Scout Notes
18 July 2019 1326 comments
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Fantasy managers got their first glimpse of Ayoze Perez (£6.5m) in a Leicester City shirt on Tuesday evening as the Foxes took on Scunthorpe United in their opening pre-season friendly of the summer.

We’ll assess the mid-price Fantasy Premier League midfielder’s debut and assess how two of the promoted clubs got on in their own most-recent games.

You can read about Arsenal, Bournemouth, Burnley and Crystal Palace’s Tuesday fixtures here.

Scunthorpe United 0-1 Leicester City

  • Goal: Ayoze Perez (£6.5m)
  • Assist: Ricardo Pereira (£6.0m)

Fantasy managers who saw Tuesday’s match at Glanford Park would have been quietly encouraged by Perez’s debut.

Yes, it was only Scunthorpe United. And yes, this was Leicester’s first pre-season game, with first-teamers such as James Maddison (£7.0m) and Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) still to be reintegrated into the side in the coming weeks.

There were still promising signs, though.

One of the biggest question marks about Perez’s move to Leicester would be where he fits into Brendan Rodgers’ system.

On the face of it, little had changed from the back-end of last season.

Leicester lined up in the similar 4-1-4-1 shape that Rodgers favoured in the closing Gameweeks of 2018/19, with Marc Albrighton (£5.5m) and Perez stationed out wide.

The system resembled 4-1-2-3 at times, though, with Albrighton and Perez cutting in from their respective flanks to support Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) up front.

Perez was mostly used on the right at Scunthorpe (occasionally switching sides with Albrighton) but it was noticeable how often he cut inside and got into dangerous positions in the home box – something he regularly did at Newcastle.

The former Magpie had already gone close with two efforts before he latched onto Ricardo Pereira‘s (£6.0m) low centre to score the game’s only goal and he went close to doubling the Foxes’ lead soon after, seeing a header – again from a Ricardo cross – tipped over.

The Ricardo/Perez combination was flourishing and the Portugal international certainly seemed to thrive on the space vacated by Perez’s darts inside.

Rodgers said of the Spaniard after the game:

We have to score more goals. If we want to progress, we have to get more goals into the team, hence the idea of bringing someone like [Pérez] in.

Even tonight, when he’s not fit, he probably could have scored three goals. He just has that knack of arriving into the box to score, to get shots on target.

Perez himself said:

I get into the box as much as I can, I like to be in the box. That’s always my feeling. I’m used to playing a lot as a striker. I think that’s a part of me now.

To get into the box and find those spaces and good positions to get goals… hopefully [there’s] more to come. I’m very happy and proud of myself to score the first.

Vardy was busy and perhaps should have scored when nodding a Youri Tielemans (£6.5m) cross wide but there positive signs that both he and Perez could blossom in the same side – Vardy’s intelligent movement indeed creating space for his teammates behind him.

Tielemans was his usual productive self on the ball and, like last season, frequently cropped up on the edge of the opposition box – along with impressive youngster Khanya Leshabela – as he arrived late from midfield.

All Leicester players bar Leshabela and goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic (£4.5m) were hooked at the interval, with Hary Maguire (£5.5m) the only real first-team regular on show in a quieter second half.

The likes of Maddison, Harvey Barnes (£6.0m) and Kasper Schmeichel (£5.0m) weren’t involved after being given extended leave following their international exertions over the summer.

Leicester City first-half XI (4-1-4-1): Jakupovic, Ricardo, Soyuncu, Evans, Fuchs, Mendy, Tielemans, Leshabela, Perez, Albrighton, Vardy.

Leicester City second-half XI (4-1-4-1): Jakupovic, Justin, Morgan, Maguire, Elder, Amartey, Ghezzal, King, Leshabela (Knight 66), Muskwe, Iheanacho.

Burton Albion 2-1 Sheffield United

  • Goal: Billy Sharp (£6.0m)
  • Assist: Enda Stevens (£5.0m)

Callum Robinson (£5.5m) made his Sheffield United debut as a 75th-minute substitute in the Tuesday night defeat to Burton Albion and looked lively in his quarter-hour showing.

The summer signing’s pace and directness were eye-catching in the final 15 minutes, with the former Preston forward – listed as a midfielder in FPL – almost teeing up Leon Clarke with a run and cross from the left before whistling a shot narrowly over himself soon after.

Billy Sharp (£6.0m) once again proved how good he is in the air – he scored more headed goals than any Championship player in 2018/19 – by nodding in Enda Stevens‘ (£5.0m) cross to give the Blades the lead but it was arguably strike partner David McGoldrick (£5.5m) who posed more of a sustained threat, chancing his arm on three occasions before seeing a second-half header ruled out for offside.

Speaking after the game, manager Chris Wilder said:

We don’t like to lose so we’re disappointed with that. They came up with that bit of magic right at the end.

But there were enough positives out there, we’ve got some more minutes under our belts, fitness-wise we’re moving in the right direction and our overall play, a couple of sloppy periods apart, was better than last time. So that’s good.

Didzy [McGoldrick], in the first quarter-of-an-hour or so, could have had a hat-trick. We created plenty against a side I respect and who are managed by someone I have huge amount of respect for as well. Now the challenge is to keep picking it up even more in our next one. We know we’ve got to keep doing that, in all aspects, with the challenge ahead of us.

The Blades lined up in their now-familiar 3-4-1-2 shape, with Chris Basham (£4.5m) demonstrating the underlapping/overlapping centre-half tactic with one surge into the Burton box that almost led to a second United goal.

Luke Freeman (£5.5m) was stationed in behind McGoldrick and Sharp and hit the bar with an early effort, while central midfielder John Fleck (£5.0m) also hit the woodwork.

For those looking at possible bench fodder options, John Lundstram (£4.0m) is a name to monitor.

Listed as a defender in FPL, the defensive midfielder – who made only five starts in the Championship last season – replaced Fleck in the second half and caught Wilder’s eye again after his promising display against Betis last Friday.

Wilder said:

I thought John Lundstram yet again impressed. He’s possibly a player that many would have thought we’d have moved on in the summer but he’s got a definite part to play.

Simon Moore (£4.5m) again played the whole 90 minutes in goal as United’s pursuit of Dean Henderson drags on.

Moore didn’t have any chance with the winner, with Burton’s Marcus Harness finding the net with a rocket from the edge of the United box.

Burton’s equaliser was a soft one from a corner, with the Blades allowing Burton’s John Brayford to turn the ball in from six yards out.

Sheffield United XI (3-4-1-2): Moore, Basham (Jagielka 62), Stearman (Egan 62), Bryan (O’Connell 62), Baldock (K Freeman 62), Fleck (Lundstram 62), Norwood (Slater 62), Stevens, L. Freeman (Duffy 62), Sharp (Robinson 75), McGoldrick (Clarke 62).

Bonner SC 1-4 Norwich City

  • Goals: Adam Idah x2, Onel Hernandez (£5.5m), Teemu Pukki (£6.5m)
  • Assists: Patrick Roberts (£5.5m), Philip Heise, Sam Byram (£4.5m), Emiliano Buendia (£6.0m)

Daniel Farke had a positive injury update on Ben Godfrey (£4.5m) after the Canaries’ behind-closed-doors friendly win over Bonner SC on Tuesday.

Godfrey had limped out of the match against Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday and was an early doubt for the Gameweek 1 clash with Liverpool but the prognosis now appears to be more positive.

The Norwich manager said:

We are pretty relieved. There is no fracture, no injury to the ligament. It was just an unbelievably painful knock at his ankle. It was swollen and has been on crutches for two days.

But today, he was already able to walk a bit and we hope to have him back pretty, pretty soon. It’s a big relief and I’m pretty delighted to be honest.

As well as Godfrey, there were a number of other enforced absentees in the 4-1 win over German fourth-tier club Bonner but none of the injuries are said to be serious.

Young striker Adam Idah led the line in front of a quartet of attacking midfielders and scored twice in the first half, first finishing a pass from Callum Roberts (£5.5m) and then turning in Philip Heise‘s cross.

With Heise at left-back and Norwich short in the centre-half department, Jamal Lewis (£4.5m) again lined up at the heart of the defence alongside Grant Hanley (£4.0m).

Right-back Sam Byram (£4.5m) made his debut as a second-half substitute and Farke had words of praise for his new signing after the match:

Sam was alright. It’s pretty difficult because it was pretty busy for him over the last couple of days. He had a long travel yesterday, he trained also this morning.

We got the feeling it was for the best, although he doesn’t have all the information about our game, to throw him into the mix.

He was there with some really good scenes, especially in the offence. He had a brilliant assist for one goal but one or two scenes in the defence that we have to work on a bit but it’s good that he was able to join us this quick. It will help him to settle in here.

Byram crossed for Onel Hernandez (£5.5m) for Norwich’s third goal before Teemu Pukki (£6.5m), on as a 75th-minute substitute, pounced on a deflected shot from Emiliano Buendia (£6.0m) to complete the scoring.

Norwich City XI (4-1-4-1): McGovern (Fährmann, 46), Aarons (Byram, 46), Hanley (c), Lewis, Heise, Leitner, Roberts (Buendia, 75), Stiepermann (Cantwell, 46), Srbeny, Hernandez, Idah (Pukki, 75).

1,326 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. pmletch
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A) Siggy, Zaha, King
    B) Noble, March, Aguero

    I already have sterling & salah

    1. conorbon
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. No Professionals
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        B?!

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. No Professionals
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        B?!

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Hahaha i’m Joking it’s obviously A

          1. No Professionals
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Thought I'd entered the twilight zone

    3. zdrojo187
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Easy A

    4. merin
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A easy

    5. No Professionals
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      No more questions like this please, my heart can't take it

      1. Big Ping
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        B...

    6. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B

    7. yakirh
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B shouldn't even be an option

  2. No Professionals
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A cus B makes me feel nauseous

    1. No Professionals
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      As does my inability to reply

  3. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    The constantly updated guide to preseason on this site are Pulitzer Prize worthy. I can't understand why Plebs like me get it for free.
    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/the-complete-guide-to-fpl-pre-season-2019-20/

    Was toying with Burnley players after;
    Fulham 0 Burnley 1
    Burnley 8 ! Accrington Stanley 0
    But then;
    Burnley 2 Tranmere 3

    Pool's second team recently smashed Tranmere 6-0 away.
    Back to the drawing board!

    1. Nomar
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Really shouldn’t pay much mind to preseason results.

      They are rarely indicative of how a team is actually going to perform once the real games start.

      1. No Professionals
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah more interested in late pre season lineups than results

      2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        But can give little nuggets of info, like Pereira linking up well with Perez etc.
        The latter games are more poignant of course, it's just a Great Feature to find them all in one place.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Didn't Burnley play both games at the same time? They even switched XI at half time to play the other team!

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Well I'll be blowed, both games played on July 16th! 🙂
        OK, I'll forgive that result then.

  4. sirmorbach
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Who is the 4.5 goalkeeper to own? Still Ryan?

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Fahrmann or pope

      1. sirmorbach
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Not sure yet how confident I feel on any Burnley GK pick at this point.

        That said, Fahrmann seems a better option than Ryan? That is indeed food for thought.

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Fair. I’m going Pope Leno then WC early to get ederson set and forget. No doubt that over the season he is undeniably the best value

          1. _Greg
            • 16 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            +1 got Ederson.

            1. Ask Yourself
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              That don’t count >:(

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Was never Ryan

      1. sirmorbach
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Who is it?

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          I like Heaton if he goes to villa

          Might be unpopular but fixtures are good might surprise a few

          1. Eat my goal!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Otherwise fabs

            1. Dthinger
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              he's not 4.5

          2. No Professionals
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Everyone who is playing villa has a good fixture

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Pope for me, until more info.

    4. Netley Lucas
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Keep an eye on Dean Henderson, new loan deal expected between Man Utd and Sheff Utd, soon.

      1. sirmorbach
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks!

      2. Dthinger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        will he be 4.5?

  5. JJeyy
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A) Vardy, Wilson, Fraser
    B) Sterling, King, Jota

    Best option here?

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A easily

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B

  6. Kun Tozser
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Best use if an extra 1m in this lineup?

    Pope
    TTA VVA Zinchenko Digne
    Salah Bilva Fraser Perez
    Auba Giroud

    Greenwood , Dendoncker 4.0

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Giroud to Wilson imo

      1. Thescaff
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        This

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Prefer Wilson + Moura to Giroud + Fraser.

      1. Kun Tozser
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Pulisic and Wilson could be interesting

  7. GreennRed
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    https://www.radiotimes.com/news/sport/2019-07-18/premier-league-tv-fixtures-2019-20-sky-sports-bt-sport-amazon-prime-dates-live-online-how-to-watch/

    Sign up late November for a 30 day trial with Prime to see loads of free games in December.

  8. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Managed to fit Salah, Sterling & Kane in an XI with a pretty solid DF too, I'm happy:

    Burnley GK (4m)

    Robbo VVD Digne Zinchenko A.Smith

    Salah Sterling Perez (Dendonker, Stephens)

    Kane King (Wickham)

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Good defence. Not a whole lot in mids or up front besides the aforementioned three though. Maybe shed one or two defenders for a 4.5m option to upgrade mids/forwards.

    2. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A pretty decent starting 11. That bench though...

    3. Pieterke30
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Get Siggy in there instead of Perez and Im buying

  9. sirmorbach
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A. Pope, Sterling, Jota
    B. Ederson, BSilva, Vardy

  10. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Looking for a £4.5m defender that I can play from Gw2-Gw5.

    Only options I can think of is M.Aarons and Targett.

    Any thoughts would be really appreciated!

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      They will all be as bad as each other

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Doherty last season wasn’t bad. WB at 4.0m wasn’t bad. Duffy has a good season too.

    2. Kun Tozser
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Diop

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks. Reckon WHU will be better defensively this year?

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Nope !

        2. Kun Tozser
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Maybe but attacking potential and rotates well with Dendoncker

  11. Thescaff
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    I have no city players, am I mad?

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yep, best attack and 2nd best DF with the best first 11 Fixtures, gotta have at least 1 attacker and ideally a DF too

      1. Thescaff
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Grr

      2. Thescaff
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Just don't trust them defensively, and see Salah as a perma captain

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Neither mad nor sheep.

      1. No Professionals
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        In the same way that people who drink water are sheep

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          In the same way that people follow the flock. It's only mad if your team is shi+e.I have two today, could be three, could be none but if my team des shi+e it's shi+e of my own making 😉

    3. Dananz
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Might be best to squeeze one in somewhere, just for fun...

    4. yakirh
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Good luck watching their games

  12. Dananz
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Does anyone see any value in David Silva? I mean, he isn't quite Iniesta, but I don't really see Pep putting him on the scrap heap for the year...

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Rotation. I'm out

      1. Dananz
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        It's going to be hard to find someone in that team playing mid or attack who won't be, and a lot of them are even more expensive...

      1. Dananz
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Some things never change!

          1. Dananz
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Lols. Yeah that was jarring! Didn't know it was due to a transplant, makes more sense now. But that look also seemed to coincide with him going into beast mode for a while. Are you also staying clear this year?

            1. Deulofail
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Yes, until the next transplant

              1. Dananz
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Fair call!

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      No more than most City players he's a rotation risk and as he's fair old prob more risky than most mids.

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Likely to be nailed until CL starts.

      1. Thescaff
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Easy to say until Dendoncker comes off your bench

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          *Noble

        2. Dananz
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          But if you have Dilva over KDB, for example, that's Jota coming off your bench...

    4. Marmalade Forest
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Two injuries/three game bans and he’s right in the mix.

      Sterling/KDB/Sane/Mahrez/Bilva and maybe even Foden are probably ahead of him in most Man City formations

      1. Dananz
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        You may be right. I guess we'll have to wait and see how preseason plays out. I guess they have to play the captain sometime...

  13. bananaboy331
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    best 4.5 def for first 4 GWs?

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Dunk is good for the first three and the fifth

  14. Pirlø's Pen
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    What do we think about this latest draft?

    Pope
    TAA Laporte VVD Digne
    Salah (c) Sterling (vc) Sigurdsson Maddison
    King Deulofeu

    4.0 Dendoncker Greenwood Kelly.

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yes solid and fairly template.

      Perez and Deeney for food for thought. .5 saving for Perez to improve bench.

    2. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Strikers are dreadful

      1. Pirlø's Pen
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Low up top is my strategy.

        1. Thescaff
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Well they were the 6th and 7th highest scoring positions last year, so some merit

          1. Pirlø's Pen
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            I feel like you are trolling at this point.

            1. Thescaff
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              You misunderstood.
              3 highest point scorers last season were mids. The next 2 highest were def.
              So, going light up top is logical.

      2. Pirlø's Pen
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        What about the mids? the defenders? Really amateur feedback.

        1. Thescaff
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Hard to argue against the def & mid.

          1. Pirlø's Pen
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Whats your draft with string strikers?

  15. RossoneriHammer
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Robinson, Bernardo Silva and Kane
    Or
    Digne, Salah and Jiminez?

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. The 5% Team
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B

  16. The Royal Robin
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Best 5.0 mid?

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Jorgh

    2. Pirlø's Pen
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      None. Go 4`5 and reinvest.

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Jorginho or Noble.

    4. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Hayden + 0.5m Epect little for 5 or less mids.But will be interesting how lampard plays Jorginho.

    5. No Professionals
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Least worst

      1. Pirlø's Pen
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Rate the username.

        1. Marmalade Forest
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          It’s the second time I’ve heard it referenced in a week, after not thinking about it since 2008

    6. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Norwood is the only one nailed and worth considering

    7. LangerznMash
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Norwood best of a bad bunch

  17. DavidKent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    “Covering” a team.

    I am not sure the concept has merit. In the example that it’s thought that two separate teams, say Liverpool and Man City, will have great defences with good CS potential, then the “covering theory” suggests that you get a defender from each.

    I’m proposing that, all else being equal, it makes no difference to select two players from a single side or one player from each side. To highlight this, I’ve played out the scenarios:

    1. Both Liverpool and Man City get 20 clean sheets, worth 4 points from each.

    A: You picked a player from each. You’ll have 40 clean sheets worth 160 points (excluding other point types).

    B: You picked two players from Man City and none from Liverpool. You’ll have 40 clean sheets and 160 points

    C: You picked two players from Liverpool and none from Man City. You’ll have 40 clean sheets and 160 points

    Clearly in this example there is no difference which strategy you chose: you’ll end up with 160 points.

    From here on, I’ll use “A:”, “B:” and “C:” to refer to the above for brevity.

    2. Liverpool get 20 clean sheets and Man City only 10 clean sheets

    A: 30 clean sheets, equating to 120 points
    B: 20 clean sheets (2 players from Man C * 10 clean sheets), equating to 80 clean sheets
    C: 40 clean sheets (2 players from Liverpool * 20 clean sheets), equating to 160 points.

    Clearly there are different results depending on strategy. However, if you assume there is an even chance of Liverpool or Man City getting more CS, and just double back one of them, then over multiple seasons you’ll average out.

    However, if you think that there is, say, a slightly higher chance that 1 team will get more CS than the other then you should double back that team. You can see this if you take the above examples but instead of saying there are even odds of CS, you assume one team has a 55% chance of getting more clean sheets and the other team only 45% chance. Over multiple seasons you get more points by double backing.

    There are some reasons to not double down, such as needing 2 players from Man C or Liverpool up front and thus not being able to double down in defence, there not being multiple players at a good price point or simply not fancying the attacking prospects of any other defenders.

    However, there is no need to “cover” multiple teams rather than having double defenders from one team. In fact, if you have more faith in one defence, you’re better off doubling, or indeed tripling, up on the preferred team

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I tried arguing this for a few years. Not worth the effort mate 🙂

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on players you get. If you double up on one team even if they keep a CS then one is more likely than his teammate to get assist/goal top babps. If you can pick the top assister/scorer/bap hitters in two teams of fairly equal CS you're better off than two players from the one team swilling from the attacking/baps trough.They'll be pricy.

      1. DavidKent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        I’m not sure that the BPS argument holds. Two players from 1 team increases your chance that 1 or the other gets one of the BPS points to the same degree as having a player in each of two teams

    3. Markus
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I agree to a large degree. The main reason people do it is hedging your bets if you feel they have an equal chance in scenario 1 but it ends up being scenario 2, you only have 1 transfer to make rather than a team to carve up (particularly if you're wanting to maximise assets from that team elsewhere). Or, you know you're interested over a particular time period eg everton/bournemouth but then will want to make transfer out, having 2 players even though you might think are the best options turn out as not such a great deal if you're looking at an extra -4. I do agree with you though - pick the players you think will score the highest full stop.

      1. DavidKent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        I definitely agree that there are scenarios regarding switching players and taking as few moves as possible.

        Your final sentence: “pick the players you think will score the highest full stop.” is basically the point that I took an essay to make hah.

  18. Dundun
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    First time poster.

    a) Van Dijk, Digne, De Bruyne, Maddison
    or
    b) Boly, Coleman, Sterling, Tielemans

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A, provided you have Salah

      1. Dundun
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        I do.

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Are you still living in an attic with an incontinent cat?

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          No, but I went back to pet sit recently and stayed in a proper bedroom. He kept trying to get into the room to relieve himself on me, but I stayed strong and locked myself in until I wet the bed.

          1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            😆

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A, looks great.

    3. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. MattB
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A 100%

  19. Kizza_10
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    How’s she looking, i know there is a lot of money in defence but im happy to take the gamble in the early game weeks.

    Any advice on how to improve the team is welcome.

    Ederson
    Azpi VVD Laporte TAA Coleman
    Fraser Sterling Salah Tielemans
    King

    Subs: Button, Dendoncker, Wickham, Greenwood

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      You just answered your own question. Just two attacking hitters.

  20. aydeepee69
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Going to leave this for a while now - but curious as to what you all think of this...
    GUNN
    TAA, ROB, LAPORTE
    PEREZ, FRASER, MO, RAHZ
    KING, DELAF, SHARP
    Bench: Button, Dunk, Kelly, Dendonker + £0.5m in bank

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      "Delaf"? 😮

      1. Thescaff
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Haha

  21. Lebowski85
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Fab/Azpi/Sterling/Giroud / Yarmolenko 1st Sub
    Or
    Ryan/Laporte/Pogba/Aguero / Stephens 1st Sub

  22. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Evening fellas anyone care to run their eyes over this bunch and offer advice extremely welcomed.....
    Not really sold on Deeney but 2 home games in first 3 is the reason!!
    Ederson
    TAA Van Dijk Taylor
    Salah Sterling Pérez Fraser
    King Deeney
    Subs- Button Dendonker Dunk Greenwood
    Cheers lads!!

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Needs the 11th player

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Oops *Digne

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Schoolboy error!!! Haha

  23. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this?

    Leno
    TAA Coleman Aurier Zinchenko Robertson
    Zaha Sterling Perez
    Kane Aubameyang

    4.0 Dendonker Hayden Wickham

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      You'll either fly high or swing low

    2. LangerznMash
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      The fact that my initial thought is "that team has to be over budget" tells me that you have an awesome team.
      Only improvement would be Aurier.

    3. Kimmich
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Actually quite like this -Aurier. It’s different and Auba and Kane could pay off very well early doors. Makes a change from the King + co front lines.

    4. Dananz
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      This is definitely one of the coolest teams I've seen. Been considering the Kane Auba double act, but then somehow you got Sterling in there too??? Seeesh!

    5. Tommytour
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      If no Salah you should be tripling on their defence

    6. LangerznMash
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Sorry Drip Doctor but I think i'm going to have to plagiarise your team! (with a few minor amendments)
      Aurier, Robertson + Sterling -> AMN, VVD + Salah
      Cheers!

      1. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Another option is Auba > Wilson. Aurier > VVD for triple Liverpool defence. Zaha > Siggy.

        1. LangerznMash
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          I'm not keen on Siggy, like it your original way.

  24. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Who's currently pencilled in as the most likely £4.0m defender to get minutes? Kelly now that AWB has gone?

    1. Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      For now, probably.

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Anyone likely to keep Bissaka out of the United 11?

        1. Thescaff
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          No way

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Holder for when I can figure out how to do a thumbs up yoke!

    2. Kimmich
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Kelly - Hanley - Rico. Wouldn’t count on any except for injuries.

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      In my opinion, others disagree, but logically I think Rico starts

  25. avfc82
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Hearing Henderson will sign for Sheffield United over the next few days, presumably on loan. Another 4.5 (?) keeper option.

    1. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Most definitely

    2. Loftus cheeky nandos
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      can't see him being more than 4.5 mill, but i personally don't like starting with defenders/gk from newly promoted sides, despite their amount of cs last season

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Can understand that, worked out okay for me with Patricio last season tho so not ruling it out yet.

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          SHU’s defence is pretty formidable too

      2. The 5% Team
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Etheridge of course was amazing last season

        1. avfc82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Good shout, I’d forgotten him.

    3. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yip, a step up no doubt but SU had a decent defence last season.

  26. Thescaff
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Would you rather
    A 4.5gk & Wilson
    B ederson & king

    1. SoccerBoi69
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A might just edge it, purely because it's easier to release funds from Wilson IF needed...

    2. Kimmich
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A purely because I don’t like King as an option.

    3. Bad Kompany
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Few days ago all would have said b. But Wilson scored so now everyone has a.

    4. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers

    5. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I have no city def coverage, also have Fraser.

    6. MattB
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B for me

      1. Thescaff
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        It's how I'm now swaying

  27. Loftus cheeky nandos
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    How likely do you think greenwood is to start next year, ole says its a possibility, if lukaku leaves it gives him more of a chance. He could end up being a gem for 4.5 mill come the end of the season.

    Thoughts?

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Won’t be a regular but could seem some time playing on the wing

    2. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      He will see time on the right flank

    3. FC Hakkebøf
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Brilliant pick for a 3rd striker.

      1. Thescaff
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Unless Pogba, James and AWB fly

  28. Bad Kompany
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Is Rico first choice?

    Saw a video and he seemed to be training with their first team.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I think so. Many disagree. As I say above it makes logical sense that he should

    2. Kimmich
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      It’s between Lloyd Kelly who just signed and himselt. Daniels and Francis are ageing and injured.

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers! Will monitor him

      2. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Adam Smith is also an option.

    3. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Easy downgrade if so after the city game

  29. FC Hakkebøf
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Haller coming in at 7.5... what are peoples initial thoughts?

    For me he is a wait and see. 7.0 or below and I would have picked him

    1. Bob B
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Easy move on from Wilson if he's bang for his buck

    2. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Wait and see, even then, it's a big price

  30. MattB
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A) Perez and Giroud
    B) Maddison and King

    1. Kimmich
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A if Giroud turns out to be first choice.

    2. Thescaff
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B to start with, only because more nailed

    3. yakirh
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Perez and King

    4. Dundun
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B

      A looks too much of a gamble to me.