Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Salah On The Spot

Liverpool make short work of Huddersfield on a night that comes good for most Fantasy managers…eventually.

Some 17.6% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, including 33 of the top 100, hoped to hit the Gameweek 25 ground running by handing Mohamed Salah the captaincy on Tuesday night.

It wasn’t the riskiest of propositions.

The Egyptian, after all, had produced a goal or assist in 13 of his previous 15 appearances and was facing a Terriers side that had lost three straight league matches and managed just one clean sheet in eight.

What followed was a sustained bout of unease for more than a million managers as Huddersfield sat deep and Salah laboured.

Liverpool began to exorcise the demons of last week’s losses to Swansea and West Brom as soon as Emre Can’s deflected shot put them ahead, and the match was as good as won when Roberto Firmino doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time.

The Brazilian finished smartly at the near post after Sadio Mane’s flick sent him clear in the penalty area, punishing the 107,000+ managers who sold him for the Gameweek with a sixth goal in seven starts.

But Salah’s night wasn’t going nearly so smoothly.

Denied the space to run in behind the Huddersfield back five, he was restricted to just three goal attempts all night – indeed, his total of two efforts in the box was doubled by Mane on the opposite flank.

It took a foul in the area on Can, who was awarded maximum bonus on the night, and a decidedly public squabble as to who should take the resultant penalty, for Salah to finally make his mark in the 78th minute.

Firmino’s miss from the spot in the FA Cup loss to West Brom had clearly led to a change in Liverpool’s designated penalty taker.

Once Salah had stroked home the spot-kick, he immediately turned to thank James Milner, which rather gave the game away as to who should have been the man to make it 3-0 on the night.

Speaking post-match, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was in laissez-faire mode, presumably because Salah managed not to miss – his last penalty, ironically also against Huddersfield, was saved by Jonas Lossl in Gameweek 10.

“I love when players discuss on the pitch! My fault, I thought it was clear but obviously I left a little bit of space for interpretation. It was not 100 per cent clear obviously, but in the end the most important thing is that the ball went in – and we didn’t have that too often, to be honest! But yippee, now Mo has probably qualified for the next penalty.”

Yippee indeed for Salah owners if a man with 19 league goals is also back on spot kicks.

Milner’s generosity, or Salah’s persuasiveness, meant the latter ended up with eight points on the night; a tally once again not boosted by any bonus.

Despite producing six goals and four assists in his last seven league appearances, Salah has managed to accrue just three bonus points in that period – by comparison, he’d managed 15 bonus in the opening 17 Gameweeks. While his relentless scoring continues to lend itself to the captaincy, that recent propensity to miss out on extra points has somewhat hindered the ceiling he can achieve.

Firmino, with two, and Dejan Lovren were the others to take home bonus points last night as the defender returned to partner Joel Matip at centre-half at the expense of Virgil van Dijk.

That was a blow for the Dutchman’s 42,000+ new owners who missed out on a rare Liverpool clean sheet away from home – they’ve managed just three in 13 trips to date.

Klopp justified his decision on a couple of grounds.

“It’s completely normal. They have played longer together than Virgil has played. Plus, the fitness thing. It’s clear that in half a year Virgil will be a completely different player to last week or next week. This for today was simply a physical thing.”

Van Dijk’s 5.3% ownership will now hope that yesterday’s rest strengthens the likelihood of his return for Gameweek 26’s visit from Spurs.

That’s one of four home matches in the next six, with clean sheets far more likely against their other visitors – West Ham, Newcastle and Watford. Yet Klopp’s decision to rotate in the heart of defence may now persuade many to steer clear.

As for Huddersfield, they were hopelessly stifled by their own chronic lack of ambition.

Coach David Wagner’s back five included Terence Kongolo, who impressed on his full debut, while Laurent Depoitre and Steve Mounie played up front as a pair for the first time and promptly received little or no service.

The Terriers’ defensive game plan went out of the window once Liverpool had scored, and their response was feeble.

They mustered just five shots all night, and most of those came when the score was already 3-0 – indeed, substitute Tom Ince fired three of those attempts in just 11 minutes of pitch-time.

With trips to Man United and Spurs to come over the next four Gameweeks, ownership in their most popular assets Lossl (7.4%), Zanka (6.8%), Depoitre (6.3%) and Aaron Mooy (6.2%) is likely to mirror the downward trajectory of the side as a whole.

Instead, Fantasy managers will be prioritising some investment in the United attack with the Gameweek 26 Old Trafford clash in mind.

467 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Aubergine will be classed as a mid for 10.5m

    1. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Aubameyang?

    2. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Mid? No chance, probably correct price though.

    3. ☻ Jon Snow ☻
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      He'll be classed as a forward

    4. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Most probably forward

    5. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Stick to cricket.

  2. QuintonFortune25
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Ota and Lingard ➡️ 4.6 def (Hegazi or Bauer maybe) and Pogba. 2FT. Good idea?

    1. Frank Koscielny
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Looking at this myself. Obviously waiting for next deadline, but looks like a solid move.

    2. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Don't think so...But wait for the tonight matches to have a clear picture

  3. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Would love to see Arsenal play a midfield diamond to fit in Wilshere, Mhki, Ozil, Aubamayeng and Lacazette. Just need a big nasty DM for the base of that diamond.

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      How would you line up? Imo there is no room for mkhitaryan in a diamond... unless you play him behind the strikers, and ozil even further behind which is not ideal as he offers nothing while defending.. 4-2-2-2 is more likely, but that would require a lot from wilshere defensively

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Gotta bench a big name anyway (plus one of Wilshere and Ramsey probably). I'd be more concerned that in a diamond, they would try to penetrate through the middle and have no plan B/variation to their play, which has been an issue for a while. Same with 4-2-2-2.

        1. Forza Papac
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Lacazette and Aubamayeng could float out to wide positions on occasion, just like Henry did, to create space for midfield runners

      2. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Wenger stated that Mhki can play a box-to-box role. He could line up alongside Wilshere with the assurance that Wilshere will primarily operate from a deeper role allowing mhki to make forward runs something akin to what Ramsey does atm. Entirely feasible for me, if only they would sign a competent Matic style DM

    2. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe 4-2-3-1 with Wilshere and Xhaka/Elneny CDMs, Mkhitaryan RW, Aubameyang LW, Ozil CAM and Laca ST. Or Laca left and aubameyang ST

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        I would agree this would be most likely, but it seems like a step back to commit to 4-2-3-1 again haha.

        1. Big Mac 24
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Reading these formation suggestions, scenarios - woudl you all consider Wilshire ahead of Ramsey or 50/50 - pure general interest here, not fpl based.

  4. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Hey guys. Could one of you send me a link to some sort of overview over the potential bgw and dgw's?

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks buddy!

      2. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Cant really tell when the postponed games will most likely be placed

  5. TOBY1
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    If Ozil signs an extension this has been a great window for Arsenal - couldn't have been much better really.

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      New GK, CB, CDM ...

    2. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      You lost your best player.

  6. boc610
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    "So Pierre, how you fixed for playing in the middle of Russia at 5: 55 on Thursdays?"

    1. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      he can't even play which makes it funnier

  7. ☻ Jon Snow ☻
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Auba, 10.5?

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      That's my guess.

  8. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Best mid for upto 9.9m? Not Son or Sterling

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Mane looked dangerous and got a lot in to the box last night.. he just misses a little bit of sharpness.. Eriksen is always a valid option, but would wait with spurs assets for a couple of gw's

    2. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Pogba is a good option

  9. drughi
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Just got this bad feeling that city will struggle to break west brom down tonight

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Nah, it's gonna be a dicking I think.

  10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    £56m for Auba, absolutely incredible business

    Wenger has done it again

    1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Until he turns out like Lacazette......

    2. boc610
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      eh lets not go nuts here , hes 29, has had huge off the field issues and Wenger spent the same on Lacazette who everybody has already made their mind up on...

      1. Dokdok666
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Auba is 28

      2. drughi
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        3-4 years in his prime left

        1. boc610
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          and Arsenal dont get champions league football next season, you cant see a guy like him itching for a way out of there to spend his 'prime years somewhere else? because I can

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            They can still win the Europa league and qualify

        2. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          A person who relies solely on pace is not "in their prime" aged 28-32...

      3. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        You cant really blame Laca, as Arsenal as a team has been horrible... excited to see how Wenger will lineup with Auba + Laca though.. (not an arsenal fan btw - YNWA)

    1. Thiga
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Great work Individual!

      Have you guys ever started writing these articles amid transfer speculation and then the player doesn't end up joining lol 😆

      1. Individual
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Haha yes I have indeed - I have Alex Sandro, Fabinho and Ivan Perisic all researched and written up from the summer still 😀

        1. Thiga
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Haha! 😆
          Well at least when transfers are finally completed you're ready to go!
          Keep it up 😉

          1. Individual
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Cheers :joy:
            I expect that we'll have to refresh them - but at least the analysis will be probably there unless one of them radically changes their game lol

    2. Mind över Mata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Top effort!

  11. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    With Emerson coming, is it time to ditch Alonso? After GW 27 perhaps?

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Naah.. he will still be first choice.. Emerson is more likely to be the backup playing in the cup etc.. obviously Alonso will be rotated now andand then, but every player will.. if im proved wrong though, I will ship him!

      1. The Big Fella
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        I agree with this! I am still debating a straight swap to Azpilicueta though to make sure my 7m defender is definitely playing

    2. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Do you think that Conte is going to drop his best player so far this year? Maybe just rest him when necessary.

  12. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    To get in Sanchez I will have to make the following changes. (-8)

    Albrighton---> Sanchez
    Otamendi---> Chilwell
    Firmino--->Ayew

    Worth it?

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      crazy

    2. Claudio555
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Don't sell Firmino

    3. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Honestly prefer the first three, even without the additional 8.

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Me too!

    4. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Madness
      Complete madness

    5. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      No

    6. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I would have to do Ota >Chill to upgrade Mahrez to Alexis. Not certain of that, but if Alexis is explosive it is time to reconsider...

  13. Claudio555
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Best Bakary Sako replacement? (0,0 itb already have 3 Liverpool)

    1. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Shaqiri or Allen

  14. dark91
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I am disappointed that the Aubameyang news is distracting people from Arsenal's awful performance and that Wenger needs to leave

    1. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      In Wenger We Trust!

      1. boc610
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Aubameyang aka the most expensive plaster in history

      2. dark91
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        You must be a non-Arsenal supporter 😉 😀

        1. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          😉

  15. Hurricane Gilbert
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    If Alexis looks good tonight I think I'll do Son to Sánchez and Kenny to Jones for a hit for the weekend.
    Which will give me this team (0,1 itb):

    Adrian / Speroni
    Alonso Ota Jones (Mee, Ogbonna)
    Alexis (C) Salah Sterling Shaq Choupo
    Kane Firmino (Quaner)

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      great moves

    2. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      GK spot suffers badly

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I very aroused.

  16. boc610
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Lacazette has been so badly utilised by Arsenal, they basically said " look these are his strengths, now let's not play to those"

    1. Dokdok666
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      That's Wenger to you

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Look at the players around him. That's why wenger has gone into the market

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        This

  17. MrMajeika
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Who thinks doing son to mahrez yesterday was a sensible move

    1. Dokdok666
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Noone

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I was all set to until the city news

      1. Evil Genius
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Share prices up and the FTSE closed higher than expected.

      2. MrMajeika
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        what news

    3. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      was between Haz and Mahrez .. bought Haz to captain.. phew!

    4. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      How do you understand word "sensible"?

  18. Lingardium Leviosa.
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Has any player had a better debut fpl season than Salah? He's incredible!

    1. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Ronaldo comes close

    2. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Suarez

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Suarez was not anywhere near Salah in terms of accrued points in his first 1-2 seasons.

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Salah:
          2013/14 31points 501mins
          2014/15 3points 33mins
          😉

    3. dark91
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero?
      Although Salah is very likely to surpass his score

    4. JasonG123
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      If he keeps going, he could have the best FPL of any player ever, let alone a debut season.

      Crazy from where he was with Chelsea a couple years ago.

  19. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Aubameyang.. clearly Arsenal have done a fantastic business. Expect a lot from him from gw29 on wards.

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Will he match Lacazette's returns?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        could they play 2 up top?

      2. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        He will exceed Laca's returns. He is better than Laca in the air, faster and scores more goals generally. He does miss few chances tbf but definitely an upgrade to Laca imo.

        1. dark91
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I was being sarcastic 😀
          Lacazette is as good as Aubameyang at the moment but I agree that Auba at his best is better than Laca.
          The problem is however in Wenger and his out of date tactics

          1. ZeBestee
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            yeah i understand you but i am a bit excited you know 😛

  20. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Crystal Palace agree a deal of £9m plus add-ons with FC Midtjylland for striker Alexander Sorloth

    https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/958662918052118529

    1. Lingardium Leviosa.
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      RIP Sako

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Another Dane coming to the PL! I love it

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Oh he is norwegian

  21. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Just heard we signed aubameyang(yayyy!!)...now we need a good CB and a CDM and the list goes onnnnnnnn...

  22. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Niasse look's like he's staying put. Some Everton fans want him to start tonight.