Scout Notes
10 September 2017 3471 comments
davidwardale davidwardale
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Burnley’s record signing keeps things clinical, while his defensive colleagues keep it clean against a Crystal Palace side that does everything but score at Turf Moor.

Elsewhere, a toothless Swansea City can only dream of such chances as they succumb to an increasingly resilient Newcastle.

Here are Sunday’s notes.

Wood pulling up some trees…

Two matches, two goals – Premier League life is good for Burnley’s Chris Wood.

He followed up his debut strike away at Spurs with the winner at home to Crystal Palace, latching on to Lee Chung-yong’s awful back pass to slot home.

The New Zealand international was used alongside Sam Vokes in a 4-4-2 formation by Sean Dyche, a system that could well be the home default for a while in light of the Clarets’ kindly Turf Moor schedule.

They’ll entertain Huddersfield, West Ham, Newcastle and Swansea City before the end of Gameweek 12, although it’s an entirely different matter on the road.

Dyche is unlikely to be so progressive when his side have to face Liverpool, Everton and Man City over their next three away fixtures – match-ups that should mean a switch to 4-5-1 and competition between the two strikers for a lone spot up front.

Wood has form and efficiency in his favour. His 60% shot accuracy and 40% goal conversion rates are up there with the best among those forwards who’ve scored twice over the last two Gameweeks.

That’s just as well when Burnley have managed a mere 17 attempts over that time frame – including just three chances created today.

…while Burnley’s defence stand tall

An injury to talismanic keeper Tom Heaton didn’t deter Burnley’s backline from completing their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Last season’s top scoring shot stopper went off with a suspected dislocated shoulder after 35 minutes – a blow to his 7.2% ownership but a chance for understudy Nick Pope, who is 0.5 cheaper, to get a good run in the team.

He started that bid with a two-point showing – he made three saves – while the most popular pick among the defence, Ben Mee (8.1%), had to make do with just the six points after missing out on any bonus.

Those on team-mate Stephen Ward (4.4%) will be rather more satisfied with an eight-point showing that included two bonus – the full-back now has almost double the points (19-10) of his more popular colleague.

Mee’s time as the go-to Burnley defender for Fantasy Premier League managers could be limited.

James Tarkowski looks to have cemented his start and is beginning to show more bonus point potential as he now leads Mee for clearances, blocks and interceptions (65 v 55) and tackles won (7 v 5).

However, if Heaton is – as expected – sidelined for several months with a dislocated shoulder, we perhaps have to question the merits of investing in the Clarets’ backline. The skipper is undoubtedly a key factor in their clean sheet potential having made more saves than any other keeper last season.

Palace problems crystal clear

Frank de Boer might be out of a job by the time I finish writing, or you finish reading, this sentence.

But there were signs of a revival in their loss at Burnley.

The coach ditched his wing-back system and geared his players up to be more direct, and it so very nearly paid off.

A Gameweek-leading 23 shots was the result, with Christian Benteke and Scott Dann particularly profligate in front of goal.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, their schedule is about to stiffen. Southampton visit next week, before back-to-back trips to both Manchester clubs and a home match with Chelsea.

Palace’s most popular player, Ruben Loftus-Cheek (8.4%), could be the major casualty in all that.

The 4.5-priced midfielder had reportedly recovered from a groin injury that forced him to miss the Gameweek 3 loss to Swansea City, but he was deemed not fit enough to even make the matchday squad on Sunday.

Benched by 349,000 and sold by 91,000 this week, the exodus may well now continue.

When fit, his starting role would seem assured, however.

Newcastle keep it clean

Nearly 900,000 FPL managers kept Newcastle keeper Rob Elliot out of their starting line-ups, making him the most benched player of the Gameweek.

The 20.5%-owned stopper responded with an eight-point performance at Swansea City that included a clean sheet, three saves and one bonus point.

He’s now up to 19 points for the season and, with minimal competition for his starting slot at Newcastle, continues to function very nicely as a 4.0 fire and forget option. Significantly perhaps, he made just three saves today but still picked up a single bonus point.

The Geordies made it back-to-back clean sheets with a resolute showing in south Wales, and they have now conceded just three goals in four outings this season – only three sides can top that.

Rafa Benitez’s men are also fifth best for fewest shots conceded in the area, while centre-half Jamaal Lascelles’ match-winning goal launched him to a 15-point display.

But it was Jesus Gamez’s first start of the season that might get us thinking.

The 4.0-priced defender racked up eight points, including two bonus, and could be the latest uber-cheap way into an increasingly impressive Newcastle defence ahead of an almost entirely kind run of home fixtures – STK LIV CPL BOU WAT LEI.

His place, however, is far from guaranteed, with the benched DeAndre Yedlin and Florian Lejeune waiting in the wings.

At the other end of the pitch, Matt Ritchie made it consecutive assists for his 2.4% ownership, while the 3.6% on Christian Atsu had to make do with a second-half cameo following his international exertions for Ghana.

And in the battle of the budget forwards, Joselu might have failed to score, but he offered much more than Swansea rival Tammy Abraham.

The 5.5-priced Magpies striker registered a Gameweek-leading four shots on target, while his six shots in total was matched only by Man United’s Romelu Lukaku.

Abraham managed just two attempts as the Swans continue to struggle for a creative spark.

Swansea assets cheap but cheerless

Abraham was one of three Swans players who made it into the top 20 for transfers-on this Gameweek.

He was bought by 101,000 new managers, while team-mates Kyle Naughton (135,000) and Renato Sanches (116,000) proved even more popular.

Naughton’s owners can at least look forward to a decent run of fixtures.

Once next week’s trip to Spurs is out of the way, that involves visits from Watford, Huddersfield and Leicester City and an away clash with West Ham – solid chances to build on Swansea’s two clean sheets thus far.

But the Swans’ impotent attack is a major issue.

Paul Clement’s side are bottom for shots and joint-bottom for both shots in the box and shots on target.

In fact, they’ve managed just three more attempts all season than Palace had at Burnley today.

  1. DR0GBA
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Which position in my team do I work on fixing for this week? Can't decide between improving on midfield or defence...

    Elliot (Begovic)
    Kolasinac - Bertrand - Kompany* - Hegazi* (Rosenior)
    Pogba - Willian* - Ramsey - Eriksen (Carroll)
    Lukaku - Kane (McBurnie)

    *Injured/Rotation risk

    £0.7m in the bank.

    Don't have enough for Hegazi out for Davies unless I downgrade Kompany to someone and take a -4?

    1. proraza
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't take -4 for defenders 🙂 but on the other side, Davies is capable of bringing more points than any midfielder or striker 😀

      Your defence needs refreshment ASAP

      1. DR0GBA
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Maybe I should keep Kompany and remove Willian/Eriksen for someone cheaper to bring in Davies for Bavies?

        1. DR0GBA
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          lol meant Davies in for Hegazi

  2. Aston-villain
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Is the best strategy to hold wildcard as long as possible?

    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Use it when you need it.

      1. Aston-villain
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks. Really useful insight.

    2. TheTwelfthMan
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Hold it until your team really needs a complete restructure.

  3. FISSH
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    WC time for me after a horrible week. Should have just wildcarded over the break.

    Alli or Eriksen?

  4. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Is anyone else selling Lukaku for Jesus?

    Like Luke said on the GW1 scoutcast, Jesus is a £1m cheaper and will probably keep up with Lukaku across the season.

    I think if you have Pogba, you can let Lukaku go. Pogba is £3m cheaper, looks the business and is comfortably outscoring big Rom at the moment.

    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      It's tempting as it would let me get Firmino for Gabbi but the ownership and captaincy makes me an unnecessary risk which I'm not willing to take so early in the season.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Pogba's ownership is sky high, too.

    2. FC Lackless [BALEGIUM]
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      I'd be fearful captaining him atm ... but I'd be on him immediately if Aguero got injured

    3. MTPockets
        8 years, 6 months ago

        In a world of unlimited free transfers I probably would.

      • FISSH
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I think I might sell him.. could really punish us though

      • Pierce34
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I have both - deliberating who to sell for Kane.

        I'm still wary of Pogba's position - should I not be?

      • Cok3y5murf
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Having Pogba and Lukaku is better than having just Pogba.

        Think it's only relevant if Jesus will keep up with him for the next few weeks, not across the season (if he even does).

    4. toystory2wasok
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Forster, Elliot
      Mee, Hünemeier, Bertrand, Danilo, Daniels,
      Atsu, Eriksen, Willian, Jesé, Mkhitaryan
      Morata, Lukaku, Firmino

      want to get rid of:
      forster (expensive, leaky)
      bertrand (as above)
      Hun (doesn't play, price falling)
      danilo (playing deep now? rotation risk)
      willian (rotation risk)

      (jese + atsu are probably cheap enough to keep around for a few more weeks)

      this doesn't feel worth wildcarding, but i only have 1 FT to make it work and it's difficult to work out the priorities :/ hun + willian > davies + gross (-4)?

      1. agueroooooney
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I would seriously consider a wildcard to be honest

        1. toystory2wasok
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          i'm very tempted, but a WC for mostly defensive changes seems decedent. i'm used to using them when staring at a bunch of flagged players :/

    5. ol3andre
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Best midfield under 5.3 that isn't Brady? My team is in deep crisis.

      1. Fingerspitzengefühl
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Probably Atsu

        1. ol3andre
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Atsu was my choice but then he got benched today...real headache...

          1. Fingerspitzengefühl
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            I'm pretty sure that had something to do with the international break, Murphy didn't perform well and Atsu will more than likely retain his starting position

            1. ol3andre
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              8 years, 6 months ago

              Thanks a lot for the information...most like going with Atsu then!

      2. Beavis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        There aren't any really. I'd consider Chalobah.

        1. ol3andre
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Yes I am on Chalobah/Doucoure now...

      3. tafrère
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Doucouré.

      4. agueroooooney
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Very few good options, Fernandinho possibly?

      5. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Get a 4.5 mid, get a better defender

    6. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Thoughts on Joselu?

      Decent fixtures, stats, price.

      1. Rash
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Was impressive today when he got service

      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Great stats, not 100% nailed thou.

    7. IdrissaGueye
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      2FT 0.0m ITB
      Looking to transfer out tadic but don't see many better options, worth doing tadic -> 4.5m and 4.0m def ->6.0m def?

    8. Kante FC
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      How are we looking for GW5:

      Foster (WHU)

      Simpson (hud), Dunk (bou), Zanka (LEI), Lascelles (STK)

      Alli (SWA), Eriksen (SWA), Pogba (EVE)

      Kane (c) (SWA), Lukaku (EVE), Firmino (BUR)

      1. Marc OverMata
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Get bavies.

        1. Marc OverMata
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Scratch that. The 3 TOTs you have are enough. :/

      2. agueroooooney
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Top notch front 6 anyway, defence a bit weak

    9. agueroooooney
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      A)
      Gabbi -> Kane
      Willian -> 4.5
      Alderwiereld -> Davies

      For -4?

      The first two transfers on their own leave me with 4.1 for a midfielder so can't do that

      Or

      B)
      Gabbi -> Kane
      Lukaku -> Jesus
      Willian -> 5.3

      and which cheap mid would you slot in?

      1. FantasyNik123
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        A, Chalobah/TC

    10. mr. inconspicuous
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Best Watford defender for 4.5?

      1. Beavis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Kiko if not injured.

        1. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Who is this Kiko guy?

          Suddenly he's rising like a rocket on fplstats...he's completely passed me by :-/

          1. tafrère
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Got clean sheets and attacking returns. Watford look great defensively.

    11. Rash
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Seen Richie incident again should have been a red imo

      1. tafrère
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Ritchie plays on the edge.

    12. Man Chest Hair United
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Shame sane isn't nailed he looks such a good player.

      Anyone see him forcing Pep to up his minutes

      1. Marc OverMata
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Possibly see Kun getting dropped over CL weeks and sane getting more starts as a result

      2. MTPockets
          8 years, 6 months ago

          I'm still gutted as he was going to be my first pick this season.

      3. FantasyNik123
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Will be taking a bigger risk in straying further away from the 'average scout squad' by trusting in my instincts. Will be doing Mane to Salah (a rotation risk with Ox and Coutinho coming in) and Gab to Vardy (for a nice differential against you lot who are all pretty much getting Firmino in). I'm really looking forward to next week. Should pay off. 🙂

        1. Marc OverMata
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Good luck

      4. aleksios
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Chica and Luka to Morata and Kane for a hit would give me this team...go for it?

        --Elliot--
        Alonso-Davies-Jones
        Richarlison-Mooy-Eriksen-Pogba
        Kane-Morata-Firmino
        ---Foster--Zanka---Chalobah---Hegazi.

        0.3itb. Thanks all.

      5. Iceball
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Foster Elliot
        Alonso Valencia Bertrand Naughton Hunemeier
        Eriksen Pogba Gross Tadic Carroll
        Lukaku Jesus Abraham
        2.6m itb, no ft
        WC or Tadic to Salah for a hit and roll with that?

        1. Sydney Saints
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          no need to wildcard. Tadic->Salah seems like a good move

      6. Nascimento
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        The state of refereeing.

        1. Marc OverMata
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          New York??? Give up...

      7. Aston-villain
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Chicha+Mane+Willian out for Kane+Doucoure+Ritchie -4
        Yes or no? (Still have wildcard)

      8. Trevez
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        What to do with this lot
        Foster Elliot
        Stones Stephens Dunk Mee Jones
        Mkh Alli Atsu Willian Tc
        Kane Lukaku Firmino
        Thinking about this
        Willian-> Antonio
        Stones ->

      9. COYS Down Under
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Nice to see Ritchie and Jesus return back to back weeks, patience pays off.

      10. Boo Ya Ka Sha
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Would you drop Richarlison or Brady?

        1. Marc OverMata
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Keep Brady

      11. proraza
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Worth doing Cedric -> Davies? 🙂

        1. Marc OverMata
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Yes

      12. andy85wsm
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Do we think Atsu's time is up now, or was that an international resting?

        1. FPL Kangaroo
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          100% International resting. Played 2 full games for Ghana during IB. Keep !

          1. andy85wsm
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            That's what I wanted to hear 🙂

            1. Rinseboy
              • 14 Years
              8 years, 6 months ago

              Andy what are your views on the cheap 4th mid spot? Have to shift Willian and thinking of going cheap, maybe for a punt like Gross?! Got Atsu already

            2. FPL Kangaroo
              • 8 Years
              8 years, 6 months ago

              🙂

        2. Kante FC
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Never trust a cheap midfielder

        3. Rinseboy
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          He was always a bit of a rotation risk as they have a few players that can play there and didn't start always last season. The positives are they didn't score till he came on so maybe he'll start again next match, clutching there tho a bit!

        4. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Either way, Newcastle aren't gonna score too many goals week in week out so I don't think he's an option. Having said that I do have Ritchie.

        5. SilkySkills
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          He looked bad today and he held back a lot while others made runs

          I'm looking elsewhere but there really aren't any decent options at 5m

          Might have to push to a 5.5m option

      13. Ganso
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Hi All,

        Looking to get Davies into my team. I have 2 FT, but 0.0 ITB.

        A, B or C? Would appreciate some help. Thanks!

        (a)
        Ake -> Davies
        JWP -> Chalobah

        (b)
        Ake -> Davies
        De Bruyne -> Silva

        (c) -4
        Ake -> Davies
        JWP -> Choupo/ Brady
        De Bruyne -> Silva

        Rest of my team looks like...

        Foster Elliot

        Jones Bertrand Suttner (Ake Long)

        De Bruyne Pogba Ramsey Carroll (JWP)

        Kane Lukaku Firmino

      14. istanbul05
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I try and avoid hits for defenders but I'm tempted to do Mane, Long to Eriksen, Bavies (-4)....or should I just do Mane to Eriksen?

        DDG
        Stephens, Dawson, Naughton,
        Mane, Salah, Pogba, Carroll,
        Kane, Kaku, Mounie.

        Elliot, Atsu, Mbemba, Long.

        Thanks

      15. Aladdin Sané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Jones + Cedric --> Davies + Wimmer (-4)

        Yay or nay?

        1. TheTwelfthMan
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Nay, both Jones and Cedric could very easily deliver clean sheets in GW5.

        2. Fingerspitzengefühl
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Jones and Cedric looks like good picks mid-term, wouldn't drop both of 'em

        3. Marc OverMata
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Not for a hit

      16. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Wasn't a red card at all. Football has gone soft.Soon will be a non contact sport.

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

          It was yesterday.

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

          his studs were planted in the keepers face... red card .. end of.

      17. C'mon the Fylde
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Keep or make a change?

        Fabianski
        Davies/Bertrand/Alonso
        Mooy/MKH/Carroll/Alli
        Chicharito/Fermino/Lukaku

        Myhill,Naughton,Goldson, Mane

        1. Marc OverMata
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Save but playnaughton over Carrol

          1. C'mon the Fylde
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Thanks!

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

            why play Naughton over carroll, you think spurs wont score v Swansea??

      18. Toast
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        As Davies is about to rise I will do my usual panic..

        Foster
        Kola, Stephens, Naughton
        Eriksen, Williams, Ramsey, Brady
        Kane, Lukaku, Firmino

        Elliot, Frasier, Hunemeir, Carroll
        1.4 itb

        Which one:

        A. Stephens ➡️ Davies
        B. Frasier ➡️ Davies
        C. Willian ➡️ Pogba
        D. Stephens, Foster, Willian ➡️ Davies, Krul, Pogba -8

        Thanks

        Which one would you choose? Thanks

      19. @fpl_phenom
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Mendy as the best city cover ?

        or is £6.5M too much for a possible rotation risk....