Joshua King (£6.5m) has forced his way into the Fantasy Premier League conversation with his form in recent days to give hope to the concept of ‘third strikers’.
The Norwegian international is now being considered as the primary Bournemouth asset as Fantasy managers look to the Cherries’ appealing early-season fixtures.
Meanwhile, the competition for Marko Arnautovic‘s (£7.0m) centre-forward role at West Ham increased a little with a goal for Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (£6.5m).
In this latest Scout Notes article we take a look at the goals, assists and line-ups from Friday’s matches and analyse what they mean for our FPL squads.
BOURNEMOUTH 0-2 REAL BETIS | BOURNEMOUTH 5-2 MARSEILLE
- Goals: None | Adam Smith (£4.5m), Joshua King x2 (£6.5m), Ryan Fraser (£5.5m), Callum Wilson (£6.0m)
- Assists: None | Fraser x2, David Brooks (£5.0m), King
Joshua King (£6.5m) cemented his position as the most important Fantasy asset at Bournemouth in the Cherries’ final pre-season friendly. His brace and assist in an impressive 5-2 win over Marseille took his total to four goals and one assist for the summer, more than any of his colleagues. Until he was subbed off with 15 minutes to go, he was among the group of players who had registered the most pre-season minutes too. Although, with Gameweek 1 now just days away, we expect his withdrawal was to ensure he was rested and ready for Cardiff’s visit to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. No Bournemouth striker has managed more than his 301 minutes than this summer, with Jermain Defoe (£6.0m) coming in at 286 and Callum Wilson (£6.0m) registered 250. With Bournemouth’s appealing fixtures, King has become the most popular striker in his price-point but he could build on his 5.4 percent ownership between now and Friday.
Also furthering a case for inclusion in Fantasy squads was midfielder Ryan Fraser (£5.5m). He got himself a goal and two assists bringing his pre-season total to one and four respectively. The Scottish international was another player who was replaced with 15 minutes to go on Saturday, suggesting that manager Eddie Howe wants to start him against Cardiff. Our research on his underlying numbers from last season suggest that 2018/19 could be a big year for Fraser.
In defence, an injury for Nathan Aké (£5.0m) could have an impact on how the Cherries line-up on Saturday. The Dutchman had looked to be a strong candidate for the starting line-up, but the knock he picked up over the weekend could change that. While he still needs further assessment, Sky Sports are still reporting that a proposed loan move for Jack Simpson (£4.0m) to Rangers has been delayed until Aké’s fitness has been confirmed. The youngster has played the same number of pre-season minutes as Simon Francis (£4.5m) and Steve Cook (£4.5m) this summer (315), although the fact that a deal was close with Steven Gerrard’s Scottish side would suggest he is unlikely to start even if Aké loses his fitness race.
The 17 percent of managers invested in Charlie Daniels (£4.5m) will obviously benefit from the three-match suspension of Diego Rico (£4.5m), but the new signing is racking up pre-season minutes ready for a likely return in Gameweek 4. He got his first 90 minute spell against Real Betis on Friday.
BOURNEMOUTH XI vs BETIS (4-4-1-1): Boruc; Rico, Mings, Simpson, Francis; Pugh, Arter, L Cook, Ibe; Mousset (Dobre 84’), Defoe (Hyndman 78’).
BOURNEMOUTH XI vs MARSEILLE (4-4-2): Begovic; Daniels, Aké (Hyndman 50’), S Cook, A Smith; Fraser (Worthington 76’), Surman, Gosling, Brooks (Hobson 83’); Wilson, King (Dobre 76’).
BRIGHTON 2-1 NANTES
- Goals: Tomer Hemed (£5.0m), Pascal Groß (£7.0m)
- Assists: Anthony Knockaert (£5.5m), Hemed
Brighton’s final match of pre-season has largely cleared up any lingering questions over who the Seagulls’ first-choice back-four are. Lewis Dunk (£4.5m) and Shane Duffy (£4.5m) were paired together at centre-back, and their completion of the match means that no other options in their position registered more minutes than their 378 and 336 respectively. Chief competitor for a place Leon Balogun (£4.5m) was an unused substitute, who managed just 170 minutes of summer action after returning from the World Cup.
On the flanks, Bernardo (£4.5m) extended his lead at the top of Brighton’s pre-season minutes chart. No Seagull managed more than his 439 minutes, meaning he is almost certain to push Gaetan Bong (£4.5m) out for Gameweek 1. Bruno’s (£4.5m) latest start and a tally of 394 off-season minutes make him the clear first-choice at right-back.
In midfield, Davy Pröpper (£5.0m) and Dale Stephens (£4.5m) have been the most utilised in July and August (420 and 392 minutes respectively). The latter is the most popular player in Brighton’s squad, with 11.5 percent of managers investing in him for his sure place in Brighton’s starting XI. Solly March (£5.0m) and Anthony Knockaert (£5.5m) look like the first-choice in wide-midfield, for now anyway. New signing Alireza Jahanbakhsh (£7.0m) is yet to start a match, coming on as a substitute against Nantes, but may work his way into the selection picture in later Gameweeks.
Pascal Groß’s (£7.0m) strike was his second of the summer, which will be good news to his 9.5 percent ownership. The most in-form of Brighton’s players in pre-season is budget forward Tomer Hemed (£5.0m) with three goals and two assists – in just 0.3 percent of squads. The Israeli international has benefitted from Glenn Murray’s (£6.5m) slightly frustrated pre-season programme, and is probably in line to replace him if needed. However, at least for now, manager Chris Hughton is confident Murray should be fit to face Watford.
“We are very confident about Watford. He (Murray) took a whack in his back in training yesterday and probably tonight came too soon. He put himself up for the game, felt he would be fine. There were little signs in the warm-up when he said he was still feeling it a little bit. Then it was obvious early in the game that he was struggling a bit. It’s disappointing, we probably needed a couple of days, but I’m quite sure he will be fine for next week.”
Finally, new signings Florin Andone (£5.0m) and Jurgen Locadia (£5.5m) are likely to continue their absence from the selection picture.
“We cannot afford to (risk them). If you look at our schedule, we’ve got some big games coming up and you want them all available for the United game, the next one, Fulham and so on. I have a role, but our medical department when it comes to players’ fitness and well-being have a bigger role. Sometimes I’m guided by what they say. The original problem with Florin was the groin. He has now come through that one and we are just managing him. There’s no doubt he will be fine, we’ve just got to manage him the best way we can and Jurgen’s training.”
BRIGHTON XI (4-1-4-1): Ryan; Bernardo, Dunk, Duffy, Bruno; March, Pröpper (Bissouma 71’), Stephens, Knockaert (Jahanbakhsh 71’); Groß; Murray (Hemed 16’)
RB LEIPZIG 0-3 HUDDERSFIELD
- Goals: Steve Mounié (£6.0m), Adama Diakhaby (£5.0m), Phillip Billing (£4.5m)
- Assists: Jonathan Hogg (£4.5m), Ramadan Sobhi (£5.0m), Laurent Depoitre (£5.5m)
Huddersfield Town rolled out a 3-5-2 formation for their 3-0 win over RB Leipzig, as manager David Wagner wishes to continue using it against the big sides in the Premier League this season. A three-man (or five-man, depending on how you look at it) defence was used when they earned points against Chelsea and Manchester City last season, while a traditional back-four was deployed for the teams around the Terriers in the table. Wagner confirmed that his choice of tactics against Leipzig was so that his team would be capable of making the switch again, especially with Chelsea visiting the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“This is how we will continue. We can vary it and we can react to different oppositions if necessary. The players have done it in the past and they have done it in a good manner as well.” – David Wagner
While it will be less of a difficult choice in the event of a 3-5-2, one of Jonathan Hogg (£4.5m) or Philip Billing (£4.5m) way have to miss out when Huddersfield use their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Australian international Aaron Mooy (£5.5m) is very much back in the fold after his World Cup campaign, leaving only one spot next to him in deep midfield. Billing could have the advantage having been involved in four goals during pre-season (one goal, three assists), but Hogg is the only central midfielder with more pre-season minutes (419) than him (389). There is also the possibility that FPL defender Florent Hadergjonaj (£4.5m) could play in central midfield too, where he has been used a few times in pre-season.
“I can play as a Number 6 and have done so two or three times, so it is a positive thing the manager has shown faith in me that I can play this position. I think I am very flexible. Of course I am an offensive right-back, but my defensive play is going very, very well as well.” – Florent Hadergjonaj
Wagner now has plenty of options for use in the attacking midfield, with Alex Pritchard (£5.0m) the only one sure of a start. He is likely to play in the number 10 role, having registered more game-time this summer than any other attacking midfielder at Huddersfield (356). However, he could drop out when 3-5-2 is used, as was the case against Leipzig, where Billing, Hogg and Mooy were all used in his place.
Rajiv van Parra (£5.0m) played as the second striker alongside Steve Mounié (£6.0m), ensuring that no other wide-midfielder had more minutes to their name this summer (351).
Ben Hamer (£4.0m) stands a decent chance of being the only starting goalkeeper in his price bracket on the opening weekend of the season. No Huddersfield player has registered more pre-season minutes than his total of 450, and he is the shot-stopper to have completed 90 minutes over the summer too. He has done so on three occasions while neither one of Joel Coleman (not in FPL) or Jonas Lössl (£4.5m) has managed more than 45 in a match.
There was no involvement for Collin Quaner (£4.5m) for a second match in a row as he continues to be linked with an exit from the club. Wagner said of his previous absence that he was unable to give him game-time with the new signings that have arrived, and that he would have to see what the final days of the transfer window would bring up. The Huddersfield Examiner are reporting a potential link with Preston North End for Quaner.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN XI (3-5-2): Hamer (Lössl 45’); Kongolo (Durm 74’), Schindler, Zanka (Stanković 74’); Löwe (Sobhi 45’), Billing (Bacuna 74’), Hogg (Sabiri 74’), Mooy (Hadergjonaj 45’), Smith (Diakhaby 45’); van La Parra (Pritchard 45’), Mounié (Depoitre 45’)
WEST HAM 1-0 ANGERS
- Goals: Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (£6.5m)
- Assists: Aaron Cresswell (£5.5m)
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (£6.5m) scored upon his return to match action for West Ham’s final friendly of the summer, also adding a little complication to the centre-forward situation. Marko Arnautovic (£7.0m) had led the line on his own in the previous five matches in a row, but was paired in a front-two with the Mexican against Angers. If manager Manuel Pellegrini intends to use the same formation again then Arnautovic’s forward’s role should be safe, although the Chilean has preferred 4-2-3-1 over the summer. Even still, Arnautovic’s form in that role should be to his credit given that he has five goals and one assist this summer.
Andriy Yarmolenko (£7.0m) has now missed the last two matches in a row, with it being revealed over the weekend that he is currently dealing with hip and thigh issues. If that continues, the appeal of Felipe Anderson (£7.0m), Michail Antonio (£7.0m) and Robert Snodgrass (£5.5m) would increase slightly. The former returned to the side after being rested for Mainz, while Antonio made his second consecutive start against Angiers. However, some consideration should be given to Snodgrass, who has played more minutes this summer than any rival in his position. In fact only Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m), Mark Noble (£5.0m) and Arnautovic have been used more often in the whole squad.
Angelo Ogbonna (£4.5m) is still considered the first-choice centre-back but it is still not yet certain who will start alongside him at Anfield on Sunday lunch-time. Fábian Balbuena (£4.5m) has started every single match since his arrival but in two of those he has been replaced by fellow new recruit Issa Diop (£4.5m), who has accrued more pre-season game-time than any other centre-back at the club (413 minutes).
Equally, the full-back areas look a little unsettled for West Ham. Ryan Fredericks’ (£5.0m) 90-minute appearance against Angiers took him above the experienced Pablo Zabaleta (£4.5m) for pre-season minutes (325 to 296), but the pair have largely shared pitch-time so far. On the other side of the defence Masuaku remains the most utilised Hammer of the summer (506 minutes) but the Angiers match was the first in which he did not start. Aaron Cresswell (£5.5m) continued his recovery from injury by making his first appearance of pre-season and provided the assist for Chicharito’s goal too.
WEST HAM XI (4-4-2): Fabianski; Cresswell (Masuaku 57’), Ogbonna, Balbuena (Diop 45’), Fredericks; Antonio (Snodgrass 57’), Wilshere (Rice 63’), Noble, Anderson (Martinez 57’); Chicharito (Obiang 57’), Arnautovic (Cullen 84’).
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