With just five gameweeks left until the end of the season, we thought we’d begin the run-in with a weekly look at the chase for first place in the Fantasy Football Scout league. As many of you know, the top dog in our league last season- a certain Jon Reeson- also came first in the overall standings in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game. Can our leaders replicate the success of Jon’s all-conquering Westfield Irons squad of 2009-2010? Here’s our top five contenders:
Chris McGurn
Fantasy Football Scout Ranking #1 Overall FPL Ranking #2
Form & History
Chris has shown fantastic form straight from the off this season, having been inside the top 1,000 since gameweek 3. Sitting in second place overall for the last six weeks now, he is currently just 16 points off top spot.
This is his FPL third season and he’s finished comfortably inside the top 10,000 in each of the previous two Fantasy campaigns. The guy is a consistent performer.
Last Week’s Score 84 pts
Fielded five double gameweek players, including captain Robin Van Persie. Faith in Leighton Baines proved fruitful, with the Everton man equalling Van Persie’s 13 point haul, despite playing a game less. Doubling up on Chelsea’s defence was a sensible move, unfortunate not to pay dividend, while Frank Lampard’s return of 11 points was somewhat overshadowed by the performances of his team mates.
Gameweek 34 Preview
There are currently two double gameweek players (Asimir Begovic and Jamie O’Hara) in the squad, though that may well increase before the weekend. Chris is not averse to a points hit, having taken one in no less than eight gameweeks so far this season.
Big guns include Lampard at home to West Ham, Nani and Wayne Rooney squaring up to Baines’ Everton at Old Trafford, Robin Van Persie travelling to Bolton and Ashley Young home to Stoke.
Chris Prentice
Fantasy Football Scout Ranking #2 Overall FPL Ranking #8
Form & History
Chris had an up and down first half to the Fantasy season; he finished the opening week of the season inside the top 35,000 (despite having Mauro Boselli in his gameweek 1 first XI) and has never been ranked lower. This second half of the season is where he’s really hit top form; gameweek 19 saw him break the top 1000 and he’s steadily climbed the rankings, breaking the FPL top 10 a couple of gameweeks back.
This is only his second FPL season, though a finish inside the top 20,000 last season was clearly an indication that he‘d taken to the game quickly.
Last Week’s Score 97 Points
Six double gameweek players filled the starting XI, with captain Didier Drogba hauling in 44 points. Ignoring Lampard and Malouda, Chris went for David Luiz as his only other Chelsea cover. Van Persie and Nasri came good, though only Ben Foster returned much from his defence.
Gameweek 34 Preview
At present, only Robert Huth has a double gameweek up next, suggesting he’ll need to ring the changes. Having taken point hits in five gameweeks (with four of them have produced a green arrow) a couple of trades look likely.
Main men are Drogba at home to West Ham, Nani facing Everton, Van Persie and Nasri travelling to Bolton and both Stewart Downing and Ashley Young facing Stoke at Villa Park.
Patrick Tyrrell
Fantasy Football Scout Ranking #3, Overall FPL Ranking #13
Form & History
Firmly entrenched inside the top 10,000 since gameweek 4, Patrick had a few red arrows until a bumper score of 130 in gameweek 23 rocketed him into the top 100, where he has been ever since. Broke the top 10 in gameweek and held steady, only to slip slightly this week.
This is his FPL fourth season and, having never been beyond the top 100,000 before, Patrick must be getting nosebleeds by now.
Last Week’s Score 83 Pts
Opted for 6 double gameweek players, with four of them defenders, though it was only Ben Foster and Roger Johnson that served up decent returns. Robin Van Persie and captain Frank Lampard combined for a 35 point haul. Leighton Baines’ 13 points were much-needed and Peter Odemwingie’s goal against Chelsea made up for the points dropped at the Hawthorns by David Luiz.
Gameweek 34 Preview
Kevin Davies is the only double gameweek player so far, though with three points hits in the last six gameweeks, changes could be afoot for Patrick’s squad.
Big guns include Lampard and Luiz hosting the Hammers, Nani and Baines squaring up at Old Trafford and Van Persie at Bolton. Elsewhere, Charlie Adam and Joey Barton line up against one another and Odemwingie looks to continue his recent hot streak away to Spurs.
Sean og Connolly
Fantasy Football Scout Ranking #4, Overall FPL Ranking #20
Form and History
Sean climbed into the top 10,000 in gameweek 5 and, since then, has dropped outside that rank for just four gameweeks. One red arrow in fourteen from gameweek 18 onwards saw him progress into the top 10 in gameweek 26 and, until last week, that’s where he’s been. This is his fourth FPL season, with the previous one being his first inside the top 100,000, he‘s made huge progress this time round.
Last Week’s Score 64pts
Only 3 double gameweek players and no goalkeeper was fundamental to the drop down the rankings. Captain Lampard came relatively good, Van Persie added 13 points, but Johan Djourou returned only two points. His three Man United players done little away to Newcastle, through Patrice Evra at least grabbed a clean sheet. Ashley Young chipped in with a vital 8 points, too.
Gameweek 34 Preview
At present, only Robert Huth has a double gameweek on the horizon but after last week’s fall, you’d expect some transfers in. Sean has only taken a points hit on four occasions, though, so is a fairly cautious Fantasy player. Wayne Rooney joins Nani at home to Everton, Lampard takes on old club West Ham, Ashley Young hosts Stoke and Andy Carroll has a plum home tie with Birmingham.
Utkarsh Dalmia
Fantasy Football Ranking #5, Overall FPL Ranking #23
Form & History
Utkarsh made a sensational start to the FPL season, breaking the top 100 by gameweek 4 but after a spate of red arrows, dropped out the top 1,000 by gameweek 16. Six weeks later, though, he was back and since gameweek 26 has been back in the top 100 comfort zone.
This is his second FPL season, with a finish inside the top 5,000 last time round hinting at the Fantasy pedigree to come.
Last Week’s Score 80pts
A mammoth twelve point his proved costly here, though a healthy 46 points from his three-man Arsenal contingent, including captain Van Persie, certainly helped balance things out. Didier Drogba’s 22 points made up for the disappointment of John Terry and David Luiz carding four points each, and ever-reliable Ben Foster cam good in goal.
Gameweek 34 Preview
Roberth Huth is joined by Wayne Hennessey as the two current double gameweeks names in the squad, but will Utkarsh continue a points-hit spree that has seen him shed 20 in the last 6 gameweeks? Chelsea’s home tie with West Ham looks good for Drogba and the two centre-halves, Nani and Wayne Rooney play Everton, but to hold onto the Gunners trio Walcott, Nasri and Van Persie as Arsenal visit the Reebok is a test of nerve.
However….
As mentioned above, this article will feature the top 5 in the Fantasy Football Scout league but the last couple of days have seen a new entry that will join us this weekend; the leader of our Scout Members league and the current world number four. If he’d joined up last week, this fellow would be sitting in second place on our leader board. And the guy has form. Here’s the lowdown:
Kevin Havelock
Fantasy Football Scout Ranking N/E Overall FPL Ranking #4
Form & History
Kevin had lost 16 points in hits by gameweek 7 but, in spite of this, found his way into the top 100 by gameweek 11 and has been there ever since. He’s been in the top 10 for the last 10 weeks straight and has continued his tactic of hits, with 24 points coming off his tally in the last five gameweeks alone.
This is his third campaign, with the previous two finishes being outside the top 100,000; it’s fair to say this has been a season beyond all expectations.
Last Week’s Score 99pts
Six double gameweek players negated the eight point hit, particularly with Florent Malouda hauling in 22 points. Two Chelsea defenders done little, while captain Van Persie and Nasri came good for the Gunners. Leighton Baines boosted his score with 13 points and Rafael Van der Vaart’ s performance at the Lane proved crucial.
Gameweek 34 Preview
At present, there are no double gameweek players in the squad but his penchant for points hits will surely sway Kevin here. Surprisingly, there’s no Man United players at all, but three Chelsea, as Malouda, Cole and Luiz face West Ham. With none of our other contenders currently holding Spurs players, this weekend could be crucial, as Van der Vaart is joined by Gareth Bale for a home game with West Brom. Andy Carroll squares up to Birmingham at Anfield and Aleksander Kolarov travels to out-of-sorts Blackburn.
