Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Gameweek 22 – Sunday

Santi Cazorla bags a goal and assist as Arsenal emerge victorious from the Etihad. Olivier Giroud also finds the net, whilst the Gunners’ defence keep Sergio Aguero at bay with a second successive shut-out. Earlier in the day, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing are amongst the goals as West Ham register a comprehensive win over struggling Hull.

Cazorla Steers Gunners to Victory

The little Spaniard stole the show in yesterday’s stunning win at the Etihad by bagging a goal and assist in the 2-0 triumph. Whilst Alexis Sanchez had a rare off-day, Cazorla’s form continues to suggest he offers a viable double-up option alongside the Chilean in our starting line-ups – he’s now racked up five goals, two assists and 11 bonus points in his last eight appearances. Owned by just 3% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, the 8.2-priced playmaker has home clashes against Villa, Leicester and Everton, allied with trips to Palace and QPR in the next six, as the schedule smiles kindly on Arsene Wenger’s side.

Elsewhere in the Gunners attack, Olivier Giroud notched a fourth goal in five appearances to also come into contention ahead of the aforementioned run of fixtures. Also setting us back 8.2, the Frenchman is very much in the differential bracket, too – sitting in just 4% of FPL teams, he’s another who’s sure to come in for increased investment as Wildcards are wielded over the fortnight’s break from league action.

Arsenal Defence on the Up

It’s two clean sheets in as many matches for the north London side after nullifying the threat of Sergio Aguero and co. Given that last week’s home shut-out against Stoke was the Gunners’ first in seven attempts, little was expected from their defenders ahead of the Etihad visit but yesterday’s resilient display is sure to bring their backline onto our radars. With Mathieu Debuchy ruled out for three months, Wenger’s decision to select Hector Bellerin ahead of Calum Chambers at right-back is sure to pique our interest – at 4.4, he could be a real bargain if he can keep ahead of the summer signing, though David Ospina, at 4.8, also looks an option after getting the nod between the posts once again.

City Struggles in Toure’s Absence

With Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero back in the starting XI, much was expected of the champions – over 187,000 FPL managers drafted in the Argentine prior to the weekend deadline but his owners picked up no more than a single point, after he earned a late yellow card. Bearing in mind that City now travel to Stamford Bridge when league action resumes in two weeks’ time, the bandwagon may be temporarily slowed down until Gameweek 24. From that point on, Manuel Pellegrini’s troops host Hull, Newcastle and Leicester and also travel to Stoke and Burnley – by then, Aguero’s match sharpness will be fully up to speed and few will be willing to go without over such an enticing stretch of fixtures.

The champions have now failed to win any of their four league matches without Yaya Toure this season. Worryingly for Pellegrini, if the midfielder and new Etihad team-mate Wilfried Bony reach the Africa Cup of Nations final on February 8, they would likely miss the next three league matches, given that the Gameweek 25 trip to Stoke is on February 11.

Carroll and Downing Deliver

Sam Allardyce started with a 4-2-3-1 for yesterday’s clash against Hull, with Andy Carroll leading the line and Stewart Downing tucked in behind. A half-time switch to a midfield diamond saw the pair grab a goal apiece in an easy 3-0 win over the struggling Tigers – Carroll now has five strikes in his last eight, whilst Downing’s efforts took his tally to three goals and a pair of assists over the same period. Downing has now climbed into fourth spot in the FPL midfield standings on 116 points. but with showdowns against Liverpool, United, Southampton, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal in the next seven Gameweeks, it remains to be seen how many of his 26% owners will keep the faith.

Tigers Toil Again

West Ham went into yesterday’s encounter with just a single clean sheet in the previous eight. With both their main forwards sidelined through injury, though, Hull were unable to take advantage of their hosts’ poor defensive form and drew yet another blank – alarmingly for Steve Bruce, his side have now failed to score in six of the last eight Gameweeks. Still stuck in the drop zone, Hull now have three vital home encounters (NEW, AVL, QPR) against sides in the bottom half of the table to boost their survival plight. Sone Aluko – classified as a midfielder in FPL and priced at 4.6 – led the line at Upton Park after recovering from a calf complaint and could offer Fantasy managers an out-of-position prospect, for those who believe Bruce’s side can profit from those upcoming matches.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

1,349 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Areid13
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    austin to ings a good shout?

    1. Dangerous Donkeys
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Depends what you paid for Austin.
      It's a sideways step & Ings has 2 good fixtures before it gets tough.
      Statswise, Austin is better than any of the other budget options

  2. adammc
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Is moneral or Gibbs first choice left back for arsenal ?

  3. New Article Posted: TMWK
  4. NorwichCityLad
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Many of you use RMT and is it worth using as a regular tool?

  5. Areid13
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    using WC asnd cant deecide
    a) keep Austin
    b) buy ings
    c) buy Bojan

    was going for b but then saw bojan who has decent fixtures and is playing well. thoughts?

    1. chubbyalonso
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      i personally think that either of Austin and Ings are more likely to score more than a goal than Bojan will...I still fancy Austin - he's been pretty much central to everything QPR does, whereas goalscoring duties are increasingly spread out throughout the Burnley ranks

  6. AleksanderVN
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Fill in the gaps:

    Panti Krul
    Terry ( ) PVA Wisdom Hutton
    Hazard Sanchez ADM ( ) ( )
    Aguero Costa Kane

    Itb: 15,4

    1. Areid13
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      bellerin, downing and lucas

  7. Areid13
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    HELP!!!
    a) clyne, downing and hazard
    b) fonte, cazorla and fabregas

    1. Mr. Grv
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      b

  8. Fader
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Okay finding it hard which 3 to play in defense :\ do I rest Terry?

    Foster
    Jones / Bellerin / Bertrand
    Chadli / Sanchez / ADM / Hazard
    Costa / Aguero / Kane

    Terry / Cameron / Boyd / Hamer

    1. Fader
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Cameron Vs QPR at home too ....

      1. OLEgend
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Almost similar teams (given below) iam benching terry as first sub so in case if Bellerin didn't play terry will come in.

  9. OLEgend
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Ospina Hamer
    Terry P.Jones Gardos Bellerin Baird
    Sanchez Fabregas Dimaria Ellia Ameobi
    Aguero Costa Gayle.
    Might be a crazy team 🙂 but pls give suggestions

    1. Areid13
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      suggestions?

      using WC and this is what ive got so far
      Forster - Hamer
      Jones - Fonte - Berty - Bellerin - Terry
      Alexis - Hazard - Cazorla - ADM - Colback
      Kane - Bojan - Costa

      nothing itb but think this is a good team

    2. Areid13
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      it is crazy but it could pay off

      1. OLEgend
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Iam goin with gayle as both he and palace are in a good attacking mood. On penalties as well

        1. Areid13
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          good idea

  10. Hank Moody
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    so its all about finding the perfect combination between chelsea , city , united , arsenal and southampton..

  11. Areid13
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    suggestions?

    using WC and this is what ive got so far
    Forster - Hamer
    Jones - Fonte - Berty - Bellerin - Terry
    Alexis - Hazard - Cazorla - ADM - Colback
    Kane - Bojan - Costa

    nothing itb but think this is a good team

    1. OLEgend
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Bit confused with doubling up on saints defence with both schneiderlin and Wanyama injured. You will be benching one defender anyway.

      1. Areid13
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        schneiderlin is meant to be back by next week but the aim is to have a strong defence, but if not them, who else?

  12. Capt. Krypton
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    After the Arsenal game not sure i want Aguero in my WC team. Thinking of Switching out Boyd/Aguero > ? Any recommendations?

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Keep

    2. Mr. Grv
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      keep

  13. Mr. Grv
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    I want to make a article on captain choices .
    Do i have to be a member to post them in community articles section ??

    1. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Ask Jonty (jonty@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk).

  14. Stefan Schnoor
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    I'm planning on using my wildcard next GW (GW24), and I have 2FTs going into this one (GW23).

    Am I right in thinking that I might as well use both free transfers this GW as I will lose a banked transfer if I only use 1 this week when I play my wildcard?

    1. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      That is correct.

  15. It's his Job.
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    bye bye Mirallas

  16. Brian Munich
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    I'm happy with my team but i'm struggling with who to choose for my defence in the next GW.

    GK: Pantillimon (Krul)
    Def: Bertrand TERRY WISDOM TAYLOR HUTTON
    Mid: Chadli Downing Sanchez (capt) Hazard (Boyd)
    Fw: Costa Kane (vc) Kun

    Both Terry and Wisdom are at home, but v MCI and Spurs. Hutton is a no. But Taylor away at Southampton over Terry or Wisdom? The Swansea defense isn't exactly attractive on current form.

    I really don't know where to got with this one

  17. TheOneAndOnly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    ---------------------- DDG --------------------------
    ------- Baines --- Sahko -- Wisdom -----------
    --- Hazard -- Sanchez -- Eriksen -- Silva ---
    ----------- Costa -- Kane -- Austin -------------

    (Guzan; Boyd, Hutton, Wasilewski)

    1FT, 2.6m in the bank

    Silva (che) > ADM (LEI) Yay or Nay? Wildcard next week