Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Europa and Champions League – Wednesday

Manchester United cruise to victory while Leicester City somehow keep themselves in a tie of almost painful one-sidedness as the week’s European action continued…

Saint-Etienne 0 Manchester United 1 (0-4 on aggregate)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan steered United into the Europa League Round of 16 and then possibly limped out of EFL Cup final contention on a mostly drama-free night in France.

The Armenian put the tie to bed with a cute finish from a fine Juan Mata cross after 16 minutes, only to succumb to a hamstring problem nine minutes later that left Jose Mourinho in pessimistic mood post-match.

Responding to concerns over both Mkhitaryan and Michael Carrick, who was replaced by Bastian Schweinsteiger after 62 minutes, he said:

“(You) can be injured leaving your house, in the garden. There is always a risk. Not to have them both for the final is complicated. I don’t say they are definitely out. I just say what I feel. Hamstring or calf, I always think three days is no time.”

The French were unlucky to be three down after a fine performance at Old Trafford, but United were good value for their second-leg win, keeping the hosts at arm’s length despite playing the final 30 minutes with ten men when Eric Bailly picked up two yellow cards in quick succession.

Mkhitaryan has started the last seven matches in the league, gaining around 40,000 Fantasy managers in the process. But he’s only managed one goal and an assist in that time – and they both came in the 3-0 win at Leicester City.

Interest in United midfielders has been lukewarm for much of the season. Only Paul Pogba (9.2%) has a significant ownership base, whereas four defenders have at least 5.0% of FPL managers backing them, and David de Gea enjoys 33.8% support.

The fact remains, however, that United’s continued tilt at four competitions is compromising their players’ attractiveness as Fantasy assets.

With blanks in two of the next three Gameweeks and at least three matches – an FA Cup quarter-final and two Europa League Round of 16 ties – before the Gameweek 29 trip to Middlesbrough, there is little short-term Fantasy joy to be had from their squad.

At least the 3.2% of managers with Mkhitaryan in their teams can gain some comfort from the fact he has until March 4 to recover from that hamstring injury and take his place in the Gameweek 27 side to face Bournemouth.

That plum fixture had presented Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a key captain pick. However, yesterday’s announcement of a potential double Gameweek for Manchester City has now likely switched our priorities.

Many FPL managers will now be targeting a City asset for Gameweek 27 – most likely Sergio Aguero – reducing the need to retain Ibrahimovic as a captain choice for that round of matches. That will likely accelerate sales of the United striker ahead of Saturday’s deadline.

Manchester United XI: Romero, Young, Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Carrick (Schweinsteiger 62), Pogba, Fellaini, Mata (Rojo 64), Mkhitaryan (Rashford 25), Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: de Gea, Martial, Lingard, Valencia.

Sevilla 2 Leicester City 1

Jamie Vardy’s first goal in nine matches kept Leicester in a Champions League tie during which they mostly struggled to be even the second-best side.

The striker fired home from an excellent Danny Drinkwater cross to secure a barely-deserved away goal, but goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was the real Foxes’ hero on the night, saving a penalty and pulling off a string of fine stops to defy an utterly dominant Sevilla.

Claudio Ranieri made ten changes to the team that lost in the FA Cup at Millwall. Ahmed Musa was the only man to keep his place as the coach gambled on a 4-4-2 formation that was promptly over-run for the entirety of a wretched first-half.

Leicester only improved when Demarai Gray replaced Musa after the break, with the threat of the young winger, although sporadic, one of the few highlights of an increasingly woeful season.

The Foxes’ form – they’re on a run of five consecutive league defeats – and a fixture list that includes a Gameweek 28 blank while Arsenal are involved in the FA Cup quarter-finals makes their players unattractive Fantasy fodder.

Last season’s stand-out stars Vardy and Riyad Mahrez remain peripheral performers, the defence hasn’t kept a clean sheet since Gameweek 20 (and just two since Gameweek 7) and even a favourable five-match schedule from Gameweek 29 offers little prospect of points when a team is this badly out of kilter at both ends of the pitch.

Gray remains the one asset that could possibly turn the heads of FPL managers – should he finally cement a starting role.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Albrighton (Amartey 88), Drinkwater, Ndidi, Musa (Gray 58), Mahrez, Vardy.
Subs not used: Zieler, Chilwell, King, Amartey, Okazaki, Gray, Benalouane.

512 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Chicken-Mandy
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    any press conferences today?

  2. ANON.
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this plan? 1ft, 2.7 in the bank.
    Will probably do Ibra to Lukaku leaving me with:

    Heaton
    Alonso, Holebas, Evans
    Hazard, Mane, Eriksen, Phillips
    Costa, Lukaku, Carroll

    Pickford, Fletcher, Holgate, Mawson

    Planned transfers:
    GW27: Eriksen to Sterling/KDB or Costa to Aguero
    GW28: Sterling/KDB/Eriksen to Siggy leaving me 10 players including Holgate

    1. ANON.
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      And would you triple captain KDB/Sterling/Aguero?

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Good moves, but would'nt use tc

    2. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      You have options which is always nice.

      What about the following

      TW Caroll >>> Rondon
      GW27 Costa >>> Aguero
      GW28 Aguero >>> Lukaku

      And can plan to add a midfielder for GW28 also.

      1. ANON.
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        3 WBA already unfortunately

      2. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        TB plan is great but do Carroll to Niasse or Barnes instead

  3. TheTinman
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    The fact is if Kun plays 60mins in both games then Ibra needs an assist just to stay in touch.

    Difficult to justify not selling Zlatan when Kun is a far more explosive player

    1. Athletic Bilbo
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Zlatan is worth keeping though, Kun has poor fixtures up to gw32

    2. Pazdannavaro
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Zlatan has pens, no gametime risk and far better fixtures. Plus he is cheaper.
      Kun played one good game in months and can be rotated in one of the matches. Zlatan is still more safe cap option (no red card risk) 😉
      I think you can have both 🙂

      1. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Kun will play both PL games in week 27 (Nacho is no Jesus) IMO and he played that one fantastic game just days ago and he has a chip on his shoulder. A DGW to boot- he is the priority- or both if you can get them.

  4. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Step forward GW 26 Captain: Chris "Back to OOP" Brunt

    1. ANON.
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Evans to Brunt for a hit?

      1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        I give absolutely 0 guarantees that he will be OOP lol

    2. TheTinman
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Behave yourself

      1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Fair point however, locked and loaded now

    3. 824545201
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      I'm doing the same thing. I can smell a haul already.

      1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Between Brunt and Baines for me. Baines more likely to CS but Brunt looks set for an OOP return

        1. FPLtfs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Wow, I'm benching Baines :p

  5. Mr. O'Connell
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Any City defenders safe for the double? This is for a draft team as I wont be risking hits to get them in in FPL

    1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Your name is beast. I know the pain, though the thrill of his attacking raids were insane last year, such an under-FPL-achiever.

    2. I Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Don't think so. Stones at 4.7 looks the best option but I'm staying away from City defence. Would get Caballero if anything.

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        should have said price and hits are irrelevant as have unlimited FT and bank

  6. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Do we need both Sterling and Aguero for the potential double GW or is it better instead to bring in Aguero and Sigurdsson

    1. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      The later would leave me better prepared for GW28 if city were to go through

    2. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      I do not know... Will Aguero play both games? Pep rotation, you know, if he doesn't play then it's a very futile transfer to make... That much money spent, and then it's a very bad run from there, starting with the blank...

      1. Bruno Bruno!!
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        better to go with just sterling then?

        1. My Name Is Prince
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          I'm leaning that way, but I don't know, will obviously see how things unfold next week before GW27 deadline...

    3. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Personally feel more confident in the KDB & Sterling double with Pep the tinkererer as, I'd have to lose Lukaku or Ibra for Kun

    4. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Siggy.

      He can match Sterling's score over the 2 fixtures or even better it. Has better fixtures after GW28 too.

    5. seanysheep
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Aguero and siggy for me

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

      So the question is really:
      Who scores most:
      A: Siggy vs Burnley +4 points.
      B: Sterling vs Sunderland and Stoke.

      If you think A - just get Siggy.
      If you think B - get Sterling and swap for a hit after his DGW.

  7. My Name Is Prince
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Stones for DGW27, anyone? Great value for a Man City def, great player, great prospect, great goal in the CL, great everything!!! 😀

    1. MTPockets
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Great amnesia.

      • Ha.
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        He's not great at defending

      • rnrd
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        just bad defending however.
        This might not be such a detail for a center back by the way

    2. Ronny Hotdog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      What's all of this about a potential Man City double in GW27? Speculation?

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        All ifs and buts at the moment.

    3. Gashead9
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      2G? 1 FT & 4.1 ITB

      Jaku,
      Walker, Daniels, Mee, Coleman
      Mane, Alli, Eriksen, Phillips
      Lukaku (C), Barnes

      Foster - Stanislas, Ibra, Amat

    4. FIRMANHO
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Which WBA defender to get?

      1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Brunt by a country mile (Set pieces, goal scoring record and prospect of OOP)

      2. Taking the Mkhitaryan
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Brunt or mcauley

    5. Earn your Spurs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      This Man City possible DGW isn't worth getting too fussed about imo - followed by a blank and then Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in succession. I want to keep Kane, Costa, Lukaku throughout so the most I'll do if anything is a City midfielder

      Your thoughts please. I'll have Eriksen for GW26 and want Firm or Cout for GW28 (alongside Mane) so my options for GW27 are :-

      a> Keep Eriksen (EVE) no hit
      b> KDB (sun, STO) but -4
      c> Sterling (sun, STO) again -4

      What do you tihnk?

      thanks 🙂

      1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        I'm doing Sterling and KDB in for -4 then selling one for GW 28

      2. rnrd
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        I think he might not be worth doubling but you can't ignore the opportunity to captain a double gameweeker in my opinion.

    6. Parm
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Now that there is a DGW about selling Sánchez makes sense right?

      1. Toby Lerone
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Think selling him as Liverpool aren't blanking is more the reason

    7. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Playing Triple Capt on Aguero is a great chance to make up some ground on your rivals. Sure it's a risk but so is any DGW Captain. Loads won't even own him. Most of those who don't go with Aguero this time will go with Sanchez later, so then you captain Sanchez and minimise the risk as you will be guaranteed 2/3 of whatever triple cappers get. Get some nuts 😉

      1. Leaf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        This this & this

      2. Richd
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        And what if youre leading ?

        1. Wild Rover
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Better hope your rivals don't do it 😉

        2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Captain him, take two thirds of what the rivals get if they're ballsy enough to TC

      3. Numb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        No longer the option he was though, without pens and often deeper than Sterling and Sane.

        1. Kazza_
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          are we sure he's without pens

          did yaya take it becos jesus was playing?

        2. Wild Rover
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          It's a punt, but a punt with huge potential in relation to the risk imo

          1. Numb
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            But, to me Sanchez with a DGW has just as much an upside but less risk or downside.

            1. Wild Rover
              • 14 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              Not as much upside because most will tc him whereas Aguero will be a big diff with many not even owning him. If you capt Sanchez later the risk isn't that huge

    8. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Liverpool double (Coutinho + Firmino) or spread the risk and take Antonio instead of Firmino?

      1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Liverpool double. West hame have Chelsea up in 27

    9. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      If you could have only one of these 2 for the DGW?

      A) Aguero

      B) Sterling/Sane

      I feel having one is better than getting 2 and taking hits to transfer them out the following gameweek.

      Appreciate your thoughts!

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

        A for sure

      2. Wild Rover
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Taking a hit to get Aguero + one of B is well worth it imo

      3. wulfrunian
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        No matter what happened this year i think everyone knows this:
        We'll get Kun and we'll captain him!

    10. umerlfc
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      An early question. If City get the DGW, who should I take out in GW27 to get Sterling?

      A) Hazard - WHU(A), Blank, STO(A), CRY(H)
      B) Alli - EVE(H), Blank, SOU(H), BUR(A)

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

        B, Chelsea have easier fixtures

    11. Lone Wolf
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Would you keep Carroll or sell? Have 2FT so no problem but lookin for a striker with no blank in GW 28 (have Lukaku):

      a) Rondon
      b) Gray
      c) Llorente
      d) other up to 9.1?

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

        e) Niasse for a punt

      2. Toby Lerone
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        If I didn't have more pressing issues id be punting on niasse

      3. Athletic Bilbo
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Keep and monitor if you can cover the next two weeks. No standout contender. I have Barnes as cover in my 3-5-2, fairly happy to play him

    12. wulfrunian
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Good evening!
      Jacupovic Pickford
      Evans Coleman Brunt (Yoshida Ward)
      Eriksen Alli Siggy Stanislas (Sanchez)
      Lukaku Costa Barnes
      0ft 2.5itb

      a)Sanchez>Mane and gw27 Lukaku>Kun
      b)Sanchez>Snodgrass and gw27 Barnes>Kun (Barnes has a fixture in gw28)

      thanks

    13. Mr. O'Connell
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      GW26: Sanchez (blank) > Mane (lei)
      GW27: Lukaku (tot) + Eriksen (EVE) > Aguero (C) (STK,sun) + Sterling (STK,sun)
      GW28: marvel in the mess I've made

      Sound good?

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        on second thoughts, I may just lose Zlatan for Kun. As it provides an extra GW28 player in Lukaku and some funds for upgrades on Amat/Anichebe who are stinking up the joint

      2. Baz
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        I'm doing this but getting Siggy instead of Sterling. And in Gw28 just buy lukaku back for aguero for free

    14. Earn your Spurs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      The stats say Sterling is the best bet but if they're playing 2 games in a week is he less nailed-on than KDB?

    15. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      How many hits is it reasonable to risk for the Man City DGW27?

      Is -8 too much?

      1. wulfrunian
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        If you don't mind to sacrifice a player for gw28 then you can do it.I'll take -4 its worth for a dgw.

    16. FFPro
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      A) Mane(lei ARS)+Sterling(sun STK)+Kaku(tot)+8
      B) Siggy(che BUR)+Aguero(sun STK)*2

      Which scores the most points? Both end up with me having the same team in gw28

    17. weeurquahrt
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Is lukaku gonna make it this gameweek. Haven't heard anything ...

      1. Football Weekender
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Reports were he was always going to be fine, not heard anything to the contrary.

      2. Bruno Bruno!!
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        wait for the evertoon presser at 2pm i think

      3. Legomane
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Fingers crossed...(c)

    18. Legomane
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Heaton
      Alonso Coleman Holgate Smith
      Hazard Eriksen Alli Phillips
      Costa Lukaku

      (Pickford de Roon Pieters Ibra)

      I currently have 5x BGW players (+ 'Holgate') and 1x DGW player... The plan below gives me 3x DGW players and 8x BGW players at a cost of 4pts per week over the next 3wks. Thoughts appreciated - cheers!

      26. Holgate > Brunt (-4)
      27. Hazard & Costa > Sané & Aguero (-4)
      28. Sané & Alli > Firmino & Sigurdsson (-4)

    19. Football Weekender
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Heaton
      Alonso, Coleman, Brunt
      Mané, Alli, Sigurdsson, Barkley, Phillips
      Lukaku, Carroll

      Robinson, Chambers, A.Smith, Ibrahimović

      Not sure what's going on with Carroll at the moment - heard he was definitely out and now might be playing... should I just play it safe and start Chambers instead?

      1. Football Weekender
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        From Karanka's presser it sounds like Chambers might not make it either!

        Step forward Adam Smith.

      2. Legomane
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Depends how much ITB but probably worth holding Carroll if possible

        1. Football Weekender
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Yeah I'm not selling him. I'm just trying to decide who of Carroll, Chambers & A.Smith to start.

    20. Lone Wolf
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Heaton, Pickford*
      Cedric*, Coleman, Brunt, Friend*, Amat*
      Sanchez*,Hazard, Alli, Antonio, de Roon
      Kane, Lukaku, Carroll*

      a) Sanchez, Carroll > Mane, 9.1 striker (who)
      b) Cedric to Robertson now and Sanchez, Carroll >Aguero, 6.2 mid (who) next week

      1. wulfrunian
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        a) with Amat>Robertson?

    21. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Can find any combination of transfers that will help me field more than 7 players in GW28 baring in mind the potential double GW in 27 for city. Any suggestions would be greatful. Ideally dont want to take a hit.

      Planning Sanchez to Mane this week and then roll over my other FT for 27

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/338443/event/25

    22. Mark-O
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Ake now priced at 3.9

      Wow what a big plunge

    23. I Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Which 3 City assets would you rather have in DGW27?

      A) Aguero, Sterling, Sane
      B) Aguero, Sterling, Stones
      C) Other

      1. diesel001
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Only 2: Aguero and Sterling.

      2. Taking the Mkhitaryan
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Aguero and sterling for me too

    24. Toby Lerone
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Its a shame Sanchez is blanking. Gives a lot of casuals an out to get kun in now