Scout Notes
24 November 2016 745 comments
davidwardale davidwardale
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Two draws but only one team are happy with their lot from the second night of European action this week. Man City celebrate, Arsenal get Euro deja vu – here’s how it all came about.

Borussia Monchengladbach 1 Man City 1

David Silva’s (8.7) equaliser right on half-time sent City into the last 16 of the Champions League with a match to spare.

It was only the Spaniard’s second club goal of a consistently unproductive season thus far, in direct contrast to the man who set it up, Kevin De Bruyne (10.8), who has now either scored or assisted in his last five Man City matches in all competitions.

Pep Guardiola made four changes from Saturday’s win at Crystal Palace, with Silva, John Stones (5.0), Ilkay Gundogan (5.8) and Jesus Navas (6.2) all coming in.

City’s defence – never the most stable of units this season – was further disrupted when Pablo Zabaleta (4.7) failed to travel having picked up a knock.

Fernandinho (5.4) was dismissed late on for a debatable second yellow card, forcing Bacary Sagna (5.3) to forego the total rest Guardiola might have had in mind for him during a final 20+ minutes in which both teams played with a man down.

While City’s defensive concerns pile up, the sight of Sergio Aguero (13.2) limping in the final few minutes was a little worrying for his 46.3% ownership.

In a bizarre last four minutes, Fernando (4.7) stood waiting to replace the striker, only for his team-mates to keep the ball, and their star man on the pitch, all the way through to the final whistle.

Guardiola was quick to banish concerns on Aguero’s plight post-match.

“Yeah, maybe he had a kick – but he is okay.”

So far, there are no reports to suggest the contrary ahead of the Gameweek 13 visit to Burnley.

Guardiola was generally happy with the result, offering us Fantasy managers re-assurance that, as of now, the domestic campaign becomes the single priority.

“We have qualification in the pocket until February, so now we can focus finally on one competition, the Premier League, and we can be so satisfied.”

City’s final group match is now a dead rubber, which will allow Guardiola to rest key players ahead of a tricky December 10 trip to Leicester City.

As for the weekend teamsheet, it’s perhaps Gundogan’s start that appears the most at risk given that a reborn Yaya Toure will be pushing for a recall having be excluded from Guardiola’s Champions League squad. Toure would seem likely to start at Turf Moor, then, with the German, or perhaps even Silva, under threat.

Man City XI: Bravo, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Stones, Kolarov, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Jesus Navas, Aguero, Sterling (Sagna 67).
Subs not used: Caballero, Fernando, Nolito, Sane, Clichy, Iheanacho.

Arsenal 2 Paris St Germain 2

While City players celebrated finishing second in their group, Arsenal failed to take their chance to avoid doing just that – and may again live to regret it.

Arsene Wenger had called on his players to get the job done against PSG, only for the visitors to do a job on the Gunners, out-shooting their hosts 14-5 in a match they controlled for large periods.

The Arsenal boss made four changes from the side that drew at Old Trafford.

Chief among them was striker Olivier Giroud (8.8) starting, with Theo Walcott (7.8) dropping to the bench and Alexis Sanchez (11.3) shunted back to the flank – a scenario that both Walcott and Sanchez owners will now fear could become a regular occurrence.

Giroud is certainly in scoring form. His penalty against PSG was his fifth goal in as many matches in all competitions for the Gunners. In a decidedly ironic twist, the spot kick was earned by Sanchez.

Arsenal’s second on the night came from a Marco Verratti own goal, but they couldn’t keep their lead as Alex Iwobi (5.8) contrived to head past David Ospina (4.8) when the keeper looked to have a PSG effort well covered.

That pair, together with Kieran Gibbs (4.8) coming in for Nacho Monreal (5.9) at left back, were the other changes Wenger had made to the team.

The Gunners still have a slight chance of winning the group, but it involves the French champions slipping up at home to a Ludogrets Razgrad outfit beaten 6-0 at The Emirates.

Wenger must now decide whether to field a full-strength side away at Basel in the faint hope that PSG come a cropper.

It seems rather more likely that he will rest key men ahead of the Gameweek 15 visit of Stoke City, but doubts will remain right up to the European match on December 6 – the worst-case scenario for FPL bosses trying to manage the Arsenal resources in their squads.

As for the weekend, Walcott’s owners will be hoping for a recall after Wenger confirmed he was benched due to a minor toe injury:

‘Walcott has a slight problem with his toe. I have plenty of players who are fresh and available and need games. So i try to rotate a little bit and keep the balance depending upon the opposition and that’s why I brought Giroud back in.’

Meanwhile, Sanchez’ remaining 22% ownership will be willing their man to return to the central striker role as he bids to end a miserable run at the Emirates: only one of his six goals this season has arrived in home matches.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Jenkinson (Oxlade-Chamberlain 81), Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Coquelin (Walcott 80), Sánchez, Özil, Iwobi (Xhaka 78), Giroud.
Subs not used: Cech, Gabriel, Monreal, Elneny.

745 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. razmo
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Is Cedric a nailed on starter?

    1. Toure The Route
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Yup , but might get rotated with Cuco Martina if Christmas fixtures tighten up . Still he looks too good for the long term at 4.9.

  2. tyron
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    hey guys
    with this team for this gw
    cech
    holebas evans amat (vertonghan)
    coutinho firmino hazard sanchez (allen)
    anichebe benteke aguero.

    would u
    a - leave as is
    b - allen out for Phillips ? (this would mean minus 4)

    if I do B then I would bench anichebe

  3. AllGonePozzo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Have McAuley, Holebas, Alonso, Koscielny and Amat.

    Who to bench with Amat?

    Currently Alonso but not sure correct decision.

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

      Mcauley

    2. Toure The Route
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Holebas .
      Stoke score in all their away games , don't see Watford keeping them out.

  4. Jayben23
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Please assist

    Pickford, Boruc
    Holebas, Clyne, Smith, Friend, Amat
    Coutinho, Firmino, Hazard, Allen, Fletcher
    Costa Aguero Lukaku

    1Ft 0.2mil in the bank

    Am i good to go or should i consider changes??

    1. Please Help I Don't Kn…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Maybe Snodgrass for Allen?

  5. Deano
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Having watched last night's game, I find it very difficult to mount a case for Wenger starting Giroud.

    The front four demonstrated very little connection and most of the time in attacking possession their link up play was non existent leading to Ozil, Sanchez and to a lesser extent Iwobi either holding up, playing back or being caught on the ball.

    Evidence of this is in the stats: 4 SOG vs 15 and of those 4, the peno was the only SOT. Furthermore, there was clear frustration demonstrated by Ozil, Sanchez and Giroud towards each other in the second half which doesn't auger well for that formation.

    Finally, Wenger's new found acceptance of the dynamic high press strategy can only succeed with Sanchez/Walcott leading the line.

    Disclaimer: I currently have no Gooners in my squad.

    1. Toure The Route
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      This.
      I think people don't look at this enough , Wenger knows every small detail about his team and this wouldn't have pleased him .
      Bmouth at home is technically a must win , might just start Sanchez uptop.

  6. mcrayeps
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    A) Lukaku + philips
    Or
    B) Austin + siggy

    Who will probably get more points in next 5 gw?

    And why kosc price keep increasing while he scored few points lately? Im an kosc owner from 6.0 and lil bit confuse lol

    1. Kante Be Bothered
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      B

  7. ankj70
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Evans & Fuchs

    and one from Pieters / Amat

    Which starts Pieters or Amat in my back 3?

    1. Toure The Route
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I think both will conceed .
      Maybe Pieters due to game time security

  8. TheWizardOH
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Foster
    Clyne / Stones / Holebas
    Haz / Sanchez / Firmino / Snoddy / Cap
    Kun (c) / Luk

    Bench - Heaton / Anichebe / Pieters / Jagielka

    Any thoughts?

  9. tyron
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Please help guys
    with this team for this gw
    cech
    holebas evans amat (vertonghan)
    coutinho firmino hazard sanchez (allen)
    anichebe benteke aguero.

    would u
    a - leave as is
    b - allen out for Phillips ? (this would mean minus 4)

    if I do B then I would bench anichebe

    1. Toure The Route
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Do it
      Worth a shot