Scout Notes

The Stock Check – Gameweek 25 – Saturday

Sadio Mane breaks out of the Liverpool malaise. Alexis Sanchez “hands” us a reminder of his near essential status and Gareth McAuley benefits from the most fortuitous of goals to build on his reputation. Here’s the Stock Check following Saturday’s Gameweek 25 action…

On The Rise

Sadio Mane
A sparkling first half performance re-ignited Liverpool and again offered indication that the Senegalese could be the Reds’ midfield solution we’ve been seeking.

The brace against Spurs were his first goals at Anfield since Gameweek 11 – a surprising statistic for a player previously so strong in home matches.

His 16-point return was his biggest haul of the season and enough to see him top the transfers in table overnight.

However, while Liverpool currently face a fixture in Gameweek 26, the FA Cup could yet play havoc with Mane’s schedule.

This report states that, should Millwall take Leicester City to a replay in their fifth round tie next Saturday, Liverpool’s Gameweek 26 fixture could be in jeopardy due to a possible replay date.

Liverpool’s meet with the Foxes is scheduled for Monday February 27, with the Tuesday/Wednesday slot that week set the default date for any fifth round replays.

However, there are possible solutions that are omitted in the report.

Liverpool’s fixture could move back from Monday to Sunday February 26, although that would be subject to restrictions surrounding the broadcasting rights.

Secondly, any potential FA Cup replay could possibly be scheduled for the week beginning March 6, immediately prior to the Quarter Finals.

However, there are Champions League ties scheduled for that week. Leicester City play their second leg with Sevilla in the week of March 13, however, UEFA frown upon fixtures being played out in the same week as European matches – although there have been exceptions.

A third solution would be for the FA to move the potential replay date back to the Saturday prior to Gameweek 26, forcing Leicester to play two crucial matches in three days.

Of course, Mane could also face a blank in Gameweek 28 should Burnley progress to the last eight of the FA Cup by seeing off Lincoln City.

Clearly, there continue to be many unknowns surrounding the Premier League schedule. Holding fire on Mane and other investments until the conclusion of next weekend’s FA Cup ties looks a very wise move.

Alexis Sanchez
The Sanchez brace against Hull City was, undisputedly, less emphatic than Mane’s contribution. Fortune played it’s part in the opener, although the goal scored via his gloved hand followed several opportunities spurned, as the Chilean again stood out as Arsenal’s most potent threat.

Sanchez then benefited from a late spot-kick, having also converted in stoppage time against Burnley back in Gameweek 22.

That appeared to confirm his status as the designated taker behind Olivier Giroud and the injured Santi Cazorla – another major plus.

Arsene Wenger’s decision to keep Sanchez on the pitch, despite Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Bayern Munich, proved vital again, then.

You have to wonder if the Swansea City incident and press questioning following Sanchez’ reaction has made Wenger far more mindful of withdrawing his star man. Although, with Hull City providing testing opponents, arguably there was no question of preserving Sanchez on Saturday.

The Gunners and Sanchez now face a Gameweek 26 blank, with the threat of a further postponement to follow in Gameweek 28. Arsenal need to beat Sutton United in the FA Cup, or for Leicester City to see off Millwall, to confirm that blank.

Sanchez has therefore been subject to sales once again, with Mane and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard proving the most popular replacements thus far. His price will likely fall significantly over the next 21 days.

However, omitting Sanchez for the Gameweek 27 trip to Liverpool appears to be a major risk and, once the blanks are navigated, there are surely fewer assets seen as more “essential”.

Oumar Niasse, Lazar Markovic, Kamil Grosicki
While the Hull City trio failed to deliver returns at the Emirates, their performance in a spirited Hull City display nonetheless gave us renewed confidence on their potential.

Marco Silva’s side are one of six to present us with a guaranteed Gameweek 28 fixture and, while we’ve already begun weighing up their defensive options, Saturday’s display demonstrated that their attack could also offer us solutions.

Manalo Gabbiadini
A Gameweek 26 blank dampens any immediate enthusiasm, but there can be no doubt that Gabbiadini’s performance at Sunderland has put the Southampton striker firmly on the radar.

Two more goals, adding to his debut strike against West Ham last weekend, confirmed the Italian as a clear option once we have steered through the ensuing blanks.

The Saints’ run-in is, however, a mixed bag, without a sustained run of favourable opponents. But acquiring Gabbiadini for successive home matches with strugglers Bournemouth and Crystal Palace in Gameweeks 30 and 31 certainly appears to be a viable strategy.

Manuel Lanzini
The Argentine is at least one standout performer from Saturday’s events unaffected by missing fixtures.

West Ham offer us coverage in both Gameweek 26 and 28 and, while our attention is drawn to Michail Antonio and Robert Snodgrass, Lanzini is making moves to suggest he can provide an effective alternative and differential.

His returns in the 2-2 draw with West Brom took him to two goals and three assists from his last four Gameweek starts.

Sofiane Feghouli, priced at just 5.0, matched Lanzini’s goal and assist but is perhaps less secure as a Hammers option.

Gareth McAuley
Extremely fortuitous to benefit from a Jonny Evans header on goal, McAuley nonetheless has to be acknowledged for earning a fifth strike of the season and yet another from a West Brom corner.

Like Lanzini, he is an asset unaffected by the looming blanks and now faces very favourable home fixtures with Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.

McAuley appears to be an assured starter, while Chris Brunt, deprived of his assist as a result of yesterday’s decision on Evans’ header, could soon be part of a midfield selection puzzle.

Should Evans be restored to the Baggies central defence and Allan Nyom shifted to left-back, Brunt would then compete for starts with James Morrison and Nacer Chadli.

Both Morrison and Chadli came out of the London Stadium clash with returns, with the former providing the assist for Chadli’s goal. Morrison has now returned in three successive Gameweeks.

Calum Chambers
Once again deployed at right-back against Everton, the Arsenal loanee produced a third clean sheet in five starts and has now delivered bonus in four of his last five Gameweeks.

Middlesbrough are among the sides who could miss Gameweek 28, although Aitor Karanka’s men seem likely to field a weakened side against Oxford United in the fifth round so should not be written off as an available option just yet.

Seamus Coleman
Everton claimed a fourth clean sheet in six at the Riverside Stadium and, while Coleman failed to provide attacking returns this time out, he still remained a key figure.

The right-back claimed a bonus point thanks to four successful tackles, although he also attempted five crosses having received more passes in the attacking third than any other Toffees player.

In Decline

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
While the double-digit haul for Alexis Sanchez reinforced his reputation, Ibrahimovic failed to punish a Watford defence at Old Trafford to cast doubt on his mid-term future in our squads.

The assist for Anthony Martial’s goal provided some consolation for the 22% who trusted him with the armband and he has now returned a goal or an assist in ten of 13 Gameweeks.

However, like Sanchez, Ibrahimovic will suffer significant sales ahead of the Gameweek 26 blank and is perhaps likely to be identified as more disposable.

Despite peppering Watford’s goal, the Swede has produced a single strike in his last four Gameweeks and, depending on Saturday’s FA Cup results, could now struggle to see off claims from Romelu Lukaku, Diego Costa and Harry Kane for our forward slots once we emerge from the blank fixtures.

The Gameweek 27 Old Trafford meeting with Bournemouth is the one major factor in his favour.

Many Ibrahimovic owners will surely either hold or schedule his return for that match-up. However, having failed to score at home to both Hull City and Watford in his last two home outings, we should perhaps remain wary.

Matt Phillips
It would be folly to write off Phillips heading into two home fixtures with both Palace and Bournemouth. With an assured fixture for Gameweek 28, he remains a key asset for this period.

However, having failed to return a goal or an assist in previous five, clearly, there are question marks surrounding his output and we perhaps need to manage our expectations.

Arguably, Phillips came into this period having over delivered. His nine assists delivered up to Gameweek 20 had been produced from just 30 chances created: he matched Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne for assists during this spell, despite creating 50% fewer chances.

Regression was always likely.

However, while Chadli and Morrison remain options in the Baggies midfield, Phillips appears more secure and, despite the wobble, he’s an asset that should be held and considered for acquisition.

Andy Carroll
Unlike Phillips, the dent to Carroll’s stock is far more damaging.

Carroll has the fixtures to provide us with an option but, having failed to train ahead of Saturday’s West Brom encounter, he missed out.

Typically, the Hammers striker just cannot seem to overcome ongoing groin problems to offer us a degree of security. A player cursed by injury concerns throughout his career, it’s clear that we cannot invest with any real confidence.

Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli
With home fixtures with Stoke City and Everton to follow and missing assets to address, there is little need to reach for the panic button just yet.

Nonetheless, Spurs are now troubling us as a source of attacking points, having scored just a single goal in their last three Gameweeks.

That has damaged the reputation of their three principle options, who could all face a blank in Gameweek 28 should Mauricio Pochettino’s side see off Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Wilfried Zaha
While showing flashes, Zaha has failed to fire on his return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Having delivered three successive blanks over a spell of favourable fixtures, Zaha and Palace are now edging into a testing period in their schedule and with a Gameweek 28 blank a strong possibility, Zaha’s stock, along with that of long declining Christian Benteke, continues to fall.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

1,006 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Hoping Danny Rose is back by the time Spurs face Stoke/Everton.

    Really don't want to spend an extra transfer taking Eriksen out.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I would never have thought that losing a defender would have such a big impact on a teams performances

      Spurs are hopeless playing a back 4

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Son's the one that ruins it all.

        Destroys Alli who has to play deeper.

        He shoots really badly too and is selfish and shoots rather than passing to Kane etc.

        1. Spike ⚽️
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          You're spot on with that Son observation.

        2. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Yip headless chicken springs to mind when I watch him play

        3. ZeBestee
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          problem is they don't have squad depth and they have to rely on starting Son

          1. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            The should try Davies as a straight swap wingback

  2. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Which player to get rid of/bring in to take my team up to 11 for GW26? Thinking Pogba out, but who for?

    Foster
    Nyom - Alonso - Baines - Coleman
    Eriksen - De Roon - *Pogba*
    Lukaku - Benteke

    Heaton - Sanchez* - Ibra* - Jones*

    1FT, 0.2 ITB

    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Sorry, Phillips in midfield too

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      #waitforfacupmatches but you seem to be a player short anyway

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Gylfi

  3. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Need another big Marcos Alonso haul!

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Could do with Hazard blanking here. Only Alonso and Siggy today. Red incoming I fear

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        I have those two also, average team only has about 3 players left. I'm not too worried.

    2. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yes please, Uncle.

      1. The Wizard of Ozil
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        No thanks uncle.

  4. davies
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    I wish WBA had blank GW's so I could sell Phillips

    1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Sell him if you don't want him in your team.

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Me too. He's just rotting in my starting 11.

      Always more pressing issues so he'll be staying for a while 🙁

    3. fiveyears
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      To be fair to Phillips I think he's the sort of player who will get chances, especially at home. Set up a goal which was narrowly offside against Stoke I believe.

      Very frustrating to own at the moment but fancy him to get points in the next few weeks

    4. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Just sell him if you can think of someone better

  5. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    If you had ~11.5 for mid and def you will be palyin every week, would you rather go for Walker and Feghouli or maybe Chambers and Lanzini ?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Walker IMO. How about Markovic though?

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Maybe I should monitor, I would like do get rid of Phillips and Brunt after GW28 and need good replacements for my starting 11

  6. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Not sure there is any need to wait for the FA cup games to do Sanchez > Hazard... No way Sutton are winning that game, and no team that could realistically get knocked out has a better mid option than Hazard over the next two anyway.

  7. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso being interviewed on Sky Sports. He is going to smash it today now isn't he?

    1. Arceus
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      McAuley will steal his goal though.

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Bur 2 Che 0

    3. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      best scenario: Costa 2 goals assisted by Alonso. Hazard penalty save by Heaton.

  8. Point-one short
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A shut out, 9 saves and a pen save from Sir Tom, a lucky goal or two from Burnley and a brace from Siggy today would do nicely.

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      No goals for Siggy but happy if he gets red carded.

      1. Point-one short
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Boo-urns.

        1. ILOVEBAPS
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          😆

  9. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    if there is one main reason Chelsea are going to win the league it is simply because they have Kante. I know Conte has transformed them with his system but without Kante there is no way Chelsea would have been 9 points clear (12 if they win today) at this stage

    1. FPL Maldini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I think Alonso and the new system has helped too

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        yes Conte's playing him on wing back has helped but Kante should be given player of the year this season given how Leicester have been doing without him this season

  10. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Does anyone else have Fernandez (Swa def)?

    Not sure I've been the only person to own player before.

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      1.1% ownership 😎

    2. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      you are benching him anyway

  11. 1.7m
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    heaton jaku
    alonso mcaukey brunt haulage love
    sanchez siggy routledge fletcher stanislas
    kaku ibra kane

    ibra alexis->hazard costa -4?
    ibra->costa and keep alexis in the team
    any other suggestions??

  12. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    What should I do now?

    A) Stanislas out

    B) Phillips out

    C) keep both, they are nailed enough

    1. Squashed
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Keep for this coming gw.

    2. Point-one short
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Taking out phillips before the blanks seems odd. WBA have BOU, CRY, eve next three games... I'd do it after gw28 if he's not performing.

  13. b✪mber
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Hello all. Hoping for 2 Hazard goals and 2 assists (both to McAuley). Alonso glad McAuley can't steal his CS, but he'll have to share it with him non the less. 🙂

  14. Legomane
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    58(-4) with Heaton, Alonso and Costa to go.
    Heaton to save a haz pen would be good.

    1. Big_Andy_GAWA
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      ...and Costa follow up the rebound??

  15. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Best forward under 7.0 and not blanking?

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      McAuley.

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Surely you mean Evans 😉

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      If he comes back from injury, hands down Andy Carroll.

      If not, can't recommend Rondon...maybe Niasse @ Hull...he looks OK

      1. KUNingas
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah Carroll would be obvious if fit..

  16. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Had a dream that City won 16-0. Jesus got 6, Aguero 5.

    I can only assume Bournemouth have 6 players sent off after a mass intra-team brawl.

    1. McEwan
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I need KDB to assist them all to save my season!

  17. Manani
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    wait till the end of the week to do transfer or do it now??

  18. Ravager
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Foster (Jaku)
    Alonso Walker Funes
    Sanchez Eriksen Stanislas Phillips
    Costa Ibra Lukaku

    (Nyom, Allen, Amat)

    0.4 ITB 2 FT

    Preliminary suggestions anyone?

  19. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Are there any other players who have won the league with one player and won with another the FOLLOWING season?

    1. McEwan
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Ibra in different leagues. You talking just about premier league?

    2. McEwan
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Cheated a bit but Schwarzer did it on the other side of the leicster title without playing a game

  20. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Player interest today ? Gylfi Llorente and Costa for me - hope springs eternal

  21. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Apparently McAuley is on top of BAPS for this game already

  22. The Enlightener
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Thank you Pedro.

  23. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Beauty