Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Gameweek 22 – Sunday

Wayne Rooney maintains his fine scoring form by bagging United’s winner at Anfield. Stoke and Arsenal play out a goalless draw at the Britannia, with Mesut Ozil missing out due to a minor foot problem.

Rooney Wins it for Red Devils

Courtesy of Wayne Rooney’s fourth league goal in three outings, Manchester United edged past Liverpool at Anfield, putting them right back in contention for a Champions League berth. The Red Devils legend – who surpassed Thierry Henry (175) as the top scorer for a single club (176) in the Premier League – is enjoying a resurgence of late and with 33 FPL points over the last trio of fixtures, has emerged as a viable differential at the 9.9 mark ahead of back-to-back home ties (SOU, STO).

Marouane Fellaini turned provider for his second assist in as many starts but remains on the periphery of our thinking. In light of Juan Mata’s absence of form (no attacking returns since Gameweek 12), we’re still searching for an attractive route into Man United’s lacklustre midfield – indeed, the Spaniard was reduced to sub duties for the second match in succession as Jesse Lingard (4.2) kept his role on the flank.

United’s trip to Merseyside yielded their 11th clean sheet of the campaign – more than any other side. Given the surfeit of injured defenders at the club, Chris Smalling represents the only secure route into their rearguard. Although he carries a prohibitive price tag (6.7), match-ups against Southampton, Stoke and Sunderland harbour strong shut-out potential over the next four Gameweeks.

Klopp’s Men Stutter Again

Defeat at the hands of Man United means that Liverpool lay claim to just two wins across their previous six outings, with inconsistency at both ends making it hard to pinpoint any tantalising pick-ups among Jurgen Klopp’s squad. Certainly, the Reds are suffering from a dreadful shot-conversion rate (4.2% since Gameweek 17) that stems from their lack of a consistent presence up front. That being said, their favourable batch of upcoming fixtures (nor, lei, SUN, avl) could reward those Fantasy managers who take a punt on the likes of Roberto Firmino, if the Brazilian can rediscover the form that served up a brace against Arsenal last Wednesday.

Ozil Absence Blunts Gunners

Mesut Ozil’s omission from the matchday squad was the chief talking point prior to Arsenal’s 0-0 draw against Stoke City. The Germany international had an inflamed foot but is expected to be passed fit for the Gunners’ home tie against Chelsea next Sunday.

Arsenal struggled to carve open the hosts’ organised back line in the absence of their midfield orchestrator – notching 14 fewer key passes than Newcastle United (20) this Gameweek – but did manage to secure their third clean sheet in four matches. Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal and Laurent Koscielny all serve as alluring routes into a defence that enjoys three home encounters over the next four Gameweeks (CHE, SOU, bou, LEI).

Another shut-out for Potters

The Potters chalked up six more attempts (14 compared to eight) and double Arsenal’s tally of shots on target (six to three) but ultimately failed to muster a single big chance without the injured Xherdan Shaqiri pulling the strings. Nonetheless, Jack Butland’s 24% ownership profited from the Staffordshire outfit’s first clean sheet in four fixtures. Given that Stoke have accrued the joint-second-most clean sheets on the road (five), they’ll fancy their chances of rebuffing Leicester City’s misfiring attack (two goals in five) next Gameweek, whilst upcoming trips to United and Bournemouth won’t hold much fear in light of their defensive form.

1,055 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Scotty B
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Kane or Rooney?

    1. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      They're basically the same so I'd go for kane although I shipped him out

  2. new article
    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      😉

  3. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    I might just get in Targett to free up some extra funds for a rainy day... who's with me?

    1. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I used targett to fit agüero on my team for my wildcard

    2. Sendmelentils
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I've had him since week 3. He's dropped in price 400k since then. I just wish I'd played him the last 2weeks

      1. Ten Season Wonder
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        3.7 is a crazy low price. I too had him at the start, but when Berty was fit again, I shipped him.

    3. Licious Lizard
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Really thinking about it to fund Sanchez in a few weeks. But if my defence is going to fund Sanchez it will be Crewel, Fonte, Moreno, Daniels and Target and that is weak :/

  4. Ando
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Play 3 defenders from this lot:

    a) Toby (cry)

    b) Monreal (CHE)

    c) Moreno (nor)

    d) Evans (AVL)

    e) PvA (BOU)

    Currently on Toby, Moreno and Evans.

    1. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah, what you have or maybe PvA instead of Moreno if you're feeling lucky

    2. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Monreal, Toby and evans

  5. HammersFan
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Potential wc team, how do I look?

    Butland
    Alderweireld Azpi/Baines Daniels
    Sanchez Payet Firmino Deulofeu
    Aguero Kane Rooney

    Rudd PvA Targett Alli

    Out the door is:

    Kdb (8 blanks in last 11)
    Mahrez (seems tired and off form)
    Ighalo (striker options competitive)
    Ivan (Azpi similar returns but cheaper, or Baines)
    Henn & Ward (Palace on the slide)
    Simpson (Targett cheaper, save cash)
    Ozil (risky but prefer Sanchez)

    1. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      This looks great and is a refreshing change fro all the template teams.

      for the record... Mahrez has blanked in last 5 GWs

    2. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Maybe a bit too punty if you ask Jonty 🙂

      Firmino is getting minutes up front theses days so he is a great diff imo.

      Not sure about Deulofeu. I'd prefer someone else

    3. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Keep KDB so when Sànchez comes back, you can do a straight swap. Although Hes blanking, he's playing well and is constantly passing to ball to others because he's not selfish. V annoying for FPL but he'll come clean. Keep a palace defender (e.g ward). They would have got a CS vs villa if it wasn't for Hennessy, they got v good fixtures coming up. I'm keeping ighalo for one more game vs newcastle then I'm getting Giroud. And for the love of God, keep Ozil!! He's the best player in the prem, will break record for assists in a season for sure. Forget liverpool unless they end up having double game weeks

      1. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Liverpool are way too inconsistent

    4. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I would not go roo, 1 shot per game for a club leading to goals consisitently just can't keep this up

    5. Mr Alex
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      I'm not sure if Deulofeu is nailed.

  6. Vincent Adultman
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Does anybody have some defensive rankings i can import to the season ticker?

    Cheers

  7. Samwise the Brave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Questions for members, may be a bit stupid but I can't figure it out
    Is there a way to sort by more than one criteria?

  8. Only God forgives
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Moderators league table ?

  9. JOELIO8701
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Hi guys/gals - thoughts on the below team? I've taken a (-) 4 to get Baines and Barkley in for Ozil and Wollscheid. Think I might have got this one slightly wrong :S.

    Butland
    Sagna, Toby A, Moreno, Baines
    Mahrez, Alli, Barkley
    Aguero (C), Kane, Costa

    Bench: Henny, Antonio, Ward, Morrison (inj).

    G/W 24: looking to swap Costa for Lukaku

    G/W 25: (-) 4 swapping Sagna for Van Dijk, Barkley for Sanchez (want him to have a couple of games before paying 10.8m).

    Thoughts? Go to town - I have no ego... money is on the line haha.

  10. Sylas
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    What would you do with this lot?

    Butland (Cech) ---> I know they're expensive goalies to have

    Simpson Toby Dawson (Dann, Wolly)

    Payet Mahrez KDB Alli Ozil

    Kane Kun (Deeney)

    1 FT & 0.4 ITB

    Is the bench order GTG?

    A> Dann to Moreno/Anyone else?
    B> Save?
    C> Anything else

    Thank you!