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. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    That's Jorginho gone in the summer then

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

      Lampard doesn't like him at all

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

        He was a huge fan of him in the first 4-5 months it seemed, constantly praising him and made him VC. Now seems to be 4th choice no.6

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

          He really wasnt. He constantly tried to leave him out of the side but was forced to play him because Kovacic was poor. Now that Kova is doing better Jorginho is out.

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

            What are you talking about? Kovacic was our best player even in the early parts of the season. We were playing our best football this season with a Kovacic + Jorginho midfield with Mount ahead of them

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

              Think your memory is faulty

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

        Early to say I guess. Pulisic went through similar situation.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Hope we can con Juve out of £60m for him

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Brought in Reece James I am expecting my double digits x

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

      Lampard likes him but can’t be having his agent talk about moves away from the club. He’s gone in the summer unless Juventus pull out of the move.

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

    Who would you have benched?

    A) Ings
    B) Jimenez
    C) Pulisic
    D) Greenwood

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

      Ings

    2. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Honestly, Greenwood.

      1. Greek Freak
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Who did you bench?

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

          Jimenez - lowest ceiling away to Sheff U imo

          1. Greek Freak
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I can understand that - I sold him for a hit after all.

    3. Ange Ball
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      to late its done

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

      B

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

      D

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

      Danny

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

      B

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

      Close one between Jimenez and Greenwood

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

      Jimi

  3. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Good Luck to everyone.

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

    Remember that Kane hat-trick against Bournemouth away in 2015/16 season?

    It's happening again.

    1. gedda
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I am all for it mate. What else does that crystal ball hold?

    2. Ange Ball
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm Spurs fan I don't see us beating them we so poor. It will be a draw.

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

        You dont see them beating bournemouth? wtf.

        1. Ange Ball
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          We are terrible I have not seen us play this bad since the late 90s

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

      Will take 3 Son assists

    4. Athletic Dildao
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Stop trying to make Kane happen. It's not going to happen.

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

      that team wasn't managed by mourinho, big difference!

  5. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kiko megahaul please

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

      Would be mega. Even a clean sheet would be immense.

      1. Ange Ball
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        lol true I wanted to play him but got foster in goal as well.

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

      No Cantwell helps and this looks like a solid 1-0 Watford to me

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

      This would be epic!

  6. Reddonkeyham 42
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Billy G to be the next bandwagon

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

    Just pulled the trigger on Mane out for Willian.

    1. Ange Ball
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      nuts!

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

        Mmm not when you consider that Liverpool haven't been at it since claiming the league and the risk of rotation now. Willian's numbers have also been much better than Mane's since the resumption after lockdown, not to mention the money saving that now allows me to upgrade Ayew to Rashford. I'm satisfied that it's a shrewd move.

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

        I'll take the 11pts.

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

    *Son

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

    After a very long time i have gone against the crowd. Salah(C) - Lets see

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

      ballsy

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

        MLs almost won - so not that ballsy

    2. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I've gone 8 points over 2 Gameweeks with him as captain. Had to abandon him.

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

        I played TC on him last game - hope he doesn't disappoint this time

    3. Ange Ball
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Well played its nice to see more people playing there own game instead of following the crowd

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

        Just have a feeling that he will come back strongly

    4. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I don't expect more than 70mins for Salah this week

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

    played Doherty, benched Aurier last min. Better choice or should i have left it?

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

      Wolves better defence than Spurs and Doherty bigger goal threat but Sheff Utd obviously miles better than Bournemouth. Would've played both if poss.

    2. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      50/50

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

      Aurier, OOP/poo, last game OOP 8, the next who knows?

  11. Jones Town
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Oh man I forgot there was an early kick off... hope I saved my team in a decent state!!

  12. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I did Salah/Saka our for Sterling/Foden in. Giving me Sterling/KDB/Foden/Martial/Bruno

    I must be mad!

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

      All eggs in the 2 Manchester sides doing well basket!

      1. Fit_to_drop
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Lol! I think double ups and triple ups are needed for the chasers (me).

    2. Ange Ball
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      should kept Salah

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

      LOL - I did something similar (Salah to Sterling) for a midfield of:
      Sterling/KDB/Foden/Bruno/Son

      Good luck!

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

    that Chelsea bench !

  14. Party time
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kdb(C). Everytime I do this he blanks. GL everyone

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Exactly the same and I've capped him for like the 2nd time today

      2. Greek Freak
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Good luck - I've triple captained him so he's guaranteed to blank.

        1. Party time
            3 years, 8 months ago

            😆

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

          I didn't captain him because of you guys now hope he blanks 😀

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

        One transfer this week. Craig Dawson in.

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I was close but chose James instead. Both cool pics from us

          1. Fudgy
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Awesome broski, god bless you and that cow

            1. Ask Yourself
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              And you you cute little fox

              1. Fudgy
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                It's a red panda but thanks

                1. Ask Yourself
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Wow really? I did not know they existed, thank you for enlightening me of it’s beauty

        2. pitstop1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          flair

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

          Your living dangerously...

      4. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        WELCOME TO MY TEAM BENJAMIN MENDY!

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

          Enjoy. But quietly

        2. Ange Ball
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Great Pick I would have him but not worth minus 4 knowing his rotation risk he should do well this game week

          1. SHOOTER MCGINN
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I needed to mix it up to get some differential and Mendy seemed the perfect symbolic choice to make or break my season

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

        No players from tonight's games!

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

          Same

      6. pitstop1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Come on Ismaila - time to repay the faith!

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

          Another showing like Pool please

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

        Wonder who Chelsea loan Tammy out to next season?

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

          Still think theres a place for him in the squad, depending on how Lampard wants to utilize Werner. I remember Wolves being interested last season though

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

          think he's just using Giroud to get them over the champions league line and Tammy will be preferred next season. was loads of talk about giroud going back to france relatively recently

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

        Aha no way have I actually captained Kane!

        Got Fernandes and KdB so if they go big atleast I’m getting half the points...

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

          Wow. You somehow managed to convince me I think or at least one of the voices that made me keep Kane. Already regretting it a little but let's see...

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

            Yes I remember commenting. Reasons why I bought him in + captained:

            1. KdB won’t really aid in a green arrow this week even if captain
            2. Own both KdB + Fernandes so atleast I’m ‘covering’ some of the points that the type most popular captain picks get this week.
            3. Everton good defensively so not sure why he was an audition for Kane considering we were all impressed with his performances against WHU + Sheff...
            4. Bournemouth will give up chances. Kane doesn’t have to be in the box proven in the stats of Bournemouth defensively
            5. Kane is fun. If it pays off people around me won’t get those points

            But Kane is poor cant lie and Spurs aren’t great

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

        Sterling(C)! Fingers crossed!

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

          Gulp

        2. Fit_to_drop
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Ballsy. I toyed with the idea (having just transferred him in for Salah) but hedged by sticking with KDB. Mainly over minutes. But if he starts Centre Forward. Boom! Could be big time.

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

        Kept martinez
        Changed capt. From son to kdb
        Benched jimi for grenwod & sais for taylor kiko

        Hope i took the right desicions

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

        kiko assist down the line for Wellbeck goal 1-0
        Pulisic double 2-1
        doesn't sound too far fetched for a change

        1. Ange Ball
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          If you said to us last year a pandemic would hit nothing is impossible

      12. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Did anyone just tune into Andy's stream? Very questionable transfers

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

          whats he done?

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

          I like them actually.

          Although I would have done Maguire + DCL > Greenwood + Digne myself.

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

          He's a full time fpl pro. What are you mate no offence

          1. Bury94
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Am I not allowed to question the pros decisions? I'm 200 OR so I'd like to think I have a decent idea of what I'm talking about

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

            Pro? hahaha good one. Lick Lick. He's great at what he does but pro come on no one is a pro at this game.

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

          what are his transfers?

        5. Bury94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Salah and DCL to Antonio and Jesus for a hit. Might work out for him but I sure wouldn't have done that

      13. Right In The Stanchion
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        You never had a cup of beans man?

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

          Only with a sausage in it.

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

        WAT-NOR prediction?

        5-1
        Deeney Hatrick and dat guy brace
        Kiko OG

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

          More like Deeney being sent off

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

          2-1

        3. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Can't see more than 2 goals being scored altogether. So 0-0, 1-0 either way or 1-1. They're both rubbish.

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

          Norwich scoring 1 is just unrealistic 😀

        5. Shark Team
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          3-0 easily Deeney/Sarr goal assist + Doucoure goal - Kiko assist

        6. CostaCoffee
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          2-1
          Welbeck x2 and Idah to score off the bench

      15. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yawn.. Alonso only player I had tonight. See you all tomorrow

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

          Should have seen it coming

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

          Early warnings did you not see them......

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

            Yea I have a good bench, no worries just boring

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

        I have nobody playing tonight. Guaranteed red arrow to start the week.

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

          Just think about the green arrows after tonight!

        2. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          My impatience made me transfer in a player playing today to avoid this

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

          That song, ‘things can only get better’ 🙂

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

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

        De Gea,
        TAA, Doherty, Taylor
        Martial, Bruno, KDB(C), Son,
        Rash, Jimi, Kane

        Hope for a good GW

        Good luck everyone!

      18. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Last minute transfer after TAA possible benching... Simpson to Kiko and benching Saiss to play him - TAA in and waiting...

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

          why didnt you bench TAA?

          1. Shark Team
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I am banned I can't answer to you

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

          whats the news on TAA?

          1. Shark Team
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            thisisanfield.com suggests that Neco Williams will start at RB Vs Brighton