Scout Notes

Hazard owners hoping Giroud can defy Sarri quotes

Arsenal and Chelsea both recorded more wins in the Europa League on Thursday night as they prepare for London derbies this weekend.

Neither side deployed particularly strong line-ups but there were still plenty of Fantasy talking points ahead of Gameweek 14.

Interestingly, the most influential talking point actually involved someone who didn’t even play in the midweek European matches…

Chelsea 4-0 PAOK

Goals: Olivier Giroud x2 (£7.7m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (£4.2m), Álvaro Morata (£8.7m)

Assists: Pedro (£6.3m), Cesc Fabregas (£6.3m), Hudson-Odoi

Chelsea got back to winning ways by beating PAOK 4-0 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night. A brace from Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) was the top story as he hopes to break into the side to face Fulham on Sunday. Maurizio Sarri rang the changes for the Europa League match with only Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) keeping his place from the line-up that was thrashed 3-1 by Spurs.

Eden Hazard (£11.1m) owners will be hoping that Giroud gets to start in Gameweek 14 as he usually brings the best out of the Belgian. After averaging just 1.8 points per Gameweek in the last five, it is last chance saloon for Hazard against Fulham. The fact that Giroud was replaced by Àlvaro Morata (£8.7m) with 15 minutes left to play, despite being one goal away from a hat-trick, does imply that the Frenchman could be required when Chelsea host Fulham on Sunday. However, when asked if Thursday night’s performance had changed Sarri’s thinking about the league match, he said it did not. Hazard owners will have to hope that the Italian still considers Giroud.

“No. Because, in the last match, the problem was the team. Not one or two players. So I think that if there were two different players, it would have been the same. The big problem was the team.” – Maurizio Sarri

Sarri was also specifically asked by journalists if Giroud scoring twice would make a difference to which he said:

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. In that match, I think if we were able to draw five minutes from the end, we lost.” – Maurizio Sarri

Frustratingly, it appears that Hazard himself was not even mentioned in the post-match press conference, which was also supposed to act as the pre-match media commitment for the Fulham game. We were hoping for a further update on the injury he suffered against Tottenham but it looks as if we may have to go with the comments that came out before the PAOK match. That makes formulating a plan around him and Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) a little harder than we’d like.

“Hazard is not a serious injury, I think. He will not be able to play tomorrow [v PAOK], but I think that we will be able to recover him for the next Premier League match. 25 days ago he had a back injury, now the ankle, so he has lost a lot of training. So it is normal that he isn’t at the top of his physical condition. He needs to have one week of training and a couple of matches to [recover] his best level. I think that this week it’s useful for him to have [only] training [and not play v PAOK]. Of course, I think that he cannot play ten matches in 29/30 days. So sometimes he has to rest.” – Maurizio Sarri

Another 90 minutes on the continent for Ross Barkley (£5.9m) means that he is likely to be replaced by Mateo Kovačić (£5.9m) in the Premier League on Sunday.

There were some great performances all round from Chelsea, although, as Sarri said, Fantasy managers should not read too much into what they saw on Thursday night. Pacey winger Callum Hudson-Odoi (£4.2m) particularly impressed but there appears to be no chance of seeing Hudson-Odoi in the Premier League anytime soon. While he has plenty of attacking threat, Sarri wants to see more from him defensively first.

“He played very well, but the type of match was for his characteristics. So they were down to 10 men after seven minutes, so we needed only to play in the offensive phase. He’s really very able to do this. But I want to see him in matches where we also need him in the defensive phase. I don’t know if he is able for the Premier League at 18, especially in a big team. He can be the best player in Europe in two or three years. If he’s already ready now to make a difference in the team like Chelsea, he would be the best player in Europe in two years.” – Maurizio Sarri

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Emerson, Christensen, Cahill, Zappacosta (Ampadu 63′); Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Barkley; Hudson-Odoi, Giroud (Morata 75′), Pedro (Willian 66′).

Vorskla 0-3 Arsenal

Goals: Emile Smith-Rowe (£4.5m), Aaron Ramsey (£7.3m), Joe Willock

Assists: Mohamed Elneny (£4.3m)

Unai Emery went with a very youthful side in their 3-0 win over Vorskla on Thursday night. There was not a great deal riding on the match so there was a host of largely unrecognisable names in the side. For that reason, there is only a limited amount we can glean from a Fantasy perspective as most of those who were involved are unlikely to be on our radars any time soon.

Petr Cech (£4.9m) was used in goal with a defence consisting of Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.4m) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (£4.5m) at full-back with Rob Holding (£4.4m) and Carl Jenkinson at centre-back. Zech Medley replaced Holding on the hour-mark so it is currently unclear who will partner Shkodran Mustafi (£5.4m) at centre-half against Spurs. The fact that Holding started in Ukraine suggests he could miss out in the Premier League for the first time since Gameweek 5. The second-half substitution could be an indication that Emery was preparing him for the north London derby, although both Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos (£5.1m) were left back home.

Aaron Ramsey (£7.3m) was the man who stuck away a first-half penalty, which he had won, but it’s hard to read too much into that considering he was by far the most senior attacking player on the pitch. In fact, it was the first penalty he has ever taken for Arsenal. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m), Alexandre Lacazette (£9.6m), Mesut Özil (£8.3m) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£6.7m) were all given the night off either as unused substitutes or absent from the matchday squad entirely. The fact that Ramsey was one of a few senior players involved among the youngsters does suggest he is in the backup squad for the time being and won’t be involved against Spurs.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£6.7m) was not involved on the night but still travelled to Ukraine which could mean he one of the names to lose his Premier League place on Sunday. For such an important game, Özil is likely to reclaim his spot.

Starts for Matteo Guendouzi (£4.5m) and Mohamed Elneny (£4.3m) in the Europa League all but confirm that Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) and Lucas Torreira (£4.9m) will patrol central midfield against Spurs.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Cech; Maitland-Niles, Holding (Medley 60′), Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner; Guendouzi (Gilmour 76′), Elneny; Smith-Rowe, Ramsey (Saka 68′), Willock; Nketiah.

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523 Comments Post a Comment
  1. noquarternt
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Should be bigger rank movements with the template busting of the heavy hitters going on.

    Up or down is the question...

  2. merin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Would you change anything in this team now, if you wanted Spurs cover from next week?

    Patricio
    Alonso Robertson Dunk AWB
    Salah(v) Mane Richarlison Maddison
    Aguero(c) Arnie

    (Hamer Bennett Wilson Stephens)

    2,7 ITB, 1 FT

    1. rowdog24
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I would feel very nervous about being Hazardless

    2. Man Getting Hit By Football
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      What's your plan for Spurs cover? The team looks good.

      1. merin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Maybe Eriksen or Alli in for Maddison or Richarlison. Depending on how this GW goes.

        Not quite sure if I want Kane. Thoughts?

        1. Man Getting Hit By Football
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          I've gone for Kane for the time being, only because he is nailed. Probably the best feature about him.
          If a midfielder becomes as nailed, for a cheaper price & a bigger differential, I would be very tempted in that.
          Good luck!

    3. MTPockets
        5 years, 4 months ago

        If you want Kane then guess limited to Son, otherwise any Spurs mid for Maddison?

        1. MTPockets
            5 years, 4 months ago

            * unless want to keep Maddison, sell Salah/Mane

      • pressdpm
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Any ideas on what to do here? 1FT, 0.5 spare

        Fabianski
        Alonso - Wan Bissaka - Robertson
        Salah - Hazard - Richarlison - Gudmundsson
        Arnautovic - Aguero - Jiminez

        Stekelenburg - Digne - Bennett - Biling

        1. Man Getting Hit By Football
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Looks good, are you tempting by any City mid at all?

          1. pressdpm
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Yep, would mean getting rid of Haz/Salah with those nice fixtures though.

            1. Man Getting Hit By Football
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              It's personal preference in that case. You can't have them all. I think you will be fine this week, gives you another game week to assess any potential move in that area. Good luck for this weekend!

              1. pressdpm
                • 11 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                You too mate

      • Man Getting Hit By Football
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        First RMT this year, what do you think of my wildcard?

        Fabianski • Steele
        Alonso • Robertson • TAA • Doherty • AWB
        Sterling • Sane • D.Silva • Richarlison • Brooks
        Kane • Arnautovic • Jimenez

        0.8ITB

        Thanks!

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Very nice.

        2. pressdpm
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Hard to pick any faults there

        3. Lignja
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Rly nice

      • Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I think this week has revitalised FPL this season for me. The first template fail has led to the standard big hitters being questioned for the first time and different approaches are finally being taken. Some great discussions and big decisions needed - some weeks the hot debates have resorted to crap low-consequence decisions like "who is the best 4.5m midfielder" or "Pat or Fab" which has made it a bit dull imo.

        Should be exciting moving forward too with Arsenal and Spurs (who have largely been avoided so far) starting amazing fixture runs - and just look at GW18: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Spurs all with plum fixtures - that is going to be fun!

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Very good points! The season starts now 🙂

        2. Jules Rimet
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Cant wait to see the RMWCT avalanche for the next 3 upcoming gameweeks.

        3. The Chosen One...
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          GW18 Spurs have Everton away, Liverpool got Wolves away. Not sure they're plum fixtures

          1. Holmes
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            they are plum fixtures for teams like Spurs and Liverpool 😮

            Wolves are not performing that well either

          2. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Will people get rid of Salah or Kane that week though with their respective GW19 fixtures or play hokey-cokey with the likes of Hazard or Aguero possibly for hits? Is going to be interesting.

        4. wulfrunian
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          It's an amazing year though don't you think?We are in gw14 and it feels like we are already on March.

      • fakelund
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Bench one:

        a) Robertson (EVE h)
        b) Wan Bissaka (BUR h)
        c) Doherty (CAR a)
        d) Pereyra (LEI a)

        1. rowdog24
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          D

        2. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          d

        3. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          D

      • rowdog24
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Who to bench?

        Doherty (car)
        Jiménez (car)
        AWB (BUR)

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Not AWB. JImi?

      • LOL LINGARD SCORED
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Hazard to Sane this week. Yes or no?

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Nein

        2. puhd
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          i wouldnt

      • puhd
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Salah out, Sterling in. Yes or no?

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          I would say reasonable chance of Sterling being benched, but who knows. Wait for clues from presser.

        2. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Yes, looks popular

      • Slartibartfast
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        New post

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            OOH, QUICK WORK.

      • Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        This week will be one of the highest hit gw of the season !!!
        City Mids have created havoc everywhere !!

      • Always Off The Post
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        G2G?

        Patricio
        TAA Luiz Doherty AWB
        Haz Dilva Salah(C) Rich
        Aguero (VC) Arnie

        Bennet - Camerasa - Success

        0.7 ITB 1FT

        Brutal OR any help appreciated.

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Captain Kun and VC Haz? If you are trying to avoid Wolves triple up then move Success higher, in the Metro it suggested he might start.

          1. Always Off The Post
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            I'm just not convinced Aguero will start and if he does I think he will only get 60mins. Im prob just being greedy/stupid with Salah captain.

            If Sucess does start do you reckon he could get returns vs Foxes?

      • Z3US
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I've never had to fight the urge to make a transfer more than this week.

        Just have to hold on a few more hours.

        The urge to do Haz and / or Salah out to City mids is killing me.

        1. Gentle_Turks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Me too.

        2. PrincessPorkie
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Might go MIA for the exact same reasons

      • Totti
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        who to play?

        A) foster
        B) fabianski

        who to captain?

        1) aguero
        2) sterling
        3) hazard

        1. Gentle_Turks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          B
          1

          Please help below thanks.

        2. pedjaaaa
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          b1

      • Gentle_Turks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Tricky week...

        Bench one of
        A. WB
        B. Jimenez
        C. Arnie

        Thanks and good luck this week.

        1. pedjaaaa
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          wb

        2. Gooner Kebab
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          I'd normally bench def over mid/fwd

      • MGD
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        When do you think is the best time to WC?

        1. Gentle_Turks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Next week a good time, but I might hold on til GW16.

          Please help above thanks.

      • Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Patricio
        Robbo, Alonso, Doherty,
        Hazard, Salah, Rich, Barkley
        Aguero, Arnie, Jimenez

        Hamer, AWB, Fraser, Digne

        1FT, £0 ITB. Still have WC, probably play next week or 16.

        A) Save
        B) Salah to Sterling
        C) Salah & Barkley to Sane and DSilva (-4)
        D) Just WC now

        1. Gooner Kebab
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Save

      • Gooner Kebab
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Swapping Hazard to Sterling is going to get my team burned isn't it?

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Yes

      • pedjaaaa
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Any idea what to do with Wilson?
        A) Swap him for Jimenez
        B) Swap for someone else
        C) Keep

        Already have Arnautovic. Cheers!

      • Alvaro Morata
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Will Giroud start against Fulham or will it be Morata...?

        1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Ask Sarri and tells u mate

      • Oldie99
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Thoughts please? Sorry for the long post. Current team that I will stick with = no transfers made this week.f

        Foster
        Alonso Robbo WB Holebas
        Rich Haz Salah (C)
        Mitro Jimenez Aguero (VC)

        Bench: Begovic Fernandinho Billing Digne

        Don't like my team for obvious reasons but have now decided to

        a) Cover both Chelsea and Liverpool potentially conceding by playing Rich AND Mitro
        b) Play Salah captain with Hazard a Q mark still
        c) Not get Sterling in for Haz or Salah so that...
        d) ...I can do massive things with 2FTs for the mid week (Kane + maybe Sterling + maybe somone else)

        1. harvard
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          looks good to go. why dont you trust kun with the arm band?

          1. Oldie99
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            No real reason, Kun feels a bit more tired at the minute but it's an absolute 50/50. you think Kun is a better choice?

            1. Pep Pig
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Salah was your gut mate. Don't be swayed

      • Alvaro Morata
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Will Giroud start against Fulham...?

        1. Pep Pig
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          LOL nice try Alvaro 😀

      • clockwork
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Good use of 2FT?

        Mane Shaqiri Hazard Richarlison Cairney
        to
        Mane Shaqiri MARTIAL SANE Cairney

        leaves me with enough money to do Shaqiri to Alli/Eriksen next week.

      • Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Is Mahrez gonna get some minutes over these 2 ge's?

        1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Gw's

      • TeddiPonza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Bench two out of:

        Bennett (car)
        AWB (BUR)
        Diop (new)
        Richarlison (liv)
        Wilson (mci)

        Thanks.

      • Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Quick Team News Update:

        Nobody on here knows the City team sheet on Saturday.
        Nobody can confirm Giroud will start.

        Even after the pressers, the managers will not tell us.
        They only let us know (sometimes) if a player is fit enough to make the squad or not.

        Chill your tiddys ( . )Y( . )

        1. Pras (FPL)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          The key piece of news is if Jesus is fit. My Kun captaincy rests on him still being unfit.

          1. Flynny
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Me too....

          2. Pep Pig
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            I personally don't think it changes things. Kun's home record speaks for itself. I don't own him and I'm convinced if Jesus is fort or not, he starts. If for whatever reason Pep wanted to drop his star striker, he'd do it regardless and play Sterling as a false 9 for example. I just don't see it

            1. Pep Pig
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              *fit

      • Flynny
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Hi....any view on best 1st sub?

        A...schinlder v Brighton

        B....camarasa v wolves

        Thanks

      • The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Hold FT? Planning on Kun, Haz > Sterling, Kane next week.

        Patricio
        Laporte, Alonso (C), Robertson
        Hazard (V), Mane, Richarlison, FAnderson
        Aguero, Murray, Jiminez

        Hart; WBis, Billing, Keane

        1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Doing the same move, but not sure what to do about Hazard...

      • Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        When are pressers?