Scout Picks - Bus Team
27 February 2023 210 comments
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We’ve put together our Scout Picks ‘bus team’ ahead of Gameweek 26 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

In this early selection, we select a first draft of our regular picks before they are finalised and published much closer to Saturday’s deadline.

We are limited to an £83.0m budget for our starting XI, while our bench is also price-capped after a reader vote.

In the meantime, this ‘bus team’ article – a term coined by the duo behind the Always Cheating podcast – will discuss the players who are likely to be in the running.

GAMEWEEK 26 FIXTURES

Times given in GMT

THE LIKELY LADS

FPL Gameweek 24 Scout Picks:

Erling Haaland (£12.2m) and Marcus Rashford (£7.2m) have scored more FPL points than anyone else since the World Cup, and will almost certainly make the Scout Picks XI.

The pair have served up a combined 23 attacking returns from Gameweek 17 onwards, averaging 8.2/6.6 points per start respectively.

Fixtures against Newcastle United and Liverpool aren’t straightforward, but neither side has been at their best of late. Indeed, Eddie Howe’s troops are without a win in four Premier League games, while the Reds’ backline has looked wobbly for some time now.

An Arsenal triple-up also looks on the cards, with relegation-threatened Bournemouth due at the Emirates. The Cherries have found the net just four times in their last nine matches, conceding a whopping 16 goals.

That suggests coverage is required at both ends of the pitch, with Gabriel Magalhaes (£5.2m), Bukayo Saka (£8.5m) and Martin Odegaard (£7.0m) leading the charge.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.1m), Gabriel Martinelli (£6.5m) and Eddie Nketiah (£6.8m) could also muscle their way into contention, with Arsenal’s midweek clash against Everton giving us one more look before we have to make a final decision. Nketiah’s stock has fallen slightly after his weekend benching, however.

IN CONTENTION

 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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  1. Branch Warren
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Which of these transfers do you like for gw26

    A) Kilman to Estupinan
    B) Darwin to Toney
    C) Roll transfer and do them both next week

    1. Conners
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      I'd do C provided you have a plan for the blank/s.

      Estupinan is flagged so I wouldn't bring him in unless confirmed as fully fit.

    2. philcheungc
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      obviously B. toney has dropped form for me

  2. Sheffield Wednesday
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    The Scout 'bus' team would be identical to my own 'bus' team posted here three days ago except their pair of Brighton players aren't flagged like my pair of Brighton. The other nine players are the same. I guess that's a good thing?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Maybe

  3. boc610
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    martinelli getting done dirty by the scout picks bus team

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Dirty deeds done dirt cheap

  4. Ask Yourself
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Why is everyone so keen to WC ahead of 27?

    The teams doubling aren’t exactly in astonishing form, yeah it would be good to get a couple to make the most of the double but you have to forego so many nice SGW players in 27:

    Arsenal vs ful
    Man United vs SOU
    Man City vs cpl
    Spurs vs NFO
    Pool vs bou
    Newcastle vs WOL

    Is an extra Brentford/Brighton attacker/defender worth swapping out assets with these fixtures? Surely there will be more exciting doubles to use chips to capitalise on

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      See reply when you posted this comment yesterday -

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        Repost for new audience thanks for reply yesterday x

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Depends on chip strategy

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah mine is looking like WC30/31 FH32 and BB34/37 currently so it’s easy for me to say so I guess

    3. The Mentaculus
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      I imagine the main draw is to set yourself up for DGW29 as well as 27, and in some cases to balance both of these with a playable BGW28 team.

      I'm not sure there will be better DGWs than 29. Spurs & City should double in 34 but neither seem too exciting for a triple up

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah I guess I’m in a fortunate position where without hits I will have 9 in BGW28, 9 doublers in DGW29.
        Also don’t mind only have a couple of doublers in 27, neither Brentford or Brighton are particularly moving me more than players with fixtures I listed above

        1. The Mentaculus
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 9 months ago

          I do think having a Brentford defender in 27 is too good an opportunity to pass up. They are generally tighter at home but the fixtures are ideal for a double CS. But the tougher fixtures in 29 mean I probably wouldn't go for a triple up. BHA a bit trickier at the mo since injury updates.

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 9 months ago

            Here’s an interesting one then, what would you go for here?
            A) Guaita (MCI, bha, ars) Ward (cry, AVL) - extra game worse fixtures
            B) Raya (eve, sou, bha, mun) - one less game better fixtures

            1. The Mentaculus
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 9 months ago

              Raya, comfortably

              1. Ask Yourself
                • 9 Years
                2 years, 9 months ago

                Maybe I’m just being OCD about having the extra player for BGW28 but I’m leaning to Guaita atm lol

      2. The Mentaculus
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        From my own perspective (WC played, all other chips remaining), having juicy City (& Spurs) doubles in 34 lends itself much more to TC. So I'll probably plough ahead with BB29 even if I have to take some hits after the IB

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 9 months ago

          You played WC already ! What’s your team looking like atm?

          1. The Mentaculus
            • 4 Years
            2 years, 9 months ago

            In 22 yeah. I wasn't at all well set for DGWs 22 & 23 after starting post-WC with no Man Utd, no Saka. Also pre-set some blank coverage & already had a tentative plan for my BB29 squad through excessive consumption of Crellin/Tokvam. The switch to triple Arsenal attack was a big part of it that unfortunately hasn't really paid off. I'm still on course for a good BB29 I think with maybe 2 hits (starred players will be changed):

            Raya Leno
            Trippier Schär TAA* Ake* Moreno*
            Saka Ødegaard Rashford Maddison Mitoma
            Haaland Nketiah* Darwin*

            1. Ask Yourself
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 9 months ago

              Yeah that’s when I usually WC too ! Yeah looks like you’ve had random unlucky breaks on quite a few players in there. BB29 definitely makes sense for you here though it is the biggest double we’ll get after all

    4. Conners
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      IMHO, a GW26/27 WC requires too much compromise if you don't commit to a FH in 28.

      e.g. You'd ideally want 8 or 9 players from the teams the OP has listed above (excluding Liverpool), plus 5 or 6 from Brighton and Brentford for the ideal GW27 set-up. You'd also perhaps want to add Maddison at some point too.

      On that basis, you'd only have perhaps 5 starters for GW28 before hits which isn't enough really.

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        This and then you’re in trouble for BGW32

  5. Danstoke82
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Hi all, could use some advice on these moves, yay or nay?

    Nketiah + Salah > Toney + Saka -4?

    Will obvs hold until games are played but I’m tempted by the above as I still don’t have Saka due to owning 3 other Arsenal assets!

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      I like that actually

    2. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Doing it if not going for WC

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      I don't mind it if you captain Saka

      1. Danstoke82
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks all. Sceptical about losing Nketiah before Bournemouth at home but not being Saka is destroying my team as I’ve been stuck with Martinelli and White also.

    4. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      If Toney doesn’t get YC next week, only then I’ll replace Nketiah with him.

  6. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Which combo to play?

    1. Trippier v MCI (A)
    2. James v LEE (H)

    A. Kepa v Leeds (H)
    B. Forster v Wolves (A)

    1. boc610
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      2, A

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      2A

    3. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      2B

    4. _Gunner
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      2,A

    5. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      2A but Silva out is a big blow for Chelsea CS prospects

  7. Kodap
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    What would you do with these lot? Still have WC, FH and BB to use too.

    1.2m in the bank and 1FT.

    Kepa
    White - Tarko - Trent
    Gakpo - Martinelli - Saka - Rashford
    Kane - Haaland - Toney

    Ward - Trippier - Akanji - Andreas

    1. Conners
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      You're well set up provided Liverpool have a game in the blank gw28.

      I'd save FT this week, get a Brighton mid for GW27 and then use your 2 FTs in the blank.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Ask this question after the midweek cup games have played

  8. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Early thoughts on who to captain this weekend?

    Haaland at home to Newcastle in the early kick off doesn't hugely appeal. Anyone else thinking of going elsewhere?

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Gonna be close between Haaland and Saka, on Haaland currently as a send off before probs selling in 28

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Going with Haaland and Rashford VC.

    3. The Mentaculus
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Rashford/Saka

    4. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Not sure but its between Haaland & Saka

    5. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      I actually didn't realise City v Newcastle was the lunchtime KO. I may ignore that and go with Saka or Rashford

    6. Conners
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      I think I'm going with Saka.

      I can see the Liverpool / United game being closer than people think, and with a good few cards thrown in.

  9. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Who would you play this coming GW?

    a. Trippier

    b. Akanji

    c. Akanji > Shaw / Dalot for - 4?

    Cheers

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Start Trippier or bring in a Brighton/Brentford def

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        maybe Mee for - 4?

  10. Botman and Robben
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Play one:
    A. Kilman
    B. Trippier

    1. Old Wulfrunian
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      B

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Probably Trippier and hope for an attacking return

  11. Zimo
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Is a Bench Boost of Raya Zinchenko Haaland Trent good in 29 in your opinion?

    1. Old Wulfrunian
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      It could work but i don't like it.

    2. The Mentaculus
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah, although I would be tempted to switch Trent given the fixtures. Could work if Chelsea still can't score but maybe I'd rather have e.g. an extra Man Utd defender if possible

      1. Zimo
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        I'll be on triple United anyways. I need a defender that doubles in 29 and plays in 32 as well. I think Liverpool should play super defensive like they did last time agaisnt City. Chelsea and Nottingham seem like good clean sheet fixtures and he can always get an attacking return as well.

        1. Zimo
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 9 months ago

          Hedging my bets basically. If Haaland flops against Pool again at least I might get a clean sheet.

        2. The Mentaculus
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 9 months ago

          Hmm interesting, you've planned a bit further ahead than I have. I could maybe keep Trent since I'm really not sure about James for my 5th defender spot. Should have a closer look at 32 I guess. Thanks

          1. Zimo
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 9 months ago

            Glad to be of help 🙂

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      What's the fixtures

    4. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah why not actually

  12. onceuponatyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Totally lost with DGW and BGWs on the horizon.
    Which teams should I be looking at and ditching - and when does it become clearer? 🙂

    1. The Mentaculus
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      GW28 blanks will be decided tomorrow night after FA Cup games. Brentford & Brighton are the popular targets for 27

      1. onceuponatyne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks Mate, that's great.

  13. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Klopp's press conference will start at 13:30. Hoping for some positive update on Nunez.

  14. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Do we think Fofana is an option from Chelsea?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Potentially yes for the right side CB but probably too early to say. Potter has Koulibaly, Badiashile and Chalobah available at CB. I do think Koulibaly and Badiashile are favoured for the left side CB

  15. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Has anyone considered:

    28. Dead end team
    29. Wildcard
    32. Free Hit
    34 Bench Boost

    29 seems like a good timing to triple up on United and have enough money in the bank to get to another City or/and Kane etc. Bench Boost 5 weeks later is a con of course.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      If you haven’t already got a tonne of good doublers for 29 then yeah I like it.
      I’m doing WC30 FH32 BB34/37 currently

  16. SKENG
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    I'm just thinking out loud here and will obviously wait and reassess after cup games, but would appreciate your feedback on this.

    Currently on this team:

    Kepa (Ward)
    Trippier TAA Robertson (Bueno Patterson)
    Rashford Saka Odegaard Martinelli Salah
    Haaland Kane (Gnonto) - 1 FT, 0.1M ITB

    I think it's very likely Fulham beat Leeds and Liverpool won't play in 28. With this in mind, it looks like I would be kind of forced to FH28. Unsure about WC, but to me it looks better to navigate DGW27 and DGW29 with hits (bring in Brighton and Brentford) and WC & BB for the later doubles.

    With this strategy in mind, I think I would do the following moves over the next couple of GWs:

    Robertson, Martinelli, Gakpo, Gnonto > Estupinan, Mitoma, March, Toney.

    That's 8 points worth of hits. Would it be better to take the hit this week instead of next since it could give me better fixtures for 26? Thinking:

    GW26: Robertson, Gakpo, Toney > Estupinan, Mitoma, Toney -8 pts
    GW26: Martinelli > March

    1. SKENG
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      GW27: Martinelli > March*

  17. mcginnntonic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    For a -4:

    Bruno & Martinelli -> Saka & Maddison

    Then next week, Nketiah -> Toney?

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      I would do it

  18. mcginnntonic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    In GW27, would you rather have:

    Mee (doubles) for a -4, or Shaw vs Southampton at home?

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Shaw

  19. Trini Chelsea
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Hi everyone,
    What to do with this team
    Kepa
    White - Ake - Trippier
    Salah - Martinelli - Mahrez - Rashford
    Kane - Haaland - Toney

    Ward - Tarkowski - Andreas - Patterson

    0.2 In the bank, have all my chips

    1. Trini Chelsea
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Oh my I don't have toney but Nketiah

  20. Ask Yourself
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    I guess we’re all Blackburn tonight then aren’t we?

    1. The Mentaculus
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Yep, that'd give me up to 4 extra players for 28. Maddi rest then back at the weekend would be ideal

    2. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Nah, maximum fixture carnage

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

      Seems unlikely they win. Maybe if they have a tough Quarterfinal opponent

  21. mojoindojo
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Darwin to Toney for free?

    1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Free seems cheap - I'd give money to charity to do it

  22. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Would you get rid of any of those in 27 for a BHA or BRE players for a hit?

    Kepa
    White Trippier TAA
    Salah Saka Rashford Odegaard
    Haaland

    Will have Toney and BHA mid for free.

    Thanks.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Nope you have the two best options for the doubles, the rest are good imo

    2. Zimo
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      For a hit? Kepa to Raya possibly. Or White to Estupinan if he's fit.

  23. CheesyZoot
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Mahrez > Mitoma this week?

    Mitro > Toney next week?

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Good plan

      1. CheesyZoot
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 9 months ago

        Yeh looks like the smart moves.

        No hits and saves my chips

  24. JBG
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Gakpo back to Mitoma, easy transfer this gw? Unless injuries happen ofc.

  25. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    https://www.arsenal.com/news/every-word-mikels-pre-everton-presser-0

    on if it’s becoming more difficult to know what his best XI is: "We assess that situation every single day. The fact [is] we have options now - we have players coming back from injury giving us alternatives, which is going to be crucial. Players can’t maintain the same level for 10 months - it’s just impossible. We need to change and we have to generate alternatives and be more unpredictable for opponents sometimes as well. We have those options now."

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 9 months ago

      Hmmm I’m guessing that’s alluding more to shaking up the attack rather than putting white’s place at risk

  26. jamesfitz0713
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    any tips on what I should do with my team , I'm 8069 overall.

    1FT 0.5m ITB
    Kepa Ortega
    Shaw Gabriel Badiashile Trippier Estupinan
    Odegaard Grealish Salah Martinelli Rashford
    Gnonto Kane Haaland

    I was thinking of getting Mee and Toney in, could do a -8 to get rid of salah for mac allister to be able to afford to keep kane

  27. Bacon3339
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    Do we know when Toney is up to figure out the length of his ban? i.e. how soon until we lose him?

  28. philcheungc
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 9 months ago

    dunno why people pick mings. he is worse than maguire.