Scout Picks

Gameweek 34+ Scout Picks focus on Manchester clubs

The Gameweek 34+ Scout Picks has double-up on Manchester City attacking assets for their meeting with Newcastle.

We are expecting a reaction from Pep Guardiola’s men after their defeat at Southampton, which should produce big points for key FPL options.

As per usual, the editorial team have chosen this XI, this week lining up in 3-5-2 once more, coming in at £0.3m below our £85.0m budget.

Goalkeeper

Despite something of a blip against Arsenal in Gameweek 33+, Wolves’ defence is still one of the best over the last four matches, recording the lowest expected goals conceded (xGC) score in that time. For that reason, Rui Patrício (£5.3m) was an easy inclusion in the Scout Picks as Nuno Espirito Santo’s men travel to Sheffield United.

Defenders

No defender has created more chances than Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) over the last four matches while Crystal Palace have conceded more shots in the box than any other side in the same period. Meanwhile, the Eagles have scored the fewest goals at home this season, potentially setting Azpilicueta up for a double-figure haul at Selhurst Park.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) is our choice from the Manchester United defence as they hope to right the wrongs of conceding twice against Bournemouth. Aston Villa have lacked too attacking threat since they made the switch to a more conservative defence, while United have clean sheets in six of their last nine matches. Meanwhile, Wan-Bissaka has found some creativity recently, denied a third assist in as many matches by the offside flag in Gameweek 33+.

Craig Dawson (£4.8m) has registered the joint-most shots in the box of any defender over the last four matches and also tops this chart among all Watford players, including the attacking midfielders and forwards. That gives him the advantage against a Norwich side who still have not scored since the Premier League restarted.

Midfielders

 1

Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) and Liverpool may have struggled in their last two matches, but there were some glimmers of hope in the second half against Aston Villa. We’ve gone with the Egyptian as he tops the charts for shots on target and chances created among his colleagues over the last four.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m) has delivered attacking returns in every match he has started since Gameweek 30+. In such outings, he has produced three goals, two assists, two double-digit hauls and an average of 12 points per game. Considering the rest he had at the weekend, the Belgian looks ready to start against a Newcastle side that could not keep clean sheets against Aston Villa, Bournemouth and West Ham.

Son Heung-min (£9.8m) forms part of our Spurs double-up against a woefully out-of-form Bournemouth defence. The Cherries have conceded more goals than any other side since the Premier League restarted (12), while Son was the more dangerous Spurs asset in their win over Everton.

Bruno Fernandes (£8.9m) has been on fire recently. Even handing a penalty to Marcus Rashford against Bournemouth, the Portuguese international was still able to make use of his direct free-kick and creativity abilities to score and assist twice. Since the Premier League came back, Fernandes has averaged 10.5 points per Gameweek, more than any of his colleagues. That’s why we have him down as the most likely Manchester United player to breach Aston Villa’s improved defence.

Phil Foden (£5.4m) also gets to face that brittle Newcastle defence in Gameweek 34+, the Englishman equally as dangerous as De Bruyne in recent times. He has returned points in every home game since the restart, racking up four goals, an assist, two double-digit hauls and 34 points.

Forwards

Harry Kane (£11.0m) may have put on a sub-par display against Everton, but that Bournemouth defence is too good an opportunity to turn down. Despite appearances, Kane has still been afforded the second-highest number of big chances since the Premier League came back. If the Cherries continue in their current form on Thursday night, he could be handed even more than usual.

Mason Greenwood (£4.6m) has quickly become an auto-include budget option for Fantasy managers. He has started the last three matches in a row, impressing in all of them. With his place in the side finally locked down, Greenwood’s two double-digit hauls in as many outings are enough to warrant inclusion even against Villa’s improved back-line.

Substitutes

Ben Foster (£4.9m) is an alternative route into the Watford defence as they prepare to host a toothless Norwich side.

Joe Gomez (£5.3m) is still a budget-friendly route into Liverpool’s defence that got back on track with a clean sheet against Aston Villa at the weekend.

Eric Garcia (£4.5m) is a cheap route into the Manchester City defence who could repay those who take a punt on Pep Roulette midweek. The Citizens have conceded the joint-fewest number of goals in home matches this season (12).

But Dwight Gayle (£5.0m) also offers potential even against Manchester City. Since the Premier League came back, he has received more big chances than any other player, registering a goal or an assist in each of his last three outings.

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.

Here’s how we voted:

3,147 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Last time asking. Jimmy > deeney for a hit?

    1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      god no

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No way

    3. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nope.

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

      For the first and last time - NO

    5. A-L
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jimi is due a goal I feel. You won’t want Deeney in for a long time either

    6. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Hahahaha

    7. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      3-3. Anyone to break the tie?

  2. Easy Cheesy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Azpi or aurier?

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

      Aurier

    2. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      aurier

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

      Azpi

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

    Bench order right?

    Martinez
    TAA Doherty Saiss Aurier
    KDB Bruno Pulisic
    Rashford Greenwood Jimmy

    (Pope Foden Bergwijn Lascelles)

    1. lampsblues
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Play Foden for Saiss

    2. Ruud van Basten
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You need Foden starting there I reckon

  4. Ruud van Basten
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    My front 8 is this at the min but I need to get Foden in, who should I bench?

    A - Martial away
    B - Bruno away
    C - Willian away
    D - Son away
    E - Jimi away
    F - Kane away
    G - Neketiah home
    H - Foden home

    I've not even got around to figuring out how to get Aurier in my defence yet!!

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bench Nketiah

      1. Ruud van Basten
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Even with home fixture???

        1. tm370
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I think Nketiah too because I'm not certain he will start. I will bench him in favour of Doherty or Jimi

  5. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Lascelles > AWB
    B) Holgate > AWB

    1. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. A-L
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A for me as long as Holgate isn’t injury/rest risk

  6. A-L
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Playing catch up in mini league...
    Captain Mahrez or Bruno?
    (Rival is captaining KDB)

    1. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruno mahrez isn't even nailed to start

      1. A-L
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks and very fair. My thought was that the ceiling is higher home to Newcastle but I’m too scared of the rotation I think

  7. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have Doherty.
    Start Dcl or saiss

    1. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dcl

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

      Still Saiss

    3. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Saiss

    4. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Surely DCL

      1. tm370
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        DCL

  8. MikeNash404
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Play one:
    Saka or Nketiah?

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Saka

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nketiah

      1. EL tridente
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Saka

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

      Foden (C)?

  9. Better luck next year
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Team;

    Pope
    TAA Doh Kiko
    Salah KDB (C) Fernandes Mahrez Foden
    Greenwood Rash

    Button Jimi Saiss Lascelles

    GTG?

  10. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Puli to Sterling
    B) Jimi to Kane

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

    2. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

    Bench 1 each

    A) grenwod jimi
    B) taylor kiko sais

  12. Ejaaz11
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    chances of sterling starting?

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      50/50

    2. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      80/20

  13. Jatz10
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any Chelsea line up news? Thinking DCL for Giroud if he starts.

  14. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which one of these? Foden, Willian, Pulisic?

  15. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jimenez ➡️ Ings for a hit?

    Or play one Jimenez or DCL?

  16. Max City
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have KDB and Foden but no CHE player:

    A) Salah >> Sterling
    B) Salah >> Mahrez
    C) Salah >> Pulisic
    D) Keep Salah

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd keep Salah tbh.

    2. Baron Penguin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C looks fun, Pulisic passing eye test. Team news would be handy!

  17. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Taylor or DCL first on bench (other goes second)

    1. Max City
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      DCL easy

      1. Baron Penguin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks - would you play him over Jimenez?

  18. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    GTG?

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Aurier
    Salah Mahrez Son(C) Bruno(vc) Foden
    Rashford Greenwood

    Button Jimenez Boly J.Robinson

    1. The Yorkshire Pirlo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Looks good, I’m tempted with Son cap too

  19. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Last minute check, double Spurs big enough differential so don’t need to cap? Egan or double Wolves def? G2G?

    Dubravka
    TAA, Saiss, Doherty
    Son, KDB(C), Bruno, Martial
    Kane, Jimenez, Greenwood

    Button, Egan, Lundstram*, Cantwell*

  20. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Last time to ask, Start Boly or Kiko?

  21. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hey fam! GTG? Did Mount to Foden for free!

    DDG
    TAA Stevens Saiss
    Salah Sterling(C) KDB Bruno Foden
    Jimenez Greenwood

    Nyland Nketiah Egan Lascelles

    1. kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      GtG

  22. pablospicks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Martinez or Pope?

  23. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    GTG???

    Alisson

    Azpi Digne Doherty

    KDB Bruno Foden Martial Willian

    Kane Vardy

    Pope Aurier Greenwood Taylor

    Am on wildcard, 0.6 itb.

    1. Cookie Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Start Greenwood surely?

      1. Igz08
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Ahead of whom?

    2. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy waste of space

      1. Igz08
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        loves a goal vs arsenal

  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    apparently giroud is starting

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Source?

    2. Jatz10
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks, should I sell DCL for Giroud?

    3. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What about Alonso Bemba,any news on him?

    4. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Apparently Lampard had breakfast today

    5. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Source or ban

  25. Jimjam
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA, Saiss, Soyuncu
    Salah, KDB, Bruno, Martial, Pulisic
    Jimenez, Ings

    Bench: Button, O'Connell, Taylor, Connolly

    1FT, £4.6 in bank

    (A) McCarthy --> Patricio
    (B) O'Connell --> AWB / Azpi

  26. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah DCL De Gea to Martial Kane Foster (-4) ?

    De Gea,
    TAA, Doherty, Fernandez
    Salah, Bruno, KDB, Son,
    Rash, Jimi, DCL

    Button, Taylor, Hayden, Robinson

  27. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start DCL or Saka?

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

      dcl

  28. cescpistols111
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bench order correct for my draft team?

    DDG
    Doherty Kabasele Zouma
    Sterling Barnes McNeil Pepe Bergwijn
    King Firmino

    Lloris Grealish Mina Ayew

  29. Down with this sort of thin…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sorry if this has been asked, any team news for Watford?

    Looking to pick a cheap defender, on Kiko at the minute. Many thanks!

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

      Kiko is the best choice

  30. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thank god I have free hit left, everyone has the same team, need a differential week.