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. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KDB or Fernandes captain? Chasing.

    1. Manani
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      kdb

      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      fernandes

    3. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fernandes

    4. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers i have a feeling about Bruno over KDB

    5. Sancidino
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah, Bruno if chasing

      1. timmmuh
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        this

      2. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Nice one!

  2. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    G2G?

    DDG
    Alonso, Doherty, Trent, Mendy
    Salah, Fernandes, Martial, Pulisic
    Jimenez, DCL

    NKetiah, Saiss, Guendouzi

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep

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

      Alonso isn’t starting!

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

      No

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

      Alonso is benched apparently.

    5. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Alonso benched according to previous page

    6. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Alonso on bench.

    7. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Switch Alonso!

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

      Damn it! Not sure if I switched in time...

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

    Start
    Justin
    or
    C.Taylor?

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

      Justin

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

        Why?!

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

          Burnley struggling with injuries and Everton struggling to create.

        2. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Its not a time to ask why

  4. Rocky FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mark's team link anyone?

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

    Where's my early team news?

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

      On Twitter

  6. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I am going with Salah(C)

  7. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Holgate > Azpil done

  8. More_Goals
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FPL Dabbler

    @theFPLdabbler

    Willian, Giroud, Puli, James, Azpi, Sarr, Kiko all start

    Alonso on the bench. No Cantwell #FPL

  9. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kane cappers?

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

      gone kdb... just owning i think is enough for me

      1. Dele
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        This

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

      o/

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

      I'm not crazy. I already think I'm crazy for having him...

      1. GOTHAM City F.C.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        For all time sake, this could end my season but who its 2020, could be worse.

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

      o/

  10. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Good luck lads!

  11. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    and that’s it, pens down ...

  12. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pens down

  13. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    kiko news?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Starts

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

        phew. now just to hope he out scores Doherty lol

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

    Phewwwwww

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Got Sterling?

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yepper

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

    Gilmour starts

  16. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    PENS DOWN

  17. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Imagine Kiko scored.

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

    Good luck all. 🙂

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

    PENS and FINGERS DOWN!!

  20. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    CRY: Guaita, Dann, Ward, van Aanholt, Cahill, Milivojevic, Kouyaté, McArthur, Benteke, Ayew, Zaha
    Subs: Hennessey, Sakho, Mitchell, Woods, Riedewald, McCarthy, Townsend, Meyer, Pierrick

    CHE: Kepa, James, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, Gilmour, Mount, Barkley, Pulisic, Willian, Giroud
    Subs: Caballero, Rüdiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Abraham, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi

    WAT: Foster, Dawson, Kiko Femenía, Kabasele, Masina, Welbeck, Capoue, Doucouré, Hughes, Sarr, Deeney
    Subs: Gomes, Mariappa, Cathcart, Pereyra, Chalobah, Pussetto, Cleverley, Gray, João Pedro

    NOR: Krul, Godfrey, Klose, Aarons, Lewis, Vrancic, Buendía, Hernández, Tettey, Stiepermann, Pukki
    Subs: McGovern, Thomas, Trybull, Rupp, Duda, McLean, Martin, Drmic, Idah

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      cheers simmy

    2. Orion
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers mate

    3. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      cheers

  21. Bucket Man
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Took a punt. Jiminez to Kane, couldn’t bring myself to bench Ings or Jimmy if I got Pulisic so went for Kane for a few weeks at least.

    Pope
    TAA, Aurier, Boly
    Salah, KDB, Mahrez, Fernandes
    Kane, Ings, Greenwood
    Stevens, Luiz, Lascelles

    Best of luck all!

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I've benched Jimi

      1. Bucket Man
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Good luck. Hope he blanks for both are sakes. Wolves haven’t looked amazing in attack but he is realiable.

    2. The_FF_King
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Did the same. Fingers crossed it doesn’t back fire!

      1. Bucket Man
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        At least if it doesn’t work out it frees up even more cash to go for a 352 or something.

  22. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    check FPL heisenberg tweet for leaked team sheets, giroud starting

  23. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sarr time to punish the sellers, take it easy on them 12

  24. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Damn, first deadline I've missed this season, thought it was 17:30!

  25. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    DEENEY starts!!

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

      eating a kebab

      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        lol

  26. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Was hesitant about DCL > Giroud and now it's past.

  27. Areyouthereyet
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kane (C) for old times sake. Let’s go boys!

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

    CRYSTAL PALACE TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Chelsea: Guaita, Ward, van Aanholt, Dann, Cahill, McArthur, Kouyate, Milivojevic, Zaha, Ayew, Benteke.
    Subs: Hennessey, Meyer, Townsend, Sakho, McCarthy, Woods, Mitchell, Pierrick, Riedewald.

    CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Crystal Palace: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, James, Christensen, Zouma, Gilmour, Mount, Barkley, Willian, Pulisic, Giroud.
    Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Abraham, Pedro, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi.

    WATFORD TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Norwich: Foster, Femenia, Kabasele, Dawson, Sarr, Capoue, Doucoure, Hughes, Masina, Welbeck, Deeney.
    Subs: Gomes, Mariappa, Cleverley, Chalobah, Cathcart, Pedro, Gray, Pussetto, Pereyra.

    NORWICH TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Watford: Krul, Aarons, Godfrey, Klose, Lewis, Tettey, Vrancic, Stiepermann, Buendia, Hernandez, Pukki.
    Subs: McGovern, Rupp, Trybull, Drmic, McLean, Duda, Idah, Thomas, Marti.

  29. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pants down

  30. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Poor Jimenez on my bench - please don't punish me postman!