Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Pre-Season

A loss for Chelsea, mayhem for Spurs and wins for Brighton and Burnley as the pre-season warm-ups return.

Stoke City are dulled by the Blades, however, despite the best efforts of Xherdan Shaqiri.

Here are the notes from Tuesday’s action…

Chelsea 2 Bayern Munich 3

Goals from Marcos Alonso and Michy Batshuayi took some of the sting out of a first pre-season loss for Chelsea as new striker Alvaro Morata made his debut.

The Spaniard claimed the assist for Batshuayi’s goal, flicking on a Cesc Fabregas corner, as the Blues belatedly recovered from being three down just before the break.

In an otherwise poor defensive display from the champions, Alonso’s goal, set up by Victor Moses, would have at least been heartening for the 13.9% of Fantasy Premier League managers with a chunky 7.0 tied up in the defender.

If the Spaniard is to deliver on his premium price this season, he’ll need to come close to replicating last year’s stellar campaign that harvested six goals, provided five assists and kept 15 clean sheets.

His performance against Bayern hinted at exactly that, although there were some uncharacteristic frailties on display at the back, with Thibaut Courtois and Cesar Azpilicueta particularly unconvincing as the Germans took control of the match.

Chelsea will not face many teams as potent as Bayern, however.

Young attacker Jeremie Boga again stood in for Pedro as he recovers from his almighty collision with Arsenal’s David Ospina, while Andreas Christensen played for just over an hour at the heart of Chelsea’s frequently troubled defence.

After breezing past the Gunners, this was a major reality check for Chelsea, with the 11.1%-owned Morata’s assist one of the few positives to emerge.

Chelsea XI: Courtois (Eduardo 74); Azpilicueta, Christensen (Luiz 63), Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas (Pasalic 86), Alonso (Tomori 74); Willian, Batshuayi (Baker 86), Boga (Morata 63).
Subs not used: Caballero, Bulka, Kalas, Clarke-Salter, Scott, Remy.

Tottenham Hotspur 2 Roma 3

Another day, another high-scoring match for Spurs, but this time they were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller won at the death by rivals Roma.

Late strikes from Harry Winks, from a Vincent Janssen rebound, and then Janssen himself, who swept home a Georges-Kevin Nkoudou cross, brought Spurs back from a two-goal deficit.

But the Italians had the last laugh in a match most notable for a wretched refereeing display from Hilario Grajeda.

The American official gave Roma a contentious penalty, denied Spurs what looked like a clear spot-kick of their own, watched a mini-brawl break out among the players and then tried, and completely failed, to send off Spurs coach Miguel D’Agostino.

Other than that, he had a great night.

Mauricio Pochettino mixed and matched, using three at the back in the first-half and a flat back four after the break, with key players such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld given the full 90 minutes. Youngster Josh Onomah was utilised in a central support role.

But the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market – chairman Daniel Levy going public with his belief that rivals’ spending is ‘unsustainable’ – and worries over the effect playing home matches at Wembley will have on the side have combined to dampen interest in Spurs stars.

Alli (38.0%) and Kane (34.1%) are highly popular FPL choices, but just four other team-mates make it into double figures for ownership.

By contrast, Chelsea have eight assets owned by at least 10% of FPL managers, with two injured players – Pedro and Eden Hazard – likely to join them once fit.

Spurs XI First half: Vorm; Carter-Vickers, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Trippier, Dier, Dembele, Walker-Peters; Onomah, Alli; Kane.

Spurs XI Second half: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Winks, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Georgiou; Kane.

Southend 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 3

Solly March made it three goals in two matches for Brighton as Chris Hughton’s men again gave lower league opposition short shrift.

The midfielder scored twice, and veteran striker Glenn Murray added a third, while new Chelsea loan signing Izzy Brown was thrown straight into the side and earned post-match praise from his boss for his versatility.

“Izzy can play on either flank, but we know he can play off the front as well. Eventually, he could play as a number nine, but I don’t see him as a nine, I see him as one that is going to play off a front man or in a wide area.”

Assists came from Liam Rosenior, Markus Suttner and Murray.

Hughton chose to rest a number of first-teamers ahead of another pre-season run-out, on Saturday, against Norwich City.

It’s also worth noting that centre-back Uwe Huenemeier – priced at 4.0 in FPL and owned by 8.4% – played the full 90 minutes alongside Lewis Dunk in the heart of defence.

Brighton XI: Maenpaa; Rosenior (Cox 63), Huenemeier, Dunk (Tilley 82), Suttner (White 63); March (Molumby 82), Sidwell (LuaLua 63), Stephens (Dallison 82), Brown (Ince 63); Gross (Towell 82); Murray (Connelly 71).

Preston North End 1 Burnley 2

Robbie Brady was at the heart of Burnley’s win over Lancashire rivals Preston, with the goals coming from Jonathan Walters and Sam Vokes.

The Irish midfielder’s set-piece skills were a threat throughout.

His free-kick found Tom Anderson, who headed across goal for Walters to score, before the fit-again Vokes hit the winner, applying the slightest of touches to a Kevin Long header, again from a Brady dead-ball delivery.

Manager Sean Dyche’s latest buy, the experienced full-back Phil Bardsley, took no part in the match, but most of the Clarets’ first-team squad gained more valuable pitch-time.

Walters now has two goals and an assist since joining the club, while the productive Brady has returned a goal and assist.

But FPL interest in Burnley players remains low in light of the club’s tough start to the season – they travel to Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and Everton over the first seven Gameweeks – and only Tom Heaton and Ben Mee enjoy notable ownership.

Burnley XI: Heaton (Pope, 46); Lowton (C Long 81), Taylor (Ward 71), Anderson, K Long (Mee 64); Brady (Barnes 71), Gudmundsson (Ulvestad 75), Westwood (Defour 64), Cork (Hendrick 64); Walters (Agyei 81), Vokes (Gray 81).

Sheffield United 2 Stoke City 1

Xherdan Shaqiri was on the scoresheet for Stoke City as Kurt Zouma’s debut for the club ended in defeat.

The Swiss international combined with Ramadan Sobhi to level for the Potters before a late goal gave the hosts the win.

Chelsea loanee Zouma played the first half alongside Ryan Shawcross at the centre of the Stoke defence, but it was Shaqiri who caught the eye as he looks to take on more attacking responsibility following the sale of Marko Arnautovic to West Ham.

Elsewhere, defender Geoff Cameron was used in midfield for the first half, allowing Joe Allen to play in a more attacking role, before Hughes shuffled his pack after the break.

It should also be noted that Bardsley’s departure to Burnley seemingly cements Glen Johnson’s start at right-back or right wing-back; like Cameron, he is available as a 4.5 Stoke defender in FPL.

Stoke City XI: Grant; Johnson (Edwards 69), Pieters (Tymon 69) Shawcross (Muniesa 80), Zouma (Crouch 46); Fletcher (Adam 80) Cameron (Wollscheid 80); Shaqiri (Diouf 73), Allen (Imbula 80), Ramadan; Berahino (Bojan 73).

Keep up to date with all the summer action with our Pre-Season Guide available here.

1,953 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pirlø's Pen
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Any saints around?

    Do we reckon JWP will be a consistent starter? Surely he has earned a spot.

  2. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Forster Elliot
    Cedric Kompany Trippier Hegazi Rosenior
    X X KDB Willian Tarroll
    Kane Kaku Austin

    Two midfielders for 14.0?

  3. Pope_marmalade
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Any comments would be greatly appreciated !!!

    Foster

    Trippier - Cedric - Naughton

    Coutinho - KDB - Willian - Philips

    Kane - Kun - Hernandez

    Subs : Elliot - Cheek - Francis - Cameron

    conflicted about Kane in wembley and KDB being the possible victim of rotation. Should alli be in there ?

    1. Pirlø's Pen
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      My team is very very similar, in fact the front 7 are exactly the same at the moment. I have a different defence though. No real changes needed.

    2. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I'm going Aguero instead... Kane virtually playing away every week...

      City are gonna be unreal this year! Plus the team is more balanced without him or Sanchez black-holing all the funds

  4. poidlolo
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    My third forward is vardy...trying to make different...2 more slot is lukaku and aguero...im on fire.....come on vardy

  5. joeynse99
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    RMT
    Foster (Hart)
    Cédric, Trippy, Daniels (Löwe/Hünemeier)
    Salah, Willian, Pogba, Eriksen (Carroll)
    Jesus, Lukaku, Chicharito

    Any thoughts?

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Looks class! Well done! Maybe Rooney gw1 then transfer in chica from gw2 ? .....

      1. joeynse99
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Will struggle for the extra 0.5 unless I downgrade hard to a 4.0 keeper

  6. joeynse99
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    RMT
    Foster (Hart)
    Cédric, Trippy, Daniels (Löwe/Hünemeier)
    Salah, Willian, Pogba, Eriksen (Carroll)
    Jesus, Lukaku, Chicharito

    Any thoughts??

  7. IWR
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Not seeing much love for Alli around here.

    I still have both he and Kane.

    1. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I think Eriksen and Kane are more likely to get a similar tally of goals/assists as in the last season, Alli scored 18 goals as a mid, I think that's pretty unrealistic to keep up.

  8. Mavericks
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Hey guys,
    new user but have been a showreader for the last two seasons. Like most of you im also changing my midfield atleast 12 times a day.

    My team is currently:

    Begovic/Hart
    Trippier, Bertand, Cedric, Hanley, Bellerin
    Phillips, Pogba, Alli, Willian, Zaha
    Lukaku, Firmino. Rooney

    Any thougths?
    Thanks!

    1. Johnny Leghorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Good team. A few bucks on keepers. And Im not a fan of no City or Arsenal in attack as they are usually the most attacking teams.
      I'd swap Pogba or Kaku for City or Arse.

  9. crazyyapper
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    alli or eriksen?

  10. Pirlø's Pen
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    A. Alonso JWP

    B. Bertrand Willian

    Trying to decide how to have my Chelsea and Southampton cover.

  11. GrantX
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Any thoughts on this -

    (Gk)Elliot / Hart
    (Def) Simpson / Cedric / Mee / Robertson / Trippier
    (Mid) Coutinho / Carroll / Alli / KDB / Ramsey
    (Fwd) Lukaku / Morata / Abrahams

  12. bejzu
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    I know this sounds funny. Jesus nailed?

  13. unamused_guy
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    What do you guys think of this?
    Pickford
    Daniels Keane Bertrand
    Ramsey Sane Pogba Coutinho
    Lacazette Lukaku Chicharito

    (Nordfeltd-Wanyama-Mee-Rangel)

  14. Suttus
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Got 14m for a Def and a mid and 3 possible combos;
    A: Ake & Coutinho
    B: Kolasinac & Pogba
    C: 4.5 Def & Alli

    Appreciate your thoughts.