since I am sure il need it. The injuries in Bundesliga have been crazy.

        1. Valar(Keith)
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          *can't predict

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I was going to go really cheap on the bench, just 2 playing subs and spend my money on Salah
      Have now replaced Salah spot with Richarlison (who can become Pogba or Mahrez), leaving me lots of cash
      Bench is now : Foster, Aurier, Fernandez and Saka 🙂

  13. Blue Gaffer
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which WC combo is best?

    1. Ritchie, Armstrong, DCL, Rashford
    2. 3.9, Foden, Ings, Vardy

    1. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I gotta go 1 between those

  14. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    best man u asset to accompany fernandes?

    A martial
    B rashford
    C mcguire
    D two of the above (who?)

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ive gone with de gea and martial

      1. FPL Alaska
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        This is my other option, see below

    2. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Currently on B and C, but considering Martial instead of Rash

    3. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  15. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Martinez Button
    Trent Doherty Saiss Lascelles Holgate
    Salah KDB Son Fernandes Guendouzi
    Rashford DCL Jimmy

    Thoughts on this? 0.2 ITB, not feeling great with Martinez but also not sure if I want to ditch Saiss for a non-playing defender to upgrade

  16. CrouchDown
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Too risky to go without TAA on WC?

    Foster

    Saiss Holgate Lascelles

    Mane KDB Son Bruno

    Rashford Jimi DCL

    Subs: Button, Saka Cresswell Kilman

    1. Releasebreaks
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Dont do that

    2. Cesc Pistols
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I had something VERY similar to this, then decided to go with Alisson to cover Pool.

      TAA too expensive if you don't already own him -- especially with Pool not posing as that big of a threat up front recently.

      1. Fantasyamateur
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Recently... lol, 1 game played

  17. FPL Alaska
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Finalizing WC team, which do you prefer?

    A) Rashford, Guendouzi
    B) Martial, Nketiah (+0.6M)

    1) Pope, Maguire
    2) DDG, Aurier

    1. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A2

  18. Jullepuu
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Grealish to Bruno for a hit or just play Grealish?

    1. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Just bring in Bruno

      1. Jullepuu
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Could do that for free next week

  19. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    0.0 in the bank.

    Worth downgrading anyone to replace Bergwijn instead of Son?

    pope, martin
    taa, lascelles, kiko, doherty, holgate
    mane, kdb, bruno, bergwijn. guendouzi
    jimi. rash, dcl

    1. More Cowbell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sorry Son instead of Bergwijn?

      1. FPL Alaska
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Probably not in the case - if so would do Doherty > Saiss, then maybe Rash/Guen > Martial/Nketiah

    2. tique
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Either you get son or someone else from a different team (not bergwijn). No point of spurs coverage in my opinion.

  20. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who scores more this GW:

    A) Alonso (MCI)
    B) Azpi (MCI)
    C) Aurier (WHU)

    1. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Aurier - but play Alonso from next week onwards

  21. Klaren
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Should I play Lascelles or Kiko?

    I had decided on Lascelles but with both Barnes and Wood being out and Watford's solid performance vs Leicester, I'm thinking maybe I should switch to Kiko?

  22. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On WC
    1) son + mahrez
    2) bergwijn + kdb

    1. Big Al Stankovic
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Son + Rich/martial

      City have fa cup on sunday. Will rotete heavily. You probably can afford to go without the next two gws.

      1. FPL Alaska
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        This, if not keeping KDB don't worry about about Man City coverage, just bring back in for good fixtures

  23. Salah_Fingers
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A or B please

    A - DDG and Mane

    B - Patricio and Salah

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  24. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Have changed from Salah to Mane and back approximately 9 times now

    1. Salah_Fingers
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Haha same, just settled on Salah!

  25. Lukakus talking
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pages flying so repost

    I think this is it for me. Poor defensive cover, but hopefully the starting XI make up for it:

    Martinez
    Doherty - TAA - Lascelles
    Son – Mane - De Bruyne - Fernandes
    Rashford – Jimenez – DCL

    (Martin – Saka – Robinson – Ngakia)

    Any last minute thoughts?

    Could downgrade Saka to Keinan Davis and upgrade the defenders?

    Thanks very much in advance

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Great outfield 10, the rest is horrible. Try to make Robinson or Ngakia into Holgate or Kiko for a bit if cover

      1. Lukakus talking
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks, worth downgrading Saka to upgrade the defenders?

        Could do Saka to Davis and Ngakia to Holgate

  26. DAVESAVES
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hey guys, help me pick 1,2 or 3 Thanks!

    XX (Button)
    TAA XX XX (Lascelles Robinson)
    Bruno KDB Salah Son (D.Luiz)
    Jimmy Rashford DCL

    1: Pope Saiss Maguire
    2: DDG Saiss Aurier
    3: Martinez Holgate Doherty

  27. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    The inclusion of Davis in those picks is a suprise!

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      £££

  28. tique
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On free hit

    A) Vdijk and Ings
    B) Digne and Rashford

    Already have Bruno, TAA, Salah, richy and dcl

  29. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Dubravka, Pope or Patricio and why?

    1. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Everyone just looking for an answer, and you looking for an explanation. Depends on the rest of team, but head to head Patricio.

      1. Nespinha
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        never hurt anyone to ask bruh

  30. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A - pope, Doherty, nketiah
    B - Martinez, saiss, DCL