With a certain Summer festival of football looming, 23-man squads are all the rage right now. That’s prompted yet another new regular, one which allows me to offer an early preview of Friday’s Scout Picks selection.
The Scout Squad will arrive every Wednesday, bringing you my earlyish thoughts on the week’s potential key players by means of a selection of players as a provisional squad for Friday’s Picks. Newcomers may yet make the cut and players will doubtless drop out following Friday’s team news, but it should give you a decent idea of players under consideration.
Just like the “On the Radar” articles, I thought I’d roll this one out early as a taster of things to come for next season, so here goes…
Gameweek 37 doesn’t make the Squad selection easy. Not only do Fantasy Managers have to consider the benefits of double fixture gameweek investment, we also have a fixture in the Liverpool vs Chelsea match-up; casting doubt over a good few heavy-hitters. Steel balls and conviction are required consider players from the Anfield encounter – it’s so difficult to plot how that one will go.
The Liverpool defence and Steven Gerrrard both have form but against a title-chasing Chelsea, it’s tough to see Rafa’s side holding firm at the back. Having said that, investment in Chelesa’s attacking players this week will be made with far less confidence. Statistics show that this fixture has produced under 2.5 goals in 23 of the last 31 meetings and the favourite results looks a narrow away win by a single goal margin, or a 1-1 draw – a result dreaded by Fantasy Managers.
Owners of Gerrard, Drogba, Lampard etc will likely hold on to their assets. New investment in those players is another matter however. That’s certainly reflected in the Scout Squad with no representation from either side.
With four teams lavished with double fixture gameweeks, it’s no surprise to see them represented heavily throughout. Defensively it’s Fulham with their two home fixtures which looks the most tempting, while in attacking terms both City and Spurs offer a big pull. That leaves Stoke, with their lack of ambition in attack and a defence pummelled by a 7-0 defeat at Chelsea, largely unfancied with a home fixture with Everton and a trip to Fulham.
Stoke are still represented in the squad, due to the fact that extra points from appearances makes their players a stronger proposition than those from sides with single fixtures. There’s also every chance that Tony Pulis will get a reaction to the Chelsea defeat with a performance against the Toffees. Only Matt Etherington threatens to flirt with Friday’s Scout Picks from an attacking perspective though.
Single fixture players will be unfashionable signings this week but the likes of Leighton Baines and Mikel Arteta remain strong options with Everton taking an unbeaten run of nine games to the Britannia. Birmingham’s plum fixture with Burnley has both Liam Ridgewell and Cameron Jerome under consideration; similarly Wigan’s attractive match-up with relegated Hull has Charles N’Zogbia and even Titus Bramble on the edge of a Scout Picks call-up. I never thought I’d see the day.
Goalkeepers
Mark Schwarzer (FUL), Asmir Begovic (STK), Heurelho Gomes (TOT)
Defenders
Liam Ridgewell (BIR), Brede Hangeland (FUL), Gareth Bale (TOT), Patrice Evra (MUN), Ryan Shawcross (STK), Martin Olsson (BLA), Titus Bramble (WIG), Leighton Baines (EVE)
Midielders
Luka Modric (TOT), Matt Etherington (STK), Charles N’Zogbia (WIG), Mikel Arteta (EVE), Adam Johnson (MCY), Zoltan Gera (FUL), Clint Dempsey (FUL), Nani (MUN)
Forwards
Jermain Defoe (TOT), Emmanuel Adebayor (MCY), Carlos Tevez (MCY), Cameron Jerome (BIR), Bobby Zamora (FUL)