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. onceuponatyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Am I the only person thinking Sterling for cap?
    Bound to start, whether Jesus plays or not he'll essentially be a forward...

    Pep roulette I know, but he didn't play a minute against Burnley.

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

      No way

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

      Nice punt

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

    Repoat sorry

    Pick one to complete this sorry team please:
    A) KDB, Barnes, Rashford
    B) Bruno, Martial, Vardy

    Martinez, 3.9
    VVD, Doherty, Lascelles, Holgate, 3.9
    Son, Mane, Saka, __, __
    Jimmy, DCL, __

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B.

      Would go Ings instead of Martial for a couple of weeks.

  3. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Ngakia leaving West Ham after tonight:

    https://www.claretandhugh.info/ngakia-gives-his-final-answer/

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Good signing for just about anyone really as a prospect.

  4. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Three days of FH indecision has led to this:

    DDG
    TAA, VVD, Doherty
    Salah, Son, Fernandes, Richarlison
    Jimenez, Rashford, Ings

    (Button, Aurier, Luiz, Simpson)

    A) Ings
    B) DCL

    1) DDG
    2) Patricio

    Cheers

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Aurier should be starting

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers, but cant drop any of the 11! Also no need for $ if I downgrade him

  5. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Quite happy with this, don't fancy Pope after watching him and Burnley yesterday.

    DDG
    TAA Doherty Aurier
    Mane KDB Son Fernandes
    Jimenez Ings DCL
    Martin Lascelles Guendouzi Simpson

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

      Very similar to my team, so naturally I like it! I downgraded Ings to Nketiah and got Martial in

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Ings comfortably outscoring Martial!

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Looks good (assuming not FH)

    3. x.jim.x
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Have the exact same team except Rashford instead of Ings - are you not worried about having such a crap bench? I am a bit, but I like Lascelles fixtures and Guendouzi will chip in with 1-3 points at least.

  6. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Surprised so many are taking the armband off KBD. Had his rest, performs against the big sides.

    blank incoming i suppose

  7. Pickle juice
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    who scores more this week in order .....

    Vardy
    Rashford
    DCL
    Ings

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

      Rashford
      DCL
      Vardy
      Ings

  8. Saro0808
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best goalie for the rest of the season (no budget issue, cant have ddg already having 3 utd players)

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

      I'm going with Patricio as a set and forget.

    2. evilfish
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've gone for Pope but I think Patricio and Foster are good options too.

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

      Lloris or Patricio

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

      I'm going with Dubravka and Foster as a backup ... no risk of needing three NEW or WAT slots elsewhere

  9. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    If United get a penalty against Sheffield, I wouldn't be surprised to see Rashford take it. He was 100% about to take the second one against spurs

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

      I think same but who knows. Maybe his turn is next pen in same game.

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

      Knowing my luck this season that will happen as I have Bruno captain

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

      Agree. And they will get a penalty

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

      Would suck if he missed it then....

    5. KBFC
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      United? There are two Uniteds playing and who is this Sheffield team your on about? Sheffield FC? They dont concede many penalties in the non league.

      Manchester vs Sheffield United should be a good game though.

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

    Another posting fail.

    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

  11. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who to play:

    A) Doucoure (bur)
    B) Lascelles (AVL)

    One with all to play for playing against a depleted team while the other in a good defensive team at home against Villa

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

      b

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

      b

    3. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  12. 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. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      c

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

      C

    3. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C

  13. juho
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Really appreciate some help here

    A) Robbo + Grealish -> Saiss + Son (-4)
    B) Auba + Grealish -> Joelinton + Son (-4)

    Thanks

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

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

        Thank you

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

    Bottomed.
    0.0 in the bank.

    Worth downgrading anyone to Son instead of Bergwijn?

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

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

      no, gtg

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I would say no , can't see where you can.

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

    A)
    McCarthy
    Trent, Ritchie, Lascelles
    Salah (c), KDB, Son, Fernandes
    Jimi, Rashford, Calvert

    Martin, Saka, Holgate, Jack Robinson - 0.2itb

    OR

    B)
    MARTINEZ
    Trent, DOHERTY, Lascelles
    Salah (c), KDB, Son, Fernandes
    Jimi, Rashford, Calvert

    Martin, GUENDOZI, 4.1M DEF, Jack Robinson

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

      B.

      I'd also swap Robinson for Ngakia, as he's more likely to play until the end of the season.

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

        legend, thanks mate

        any other 4.1M defenders likely to play?

  16. ididnt
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    play Jota (for a Wolves temple up)or Saka?

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

      jota

    2. evilfish
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Jota for me.

  17. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hello all - how would you rate this? Changes?
    1.3 ITB right now.

    Pope (3.9)
    TAA Doherty Aurier (Lascelles 3.9)
    Mane KDB BrunoF Bergwijn (Guendouzi)
    Rashford Jimenez DCL

    Debating a couple things including:
    Pope v Foster
    Aurier v Holgate (latter allows Son+Rash)
    Rashford Berg v Ings Son
    5th mid - Saka / Foden / Guendouzi fodder?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Holgate mate

    2. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Foster
      Holgate
      Son Rashford
      Guendouzi

  18. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A. Richarlison/Rash
    B. Son/Ings

    On WC

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

      a

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

    Is Davis a better pick than Guendouzi? Don't know who he is

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

      Playing up front for villa while guendouzi is wrestling.

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

      Playing striker for villa. Probably a higher ceiling. I’d prefer him.

    3. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      both will give you similar points

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

    A. Rash & Guendouzi
    Or
    B. Martial & Nketiah

    A or B?

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

      B

  21. Kroos Kontrol
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Correct bench?

    Pope
    Trent AA / Boly / Lascelles
    Salah / Mane / Kdb / Bruno Fernandes
    Jimenez / DLC / Nketiah

    BENCH: McCarthy / Grealish / Soyuncu / Egan

  22. Mike82
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Free hit team GTG?
    Schmeichel 
    Robertson, AwB, Doherty
    Salah (C), B.Fernandes, Son, Barnes
    Jiminez, Rashford, DCL

    Button, Lacelles, Guendouzi, J.Robinson

  23. ididnt
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Taylor or Kiko? (already have Pope)

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

      Kiko

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

    G2G?
    Patricio
    Aurier Soyuncu Saiss
    Salah KDB Martial Bruno
    Jiminez Rashford Vardy(c)

    Martin Guendouzi Simpson Ngakia

    Cheers

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

      Or are Son and TAA essential and could go
      Pope
      TAA Lascelles Saiss
      Salah KDB Son Bruno Traore
      Jiminez Rashford

      Fodder on the bench

      Cheers

  25. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) Rashford + Richarlison

    or

    B) Vardy + Martial

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

      a

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

      A

  26. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Play Williams (Fleck first off bench) or do Simpson >>> Aurier on a free?

  27. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Doing my head in tinkering with this WC team. Anyone got any comments? Don't want to be 100% template:

    Pope, Martinez;
    Docherty, Saiss, Justin, Lascelles, Kiko Femania;
    Mane, KDB, Fernandes, Son, Saint-Maximin;
    Jimenez, Jesus, Deeney.

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

      Get rid of Mane - 8.5m will cover Richarlison, Pogba or Mahrez instead and gives you 4m to spend elsewhere

  28. Starky22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Last minute WC wobble post Aguero news....

    A. Foster, Aurier, Jesus
    B. Martinez, Saiss, KDB

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B for me

  29. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Drop one of these defenders:

    A) TAA
    B) Doherty
    C) Aurier
    D) Maguire
    E) Ritchie

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

      D

  30. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Keinan Davis for 4.3m an option on wildcard?