The Scout Squad – Gameweek 37

The biggest double Gameweek of the season, in which ten sides play twice, is almost upon us to make this Friday’s Scout Picks one of the most significant of the campaign.

This Scout Squad article aims to give a greater insight into the decision-making process behind Friday’s final selection, as Mark, Paul and I list the 18 players we think have the best chance of success across the four positions, listed in rank order.

The discussions and disagreements that will take place behind the scenes are then showcased as each of us looks to back our players for a place in the Scout Picks, as well as our Spot the Differential articles.

Finally, we will also reveal the Community Champion who has been selected by our lottery to represent the community and be in with a chance of winning a £100 Amazon voucher.

Goalkeepers

Value, strong fixtures and security of starts should ensure that Willy Caballero (4.7) claims our goalkeeper spot in this Friday’s picks. Cemented between the sticks for the remainder of the season due to a long term injury to Claudio Bravo, he is our universal top choice.

A shut-out, against Crystal Palace last weekend demonstrates recent form and with home ties against Leicester City then West Brom in Gameweek 37, he looks to have the fixtures as well.

The Baggies encounter probably offers the greatest chance of earning clean sheet points, given that Tony Pulis’ troops have only scored in one of their last six matches. The Foxes have hit ten goals over the same period, but if Caballero’s net is breached, the 2.5%-owned Argentine should at least accrue save points against a lively Leicester.

Petr Cech (5.3), with three nods and second billing from Mark and myself, could oust the City custodian as the Gunners stopper prepares to visit Stoke City and host a Sunderland side that have only scored in two matches since Gameweek 24.

But as we search for value at the back to shoehorn 11 players into our 84m budget, the Czech’s higher price tag is likely to see him miss out.

A 16-point haul, on the back of a clean sheet and penalty save against Liverpool at the weekend, keeps Fraser Forster (5.0) in the reckoning.

He has a strong pair of matches to further his cause. Southampton are away to an already-relegated Middlesbrough side that has scored just four goals in their last six, and then home to Manchester United who have Europa Cup glory on their minds.

However, with a solitary vote from Mark and cheaper options in the Saints rearguard, he will be lucky to survive the cut.

Should we need to find even more savings in goal, Jordan Pickford’s selection, by Paul and myself, could come in handy.

The 4.2-priced Sunderland stopper has racked up 10 saves in his last two run-outs and picked up bonus and clean sheet points away to Hull City at the weekend. For his two matches, a trip to Arsenal looks prime for further save points, with a shut-out possible at home to a desperate Swansea City, who have scored just once and lost three of their last four road trips.

Defenders

Our defender choices are also dominated by double Gameweek assets, with Arsenal’s pair of favourable fixtures seeing one of Arsene Wenger’s charges primed for selection this Friday.

Nacho Monreal (5.8) now looks to be the front-runner, with nine consecutive starts going into tonight’s final Gameweek 36 fixture away to Southampton. A 12-point return in Gameweek 34 against Leicester City, on the back of an assist, maximum bonus and clean sheet points has attracted Mark and Paul’s attention. I’m happy to endorse his inclusion, but have included Laurent Koscielny (6.1) as another option in the hope he can recover from a knock picked up in the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat of Manchester United on Sunday.

Should Chelsea beat West Brom on Friday, the Blues will have secured the title and could rotate their players for their remaining two games. This has tempered mine and Mark’s  interest in Marcos Alonso (6.8) slightly, with both of us handing him second billing for a pair of fixtures that would ordinarily see him emerge as our top choice.

As well as strong clean sheet prospects against the Baggies, Chelsea’s second game, at home to a Watford side that last scored away from home in Gameweek 23, offers the chance of another shut-out should the 16.9%-owned Spaniard avoid the bench.

Paul is undeterred by the threat of rotation for that Hornets clash. He’s placed Alonso at the top, with the Spaniard’s sensational attacking form a key consideration. The wing-back’s strike against Middlesbrough was his sixth in a season that sees him currently ranked as FPL’s top defender with a total of 167 points. Over the last six Gameweeks, he has also registered nine shots – more than any other backline option.

A home tie against European-focused Manchester United offers the prospect of clean sheet points for Spurs and earns a third spot across the board for Jan Vertonghen (5.8). His security of starts may also see him prevail in Friday’s shakedown, although we are unsure whether the 7%-owned Belgian will earn us returns in Spurs’ second match, away to Leicester, given the Foxes’ strong attacking form.

One of Southampton’s bargain basement central defenders, Maya Yoshida (4.5), who is backed by Mark and myself, and Jack Stephens (4.2), who earns sponsorship from Paul, looks set for a place given the Saints’ strong fixtures.

Among our final rearguard choices, Mark is backing the attacking threat offered by West Brom’s Craig Dawson (4.8) to prosper over the Baggies’ two tough matches at home to Chelsea and away to Manchester City. The centre-back has found the net four times this campaign, most recently at the Turf Moor at the weekend.

Paul and I are also going for a dangerous defender. Leicester’s Robert Huth (5.0) earns our endorsement, with the 2.3%-owned towering German scoring twice in his last eight run-outs.

“Dawson has become Tony Pulis’ new weapon at set-pieces, relieving Gareth McAuley of his duties. Chris Brunt’s delivery and Dawson’s presence in the box has to be the Baggies key ploy to breaching the Chelsea backline and I can also see them causing major issues, even for an improved City defence” – Mark

Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne’s (10.4) top placing from all three of us makes him a shoo-in for selection ahead of City’s two home fixtures. The Belgian has come into form at exactly the right time for double Gameweek consideration, with two double-digit FPL points hauls in his last four and a Premier League record 18 assists this season. His opponents, Leicester and West Brom, have both shipped seven in their last six, strengthening his case further.

With 39,000+ new FPL managers, De Bruyne is this week’s top midfield transfer target.

Should we decide to double up on City players, Mark and Paul have put forward the 6.6%-owned Leroy Sane (7.7) for consideration. The German winger may have only registered a single double-digit haul all season, but his five shots, three of which were on target, against Crystal Palace at the weekend bodes well for returns.

Our confidence is clearly waning when it comes to Alexis Sanchez (11.6), who can only manage third place mentions from Paul and myself, although Mark has handed him a second rank selection.

Arsenal’s two attractive fixtures would ordinarily place the 27.6%-owned Chilean in top spot, but with only one goal in seven we are concerned the Gunners’ wing-back formation will continue to negate his potential.

The inclusion of one of Tottenham’s deadly midfield duo, Dele Alli (9.2) who I am backing, and Paul and Mark’s candidate, Christian Eriksen (8.9), relies on us understanding something statistics can’t quantify – motivation.

Should Chelsea win the title on Friday, Spurs will have second place secure and nothing more to play for in both their Gameweek 37 matches. We will have to consider carefully on Friday whether we believe Mauricio Pochettino’s side can muster the enthusiasm to perform given the likely end to their title aspirations.

As previously mentioned, we have to also factor in rotation among Chelsea’s assets should they beat West Brom. This has placed Cesc Fabregas (6.9), who has excelled when fielded but has struggled for starts, in Paul and my thoughts.

The 2.1%-owned differential has only started 11 league matches but has still managed to register as many assists and four goals over the season. We anticipate he will be afforded far more pitch-time as Antonio Conte looks to shuffle his pack with the title potentially in the bag and an FA Cup final to prepare for.

“Monday’s 12-point haul against Middlesbrough underlined Cesc Fabregas’ potential as a mid-price route into the Chelsea attack. I reckon that Antonio Conte will be keen to keep N’Golo Kante in storage for Wembley, allowing him to recover from a thigh problem. At just 6.9, the Spaniard has three double-figure hauls in his last six starts and could well be handed back-to-back first XI appearances against West Brom and Watford.” – Paul

Double Gameweek players don’t have it all their own way among our midfield selection, with Bournemouth’s Josh King (6.2) earning a mention from Mark and myself. A home fixture against a Burnley outfit that has shipped 33 on the road and the 19.7%-owned Norwegian’s record of scoring 12 in his last 15 shows he has the potential to outscore those with two matches.

Forwards

Our faith in Manchester City players spills over into our forward choices, with Gabriel Jesus (8.9) earning universal support plus first place from both Mark and myself.

Although the Brazilian only managed an assist in City’s 5-0 thrashing of Palace in Gameweek 36, his four goals and an assist in as many matches highlight his potential for strong returns. An injury-curtailed spell since joining in January hasn’t stopped him supplying two double-digit hauls across just five starts. Given that early impact, it is no surprise to see him at the summit of our Captain Poll and top of the transfers-in table – he’s attracted 69,000+ new FPL managers this week.

Paul and Mark are strongly backing Harry Kane (11.7) to find the motivation to score even if Spurs have to settle for second place. His attempt to win the Golden Boot – he is just three behind current leader Romelu Lukaku’s (10.2) 24-goal tally – should drive him on. I’ve handed the Tottenham talisman a fourth place mention as I think the home match against Manchester United is likely to see him score. But I think he will struggle to register returns away to Leicester, given his dip in form on the road. Just five of his 21 goals have come away from White Hart Lane this season.

“I’m not prepared to give up on Kane. Spurs are waving goodbye to White Hart Lane against Manchester United and that farewell, combined with the striker’s ongoing quest to dethrone Lukaku for the Golden Boot are persuasive factors. His home form is just too strong to ignore. Whether he can then follow up with goals at Leicester is another matter, but I’m keeping faith.” – Mark

Lukaku is another with strong home form, and his 16 Goodison Park strikes, plus a visit from that travel-sick Watford side, have prompted me to place him above his goalscoring rival.

Mark is also backing the Belgian, who has been ditched by 77,000+ managers this week.

Paul, however, is on his own in supporting Diego Costa (10.5), even though the Spaniard could be benched against Watford should the title be secured at The Hawthorns. The FPL transfer market is backing Paul’s selection, with 51,201 drafting him in this week.

“Although I’m overlooking Hazard in midfield, I feel there’s less chance of rotation for Diego Costa – Antonio Conte remains unconvinced by Michy Batshuayi and hasn’t started the Belgian once in the top-flight this term. Costa grabbed the winner against West Brom earlier in the season and could prove the difference once again for the title-chasers on Friday. Meanwhile, three goals in his last two at the Bridge suggests Watford have reason to be concerned if he’s unleashed from the off on Monday night.” – Paul

If Leicester can breach the Spurs rearguard which has conceded just two in their last six, and a Man City side that has shipped five over the same time frame, then Jamie Vardy (9.9) is likely to be involved. the 14.3%-owned striker has attacking returns in nine of his last ten and earns votes from all of us.

Elsewhere, mine and Paul’s selection of Jermain Defoe (7.5), and Mark’s sponsorship of Fernando Llorente (6.1), will battle it out for a third striker or bench role.

With relegation for Sunderland confirmed and the pressure off, Defoe scored his first goal since Gameweek 24 in the Black Cats’ 2-0 victory away to Hull. We anticipate more this Gameweek, particularly in the potential goal-fest at home to a Swansea City side still battling for Premier League survival.

With two goals in his last three, the Swans’ 6.1%-owned Spanish striker certainly has the form to reward Mark’s backing.

Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek will be QPRUTD, who is in his fourth campaign, with last season’s sensational finish of 421 his best to date.

The community champion who has the best lead over the Scouts during 2016/17 will win a £100 Amazon voucher (currently we can only offer Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com vouchers).

The current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33-point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.