Scout Notes

Rare blank for Ings as much-sold Traore and Jimenez record double-digit hauls

Southampton 2-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • Goals: Jan Bednarek (£4.4m), Shane Long (£4.6m) | Pedro Neto (£5.0m), Raul Jimenez (£7.5m) x2
  • Assists: James Ward-Prowse (£5.8m), Cedric (£4.8m) | Adama Traore (£5.7m) x2, Jonny (£5.4m)
  • Bonus: Jimenez x3 Traore x2 Long x1

Wolves came from two down to beat Southampton with some Fantasy trolling of near-epic proportions thrown in for good measure.

The Saints went into the match unbeaten in five league games, whereas the visitors hadn’t won since Gameweek 19, and the first half followed the form obediently enough.

It took Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side just 15 minutes to take the lead, Jan Bednarek (£4.4m) hooking in a James Ward-Prowse (£5.8m) free-kick, and they were two to the good when Shane Long (£4.6m) headed home Cedric‘s (£4.8m) cross.

The only issue for many a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) boss was that neither goal involved Danny Ings (£6.9m).

The Southampton striker had scored ten goals from his previous 11 starts, a run that has added £0.9m to his value and nearly two million managers to his ownership.

More than half a million had signed up ahead of the Wolves match alone, making him Gameweek 23’s most purchased player and FPL’s third-most-popular striker overall.

The only problem with scoring streaks is that they have to come to an end sooner or later, and Ings chose his moment unwisely, although it’s hard to criticise a man kept to just one attempt all match too harshly.

What proved equally galling was Wolves’ second-half comeback.

Coach Nuno Espirito Santo denied giving his players the secador de cabelo treatment (try Portuguese to English in Google) during the interval:

What I tried was to make them believe it was possible and we reacted very well. It was amazing the second-half. We realised the first-half was not good and we reacted very well. I’m very proud of the players.

Whatever was said worked, because they responded in emphatic style.

Pedro Neto (£5.0m) halved the deficit, from an Adama Traore (£5.7m) assist, when he scored his second goal in three Gameweeks on 53 minutes before Raul Jimenez (£7.5m) went on a trolling spree of his own.

The Mexico international had blanked for three straight matches and 228,000 FPL managers had had enough prior to the Southampton clash, making him the Gameweek’s third-most sold player.

A decent chunk of that figure presumably swapped him out for Ings as well, making the last 25 minutes of Saturday’s game an especially excruciating experience.

Jimenez ended his mini-drought with a large dollop of help from VAR.

Wing-back Jonny (£5.4m) was upended in the Saints area, with referee Darren England initially awarding a corner before Stockley Park told him otherwise. Jimenez slotted home the resultant penalty, although Hasenhuttl was not impressed with the decision:

In the end, the decision for the penalty is hard to understand for me, because I think the referee did a good job and I don’t know why he let VAR overrule him.

Slightly less partial observers might have disagreed with him but, either way, just over ten minutes later the coach’s agony – and that of all those Jimenez sellers – was complete.

The ever-dangerous Traore was released on the break by the striker’s pass and he held onto the ball long enough for the Mexican to catch up and finish sweetly.

With maximum bonus points awarded, Jimenez’s 13-point haul was his best return of the season, while swapping from him to Ings cost managers 11, although a good deal of that pain could be offset over the coming weeks.

The Saints have a fine run of matches all the way up to Gameweek 31, with a trip to Liverpool the only major obstacle, whereas Wolves will play the Reds, Manchester United, Leicester City and Spurs over the next five Gameweeks.

Ings’ owners might have to wait for the good times to return, however, as Hasenhuttl has recently talked of resting his star striker:

Like all the players, it’s important for them to be fit because of the high workload. At the moment, he looks in really good shape and can work for 90 minutes or longer which gives me a good feeling. We don’t have to put him in every game and we rested him once against Chelsea.

Rest has been a rarity for Wolves players. Saturday’s match was the club’s 39th of a season that started in late July, and their continued fragility at the back – they’ve not kept a clean sheet since Gameweek 15 – means their attacking assets are the only ones likely to catch Fantasy eyes.

Jimenez now has a bit of form to recommend him, while both Neto and Traore offer excellent value from midfield.

How long they can keep going to the well remains the big question. Their spirit is unquestionable, but their bodies all too human.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): McCarthy; Cedric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand; Armstrong (Djenepo 71′), Ward-Prowse, Hobjerg, Redmond (Boufal 78′); Ings, Long (Adams 71′). 

Wolves XI (3-4-3): Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny; Neto (Kilman 86′), Jimenez, Traore.

Members Analysis

Norwich City 1-0 Bournemouth

  • Goals: Teemu Pukki (£6.5m)
  • Assists: Ondrej Duda (£5.0m)
  • Bonus: Pukki x3 Sam Byram (£4.4m) x2 Christoph Zimmermann (£4.4m), Tim Krul (£4.5m) x1
  • Red cards: Ben Godfrey (£4.4m) | Steve Cook (£5.0m)

Norwich City’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth was, in Fantasy terms, the equivalent of two bald men fighting over a comb.

With both sides in freefall – Norwich hadn’t won since Gameweek 13, while Bournemouth had just one win and a draw from their last 11 matches – Fantasy pickings were always likely to be on the unhealthy side of slim.

And so it proved, with a first goal since Gameweek 17 for Teemu Pukki (£6.5m) the high point of a typically frantic and error-strewn relegation dogfight.

The 12.8%-owned striker scored from the penalty spot after Steve Cook (£5.0m) produced a fine one-handed save to deny Ondrej Duda‘s (£5.0m) goal-bound effort. Unfortunately, as a centre-half, Cook’s acrobatics earned him nothing more than a red card, leaving Bournemouth to play two-thirds of the match with ten men.

Seeing as the Cherries have been making a total hash of games with the standard quota of 11, their fate seemed sealed, although Ben Godfrey‘s (£4.4m) dismissal for a nasty tackle on Callum Wilson (£7.4m) did at least even up the numbers for the final 14 minutes.

Bournemouth failed to capitalise, with Nathan Ake‘s (£4.8m) header the closest they came to rescuing a desperately-needed point.

That the defender topped the attempts chart for the visitors, with two, spoke volumes for the attacking impotence of Eddie Howe’s team – over the last ten Gameweeks, only Burnley (76) have managed fewer attempts than the Cherries’ 84, while the 61 chances they’ve created is the league’s third-worst total.

Norwich were considerably more threatening on the day, creating a chance every six minutes compared to Bournemouth’s average of one per 16, and they really should have won the match by a goal or two more

Pukki had one excellent chance saved by Aaron Ramsdale (£4.7m), while the impressive debutant Duda and his fellow midfielder Emiliano Buendia (£6.0m) also spurned solid opportunities.

The 0.9%-owned Buendia, in particular, has been a consistent threat all season, way ahead of his team-mates for chances created and third for attempts, just behind the considerably more popular Todd Cantwell (£5.0m and 25.1%).

The latter’s blank was his sixth in his last eight starts, and Norwich’s schedule suggests more of the same over the next six Gameweeks, with the Canaries facing up to a run of Liverpool and Leicester at home and Spurs, Newcastle, Wolves and Sheffield United away.

Small wonder that coach Daniel Farke played down the win post-match:

We’re not over-excited, we know it’s only the first step and it will definitely be a long road to realise this miracle, but it was a good first step and hopefully we can go on.

It will probably take more than a miracle for Norwich players to return to our Fantasy radars anytime soon, however, while Bournemouth’s assets are even further down the pecking order.

Diego Rico (£4.4m) is the only Cherries player interesting many managers, although his return to the starting line-up gave his 12.6% ownership a measly two points and he’s now blanked in five of his last six starts.

And while the side’s short-term schedule is attractive enough – Brighton and Aston Villa at home, followed by trips to Sheffield and Burnley – their form is so ugly, and their confidence so low, that investment in any of their players would be foolish in the extreme.

Norwich City XI (4-2-3-1): Krul; Aarons, Godfrey, Zimmermann, Byram; Tettey, McLean; Buendía (Rupp 90+3′), Duda (Hanley 79′), Cantwell; Pukki (Drmic 85′).

Bournemouth XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Smith, Cook, Ake, Rico; Lerma (Solanke 79′), Gosling (Cook 87′), Billing; H. Wilson (Francis 35′), Fraser, C.Wilson.

Members Analysis

1,439 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Crashjct
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hello all.

    Please choose one:

    A. Rash & Vardy to Aguero & DCL for a -4
    B. Rash to DCL
    C. Rash to Jimi.

    Thank you.

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      I like C, B seems to be popular.

    3. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      b

    4. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

    5. Crashjct
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thank you all. I really want to do A, but any time I add Aguero it seems like I’m chasing points. It’ll be B or C for me.

  2. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    2 FT... I would look to bring KDB or Aguero back in after 2 GWs.

    Yay or Nay?

    KDB & Abraham -> Mane & Maupay

    1. asdf_1
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      yay

  3. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    So Salah took his top off... Reckon the LMS score will have been 34 if he didn't? If so then I love a shirtless Salah :p

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'll get you soon 👿

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I'm coming for the title! Only thing I play this game for now

  4. asdf_1
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    a) Kelly, madd to vvd, doucoure (-4)
    b) soy, jimi to vvd, maupay (-4)

  5. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which one would you sell to get Salah?
    a)Grealish
    b)Richarlison
    c)Maddison
    d)Martial

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Madds

    3. marquinhos
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Could you wait to get a Richarlison update?

    4. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I did C to Mane.

    5. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

    6. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      thanks all.I didn't expect that.I am on Martial atm.

  6. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    2 FT, 1.1 ITB. Totally lost, help appreciated!

    Ryan
    TAA, Holgate, Kelly
    Salah, Mane, KDB, Traore
    Vardy, Ings, Rashford*

    (Woodman, Cantwell, Lundstram, Simpson)

    A) Rashford & Vardy -> Aguero & Jimi/DCL
    B) Rashford & Traore -> Jimi/DCL & Moura
    C) Rashford & Traore -> Greenwood & Son
    D) Rashford, Ings & Traore -> Aguero, DCL & Dendoncker (-4)
    E) Kelly -> Williams, reassess next week

    Cheers

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rashford & Cantwell

      to

      Son & Greenwood

      Son has great fixtures, Greenwood will get more mins and Cantwell has torrid fixtures

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers.

    2. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I like C but obviously its banking on spurs turning up

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers.

  7. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Never had my captain score zero or less before. Guess there's a first time for everything.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Be grateful you didn't captain Son a while back.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah dodged that bullet.

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      -1 a couple of times.

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Twice already this season for me

    4. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I was just thinking this morning I had been lucky not to have any negative points this season (RCs or pens missed). So it was 'due' I guess

    5. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Son’s red card from a few weeks ago says hello.

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

    Pope
    Taa, Soyuncu, Kelly
    Mane, Kdb, Son, Traore
    Abraham, Vardy, Ings

    Martin, Rico,Lundstram, Dendoker

    a. Son to Salah
    b. Rico to Robertson/VVD

    Closer to A but B look like better upgrade, feal like i must TC Salah if i go A

    1. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B, I don't think it's the right move to remove Son against Norwich

      1. Lignja
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        same, but Spurs look rly bad and it is Salah in one move

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

      Thinking double defence & Salah swing away from Mane.

      1. Lignja
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        allready have Mane and Taa so it is Son+Vvd/Robo (Traore on bech) vs Salah+ Traore (Rico bech)

  9. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who scores more over next 5-7:

    A) Martial
    B) Maupay +4

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

  10. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Triple captain on TAA... wish me luck

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Good luck

  11. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Are there any other workplaces where you take your shirt off when doing well?

    Might try it tomorrow in the office.

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Seen wolf of Wall Street?

  12. UpTheCherries
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A - Rashford -> Jimenez
    B - Vardy Rashford -> Jimenez Aguero (-4)
    C - Rashford -> DCL

    1. rhino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'm considering B myself

  13. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do Kiko to Williams and hope he starts against Burnley.

    Or just play Kelly and hope he starts.

  14. j.m
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Asked it last week and now will ask again after VVD goal and BP:

    Is it worth upgrading him to TAA for DGW24? Already have Salah + Mane

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

      I think so, it's a good long term move.

  15. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hendo - McGov
    TAA - Soy - Lundy - Stephens - Kelly
    Salah - Mane - KDB - Madders - Grealish
    Vardy - Ingsy - Greenwood

    a) Soy/Kelly, Madds > Williams, Martial
    b) Soy > Webster and roll FT
    c) other idea

    *got Soy at 5.1

  16. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is the consensus to use the TC this weekend or wait to see if there's another DGW down the line? FWIW I have all my chips available.

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      From what ive heard the worry is that later in tue season there could be rotation as pool will have already wrapped up the title

      1. Jet5605
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Good point. I guess attention then turns to attacking assets with something to play for

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

    Thoughts on Moura as a punt?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It's a lottery. Spurs haven't scored since boxing day.

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        *or thereabouts

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

        Yeah I know, thinking of taking a few risks though, not going anywhere atm.

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Could pay off. I go every week and it's hard to see where goals are coming from.

          Gambling on the lack of quality of opposition really.

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Gud pick with next 3 fixtures

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lamela

    4. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Would personally stay away, got him gw18 as a punt instead of getting grealish, he’s got me 13 points vs grealish’s 39!

  18. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Being stubborn with aguero burnt me in the beggining of the season but... I’m considering again..

    Is he a trap ?

  19. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    G2G ??

    Mccarthy
    BWilliams Taa Soy
    Son KDB Mane Salah (TC)
    Vardy Ings Greenwood
    - Trossard Stephens Lund

    1. Rbyrne95
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Play Trossard

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Get a feeling greenwood wud score against Burnley, either starting or come off the bench

        Trossard vs BOU who are alright defensively ??

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Bou alright defensively?

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Very 🙂

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks mate - contemplating Soy to Tanganga and start him vs Norwich??

  20. Rbyrne95
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    So is Sarr 100% out for the next few weeks along with Rashford?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah

  21. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Vardy to kun?

    1. C'mon the Fylde
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Tempted, but finding someone to agree with me!

    2. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If I had the money, absolutely no brainer! Vardy & LEI are finished.

  22. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    richa and rashford to salah and maupay for free?

    keep richa and rashford to firmino ?

    thank you

    have mane and taa

    1. shawry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Why Maupay over DCL? Interested as this is my conundrum.

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        more long term i suppose

        1. shawry
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Fair enough, would probably want Salah overall

  23. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I'm giving some serious consideration to TAA, Triple Captain. Mad? Still have WC, BB & FH to play. I recall last year two important factors.

    1 - You might not (like me and many), have many chances to use all your chips for meaningful fixtures

    2 - The longer you leave it, the more chance for key players to be rested. Imagine if Liverpool sews the league up early. How you going to be with (TC) then, when key players could easily be rested. Right now they are in a fight, it's all to play for.

    Just thoughts (i have had a few glasses of red, with Sunday roast mind). Cheers all.

    1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      ..not to mention injuries creeping in, as the year goes on.

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      All reasonable points. TAA, Robo and Mane all tempting ofcourse. Getting it right will be massive.

    3. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Im using TC now. No need to wait. Salah here but TAA good option also

      1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Good luck lads.

  24. mdm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Firmino or Robbo for the dgw?

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      firmi

  25. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Perreira dropping. Robo or VVD?

  26. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Exact fund to do Rashford > Firmino, do it now?

  27. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Jimenez to Firmino for a hit ?

  28. C'mon the Fylde
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who's shipping Vardy?

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      before WHU at home ? Na'h

    2. Crazygopher
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not me.

    3. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not yet but next couple to Aguero....maybe

  29. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best replacement for Vardy? Cant afford Aguero and cant get Firmino in (3 pool already).

    Auba? Laca?

    1. TwiggsJameson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Honestly, the best replacement for Vardy is Vardy 🙂

  30. Crazygopher
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best west ham midfielder. For gw24 punt ?

    1. yalala
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Noble

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

      Snodd