Scout Notes – Pogba and Sanchez Shine

Manchester United’s forgotten midfield big-hitters inflict the damage as Man City’s title-winning party gets wrecked, Newcastle edge ever closer to safety, but can’t keep Jamie Vardy quiet, and an increasingly popular midfielder keeps up his fine form for struggling Crystal Palace.

Wholesale changes cost the Merseyside derby nearly all of its excitement, but the Manchester version was having none of that.

City coach Pep Guardiola benched a number of his stars in preparation for Tuesday’s rescue act in the Champions League against Liverpool, only for his much-changed team to fall victim to one by their cross-town rivals.

Half an hour in and the league title was City’s, with goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan underlining their almost embarrassing superiority, despite the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker watching on from the bench.

Guardiola’s decisions were understandable, given the high-stakes involved in Tuesday’s tie, but certainly surprising in the case of De Bruyne, who had started every single league match before yesterday.

Not that this fact had dissuaded Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers from targeting the Belgian as well – among City players, only Sergio Aguero (286,000+) had been sold by more owners than the midfielder’s 158,000 heading into Gameweek 33.

Both players ended up on the pitch after Chris Smalling had scored to complete United’s remarkable second-half turnaround, with the much-maligned Paul Pogba sparking the fight back with his first brace of the season.

Maximum bonus meant that the Frenchman brought in 14 points on the day – his best haul since Gameweek 2 and his first double-digit return in nine matches.

United were only allowed back into the match courtesy of their hosts’ profligacy, however, with Raheem Sterling missing two gilt-edged chances to increase their lead before the interval.

The England man did at least manage an assist for his 18.6% ownership, with Leroy Sane providing the other, but it was a barren day for the 12.0%-owned David Silva and the 74,000 new managers who had made him City’s most purchased player of the Gameweek.

Spurs await a motivated City

The result has potentially positive Fantasy implications, keeping the league leaders fully motivated while the title remains just out of reach.

Should they fail to haul back Liverpool in the Champions League, that motivation might extend all the way through to a Double Gameweek 37 involving home matches with Huddersfield and Brighton.

But for now, yesterday’s defeat makes next weekend’s trip to Spurs another huge encounter.

The league will only be won at Wembley with a City victory and a United defeat at home to West Brom, which is an unlikely scenario.

Those looking to load up on Spurs assets for their Double Gameweek 34 may now be wary that Guardiola’s troops have taken on the role of the wounded animal, although it’s also a case of how deep the wounds might be running after conceding three goals in back-to-back matches in all competitions.

City’s defensive frailties won’t be helped by a suspension for Fernandinho, who will now miss two matches after picking up his tenth booking of the season.

But our interest in their stars tends to stay further up the pitch than that anyway, and the fact that both Aguero and Jesus finished the match on the pitch yesterday suggests they might both play against Liverpool and beyond in a bid to get the job done in Europe and domestically.

Lukaku Silenced as Pogba runs riot

Amid all the glory-ruining character shown by United at the Etihad, the Fantasy returns they produced had rather less impact.

Romelu Lukaku (28.9%) went into the derby with four goals and two assists from his previous six Gameweek starts, but he was jettisoned by 146,000 ahead of the Gameweek 33 deadline, making him the fourth most sold player overall.

Some 81,000 of those managers swapped him for Harry Kane, only for the pair to produce just a single point each, and United’s upcoming double (WBA bou) has now re-ignited interest in the Belgian striker, who is currently the fifth most popular purchase ahead of Gameweek 34.

Lukaku failed to muster a single shot and had just one penalty area touch in Saturday’s victory.

Pogba was far more influential. His stellar display rewarded only 10.7% of FPL managers, while two assists for the improving Alexis Sanchez meant back-to-back double-digit scores for him and his 3.0% ownership.

The Chilean is finding some form at last, although his 11.5 price tag means he remains an expensive but potentially powerful differential for Gameweek 34 and the run-in.

The recalled Ander Herrera (1.3%) provided the other assist.

Smalling was painfully at fault for City’s opener yesterday, only for his winner to provide major redemption for him and seven points for his 5.7% base, some 110,000 of whom had benched him for the derby.

But overall, United’s defence was woefully out of sorts as David De Gea, at 44.4% by far the most popular goalkeeper in the game, made it just one clean sheet in six for his huge ownership.

That run had prompted managers to bench the Spaniard in favour of Brighton’s Mat Ryan, who outscored him by three points to two on the day to justify the move.

Vardy scores in defeat to Magpies

Newcastle’s 2-1 win at Leicester City propelled them into the top half of the table and within mathematical touching distance of Premier League safety.

Their fine form – three straight wins and four victories and a draw from their last six matches – might prompt interest ahead of a Double Gameweek 37 involving trips to Watford and Spurs.

Midfielder Kenedy (4.8) and defender Paul Dummett (4.2) offer cut-price ways into a buoyant side, while Ayoze Perez’s two goals and an assist from his last two starts brings some good form for his 5.2 price.

But with their top-flight status all but confirmed, motivation might be notable by its absence come that late double.

Maximum bonus brought in a season-best 12 points for Perez, with solid contributions also coming from fellow goalscorer Jonjo Shelvey and defender Florian Lejeune, who supplied an assist at the King Power.

Fantasy interest was rather more firmly centred on the hosts, and Jamie Vardy rewarded his 23.8% ownership with his third goal in as many Gameweeks, and his seventh in nine starts.

The striker was the third most signed forward of Gameweek 33, with 127,000 new managers now looking for more of the same from a promising Double Gameweek 34 away at Burnley and home to Southampton.

The 13.8% backing Riyad Mahrez endured a second successive blank, however, while the 186,000+ who moved for Ben Chilwell were left disappointed as the Foxes failed to produce a second clean sheet in eight attempts.

Their defensive prospects are still positive unless Southampton can improve on a recent run of just four goals in six matches, but Vardy remains the one consistent performer in a side blowing hot and cold.

Milivojevic strikes again

Goals from Luka Milivojevic and Wilfried Zaha weren’t quite enough as Crystal Palace blew a 2-1 lead at Bournemouth to remain deep in the relegation mire.

Heading into the weekend, Milivojevic was bought by 111,000+ managers finally coming round to his dead-ball potential.

That was in evidence again, this time from a direct free-kick, to make it three goals in as many Gameweeks for the 9.4%-owned Serb. Remarkably, he has 10 goals from his last 17 starts to provide exceptional long-term value for his 5.0 price tag.

He’s also accrued 14 bonus points over the last 12 Gameweeks – he was awarded the maximum yesterday – and Palace’s schedule (BHA wat LEI stk WBA) could prompt further investment despite their lack of a Double Gameweek.

Zaha scored his first goal since Gameweek 18 in a fine attacking display involving five shots, three of which came in the penalty area.

He was bought by 24,000 ahead of Gameweek 33 on the back of two assists from his previous three matches since returning from injury, although no double and his 6.8 cost might deter further suitors.

Managers are certainly not keen on Bournemouth’s assets at present.

Callum Wilson suffered more heavy sales, of 71,000, while the injured Junior Stanislas was offloaded by 66,000.

Jermain Defoe was handed a first start since Gameweek 18 in preference to Josh King, only for the Norwegian international to come off the bench and score, making it returns in four of his last five appearances (three goals and an assist).

The injury to Stanislas had promoted Jordon Ibe as a 4.7 enabler option in midfield ahead of the Cherries’ (albeit tricky) Double Gameweek 34 of Liverpool away and a visit from Man United.

But a “slight illness” kept him out of a match in which Lys Mousset also scored, with Bournemouth assists coming from Steve Cook and Ryan Fraser.

Yohan Cabaye and Andros Townsend set up Palace’s goals.

Stalemate at The Hawthorns

Salomon Rondon’s assist in West Brom’s 1-1 draw with Swansea City was one of the few Fantasy high points in an otherwise low-key match.

The Baggies striker has now produced decent returns in four straight Gameweeks (two goals, two assists) as he continues to stand tall on the deck of a burning Black Country ship.

Jay Rodriguez scored for West Brom, while Tammy Abraham equalised for the visitors from a Sam Clucas assist.

Arguably the only major news to emerge from the match was an injury to Swansea defender Mike van der Hoorn who, at 4.4, was the cheapest route into a Swans defence preparing for a Double Gameweek 37 away at Bournemouth and home to Southampton.

The centre-half was withdrawn at half-time with a shoulder problem that makes him a doubt for the run-in, which could, in turn, promote interest in his replacement yesterday, the 4.3-priced Kyle Bartley.

Manager Carlos Carvalhal remained vague on the prognosis in his post-match comments…

“It was Mike’s shoulder – we don’t know yet what the problem is. He cannot move his arm at the moment, but let’s see if things get better.”

All bleak at Brighton

Few positives emerged from Brighton’s 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield.

The Seagulls are close to securing their Premier League safety, but missed a golden chance to virtually seal the deal against the struggling Terriers.

Steve Mounie’s equaliser for the visitors put paid to any defensive returns from Brighton’s backline, while striker Glenn Murray (7.2%) blanked for the third straight match and was alarmingly hauled off after 66 minutes.

Popular midfielder Pascal Gross (17.6%) was another to disappoint for a third start running, with Solly March providing an assist on the day for the own goal scored by Huddersfield keeper Jonas Lossl.

The draw certainly keeps Brighton’s players motivated, but targeting profitable assets looks tricky.

They’ve wasted back-to-back home encounters with Leicester and now Huddersfield and have to deal with fixtures against all of the top four across their final six matches, including a ghastly Double Gameweek 37 of Man United at home and Man City away.

Before that comes a Double Gameweek 34 involving a trip to Crystal Palace and a visit from Spurs, two of three matches that midfielder Davy Propper will miss after he was dismissed for serious foul play on Saturday.

Last and least

Burnley’s 2-1 win at Watford was great for the Clarets, but of little relevance to Fantasy managers.

Jack Cork and substitute Sam Vokes scored for the visitors, with Kevin Long providing an assist, while Roberto Pereyra was on target for the Hornets.

Burnley’s relatively popular strike duo, Ashley Barnes (4.2%) and Chris Wood (2.4%), both blanked, while their backline have now kept just one clean sheet since Gameweek 21.

That defensive fragility doesn’t exactly inspire confidence ahead of a Double Gameweek 34 involving home matches with Leicester and Chelsea, although it may yet prompt coach Sean Dyche to consider Tom Heaton in goal.

The club skipper was back on the bench yesterday, suggesting the 10.5%-owned Nick Pope’s tenancy as Burnley’s number one remains under threat.