Scout Notes

FPL managers face ongoing Pep rotation after much-changed City lose to Saints

Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

  • Goal: Che Adams (£5.3m)
  • Assist: Stuart Armstrong (£5.2m)
  • Bonus: Alex McCarthy (£4.5m), Adams x3, Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.4m) x1

A wonder goal from Che Adams (£5.3m) and a defensive performance that was the bus-park version of 300 meets Dunkirk produced one of the more unlikely wins of this longest league season.

Short version: Southampton score after 16 minutes and Manchester City fail in their attempts to equalise.

Stats version: Only three City players (out of the 13 who play) don’t have a shot – and one of those is Ederson (£6.0m).

Fantasy version: Danny Ings (£7.3m) doesn’t score, Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m) doesn’t start and the bonus points are shared out between three players with a combined ownership of 4.3% in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

Full version…

City coach Pep Guardiola almost out-pepped himself by making six changes to his side, with benchings for the 52.2%-owned De Bruyne and Phil Foden (£5.4m), whose 12-point heroics against Liverpool in Gameweek 32+ had earned him nearly 200,000 new managers. The 12.2%-owned Kyle Walker (£5.6m) was another sent for an evening of social isolation behind the dug-outs.

As for Southampton, close to 100,000 had bought Ings on the back of his stellar Project Restart form – three goals and one assist – but the Saints frontman blanked.

One of the key reasons for that was he had just the one attempt all match. It was a great opportunity, on 44 minutes, that he blasted over from inside the area, and it was a rare one – Southampton’s only big chance of the match.

City had five such clear-cut opportunities.

Two came in a frantic few seconds of play in the first half that summed up the entire match.

Home goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) was forced into a fine save at his near post from a fierce Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) drive. The ball found its way out to Fernandinho (£5.1m), whose deflected shot hit the inside of the post but stayed out. Possession was recycled to the right flank, where a cross led to another McCarthy save, this time from a David Silva (£7.3m) header, before Sterling narrowly curled wide from the rebound.

All of that happened after the Saints went ahead.

Adams had been selected up front alongside Ings in a 4-4-2 formation that conceded the width of the pitch to the visitors while giving Southampton two players available for quick counters and the opportunity for a high press.

So when Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.2m) mis-controlled the ball in his own half, the home side had the personnel on hand to capitalise.

Stuart Armstrong (£5.2m) put in a challenge and the ball fell to Adams. The striker had gone 29 matches without a goal for his new club. Such a run invites doubt and dark thoughts. But Adams didn’t stop to think when the ball arrived at his feet. Instead, he curled a wondrous first-time lob, from 39 yards, over Ederson and into the net.

To claim that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side just parked the bus from then on in was not entirely true. They worked Ederson four times in total and broke with consistent purpose over the 90 minutes.

But their victory was definitely built on a backs-to-the-wall doggedness – and some slices of good fortune – that made for a one-sided affair involving pure anguish for the many Fantasy managers with City assets in their squads.

Both Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m and 10.3%) and Sterling, owned by 16.3%, endured a frustrating evening before being subbed off on 59 minutes, thus robbing their owners of another appearance point to soften the blow of their blanks.

Their replacements, Foden and De Bruyne, fared no better, although the Belgian’s work-rate was phenomenal – more of that in the Members Analysis section.

The two Silvas, David and Bernardo (£7.7m), mustered seven attempts between them, only to be repelled by a mix of McCarthy, any number of Southampton defenders throwing their bodies in the way and, occasionally, the duo’s own profligacy in front of goal.

But neither was as wasteful as Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m).

The Brazilian has managed only one assist since football returned. And he’s scored just the one goal since Gameweek 22.

He had plenty of chances to rectify that at St Mary’s Stadium. Six chances, to be exact, of which three were clear-cut opportunities, including a couple of close-range headers he really should have buried.

Still owned by just 4% in FPL, Jesus should really be a tempting differential option for City’s final fixtures, which will involve Newcastle at home and then four of the bottom six. But his woeful lack of form, and good ‘ol Pep Roulette, mean he remains strangely unattractive.

His future is not looking bright at present, and Guardiola, while describing yesterday’s game, could have been talking about what is still to come as well:

With ten Southampton players on the penalty spot, it’s difficult. I am so proud. I like the way we played but it’s not enough. It’s not a complaint of the players. Far from it. The game was a little bit of a repeat of how some games have gone this season – one mistake and they punished us. After, we created a lot, but as I say, they had ten players behind the ball.

Such a strong run of fixtures pretty much demands inclusion of key City assets in your Fantasy side, just with the usual caveats involving rotation.

As for the Saints, trips to in-form Everton and Manchester United are up next, which doesn’t exactly scream ‘buy buy buy!’.

But despite being safe for another season of top-flight football, the players have made it clear they’re not beach-ready just yet, with three wins from their last four matches.

They obviously relished the chance to stick it to the Man City yesterday, and they’ll need to keep channelling that doggedness over the next two matches before their schedule (BHA, bou, SHU) eases and the attacking points might come rather more easy again.


Southampton XI (4-4-2): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand; Armstrong (Smallbone 90′), Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond; Ings, Adams (Long 70′).

Manchester City XI (4-1-2-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Garcia, Laporte, Zinchenko; Fernandinho; Silva, Bernardo; Mahrez (De Bruyne 59′), Jesus, Sterling (Foden 59′).

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

View the full player and team data from Southampton v Manchester City here

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 33+

3,158 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Klaren
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) AWB to Garcia
    B) AWB to Aurier
    C) Salah to Sterling

    A and B would enable me to get Bruno next GW.
    I could get Salah back for Son next GW if I do C (saving the 2nd FT).

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

      Get Bruno another way. AWB is about to play an Aston Villa side that is terrible offensively

  2. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah + Mooy + Jimi --> Son + Foden + Vardy (-8) and bench DCL

    Worth it?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not at all

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You serious?

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

      I think id rather have DCL salah and jimi this week than son foden and vardy

      1. Belli2007
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Not for -8

    5. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      thanks all for talking me off the ledge lmao

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

    Pickford a decent DDG replacement to accomodate Greenwood?

    Great fixtures

    1. MOZIL
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      pickford of patricio?

  4. Kno
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    With the Holgate injury would you do:

    A: transfer in a different cheapie.
    B: say fudge it and play lascelle vs city to save a ft for something more high impact later on.

    1. Wılly
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Can easily see Lascelles with a 0 or -1 at the end of next gameweek. I'm in the same situation unfortunately, might be looking at Digne or Azpi for a hit.

      1. Belli2007
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Just brought him in. Typical.

        Have 2FT so might stick in Kiko as the .1 could come in handy next week.

        1. Belli2007
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          So A for me....

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

        So a hit (-4) vs Lascelles (0 or -1)?

  5. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    My best ever top15k finish was with the template

    Look at the top players now, most have the template

    Template is key

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Little bit of context imo is required. Template works if you get the template early and already have a good rank.

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Very true, this was the case in the top 15k season I had

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What is the template?

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

      Template gets u a decent finish but templaye all season never gets u a great rank my best.. top 1 k finish involved a great deal of punts

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Agreed, not all season, but most if you have a good rank to start

        What was the punt:template ratio?

        Out of your 11, how many were punts?

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

      It is the template for a reason.

  6. ManTree(v2!) or just JAY!
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    ritchie and jimenez to van dijk and greenwood

    2FT - yes or no

    1. istanbul05
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes for me

      1. Belli2007
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Looks good for free

    2. JamieC180
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      definitely

  7. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    For rest of the season
    1) digne
    2) azpi

    1. MattyW
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Azpi

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I really like digne but i think azpi is better (that what i did this week)

  8. JamieC180
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope

    Aurier - Soyuncu - Baldock

    Fernandes (C) - KDB - Martial - Salah - Pulisic

    Rashford - Jiminez

    (Nketiah, Basham, Kilman)

    Look OK? I'm quite happy with it

  9. MattyW
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Play Sarr or Jimenez ...

    1. JamieC180
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure, but nice problem to have

      1. MattyW
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Tough one

    2. Goonsquad245
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sarr pretty comfortably

  10. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bench one:

    a) Basham

    b) Saiss

    c) Aurier

    1. MattyW
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Aurier

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    4. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  11. istanbul05
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Don't think I can bring myself to bring Kane in after tonight, and the fact Spurs have 3 games in 6 days...

    Any ideas on my next move with 2 FTs and 1.2m itb?

    Patricio,
    TAA, Doherty, Aurier/AWB,
    Salah, KDB, Foden, Martial, Pulisic,
    Rashford, Jimenez.

    Thanks

  12. n14mul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which is better

    A. Jimi
    B. Vardy for a -4

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

      1. Belli2007
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Vardy in for Bournemouth match

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Needs to score 1 more than Jimi to break even.

          A

  13. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So did Kane pass the audition tonight?

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

      Not for me.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fluffed his lines

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nope

    4. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      the worst I have seen him

      1. DandyDon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Really wow. That’s saying something!

        1. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          actually least creative I have seen Spurs not all his fault

    5. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Got stage fright and didn't turn up

    6. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It’s not really about Kane or Son. As a team Spurs isn’t creating any chances but Everton was parking the bus for the first 75 minutes so the opposition didn’t help either. Bournemouth match shouldn’t be as bad if they can score a 1st half goal.

      To be honest I didn’t really understand why Everton was still only defending till the last 15 minutes today.

      1. Belli2007
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I was pondering Son to Kane depending on how they performed, I am sticking with Son but neither lit up the world. Not sure we will see the same points from Spurs that Utd racked up against Bournemouth

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

      I can’t see him score, if not penalty.

  14. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best option of these 2? Cheers

    A Saka to Foden FT (Bench DCL)
    B AWB DCL -> Digne Greenwood - 4

    Pope
    TAA Doherty AWB
    Salah KDB Bruno Mahrez
    Rashford Jimenez DCL

    Martinez Saka Taylor Fernandez

    1. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A looks very nice and sensible.

      I have no idea what to do this week. Might save FT, thoughts

      Pope
      TAA Maguire Aurier Doherty
      Salah KDB Mahrez Martial Bruno
      Jimi
      Martinez DCL Nketiah Fernandez

      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers, yup easy save there for you mate. GL.

        1. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          cheers worried about Salah at all?
          captaining KDB?

          1. _Ninja_
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Not that worried about Salah tbh he'll score goals
            Yeah KDB for now.

      2. n14mul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I got same midfield but considering mahrez to foden

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

    Kane ain't worth it.

  16. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bench one:
    A Aurier
    B AWB
    C Doherty

    1. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Aurier

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  17. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who would you play this gw? Currently have Doherty & Jimenez so have Foster in the sticks.
    Henderson (WOL)
    or
    Foster (NOR)

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ben

    2. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Foster

  18. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Doherty to Laporte or Maguire to Mendy worth a FT?

    1. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Too sideways, don't bother.

  19. Henning
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Repost

    Pulisic or William?
    My rival in ml have Pulisic(im about 70 p ahead)

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Puli

    2. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic all day if you can only pick one.

      1. Belli2007
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Pulisic. Blocks your rival

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          This. Wouldn't said Willian otherwise

          1. Utopsis
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Would've*

  20. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone starting Kiko ahead of wolves players Boly/Jimmy?

    1. Belli2007
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I am considering it....

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Currently in my lineup ahead of mahrez but not sure I won’t panic last minute there! I could bench Doherty instead (have Patrício) but Sheffield have been poor defensively of late.

      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeh and wolves attack not firing so can’t even decide boly or Jimmy? Could just start both and have Kiko as emergency

  21. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Patrick Mahomes signs 10 year extension for $450

    Nuts

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

      Who?

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Real football, you wouldn’t understand Pukki

    2. Wılly
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Million*

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Autocorrect, thx

        $450m

  22. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kane to King(C) before Spurs. Can see a big haul for King.

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Do it for a hit please

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

      TC

  23. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have DdG and Rashford already.

    A) Origi to Greenwood
    B) Mahrez to Martial
    C) Mahrez to Bruno -4

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

        Thanks

  24. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is it true that Aurier literally has zero competition and is nailed on again for Bournemouth?

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Davies can play there but yeah probs

  25. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best defender for 6.5 or under? Already have Doherty/awb

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Verg

    2. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Azpilicueta or VVD

  26. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Son + Hayden > Foden + Willian/Pulisic -4

    Yes or No?

    1. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      no way. Losing Son for a -4 this week Will probably back fire

    2. Goonsquad245
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not a chance

      1. Belli2007
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        No. If you have Son then you have to play him against Bournemouth....he may not score but definitely not worth a hit to ship him out

  27. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Would you change anything? 1 free transfer & 1.7 in bank

    Pope
    TAA - Aurier - Doherty (Holegate,Lascelles)
    Foden - Bruno - Martial - KDB (Guendouzi)
    Vardy - Rashford - Jiménez

  28. Enzo the Baker
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is Soucek a good first sub to have? Considering Cantwell -> Soucek with a FT. Rest of team is:

    Pope
    TAA Saiss Egan
    KdB Salah Bruno Martial
    Jimi Vardy Greenwood

    Bench : Dropped Injured Injured Injured
    0.2 itB

    1. Wılly
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Isn't he a holding midfielder?

      1. Enzo the Baker
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Right he is, but after watching the highlights of West Ham's last couple of games, he looks fairly advanced during attacks & set pieces. Has 2 goals in 2 games, and a 3rd goal ruled out by VAR v Chelsea.

    2. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Think Saka is the best pick at that price point.

      1. Enzo the Baker
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Agree. Not too excited about his fixtures is all

  29. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jimi > Ings thoughts?

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Keep jimmy

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd keep until GW36.

  30. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is this best set up for 34+ and carry transfer? Or any moves you would suggest?

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Maguire Aurier
    Salah KDB Martial Mahrez Bruno
    Jiménez

    Martinez DCL Nketiah Fernández