Scout Notes – Gameweek 9 – Saturday

Pep Guardiola’s teamsheet overrides much of Saturday’s events as the top two most popular Fantasy signings hit the timber to return a single point between them. On the pitch, struggles for Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata meant it was a day of modest returns for many. Here’s the notes from Saturday’s events.

Rotation overshadows City victory

While Sergio Aguero equalled Manchester City’s goal scoring record and Leroy Sane sparkled once again, it was Pep Guardiola’s team selection that stole the headlines for Fantasy managers.

The City manager chose to rest both Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling to his bench, players who went into Gameweek 9 as two of the top three transfer targets.

As mentioned in last night’s Knee Jerk article, we must now attempt to decipher Guardiola’s intentions from this point on.

With a Champions League tie at Napoli looming – followed by a potential Premier League test with Arsenal – Guardiola’s teamsheet for the trip to West Brom in Gameweek 10 will be of keen interest.

We had once presumed that both Jesus and Aguero would be paired in attack but, with Sane and Sterling impressing with a consistent stream of goals, Guardiola clearly has the scope to rotate his two “central strikers”.

The current FPL market sums up the predicament. Aguero is the most bought asset currently, with Jesus the most sold. That trend could easily be reversed based on Guardiola’s Gameweek 10 selection.

City’s performance against Burnley should not be overlooked. Sane once again promoted his stock with an outstanding performance that brought a goal and assist and 10 points. The German starlet has now started the last four Gameweeks and produced three goals and four assists.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Otamendi emerged as City’s and the Gameweek’s top scorer with 15 points.

He exposed Burnley’s frailty at set-pieces to head his second goal of the season. Given that he’s also hit the post at Bournemouth in Gameweek 3, it’s clear that the Argentine boasts the goal threat to go on delivering. With the quality of City’s delivery and the frequency of their set-pieces, the potential is clear.

In addition, City kept their sixth clean sheet in nine Gameweeks. Guardiola’s defence have allowed just 14 shots on target – fewer than any other team. The major difference this season is that, in Ederson, they have a goalkeeper capable of stopping them.

Having contemplated ignoring Otamendi and City’s defence to stock on three attacking assets, one Gameweek later, in the light of rotation, we may need to rethink that approach.

Morata struggles as Chelsea respond

Chelsea earned a vital victory in the early kick-off, reacting to a spirited Watford performance as Michy Batshuayi steered a comeback victory.

The Belgian striker replaced the out-of-sorts Alvaro Morata on the hour-mark after the Spaniard put in an ineffective shift on his return to the starting XI.

Morata was backed by 825,000 managers with 201,000 new owners for Gameweek 9. Indeed, some 191,000 had trusted Morata with their captaincy.

But he struggled, mustering just a single shot on goal with two touches in the penalty area. A booking consigned him to just a single point return. Batshuayi’s two-goal performance offers a reminder that Morata must lift his game, though his start at Bournemouth in Gameweek 10 is surely not in doubt.

Elsewhere for Chelsea, Eden Hazard contributed an assist – a fortunate return given the quality of Pedro’s strike for the Blues’ opener. Pedro himself boosted his tally to 12 points with an assist and two bonus points.

This was the Spaniard’s first start since Gameweek 6 and, despite his display, he remains a risk as a Fantasy asset. When N’Golo Kante is fit, we’d expect Antonio Conte to use Hazard up with or behind Morata, with perhaps no role for either Pedro or Wilian as wide players.

At the back, César Azpilicueta continued his superb season from an attacking perspective with a first goal of the season to sit alongside his four assists so far.

Deployed as the right wing-back, he offered a far more willing and effective outlet than Marcos Alonso on the opposite flank. Indeed, given the worrying performance from Alonso, we’ve now installed Azpilicueta as our recommended Chelsea backline option in the Watchlist.

Conte’s defence go to Bournemouth next without a clean sheet in their last three Gameweeks, with a trip to Old Trafford to follow.

Wasteful Richarlison demands forgiveness

Watford could and should have earned all three points at Stamford Bridge, with Richarlison wasting two gilt-edged opportunities.

However, the Brazilian contributed again, earning a fourth assist of the season for Roberto Pereyra’s goal. He’s now produced 7.9 points per million for his 6.3 price tag, ahead of more favourable fixtures for the Hornets.

Given his involvement for Watford – who continue to play on the front foot under Marco Silva – it’s difficult to build a case against Richarlison at this present time.

Abdoulaye Doucouré’s form is perhaps one caveat. He fired his fourth goal of the season from his fourth shot on target to stay top the FPL standings for points per million value (9.1)

Lukaku shackled in United defeat

Manchester United’s title ambitions and Romelu Lukaku’s Golden Boot charge both faltered at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Handed the captaincy by 29.1% of managers, Lukaku provided just an assist – digging out a fine cross for a Marcus Rashford goal – as Huddersfield Town limited the striker to two shots.

Jose Mourinho’s side fell behind to goals from Aaron Mooy and Laurent Depoitre – both conceived from United errors. Victor Lindelof, in particular, was culpable for the Terrier’s second goal from a long punt from goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.

The Swede did little to revive his reputation on introduction for the injured Phil Jones on 22 minutes. Without his influence, they went on to concede for only the second time in nine Gameweeks.

Owned by almost 600,000 managers (11.2%), Jones looks destined to go into another Gameweek as an injury doubt. That has prompted sales, although Jones is by no means the most unpopular United asset presently. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly are both taking heavy casualties.

Mkhitaryan was “rested” from the United starting XI with Jesse Lingard handed a first start of the season, while Bailly was again absent through injury with Mourinho “hopeful” of his return for the Gameweek 10 visit from Spurs.

Lukaku is surely the main concern, however.

He is without a goal in two successive Gameweeks, with just three shots on goal over those matches.

Over 34, 000 have so far sold Lukaku, second only to Jesus. However, with doubt over City striker rotation and Morata failing to impress, there is a case to sit tight even with Spurs and Chelsea up next.

Mahrez impresses in Foxes win

Riyad Mahrez continues to hint at a revival in his form and Fantasy stock by contributing both assists in Leicester’s 2-1 win at Swansea.

The Algerian was, of course, Fantasy royalty in the Foxes title-winning season but has since dipped into obscurity following a campaign that brought just six goals and four assists.

Mahrez is now hinting at something of a renaissance having produced five assists for the season.

Nonetheless, with competition so fierce in his price bracket in midfield, he will need to maintain his momentum before we will begin to consider the Mahrez option.

Jamie Vardy has more opportunity to make an impression up front but has now chained three successive blanks.

The striker should have converted a sixth goal of the season at the Liberty Stadium, but his recent failings have sparked a decline in his ownership ahead of a Gameweek 10 clash with Everton.

Meanwhile Shinji Okazaki has quietly moved to four goals from his seven appearances, which include just six starts.

Mysteriously dropped for the 1-1 draw with West Brom last time out, the Japan international was recalled for the Swans visit and tucked home a Mahrez cut back for the Foxes second goal. Priced at 5.6, he’s another in the mix with Tammy Abraham for the third striker slot for those managers seeking a budget solution, at least until a new manager – with new ideas – comes in.

Diouf the latest cut-price option

Stoke City are rarely a source of attacking talent for Fantasy managers but, in Mame Biram Diouf and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, they have two unlikely options.

Diouf’s goal in the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth was his third in as many Gameweeks, as manager Mark Hughes again deployed the Senegalese as Stoke’s central striker.

He was flanked by Choupo-Moting who provided the assist for Diouf’s goal. The Cameroonian has now produced two goals and three assists ahead of an extremely favourable run for the Potters.

However, Hughes’ side are struggling for confidence which will make the trip to Watford and a home tie with Leicester over the next two Gameweeks far more testing.

Choupo-Moting is behind Richarlison and perhaps Wilfried Zaha when it comes to the fourth midfielder pecking order, while Diouf provided an alternative as a budget third striker.

Stanislas shines in striker absence

Junior Stanislas was Bournemouth’s standout performer at the bet365 Stadium, providing the assist for Andrew Surman’s opener and then stroking home a penalty shortly after. His 13-point return was a reminder of the potential of a player who has been integral for the Cherries when fit.

Priced at 5.9 in FPL, only Josh King has been involved in more Premier League goals for Bournemouth than Stanislas with 19 (11 goals, eight assists).

King missed the trip to face the Potters through illness, while Jermain Defoe was ruled out with a minor hamstring complaint. Both seem likely to return to contention for the visit of Chelsea in Gameweek 10, with Defoe likely to resume spot-kick duties when fit and selected.

Baggies count defensive casualties

Tony Pulis travelled back from St Mary’s counting the cost of a 1-0 defeat to Southampton.

West Brom have injury worries surrounding Gareth Barry (hamstring) but most notably defenders Jonny Evans (groin) and Craig Dawson (knee).

The latter is the main concern having reportedly boarded the team bus on crutches.

Pulis brought us this worrying report post-match.

“Craig’s problem is the one that concerns me most. His knee was locked but we’re not sure whether that’s from a kick or something muscular. We know for sure that Craig wouldn’t come off unless he was in trouble.”

Dawson is owned by just 3.9% of managers, though Ahmed Hegazi – part of 24.1% of squads – would be dented by any absence for Dawson and Evans.

Significantly, West Brom face Manchester City at The Hawthorns next and have just a single clean sheet in seven Gameweeks following the defeat to the Saints.