Scout Notes

Ziyech’s FPL ownership and price on the rise as new-look Chelsea find their rhythm

Chelsea 4-1 Sheffield United

  • Goals: Tammy Abraham (£7.2m), Ben Chilwell (£6.0m), Thiago Silva (£5.5m), Timo Werner (£9.4m) | David McGoldrick (£5.3m)
  • Assists: Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) x2, Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m), N’Golo Kante (£4.9m) | Sander Berge (£5.0m)
  • Bonus: Ziyech x3, Abraham x2, Werner x1

Chelsea came from behind to beat Sheffield United with a performance that ticked many a Fantasy box.

All four of the home side’s goals involved summer signings and the victory underlined the impression that coach Frank Lampard is finally finding the right balance in his team, from Abraham to Ziyech.

Double Bubble

One of Lampard’s key moves has been to find room for both Tammy Abraham (£7.2m) and Timo Werner (£9.4m) in the starting XI.

Saturday’s result meant Chelsea have won three games and drawn one, scoring 14 goals and conceding four, when the duo start together in the league.

Lampard talked about the pair after the midweek win over Rennes in the Champions League in which they also both started (and scored):

When we brought in players in attacking areas we brought in players who are versatile in their nature, Timo playing on the left for instance. The qualities Tammy can bring to the team are never lost on me.

Werner’s ownership has been yo-yoing this season, with the trend upward at present. He’s now in 23.6% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) squads, with 25,000+ new managers buying into him ahead of the international break.

The 2.2%-owned Abraham remains the differential pick of the two, which is hardly surprising when he’s started just the four games to Werner’s eight in the league this season. But he’s produced  two goals and two assists from those matches.

And the pair’s threat is so strong that Lampard could be tempted to view them both, and not just Werner, as nailed-on starters.

Midfield Merriment

Maximum bonus points and a double-digit haul went to Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) – for the second straight Gameweek.

He’s now amassed 25 points from his first two starts in the league and his ownership is ballooning.

He went from 114,819 to 624,213 FPL managers on the strength of his goal and assist against Burnley in Gameweek 7 and he’s already top of the transfers in for Gameweek 9 thanks to his brace of assists against Sheffield United.

Small wonder that Lampard was gushing in his post-match praise:

He exudes confidences in how much he wants to receive the ball and be the important player. He also has great work ethic so he is a complete player. He’s been a big plus and I expect there is a lot more to come from him.

It’s only been two full games, but there’s a strong sense that it is Ziyech, and not the self-isolating Kai Havertz (£8.3m), who could be the key player when it comes to Lampard finding the right balance in his team:

The balance of the team felt great. There were so many good things in what we were creating, we scored two goals from set pieces. I don’t want to get too carried away but I’m happy.

Not getting carried away should be the theme for FPL bosses as well because Chelsea’s next six matches are probably not as easy as they might appear on FPL’s Fixture Difficulty Rating.

A Gameweek 10 visit from Spurs and games against an obdurate Wolves and this season’s surprise package West Ham all look tricky, but Ziyech is making an incredibly strong case for inclusion anyway.

Defenders On The Attack

The second most-bought defender ahead of Gameweek 8 was Chilwell, who scored his second goal in three home matches.

That appeased the 324,298 new owners who were hoping for a fourth clean sheet in the last five league fixtures from Chelsea.

Considerably fewer managers enjoyed Thiago Silva‘s (£5.5m) first attacking return for the Blues, but those goals underlined the potency of Lampard’s defenders.

The most popular defensive transfer for the Gameweek was Kurt Zouma (£5.3m), who was brought in by more than half a million managers on the back of the Blues’ new-found defensive stability and the centre-half’s three goals this season.

Thanks to Silva’s strike, all four of Lampard’s regular backline have now scored.

Zouma leads the way for goals among defenders and Chilwell is second (he also has two assists), while Reece James (£5.0m) is the other to have found the net, with an assist to his name from his six starts as well.

Small wonder that three of that back four are now in the top 10 for both points and ownership among FPL defenders, with Thiago (3.1%) the only outlier (and differential).

Sheffield Of Bad Dreams

One point from eight matches, just four goals scored and zero clean sheets kept, the Blades are the bluntest of weapons at the moment.

Manager Chris Wilder was as honest as ever with his assessment of his team:

At times my teams are naive. It’s irrelevant. We have given away some poor goals. I think we have to look at ourselves.

It’s fair to say few Fantasy managers are looking at his players.

David McGoldrick‘s (£5.3m) second strike of the season meant he’s now been involved in half of the side’s goals.

But his strike partner, and the Blades’ most popular asset in FPL, Rhian Brewster (£4.5m and 6.7%), had a wretched time of it at Stamford Bridge.

Brewster’s undoubted promise, and cheap price tag, has persuaded a decent chunk of FPL managers to have him as their third striker.

Based on his complete non-involvement on Saturday, even at £4.5m he’s a waste of money.

As for the Blades as a team, the 431 shots they conceded last season was bettered by only seven teams. This year’s total – 120 – is the league’s second worst.

Never a team to create many chances, unless they can sort out their defensive issues, their players will remain a major Fantasy no-no.


Chelsea XI (4-3-2-1): Mendy; James, Zouma, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Kovacic (Jorginho 71′), Mount; Werner (Giroud 87′), Ziyech; Abraham. 

Sheffield United XI (4-4-2): Ramsdale; Baldock, Stevens, Basham, Egan; Lundstram, Berge, Lowe, Norwood (Osborn 62′); McGoldrick, Brewster (McBurnie 63′).

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 8

1,407 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Richa essential against Fulham?

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

      No

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

      A great differential

  2. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    It's too early but who would you play?

    A.)Lamptey Vs AVL(A)
    B.)Coufal Vs SHU(A)
    C.)Kilman Vs SOU(H)

    I'm currently on Coufal

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

      Agree

      1. Call Me Old Fashioned
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        +1

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

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

      B

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

    KDB or Bruno?

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

      Bruno - City yet to click into gear

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

    Ideas what to do here?
    Son to Bruno?

    2FTs, 1.6ITB

    Martinez
    Robo/Reguilon/Chilwell
    Salah/Son/Hamez/Grealish
    Kane/DCL/Bamford

    Martin/Kilman/Mitchell/Stephens

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yep

  5. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Best 4 transfers here over two gws?

    A. No Ziyech
    Sterling + Maupay + Son + Konsa > Bruno + Vardy + Grealish + Balbuena.

    B. No Vardy
    Sterling + Son + Jrod + Konsa > Bruno + Ziyech + Grealish + Cancelo

    C. No Grealish
    Maupay + Sterling + Son + Roberson>
    Vardy + Ziyech + Bruno + Cancelo

    Martinez Steer
    Robbo Chilwell Konsa Kilman Mitchell
    Salah Sterling Son JRod Anguissa
    DCL Bamford Maupay

    1 FT 0.5itb. No WC

    Appreciate your help

    1. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A but sell robbo

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

      Can you have Bruno, Vardy, Grealish AND Ziyech if you sell Robbo?

      It's between A and C for me, Vardy looks good after the liverpool game

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

        Actually, I would hesitate selling Sterling. He's got good fixtures coming up

  6. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Foden,Brewster to Ziyech, Watkins for -8?

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

    https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12128274/jurgen-klopp-and-pep-guardiola-urge-premier-league-to-allow-five-substitutes

    Not disagreeing with them but I find it kind of ironic that Pep only used 1 sub, and Klopp only used 2 yesterday.

    1. Reeker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Like he ever would of took of Trent anyway in his PL games anyway. They are using it as an excuse to gain an advantage. The muscle injuries would of happened regardless even with 5 subs

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

      PL clubs are paid hundreds of millions every season and if they can't get a deep enough squad to rotate players if and when needed, it's a sign of poor management and not anyone else's problem.

      Klopp wasn't even missing any players in RB position so if he thinks Trent got injured because he played too many minutes, he should have rested him midweek.

      1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        FPL managers fuming scared of cameos lol
        To be honest 5 subs is great for the game, gives teams more versatility, more young players get a chance, which will enrich their development. Don't really see why not to switch to 5 subs, regardless of FPL.

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

          What I said has nothing to do with FPL. I'm suggesting he should rotate players more if he thinks subs aren't enough. From FPL perspective, that's even worse anyway.

          Klopp's comments are illogical and biased, and he is trying to make it seem like 5 subs are essential, whereas it's really not.

          1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Well considering 5 subs rule is already active across a lot of european leagues, I can understand his biased opinion. Why would PL teams and players suffer more because of conservative people in the FA?

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

              It isn't the FA though, it's the majority of clubs which voted against it.

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

      Such a massive joke. Klopp f'ing played Salah and Mane for 90 minutes while 5-0 in a midweek game... He wouldnt have subbed Trent earlier a single time.

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

      Realistically this is the one game they're not going to use all the subs if they feel they don't need too. It's the biggest prem game of the season for both and if they think the team out is the best XI they're not going to sub better players off. But for many other games when they are say 2-0 up already then there's every reason to think they will want to use all 5 subs because that's what happens in CL games - they both used all 5 subs last CL game when they were winning.

  8. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Mendy, Button
    Chilly, Reguilon, Coufal, Justin, 3.9
    Salah, Son, Ziyech, James, Grealish
    Kane, DCL, Brewster

    What do you think about my team? Thinking of going Reguilon and Son to Cresswell and Bruno for a hit..

  9. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Can someone tell me how is the mcginn goal disallowed?

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

      Barkley was obscuring the Gk's line of sight from an offside position

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

      The rule itself doesn't make sense all the time, but the refs decided to follow it to the letter rather than apply the circumstances in play:

      If an attacking player is offside while on the line of sight for the keeper to see the shot, the goal doesn't stand

      It didn't feel right because the keeper wouldn't have gotten there even if there was nobody else on the pitch

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        no chance the keeper is saving that, clear goal imo

  10. thetommy14
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    KDB or Bruno?

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

      KDB

  11. F_Ivanovic
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    In all likelyhood my plan for next GW will hopefully be to save my FT. I could move Son to Rashford or Ziyech now but I think it's better to just re-assess and not rush out my Spurs assets this week with only 1 FT. The plan the following week is to then go Kane > cheapie (hopefully Antonio), Podence to KDB and potentially Son out aswell when I have more data.

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Plenty of time.

  12. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ziyech has a flat cross which is very hard to defend against. KDB can do this but very players in the EPL can cross like Ziyech.
    Teams that sit deep will likely get picked apart by this flat cross as we saw with Burnley and SUFC.
    So against attacking teams he's likely to be less effective as he will have to defend more and have less time in the opposition box to cross.

    Teams will also wise up to his crossing and probably put more effort into stopping him.
    I don't see many teams up to Jan willing to sit deep against Chelsea.
    I'm not sure about Newcastle but Arsenal and Villa are defensive however they don't play until the end of the year.
    Obviously you'd expect Ziyech to get attacking returns but how many against attacking teams I don't know.

    1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Sorry but I don't agree at all with what you are theorising. Ziyech was great in Ajax going against attacking teams.

      1. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes I agree with you on this and this is why he is a massive pick. He assists vs weaker teams and he scores Vs more attacking ones

  13. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Squad value 100.4
    In the bank 2.6
    What about u?

  14. villian-ty
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son to Bruno -4?

    Martinez Steer
    Coufal Chilwell Taylor Justin Mitchell
    Salah Son Ziy Hamez Grealish
    Kane Brewster DCL

    1. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Weighed it up myself and don't think so. If you're taking a hit you might as well wait till after IB unless money ITB prices you out of it

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

    Ideas what to do here:
    Son to Bruno? Keep Robo?

    2FTs, 1.6ITB

    Martinez
    Robo/Reguilon/Chilwell
    Salah/Son/Hamez/Grealish
    Kane/DCL/Bamford

    Martin/Kilman/Mitchell/Stephens

  16. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy button
    Chilwell James ayling Taylor mitchell
    Mané Bruno son soucek bissouma
    DCL Kane Bamford
    1ft 1.7itb

    Son to grealish the sensible move?

  17. baines is god
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Has Mitro lost pen duties?

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No chance.
      Lookman won’t be taking one for quite a while anyway!