Scout Notes

How United players fared in their last game before Double Gameweek 35

Manchester United bowed out of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday after a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Barcelona.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were outclassed for much of the second leg in the Nou Camp, losing 3-0 on the night following their narrow loss in Manchester last week.

Attention now turns back to the race for a Champions League qualification spot which, for those interested in United’s Fantasy assets for the season run-in, can only be a positive regarding rotation and managed game-time.

The Red Devils’ double-header against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City in Gameweeks 37 and 38 certainly appeals, with their participation in European competition now at an end (the Champions League semi-finals are scheduled to take place around those fixtures).

Whether many FPL managers will take a punt on a United asset or two for their upcoming Double Gameweek against Everton and Manchester City is another question, of course, given the calibre of the opposition and their so-so form.

We assess their latest display in the Scout Notes article below.

Barcelona 3-0 Manchester United

Manchester United’s current B-list status in European football was underscored on Tuesday evening as they fell to a 3-0 defeat in the Nou Camp.

There is no disgrace in losing to Barcelona, of course, particularly when Lionel Messi is in full stride.

The Argentinean highlighted the gulf in class between the two teams with a virtuoso display, scoring on two occasions and causing plenty of problems for United’s makeshift, ramshackle defence.

The visitors actually made a bright start before Messi’s two-goal salvo effectively killed the tie after just 20 minutes, with Phillippe Coutinho finishing the scoring with an excellent curling effort in the second half.

Marcus Rashford (£7.4m) struck the bar with a toe-poke from a fine Paul Pogba (£8.7m) pass before the England striker called Marc-Andre ter Stegen into action with a scuffed effort from distance.

Barcelona had an early spot-kick award overruled after VAR intervention but it was a positive opening quarter of an hour for United, as Solskjaer was keen to stress after the game:

We did well to get here and we could see the difference between the two teams. The quality of finishing was outstanding. We started well for the first 15 minutes and we thought we’ve got something here, and then in four minutes they scored two goals which made it so hard.

The attitude was right. We knew we were fighting against a good team with good players. We know there’s work to do. We’ve said all along that this won’t change overnight and the next few years will be massive to get to the level teams like Barcelona are at.

Messi capitalised on poor play from Ashley Young (£5.7m) to open the scoring on 16 minutes before swiftly doubling Barca’s lead with an effort that squirmed under the body of David de Gea (£5.7m).

Solskjaer backed his under-fire goalkeeper after full-time, saying:

That’s unfortunate with goalkeepers. When you make an error it can get highlighted and that’ll be remembered tonight. But he made some fantastic saves as well, which all in all, his contribution to the team is good but sometimes that happens in football.

From the point of Messi’s opener, United didn’t have another attempt from inside the Barcelona box until substitute Alexis Sanchez‘s (£10.0m) late header drew a superb save out of ter Stegen.

Pogba tested the home goalkeeper from distance while Jesse Lingard (£6.7m) whistled a rising effort over ter Stegen’s bar but attacking forays were few and far between once Messi had put the tie to bed after 20 minutes.

Lingard and Rashford dovetailed between the right flank and a more central position to little effect, while Anthony Martial (£7.2m) was disappointing (and looked borderline disinterested) on the left-hand side of a 4-3-3/4-3-1-2.

Having lined up as part a deep-lying two against West Ham on Saturday, Pogba was back on the left of a central midfield three in Catalonia but had no real impact on the game and both of his shots came from well outside the Barcelona box.

With Luke Shaw (£5.0m) suspended, Young was moved over to left-back with fairly disastrous consequences while Victor Lindelof (£5.0m) shifted across to right-back to allow Phil Jones (£5.1m) and Chris Smalling (£5.6m) to continue their unconvincing partnership at centre-half.

It needs to be stressed that United won’t face a team like Barcelona (or a player like Messi) every week but the Red Devils do face City and Chelsea in the next two Gameweeks and were far from convincing even in recent victories over Southampton, Watford and West Ham.

It is now nine matches without a clean sheet for Solskjaer’s side in all competitions, which will be of interest to owners of Sergio Aguero (£11.7m), Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) et al ahead of the Manchester derby next week.

Whether their European exit can refocus their efforts on the Premier League remains to be seen – if United can swiftly recapture the form they showed in Solskjaer’s honeymoon period, then their final two fixtures of the season will firmly enter Fantasy managers’ thoughts.

The Norwegian said:

We want to play these [Champions League] games again next year, so we have a massive week coming up with Everton, City and Chelsea.

They’re disappointed but there’s no point dwelling on what could have been. It could have been different if we had started better and we got the first goal but now we have to concentrate on next week.

Romelu Lukaku (£10.8m) may get more of a look-in this weekend after only being thrown on as a late substitute, while Solskjaer welcomed back Sanchez from injury and suggested the Chilean will have a part to play in the final month of 2018/19.

The United boss said:

Alexis has been injured now since the start of March so he’s been out for six weeks. It was important that he got 15 minutes on the pitch and for his mentality as well – he knows his knee is okay. He was close to getting a goal.

Hopefully, he can give us a bit towards the end of the season so we can push to get into the top four.

Manchester United XI (4-3-3): De Gea; Jones, Lindelof, Smalling, Young; McTominay, Fred, Pogba; Lingard (Sanchez 80′), Rashford (Lukaku 73′), Martial (Dalot 65′).

1,020 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Puyol Pants Up
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    What do people think of MItrovic as a cheeky pick?

    Great fixtures to finish off the season (bou, CAR, wol, NEW) - [Plan to bench him for wol]

    16 shots in the last 2 games (yes 16!), playing very selfishly and is desperate to score. Nailed on for 90 minutes every game, looking to impress other clubs as he is likely to leave fulham. Hit the post and forced a few good saves from Pickford last GW

    Bournemouth have conceded 5 goals in their last 2 home games, (3 against Burnley, 2 against Newcastle)

    Compared to Wilson:
    He does have Fulham at home this week, but (sou, TOT, cry) to finish the season? I can see 3 blanks from 3.
    Wilson also has 16 shots in 11 games, compared to Mitrovic's 16 shots in 2 games..

    Thoughts?

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Punty

    2. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      could be the Deeney replacement for many. I have considered him

    3. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Trash. Was interested in Babel after watching highlights of first match back but could never find a spot for him. Only Basel from Fulham would interest me

    4. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Hasn't scored in 10 weeks.
      Higuian also has amazing stats if you're into that sort of thing.

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Mitro is much better. And thinner.

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Higuain hasn't scored for six weeks.
          Mitrovic hasn't scored for ten weeks.

          Lethal.

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            ...and combined their goals have come against the water tight defences of Huddersfield, Fulham, and Brighton.

    5. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Not an options tbh

  2. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Deulofeu (c)

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Punty

    2. Richd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Who’s your vice ?

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Kun (vc)

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Really considering this , is there an update on his fitness?

    4. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      In my top 3.

  3. Concrete
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Gw 35 -4 Vardy to Firmino and Duffy to Laporte
    Gw 36 Eriksen to Mane

    Y or N

    Ryan Foster
    Robbo Vertogen Laporte Doherty Valery
    Sterling Mane Son Doucoure Højbjerg
    Aguero Firmino Jiménez...

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yes, nearly same with plan. Do you sure not hold Firmino for one more week?

  4. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Auba or Kun?

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Kun

    2. Richd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Lol

  5. Richd
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Bench boosts up the Duffy. People cRyan bout it. In the end it just Deeney matter anyway.

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Your best work but little to choose from xoxo

      1. Richd
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I had a really good one. But it was very offensive and I don’t wanna ruin my chance for a Meat The Manager

  6. Mayor of Flair
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Will there be any more double gameweeks after this one?

    Behind the curve this year

    1. Richd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Nope. Unless they have another bomb test at old Trafford and forget to remove the fake bomb

  7. Nesvy
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Better choice?

    a/ Lloris + KDB + Rashford/Gray
    b/ Ryan + Mané + Vardy (+4)

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

    best Arsenal attacker to own?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      nun

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        blue?

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Micky had quite a few chances last week but obviously a risk Auba / Laca _ Take your pick.

    3. Miles105
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Whoever starts on thurs, probably one of laca or auba, probs laca as he didn't play vs Watford
      I would say Auba most likely to play both at the moment

  9. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Bottoms up.

    Bobby F stats look very different last 5 weeks.

    Very.

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Is that a haiku?

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      yeah, more involved in final third and close to attacking returns

    3. *sigh*
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Shhhh....

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Last time you talked up a Striker it was Vardy. He really gone on for a run !!

      I hope you're right this time too 😉

  10. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Which chip to use?

    Triple captain Jimenez

    BB: Fab, Robertson, Success, Bednarek (-8 hit required)

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Whole team if I take -8 hit

      Ryan (Fab)
      Laporte-Robbo-Awb (boly,bednarek)
      Salah-Mane-Pogba-Sterling-Son
      Jimmy-Wilson (Success)

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      That is your BB after -8 ? forget it.

      Just TC Jimenez or any one with a double 😉

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Probably better stick with plan. Tc Jimenez doesn't make much difference because most of us serious players will captain him.

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I own and doubt I will captain Jimenez, Wolves are on the beach

          1. S.Kuqi
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            So why keep Jimenez then?

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Why not ? He is good value.

              The question is surely why own the expensive Salah & Sterling and not captain either ?

  11. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Best defender for the run in, 4.9 max? Valery, Boly and Cathcart good shouts?

    1. Richd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Cheap defenders are not obvious. Yeah they are good. Else you gotta go up to Pool and Laporte.

    2. Darth_Krid
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Boly imo.

    3. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Boly. Brighton are toothless and out of those options Boly offers most attacking threat

      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        On the Boly train...would you rather own him with an extra game over TAA?

        1. S.Kuqi
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          No. Prefer TAA

  12. Darth_Krid
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    At least one Brighton cleanie next week is inevitable. Probably against all of our Spurs attacking assets.

  13. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Deulofeu or Jota?
    (Have Jimenez)

  14. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    For those who have already used your TC, are you BBing this week?

    1. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      yeah

  15. Mesh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Best Vardy replacement? 9.4 max
    A. Lacazette
    B. Firmino
    C. Someone else

    1. Darth_Krid
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. balint84
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      a (but just because of dgw)

  16. simong1
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A or B ?

    A) Deeney > Rashford
    B) Deeney & Siggurdson > Ings/Gray & Mane (-4)

  17. ludaslol
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Dunk
    b) Cathcart -4

    1. balint84
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      a

  18. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is double Liverpool defs and Firmino enough for GW36 when everyone and their dog will captain Salah/Mane?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      You need Salah imo

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

      I'm on that atm.
      Thinking about staying that way.
      Pool Defense double up gives a good platform till the end of the season imo.
      Can rotate Dohert/Valery/Duffy for last spot

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Not sure double Liverpool defence is the way to go any more with Liverpool starting to score a lot of goals again ?

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

          You may be right.
          I think I'll decide on gw 36 by saving FT this gw 🙂
          Cheers mate

        2. Party time
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Lol but vvd can still return huge pts like against watford. Even Robbo & Taa can still come in good although I will always prefer 2 Liverpool attackers + 1 defender

    3. balint84
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A) Vardy+Hazard TO Agüero+Sterling (-4) do it? (after the CL game for sure)
      B) save Eden he brings more points than Raheem

    4. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Is Liverpool vs Huddersfield best sgw fixture to use tc?

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        no idea, but my BB will shirley be better that week

        1. S.Kuqi
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Tc Jimenez dgw?

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I dunno, I have a ML to try and win and at the moment think I'm keeping TC for week 38.

      2. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Top at home to bottom - doesn't get better than that on paper.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Toilet paper

          Shaqiri will play and be top scorer that week.

          1. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Ugly scenes if that happens - literally.

        2. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          top??

          1. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Liverpool are top at the moment aren't they?

            1. SADIO SANÉ
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              yeah, not by the time that game is played though 😉

      3. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        If Pool really turn it on that day they could turn around that 7 goal difference. Hudd are shipping 4 versus average teams...

      4. Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Hazard at home to Warford for me

        1. Party time
            4 years, 11 months ago

            The Burnley game is a good game for that also

      5. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Wish one of sterling/kun rest tonight but seems impossible

      6. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Does this sound like a good idea?

        Mane & Batshuayi > Jota and Aguero?

        Ryan Foster
        Luiz Robbo Doherty Duffy Valery
        Salah Pogba Son Jota Brooks
        Vardy Jiminez Aguero

        BB 35 - would be willing to take another hit to rid Duffy or Ryan.

        Vardy for Firmino 36? TC Salah.

      7. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Are we bothered about Man Utd coverage for 37-38 especially?
        If I act on my Salah TC plan rather than Mane plus double pool defence, then its most likely too difficult.

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Rashford & Pogba will probably be in my team

        2. Fire Chief Moe
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Rom TC?

        3. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I think Rashford/Martial ate cheap enough to get in the team

        4. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          If I have the luxury of a FT ahead of 38, I'll probably swap Jimenez to Rashford.

        5. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Yeah - i have Pogba and want to add Shaw and Rashford in GW37

      8. Neo-Viper
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Ryan : Foster
        Laporte Duffy Dunk Robbo Valery**
        Camarasa Mane Sterling Son Eriksen
        Vardy Jimmy Deeney**

        Vardy , Deeney and Camarasa to Rashford Wilson and Delu for -8 .

        Should i ?

      9. Scotty B
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        De Gea
        Pereira VVD Dunk
        Salah Richarlison Maddison Mane
        Wilson Higuain Rondon

        Gunn Son Doherty Bednarek

        Pereira & Higuain > Cathcart & Jimenez but then who out for KDB...Richarlison or Maddison?

        Could Richarlison be rotated after Evertons terrible performance and result last week?

      10. Scotty B
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Higuain is annoying as he has been so poor for me but has Burnley at home this week...what to do?!!

        1. Surfeit of Lampteys
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          See if he starts Thursday night and if he doesn't then keep.

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

          Sell

        3. Miles105
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          He's crap

      11. Surfeit of Lampteys
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        It's funny how logic can sometimes go out of the window with FPL; speaking for myself here at least. I had planned on selling Etheridge and Morrison for bench boost this week but I've also got deeney and Duffy and only now has it dawned on me to just not play bench boost and save the points hits.
        Anyone else reconsidering?

        1. de quincey
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Yes. I am reconsidering the BB.
          Ryan, Duffy, Higuain and Camarasa on the bench:(

          1. Surfeit of Lampteys
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Ah well you never know with the latter two. Writing off the former two seems a safe enough bet though

      12. MMN
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        1 FT, 0.9m ITB. Plan was to do Duffy > TAA. Thoughts appreciated!!

        A) Stick to that & Deeney > Gray
        B) Duffy & Deeney > Matip & Wilson
        C) Other?

        Foster / Lloris
        Duffy / Doh / Kiko / Valery / Bednarek
        Son / Sterling / Eriksen / Mane / Jota
        Kun / Deeney / Jimi

        1. Kryten
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Matip not nailed and gray feels a trap so c) other

          Could you get lorente?

          1. MMN
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            No as I have triple Spurs already.

      13. Kryten
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Stuck on transfer decision.
        A) kola
        B) lindelof

        Plan to keep to end of the season

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Are you talking about taking one out, or bringing one in?

          1. Kryten
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Bring one in for dunk

            1. HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Wouldn't want either, and seems like with your budget you could do better.
              Both are rotation risks, so not really appealing as DGWers.

        2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Maybe other choice mate

      14. FPL Maldini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Is anyone in a position where they are almost forced to keep Duffy and Dunk?

        If I take one out this week I miss out on getting Jimenez and a Watford player

        1. Kryten
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Similar really want to save a transfer if you don't have ryam also it's not end of world bb dunk and dufgy

        2. MTPockets
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I am now with Deeney's rc

          • THE SHEEP HUNTERS
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Yer, decided to roll Duffy and Ryan and Dunk Dunk for Janmaat and bench Donut Deeney and soak up the drop as I bought him in on a premature ejaculation and am not escalating a -4.