Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Alonso Strikes As Morata Misses Out

Chelsea labour to a victory thanks to a goal from one of last season’s undoubted stars, while Arsenal are equally lacklustre, though Mesut Ozil ensures they scrape past struggling Newcastle.

After a quiet start to the season – by his own standards, at least – Marcos Alonso is at last delivering in the final third.

The wing-back produced attacking returns in just two of the first 16 Gameweeks, but has supplied an assist and now a goal from his last two outings. Impressively, he fired six shots at Stamford Bridge against Southampton.

Add in a clean sheet and maximum bonus in the 1-0 win over the Saints and his 15.5% ownership have seen their man overtake Cesar Azpilicueta at the top of Chelsea’s defender standings.

He is also the only Blues player to have started every league match this season and seems to have little competition at left wing-back to break that run.

Alonso’s ownership increased by just over 14,000 for Gameweek 18, while Eden Hazard also enjoyed a modest profit, gaining another 26,000 managers.

But the Belgian was captained by nearly 350,000 (6.3%), only to underwhelm from the false nine role that he has had to take on in the absence of Alvaro Morata.

Hazard earned an assist from the foul which led to Alonso’s free-kick winner, but he lacked a goal threat himself – mustering just one attempt.

Morata, meanwhile, was sold by 253,000+ ahead of Saturday’s deadline, and the 1.2 million who stuck by him were treated to just a 17-minute appearance from the bench.

That at least confirmed his recovery from a back injury, and Chelsea’s lack of a cutting edge – they had 24 shots but not a single big chance – would seem to make his recall at Everton in Gameweek 19 more than likely.

Antonio Conte’s selection decisions for the midweek EFL Cup quarter-final tie with Bournemouth will offer us further clues. Morata is one booking shy of a ban so will likely sit that one out, leaving him fresh for the Goodison Park trip.

The same situation applied to Alonso until his convenient yellow card for time wasting late on meant that he now misses the midweek tie, leaving him free to continue his ever-present Gameweek record.

Christensen favoured again

Chelsea ended a run of three without a clean sheet, although Andreas Christenseen earned back to back shut-out points following his timely withdrawal before Huddersfield’s late goal on Tuesday.

Priced at 5.6, the Dane also picked up two bonus points, surpassing Bonus Point System (BPS) darling Azpilicueta to underline his potential once again.

The Spaniard, Gary Cahill and Victor Moses all gained a single bonus point, while Hazard missed out having been tackled three times.

Previously a classic ‘fire and forget’ option, Azpilicueta has now suffered sales, albeit minor ones, for three consecutive Gameweeks. His 6.9 price tag appears to be struggling to compete with Alonso’s added attacking threat and Christensen as a budget-friendly alternative.

Kolasinac remains on the bench

Arsenal scraped past a spirited Newcastle United, but there was no clean sheet joy for Sead Kolasinac’s 15.4% ownership.

The Bosnian was benched for the second match in a row as FPL midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles (4.5) was again preferred on the left of a flat back four by Arsene Wenger.

Kolasinac has produced an impressive 7.25 points per match at the Emirates but missed out on Arsenal’s ninth clean sheet of the campaign – a tally that’s ranked second only to Man United.

FPL managers have reacted promptly, already making him the most sold player ahead of Gameweek 19 when the Gunners entertain Liverpool.

Slim pickings in Gunners attack

Mesut Ozil hit the winner against the Magpies as the other members of Arsenal’s ‘big three’ failed to deliver.

What looked to be a favourable home fixture had persuaded more than 174,000 of Alexandre Lacazette’s 11.0% ownership to hand him the armband.

He promptly blanked and now has just two goals from his last seven appearances, although one of those was an eight-minute run-out on Wednesday.

Alexis Sanchez, meanwhile, has managed only one assist from his last four starts. That, and his 11.8 price tag, continue to deter managers from boosting his 2.9% ownership.

Ozil is similarly sparsely-owned and it seems we must await the return of Aaron Ramsey – a relative snip at 7.1 – before we can consider the Gunners’ inconsistent attacking options.

Elliot back for the Magpies

Rafa Benitez brought the 23.6%-owned Rob Elliot in from the cold of a four-Gameweek exile as Karl Darlow dropped back to the bench at the Emirates.

Elliot has remained the second most popular goalkeeper in FPL during his enforced rest, his 4.1 price tag too convenient for all but 138,000+ managers who felt compelled to replace him since his Gameweek 14 demotion.

For those who have remained loyal, Elliot offers a mixed schedule (whu MCI BHA stk SWA mci).

He also produces minimal save points – he’s not made more than four stops in a single match this season – and Newcastle’s defence have kept just three clean sheets, and none since Gameweek 9.

But at that price, his 1.3 million managers will just be relieved to have another active member of their squad again, and one who managed a solid three points from a daunting trip to Arsenal.

2,589 Comments Post a Comment
  1. CloudSky
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Red arrows ahoy!

  2. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Last Man Standing Update

    Current safety score = 22
    Top score = 67
    LMS average = 33.89

    3 games + autosubs to go.

  3. cheeky_ash
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Just putting this out there....

    Can there be retrospective bans for bad tackles only receiving a yellow card?

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Alli deserves one

      1. cheeky_ash
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        So does kane

        1. runny
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          So does Ota!

    2. Yellin' in my Ear
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      No

  4. Bleach †
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Groß → Richarlison FT Yes/No? 🙂

    1. skriniar
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      no, both departure

    2. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      As an owner of both with no returns for weeks... im wondering how long I should keep either...

    3. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      nope

  5. skriniar
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    13 PTS great

    1. noquarternt
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Bad week?

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      feeling for you ant players tomorrow ? things can change fast !!!

  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    who to bring in , sterling or D silva ? this bournemouth game could be a trashing !!!

    1. noquarternt
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Wait

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        of will definitely wait but just wondered what people thought 🙂

        1. noquarternt
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          Either are good. Both if you can.

  7. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Alonso owners are lucky that he's not in jail

    1. Hooky
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      He'd be out by now even if he had been done for it

    2. Mooster©️
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      why? what?

  8. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    thansk to whoever gave masuaku as a differential on the scoutcast, i took him instead of mariappa and it paid off big time 🙂

  9. @fpl_phenom
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Sterling was crap today... but still scored 2 goals... City are destroying teams

  10. ewangri
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Sterling looked awful. So wasteful.

    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      5 kids though

      1. Klip Klopp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Lol

    2. JAC THE CAT
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Great in FPL.

  11. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Is Cresswell worth extra over Ogbonna or Matsuaku?

    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      No

  12. JAC THE CAT
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    1FT - 1.3ITB

    Fabianski
    Christensen - P.Jones - Dunk
    Hazard - Sterling - Zaha - Richarlison
    Kane - Firmino - Vardy

    Elliott - Mee - T.Carroll - Lowe

    Considering one of these...
    A, Fabianski -> Ederson
    B, Lowe -> Vardy
    C, Vardy -> ???

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      B?

      1. JAC THE CAT
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Good spot! Smalling was my thinking.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          Double United defence sounds fun 😛

  13. TheTinman
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    So what is the general tactic for gw22. Try to save two transfers and bring in Spurs? Possibly a cheap WHU player in beforehand who you don't mind benching in gw21?

    1. JAC THE CAT
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Just 1 Spurs and 1 WHU might be enough for me.

      1. catchchaos
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Yeah I'm thinking of getting in ogbonna/masuaku this week.

        And then using 2 transfers for Kane (Kane -> Lukaku before gw21 and then back)

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Rotation nightmare regardless.

      1. TheTinman
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        I dunno. Kane nailed. Probably can find a CB for spurs nailed

        1. catchchaos
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          Vertonghen is your guy

        2. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          I mean GW21 is pretty close to GW22.

    3. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      got adrian an kane
      only worry for me is the dgw {w ham an swansea}is 2 games in 48 hours. w ham in a bit of form at the minute,3 cs in last 3
      swans already had 0-0 v spurs.

  14. el polako
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    How come such average player like Sterling have so many points ?

    1. makaveli123
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Because they create lots of chances. Even I would score in that City team

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      You'd have a decent score playing for Man City.

    3. Nascimento
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Im not 100% on what you're trying to say but it looks like you're trying to suggest Sterling is average? If that's the case I'm afraid it's a case of Sterling actually being a good player playing for Man City who are a really good side.

    4. goriuanx
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      He's a really good player. Let's not be silly.

  15. Dr Dream
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Palace continue to mix it up with the big boys...Most attacking teams for their last four matches arranged by collective ICT threat for the whole team...

    http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/my-stats-tables/view/4689/

    1. Tim Canterbury
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Every gw I look at the stats and Zaha is right up there. But apparently he's too wide and Benteke is too sh*t 🙁

  16. Viper
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Moreno - > Masuaku & bench Jones (Also have DDG) or save FT?

    1. catchchaos
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Why would you bench Jones?

    2. We Will Klopp you
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Moreno to Masuaku is a move worth making but don't bench Jones, that's just silly

  17. Lazarus Star
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    This season I appear to be playing FPL like Eric Morcombe plays piano....

    I’m doing the right transfers, just not necessarily in the right order.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      🙂

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Heh I say to myself all the time. I've quite comfortably transfersed out close to 200 points (including the -4 hits).

      Sold Sterling and he's gone mental since

      Take my latest Ward, Zaha and Kane > Mousaka, Silva and Aguero. -8

      Silva out for reasons which are beyond football and hope he's okay. Aguero goes off and then they get a pen. While Kane doing eff all isn't capitalised on at all.

      1. Lazarus Star
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Coutnho > Silva was my wrong move. Went Coutinho over Silva two weeks ago, the. watched him dominate and be on Pep’s starting list. Of course as soon as I get him in...

    3. Monkey Hanger
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      I'm playing Les Dawson.

    4. Bored Bear
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Keyboard Cat here

  18. jaybradlights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Who's a better pick - DCL or Austin? Worried about DCL's minutes and Austin's injury record... any satisfied customers willing to push me in a certain direction?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      You might know Monday.

    2. @fpl_phenom
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Both not great to be honest ... get the cheaper one ... forwards are useless this year ... gonna have to go 5 premium mids... 3 mid to low forwards ...

  19. hammersp2000
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Hazard to KDB

    yay or nay

    1. Alex_thekid
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      After just watching motd that's exactly what I was thinking

      1. hammersp2000
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        That's what I've just seen. He looks untouchable

        1. Clintymints
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          He looks great and he's one of my fav players but for fpl Sterling should have had 4 and is 2 mil less

          None o f my rivals have Haz so I'm happy to keep, but that's just me

          On the contrary, I haven't seen Chelsea highlights yet.

          1. hammersp2000
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 10 months ago

            Already have sterling.fromwhat I've read Chelsea struggled today and hazards "assist " was because he was fouled

      2. @fpl_phenom
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        He’s absolutely class.. best player in the league!

    2. Clintymints
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      I'd rather Haz with Sterling

      1. hammersp2000
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Don't fancy a city double up then?

        1. Clintymints
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          Personally, no but it's a perfectly good thing to do really.

          Might end up doing it in Jan but with my current team I can't really do it

    3. Caesar Salahd
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Im thinking about it

  20. Lallana_
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Got two FT but have no idea what to go with...thoughts?

    1) Pope>De Gea - gets tough for Burnley, easy for MUN
    2) Richarlison>David Silva
    3) RLC>Lanzini or Lingard
    4) Moreno>Alonso

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      2 or 4

  21. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    50 with Salah and Kenny to go (and RLC for 6 and Duffy for 5 lurking on the bench if not).

    After my season so far, have to be happy with that.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      well done

  22. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Early thoughts on this bunch of mugs?

    Hennessey
    Christensen / Jones / Mee
    Hazard / Salah / Sterling / Richalison
    Kane / Morata / Austin

    Speroni / Kenny / Kiko / RLC

    -4, £.6itb

    1. Clintymints
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      WC?

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      great team why are you unhappy ??

    3. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      1ft

      1. Clintymints
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Roll it over or upgade one of the weaker players

        looks fine tbh

        Sometimes the best thing to do is nothng

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        Lol -4, copy and paste freak 😛

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      keep

  23. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Best Replacement for Kolasinac?

    Christensen?

    Current defenders: Mee Mariappa Otamendi and Kenny

    1. Clintymints
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Jones Or Christensen Or Monreal

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      why isnt kola playing ?? surely he will start against liverpool

      1. _Gunner
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        2 consecutive cleansheets with him not starting.

        Why would Wenger start him?

        1. Clintymints
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 10 months ago

          swapped monreal for mustafi a few weeks ago to save .1

          disaster

  24. AzzaroMax99
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Alonso the Toothless 😀

  25. Hooky
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Lanzini to get a ban for that dive

    1. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Snap

      1. Hooky
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 10 months ago

        That was worse than Niasse

  26. Majestic Chanka
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Lanzini has to get a ban for that dive!

    1. Nascimento
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      Should but there's absolutely no way - Valencia didn't get banned GW 3 so would be embarrasing to ban Lanzini now

  27. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Lanzini to get a ban for that dive surely.

  28. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    What's happened to Kola? Dropped? Injury?

  29. fusen
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    Are any expensive forwards actually worth it?

    Morata for 10.5
    2,1,8,2,0,1

    Kane for 12.9!
    6,2,12,2,1

    Lukaku for 11.3
    2,5,2,2,5,*

    Aguero for 11.6
    2,2,0,6,1

    The less said about Lacazette

    Seems to be a complete waste of budget having expensive forwards, if you're spending that much you need more than 2 points every 2rd or 3rd game

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      totally agree 🙂 especially kane !!! if it wasnt for that double gw he s be gone

  30. @fpl_phenom
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 10 months ago

    15 points on my bench ...

    1. DaddyPig
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 10 months ago

      22 on mine! RLC Mee Dunk!