Scout Notes

How Spurs and Everton’s new signings fared in their FPL Gameweek 1 debuts

Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Everton

  • Goal: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.0m)
  • Assist: Lucas Digne (£6.0m)
  • Bonus: Digne x3, Calvert-Lewin x2, Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) x1

Tottenham Hotspur and Everton met on Sunday for the second time in two months.

Only one goal separated the two sides again but, following Spurs’ narrow victory in July, this time it was the Toffees who came away from north London with all three points.

While it may seem like an all-too-convenient narrative to say that Everton’s trio of new signings were the difference between the two matches, there was a lot of truth in it.

Allan (£5.5m) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.5m) added bite and energy to a previously uninspired central midfield, while James Rodriguez (£7.5m) oozed class and defied predictions – including our own – that he may take a little time to get up to speed after a lack of first-team football at Real Madrid.

Spurs’ two debutants didn’t quite have such an auspicious afternoon but Matt Doherty (£6.0m) did at least show encouraging glimpses of the goal threat that marked him out as a popular Fantasy Premier League option at Wolves.

RODRIGUEZ TO RICHARLISON

Carlo Ancelotti sent his troops out in a 4-3-3 for Sunday’s match, the formation his side ended pre-season in.

Richarlison (£8.0m) and Rodriguez were given the nod to flank Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.0m) in a three-man attack and while the Everton number nine grabbed the game’s only goal when nodding in a teasing Lucas Digne (£6.0m) free-kick, it was the two wingers who really caught the eye.

Rodriguez’s touch was excellent and his vision just as good, with the Colombian setting up five Everton chances – all for Richarlison.

He appears to be sharing set-piece duties with Digne, too, with Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.0m) benched.

If there were any quibbles about Rodriguez’s display from a Fantasy perspective, it’s that he was often much deeper than Richarlison on the opposite flank.

The Brazil international, indeed, registered over four times as many penalty box touches as his new teammate.

But Rodriguez still went close with a 25-yard effort that crept just wide and got into an excellent position just after half-time, only to shank Calvert-Lewin’s cut-back from 12 yards.

But for Richarlison’s profligate finishing, he would have had at least one assist to his name, too.

The former Watford man nodded a presentable chance wide from a pinpoint Rodriguez cross just after the interval, later curling two efforts narrowly off-target when being found by the Colombian.

Richarlison’s best chance came from an errant Ben Davies (£5.0m) pass but, after skinning Toby Alderweireld (£5.5m) and Hugo Lloris (£5.5m), the newly reclassified FPL forward could only blaze over from a tight angle – to the annoyance of Calvert-Lewin, who was unmarked and waiting for a tap-in.

An off-day for Richarlison in front of goal, then, but plenty of encouragement for the Gameweek 2 clash with West Brom, who allowed Harvey Barnes (£7.0m) plenty of chances from the Leicester left on Sunday despite operating with a five-man backline.

Doherty’s Debut

Doherty was one of the reasons that Richarlison had a lot of joy in north London.

The Brazilian had the beating of the Ireland international on a few occasions (his 51st-minute header and 71st-minute curler, for starters) and, in more than one instance, Doherty was half-way up the other end of the pitch when Richarlison received the ball.

That last point is not a criticism, however, as the Spurs right-back was encouraged to get forward in the lop-sided 4-2-3-1 that Jose Mourinho employs.

One of the questions from FPL managers over Doherty’s move to north London was whether he would continue to “underlap” into goal-scoring positions or whether he would be more of a cross-merchant like Serge Aurier (£5.5m).

Two darts into the Everton box just before half-time may have answered that, with one of his runs resulting in a glorious chance from six yards out that Jordan Pickford (£5.5m) blocked with his legs.

Doherty was clearly flagging by the end of his debut and it may be a few weeks before we see the best of him, with Mourinho saying:

The players who didn’t have pre-season, we don’t have now the possibility to give them a pre-season but we have a lot of matches now to play consecutively and we have to use these matches, not just to win them and the knockout ones are obviously decisive ones with everything decided in 120 minutes or even penalties, and try to use this to improve the form of some players because some of them were really in trouble.

You can look to Doherty, a player who is normally in incredible condition. He didn’t have pre-season. He went direct from holidays to national team matches. No pre-season at all. Direct and not one single training session, direct from holidays to the national team and he played two consecutive matches and today he was not Matt Doherty like he normally is.

SPURS ATTACK BLANKS

There was no joy for owners of Spurs’ attackers, either.

Harry Kane (£10.5m) followed up his sluggish displays for England with a tired-looking performance, although did tee up Doherty for the right-back’s chance with an excellent chip.

Dele Alli (£8.0m) lasted only 45 minutes of the game, meanwhile, with Mourinho citing tactical reasons for his half-time substitution:

Tactical, yeah. They were playing only with one pivot, Allan was in that position there. Gomes and Doucoure were pressing high, lots of space behind this pressure. I needed more dynamic there.

It was some distance from being a positive Spurs display but it wasn’t the worst we’ve ever seen from Mourinho’s side: as well as Doherty’s chance, Alli saw a shot tipped over by Pickford following a swift break, Son Heung-min (£9.0m) had a goalbound shot headed away and Kane was inches from connecting with Son’s teasing delivery.

All of that came in the first half, however, and the Lilywhites ran out of steam after the break, with Mourinho’s change at the interval not having any effect.

The Spurs boss said:

Look. Harry Kane trained with us once. Just once. One day. Moussa Sissoko just a couple. I’m not going player by player but for different reasons our players they didn’t have that proper pre-season.

We had cases of positive COVID-19. Of course we have the right to say which players they were, but we had players with positive COVID. We had other players in quarantine due to proximity with the positive players.

We had a player in quarantine because he was on holiday in a country that England demands quarantine.

We had a national team couple of weeks, many of the players went with their national teams so the pre-season was a difficult one for many of the players.

In the second half after their goal we were poor and in my opinion we were not physically strong, no intensity and the team lacks in this moment many players physical condition.

EVERTON SOLID

Allan’s love of a tackle was something we highlighted in a previous article and no FPL midfielder won more than the Brazilian in Gameweek 1.

He and Doucoure rightly earned a lot of the praise on Sunday but Michael Keane (£5.0m) continued his fine post-restart form at centre-half and, perhaps most crucially of all, Pickford was dependable between the posts.

The England goalkeeper was a bit of a weak link last season and no matter how good Everton’s defenders and covering midfielders are, they’ll need him to vastly improve on his 2019/20 form in order to rack up the clean sheets.

The back four may well be settled for some time, meanwhile, with Mason Holgate (£5.0m) potentially ruled out for up to three months:

Members Analysis

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 1

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1,630 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    1FT, 0 ITB

    McCarthy, Button

    TAA, Davies, Ayling, Justin, Mitchell

    Salah, Aubameyang, Alli, ASM, Bissouma

    Werner, Ings, Mitrovic

    Worth doing a -4 to do Ings & Alli to Martial & James Rodriguez?

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No, Ings could easily score against Spurs imo.

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Struijk could be a decent 4m option, that’s what I have gone for.. What are your thoughts on him?

      1. The Mighty Whites
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Strujik won't play once Cooper's back, he's our backup CB

    3. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I would hold Ings.

      Btw - (Not concerned about clean sheets) but can you tell me if Dallas is attacking at RB?

      1. The Mighty Whites
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yes, he's attacking but he's LB

  2. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Glk which one out of Pickford/Leno for my WC?

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Leno

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pickford on fixtures

    3. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Ancelotti a better manager defensively. If that helps.

    4. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Did you have a look at Guaita?

  3. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Start 1
    A) KWP
    B) Bissouma
    C) Reed
    D) Mitchell

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Ew. D or B I guess

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      KWP

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

  4. Sepp Blattered
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) James Rodriguez & Martial
    Or
    B) Bruno & Richarlison

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

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

      B

    3. ELMEO
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

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

      B costs a lot more....

    5. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B looks good but got to factor in the price difference

  5. UpAndAway
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone think Henderson saves one or if not both of Wolves' goals? Picking Egan over Wolves defender a poor move in hindsight.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No right or wrong without hindsight.

      1. UpAndAway
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Agree. The points swing between owning Egan or Saiss is huge.

        1. DrunkPhilosophy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I agree 🙁 kept switching between the two and ended with a big fat zero.

  6. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Burno, DCL
    B) James, Martial (1.0itb)

    If I am never going to captain Bruno, as I got two other premium MF slots for Salah and KDB, is B better than A from above?

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

      Yep B there

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If you're never going to cap Bruno then yes, B

  7. cemal
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy (Steer)
    TAA Tierney BDavies Justin (Mitchell)
    Salah Auba Son ASM (JWP)
    Werner Wilson (Brewster)
    Nothing ITB, 1 FT

    was planning on getting KDB next GW but with him rising tonight in gone off the idea
    A) hold and save FT, KDB in GW3
    B) get rid of BDavies for Coleman/Reece James
    C) other suggestion

  8. jam sandwich
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    good week, 0.5ITB & 1FT

    Ramsdale
    TAA - Dier - Justin
    Auba (c) - Salah - Alli - ASM
    Werner - DCL (v) - Adams

    Steer - Saiss - Bissouma - Ferguson

    a) Alli -> James Rodriguez
    b) hold the line

    1. HODGE
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

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

      Don't fancy Richalson

  9. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Few options which route should I go?

    A) ings to martial
    B) havertz to rashford
    C) havertz auba to kdb fernandes (-4, would wait till next week but price rises

    1. HODGE
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

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

      shipping out Auba before WHU (H) is madness

    3. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

  10. welshyoo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Took a punt on Batshuayi..I need to shift him right?
    Didnt even come off the bench

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

      Ayew was horrid, think he will come in and start next week

    2. HODGE
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I would keep one more week

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Probably best 6.0 so no, presumably wasn't match fit last week

    4. cjhewitt92
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      New Signings risky early on, not had much time at club and little training. They will start in couple of weeks

  11. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Will Pulisic be available for GW3?

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

      If he hasn’t reinjured himself then he should

  12. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Already pulled the trigger on Son>Bruno

    Anxiously waiting till deadline now...

  13. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What's the deal with Diogo Jota? Is he completely out of favour or it was more of fitness issue that he didn't even come in from the bench?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Podence is ahead of him. I think Jota will start a lot of games still but will also be benched quite often

  14. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which of these?(0itb)
    A) Ings, Havertz to Martial,James Rodríguez(4)
    B) Ings, Havertz to DCL, Rashford (-4)
    C) Save and keep Ings and Havertz

    1. dmcnam12
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Leaning towards A

  15. dmcnam12
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on Havertz to JRod if I've already got DCL? Reluctant to double up but Havertz looked so poor....

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

      Wait for Pulisic news

      1. dmcnam12
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Smart man, agreed

  16. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Son, Doherty -> Bruno, James
    B) Werner, Son -> DCL, Bruno
    C) Save ft

    Y/N ??

    A) Was really unimpressed by spurs, but I guess if Doherty has scored that chance I wouldn't be thinking of doing this. Does allow me the money to get Bruno in..

    B) Werner potentially injured, Chelsea looked off the beat, again give me money for Bruno

    C) May just be the safe option, take a price rise on the chin

  17. Catsandhats
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Auba, Son > Bruno and KDB -4 worth it? Straight swap as I have 1m in the bank, and catch both rises before I inevitabley try to get them in later?

    Other option is Son > BRUNO, and then take a -4 to make up the .5 mil else where...

  18. InterUranus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Alli & Doherty -> Lamptey & Rashford?

  19. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Werner or Martial for the run in?

  20. FPL_BUCCANEER
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Taylor Justin
    Salah Auba Pulisic Soucek
    Werner Ings Mitro

    Steer Vinagre Mitchell Bissouma

    0.5 ITB

    a) Ings -> Martial (which was the plan..)
    b) Vinagre -> ?
    c) Other

    Thanks guys.

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

    A) Havertz -> Rash
    B) Salah -> Bruno
    C) Salah + Antonio -> Bruno + Martial/Jimi

    1. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  22. Squeakybum99
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ings to Martial for Free or Ings + Kai to DCL + Bruno for -4?

  23. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is this worth a -8?

    Robbo (have TAA) + Werner + Davis (FWD) >>> M. Keane + Martial + DCL

    Would have to keep Alli for 1 more gw.

  24. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Miased both the games last night how did Traore play?

  25. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any sense when Nathan Ferguson will be available to Palace?.

  26. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A all day.

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Reply fail for Pukki Blinders.

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

        Was Havertz that bad?

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      You got a WCGW3 draft in mind? Mine is unrealistically good so happy I did it this way x

    3. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C

  27. diabydoesgallas
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    One thing I haven’t seen discussed all that much on here is the potential for coronavirus disruptions this season (whether it be the players themselves or a second wave in general), which could give an advantage to those who are holding onto their wildcards. Maybe worth excercising caution to those who are contemplating using their WCs after one gameweek.

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

      Was a bit of talk about this pre season on here, saving WC is definitely a smart idea. I see so many unncesssrily activating it just to knee jerk a few players

  28. lifes a pitch
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son to William...yes or no?

    1. Fero1905
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

    2. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No

    3. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      1 good fixture and then it gets tough

    4. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Tricky one. I think Willian is probably a better option for now, but is he the best transfer to make?

    5. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No

  29. Fero1905
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    My Team is
    Mccarthy Steer
    TAA Coady Davies Ayling Ferguson
    Salah Auba Zaha ASM Bissouma
    Werner Mitrovic Ings

    0.5 itb i could do Ings to Martial

    I want to Play the WC for this team

    Mccarthy Steer
    Digne, Ayling, Justin, Saiss, Mitchell
    Salah Auba Bruno Bissouma Klich
    Werner DCL Wilson

    What do you Think please help

  30. Chilli Heatwave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    For anyone who is adding kings to your squad, save yourselves .5 mil and get konsa 🙂

    1. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mings

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah, Konsa emerged last season

      1. Chilli Heatwave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yep, more of a goal threat and just as nailed

    3. Alexis Nonsense
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks for the tip, but I don't think anyone is considering a Villa defender at 5m anyway

      I think 4.5 for a Villa defender is a stretch

      1. Chilli Heatwave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        One of the best defences post lockdown, decent keeper coming in, not to be sniffed at.

        1. Alexis Nonsense
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          You might be right