Scout Squad

The Scout Squad picks for FPL Double Gameweek 30+

After a three-month break, the Scout Squad panel have reassembled to champion the standout Fantasy Premier League picks for Double Gameweek 30+.

Regular readers will know the format of this recurring feature but for the uninitiated, staff members Andy (sitting in for the otherwise engaged Paul), David, Neale and Geoff each propose an 18-man squad of players for the approaching Gameweek and explain their notable inclusions/omissions below.

The 72 nominations listed will then be narrowed down to a squad of 15 (with the starting XI not exceeding a total cost of £85m) for the weekly Scout Picks selection ahead of Wednesday’s deadline at 17:00 BST.

There are requirements for at least one goalkeeper costing £5.0m or less, at least one sub-£5.0m defender, at least one midfielder listed at £6.5m or below and at least one forward priced at £7.5m or lower.

Each panelist is restricted to no more than three players from the same team, as is the case in FPL.

We will again be adding a captaincy to the Scout Picks, with details of that revealed on Wednesday.


 DavidNealeAndyGeoff
GKBernd LenoEdersonBernd LenoBernd Leno
 Dean HendersonDean HendersonPepe ReinaDean Henderson
 EdersonBernd LenoMartin DubravkaKasper Schmeichel
DFJohn LundstramEnda StevensJohn LundstramAymeric Laporte
 Enda StevensJohn EganEnda StevensEnda Stevens
 Matt DohertyTrent Alexander-ArnoldKieran TierneyTrent Alexander-Arnold
 Trent Alexander-ArnoldMatt DohertyTrent Alexander-ArnoldJohn Egan
 Jamaal LascellesJamaal LascellesMatt DohertyRomain Saiss
MFKevin De BruyneKevin De BruyneKevin De BruyneKevin De Bruyne
 Jack GrealishJack GrealishRaheem SterlingJack Grealish
 Nicolas PepeSadio ManeJack GrealishNicolas Pepe
 Bruno FernandesMason MountMason MountJohn McGinn
 Anwar El GhaziIsmaila SarrBruno FernandesBruno Fernandes
FWSergio AgueroPierre-Emerick AubameyangSergio AgueroSergio Aguero
 Pierre-Emerick AubameyangSergio AgueroPierre-Emerick AubameyangPierre-Emerick Aubameyang
 Raul JimenezRaul JimenezOli McBurnieMbwana Samatta
 Diogo JotaMbwana SamattaRaul JimenezTeemu Pukki
 Tammy AbrahamCallum WilsonTeemu PukkiMason Greenwood

Most popular picks: Bernd Leno, Enda Stevens, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Sergio Aguero, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (four), Dean Henderson, Matt Doherty, Bruno Fernandes, Raul Jimenez (three)

DAVID SAID…

Bernd Leno and Dean Henderson are the key goalkeepers to own for Double Gameweek 30+ in my opinion.

While Arsenal’s defence is not exactly watertight, I’m expecting a hatful of saves from their shot-stopper, who has recorded 104 of them this season (the second-highest in the league).

Meanwhile, Henderson helps you buy into the Premier League’s second-best performing defence of the campaign, which I’m going for heavy reliance on.

Given everything that has gone in recent months, if I’m not going to use this opportunity to take a punt on John Lundstram, when else can I?

There is, of course, some method to my madness on this one. While the GOAT’s chances of starting both Double Gameweek matches are not what they once were, I find it hard to believe he won’t be involved somehow.

After the arrival of Sander Berge in January, Lundstram’s response was excellent, starring from the bench often enough to reclaim his starting berth for the Gameweek 29 win over Norwich.

In that game, he kept a clean sheet, assisted the winning goal and secured maximum bonus for his fifth double-figure haul of the campaign.

Given that’s what Lundstram can offer, why not take the risk on him for a Double Gameweek, especially if, like me, it’s effectively only for one round? He could be in a hungry mood when the Premier League returns, especially after bagging a brace in a recently friendly win too…

Joining Enda Stevens in my defence is Matt Doherty who, like Lundstram, offers explosive appeal but is as nailed-on as it gets. Wolves’ defence was one of the best pre-lockdown, keeping four clean sheets from a possible six between Gameweeks 24 and 29. Add into the mix that during the same period, Doherty was top among defenders for shots in the box.

Kevin De Bruyne is the key midfielder at Manchester City, almost to the point that I arguably don’t need to explain why.

It is worth saying that I’m not a fan of the other City assets in this position, mainly because Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sané and Bernardo Silva will all be competing for the same roles – while nobody can do what De Bruyne does for Pep Guardiola.

I’m interested in a midfielder double-up of Aston Villa players though. Jack Grealish is another obvious one given his heavy involvement this season but Anwar El Ghazi probably looks a bit odd when a lot of people are talking about John McGinn.

In a recent article, I discovered that the Scottish international’s underlying statistics even before he got injured were not quite as promising as El Ghazi’s, who has four goals and five assists to his name this season. As a regular member of Villa’s front three, he seems more likely to start both Double Gameweek 30+ games than McGinn too.

I haven’t decided whether or not I’ll have him in my own squad, but I do think we could get big things from Nicolas Pépé this week. Before lockdown he was showing an element of creativity and goal threat above what Mesut Özil was offering so I think there’s a chance he could reward those who spend the extra money on the Ivorian international – it’s just whether or not I can fit him in my own team!

Bruno Fernandes is my pick of the single Gameweek midfielders. Manchester United face a Spurs defence that was still leaky under Jose Mourinho going into lockdown, and I can’t see three months without full training improving things in that department. Meanwhile, Fernandes has been involved in five of the eight goals scored by the Red Devils since his Premier League debut and it looks like he’s on penalties too.

Sergio Aguero was the first name on my teamsheet for the Double Gameweek. I have a suspicion he will be heavily involved for Manchester City in their two matches, perhaps not even needing 90 minutes in each to perform. He had more minutes than any other member of his team’s front three in the last six matches before lockdown and was top of the league for minutes per xGI in that period too.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is someone who I have historically not trusted to deliver when I need him to, but given this could be the last Double Gameweek of the campaign and many of us have the opportunity to stick the big-guns in, why not? After all, this man was the top-scoring FPL forward last season and is only 16 points behind claiming that prize for a second campaign running.

I am expecting big things from the Wolves forward line for the remainder of the season, especially as it’s West Ham up next. I’ve gone with a double-up on Raúl Jiménez and Diogo Jota here as they both netted three times each between Gameweeks 24 and 29.

NEALE SAID…

There won’t be many Manchester City players who will last all 180 minutes of their Gameweek 30+ double-header against Arsenal and Burnley, but Ederson will – barring injury or suspension – be one of them.

It’s not often I advocate a premium shot-stopper in this article series or consider one for my own FPL squad but I’m doing so here, with the Brazilian accompanying Bernd Leno and Dean Henderson in my goalkeeping picks.

City’s defence has been lamentable at times this season but they now have Aymeric Laporte primed and ready for action, and what a difference he makes to Pep Guardiola’s backline: coincidence or otherwise, the three league matches he has started in 2020 were the only ones that City kept a clean sheet in.

Laporte has Double Gameweek pedigree himself but, after such a long lay-off, I do wonder whether we might see his minutes managed in the form of early substitutions (as happened earlier this year) and I’d be a mite concerned about whether he’d miss out on any shut-out points as a result.

I don’t think there are many “bad” City picks this week.

I doubt whether many of their attacking assets will be handed successive starts but, even then, a lot of their players will surely get somewhere near 90 minutes or more over the two Gameweek 30+ matches combined.

In any other normal Gameweek, the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling would factor into many of our thoughts if we knew they were set for around a full game’s worth of pitch-time.

We can only own three City players though and I’ve gone predictably dullard with Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian’s only benching in 2019/20 came in the Gameweek 5 defeat at Norwich City and he even started every match during the busy December period, so fingers crossed he can cope with the rigours of two fixtures in a generous five-day period this time around.

Aguero, while likely to share game-time with Jesus, has the best goals-per-90-minutes average (0.99) among active Premier League players this season.

Double Gameweek players unsurprisingly make up more than half of my 18-man squad this time.

Enda Stevens and John Egan complete a Sheffield United defensive triple-up with Henderson, with Stevens’ open-play threat (no Bladesman has created more big chances this season) and Egan’s presence at dead-ball situations (Villa and Newcastle are the two worst teams for set-piece attempts conceded in 2019/20) getting them the nod.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Jack Grealish offer both a relative security of starts and a talismanic role in their respective sides, while Mbwana Samatta looks a real threat in the air – at least, when Villa can be bothered to provide adequate service to him.

Onto those players with only one fixture in Gameweek 30, then.

Liverpool assets seem to be the makeweights for many of us as we shift funds around to accommodate the likes of Aguero, Aubameyang and Sterling but there will be unease at moving on players who have served us so well.

Sadio Mane, for example, could well have a field day down Everton’s right; Djibril Sidibe’s defensive shortcomings were woefully exposed in Gameweek 29 and the unconvincing Michael Keane looks set to play as the right-sided centre-back in Yerry Mina’s absence.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Matt Doherty are two premium defenders I’ve plumped for despite not being 100% sure about clean sheet-wise: Everton have been revitalised as an attacking force under Carlo Ancelotti and West Ham looked much more potent when David Moyes moved to a 4-4-2 before COVID-19 stopped play.

Those two players offer so much more than shut-out points, however, having racked up key passes and shots galore in 2019/20 so far.

You’ll notice a distinct lack of representation from Villa’s defence in my squad despite their Double Gameweek and I’ve even gone so far as to actively back against them.

Christian Pulisic is someone I’ve got my eye on based on his quietly impressive stats but he doesn’t (yet) quite offer the guarantee of minutes that Mason Mount does, so I’ve gone with the teacher’s pet option.

Mount has played a part in every single Chelsea game this season, starting all bar four of them, and continues to be involved at dead-ball situations, which could be pertinent based on the Villans’ aforementioned vulnerability at free-kicks and corners.

Ismaila Sarr‘s remarkable home record under Nigel Pearson (seven attacking returns in five games) also sees the influential winger make the cut – although I’m slightly less convinced about his prospects given that a raucous Vicarage Road crowd won’t be able to contribute to the cauldron atmosphere that saw Watford beat Liverpool in Gameweek 28.

ANDY SAID…

I’ve gone back and forth over John Lundstram. I can’t be sure of a first XI starting place, but I can be sure I’m sick of being punished by him. He may get just one start and a bench appearance but that might be all he needs to outscore the other Sheffield United defenders.

In their last six matches only four forwards have taken as many shots in the box as Oliver McBurnie. With a total of five big chances in the same period I’m gambling on him getting points against two of the worst defensive sides in the league when it comes to conceding shots.

Kieran Tierney has not had the greatest start to his Arsenal career with injuries hampering his first season at the club. He’s now seemingly fit, and has started both behind-closed-door training games. It might be something different to the standard Leno pick in goal, and maybe we’ll finally see the player who returned five assists in just 20 league games for Celtic last season.

Continuing to bet against an Aston Villa defence that has conceded the most shots this season, I’ve gone for a single Gameweek option in Mason Mount. Chelsea are a team I’m backing for goals and I’ve gone for what I hope to be one of the attackers we can be more sure might start.

If there’s any week I feel I might be able to go without Liverpool players, it’s this one. However, I’ve said that before and was quickly made to regret not owning Trent Alexander-Arnold. He’s second for chances created this season, not for defenders, out of every single FPL player. It’s a risk to back against, and he’s one of the best single Gameweek defender options out there.

Trying to find an Arsenal attacker not called Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who has a chance of starting both Double Gameweek games is difficult. He’s the obvious choice here and will be looking to add to his 17-goal tally so far. Manchester City will provide difficult opposition but if anyone can nick a goal, it’s him.

Raheem Sterling finds himself in the squad as a gut feeling pick. It’s impossible to guess what Pep Guardiola is thinking but behind Kevin De Bruyne I feel that Sterling has the next best chance of starting both games. Second only to Mohamed Salah for expected goal involvement this season, it’s about time he started regressing to the mean. A nice long break should see him fit and ready to go for Project Restart, and he’s my third Manchester City pick alongside De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero.

The Teemu Pukki party started off in flying fashion this season but came to a halt in the last 11 games where he only scored twice. The Norwich squad have now had a chance to re-group and think about how they’re going to get out of this relegation battle. To do that they’ll need goals and I’m confident Pukki will go back to delivering, just behind my pick of Raúl Jiménez, who’s about as consistent as it gets.

No midfielder has a better points-per-match score than Bruno Fernandes. It’s based on a small sample size but he’s shown he has the quality to deliver. Taking two penalties in one of the behind-closed-door games gives me confidence he will retain them even after missing one. With Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford fit as well, I’d hope that Manchester United will continue where they left off with a win against Spurs.

GEOFF SAID…

I’m not sure home and away fixtures will impact on performances based on what we have seen in the Bundesliga and elsewhere, and my top two goalkeepers have four games on the road in Gameweek 30+ between them: Dean Henderson and Bernd Leno.

My first single Gameweek pick is Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel, who could well keep out Watford: the Foxes have the third-best defensive record in the league this season.

Aymeric Laporte looks to be the standout defender and City have a nice clean sheet record when he plays. He’s joined by Enda Stevens and John Egan, who along with Henderson give me a rare defensive triple-up.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Romain Saiss, who offer the prospect of returns at both ends of the pitch, are my second and third single Gameweek players.

Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfield pick and is followed, for me, by Jack Grealish. John McGinn has been given a vote of confidence but I think he will player fewer minutes than Grealish; he still makes it into my picks.

Todd Cantwell is my budget midfield pick over Sheffield’s John Fleck, and Bruno Fernandes just beats out Nicolas Pépé for inclusion.

Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang look easily the top two forward picks and it will be a brave manager who goes without them for the double.

Mbwana Samatta could perform well for Villa, and he’s followed by early-season favourite in the shape of Teemu Pukki.

Finally, Mason Greenwood is a fantastic price and should see increased game time for the final stretch of the season, along with a superb scoring record.

With only seven single Gameweek picks I’ve nearly gone for a full complement of Double Gameweekers – the only things stopping me are questions over Arsenal defending and midfield selections.

With uncertain form after a long time away, I think the security and upside potential upside of two fixtures is worth chasing in Double Gameweek 30+.

THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Each week, one of the Fantasy Football Scout community takes on the Scout Picks by pitting their chosen XI against ours.

The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Moderators and Contributors League for the following season.

In Gameweek 29, Bilal7 beat the Scout Picks 48-40.

gwitbrock‘s winning margin of 23 points in Gameweek 25 is the target to beat.

Our Scout Picks article on Wednesday will have further details on who is representing the community this week.

Nominated for ‘Best in Fantasy Football – Editorial’ at the Football Content Awards 2020

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2,165 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WTF is Sterling's problem at home this season??

    Away: 15 Apps / 80 points / 10 attacking returns / (5.3 PPA)
    Home*: 12 Apps / 37 points / 3 attacking returns / ( 2.9 PPA)
    *Ignoring his 1-point 1-minuter vs. Everton GW21
    *And he has only 879 minutes at home vs. 1,139 away in fairness - but still

    Similar to Mane being Salah's FPL Kryptonite (https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2020/06/15/recapping-the-best-wolves-players-ahead-of-fpl-restart/?hc_page=18&hc_sort_by=comment_date#hc_comment_21870686) it looks like the Etihad totally poisons any chance Raheem has to let his ridiculous FPL ability shine

    Bear in mind that Salah is th eonly player in the entire league with more penalty area touches at home than Sterling this season... but the root of the problem certainly dooes seem to be supply related

    Sterling at home has... wait for it... THREE big chances all season. Away he has 20 Big Chances. Yes 20. The XG numbers follow a similarly disturbing pattern (3-ish vs 10-ish)...

    Could be any number of excuses, No Sane has been mentioned & Sterling visibily seems to withdraw from a game in that wider role in Sanes absence, there are also packed defences sitting deeper at the Ethiad, no space to break into blady blady blah - and the 3 big chances at home is obviously a very serious concern - but ultimately you can make all the excuses in the world - can you even dream of captaining a player who has 3 attacking returns/ 3 big chances at home all season?? I'm not sure I even want him on FH now tbh

    Cue Sterling double home hattrick GW30 😉

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I think the issue is Zinchenko/Mendy being absent and Bernardo playing on the right

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Do those issues not generally exist away from home too though? Yet his away returns aren't as bad (though they're still not stellar by any stretch)

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Zinchenko played a lot more away matches

          Bernardo played a lot more home matches

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Interesting thought... but I'm not sure it's bearing out in the numbers - for example:

            In Zinchenko's *presence* (4 home appearances - 3 starts, one subbed on at half time) Sterling still only got one attacking return

            In Bernardo's *absence* (Bernardo didn't start at home in 4 of their gameweeks this season - GW4, 8, 13, 21...) Sterling got zero attacking returns in those games

            In Bernardo's *presence* (Home in GW10) was Sterling's only home "haul" this season (11 points v Villa)

            1. Ginkapo FPL
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Hmmm

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He just doesn’t cut in on the left like he does on the right for easy tap ins - has to find a pass

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        At home vs. away?

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Coincidental!

          Maybe he feels more pressure at home on his unfavourable side and fluffs the shots as we’ve seen

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Coincidental to get 3 XG at home vs. 20 XG away??

            1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Sorry BC, not XG

              I'm mixing my acronyms 🙂

              But we're men of the world, you catch my drift

              1. Eat my goal!
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I hear you and maybe I’m just trying to be dismissive without thinking about it. Just so many factors to consider and I don’t think it will have any bearing on how the he performs with no crowd - home and away are pretty irrelevant- unless your saying he doesn’t like the cut of the grass at home?!

                1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  I couldn't find the grass length filter in the members area so not sure if that's the driver...

                  But i was thinking its more the bald fraud's home tactical preferences marginalising Raheem with the greater good of the team in mind, and vice-versa away

                  Pep is a notorious "the team is more important than the individual" merchant, and thinks nothing of sacraficing a player for the good of the team or for the good of whatever manical tactical philosophy happened to come into his brain that week

                  1. Eat my goal!
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    Plausible but you’d have thought that any player would get more license at home than away. Will be interesting to see if we see an improvement in his output coz quite frankly his inability to convert his chances is quite incredible

                    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                      • 14 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      But remember its not his *inability to convert chances* that's the problem here

                      Its actually *getting the chances*

                      At home he's been supplied with 3 big chances
                      Away he's been supplied with 20 big chances

                      It actually freaks my nut in that the numbers are that stark - as in - how could he possibly score points at home when he's been delivered 3 big chances all season?

                      Certainly alludes to some underlying tactical lever the bald fraud gleefully pulls for home matches vs away matches

    3. RubeRx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Fantastic post

      That 3rd Man City spot may make the difference this week so choose wisely

      Personally, I think Sterlings upside is worth the risk

    4. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      That's a very strong correlation, so there's probably something there. No crowds is going to benefit a player like Sterling, who does struggle with abuse, and it clearly bothers him.

      Honestly think this is the perfect storm for Sterling. Last time he had a long break was in the summer, and he scored a hattrick in his first game back, and he has the best expected data in the league. The break will have done him good, mind and body.

      1. FPL_DON
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Agree with this, fingers crossed!

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        The extent to which his numbers deteriorate at home & improve away is uncanny - across points, goals, assists, XG & Big Chances

        But surely he gets more "abuse" away from primarily hostile crowds vs. at home where the crowd is basically 95% man city - which wouldnt suggest having no fans would benefit him

        Maybe he's just gone waaaaaay into statistical outlier territory (similar to liverpool getting only 2 cleansheets form their first 15 r so games before getting about 10 in a row)

        And he literally is about to double home hattrick to redress the balance...

        But 3 big chances at home vs. 20 away??

        That tells me Pep's typical home setups (season so far at least) totally marginalise Raheem (from an FPL perspective) which is possibly not a good thing for owners when he faces two home games

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Looking at the heat maps and positional maps, there doesn't seem to be a tactical difference. It could be the opposition that sit deep and narrow at home and congests the spaces he operates in. But last season the opposite was true, he was far more effective at home.

          Could just be a massive coincidence... it's hard to say.

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            I always try to exercise caution with heatmaps - they show "where" (on average) a player was geographically over a period of time - but they don't show "what" a player was doing, or what instructions they were or were not carrying out, from memory Pogba's heatmap didn't look great during his explosive form when Ole first took over for example

            But even at that Sterlings away heatmap does actually show him spending more time in the box, and more towards the centre of the box too, in away matches vs. home matches?

            But again, heatmaps completely miss the fact that literally 5-10 seconds of a game can be more important than the other 5,390 - 5,395 seconds combined

        2. Dino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Liverpool Cs were not a statistical anomaly they coincided with fabinho injury and dried up when he got back in the team. If you look at last year the dominated Cs prior to Xmas before fabinho got in the team then the cs dried up once fabinho established himself. I don't think it was a coincidence either

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            They were definitely in statistical outlier territory in so far as by GW15 they had 2 cleansheets from close to the lowest XGc & close to lowest goals conceded in the league

            Whereas at that point in time Man City, Leicester & particularly SHU all had similar, if not worse underlying numbers, yet had translated those underlying stats into much higher counts of Clean sheets - it was absolutely freakish

            That outlier came back into line from GW16 onwards - I didn’t see Fabinho as being as strong a causation factor as Lolvren vs Joemez & Allison vs Adrian, and more recently Henderson being missing for the last 3 gameweeks

            This home & away delta we’re seeing with the Razmeister General is a little different though in that it’s manifesting in *both* the underlying & overlying stats - Maybe both will improve in the DGW, who knows

            1. Dino
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I looked at Allison but he was there for the first part of that poor run this season and lovren was in for the stats busting run last season. I looked at fabinho then and predicted that the Cs would dry up when he came back and they have. Gomez and Allison have been in for some of those games too so I started watching fabinho more closely as I had a pool double up in defence and he can be incredibly lackadaisical compared to Henderson and the aggression/tenacity he brings to the role. Maybe it is a team thing that others don't close down as much when they know they have fabinho a dedicated defender in the team? I don't know why but it definitely looks like a thing

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I don’t rate him personally (Fabinho) I saw a Liverpool fan on here about a year ago saying he was an “incredible” player & had to really raise an eyebrow at that as I’d seen nothing from him to even bracket him as anything special

                But statistically - Liverpool were so far into outlier territory versus their peers by GW15 it wasn’t even funny - 2 cleansheets from close to the lowest XGc & close to lowest goals conceded in the league (Whereas at that point in time Man City, Leicester & particularly SHU all had similar, if not worse underlying numbers, yet had translated those underlying stats into much higher counts of Clean sheets - it was absolutely freakish)

                But as I said, Raheem’s situation could be an outlier, but looks a different type of outlier - in that it’s the stark deterioration in BOTH his underlying & overlying statistics at home vs away

                1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  You are both wrong on fabinho.

                  Best defensive mid in premier league when fit.

                  He is a slow starter when coming back from fitness. Takes him longer than most to get up to speed but when he does get there he is the best

                  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    Never stands out to me - wouldn’t be my cup of midfield tea at all

                    1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      Yes but how closely have you watched us.

                      He has had two significant injuries, the first when he arrived. He didn't play well until January as a result but from then on he got better and better.

                      The second injury was this season and he was slow starting again but every liverpool fan who watches every game knows how good he is and he will show that again.

                      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        I love the way they use Cardiff & Genk as examples of his footballing prowess lol

                        But I’ve definitely seen many espouse about a year or so ago about how good he is - fair play to him

                      2. Dino
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        I'm with maximus here, he's a liability and the defenders and fellow mids get themselves in all sorts of trouble because they don't trust him enough to pass the ball to him unless he's completely open. Just look at the cs when he started last season v when he didn't and look at the same for this year.

                      3. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
                        • 6 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        I dont think it's as simple as stat checking.

                        I watched all those games.

                        I am telling you the guy was probably our signing of the season. Yes over allison and I dont care what the cs say. I watched games.

                      4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        It takes a special type of player to dominate Cardiff & Genk 😉

                      5. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
                        • 6 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        Geez bro,

                        You are far to clever not to get your facts straight.

                        The article actually highlights Tottenham as his breakthrough game.

                        Cardiff is his first , where admittedly he started slowly and genk is group stage which means pre jan.

                        He was not great in either of those games. The article mentions them because they were his first two games.

                        Here is another link if you care about facts. I suggest you read the bloody thing

                        https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/15117/11812068/why-fabinho-is-now-the-premier-leagues-best-holding-midfielder&ved=2ahUKEwjJybGB5IrqAhWwWhUIHdUQA-EQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw0V-fWdSolsppWxSmTWnihx&ampcf=1

                      6. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        So it didn’t use Cardiff & Genk as examples of his footballing prowess? 😉

                        Many’s a Ballon D’Or candidate has fallen afoul of the might of those well known two footballing juggernaughts 😉

                      7. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
                        • 6 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        Ok. Losing respect for you now. Clearly not interested in a discussion about a player you clearly know very little about. I will take every comment you make from here on in with a massive amount of salt. Good day sir.

                2. Dr Van Nostrand
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  To each their own but long-time LFC fan here that never misses a game and have to back up Top.Mark.s here fully.

                  Fabinho is world class. He's the best DM in the PL along with Kante. Most LFC fans recognise this now as when he's not on the pitch there is a significant dropoff. Does everything very well he just doesn't look like a lung-buster hardman or maestro. But those ridiculous long legs tackle everything.

                  And Cardiff Genk? He dominated most games when he was on form including the biggest game of the season vs City. His howitzer was one of the goals of the season.

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It's a fair point, i don't have him so yep ... cue the hat-trick.

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

    Thoughts on FH team?

    Leno
    Lund, egan, stevens
    Kdb, grealish, pepe, sarr
    Aguero, jesus, auba

    Mcginn, lascelles + cheapies on the bench

  3. Aladdin Sané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bottomed.

    A) Jimenez, Sterling, Pepe/Bruno
    B) Auba, Mahrez, Bruno

    1. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      a

    2. casual
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Close one......A - with Pepe

  4. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Couldn’t resist the Aguero temptation

    Hendo Leno
    Taa Doherty lascelles baldock Egan
    Son Kdb mahrez grealish cantwell
    Aguero Tammy Jimenez

    Bb no wc

    Main dilemma is whether to hold mahrez or switch to bruno and save a 4 point hit next gw

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Same situation this is mine, just took out Aubameyang for Aguero (C)

      Leno Henderson
      Doherty Trent Lascelles Stevens Mings
      Sterling DeBruyne Grealish Cantwell Saka
      Rashford Jimenez Aubameyang

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I had 1m saved up to get salah, but now have 0 so I think I will take a 4pt hit, looking to get Kane/Salah in for Sterling/Aguero..

    3. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I would stick with Mahrez this week

  5. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Morning all,

    I'm set to lose a lot of value. Would you FH this team?

    Schmeichel
    TAA, Soy, O'Connell
    Mane, Salah, KDB, Saka
    Auba, Jimi, Ings

    McGovern; Saiss, Dendo, Holgate

    1. The Strokes
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes I would

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      yes I would play FH and keep that team for next week

    3. casual
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Good team for the run in so seems like the sensible option

    4. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I don't think you should be too concerned about value at this stage, but check what your starting 11 looks like immediately after the FH.

      Plus do you have a WC? Because you've got no Man United players and triple up is going to be very common for the run in.

  6. The Strokes
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    For this GW only
    a. Mendy + Mane
    b. Sterling + Mount

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

    2. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      b

    3. casual
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

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

      A for me. Mendy will play both games for city and has attacking threat. Liverpool will dominate Everton without crowds. Sterling could do well but hasn’t most of season

  7. QuintonFortune25
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Please RMBBT

    Leno - McCarthy
    TAA - Doherty - Egan - O'Connell - Basham
    Sterling - KDB - Mount - Grealish - Cantwell
    Aguero (c) - Abraham - Jimenez

    1. The Strokes
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      For a non Auba team, I like it.
      But you know where is your risk

  8. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Fleck doesn’t make one selection in the scout picks...interesting

    1. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It just seems better value in the Sheffield defence. I considered Fleck over a third Sheffield defender to spread the risk somewhat, but if you were to pick in isolation between Fleck and any Sheffield defender, its got to be the defender.

      1. Jimbo-Jones
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        He got a brace v Villa earlier in the season.

  9. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Had Pépé, McGinn and a third SU def meaning 11 x DGW players. Took a step back and literally laughed at myself for having Pépé and heard McGinn’s minutes will be managed. Now have Doherty, Trent and Abraham instead. Feels good 🙂

    1. Hitmonlee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not 100% convinced that Tammy will start?

    2. casual
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Good moves. Really can't see the Pepe appeal at all. 9.3m for someone with less points this season than Ashley Westwood. Realise Arsenal play twice, but that's twice in 3 days and one of those is against Man City

  10. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    FH

    A) Egan/O'Connell/Fleck/Jimmy 3-4-3
    B) Doherty/Baldock/Lundstram/Samatta 4-3-3

    Thanks guys

    1. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  11. Henning
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Need some help in this, 1 or 2

    1.Doherty and Jota
    2. Boly and Jimenez

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Too close to call

      Prob 1

    2. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Really tough. 2 just.
      I think CS will be harder to come by, so would prefer the spend on the better striker.

    3. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2

    4. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Probably 2 based on minutes bizarrely. Can see both Jota and Doherty being subbed off earlier. Jimenez and Boly probably get the full 90.

    5. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2

    6. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      So tough. I've got 1. Worried about jota not hitting the ground running. But I really like Doherty.
      So, 1

    7. Henning
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thanx all.

  12. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I’ve been planning all week to use BB, with WC 31... suddenly second thoughts.
    Would you FH to get this back?

    McCarthy
    Maguire TAA VVD
    Salah KDB Fernandes Martial
    DCL Ings Jimenez

    3.9, Kelly, soy, Romeu

    1. QuintonFortune25
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Would be worried about your bench especially with the uncertainty of starting 11s and the quick turn around between games. I would BB and WC personally.

    2. Mortal.Swinbat
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I would 100% use transfers and BB

      Bench is too weak and too much Southampton

      1. Mortal.Swinbat
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Sorry didn’t see you had WC, I’d still do transfers and BB though then WC next week

  13. Hitmonlee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    New day, same question lol

    A) Mount & Jiménez
    B) Tammy & Doherty

    A more nailed but B more explosive?

    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A for me

    4. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C - Tammy & Alonso

  14. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Please help I don't know which to pick just

    A) Patricio Lund Targett Barnes
    B) Patricio O'connell Justin El Ghazi
    C) Reina O'connell Justin Barnes

    Just for this GW, Who do you think will score more pts

    1. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. casual
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B. Because it's not got a Villa defender / GK

  15. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    RATE MY FH team

    Hendo/Button
    Egan/Stevens/Lascelles (Hanley/Simpson)
    Salah/Kdb/Grealish/Mahrez (1st sub Saka)
    Auba/Kun/Jimi

    8 DGW players...Thoughts?

    Could downgrade Salah to Fernandes, bring TAA back...

    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      looks good

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Leno/Button
      Egan/Stevens/Baldock/ Alonso or Doherty (Simpson)
      Sterling/Kdb/Grealish/(Douglas Luis 1st sub, Cheapy )
      Auba/Kun/Tammy

  16. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    FH this team?
    current team. Only FH remains.
    Leno
    TAA,Maguire, Lundstrum
    Fernandes,Salah, KDB,Sarr
    Rashford,DCL,Jimenez

    McCarthy,Saka,Lascelles,Taylor
    3.6 m itb.
    So if I FH I would probably do one of Sarr > Son or DCL > Vardy next week.

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah I reckon that looks good going forward

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'd somehow fit Kun in and go from there

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        If I FH Aguero would be there.

        If I use transfers then I’ll sacrifice Probably do Salah,DCL > Grealish,Aguero

  17. simong1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A or B for GW30 BB only?

    A) Triple SHU defence & Saka
    B) Double SHU defence, Lascelles & Fleck

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Probably A

    2. 2999 - Lady of Legend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B, think Fleck could be a gem this week.

  18. The Legend Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hi guys, any views on the best 2 defenders up to £11.5m for this GW?

    Currently on Alonso & Saiss. Or Luiz and Targett for the DGW?

  19. RohanVaswani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Worth using the TC chip this week on Kun? Considering this could be the only dgw?

  20. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which do you prefer just for this gw?
    A) Bruno
    B) mount

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I guess it's more:
      A) Bruno and samatta
      B) mount and jimenez

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        B

      2. Hitmonlee
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        B

    2. Mortal.Swinbat
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  21. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    which is best 3 sheffield utd defenders to own

    have leno in goal

  22. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    currently have lundstram oconnel and stevens

  23. tim
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Since Ive used my WC already. Is it better the use the unlimited transfers to BB and build a new team and forget about FH or FH a team full of DGW players?

    Cheers!

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      FH

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Depends on your team now

      1. tim
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Pope McCarthy
        Taa Doherty WBA Hayden Rico Cathcart
        Bruno KDB Salah Bruno Saka Hayden
        Rashford Jota DCL

        1. Mortal.Swinbat
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          One Hayden is bad enough!

  24. nolard
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is there any article showing the recent results/line-ups now in the run up to the restart?

  25. zes
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Morning lads and lasses.

    How many players do you now have locked in and how many players have you had in every gw30+ draft?

    For me I now have 7/11 locked in (Plus 2 slots for certain for Sheffield defenders - but which ones could change) and have had 3/11 players in every draft (Aguero, kdb, sterling).

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      13/15 is locked I guess. Lundstram and Cathcart are only concern.

      5 were in all draft (Dubravka, Doherty, Fernandez, Kevin, Jimenez)

    2. casual
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      12 locked in. * are up for debate

      Ederson Leno
      Basham O'Connell Egan Boly *Luiz
      KDB Grealish Mount *Barnes *El Ghazi
      Auba Aguero Jimenez

    3. Mortal.Swinbat
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I’ve had my core sorted for a while, just left to choose are

      Henderson or Leno
      Duda or Cantwell
      Otamendi or any other 4.9 or lower defender not from wolves or SHU

  26. Shake n Bake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Auba, Nakamba, Basham
    B) Samatta, Pepe, Lundstrum

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'm going B

  27. Gol D Roger
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    No WC so going Bench boost then FH when necessary

    Henderson / Leno
    Lasc Egan TAA Targett Saiss
    Bruno Mount KDB Grealish Saka
    Auba Aguero _____

    For the striker who would you get out of these (6.4 budget)

    A) Samatta
    B) Jota
    C) DCL
    D) Ayew
    E) Maupay

    1. nolard
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C

  28. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    If I transfer Trent out of my team with FH chip activated and I decided I want him back before the deadline, do I get him at his current price or the price I originally purchased him for?

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      current price

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      yep

  29. simong1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hi guys, could do with some help! Do you think team A, B or C is stronger for a bench boost for GW30+ only? Thanks!

    A)

    Leno, Henderson*
    TAA, Doherty, O'Connell, Stevens*, Targett*
    Mahrez, KDB, Grealish, El Ghazi, Saka
    Auba, Kun, Pukki*

    B)

    Leno, Reina*
    TAA, Doherty, O'Connell, Egan*, Basham*
    Mahrez, KDB, Grealish, El Ghazi, Saka
    Auba, Kun, Jimenez*

    C)

    Leno, Reina*
    TAA, Doherty, O'Connell, Egan*, Lascelles*
    Mahrez, KDB, Grealish, El Ghazi, Fleck*
    Auba, Kun, Jimenez*

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It between A and C, I'd go A but with Lascelles instead of Targett

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B midfield or C defense.

      But not A attack.

  30. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Mahrez or Bruno

    Mahrez is just as explosive as Aguero but with Aguero and Kdb is it too many eggs in 1 basket

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Only for one week though over two games.

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I need him to start ... he was the form man so must have been figuring heavily in Pep's thinking.