Scout Notes

Leeds set for more goal fests as Bielsa sticks to guns despite heavy United defeat

Manchester United 6-2 Leeds United

  • Goals: Scott McTominay (£4.9m) x2, Bruno Fernandes (£11.0m) x2, Victor Lindelof (£4.8m), Daniel James (£6.2m) | Liam Cooper (£4.4m), Stuart Dallas (£4.6m)
  • Assists: Anthony Martial (£8.7m) x3, Fernandes, McTominay | Raphinha (£5.4m)
  • Bonus: McTominay x3, Fernandes x2, Martial x1

Bruno Fernandes (£11.0m) bounced back from a brace of blanks with a huge haul in one of the wildest matches of this, or any other, season.

The Manchester United midfielder became the fifth player to make it to 100 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points this campaign with two goals, an assist and two bonus against Leeds.

But in keeping with the crazy nature of the match, he was outscored by Scott McTominay (£4.9m), a player who scored twice in the first three minutes to match his entire attacking output from the 2018/19 season.

Bruno It Makes Sense

The 42.5%-owned Fernandes actually lost a net 5,647 managers heading into the game. Those faithless few missed out on his joint-best return of the season, 17 points.

Wiser folk – more than 1.1 million of them – captained him and his Gameweek 15 star is on the rise as 70,000+ managers have made him the third most bought player heading into the Christmas fixtures.

He’s now scored nine goals and provided six assists this season, which means he’s had a hand in just over half of all United’s 28 goals.

Five of his strikes have been something other than spot-kicks, a ‘non-penalty’ total that only two other FPL midfielders can trump.

Ole Gunnar Solkskjaer’s team is not quite of the one-man variety, but Fernandes is its beating heart, and he’s arguably up there with Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) as the closest thing we have to an FPL must-have now.

Yes, Tottenham’s Son Heung-min (£9.7m) has more points, but from an extra match and, crucially, 25 attempts to Fernandes’ 40 – a conversion rate that should be unsustainable in the longer term.

Manchester Mayhem

McTominay limped off with a groin issue late on and only close family members consider him an FPL option anyway, while Solskjaer’s decision to hand Daniel James (£6.2m) a rare start raised eyebrows, but worked well as the winger scored a goal.

Rather more pertinently, Anthony Martial‘s (£8.7m) 3.7% ownership were treated to three assists and a second straight double-digit haul from their man.

The French forward has had a stop-start season not helped by a three-match suspension following his Gameweek 4 red card against Spurs.

But four of his five assists, and his one and only goal, have come in the last two matches.

Leicester, Wolves and Aston Villa will be tougher tests of him and his team, while a blank Gameweek 18 further tarnishes his appeal, but Martial’s sudden burst of form will need monitoring given his reputation as a somewhat streaky player.

Investment in a United full-back remains thankless, however.

Their most-owned defender, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m and 8.4%), was one of the very few players not wearing goalkeeping gloves who failed to join the attacking party on Sunday, having no shots and creating no chances.

The Damned Exciting United

Solskjaer was delighted that his team managed a rare home win and he made an interesting post-match point about United’s delayed start to the season:

We look at the improvement in fitness because we knew we were going to be lagging behind in fitness, and I think it showed in the first few games but now, today, I think we showed we are getting a fitter and stronger team.

But whatever the long-term factors, the key to Sunday’s rousing game was Leeds.

Despite keeping a more than respectable four clean sheets, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are now the leakiest defence in the league, with 30 goals conceded.

Their swashbuckling nature played into the hands of the home side and the coach isn’t about to change that any time soon:

Of course, it is very hurtful. We will correct what was bad and try to keep the good things, but we will not abandon the way we play.

It takes an equally brave Fantasy manager to invest in their defenders, but the one exception to the rule is Stuart Dallas (£4.6m), who scored for the second game running as Bielsa continues to sporadically use the full-back in midfield.

He’s now owned by 8.5% of FPL bosses, with 42.7% of teams involving Patrick Bamford (£6.4%).

The striker had a poor day, missing one big chance and failing to hit the target with any of his three attempts, with his early-season ruthlessness (a conversion rate of 26.1% in Gameweeks 1-6) giving way to the more recognisable profligacy (10.3% since).

But that hasn’t stopped more than 80,000 new owners making him Gameweek 15’s second most popular purchase, presumably swayed by Leeds’ next two opponents being Burnley and West Brom.

And from a starting price of £5.5m, 12 attacking returns in 14 starts is well above-par.


Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw (Telles 60), McTominay, Fred, James, Fernandes (van de Beek 71), Rashford (Cavani 71), Martial.

Leeds United XI: Meslier, Dallas, Ayling, Cooper (Davis 72), Alioski, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Phillips (Struijk 45), Klich (Shackleton 45), Harrison, Bamford.

West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Aston Villa

  • Goals: Anwar El Ghazi (£5.7m) x2, Bertrand Traore (£5.9m)
  • Assists: Jack Grealish (£7.8m) x2, Traore
  • Bonus: El Ghazi x3, Traore x2, Grealish x1

Sam Allardyce’s return to top-flight management ended in chastening defeat as Aston Villa continued their exceptional away form.

Brought in to stave off relegation, presumably through the medium of ‘tightening up at the back’, his new side were already a goal down when Jake Livermore‘s (£4.7m) red card for a lunging tackle on Jack Grealish (£7.8m) effectively ended the game as a contest.

Villa left it late to convert their dominance into goals, but it’s now five wins in six matches on the road for Dean Smith’s men, all achieved with clean sheets.

Heavy Hitting Middle Men

Smith gave a rare managerial run-out for the word ‘exquisite’ in his post-match comments, but it was perfectly justifiable:

We knew there was a chance they could have a new manager bounce and I thought we negated that really well with our start and we continued it through the game. Our performance was exquisite from start to finish.

Much of that was down to Grealish, who continues to be the main man for Villa.

His two assists meant a welcome return to the points for him and his 43.2% FPL ownership after a couple of recent blanks.

Meanwhile, the ongoing absence of Ross Barkley (£5.9m), who Smith revealed pre-match is close to a return from his hamstring injury, is not currently hurting the team’s output from midfield.

Grealish is not the only one to take credit for that, as Anwar El Ghazi’s (£5.7m) second straight start was a memorable one.

The Netherlands international was wasteful in Gameweek 13’s goalless draw with Burnley, but he was the star of the show on Sunday, with two goals.

Fellow midfielder Bertrand Traore (£5.9m) also caught the eye, scoring with a smart finish and setting up El Ghazi’s opener.

Woe For Watkins

Villa striker Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) blanked for a fifth straight game, although he was unlucky not to score when his finish from a Matt Cash (£5.0m) cross was deemed offside by the tightest of VAR-determined margins.

The problem for his 7.8% ownership is that one of his main attractions – being the side’s penalty taker – doesn’t apply when El Ghazi plays.

It was the midfielder who stepped up and converted the spot-kick awarded for a foul on Grealish on Sunday, leaving Watkins with just two chances, one of which forced a smart save from the ever-excellent Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone (£4.5m).

Villa’s next four fixtures suggest Watkins sales are incoming. Their indifferent home form makes Crystal Palace and Spurs look especially tricky, while trips to Chelsea and Manchester United won’t exactly be walkovers either.

A seventh clean sheet – no team has managed more – helped Tyrone Mings (£5.3m) into the top four FPL defenders, but the FPL love remains strongest for Grealish, who is yet again pulling in new owners ahead of the Boxing Day visit from Palace.

Trouble In Allardyce

West Brom’s new coach was heavy on the irony in his assessment of the near future:

An easy one next (Liverpool). We will give it our best shot, no-one expected us to battle against Manchester City and I did not see that tonight, we need to find that.

The fact that brilliant, battling display against City was the final work of Slaven Bilic only accentuates the curious decision to sack him, but that’s now in the past.

The future, alas, is not looking too clever either, with Leeds, Arsenal and a blank Gameweek 18 to follow Sunday’s trip to the reigning champions.

Fantasy managers will be going nowhere near Baggies assets just yet, although those with a taste for save points might like to know that the impressive Johnstone has now made a league-leading 63 stops this season.


West Brom XI (4-5-1): Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, O’Shea, Gibbs; Phillips (Austin 78), Sawyers, Livermore, Gallagher, Diangana (Ivanovic 78); Grant (Robinson 83). 

Aston Villa XI (4-1-4-1): Martinez; Cash, Hause, Mings, Targett; Luiz; McGinn, Traore, Grealish, El Ghazi; Watkins.

Lessons learned from FPL Gameweek 14

2,600 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Poor from Laporte

  2. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Lacca goal

    1. Bada Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Confirming Stones' nailedness with this performance.

      1. Bada Bing
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Reply fail. This was a reply to Laporte's gaffe.

  3. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would you start Watkins or Soucek this GW? Already have Grealish from Villa.

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ollie is due

  4. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martinelli is really decent.

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

      Maybe as a fifth mid

    2. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He was pre-injury. Looked the best of the Arsenal younger players at the time.

  5. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Not great from Laporte

  6. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martinelli is 4.9 million.

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

      I nearly got him last week but heard he was going to play for u23s on Friday. Got Saka instead.

    2. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Good punt for the FHers in GW18

  7. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Stones even more nailed for Newcastle.

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

    Martinez
    Chilwell*, Lamptey*, Coufal, KWP, Mitchell*
    Fernandes, Mount, Grealish, Cavleiro*, Soucek
    Jesus*, Kane, Vardy

    2Ft, 2.9 ITB....which problems do I transfer out first?!

  9. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Surely stones not a legit long term option?

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

      Why not? Cheap, so not too painful if benched.

    2. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I dont think so but I've been wrong so many times this season...

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        But yeah. I think Laporte & Dias is the preferred pairing.

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

          Laporte isn't preferred at the moment...

          1. Konstaapeli
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Hasn't he been injured and just coming back?

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

              No, he's been back for ages, just been benched.

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He’s getting a new deal done as we speak

  10. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    2ft Brewster/Mahrez/Chilwell to Firmino/Soucek and Taylor -4?

    Martinez
    Konsa Chilwell Matip
    Salah Son Bruno Grealish Mahrez
    DCL Bamford

    Steele Brewster Kilman Brewster

    Cheers

  11. Jabba12
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which is better?
    A) Robbo and Wood -4
    B) Matip and Decordova Reid

  12. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What does Bernardo Silva offer? I don’t see it

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Was amazing early last season

  13. Arctic monkeys
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Why isn't Alioski as a popular a pick as the other Leeds defs ?

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

      Not nailed. Got hooked a few games ago at half time when they were getting ridden down his wing.

  14. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    what to do with this.

    Mcarthy (steer)
    Chilwell zouma.taylor (mitchell justin)
    Salah kdb bruno soucek (podence)
    Bamford kane watkins.

    2ft 0.2m in bank

  15. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    James & Chilwell to Robbo & Coufal for free?

    Planning to free hit GW18

    Currently:

    McCarthy/Forster
    James*/Chilwell*/KWP/Taylor/Targett
    Salah/KDB/Fernandes/Grealish/Riedeweld
    DCL/Wilson/Bamford

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

      Yeah, thats a common transfer

  16. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    FH18 team if possible:

    Darlow
    Dias Cancelo Keane
    KDB Grealish Zaha Son
    Wilson DCL Kane

    With one decent playing sub. Trying to avoid attack v defence

    1. yalala
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Laca punt

    2. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah maybe Sterling Adams for Kane Zaha

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Not Adams maybe Richarlson or something

  17. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    best chilwell replacement plannin to free hit 18 and bb 19

  18. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Stick with watkins or move him to adams?

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

      keeping this week but getting rid after

    2. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Planning to sell him for Kane next week. Maybe even DCL to Adams thou.

  19. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any point in buying Emerson to solve the R.James/Chilwell issue. I know Azpi is #3 but he is costlier.

  20. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Will we get any more update on Chilwell and James before the GW deadline?

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Minor ligament damage, hopeful for only 1-2 gwks missed but short tat

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

      Presser tomorrow isn't there?

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

        How you getting on?

        I’m now up to top 100k

        Owning James, Chilwell and Lamptey is a bit of an issue though!

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

          Nice mate, last two GW ranks were 108k and 88k but still only 1.2m, I think bringing in Martial (10, 12) for Werner a couple of weeks ago will be my best move of the season though.

          Chilwell is annoying me too, gonna have to get rid, still not sure what I'm doing for 18/19, what's your plan?

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

            Wow that’s amazing last 2 weeks! You got 100+ last week then?

            Freehit GW18 definitely
            Undecided on TC or BB in GW19. I can get to 11 DGW players plus Martinez, Grealish, Son. DCL so pretty decent

            Main issue is what transfers in defence this week so really need some clear news on James and Chilwell

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

              96, had Taylor and Chilwell so was a bit annoyed to not hit 100, also got Kilman off bench for Lamptey, had Dallas second, did you hit 100? I was thinking BB but already having to make unplanned moves with Chilwell so becoming unsure, I was gonna FH in 18 but it feels so boring, might save it for later in the season and just see what I can put out.

  21. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Keep Mendy (ars) or switch to McCarthy (ful)?

  22. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Why Lewis misswd last game? Plan to get him for Mitchell to play in GW18

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

      Unknown if he was rested or dropped

  23. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any advice please on chilwell & kane to robbo & firmino -4?

    1. djman102
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Do you have Son? With Fulham and especially Leeds coming up, I'd want at least one of Son/Kane, if not both.

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yep got son already But perhaps crazy to ditch Kane with those fixtures !

      2. djman102
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah, I'm on Wildcard and bringing Kane IN. The way Leeds play, we could be looking at a Southampton repeat!

  24. konrad.sygula95
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Hi please advice me best replacement for Chilwell?
    A)Dier
    B)Taylor
    C)Someone else?

    Martinez
    Chillwell/Coufal/Cancelo
    KDB/Fernandes/Salah(c)/Grealish
    Watkins/DCL/Bamford

    Bench: Forster/KWP/Kilman/Bissouma
    2ft 0.0itb

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Matip? If not then Dier.

  25. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Got to love Laporte giving up the first goal. Stones essential.

  26. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I want to praise Runarsson, but you can't really when it's Jesus in front of goal...

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Was a lovely move. Think kun might have scored it.

      Arsenal doing ok though.

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

        Coming into it now. Mustafi on the pitch though.

        I have enough cash to get Aguero this week. Hoping for some minutes tonight

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I know he has previous v newcastle but still a gamble.

  27. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is is Trent time yet? Or is Robertson still looking better?

  28. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This is a decent game.

  29. Apwilkin
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    WC in GW16
    1 week punt for a James replacement.
    1- Mina
    2- City defender (Dias? Stones?)
    3- Other?

  30. MoeZe3bi
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Mahrez starting tonight = benched against Newcastle? Should I get rid?