Scout Picks

FPL Gameweek 1 Scout Picks: Five in defence, Kane over Haaland

The votes are in and most of the press conferences have been watched: now we can choose our best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players for Gameweek 1 ahead of Friday’s deadline.

The final selection is partly based on the Scout Squad consensus picks but budgetary constraints and injury updates from the pre-match pressers are all factored in, too.

We line up in a 5-3-2 formation this week and, as ever, are limited to £83.0m for our first XI.

CHANGES FOR 2022/23

While the maximum starting XI budget remains the same, there has been a slight change to how we nominate substitutes.

Our Scout Picks bench was previously made of players not just serving as bench fodder or to make the budget up to £100m but rather to give some alternative, viable options who don’t cost as much as some of the names in our line-up.

However, the people have (just about) spoken – and we will indeed be price-capping our substitutes, too.

Given that we’ve opted for a 5-3-2 this week, that decreases our starting budget to £82.5m, as £17.5m is now the minimum that one goalkeeper, two midfielders and one forward can buy.

GOALKEEPER

Fantasy community eyes Burnley clean sheet in first Double Gameweek match

Nick Pope (£5.0m), nominated by three of our Scout Squad panel, gets the nod between the posts this week. While last season’s form could end up being this season’s chip paper, there’s not a great deal else we can go on until we’ve seen a ball kicked in 2022/23 – and Newcastle did finish the last campaign with four clean sheets in their last seven home fixtures. Improvements in the Magpies’ underlying defensive numbers under Eddie Howe are worthy of note, too, and the Tynesiders have further bolstered their backline with the acquisition of not just Pope but also Sven Botman (£4.5m).

DEFENDERS

 

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Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

1,897 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Johan Queef
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Biting all my nails off here over these silly decisions:

    A) 532 with James (0.5ITB)
    B) 442 with Mount (0ITB)

    Thanks!!!

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Mount allows a move to another £8m mid if one starts firing, assume you’ll need to take hits for one if you don’t start with one.

      1. Johan Queef
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Yeah that's a key reason I want that 8m mid. Bit concerned I've got Walker as my 3rd city player so it blocks me from a city mid if one emerges!

    2. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I've been struggling with that, I think I'm going B just because the midfield looks weak in a 5-3-2 if you've got Salah/Kane/Jesus in your team

      1. Johan Queef
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Yeah I love the 532 approach but 442 just seems more balanced for me to begin with.

  2. Irnbruster
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Raya

    Ait Nouri - Trent - Walker

    Martinelli - Salah - Bernardo - St Maximin

    Jesus - Haaland - Nunez

    Subs: Ward - White - Neco - Bailey

    Any advice or thoughts?

    Jesus - Haaland - Nunez

    Ward - White - Neco - Bailey

  3. Hutchiniho
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Money aside.
    Which three of these score most points this season?
    Salah/Kane/Son/Jesus/Haaland/KDB.
    Can't decide on my top 3.

    1. Ne0
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Is Jesus really in contention?

    2. Xopher
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Salah,Son,Kane,KDB,Haaland,Jesus

  4. LABILLETHEGOAT
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    which combo?
    a) cancelo & andreas
    b) dias & neto

    1. Hutchiniho
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

  5. mz1405
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 7 months ago

    thoughts on Firmino for gw1

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      nah - liverpool spots should be filled by TAA, Robbo, Diaz, Salah, Alisson

  6. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Right last one hopefully. Which do you prefer please?

    Ward
    Trippier - TAA - ______
    Salah - Martinelli - Diaz - ______
    Kane - Jesus - ______

    (Iversen) - Saliba - Andreas - Neco

    A) Cancelo + Bailey + Wilson
    B) Walker + Mount + Toney

    1. Xopher
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A for sure

  7. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Does anyone know how many points Schmeichel got last season?

    Wondering whether the Ward-Sanchez rotation is worth the extra 0.5 over the 2 Leicester boys.

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      136 iirc

      1. Better Call Raul
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Thanks, remember reading he had a very poor save %. Don't see any reason why Ward/Iversen can't outscore him

    2. Chill, we'll call you
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Try the "i" symbol next to his name. It's a miracle of modern technology.

      1. Nick8742
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

  8. Hutchiniho
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Down to the barrel.

    Trippier and GibbsWhite
    or
    Kilman and Pereira?

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      trip

  9. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Man United opening day results

    21/22 Leeds (H) 5-1
    20/21 Bournemouth (H) 5-2
    19/20 Chelsea (H) 4-0

    22/23 Brighton (H)?

    1. Hutchiniho
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      0-0

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      1-2

  10. LABILLETHEGOAT
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    guys which would you go for?
    a) cancelo/james/andreas
    b) dias/james/neto
    c) cancelo/cash/neto

    1. Hutchiniho
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      C

  11. MakaveliTheDon
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Tearing my hair out trying to decide between...

    A) Saka + Neto + £0.5 ITB
    or
    B) Martinelli + Mount

    1. Hutchiniho
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B.
      Long term I think the Arsenal players will score the same

  12. boroie
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    I see a lot of people, who aren't going for both Ward and Iversen, going for Ward over Iversen... any reason why? As, any Leicester fan I have spoken to thinks Iversen will start this week, due to Ward recovering from an injury and a lack of pre season, and from there, it is surely Iversen's to lose?

    1. Hutchiniho
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Didn't Rogers all but say Ward was his choice yesterday?

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        He did. But I've got both just in case. GKs don't have a very high ceiling anyways.

    2. Chill, we'll call you
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      One day we will sit you down around a campfire tell you about a legendary and magical oracle called Scout Picks.

  13. Hutchiniho
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Most points in August?
    Saka
    Mart
    Mount
    Foden
    Grealish?

  14. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Have Kane and Andreas

    1. Martinelli + Son + Archer
    2. Rashford + Haaland + Colback

    ?

  15. Heung min Daughter
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) Ramsdale + Ward (0 ITB)
    B) Sanchez + Ward (0.5 ITB)

    Not sure if I should bank the 0.5m and stick with the great rotating fixtures between Sanchez + Ward or just spend it on a set and forget keeper.

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I'm struggling with the same thing! That 0.5 could upgrade Trippier to Perisic or Bailey to Neto.

      1. Heung min Daughter
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        I think that thought has made me decide on Sanchez.
        Thank you!

      2. fplrook
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Both are not really upgrades in my view and in fact I think Trippier will do better than Perisic and Bailey than Neto in the first few game weeks at least.

    2. Better Call Raul
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I think A or get the two 4.0 Leicester boys

    3. fplrook
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Set players wherever you can especially at goal unless of a price point where there are multiple options. At 4.5, you don't have a top club keeper so I would go with option A.

  16. coriswrasse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Twisted at the last minute.
    Dropped Robertson, Mahrez and Wilson for Cash, Bailey, Kane.
    Good move or bad move?

    1. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      following the crowd. go with what you think is best.

  17. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Son is going to punish me for this, isn't he? After saying I wouldn't tinker anymore about a dozen drafts ago, this is what I'm on right now:

    Ward
    TAA - James - Walker - Trippier
    Salah - Rashford - Bailey
    Kane (c) - Haaland - Jesus

    Iversen, Andreas, Colback, Neco

    1. fplrook
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I like it.... almost similar to my team!

  18. fplrook
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 7 months ago

    After a lot of deliberation, I've arrived at this for GW1 - thoughts please?

    GK - De Gea
    DEF - TAA, Trippier, Walker
    MID - Salah, Rashford, Bailey, Neto
    ATT - Kane, Haaland, Jesus

    Subs - Ward, Andreas, Neco, Patterson

    This is going against the template of having three solid strikers but I do think Kane, Haaland and Jesus will all have terrific seasons. Salah is a starter for me and given Liverpool's new front 3, he probably is the go to guy so I expect him to fair better than last year. Rashford, Bailey and Neto complete the midfield as I only had 17m across the three positions. All of them in good form during pre-season and could potentially be the key men upfront for their respective teams. In defence, TAA was a no brainer and whilst a lot have gone Cancelo and James, I've had to do with Walker and Trippier instead due to limited funds. Walker is now a nailed on starter and at the very least will provide points on clean sheets. I also feel City might go a bit direct at times to feed Haaland and Walker's pace could provide a few assists. Trippier's setpiece strength and the fact that Eddie Howe has instilled a rather compact defence means he is value at 5m. I've gone with a bit of differential with De Gea between the sticks due to favourable first couple of fixtures. I think at the very least Ten Haag's men will work hard and be more solid so I expect a good start - historically De Gea has been dependable but can always switch to either Mendy or Ramsdale given the same price point.

    All 4 on the bench are starters so can always fall back if needed albeit at base prices so don't expect much from them.

    Feel free to bash my rationale - keen to hear your thoughts please!

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      My only concern is with Wolves' attackers, especially without Jimi.

      1. fplrook
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 7 months ago

        I'm not too worried as Neto will then be the go to front man. At the very least he is a nailed on starter so at 5.5m, you're not losing much.

    2. smithac28
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I actually had that front three to begin with and had the same kind set - but have been swayed by the masses…

      Haaland will get golden boot IMO with Salah and Kane in the mix. Why not therefore have both with Jesus as well who now finally has runway to potentially hit new levels. May go back…

  19. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Thoughts cannot decide between Son & Sterling - the 2m hammers team?

    Ramsdale,
    Trent, Cancelo, Walker, Trippier
    Sterling, Salah, Martinelli, Bailey
    Jesus, Kane

    Ward, Andreas, Taylor, Neco

    1. fplrook
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      If you have the budget, then Son is better as he also is on set pieces (except penalties).

  20. smithac28
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    GTG?
    Mendy
    TAA - Cancelo - Dalot - Perisic
    Salah - Mount - Rashford - Bailey
    Haaland - Jesus
    Sub - Ward - Neco W - Andreas P - Taylor

    1. fplrook
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Perisic might not start the first game - worth having Trippier and then bringing Perisic later?

      1. smithac28
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Yep - good call. Trying to get a spurs player in but struggling!

  21. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Given the perisic fitness concerns and gw2 fixture, could it be worth starting out with cash/trippier with 0.5m itb to bring perisic in for gw3?

  22. Pedaso Pirates
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Start Neto or Bailey?

    1. Better Call Raul
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Bailey

  23. YouReds
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) Walker, Son, Bailey
    B) Cancello, Diaz, Rashford +0.5

  24. james.havill
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Is this madness?

    Alisson
    White-Botman-Perisic-Cancelo
    Bruno G-Salah-Neto
    Jesus-Haaland-Kane

    Gazzaniga-Nico Williams-Bailey-Andreas

  25. gme3twenty
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Salah and 4.5mil striker

    Or

    Diaz and 9.5mil to play with for a striker

  26. mz1405
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) Mitro
    B) Toney
    C) get rid of someone to get the extra 0.5 needed to buy nunez

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Mitro

  27. RobboKop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Who to start? Why?
    1) Neto
    2) Bailey

  28. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    GTG?

    Ward
    TAA Robbo Dias James
    Salah(c) Martinelli Bailey Mount
    Jesus Haaland

    Bench: Raya Neco Taylor Andreas
    ITB: 0.5

  29. MARK US RASHFORD
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Join my league lads... winner gets a £200 Amazon voucher 2dek2k

  30. Bradders2249
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 7 months ago

    So who has been picked as the subs? Am I just being dim?