Scout Picks – Gameweek 12

It’s time to turn our attentions to Gameweek 12 of this season’s Scout Picks now, where every Friday, Mark, Jonty, a different member of the community and I 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.

Similarly to the last few Gameweeks, we’ve kept the budgets at 83.5 apiece for our starting line-ups. Our Scout Picks starting XI is a little over that price this week, due to the individual selections, but we’ve balanced that out with some cheap options on the bench.

The Community – managed by Maillot Jaune

Without a goal against in their last four league fixtures, Southampton’s Fraser Forster and Nathaniel Clyne double up in defence for Monday’s visit to Villa Park. Chelsea’s chances of a clean sheet look high and I’m hoping for bonus from Cesar Azpilicueta against West Brom at the Bridge. Goal-shy Burnley visit the Britannia with only two away goals all season, so I’m backing Geoff Cameron and Stoke to keep a clean sheet.

In midfield, we have Alexis Sánchez scoring goals for fun and mixing it with a creaking United defence, while Eden Hazard entertains the Baggies at the Bridge sitting on two double digits hauls so far this season. These two big hitters offer big potential and hopefully big points. Flanking that pair in a four-man midfield is Victor Moses at home to Burnley – he looks a good budget option with a goal and assist in his last two home appearances, whilst Stuart Downing’s goal threat of late earns his a place.

In attack, Charlie Austin comes up against a depleted Toon defence and sneaks in the back door to allow Diego Costa and Sergio Agüero to take their place in a formidable front line.

I would like to dedicate this to my friend and Fantasy Football rival John Dunn (FFScout username Sinpol1966) who sadly passed away earlier this year. RIP John.

Jonty

With just two goals on the road this season, I can’t see Burnley providing much threat to Stoke, which propels Asmir Begovic into my thinking. For Chelsea’s easy home match with West Brom, I’ve gone for Cesar Azpilicueta, who with 23.2 Bonus Point System points per 90 minutes is the best bet for bonus points among their back four.

Daryl Janmaat has quietly established himself as one of the best attacking defenders and has notched an impressive 27 points in his last four appearances. He faces a QPR side that has no clean sheets on the road and has conceded 14 goals away from Loftus Road. Completing my backline is Ryan Bertrand, who makes perhaps a final appearance before Southampton’s fixtures stiffen. A clean sheet looks likely against a Villa side with the lowest goal attempt total in the Premier League so far.

Given that a number of midfielders have already served up the points against West Brom this season, picking a Chelsea contender looks a must for me. I have enough this week for Eden Hazard, who according to my Goals Imminent table, is among those due to find the net. Alexis Sanchez versus Manchester United’s patchwork quilt of a defence looks too good an opportunity to turn down, while Victor Moses is another must for me after notching up a goal or assist in his last three home games. I’ve really got it in for Burnley this week and am taking a punt on Jonathan Walters, who has two goals and an assist in the last four Gameweeks.

Up front Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa covers me for this week’s two standout captain choices. In-form Charlie Austin earns a place as I feel QPR can score against a Newcastle side without injured skipper Fabricio Coloccini.

Mark

With so many yellow flags fluttering, this is a Gameweek which lends itself to a few punts. I’ve not gone crazy, however, with Chelsea, in particular, lending a strong spine to this week’s Picks.

At the back, I’ve gone with the dependable Southampton defence at Villa in the form of Ryan Bertrand, while my firm favourite, Branislav Ivanovic is again included for his shut-out potential and attacking verve at home to West Brom. I’ll take a risk with City’s Gael Clichy for the final spot – his form is pretty miserable but I think he’ll start and I can see Manuel Pellegrini’s side edging out Swansea and earning a rare clean sheet. Stoke’s Amir Begovic takes the keeper’s jersey – I’m not so confident in Stoke but the Bosnian should be good for a few saves at the very least should Burnley play up at the Britannia.

In midfield the gamble is clear – Wilfried Zaha is a player I’m itching to pick in my own squad so I’ve opted for him here. With Yannick Bolasie potentially fatigued after international exertions, I think Neil Warnock will turn to Zaha to torment a troubled Liverpool backline. Elsewhere, the likes of Dusan Tadic and Alexis Sanchez pick themselves, while Victor Moses is another favourite of mine, although, in his case, he has the form and fixture to justify my madness.

Up front, there’s few risks taken. I’ve stuck with the big two captain choices in Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa: I’m leaning towards the latter when it comes to armband. Tottenham’s Harry Kane takes the final place in my line-up – I can see him retaining his start and I just feel that, when given minutes, he’ll conjure a goal for Spurs in a hard-fought encounter with Hull at the KC Stadium.

Paul

In goal, Asmir Begovic squares up to a Burnley side that have scored in just one of their five away trips this term. I’ve opted to double up on the Southampton rearguard away to Villa – the hosts have scored a single goal in the last seven and now face the league’s toughest defence. With that in mind, Ryan Bertrand is joined by Toby Alderweireld, whilst Cesar Azplicueta comes in for Chelsea’s home clash with West Brom.

In midfield, Eden Hazard is looking for a third successive double-figure home haul this weekend and Alexis Sanchez has the form to tear apart United’s patched-up defence.

I’ve taken the advice of his week’s Captain Sensible article for three of my picks. Stoke, Southampton and Spurs have created plenty of big chances and face three of the most vulnerable backlines for big chances conceded – have delved into the data, I’ve plumped for Victor Moses, Sadio Mane and Harry Kane in order to accommodate my two big-hitters in the centre of the park. This also allows me to throw cash into my two remaining spots up front, with Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero getting the call for their enticing home clashes.

The Scores So Far

Myself and The Community (managed by Toon_Army_HTL) grabbed 74 points apiece in Gameweek 11, just one more than Jonty, whilst Mark’s XI earned 65 points. This means that after 11 rounds of fixtures, Jonty leads the way on 683 points, followed by Mark (669), myself (665) and The Community, on 561 points.