Scout Notes
6 August 2017 2986 comments
davidwardale davidwardale
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Spurs win at Wembley, only for a Kieran Trippier injury to ring the Fantasy alarm bells, while Crystal Palace conclude a solid summer with a draw.

Elsewhere, Watford’s uninspiring pre-season finishes with another goalless affair and an equally lacklustre West Brom lose in Spain.

Here’s the second instalment of notes from Saturday’s action.

Spurs 2 Juventus 0

Fantasy ups and downs were in abundance at Wembley as Spurs completed their pre-season with a fine win over European A-listers Juventus.

The ups were many: Harry Kane delighted his 35.3% Fantasy Premier League ownership base with a goal; Christian Eriksen (13.8%) also scored and Spurs won at their new home to begin the long campaign to convince us all that Wembley won’t be a graveyard for their ambitions.

But the downside was an injury to right-back Kieran Trippier that has the potential to throw the defensive plans of 19.4% of FPL managers – he’s the most popular Spurs backline asset in the game – into some disarray.

Speaking post-match, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino didn’t offer many clues as to the extent of Trippier’s issue.

“Kieran twisted his ankle, and we need to wait until Monday to assess him…Until we assess him and do a scan, we need to wait. You never know. The feeling now is better than at half-time. But still we need to wait and we cannot saying anything today and wait until Monday.”

Kyle Walker-Peters replaced Trippier. If the ex-Burnley man’s injury rules him out for a spell, then Walker-Peters – yet to be added to the FPL game – could emerge as a bargain route. However, quotes post-match from the Spurs boss suggested that the 20-year-old would not be considered for starts as yet.

He’s [Walkers-Peters] very young. It’s true that to think and to give the big responsibility like Kieran; it’s too much today for him. He’s a player that needs to work with us and maybe start to play in different games, but we cannot think that, in the case of Kieran’s weeks away from the team, only he can replace him.

Instead, Pochettino is likely to field a back four at Newcastle United in Gameweek 1 and turn to Eric Dier at right-back.

A four-man defence was used against Juventus, with Kane a lone striker supported by Eriksen, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko.

Kane headed home from a Trippier cross to open the scoring. Eriksen’s second-half goal was set up by Alli.

Spurs’ first four matches of the campaign are a mix of the good – Newcastle away, Burnley at home – and the tricky – a visit from Chelsea and a trip to Everton.

In fact, the first 12 Gameweeks are a combination of sweet and potentially sour, but that hasn’t stopped FPL managers including plenty of Spurs players in their squads.

No fewer than six of them have double-digit ownership figures, with Jan Vertonghen (9.7%) close to being a seventh. Trippier’s potential loss could have an impact on that, of course, but worries over Wembley might just be beginning to subside.

Pochettino was certainly happy with their new home, and more besides.

“It was good to play at Wembley before the start of the season, good to believe in the way we play and recover the feeling in the way we play and for me, that’s most important, not the result. Okay, the result gives you more belief, but it was about the performance, not the result.”

With Dier poised to replace Trippier at right-back should he be sidelined, Sissoko could be retained in midfield against his former club.

However, Pochettino also indicated that Heung-Min Son has not been ruled out of contention for the Tyneside trip.

“He [Son] is working hard. It’s true that he’s still recovering from his problem. Then next week we need to assess him if he’s available to be selected for next week.”

Spurs XI: Lloris; Trippier (Walker-Peters 41), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele (Wimmer 90); Sissoko (Georgiou 65), Alli (Winks 65), Eriksen (Oakley-Boothe 90); Kane (Janssen 78).

Crystal Palace 1 Schalke 04 1

Palace boss Frank de Boer seems to have settled on a back three as his side again went with wing-backs and made it three straight matches without defeat.

Julian Speroni – a 4.0 option in FPL – started in goal behind a defence that once more included midfielder Luka Milivojevic as a centre-back.

That continues to blunt his Fantasy appeal, although he is the side’s dead ball specialist, but does mean Ruben Loftus-Cheek – a 4.5-priced 14.2%-owned budget enabler – continues to be handed a starting role in the Eagles midfield.

Andros Townsend now seems nailed-on as a wing-back, which doesn’t do his Fantasy prospects much good, but Patrick van Aanholt’s second consecutive start on the opposite flank certainly boosts his stock.

A modest 4.0% of managers agree although that makes him the team’s most popular defensive pick.

Christian Benteke got his first goal of the summer against the Germans, with Wilfried Zaha providing the assist. The pair are owned by 10.0% and 22.9% respectively – testament to their genuine attacking threat in a side with a relatively favourable first five fixtures.

The one joker in the pack could be striker Jason Lokilo. The youngster also started against FC Metz over the summer – de Boer clearly sees something in the 18-year-old – although he is yet to be added into the FPL game.

De Boer had this to say on Lokilo in his post-match comments…

“I didn’t know him when I came in as he was an under-23 player but Mark Bright mentioned that he is one of the talented players in that group. We were a man or two short in training so we picked him to participate in them and he made a great impression of his qualities, and that’s why he deserved to play today.”

As for Speroni, we still feel that Wayne Hennessey will get the nod for the visit of Huddersfield Town in Gameweek 1, though this is far from certain.

Should the Palace veteran get the nod, he would join Newcastle United’s Rob Elliot as a second active 4.0 option to change the landscape of our keeper selection policy.

Crystal Palace XI: Speroni; Milivojevic, Dann, Reidewald (Tomkins 81); Townsend (Ward 70), Puncheon, Loftus-Cheek, Van Aanholt; Zaha, Lokilo (Lee 79), Benteke.

Watford 0 Real Sociedad 0

A second consecutive goalless stalemate drew the curtains on Watford’s rather drab summer.

Or, to put a more positive spin on it, that was the Hornets’ fourth clean sheet in six pre-season matches.

Either way, FPL interest in Watford assets remains appropriately underwhelming, with the side’s most popular player – the 8.0%-owned midfielder Etienne Capoue – only given a cameo role against Sociedad.

Boss Marco Silva, however, devoted some of his post-match comments to denying reports of a rift with the player.

“I don’t want to talk about what newspapers said. Normally I don’t have many problems with players in my career. The player worked hard. Today in his cameo he worked hard as well, and that’s what I want from my players.”

One of the few noteworthy aspects of yesterday’s match was new signing Nathaniel Chalobah featuring in the holding midfield role alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure, while Jerome Sinclair was preferred up front to Stefano Okaka as Troy Deeney continues to recover from injury.

Deeney is very unlikely to make the season opener with Liverpool, with Silva delivering his update on his fitness post-match…

“With Troy, he progressed well and we expect him to start to work with the team next week, with some precautions.”

Watford XI: Gomes; Janmaat (Femenia 70), Kaboul (Mariappa 79), Britos (Prodl 71), Holebas (Mason 79); Doucouré (Watson 72), Chalobah (Capoue 70); Amrabat, Cleverley (Hughes 71), Pereyra (Success 70); Sinclair (Okaka 46).

Deportivo La Coruna 2 West Brom 0

West Brom’s excellent set of opening fixtures has prompted many FPL managers to take the Baggies bait.

Bournemouth, Stoke City and West Ham at home and trips to Burnley and Brighton in the first five Gameweeks have rightly attracted attention.

But their summer form has been the wrong side of lacklustre, with five defeats and a draw in eight matches.

The latest setback arrived at the hands of Deportivo, with Jake Livermore receiving a straight red card.

Livermore had earlier taken on the armband after Jonny Evans was withdrawn late from the Baggies line-up. No explanation has been given for that decision, with the centre-back named in the original starting XI. Indeed, as of yet, there is absolutely no post-match reaction from the club in the local press, on social media or via their official site.

The pre-season is all about fitness rather than results, but a single clean sheet doesn’t bode well for a side that currently offers so little going forward.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster is, by some distance, the Baggies’ most popular FPL pick, with a 16.5% ownership base. In fact, no other West Brom player gets anywhere near double-digit ownership.

Their schedule remains inviting, their form anything but, and Fantasy apathy towards the rest of the side is entirely understandable.

West Brom XI: Foster (Myhill 46); Wilson, Dawson (O’Shea 46), Hegazi, Nyom (Roberts 67); Livermore, Yacob (Field 62), McClean, Rodriguez (Harper 46), Phillips (Leko 58); Rondon (Robson-Kanu 46).

Be sure to check out all the summer action in our Pre-Season Guide.

2,986 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. thepeen555
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Moses bandwagon

    1. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      ..will be derailed

      1. thepeen555
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        YEah lol

    2. Toked
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Choo Choo!

  2. Boo Ya Ka Sha
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    does anyone else on here think Chelsea will dip this year?

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Yep, won't be as good in terms of PL points/wins.

      1. Boo Ya Ka Sha
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        I agree

    2. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      The only way is down from 1st to be fair 😀

    3. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Yes, I've got them down finishing 3rd

      1. Sailboats
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        Yeah, this

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      I suspect this will happen myself.

  3. PvA
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    "Sanchez would be essential come Sunday" they said

    1. thepeen555
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      They did

    2. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Muppets

  4. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Good weekend so far for those sticking with Alonso & Yoshida 😉

    1. Net Gains
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Just joining now. What's happening with Alonso?

      1. Debauchy
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        not much

      2. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        Nothing. It's because their alternative counterparts (Stephens and Moses) have scored once in a blue moon goals.

  5. Istanbul 05
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Apart from anticipation for the goal, Moses has been shockingly poor-way over valued at 6.5!

    1. CostaCoffee
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Fpl prices are about points not performance

      1. Istanbul 05
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        Thank God you're hear to enlighten us! 6.5 is still too high

  6. Waxys
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    As soon as Per is off Arsenal fall apart.

    Such a lame offside trap from Wenger this half

    1. Sims
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Per is a great organiser and of great value to this team

      Anyone who believes otherwise is a moron

      1. Waxys
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        +1

      2. Boo Ya Ka Sha
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        yeah he's also a liability.

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Atsu bandwagon

  8. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Atsu doing very well in pre season..only 5m.

    1. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      What positin does he play? DM?

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        Winger.

        1. Lone Wolf FPL
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 2 hours ago

          oh, nice. maybe he's better that Ritchie than?

    2. makaveli123
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Can he do it on a warm Saturday in Liverpool though?

  9. wachu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Newcastle- 2:0 - Atsu

  10. dreamdream
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    I feel pretty done with my team now. Would like some final comments though. If for some reason moreno of Arnold wont start, i willl have puncheon as first sub.

    Foster (Elliot)

    Cedric - Stones - Valencia - Moreno - Alexander-Arnold

    Mkhitaryan - Salah (Puncheon, Loftus-cheek, Carroll)

    Jesus - Lukaku - Kane

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Terrible midfield...bad defence...good front-line. 3/10

      1. dreamdream
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        LOL terrible def? what u talking about? Def from city, united, liverpool and saints and all predicted to start gw1. Mkhitaryan and salah great preseasons and then one week mid behind. then top 3 attack? what is terrible about it?

        1. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 2 hours ago

          Moreno and Alexander Arnold? No nails there...

          1. dreamdream
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 2 hours ago

            both predicted starters for gw1. Clyne injured. milner seems to be playing mid atm. To me its 100% chance than 1 of them stars, 50% both. if someone wont play i will get puncheon. Regular starter in a Palace i believe will do well this season

    2. Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      the midfield mate.

      1. dreamdream
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        i dont see it. mkhitaryan and salah have had great preseasons. behind them 3 bad starters. But they still start their games. Puncheon is a good 5.0 option to enable the value upfront

        1. Fatboy_Slim
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 2 hours ago

          well it seems you are not ready to listen to any comments...but if you want one more opinion, i agree with the above that midfield is too light...moreno is not nailed imo, TAA is though..at the same time if you are looking for nailed...danilo is, so why pick stones?? 2 goals in preseason means nothing...its friendlies...id say replace moreno and stones...and just find 0.5 somewhere at least to upgrade puncheon..he is not much of an FPL asset...at 5.5 you have quite a few options...

  11. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Atsu the essential enabler!

  12. Cak Juris
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Is it too much to get Abraham and TCarroll?

    1. Boo Ya Ka Sha
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      I wouldn't advise punting on Abra until we see him get a game or two in the prem

    2. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      No

    3. FlockofSeagulls
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Do you think they'll score points?

      That's really all that matters in fpl.

    4. DAZZ
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      I wouldnt say so, TC will start and could be an option for 4th mid

    5. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      In a 442, with both bench options, yes.

  13. JM11
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    1.5m ITB, suggestions on what to use it on?

    DDG (Elliot)
    Stones Kolasinac Cedric Yoshida (Hunemeier)
    Willian KDB Eriksen Ritchie (RLC)
    Lukaku Jesus (McBurnie)

    Any help would be much appreciated.

    1. Jafoole_88
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Willian to Pogba

    2. Smoky Johnson
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      love the team but Jesus vs Kane. I don't believe in cover but what is it that sways you to Jesus before Kane? Please offer me your analysis.

      1. JM11
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 hour ago

        I would love to have Kane in the side, but i think from the start Jesus may get more points. Think City will be banging in the goals this year and I want to at least 2 of their attackers. Wembley factor worries me as well as far as Kane goes. Would love to have all 3. Not sure how I would work that though.

        1. Smoky Johnson
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 1 hour ago

          Did you see Tottenham-Juventus yesterday? Kane scored, had four shots, hit the crossbar against Buffon and their CL-final line-up along with Douglas Costa. All this on Wembley stadium. Kane is scoring 30+ this year. I am actually less convinced by Lukaku and think the first game will finish 1-1 and him scoreless. Rather Jesus > Lukaku.

  14. Waxys
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Tried putting Moses in my but he's red flagged??? Can someone tell me why???

    1. Sims
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Red card in fact cup final

      1. Waxys
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        Ah thank you

    2. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Your IP address was picked up

    3. Banana Shaqiri - HMD, PUP
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Click the red flag and it'll tell you

    4. Oven Glover
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Go for a lunch break now, Waxy. Don't worry about us, we'll get by without you for an hour or two.

      https://www.tripadvisor.se/Restaurants-g255055-Australia.html

      1. Waxys
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        It's 12:21 AM Tomorrow

      2. NIKO.
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

    5. CostaCoffee
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Suspended

    6. thepeen555
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Bandwagon for you already

    7. FlockofSeagulls
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      The red flag won't actually stop you from putting him in your team, so if you really want him just try a little harder. 😉

    8. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Idiot

  15. Supersonic
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    any idea how long clyne will be out for?

  16. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Chelsea looking hungry

  17. Jafoole_88
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    May consider Willian to Moses to free up some $

    1. CostaCoffee
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Suspended

    2. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Ones a defender

  18. thepeen555
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Atsu bandwagon too

  19. Sims
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Who is atsu and why was he so shite before?

    1. Boo Ya Ka Sha
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      he's like a 5'5 ghanian. most foreigners have difficulties adapting to the food, weather, and physical style. especially the attacking players, so it seems.

  20. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    How comes Kosc is suspended for today but Moses isn't?

    1. Waxys
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      That is..... an excellent question

    2. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Think Kos rested. Maybe both banned in the prem

    3. CostaCoffee
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Kos isn't suspended today just not playing, Wenger preparing team for next week I guess

    4. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Not suspended..Wenger chose not to start him

    5. theBoose
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Not suspended. Wenger just deciding not to play him.

    6. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      this game is classified as a friendly

    7. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Not suspended, Wenger decided to not play him. Kos suspended for 1st two games still

  21. Net Gains
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Who assisted Moses?

    1. Chris_White
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Cahill

    2. CloudSky
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Cahill I think.

      1. thepeen555
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        Yes Cahill

    3. The Iron Tulip
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Cahill

    4. Toon_Army666
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Cahil

  22. Waxys
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    I wonder what Conte told them during half time. They look so much better now.

  23. Chris_White
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Anyone waiting on Kane until GW3/5?

    Leaning towards starting with Kaku and bring in Kane after the first few matches

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Yeah. I am. Will bring him in for Jesus though, if I do.

  24. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Goals and assists for both Newcastle goals?

    1. Chris_White
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      Perez and Atsu goals, Manquillo with one of the assists, dunno about the other one

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 hours ago

        Cheers

  25. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Luiz and Cahill dead.

  26. Manumana
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Wot are those with Trippier doing ?now hes injured

  27. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Cahill Luiz love

  28. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    2 careers ended right there

  29. FPL Emu
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    I'm warming to the thought of JWP.

    How nailed is he though?

    1. Exdeo
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 hours ago

      yeah, I am leaning towards him as well. I think he is pretty much nailed, the question is how many points will he score. and now there's Atsu)

      1. Smoky Johnson
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 hour ago

        Add 0.5 and you have a nailed right winger on pens, free kicks, corners, crosses named Ritchie.

  30. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 2 hours ago

    Mitrovic looking dangerous