Scout Notes

Sidibe catches the eye as Everton win on Ancelotti’s first match in charge

With the Gameweek 20 deadline fast approaching, we continue our whirlwind review of the Boxing Day games with a look back at four more Premier League matches.

Everton 1-0 Burnley

  • Goal: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.7m)
  • Assist: Djibril Sidibe (£5.3m)
  • Bonus: Sidibe x3, Fabian Delph (£5.3m) x2, Yerry Mina (£5.3m), Calvert-Lewin x1

Carlo Ancelotti made a winning start to life at Goodison Park as a late Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.7m) header handed Everton all three points against Burnley.

From a Fantasy point of view, there was plenty to interest us.

Ancelotti set his new troops up in what was a fluid 3-4-3, with Seamus Coleman (£5.3m) dropping in as the right-sided centre-half alongside Yerry Mina (£5.3m) and budget FPL defender Mason Holgate (£4.4m).

Djibril Sidibe (£5.3m) and Lucas Digne (£5.7m) were the wing-backs in this set-up but when Everton moved into a 4-4-2, generally out of possession, Sidibe was ostensibly an ‘out of position’ right-winger, with Coleman and Digne operating as more orthodox full-backs.

Sidibe is one to monitor as he got forward to create three chances, setting up Calvert-Lewin for the hosts’ winner, and also forcing Nick Pope (£4.7m) into a save with a low shot.

Ancelotti said after full-time:

We tried to build up with three defenders to put more players between the lines, and some situations were good for us and others have to improve. This is normal and I didn’t want to change a lot for the players. I have seen some good things.

Offensively, Sidibe stayed wide and on the other side we had Lucas Digne to cover the space there.

Defensively, Sidibe was working in the line of the midfielders. The shape 4-4-2 defensively didn’t change.

We started to build up with Coleman a little bit back and Sidibe more forward. It went well because he put in the cross for Calvert-Lewin to score the goal.

Calvert-Lewin was, as he had been under Duncan Ferguson, again the spearhead of the Everton attack and had plenty of chances before his goal; indeed, no other FPL asset has had as many efforts on goal as the Everton striker in Gameweek 19 so far.

Five of his six attempts were from his head and two presentable opportunities went begging in the first half.

Ancelotti said of his young striker:

He is a fantastic striker in my opinion. He is strong with his head but he can improve is his movement without the ball.

He has to be more focused on the goal but, of course, he is really unselfish and he moves up and down, right and left.

He has to stay, in my opinion, more focused on the centre of the box.

Richarlison (£8.0m) and Bernard (£6.4m) operated as narrow wingers either side of Calvert-Lewin but neither posed as big a threat, not registering a single shot in the box between them.

Burnley didn’t record a single shot on target all game, with an early looping Jay Rodriguez (£5.7m) header (not counted as a shot by the powers that be) that was cleared away from near the goalline by Mina as close as they came to scoring.

Rodriguez was starting as Sean Dyche deemed Ashley Barnes (£6.2m) unable to handle the rigours of two games in 48 hours, saying after full-time:

He has a chance [v Manchester United] and that is part of the plan as to which game do you choose because two in three days does affect people like Barnesy from a recovery point of view, and any kind of knocks.

But the fully fit lads I expect them to recover well and be right, and ones like Barnesy we have to monitor and be careful, and make those decisions on what game is right and what game is not.

Today was one we considered to be not, to allow him the chance to be possibly playing and starting on Saturday.

Ancelotti also seemed to promise changes in Gameweek 20, saying:

Of course, I have to change players and try to put more players fresh if possible. We are an energetic team. Physically, we are in really good condition, so we look forward to the next game.

We don’t have really time to recover but we are going to check the players that were not able to play – maybe they have more possibility to play against Newcastle.

We have to see how the players recover. I am going to decide on the line-up on the day of the game.

Everton (3-4-3): Pickford; Coleman, Mina, Holgate; Sidibe (Walcott 89′); Sigurdsson, Delph, Digne; Bernard (Kean 76′) Richarlison (Davies 85′), Calvert-Lewin. 

Burnley (4-4-2): Pope; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Brady (Gudmundsson 66′), Cork (Long 87′), Westwood, McNeil; Rodriguez, Wood (Barnes 73′). 

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion

  • Goals: Harry Kane (£11.0m), Dele Alli (£8.9m)| Adam Webster (£4.4m)
  • Assists: Serge Aurier (£5.1m) | Pascal Gross (£6.4m)
  • Bonus: Webster x3, Kane x2, Alli x1

Tottenham Hotspur bounced back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion but the Lilywhites’ display wasn’t a great deal more convincing than it was in the defeat to Chelsea.

Again Spurs had problems breaking down a compact three-man defence and a congested midfield in front of it, with there being little room for Harry Kane (£11.0m), Dele Alli (£8.9m) and Lucas Moura (£7.1m) to exploit in behind when the hosts arrowed balls forward from the back.

The one time Kane succeeded in breaking free of Brighton’s backline in the first half, the Video Assistant Referee was on hand to disallow his goal for offside.

Spurs had registered only one shot in the box before half-time and went into the break a goal down, with Adam Webster (£4.4m) having nodded in a Pascal Gross (£6.4m) free-kick to put the Seagulls in front.

Striker Aaron Connolly (£4.5m) indeed wasted an excellent chance to double the visitors’ lead just after the interval, mistiming a jump and seeing a cross bounce wide off his shoulder.

It’s now just one clean sheet in seven league matches for Spurs under Jose Mourinho.

Kane did battle his way to a tenth goal of the campaign, finishing at the second attempt after a save by Mathew Ryan (£4.8m), while Alli looped in the winner from a Serge Aurier (£5.1m) cut-back.

Kane and Alli nearly combined for another goal late on, with the latter forcing a fingertip save out of Ryan in the 89th minute.

Owners of Spurs assets will no doubt be concerned by the swift turnaround in games, with a trip to Norwich to follow on Saturday.

Kane and Alli, in particular, looked exhausted at the full-time whistle, although Mourinho had previously hinted at the former getting plenty of game-time over Christmas.

Speaking after full-time on Boxing Day, Mourinho said:

I cannot imagine these boys, not just my boys, but the Potter boys how they can play in 48 hours. If you go to control the distances they run, the intensity, the breaks, if you are going to control that and if we are going to tell anyone who understands physiology, it is a crime that they are going to play football again on the 28.

On Alli, the Spurs boss added:

 People now say since I arrived that Dele has scored three or four goals in the Premier League and one or two goals in the Champions League but I don’t go in that direction. I go in the direction that Dele Alli exhausted from work. I love players who are exhausted from that.

The problem is that we have to play again in 48 hours, but I love for players to finish the game exhausted. That’s why these guys are doing. Sissoko incredible. The defenders they are playing every game and it’s not easy to play in the feeling that have at this moment, which is the feeling of ‘wow we concede a goal every game, we make a mistake and we concede a goal’. That added pressure is not easy to cope with.

Mourinho will be forced into at least two changes against Norwich, with Harry Winks (£5.2m) and Moussa Sissoko (£4.9m) both suspended after picking up their fifth bookings of the season.

Giovani Lo Celso (£7.3m) may well have played his way into contention for a start at Carrow Road after an impressive cameo off the bench, while Christian Eriksen (£8.6m) made an impact as a substitute too – although Mourinho’s post-match comments about the Dane’s future may be a sign that Eriksen is heading for the exit door in January.

Tanguy Ndombele (£5.8m) wasn’t involved in the matchday squad, with Mourinho saying:

I cannot say he is injured, in five minutes we start a training session and you can go to the stands and watch it, he is going to be training normally so I cannot say he is injured. I can say that yesterday he told me he was not feeling in condition to play the game.

Not based on injuries, based on fears of previous injuries that he has had since the beginning of the season. Feeling not ready to start the game, but I cannot say he is injured, I can say he is not in condition to start the game, which is different.

Brighton are about to embark on a series of appealing fixtures and they have massively impressed against tough opposition of late, having more than held their own against Liverpool, Arsenal, Wolves and now Spurs.

For those who are holding onto Chelsea assets, the shape-shifting Seagulls – here operating in a 3-4-2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – will more than likely make life problematic for Lampard’s troops when they visit the Amex on New Year’s Day.

Aaron Mooy (£4.8m) continues to excel (without delivering much in the way of Fantasy returns), while dead-ball specialist Gross banked his fifth assist of the season.

There was some Christmas-influenced rotation by Potter on Boxing Day, with Leandro Trossard (£5.8m), Neal Maupay (£5.8m) and Davy Propper (£4.9m) among the players handed a breather.

Lewis Dunk (£4.7m) missed out with illness, meanwhile.

Maupay will surely return against Bournemouth on Saturday and is perhaps one to monitor for the fixture swing, with rotation less of an issue after this busy Christmas period.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Winks (Eriksen 68), Sissoko; Lucas (Dier 76), Dele, Sessegnon (Lo Celso 56); Kane.

Brighton (3-4-2-1): Ryan; Duffy, Webster, Burn; Schelotto (Bissouma 83), Alzate, Stephens, Bernardo (Trossard 76); Mooy, Gross; Connolly (Maupay 68).

Crystal Palace 2-1 West Ham United

  • Goals: Cheikhou Kouyate (£4.9m), Jordan Ayew (£5.0m) | Robert Snodgrass (£5.2m)
  • Assists: Ayew, Connor Wickham (£4.4m)| Michail Antonio (£6.9m)
  • Bonus: Ayew x3, Kouyate x2, Snodgrass x1

Crystal Palace lost another defender to injury as they saw off struggling West Ham United on Thursday.

With Joel Ward (£4.3m), Scott Dann (£4.3m), Jeffrey Schlupp (£5.5m) and Gary Cahill (£4.5m) already sidelined, Patrick van Aanholt (£5.5m) limped out of the game after 64 minutes of the win over the Hammers with a recurrence of his hamstring problem.

The Dutch left-back had missed Gameweeks 16 and 17 with the issue before making a swift return to the team.

Speaking after the Eagles’ latest win on Boxing Day, Roy Hodgson said of van Aanholt:

I think it’s all part of the fact that because we are so desperate in that position we hurried him back a little bit. He was keen to get back to be fair so when I say ‘hurried him back,’ he didn’t take any persuasion because he wants to play and was very keen to play.

You are worried of course when that happens it could recur, but speaking to him as he was leaving he didn’t seem to think anything had pulled or snapped so I’m rather hoping it won’t be a long-term thing but of course the scans always show some degree of strain and every one of these strains keep people out for a period of time.

It’s something we can’t really afford but we will have to learn to live with it.

Jairo Riedewald (£4.5m) was again brought in to deputise at left-back when van Aanholt was withdrawn.

Mamadou Sakho (£5.0m) returned from suspension, at least, with his availability at centre-half meaning that Cheikhou Kouyate (£4.9m) moved back into midfield.

It was the former Hammer who grabbed Palace’s equaliser from a Jordan Ayew (£5.0m) knock-down and the Ghanaian striker was at the centre of much of Palace’s attacking play on Boxing Day, being directly involved in all four of the ‘big chances’ that the hosts carved out.

Ayew had missed a sitter in the first half and set substitute Connor Wickham (£4.5m) free for a gilt-edged chance on 75 minutes, with the budget FPL forward shooting straight at Roberto (£4.4m) when Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m) was well placed for a tap-in.

Ayew saved the best till last, though, scoring a superb solo goal in the final minute of normal time to bank his first double-digit haul of the season.

The Ghana international’s expected goal involvement (xGI) of 1.57 is the best in Gameweek 19 so far.

Hodgson said of him after full-time:

He’s scored five in a team that doesn’t score many goals. Five is pretty good by our standards because we’re not scoring that many at the moment, not for want of trying or for want of getting people in the box.

We knew all along that he’s got the capability of scoring those goals. I think his game’s improved, I think his confidence has improved as it should do – he deserves to be confident.

Let’s not get carried away with Ayew’s FPL appeal, though – he had eight successive blanks before Boxing Day’s goal-and-assist return.

But the budget Fantasy striker is, at least, fairly secure in his position, having started all but one Premier League match this season.

While the unconvincing Wickham is another option up front over Christmas should Hodgson need him, Ayew is now down one positional rival in the form of Christian Benteke (£5.7m).

Hodgson said of the Belgian striker ahead of kick-off:

Christian Benteke after the Newcastle game was complaining of a muscle injury. We hoped it was just fatigue but the scans show there is a strain there which will keep him out for the next few weeks.

It’s a great blow for us because [there have been] a couple of games recently where he’s come into the team, he’s done extremely well and the front three has looked good with him in the centre, Jordan to the right and Wilf to the left.

We’ve had to change it today because he’s not available and probably won’t be available for a fair while. The problem with our injuries is they’re all long term at the moment.

Zaha was his usual self – lots of penalty box touches (16, the highest in Gameweek 19 at the time of writing) but only one shot to show for it.

A 12-day break didn’t look like it had done West Ham much good, with Manuel Pellegrini’s side serving up the latest in a long line of dreary displays – surprise away wins over Chelsea and Southampton aside.

Robert Snodgrass‘s (£5.2m) goal almost came out of the blue and clear chances were few and far between for the visitors, with the Scotland international also denied by a Reidewald block late on.

Michail Antonio (£6.9m), again playing up front in a 4-4-2, highlighted his own ‘out of position’ appeal with the assist for West Ham’s goal but Fantasy managers will be understandably reticent in going anywhere near the Hammers’ players on current form.

Sebastien Haller (£7.0m), flavour of the month earlier in the campaign, was again unconvincing up top, while the gaps at the back (West Ham’s expected goals conceded total is the third-worst in Gameweek 19 so far) will have been encouraging to owners of Leicester assets ahead of Gameweek 20.

Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Guaita; Kelly, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt (Riedewald 65′); Kouyate (McCarthy 88′), Milivojevic, McArthur; Meyer (Wickham 75′), Ayew, Zaha.

West Ham (4-4-2): Roberto; Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Snodgrass (Ajeti 90′), Rice, Noble, Fornals (Lanzini 58′); Haller (Anderson 75′), Antonio.

Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich City

  • Goal: Conor Hourihane (£5.7m)
  • Assist: Jack Grealish (£6.4m)
  • Bonus: Tom Heaton (£4.5m) x3, Hourihane x2, Max Aarons (£4.4m) x1

Jack Grealish (£6.4m) kept up his fine Fantasy form with an assist for Conor Hourihane‘s (£5.7m) winner in a potentially important victory for Aston Villa against relegation rivals Norwich City.

Grealish now has eight FPL attacking returns in his last ten league starts, averaging 5.8 points per match over that time.

Where Villa would be without their talisman is the big question.

Dean Smith’s side may have gathered all three points against the Canaries but they were by no means the better team, and the fact that Tom Heaton (£4.5m) emerged from this fixture with maximum bonus points said much about the game.

Full-back Sam Byram (£4.5m) headed against the woodwork and then wide either side of the break, while Alex Tettey (£4.5m) had a shot cleared off the line and Teemu Pukki (£6.6m) should have done much better when racing clear of the Villa defence in the first half.

Heaton made five saves in all, keeping out a Tom Trybull (£4.5m) header and a late Onel Hernandez (£5.3m) effort.

Villa, meanwhile, didn’t create too much at all, with Anwar El Ghazi (£5.5m) miskicking and then sending an effort wide in the first half.

This match saw Smith make a tactical change, with El Ghazi and Trezeguet (£5.2m) stationed on the flanks and Grealish moved back into a more central position (but still quite advanced) following his recent stint on the left.

Smith said of Grealish after the game:

I thought he performed really well for us today. He showed a lot of leadership and responsibility and helped to calm things down at the end.

He ran at the opposition all day and he was probably the difference between the two teams.

Frederic Guilbert (£4.4m) was one of the casualties of the Christmas-led rotation, meanwhile, with the Villa right-back missing out on his side’s clean sheet.

Daniel Farke, who named an unchanged side for this encounter, said after full-time:

Performance-wise, we can’t play better away from home. I’m disappointed we’re in a poor position in the table, but I can influence the lads to put in top-class performances on the pitch. Pundits will say it’s just about the result, but we were unlucky to lose. We will keep on going. If everything is against you it’s important to puff out your chest and keep going.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-3): Heaton; El Mohamady, Hause, Ngoyo, Targett; Nakamba (Hourihane 55′), Luiz, Grealish; El Ghazi (Lansbury 90′), Wesley, Trezeguet (Jota 86′). 

Norwich City XI (4-2-3-1): Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram; Tettey (Vrancic 75′), Trybull (Stiepermann 75′); Buendia (Hernandez 75′), McLean, Cantwell; Pukki.

1,120 Comments Post a Comment
  1. jorgenoj
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jimenez or Rashford on WC?

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rash

    2. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jim

    3. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimenez

    4. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rash if you can afford

    5. Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimmy

    6. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jim

    7. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimbo.

    8. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jim

    9. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Surprised by this result

  2. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sidibe or Aurier?

    1. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I know what Mourinho has said about Aurier but I just don’t see him tolerating being so high up the pitch much longer.

    2. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sid

  3. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Would you save or use FT here? Thinking Mount probably starts against Arsenal? 0.6ITB

    Guaita
    TAA, Soy, Rico
    Salah, KDB, Alli, Mount
    Vardy, Abraham, Jimenez

    Button, Targett, Dendo, Lundstram

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mount to Grealish?

  4. Moose™
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope

    TAA Soyuncu Guilbert

    Mane KdB (c) Alli Grealish

    Vardy Rashy Tammy

    Sub: Button Cantwell Lundy Simpson

    1FT & 0.2ITB

    GTG? Or Mane to Salah for free?

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli + Rash to Martial + Kane (C) imo.. But nore sure you have enough itb

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Did that love this gameweek... Big dividends

      2. Moose™
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Short 0.7.. Might need to downgrade Cantwell and Guilbert..

    2. JBG
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wait and see how Kdb plays and how many mins he plays. Might get rested as well as Mane.

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        No reason to transfer out a player because he is rested one week

        1. JBG
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          What I meant was... Since you have Kdb as your C. Wait and see how many mins he plays. You might have to take out Mane for Salah for a more secure C. Cause then you have Mane and Kdb who are unsure.

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            It is not my team but I do understand your point now 🙂

            1. JBG
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Haha oh yeah, but yeah you get my point :p.

  5. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Just had a closer look at Burnley's home record against the top 6:

    Lost 1-4 to Man City
    Lost 2-4 to Chelsea
    Lost 3-0 to Liverpool

    Could Rashford (c) with his mini rest be a half decent punt?

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'm considering this, specially cause my other C option is Mane, who's due a rest after 120min during the final and 90min yesterday.

      1. Ci Siamo
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah well my other option is Ings against Palace but that just feels wrong

        Pogba will probably start too with McTominay out

        1. JBG
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Pogba has to start yeah.

    2. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Considering Rashford too, mainly over security of starting.

  6. Saosin
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan - Button
    TAA - Söyüncü - Baldock - Lundstram - Willems
    Maddison - Salah - KDB - Cantwell - Alli
    Vardy - Long - Jiminez

    2 FT. 1.1 in the bank. Suggestions?

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Get rid of long

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

    Salah or Mane on WC?

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah for me

    2. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah

    3. JelliedSpark968
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah

    4. Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      both + taa

    5. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Both and 4 at the back.

  8. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On WC. Considering 3 options, which one do you prefer?

    Ramsdale Button
    TAA Soy Lundstram Kelly XX
    Salah KDB XX XX XX
    Vardy Ings XX

    A) Robertson, Maddison, Martial, Alli, Greenwood
    B) Sidibe, Maddison, Cantwell, Alli, Rashford
    C) Webster, Grealish, Martial, Mané, Greenwood

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C. Triple Liverpool

      1. Hansel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        It is tempting! The other two might be a bit better balanced though?

  9. Atters
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone else managed to go the whole season without Lundstram?

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

    TAA had 4 assists in 7 before last gw.. Was a no brainier to keep him

    I dont buy into this hindsight crap. Did TAA sellers really thought liverpool will continue concededing the odd goal every gw?

    Given the world class players they have it was inevitable clean sheets were on the horizon backed up by last 2gws

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Plus one million

      I had rarely been as convinced of anything as I was of TAA’s value this season

      I am equally as convinced of Robbo’s, but unfortunately it will take him going BOOM first before the penny drops

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Was the first name on my teamsheet after the strong finish in last season by TAA

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

        He should have cost 8.0 as I said before the season and he would still be nailed in my team.

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          😆

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

            The only player at 8.0 or below who has more points is Abraham and that wont last over the season.

    2. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Think

    3. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      They kept 2 clean sheets in 15 games... Of course you expect them to keep conceding. The sample size is large enough.

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This, Beeing high on TAA’s haul last night probably doesn’t change this

      2. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This. Pools defense have been terrible all season. Trent's returns have mostly been attacking. People that sold him used the money elsewhere to boost their team. Cheap defenders from CP, Sheff and Leicester have all returned the same points as Trent.

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

          Best xGC in the league is "terrible"? Lol

          1. Royal5
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I'm talking about the actual games. They have been lucky not to concede more goals.

        2. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Their defense haven't been terrible.

          They have like the second best defence interms of goals conceded. Been concededing Just the odd goal. Was not going to continue forever and the cs's were always looming

      3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Terrible is a catastrophic overstatement imo - and it’s also all relative - who are/were they “terrible” in relation to?

        The other 19 teams in the league who have conceded more than them?

        Or the other 19 teams in the league who have a worse XGc than them?

        I said just before Allison’s return after an 8 game absence that we were waaaaaay into statistical outlier territory with liverpool’s Cleansheet count versus their goals conceded and their XGc relative to Sheffield Utd, Leicester, and Man City - who were setting the gold standard for clean sheets - then Allison kindly goes and gets himself sent off to extend their stay in outliers-villa for just a little longer

        That outlier is now coming smoothly back into line, as expected 🙂

        1. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          This. Check out liverpool cs record last 2 seasons and it was inevitable that their defence returns to the norm of keeping cs's consistently as they have the same set of players without any injury

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

      I havent seen anyone claim that it was "hindsight" to keep TAA to be fair. Most seem to admit it was a risky mistake selling him.

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

      It was always risky. Plan was short term move to someone with better fixture and back. We paid the price. Now gonna get back.

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Good lad

    6. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      For someone 7 years here that is a crazy post. Wise up to yourself and cop on. Nothing worse then I told you so

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sorry if i hit a nerve. The truth had to be revealed whether TAA sellers find it hard to digest or not

  11. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which combo on a WC?

    A) Maupay - Mane - Grealish

    B) Rashford - Jimenez - Maddison

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B, just, assuming you have Salah. If not then A

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yes also have Salah

  12. C'mon the Fylde
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one
    Maddison or Rashford

    Ryan
    TAA Rico Soyuncu
    KDB Alli Salah Grealish
    Rashford Vardy Ings

    Button Maddison Kelly Lundstram

  13. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gazza
    TAA Soy Rico
    Alli Mane KDB Richarlison
    Ings Vardy Rashford

    Bench: Button / Cantwell / Lund / Kelly

    Richarlison + Rashford --> Salah + Deulofeu for a -4 hit ? Worth it?

    1. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No way. I'd save the ft and reassess next game week

      1. Pukkipartyy
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Any changes for this gw ? I have 2.1m in bank..

  14. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Callum Wilson or King after Brighton game?

    1. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn't touch BOU players

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah wait and see. Didn't they have a good set of fixtures at the start of the season as well? And didn't do anything special..

      2. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I think I might

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Never. Harry Wilson if any.

  15. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Henderson
    TAA Soyuncu Rico
    Alli Mane KdB Maddison
    Abraham Vardy Kane (c)

    Button/Kelly/Lundstram/Dendoncker

    1FT 0.3 ITB. Henderson to Ramsdale/Ryan?

    1. gelisiguzel
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ryan for me

  16. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rashford to Kane(c) done.(using FT)
    Have to take some risks now!

    1. BellyKlopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Like it!

  17. arkom
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    Kelly / Aurier / Lundstram / Soy / Rico
    Mane / KDB / Willian / Alli / Cantwell
    Vardy / Tammy / Jimenez

    3.3£ ITB

    A) Willian & Tammy —> Salah(C) & Ayew (-4)
    B) Defender —> TAA
    C) Save FT
    D) Other?

  18. Babelcopter
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Opinion on this WC team?

    Ramsdale
    TAA - Soy - Lund
    Mane - KDB - Salah - Grealish - Maddy
    Vardy - Jimmy

    Button - Greenwood - Kelly - Rico

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks good!

    2. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks similar to mine although I have rashford alli and Cantwell

  19. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Exciting transfer time - Cantwell to Mooy just to be different.

  20. gelisiguzel
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan
    Taa, Aurier, Kelly
    Mane, KDB, Alli, Grealish
    Vardy, Kane (c), Tammy
    Subs: Button, JWP, Lunds, Simpson

    0.9 ITB
    Tammy out and Maupay in for a hit?

  21. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC
    Guaita (Button)
    Kiko Soyuncu Lundstram TAA Sidibe
    Richarlison Salah KDB Alli Martial
    Ings Greenwood Vardy

    0.0 ITB
    Thx

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      5 RMWCTs in the last hour!

      1. Klip Klopp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        maybe he isn't getting any answers?

        I like your wildcard team, some nice differentials

        1. Tabbara
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          thank you and yes

        2. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Hey - I replied to one of them - you probably mean "answers from meaningful people" 😉

          Would probably (to aid him and everyone) get more response if they put thoughts or areas of concern down rather than just slapping their team down with no commentary.

  22. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone here worse than 24 points with KDB to go?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      jesus

    2. BellyKlopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      26 for me, if it makes u feel any better. KDB and Jimmy to go

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No-one with Mr Trenty-four.

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

      21 points. But a certain someone coming off the bench 😉

  23. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How do you rate this team? Would you play Soy or Rico in last def spot?

    Henderson
    TAA/Targett/___
    KDB/Mane/Dele/Grealish
    Vardy/Rash/Tammy

    1. Klip Klopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rico

  24. Wensink
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Dele and Tammy > Grealish and Rashford for free or hold?

    Ramsdale/Martin
    TAA/Soyuncu/Lundstram/Kelly/Rico
    KDB/Mane/Maddison/Dele/Cantwell
    Jimenez/Vardy/Abraham

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hold for sure

    2. FlashGilbert
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Would not get rid of Alli

      1. Wensink
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Until we sort out our midfield issues, really don't love Spurs assets.

    3. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Or.. Maddisson + Alli + Jim/Abraham to Grealish + Martial + Kane (C)

      Not sure it is worth it though.. But kind of like it

      1. Wensink
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks. I'm anti-hit.

  25. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    38 pts away from top 10k... Major hauls from Sterling and KDB tonight and I am getting close! Thank you so much TAA, Martial and Kane (C)

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

      KDB haul will put you further away from top 10k. His EO is over 100%

  26. FlashGilbert
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What to do here? 2FT and 1.1m in the bank...

    Pope / Button
    TAA / Soy / Lund / Baldock / Kelly
    KDB / Mane / Alli / Grealish / Dedonk
    Vardy / Rash / Tammy

    Any help appreciated.

    1. BellyKlopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tough - nice team. Pope to another GK and have 2 FTs next week? Better to have 2 FTs next week imo

  27. aborg
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Whom of these do you think plays the full 90 mins this GW?

    A) Vardy
    B) Mane
    C) Alli
    D) Rashford
    E) KDB

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hard to say anything about KDB as they have not played yet.. But I think Rashford and Vardy are most likely

      1. aborg
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thank you. Will decide to captain Rashford or Vardy most probably then.
        What do you think about Martial?

    2. JBG
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C and maybe D, depending on the score.

  28. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    THoughts on this WC team, criticise away. Leaves 1m itb

    Ryan ---- Button
    TAA • Soy • Lundy --- Rico Kiko
    Salah • Alli • KDB • Grealish --- Romeu
    Vardy • Rashford • Ings

    A: Kiko >> Aurier/Otamendi/Sidibe...
    B: Soy + Grealish >> Holgate + Maddison
    C: Alli + Grealish >> Martial + Maddison...really tempting as i want to fit in maddison somehow
    D: Rashford + Grealish >> Martial + Maddison

  29. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    C Vardy or Mane?
    Ta.

    1. FlashGilbert
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mane probably rested, go Vardy

  30. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So consensus is Lundstram probably have small chances to get attacking points on City’s defence?