Pre-Season

Weekend friendly round-up: Arnautovic bags brace, Valencia injured

Marko Arnautovic (£7.0m) furthered his case for inclusion in Fantasy managers’ frontlines with a brace in West Ham United’s pre-season friendly against Preston North End on Saturday.

Jack Wilshere (£5.0m) made his debut in the same match, as the Hammers were held to a 2-2 draw by the Championship club.

Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m), who like Arnautovic has been reclassified as a forward in Fantasy Premier League this season, was also on target in Crystal Palace’s 3-1 win over Oxford United.

Andrew Robertson (£6.0m) set up Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) for Liverpool’s opening goal in the 3-1 defeat by Borussia Dortmund in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday evening. Joel Matip (£5.0m) was forced off early in the first half with a thigh injury.

Dortmund had beaten Manchester City 1-0 a day earlier, with Riyad Mahrez (£9.0m) and Leroy Sane (£9.5m) both getting run-outs for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Manchester United were also in action in the USA, taking on San Jose Earthquakes in California. Jose Mourinho’s side drew the match 0-0 as Antonio Valencia (£6.5m) limped off with a calf problem. Alexis Sanchez (£10.5m) and Anthony Martial (£7.5m) both started the match as part of a front three with youngster Tahith Chong.

Rui Patricio (£4.5m) and Raul Jimenez (£5.5m) made their Wolverhampton Wanderers debuts in the 0-0 draw with Bochum on Sunday. Patricio saved two penalties in the subsequent shoot-out defeat.

A largely second-string Everton side also lost on penalties over the weekend after a goalless draw with Lille. A stronger-looking line-up then drew another blank in the 1-0 loss to Porto on Sunday night.

Jonny Evans (£5.0m) and James Maddison (£6.5m) made their Leicester City debuts in the Foxes’ 4-1 win over Notts County, with Demarai Gray (£5.5m) among the scorers.

A Fulham side that featured Ryan Sessegnon (£6.5m), Tom Cairney (£5.0m) and debutant Jean Michael Seri (£5.5m) were hammered 4-0 by Lyon.

AFC Bournemouth highlighted their attacking aptitude – and defensive frailties – in a 4-3 win over Levante, with Jermain Defoe (£6.0m) among the Cherries’ scorers.

Shane Duffy (£4.5m) and Jurgen Locadia (£5.5m) limped off as Brighton and Hove Albion slumped to a 2-1 defeat to AFC Wimbledon. Oliver Norwood was on target for the Seagulls from the spot.

Huddersfield Town and Burnley both played two friendlies over the weekend. The Terriers lost 2-0 to Real Betis and 1-0 to Werder Bremen (both matches lasting 45 minutes) in Germany, while Sean Dyche split his squad for the encounters with Macclesfield Town and Curzon Ashton. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m) was on target in the 2-0 victory at Moss Rose, while Robbie Brady (£5.5m) returned from injury in the 5-1 win over the National League North side. Ben Mee (£5.0m) found the back of the net in this second match, with Sam Vokes (£5.5m) grabbing a brace.

Summer signing Josh Murphy (£5.0m) scored Cardiff City’s only goal in the 1-1 draw with Torquay United.

Our Scout Notes on Monday will analyse the weekend’s friendlies in greater depth, taking a closer look at personnel and formations and detailing every single goal-scorer and assist-maker.

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1,147 Comments Post a Comment
  1. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    How many people on here are going with Salah? I was surprised by his ownership percentage, thought it would be lower at his price. If you do have him, do you have any other L’pool attacking players?

    1. fiveyears
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I mean he is the highest scoring player of all time!

      Suspect many will go with Salah/Firmino/Robertson, toying with Salah/Mane/Robertson myself

      1. CostaCoffee
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I think I’m just skeptical that he will come close to last years form, I also want more than one captain option, think it’s boring captaining Salah each week even if it does mean guaranteed. Guess it makes sense that his ownership is so high though

    2. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Been umming and ahhing whether or not to have Mahrez or Firmino, but probably going just Salah

    3. supersham
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      For me the pros out weigh the cons when it comes to Salah. Nailed on, easy captain pick and with crazy stats. If he doesnt fire in the first few weeks its an easy downgrade.

    4. Salah'd n Sauce
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Have him along with Mane to start off.
      Fixtures are great to start off on and easier to shift a 13m player than try get him in later.

    5. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I'd rather have him and have to downgrade than not and have to move things around to upgrade. The first is easy, the second could take a couple of weeks or a hit or two.

      To be honest though, first name on the team sheet.

      Oh, and to answer your question I have Firmino too.

    6. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Going without.
      I don't think you can have both Kane and Salah in your team and keep a decent balance, and I'm going with Kane, as I can find plenty of good alternatives to Salah (when splitting the price over two players) than I can with Kane.

      I seem to be the exception with not liking Zaha, or Arnie as forward options.

  2. GuillermoDickero
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Bottomed 🙂

    Thoughts on this team? My First Draft - never thought I'd be remotely happy with a first draft but this one doesn't seem too bad!

    Ederson (4.0/4.5)
    Robertson, Mendy, Cedric, Tomkins/Daniels, Wan Bissaka
    Salah, Mane, Jota, Richarlison, Cairney/Hughes
    Aguero, Zaha, Arnie

    1. Kizza_10
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Shaw/Bailly instead of Mendy and you’re good to go

    2. Optic1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Decent.

      But switch out one of Mendy/Ederson. Not so much because they are bad shouts, but more because they take 2/3 city slots which will make it harder to jump on a midfielder should they start hot.

  3. ElliotJHP
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this Mike Bassett 4-4-2

    Fab
    Bailly Mendy Daniels Robertson
    Mahrez Rambo Salah Martial
    Arnie Aguero

    OTB: Foster, Peltier, Ralls, Kamara 0.5 ITB

    1. Kizza_10
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Cedric instead of Daniels and you’re good to go

  4. supersham
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Got off to a slow start the last few seasons. Hoping to change that with this team. Rate out of 10?

    Beg

    Pva Coleman Shaw Cedric

    Mhki Sane Salah

    Arnie Firmino Auba

    Fab Kenedy Masaku Peltier

    1. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I'd say 7/10

      Nice midfield and forwards but not convinced by the defence.

  5. ludaslol
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I kinda like this one I think

    DDG
    Shaw VVD Robertson Coleman
    Jota Salah Mahrez
    Tosun/Arnie Aguero Zaha

    4.0, Hughes, Cairney, Wan Bissaka

    thoughts?

    1. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Not a huge fan of the Tosun pick personally. Would go Arnie.

      But like the shape and the side

    2. fiveyears
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Not convinced by Tosun as many are, but assuming Shaw is a short term option it looks good!

    3. Kizza_10
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I’d probably swap VVD for Davies just so you haven’t got double Liverpool defence, other than that I really like that team

  6. Kizza_10
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Current team:

    Ederson
    Shaw Robertson Coleman Bellerin
    Sane Salah Pedro Silva
    Arnie Aubameyang

    Subs:
    Boruc, Wan B, Neves, Madine

    I’m currently on this team but I have a couple other options:

    A. Pedro out, Richarlisson in

    B. Pedro out Davies in 5-3-2

    C. Keep current team

    1. jmgsimpson
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      A.

      1. Texas Pete
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        A or C depending on Pedro

  7. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    REPOST

    1. Pickford and Wan-Bisaka/Bennet

    or

    2. Patricio and Tomkins/4.5

    ?

    1. Kizza_10
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      2

    2. jmgsimpson
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      2

    3. ritzyd
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      1

    4. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      1

  8. jmgsimpson
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    RMT please.

    Hennessy

    Mendy, Robertson, Shaw

    Salah, Martial, Mahrez, Richarlison,

    Aubameyang, Arnatutovic, Zaha

    4.0, Cedric, Wan-Bissaka, Stephens
    0.5 in the bank.

    1. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Solid. Like it. Just keep an eye on Martial. Maybe Aguero in for Aub for fixtures?

    2. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Isnt Hennesy like third GK option at palace? i mean, your gk slot is virtually non-existent, get some starting one

    3. Willos Wanderers
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Going Hennessy + 4.0 is high risk. Is he a guaranteed starter? Otherwise I like it.

      1. jmgsimpson
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        May spend the .5 in goal.

        Tempted to go Sanchez over Martial and a 4.5 Striker.

  9. Irish Villan 1985
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Guys, can I get some support please? I honestly don't know what to do 🙂

    So my team is....

    Begovic

    Coleman, Dunk, Yoshida, Van Aanholt

    Salah, Mkhitaryan, Richarlison

    Aubameyang, Firmino, Aguero


    BENCH - Fabianski, Gunnarsson, Romeu, Wan-Bissaka

    Any thoughts? My midfield seems quite weak doesn't it?

    Thanks.

    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Choose between Auba and Aguero and invest the money into a better midfield. I don't like any of them at all apart from Salah.

      1. Irish Villan 1985
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks mate, any recommendations? I think Richarlison could be good in a front 3 at Everton perhaps?

  10. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    A) Yarmalenko
    B) Mkhitaryan

  11. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    How does this non-premium forward team look?

    Ederson
    Mendy-Robbo-PVA
    Mahrez-Salah-Jota-Martial.
    Arnie-Zaha-Firm

    Norris-hughes-Cedric-Peltier.

  12. Gaffa914
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Pickford (Speroni)
    Robertson Cedric Daniels (Ward) (Wan Bissaka)
    Salah Eriksen Sane Richarlison Willian
    Firmino Zaha (Kamara)

    Only problem I think I have is an average strike force, thoughts ?

  13. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I normally never post RMTs, but I've been stuck on how to remove 0.5 on this for ages. The easy option is Tomkins to Obi Wan, but I think he will be rotated with Ward and don't want two 4.0 defs...

    Fabianski Steele
    Robertson Mendy Pereira Tomkins Bennet
    Salah Mahrez Richarlison Maddison Ward
    Aguero Aubameyang Sorloth

    1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Derp, my first RMT on ages and it's on a dead article

  14. Another Hoops
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    After playing around with RMT, this is what I've come up with the idea of wildcarding GW 3 (estimated returns 116.8)

    Foster - Ederson
    Robertson - Shaw - Davies - Wan Bissaka - Cedric
    Salah (C) - Richarlison - Martial - Sane -Hughes
    King - Firmino - Zaha

    * subject to change 🙂

    It's noted that the combinations of teams I tried without Salah averaged around 8 less points for the opening 2 fixtures but he may be dropped when I use the wildcard in GW 3 and we know more.

    Also I'm not a fan of City's opening fixture so will wait and see on Sane in the Charity Shield but if the rumours are true and Son is available for just GW 1 I will probably start with him and look to transfer Mahrez/ Sane/ Silva into my team GW 2.

    1. Another Hoops
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Already changed; by starting with Eriksen instead of Sane estimated returns go up by 3 points (119.69) 🙂

  15. Sanchit
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Irrespective of price/position who do you think will be the top 5 point scorers this season?
    I would pick : Salah Auba Kane Hazard(if he stays) Eriksen

  16. socho
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone considering Chelsea players at all?

    1. AndyCook
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Yes but waiting until after Community Shield and giving it a chance to see who they sign. Too much up in the air. All their players are either at risk of dropping to the bench or being sold. Except Jorginho who isn’t an fpl option.