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

    Martinez
    Ritchie TAA Doherty
    Salah Pogba Fernandes Son
    Vardy DCL Jimenez (C)

    FH...all good??

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

      Yep

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nice team bro.

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

      I'd go Rashford over Vardy and take Pogba out. Just seems a bit too risky.

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

    WC good to go? (option a and currently set on)

    Patricio
    TAA, Doherty, Aurier, Lascelles (Ngakia)
    KDB, Fernandes, Salah, Martial, (Saka)
    Rashford, Jiminez (Nketeiah)

    Other option (option b)
    Pope instead of Patricio and Saiss instead of Ngakia for squad depth (although will mostly be benched)

    Option c
    Pope instead of Patricio, Harvey Barnes instead of Martial and DCL (dominic calvet lewin) instead of nketiah

    Thanks!

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

      DDG instead of Patricio for united cover?

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

        I'm at max 3 united players - would have him if I could.

  3. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So tempted by a DCL armband. Im cruising on the mini leagues so may just do it.. Bruno my other ‘boring’ choice.

  4. Lionel Ronaldo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How confident are we with United's defence? Only fit defenders are Maguire/AWB/Shaw/Bailly (Dalot does not even count)

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

    Which pair for next 2 GWs

    Mahrez+son
    Kdb+bergwijn

  6. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Really need some Leicester team leak
    Would love a punt on a Leicester mid

  7. eamonhegg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Choose 1 please:

    A - Vardy , Lacselles , DCL

    B - Kane, Maupay , Jack Robinsonn

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A by a mile

    2. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    4. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A all day

    5. eamonhegg
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A it is cheers

    6. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  8. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So I've basically had to sacrifice DCL in an attempt to get both Son and Doherty in my squad. My question is simple, could you live with this bench to achieve this first XI?

    Pope
    TAA, Doherty, Lascelles, Holgate
    Salah, KDB, Son, Fernandes
    Rashford, Jimenez

    Bench: Martin, Femenia, Guendouzi, Nketiah

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

      Yes, I've got a very similar team.

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

      Nope - so I got rid of Salah and spread the $$$

  9. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which?

    A) taa vardy
    Vs
    B) gomez ings richar(5th mid)

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

      a

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

    Will Son and Richalison (-4) hit for Salah and Barnes score more points moving forward or hold until gw 34 after Liverpool play villa?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hold

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

        Thanks

  11. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Mane or Salah on WC ?

    1. Mr. Mystic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Mane

  12. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pages flying...

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

      yep lol

  13. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A- TAA & Bergwijn
    B- Maguire & Son

    1. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  14. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on captain and bench choices this week?

    Martinez
    Doherty Aurier Saiss
    Mane (C) KDB Bruno Son
    Jimi (V) Rashford DCL

    Martin Saka AWB Lascelles

  15. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    a) lascelles and son
    b) ritchie and alli

    1. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

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

    DCL or Barnes

    1. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      dcl

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      DCL

    3. Chiellini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      DCL

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

    Armstrong of Saints worth a punt?

  18. Drogo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Whom to captain:

    A) Mane
    B) Son
    C) Vardy

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

      Son

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

      Mane

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

    Captain Bruno or Rashford?

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

      bruno baby

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

      Prefer Bruno because of his set-piece duties

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

      I have the same dilemna. Rashford higher risk, but more likely to score big

    4. Dreaming of glory
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thinking the same, not sure why Bruno is so far ahead tbh

  20. TJ
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On WC:

    A) Ings + Son
    B) Rashord + Alli

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

      A

    2. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A but not convinced by Ings with his poor fixtures.

      Don't even consider Alli.

    3. Chiellini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not convinced on Ings because of fixtures. More value in Bergwijn than Alli in my opinion.
      Maybe go Rashford + Bergwijn and use the funds to upgrade elsewhere?

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

    Stuck with my final dilemma on WC.
    Currently in top of my main mini-league and OR 6K. All the chasers in the league have KdB. Should i play it "safe" and keep KDB, or go for the more explosive Son? Also, really fancy Richarlison ahead of the Norwich game, and he is the perfect placeholder if I decide to go for a third Man United attacker in the future (Pogba/Martial).
    Please help me decide between the following two pairs:

    A) KDB + Bergwijn
    B) Son + Richarlison

    Rest of the team:
    Patricio
    TAA Doherty Lascelles
    Salah Fernandes XXXX XXXX
    Rashford Jimenez DCL
    (Button Saka Kiko J.Robinson)

    Cheers guys!

  22. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    The FFS Mini-league is one of the best performing in the world. It therefore follows our template should achieve the highest points of any template. Agree?

  23. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Have Sammatta & Grealish (NEW a) and Mount (MCI h). Must play 2. Thinking both villa lads, but is it more sensible to spread the risk and play Mount?

  24. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    FH team

    DDG
    TAA - Doherty - Ritchie
    Mane - Son - Fernandes - Richarlison
    Rashford - Jimenez - DCL

    GOOD LUCK ALL. 😀

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

      Gtg, GL!

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

    Captain

    A) Fernandes
    B) Rashford
    C) Salah
    D) Son
    E) Jimenez

    1. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Salah

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  26. XABI 15
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Boly Soy
    Salah Mane KDB
    DCL Ings Jimenez

    Button Barnes Cantwell Rico

    Correct bench order? 1ft 0.5 itb thanks

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

    4th mf spot;
    Traore (have doherty and Jimi)
    Armstrong
    Foden

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

      Foden

  28. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Got 2 drafts:
    First is template -
    De gea (Martin)
    Trent Doherty Aurier (Kiko, Simpson)
    MANE* KDB Son Fernandes (Guendouzi)
    Rashford Jimenez DCL

    Second is taking a 2 week punt on Auba, i'll captain him vs NOR next gw. No pool attack vs palace and city, and have to go Martial over Rashford for funds (unless i go Martinez over DDG) -
    De gea (Martin)
    Trent Doherty Aurier (Lascelles, Simpson)
    RICHARLISON* KDB Son Fernandes MARTIAL*
    AUBAMEYANG* Jimenez (Connolly)

    Auba(captain gw32), Richarlison(captain gw31) > DCL, Salah/Sterling in gw33

    Any opinions would be appreciated. Currently sitting around 90k so looking for some differentials to climb the rankings

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

    A. Patricio, Martial, Nketiah,
    B. Pope, Harvey Barnes, CDL

    1. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A if Nketiah is bench

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

    Which option

    A. Salah and dubravka
    B. Mane and pope

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

      Nothing in it!

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

      A

    3. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A is 0.4 more expensive so A