Scout Picks

Scout Picks – Gameweek 6

It’s time for Gameweek 6 of this season’s Scout Picks, where every Friday, myself, Mark, Jonty and a different member of the Community pick an XI for the upcoming round of fixtures. Each week, our line-ups go head-to-head and over the course of the season we’ll be keeping a tally of the points as we go along.

Similar to the last three Gameweeks, we’ve kept the budgets at 83.5m apiece for our starting line-ups.

The Community – Managed by Giggs Boson

gw6picks

Calculated risk is the essence of this game. There are some players, Diego Costa for instance, that hold such potential for points that the risk of going without far outweighs the reward of a potential replacement. Although I like to maintain a high risk strategy, there are a core of players for this Gameweek who should not be excluded for the sake of a low percentage gamble.

I have decided to double on the Burnley defence for obvious reasons. Three 0-0’s in a row cannot be ignored, especially when they face West Brom, a team who have scored just one goal since Gameweek 1. In my opinion, a “flimsy defence” is an illusion as 4.0m defenders can easily snatch four points for a clean sheet, just like an expensive defender, given the right fixture.

I initially had Papiss Cissé in the team, a top player who was once 9.0m. But after Magpies boss Alan Pardew said the striker, who is also carrying a knock, would be eased in I decided to remove him for Graziano Pellé. His Southampton team mate Sadio Mané is untested in the league, but his pace and eye for goal made him a punt I could not resist in the face of a tasty home tie with QPR – his speed will surely trouble the R’s Rio Ferdinand. I wanted some Arsenal in the team for the notoriously high scoring North London Derby, so I decided to pick Mesut Özil who seems to be rising in form, and has a share of set-pieces.

Jonty

gw6picks Fixtures, form, the members tables and some persuasive analysis by community writer The Puntmaster have driven my decisions this week. With just one goal this season and striker Danny Ings injured, Burnley look incapable of scoring which has prompted me to double up on West Brom’s defence with Ben Foster in goal and Craig Dawson in my backline.

Puntmaster’s persuasive analysis of Dawson’s set piece threat was instrumental in my selection here. Meanwhile, Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand and Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic offer both attacking threat and clean sheet promise when QPR and Aston Villa visit.

In attack, Southampton’s Graziano Pelle has notched up the most shots in the box this season, while Diego Costa, who was rested in midweek, has scored seven times and is another essential player this week. The Merseyside derby is always full of goals and Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku should be involved. Both are in the top ten for shots in the box this season and have five goals between them. Lukaku is another Puntmaster pick as well. Both Manchester United’s Angel Di Maria and Cesc Fabregas feature after riding high in my chances created table for midfielders over the last two Gameweeks.

Finally, Mark’s favourite and yet another of the Puntmaster’s selections, Victor Moses, is included after I noticed he has delivered more successful crosses than any other midfielder so far this season.

Mark

gw6picks For me, it’s another Gameweek where risk-taking is difficult to justify. Backing Chelsea and Southampton looks a necessity, with Diego Costa and Grazianno Pelle picking themselves. I’m going to double on the Saints attack with Dusan Tadic in midfield because I just don’t have confidence in the QPR rearguard and Ronald Koeman’s team are bouyant – I’m expecting a merciless display from them.

Ryan Bertand also finds a place in my three-man defence, with the obligatory selection of Branislav Ivanovic – every inch the right-winger at Stamford Bridge. Phil Bardsley completes the rearguard, just because he’s shown a threat and I fancy him to raise his game against Newcastle, being a former Black Cat. Burnley’s lack of firepower is reflected by my selection of Ben Foster in goal.

I’ve tried to have variety in midfield. I fancy Gylfi Sigurdsson to silence any creeping doubts with a haul at Sunderland, while I can see plenty of goals at Selhurst Park, with Jason Puncheon my weapon of choice in the Palace ranks against Leicester. I wanted to take a risk on Alexis Sanchez but there’s still doubts whether he’ll get the start against Spurs so I’ll have to revert to Raheem Sterling – it’s hard to see the Merseyside derby being tight given the defensive records on show.

Up front, I’ll retain Wayne Rooney – simply because I still value pitch time over the promise of Radamel Falcao and I want to see how Louis van Gaal sets up at Old Trafford.

Paul

gw6picks I’m tripling up on Chelsea for a plum home clash against Villa. Branislav Ivanovic (10 shots inside the box so far), Cesc Fabregas (18 chances created) and Diego Costa (eight big chances) all look the perfect combination of form and fixture against Paul Lambert’s side.

A couple of Southampton players also make the cut. Ronald Koeman’s side have afforded opponents a mere 19 efforts inside the box – lower than any side – and that convinces me to bring in Ryan Bertrand. Graziano Pelle also comes in on the back of three goals and an assist in the last three.

Elsewhere in defence, West Brom’s Ben Foster faces a Burnley side without a goal in three matches, whilst Vincent Kompany travels to Hull – the team with the least number of close-range attempts this term.

Further up the park, the form of Raheem Sterling and Angel di Maria cannot be overlooked. Sterling, in particular, looks a strong shout against Everton’s porous defence – his 10 shots in the box and seven on target is top amongst midfielders. I’ve taken the advice of our Captain Sensible article for my final two picks, bringing in Jason Puncheon as Palace square up to Leicester’s dodgy defence and selecting Danny Welbeck due to Arsenal’s attacking form ahead of the north London derby.

The Scores So Far

In a low scoring Gameweek 5 , Mark led the way on 52 points thanks to key differentials Romelu Lukaku and Steven Caulker. I picked up 49 points, whilst The Community – as managed by Doosra – pipped Jonty to third by 41 points to 40. This means that after five rounds of fixtures, I have 281 points, Mark has 262, Jonty has 240 and The Community has 236.

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1,881 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ronny Hotdog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Dzeko for this gw?

    1. schwankez
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      He's in form and Aguero always an injury doubt with glass hamstrings.

  2. golly28
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Need help with defence. Would help massively if you can pick ure 3 choices from the below.

    Heaton (WBA away) in goal then

    A) Chambers (Spurs)
    B) Pieters (New)
    C) Wisdom (Bur)
    D) Wilson (New)
    E) Duff (WBA)

    Currently have A, B, C but not sure whether to double up on Stoke or burnley...

    1. schwankez
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      BCD

      Think Stoke are sturdy compared to ARS in a derby, BRN have been solid but like stability at Stoke.

  3. Fudgemeister
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Worth a -4 hit to go Balotelli and Eriksen > Pelle and ADM?

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I think yes

    2. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      yes.....definately!!

  4. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?

    Krul
    Clyne Ivanovic Wilson
    ADM Sterling Siggy Tadic Fabregas
    Costa Adebayor

    4m Duff Naismith Hutton
    1FT 1.4m

    Should I save for 2 next week?

    1. schwankez
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      G2G - might change Nai and Duff in sub order. Second keeper might be on the cards for a trade next time

  5. ralfb
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Should i play duff or wisdom, or both and bench siggi?

    1. Sammy
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Don't bench siggy.. Play duff.. That's what I'm doing!

      1. ralfb
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks, was what i had first until i started thinking about it

  6. KeepCalm
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    play wisdom or chambers or both and bench henderson/siggy?

  7. okiwatevs
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Welbz or Pellé?

    1. schwankez
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Flip a coin, Pelle just

  8. schwankez
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Play Schneid or Naismith?

    Mannone (Krul)
    Zab/Clyne/Wisd
    Sigg/Fab/ADM//Sterlo
    Nai/Costa(c)/Rooney

    Sub: Schneiderlin/Moore/Vlaar

    Thoughts appreciated, thinking ADM skipper......

    1. THE DOS
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Schneiderlien with the easy fixture and in good form

      1. schwankez
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers - in good nick!

  9. garretts83
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I'm on a WC, and am down to this choice...

    Pelle' / Herrera (Doesnt look nailed for every week a full 90)

    or

    Welbeck / Mane' (punt, but looks to be a major threat this season once nailed)

    Also have Clyne and Forster so am down to only 1 more Southampton player or I may consider Pelle' AND Mane'.

    Thoughts?

  10. THE DOS
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    A) aguero
    B) welbeck
    C) falcao
    D) Rooney
    E) balotelli (could step up in the derby)

    At the moment I have aguero but wondering whether it is worth a switch?

    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      To bring in this week?

  11. zzquack
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Should i transfer out moreno for clyne for -4?

    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      No only for free

      Don't like -4 for a defender never pays off for me but may work for you 🙂

  12. Bullet Tooth Bony
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Heaton
    Wisdom - Taylor - Van Aanholt
    Siggy - Herrera - Ramsey - Hazard
    Rooney - Aguero - Costa

    Mannone -- King - Duff - Moore

    1ft

    Good to go?

  13. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    FIFA 15 question

    I have FIFA 14 on my Xbox and I don't play ultimate team and just have online matches v mates and sometimes play seasons online.....is it worth paying £40 for me to upgrade???

  14. Rossages
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Should I have dropped Adebayor for another defender?

    Forster
    Moreno clichy aanholt wisdom
    Siggy ADM Sterling Mirallas Ramsey
    Costa (c)

    GK Adebayor Zarate Hutton

  15. jamichael
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Between Costa, Aguero and Rooney...who should be given the armband? Thanks

    1. Rossages
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Costa in my opinion

  16. thesilkworm
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Which of my cheap defenders should I go with this week:

    Duff (BUR) - WBA (a)
    Taylor (SWA) - SUN (a)
    Moore (LEI) - CRY (a)

  17. The Grey Man
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    zaha or siggy