Scout Notes

Injuries to FPL defenders as Wood hits second pre-season hat-trick

Our pre-season coverage continues with a look at the lessons learned from three games contested on Tuesday.

Manchester United left it late to see off Kristiansund, while there were wins for Burnley and Newcastle United.

We’ll round up all the main talking points – including a treble for Chris Wood (£6.5m) and injuries to two mid-priced Fantasy Premier League defenders – in the Scout Notes article below.

Kristiansund 0-1 Manchester United

  • Goals: Juan Mata (£6.5m)
  • Assists: None

There was a curious choice of penalty taker as Manchester United saw off Norwegian side Kristiansund with a stoppage-time spot-kick.

Despite Paul Pogba (£8.5m) being on the pitch, it was fellow substitute Juan Mata (£6.5m) who stepped up to convert from 12 yards after the Spaniard had himself been brought down – Pogba having provided a superb through-ball to Mata just before the foul.

Therein may lie the answer: the fact that Mata won the penalty may have earned him the right to take the subsequent spot-kick, with any penalty-taking hierarchy temporarily forgotten due to this game being a meaningless pre-season friendly.

Mata hasn’t taken a Premier League penalty in almost four years, although he did net from 12 yards in the FA Cup win over Reading earlier in 2019.

Mata had indeed been fouled for that penalty against the Royals, while Pogba wasn’t in the team.

Line-up Lessons

Solskjaer has used 27 players in pre-season but we may finally be inching closer to the Norwegian’s favoured starting XI and system.

With the exception of Pogba (who had dropped to the bench after sitting out a training session), one could justifiably argue that United’s team against Kristiansund was close to the one that will take on Chelsea in Gameweek 1.

The contrast between Nemanja Matic (£5.0m) and Scott McTominay‘s (£5.0m) performances in central midfield perhaps suggested that the Serbian midfielder may make way for Pogba, with McTominay impressing in a box-to-box role and striking the woodwork in the first half.

Dan James (£6.0m) started on the right wing as Marcus Rashford (£8.5m) and Anthony Martial (£7.5m) frequently traded places in-game between the left flank and the lone striker’s role.

Rashford said of this tactical approach:

It’s never been my aim to be a number nine. It’s about being able to adapt and play in different positions and to be the ultimate forward. I think I can score goals from all positions and I think that’s something that’s shared among the forwards.

If one person is scoring all the goals you get a different feeling as a team than if all the forwards are contributing. It’s definitely a good feeling and it keeps us all on our toes. That’s important.

Jesse Lingard (£6.5m) operated in the hole in a 4-2-3-1, meanwhile.

Full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw (both £5.5m) again spent most of their time camped in the opposition half as the hosts’ attacking forays were few and far between.

When asked about his Gameweek 1 line-up, Solskjaer replied:

It’s not about one team for the first game and that’s the team for the rest of the season. We’ve got a strong squad and I feel there’s not too big a difference when we make the subs. We’re going to have to find the right balance. I’ve not really picked the first XI yet, but most of the relationships we’ve tried. Milan will be another last test and then let’s see how we decide. I think when Paul Pogba doesn’t start, I think you know it’s not the first XI.

Struggle for goals

United weren’t shot-shy in Norway: Solskjaer’s side chanced their arm on 32 occasions, with ten of them landing on target.

Rashford stung the palms of the hosts’ goalkeepers on three occasions with efforts from distance (one a direct free-kick) but there weren’t too many clear-cut chances carved out by the Red Devils, in spite of the high number of saves made.

Solskjaer said after full-time:

I’ve said before in press conferences that we need to be more clinical. That’s where you win games. I think we’re looking solid at the back. They had a great chance early in the second half and we should have done better.

We’re going to keep working, keep improving, keep making the relationships between the players and the patterns work even better. It’s not a concern but it’s something we’re going to have to improve on.

Injury Blow

The expected bad news about Eric Bailly (£5.0m) came in Solskjaer’s post-match press conference.

The Ivorian defender was a casualty of United’s 2-1 win over Spurs last week and his manager provided an update on Tuesday night:

He’s had an operation. He’ll miss the best part of four or five months. Hopefully, we’ll get him back around about Christmas.

It was positive news from the surgeon, he had the operation this morning. He was positive it was all repaired and that he’ll be fine.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea (Romero 60′), Wan-Bissaka (Dalot 60′), Jones (Tuanzebe 60′), Lindelof (Rojo 60′), Shaw (Young 60)’, Matic (Pogba 60′), McTominay (Fred 60′), James (Andreas 60′), Lingard (Mata 60′), Martial (Chong 60), Rashford (Greenwood 60′).

Burnley 6-1 Nice

  • Goals: Chris Wood (£6.5m) x3, Jeff Hendrick (£5.5m), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m), Jay Rodriguez (£6.0m)
  • Assists: Ashley Barnes x2 (£6.5m), Gudmundsson, Ben Mee (£5.0m), Matthew Lowton (£4.5m)

No Premier League player has scored more pre-season goals than Chris Wood (£6.5m) this summer.

The Burnley striker has found the back of the net on nine occasions in six friendly appearances, although the large caveat is that his previous half-dozen strikes before Tuesday evening’s treble were all against opponents from the Football League.

Patrick Vieira’s Nice side were supposed to present more of a challenge to the Clarets in their latest pre-season encounter but the Ligue I club were 4-0 down at the break, with Wood having scored two of the goals.

The mid-price FPL forward pounced on a loose ball to open the scoring before tapping in a Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m) cut-back to double the hosts’ advantage.

Both of Wood’s opening two strikes were characteristically from inside the six-yard box; no other Premier League player had more efforts from this zone of the pitch in 2018/19.

Wood had further opportunities to add to his tally but completed his hat-trick after the interval, intercepting an awful pass from a Nice defender – just one of umpteen errors from the French side at Turf Moor – and firing into a half-unguarded net.

Goals Abound

Jeff Hendrick (£5.5m), Gudmundsson and substitute Jay Rodriguez (£6.0m) were also on target for the home side.

A well-worked free-kick saw Hendrick control a Ben Mee (£5.0m) header and fire past Yoan Cardinale for Burnley’s third, before Gudmundsson’s speculative effort beat the visiting goalkeeper all too easily on 35 minutes.

Rodriguez came off the bench to finish a Matthew Lowton (£4.5m) cross to round off the scoring.

Ashley Barnes (£6.5m) wasn’t among the goalscorers but claimed the assists for Burnley’s first and fourth strikes.

Competition for Places

Sean Dyche used 20 different players in Lancashire on Tuesday and both he and Wood highlighted the competition for places in the Burnley squad.

The New Zealander said:

It looks like we’ve got two players in each position and it’s a fight for places. Everybody is putting their hands up and it making it hard for the manager, which is a good thing for us.

The boys that have come in – Jay and Erik (Pieters) – have done fantastically well and fitted in brilliantly, so they’re good additions so far.

Dyche added:

I thought the attention to detail, the shape, the energy and the quality were all excellent. Those are the things you are after and the over-riding thing is the players are looking fit and sharp and that was on show as well.

There is definitely a good feel and a really competitive edge about the group and we want that to continue, so I must look at that for the weekend because you want that hunger going into the last week.

There were a lot of really strong performances and people coming off the bench affected the game as well.

The good thing is we have a really good, competitive squad and the way we have balanced their minutes allows us to look at options.

On top of the players used on Tuesday, the Clarets were still without the injured Robbie Brady (£5.5m), Ben Gibson (£4.0m) and Nick Pope (£4.5m).

Goalkeeper Uncertainty

With only one pre-season game remaining before Gameweek 1, we are still not much closer to resolving the Burnley goalkeeper situation.

With Pope sidelined, Tom Heaton and Joe Hart (both £4.5m) were each handed 45 minutes against Nice.

The rumours surrounding Heaton’s long-mooted move to Aston Villa intensified on Wednesday, however, and the 33-year-old goalkeeper seems to set to sign for the newly promoted Midlands club in the coming hours.

With Pope’s injury situation not thought to be too serious but ultimately still unclear, Hart may well be on standby to line up between the posts in Gameweek 1 – as happened 12 months ago.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Heaton (Hart 46′), Bardsley (Lowton 75), Long (Tarkowski 46′), Mee (Dunne 69′), Pieters (Taylor 75′), Lennon (Rodriguez 69′), Westwood (Cork 69′), Hendrick, Gudmundsson (McNeil 46′), Wood (Wells 83′), Barnes.

Hibernian 1-3 Newcastle United

  • Goals: Joelinton (£6.0m), Sean Longstaff (£5.0m), Jamaal Lascelles (£4.5m)
  • Assists: Javier Manquillo (£4.5m), Joelinton, Rolando Aarons

Matt Ritchie (£5.5m) handed Newcastle United an injury scare in Tuesday night’s pre-season friendly in Leith.

Ritchie limped from the field after just 11 minutes of the Magpies’ 3-1 win over Hibs, having previously dropped to the ground with no opponent around him.

Steve Bruce said after full-time:

We hope it’s not serious. That’s the awful thing tonight because we’re a bit shy in that area. He’ll have a scan in the next 48 hours and hopefully, it’s not too bad. 

He’s nicked a hamstring. Whether it’s a strain or how serious it is, we do not know. But for him to come off is not a good sign.

The Evening Chronicle reported on Wednesday that the injury isn’t as serious as first feared, although this hasn’t yet been verified by the club.

The 3-5-2/5-3-2 Continues

Ritchie was again occupying the same position as he did last season, as the left-sided wing-back in a 3-5-2/5-3-2.

Rolando Aarons – yet to be priced up by FPL – was the man given the nod to replace Ritchie in that role and crossed for Jamaal Lascelles (£4.5m) to head in United’s third goal of the evening.

United’s midfield three was made up of budget FPL options Isaac Hayden (£4.5m), Sean Longstaff (£5.0m) and Jonjo Shelvey (£5.0m) and there was a sense that, the goalkeeper aside, this was about as strong a starting XI that Newcastle could possibly put out at present, accounting for injuries.

Joelinton (£6.0m) made his full Magpies debut and was joined up front for the second game running by an ‘out of position’ Miguel Almiron (£6.0m).

Almiron has not quite convinced in front of goal in his time on Tyneside and he is yet to find the back of the net for the Magpies either in a competitive match or a friendly, having missed from the spot in the 2-1 defeat to Preston on Saturday.

Against Hibs, the Paraguay international again missed a couple of excellent opportunities as his barren run continued.

Almiron otherwise linked up well with Joelinton, who was arguably the pick of United’s players with his physical hold-up play and promising movement.

The Brazilian striker got off the mark for Newcastle when converting Javier Manquillo‘s (£4.5m) cross from close range and then claimed a Fantasy assist when his blocked shot fell to Longstaff, who fired in from the edge of the box.

Bruce said of his new strike partnership:

All strikers want to score, let’s hope this is one of many. He is up and running, you can see the huge appetite in the boy (Joelinton).

They’re a threat and they’ve already enjoyed playing with each other, you can see that straight away. They will be a threat to anybody. They both can run and they complement each other.

They could be a little bit more clinical but overall I was very, very pleased with the performance of the two of them.

Goalkeeper Situation

Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) missed his second successive Newcastle game but Bruce poured cold water on the rumours circulating that the Slovakian wanted a move away from Tyneside.

Speaking after the match, Bruce said:

Dubravka is fine. He’s at home. It was always our aim to give the two other lads 90 minutes. Martin will be in goal in Saturday. 

He is our number one goalkeeper and will remain so. The stuff that’s circulating about him is not true, there’s nothing sinister going on at all.

Newcastle United XI (5-3-2): Darlow, Manquillo (Sterry 77), Lascelles, Dummett (Clark 71), Schar (Fernandez 77), Ritchie (Aarons 11), Hayden, Shelvey (M Longstaff 77), S.Longstaff (Ki 60), Almiron (Murphy 69), Joelinton (Muto 69).

1,775 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    This back line too weak?

    Ederson
    Robbo Vert Coleman Dunk Lundstram

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

      Funny how things change, very season before this one and you would be asking if it was too strong! I think it's fine, although I can't resist going with both Liverpool full backs. All depends on how much better your attack does when compared to those who have gone bigger at the back.

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

    Thinking about just having a completely balls bench and going as strong as possible for GW1

    Ederson
    TAA - Robbo - Digne - Cathcart
    Salah - Sterling - KDB - Fraser
    King - Greenwood

    Stekelenburg - Nketiah - Dendoncker - Lundstram

    Horrible bench and stuck with Greenwood but could haul some big points in GW1

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Youre gonna play Greenwood week in, week out?

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

        Nah I would likely WC early but would be fun to see how many points this could get.

        Suppose he could rotate with Dendoncker haha.

        I'm just messing around really but I'm a bit tempted. Plenty of options to downgrade and free cash though

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Cant really see where the money went, looks like a Salah Sterling Kane team without Kane.

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        😆

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

        Hahahaha

        KDB and the defense (including GK) and having Fraser over Perez etc is where the money went

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Yeah my suggestoin would be Fraser to Perez/Tielemans and find 0.5 somewhere else to afford 4.5fwd to a Soton attacker maybe.

          1. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            And KDB is a great pick as you can easily jump on Son if needed gw3.

    3. gamesmad11
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Shocking team if you're going to have to rely on greenwood to get you points in your first 11

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

        I'm really just Fing around at this point. I wouldn't have the balls to do this but it could be interesting. Anyway like I said twice in the original post this was all about GW1.

    4. scubasmithy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No

  3. OldBenKenobi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    In your opinion who are the best 5.5 or below mid options?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      McGinn, Ceballos, Robinson

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Probably the best players from the promoted clubs as opposed to the worst players from the established clubs.

      1. OldBenKenobi
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Im leaning that way. Although what about Solomon March?

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I couldn't even tell you who he plays for?

          1. OldBenKenobi
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            😆 Brighton

      2. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Usually this

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Ceballos, Robinson, mctominay, Norwood, schlOOP?

  4. Kobayashy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    So hard to pick between Tielemans, Perez and Barkley! Any thoughts?

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Would go the one playing OOP

      1. Kobayashy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Perez it is.

      2. fantasyfog
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        so what is oop?

        1. Kobayashy
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Out of position.

        2. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          the opposite of POO. in other words it's good.

          1. Get up ya bum
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I love a good poo personally. Especially in the morning.

            1. Boris Bodega
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Not an oop poo though, those are the worst!

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

    2. Dokdok666
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Pick one and don't sweat over it, it's not worth it seing we are in the dark

      1. Kobayashy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        That's true. Right now it's mainly Perez v Barkley, the former being OOP, the latter being 0.5 cheaper with a central playmaking position for a top 6 side. I think I'll flip a coin.

        1. Dokdok666
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          When I'm in doubt I go for the cheaper option

          1. Kobayashy
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            True, as long as you have a backup if it doesn't work out as there aren't many decent alternatives at the 6m range.

    3. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Barkley for me

    4. Mingo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Tielemans is the only one that we know for certain will start. It remains to be seen how Perez will be used and if it will become first XI straight away. Barkley is competing with Mount directly and jorginho & kovacic for the spot alongside Kante.

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I highly doubt Leicester fork out 30mil for Perez to not be first choice

        1. Shatner's Bassoon
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Especially BR comments over needing goals. He'll play more often than not.

          From Pre-season matches, looks like Barnes/Gray have been more or less sacrificed to get him starting.

      2. Kobayashy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Perez will 100% start too, there's no way they spent that much for him to be sitting on the bench - he only missed a recent preseason game due to minor injury. Barkley is in incredible form, but might see some rotation from Mount (Jorginho and Kovacic are further back as DMs, so less impact on him).

    5. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Ive got two of those. Barkley and Perez. Im playing a 4-4-2

      1. Kobayashy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Nice. Very cheap enablers that allows for more heavy hitters elsewhere.

    6. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Tielemans,

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        A Leicester fan on here said he has been attacking

        1. Kobayashy
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          They all are really, Perez is more goals and less assists, Tielemans seems to have an even spread of points and Barkley fits in a similar mould to KDB.

    7. Nailed Jesus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Tielemans you kind of know what you're getting. The other two are gambles, Perez probably bigger upside. Depends how many gambles you want to have in your team.

      1. Kobayashy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        He's definitely the safer choice, and I saw the FFS analysis on him and Perez the other week. Barkley looks incredible though, he would be my main 'gamble' and I'd probably keep 0.5m handy just in case it doesn't work out to upgrade.

        1. Nailed Jesus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Would you have the discipline to not take him out ahead of nor & SHU if he flops the first 2 games?

          1. Kobayashy
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Very good point. It depends on two factors - his performance during those first games, and the performance of others in a similar price bracket.

            For instance, if he's playing well, creating chances and looked unlucky to blank, I will keep him, but at the same time if Perez or Tielemans scores a brace and an assist, I'll have to keep an eye on price changes to avoid being priced out.

        2. Respect My Authoritah
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Incredible? Really? Just the other day Mount produced a similar performance

          1. Kobayashy
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I'm not saying he's a bad player, but Barkley has taken it to another level during preseason and developed a great understanding with Pulisic, and I would be shocked if Mount was selected ahead of him during the opening fixture against United.

  5. chickenkfc
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT please.
    Alison (button)
    Digne, Robertson, van bissaka, rotate cathcart, dunk
    Sterling, salah, b Silva, grealish (dendoncker)
    Jimenez, haller (greenwood)

    1. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Different to the template. I'd prefer 4.5 Keeper and TAA to Alison / Wan Biss. Haller looks great just slightly too expensive for my liking for a new player to prem. Grealish and B Silva potentially more assist the assister type players.

      I like it though looks decent, solid team with decent differentials.

  6. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Repost

    What do you think lads:

    Ryan,Button
    TAA,Zinchenko,Coleman,Kelly,Lundstram
    Salah,Sterling,Siggy,Perez,Fraser
    Wilson,Jota,Greenwood

    1. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Looks decent enough to me. Personally prefer Bilva over Siggy to start. Everton a bit patchy in pre-season so a double-up is a bit of a risk.

      Either that or shift to 3-4-3...

      1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thx

    2. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Think that back line is too risky

      1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Really, who?

  7. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    barkley kdb kane OR siggy sterling wood?

    Heaton
    Robbo VVD Dinge Zinc
    Salah Perez *** ***
    Wilson ***
    (Button dend greenwood Kelly)

    1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

  8. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    This back line too weak?

    Ederson
    Robbo Vert Coleman Dunk Lundstram

    Thanks

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Too expensive for my team

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Heaton
      Robbo Vert Digne Zinchenko Lundstram

      Much better use of funds there

  9. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Please RMT. Pope could be Ryan or Heaton. Thanks.

    Pope
    Taa Vvd digne dunk
    Salah sterling Perez Barkley
    Kane King

    Button dendo greenwood lund

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Forced to play Dunk Pope and King every week. I don't get it

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Nothing wrong with Pope

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Every week?

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            If going for a 4.5 best way to go.. their hauls or so unpredictable with save points and pen saves against the Top 6

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

          Apart from being injured

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Touché

      2. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I also have lund

  10. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    KDB or Laca to start with?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      KDB

    2. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      kdb

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Laca imo... Im going him over KDB if hes fit for the last friendly

  11. Azzastaan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ederson
    Robertson Coleman Walker Kelly Lundstram
    Perez Fraser Salah Sterling
    Kane

    Thoughts please?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Downgrade a mid and sort out Kelly and Lundrstram

  12. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Heaton
    Robbo | VVD | Zinchenko | KWP
    Salah | Sterling | KDB | Barkley
    Wilson | King

    Button | 4.0 | Dendoncker | Greenwood

    Tear it apart, I think I'm pretty much nailed on with this. Thoughts?

  13. Bald Eagle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    So time to do some drafts is finally here. 🙂 🙂 🙂

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Its been time for 6 weeks

      1. Bald Eagle
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Nah mate, too much tinkering is never good. 🙂

  14. Konstaapeli
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    If Sane goes to Bayern, will Mahrez (8.5) become an option?

    1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah I think so

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I believe he can play LW so it is likely

    3. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nah.. Sterling, Bilva for wide positions. Mahrez for Cup games and Europe

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        But they don’t have a St for GW1, Sterling is playing there, so who plays LW?

      2. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Mahrez started 14 league games last season so he should feature more this season if Sane goes

      3. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Most propably. Sadly.

      4. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        This.

      5. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Sane played 1800 minutes last year. Those minutes arent just going to be spread out over Sterling and Bilva. Pep loves to rotate, Mahrez will play a huge part if Sane goes.

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Would call 1800mins huge, and I doubt all of them translate directly to Mahrez

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Wouldn’t *

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

            But last season Sane was huge for quite a time

            Easy to forget now but he was seen as an equal option to Sterling for the first half of the season. Around the first DGW many quite rationally were on him.

            Mahrez as the leading other option on the wing could quite feasibly be the equal of Sane last time. Less reliable as a selection but it’s quite the price difference this time.

    4. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Not quite as I think their first choice XI will be:

      Ederson
      Walker Stones Laporte Zink
      Fernandinho D.Silva KDB
      B.Silva Aguero Sterling

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Agree but Aguero not available GW1 and maybe not Jesus either

        1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Are you sure? Kun's back training and looks as fit as a flea.

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I think Dilvas being phased out this season - Bilva probably back to playibg more centrally with pace on the wings where possible id imagine

        Rodri to come in gradually for Fernandinho over time too

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A nailed Mahrez in that city team at 8.5 would be absolutely lethal...

      Mightnt be a huge stretch either given that he's gotten his first season outf of off the way and should now be 'adapted' to Peps ways

      I don't think City would let their options get that thin though, they'd either keep Sane or make a big money signing

      Id imagine the Pepster has an emergency shortlist for every position in Case a player gets catastrophically injured or leaves the club etc

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        City are linked with Sane replacements this window

      2. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah, there's rumors they're after Mikel Oyarzabal from Real Sociedad as a replacement, he has a £68m release clause.

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

        Agreed

        Don’t think he’d ever be nailed but a sustained run of appearances over a 6/7 match run would be enough and is perfectly feasible.

  15. supersham
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Today's draft. Im honestly pretty happy with it. What you think?

    Ryan

    Zink Taa Robbo Coleman

    Sal Sterling Kdb Perez

    King Jota

    Button Greenwood Dend Lund

    Could do Zink to Laporte and Coleman to 4.5 if needs be

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      95% same as mine. Have Digne &VVD over Robbo & Coleman.

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        So... Excellent team mate 😉

    2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Maybe save 0.5 by robbo > VVD and get Wilson and a 5.5 mid for Jota and King?

      1. supersham
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        good shout cheers

        1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          If you do that then you get exactly my team

  16. dfalk09
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Shoring up my last few spots:

    Sterling and a 6.5 forward (probably Jota or Deulofeu to start)

    or

    Maddison and Aub for the first 2 gameweeks then switch Aub to Kane?

  17. OldBenKenobi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ceballos......someone talk to me?
    Dont know much about him.
    Ramsey like player?

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Incredibly skilful. Not sure it will translate to FPL points, has never been prolific with goals or assists

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Reminds me of isco

  18. Net Gains
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Hart or Pope? I assume Hart, right? Because he played exactly 19 games last season and Pope has no minutes of football since 2018.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Pope played in the FA Cup this year and has played in pre-season. Monitor their final friendly.

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Pope was injured for most of the season though and Hart is rubbish, I think Pope will be first choice if fit.

  19. Pieterke30
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I think I like this 451

    Pope
    TAA VvD Zinch Cathcart (Dunk)
    Salah Sterling Fraser Barkley Robinson
    Kane (G W)

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

      Good team

  20. bulbuf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Rate this one please

    Ederson 4.0

    Robertson TAA KWP Zinchenko Digne

    Sterling Fraser Perez Norwood James

    Firmino King Wood

    1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Doesnt look like a team with no Salah and kane. Cant see where the funds went, which is not a good sign. Bobby isnt a good FPL pick for now just look at last season

  21. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Bloody Nora Wood!

    Now the wooly ones are all gonna get you, pfft!

    1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Did he score?

    2. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      zip it shrimpy

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        🙂

  22. WorldCupDanB
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Please remove if this is not allowed.

    We have got our own free to enter FPL prize league with the first prize of £200 -

    https://twitter.com/FootstockChat/status/1156346447828279296

    and

    We have also created a list of free to enter FPL prize leagues which currently has over 100 leagues on it with prizes totalling over £27,000.

    https://twitter.com/FootstockChat/status/1156699051217379328

    Feel free to check them out. Any questions let me know.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You have 27k spare? We should become friends 🙂

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nice one!

      1. WorldCupDanB
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        The leagues are what we have found advertised across the internet and just put into a list, one has a first prize with a value of roughly £2,400. There are over 100 leagues set up by companies and individuals usually to promote something. The same sort of reason we set up our league.

        In 2015 I won just over £4,000 from FPL leagues and only stopped doing it because I was making from sites like Footstock.

        This article explains how you can improve your chances of winning these leagues and gives you more background - https://www.footstockchat.com/post/tips-on-how-to-win-an-fpl-prize-league

        1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Very Interesting! _I've been looking for leagues like this actually.

          Thanks for posting. 🙂

          1. WorldCupDanB
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Great, good luck. Any questions just hit me up on Twitter 🙂

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Where does the money come from?

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Rothschild's printing press racket.

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          The Fed?

          1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            The Creatures from Jekyll Island.

      2. WorldCupDanB
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Directly from the organisers of each league.

  23. Willllsonnn!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling vs KDB + 2.5m is my biggest headache

    1. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      everyone's, going without sterling is a tough call

    2. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      both

  24. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    4.5£ GK dilemma:

    A)PoPe (slightly injured&tough fixture to start)

    B)Heaton (Start against spurs then easy after that,hesitating against spurs)

    C)Henderson (will he become previous season etheiredge ?,fixture too quite easy at the start,start with him upto GW 5 then switch back to pope for his easy run)

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Leaning towards C

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Could get save points v spurs
        Heaton easy for mine will be similar to Fab this year

    2. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Heaton for me

  25. OldBenKenobi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I'm allowed at least 1 "punt" right? 😉

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Try 11 like me 🙂

    2. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No. Only choose 15 template players

  26. Azzastaan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Final team

    Ederson
    Vvd Robertson Coleman Dunk Lundstrum
    Barkley Fraser Salah Sterling
    Kane

  27. Bambi
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone like the stategy of going into GW1 with 0.5M ITB?

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

      No

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nah, I like my budget on the pitch. I’m not averse to a hit if bandwagons take off and I need funds

    3. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      only if youre playing origi game 1 😉

    4. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'm considering it.

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If you can do it it gives you a bit of flexibility that could come in handy

      If I go for Zinky over Laporte for example I turn Ings into a 6.5, and am left with 0.5 that I don't want to spend on my bench

      5.0 keepers don't appeal, I want all 4 Merseyside fullbacks and you can't really upgrade Salah, Sterling, Vardy or Perez so this year's crop of players do seem to leave it a bit more open for 0.5 ITB for a rainy day

      Currently on good old 0.0 though

    6. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      M sure starting with Robinson punt against Bournemouth & switch to Barkley/yarmelonko after 2/3 weeks even after single week

  28. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    What are your current RMT scores?

    I have:

    GW1 - 63.14

    6 Weeks - 355.11

    1. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      About 325-ish for the first 6 and 55-ish for GW1.
      Pretty irrelevant, I only use it to see where the weak fixtures are.

  29. RAMZES666
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How does it look? Yea i know no Salah, but prefer Kane at least for the first few weeks.
    4-4-2
    Pope/Heaton
    TAA VVD Zinch Rose/Zouma
    Sterling Fraser Perez Barkley
    Kane Wilson

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Mids are weak, would perhaps look to go King over Wilson to bees it up. Possibly Salah over Sterling for early captaincy, but depends on your WC strategy.

      1. RAMZES666
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        What do you think of keeping 1.5m ITB to enable Fraser, Wilson to Son,Haller GW3?

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      where did the Salah funds go?

  30. Lazaretti
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Can someone confirm (Bournemouth fans) that Joshua King has not yet played during preseason?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      pre season tab

      1. Lazaretti
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thank you. Not too many minutes played but he has played. Bournemouth still have 2 preseason games left though those 2 games are in 2nd and 3rd of August so it should be 2 different teams.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      he has featured at some point