Scout Notes

Martinelli’s form, Covid latest, Tomiyasu injury news: FPL Gameweek 18 review

Arsenal breezed past sorry Leeds United in the only Gameweek 18 match of the day to survive a postponement.

Our Scout Notes article reflects on the key Fantasy Premier League (FPL) talking points from the fixture.

MARVELLOUS MARTINELLI

The Emile Smith Rowe (£6.0m) train just about keeps chugging along, with back-to-back goals helping to gloss over three successive benchings, but a separate budget Arsenal bandwagon is gathering momentum.

A Smith Rowe injury ahead of Gameweek 15 paved the way for Gabriel Martinelli (£5.2m) to establish himself on the Gunners’ left flank and the young Brazilian has effectively kept his teammate out of the side ever since, although alternative routes back into the starting XI at least do exist for Smith Rowe.

Martinelli made it six attacking returns in as many Gameweeks at Elland Road and while he’ll not sustain an average of 7.0 points per match over the season (he scored from his only two shots of the match on Saturday), he’s keeping company with some big midfielders on the underlying stats front over his last half-dozen appearances:

Above: FPL midfielders sorted by expected goal involvement (xGI) over their last six matches

Martinelli has historically posted some good numbers (he had the best rate of xGI among Arsenal players last season) but the issue with the budget midfielder has always been game-time, which he now has for the time being.

Bukayo Saka (£6.2m), Alexandre Lacazette (£8.5m) and Smith Rowe also chipped in with attacking returns against Leeds, too, but spurned big chances from the French striker in particular left a feeling of ‘what might have been’ for owners of the Gunners’ other attacking assets.

Unsurprisingly, Martinelli is now the most-bought player of Gameweek 19.

If you’re thinking about joining his growing band of owners, first consider that Arsenal’s Boxing Day opponents are Norwich City, a side whose Gameweek 18 fixture was called off on Thursday because of a coronavirus outbreak among the squad – and a 10-day isolation period would just about cover Gameweek 19 as a result. That fixture, then, must be in some doubt.

LEEDS DEFENCE A MESS… AND LIVERPOOL UP NEXT

Having started last season looking shifty (the fourth letter can be interchanged for another consonant) at the back but showing signs of improvement as the campaign went on, Leeds have come full circle.

Marcelo Bielsa’s troops have now shipped 16 goals in their last four Premier League matches and as many big chances – both, unsurprisingly, are league-worst totals.

Above: Premier League defences sorted by shots on target conceded over their last four matches

They allowed 11 shots on target in the first half of the loss to Arsenal alone, a record in the Opta era.

The absurd injury crisis is a huge contributing factor, of course. In the defence in Gameweek 18 were centre-halves Luke Ayling (£4.3m) and Robin Koch (£4.3m), better at right-back and in front of the back four, and Cody Drameh (£3.9m), barely out of his teens. Unavailability further forward was just as key: 10 first-teamers were sidelined in total, while Jack Harrison (£5.6m) limped off after half an hour.

Whether or not any Gameweek 19 fixtures go ahead is another question but if Leeds do make it to kick-off on Boxing Day having swerved a postponement, their next opponents are the Premier League’s top-scoring side, Liverpool.

RAPHINHA AT LEAST SECOND ON PENS

Raphinha (£6.6m) seems to be at least second in command in the Leeds United penalty-taking pecking order.

The Brazilian had scored twice from the spot already this season but both Patrick Bamford (£7.7m) and Mateusz Klich (£5.2m), the Whites’ primary takers in 2020/21, were off the field in those instances.

Klich was on the pitch for the Brazilian’s latest success from 12 yards this evening, however, an emphatic effort that moved him onto eight goals for the season – a total that only two FPL midfielders can better.

Budget FPL forward Joe Gelhardt (£4.6m) bagged the assist for the penalty, his second return in three Gameweeks.

COVID WATCH AND INJURY LATEST

Smith Rowe on bench as unchanged Arsenal face injury-hit Leeds

Nine Leeds players were known as being unavailable going into this match but a 10th, Diego Llorente (£4.5m), also didn’t show up. It was later revealed that the centre-back had tested positive for Covid-19, and he will now sit out Gameweek 19 as a result.

Arsenal also have their first cases of Covid-19 in a while, with Albert Sambi Lokonga (£4.8m) and Pablo Mari (£4.2m) contracting the illness.

The Gunners shut their training ground as a precaution on Thursday but returned thereafter.

“We had another player, as well, Pablo has Covid, so unfortunately they [Mari and Lokonga] will be out.” – Mikel Arteta

Takehiro Tomiyasu (£4.7m) banked a clean sheet for his owners before limping from the field of play but Arteta wasn’t too concerned after the game.

“It was more a muscular issue. He’s got a big load on him, he’s played every single minute since he joined us and this week he’s been a bit struggling. We decided to take him off. He wasn’t 100% confident to finish the match and hopefully he’s not injured.” – Mikel Arteta

Bielsa gave an update on the limping Harrison after full-time, as well as some of his other absent players:

“It’s just a big knock [for Harrison], a very painful one just below his hip. It’s just knocks that prevent you from continuing to play, but they’re not injuries that take long to recover from. What was, was that he was on the pitch for thirty minutes where he really couldn’t play. Until the player convinces himself that he can’t play there are moments where he can’t do anything.

“Cooper has a long period of recovery, Phillips has a long period of recovery. Cresswell has a long period of recovery, Bamford and James no – they’re not that long but I can’t tell you if they’re going to be available for Liverpool. Rodrigo Moreno has a problem in his heels and this has made him inactive in the past two weeks. The way to heal or cure this injury is to manage the pain so it disappears.

“The injury of Rodrigo is something that’s not very frequent. In Pascal’s case in the Premier League you have this injury once or twice a season, it also demands the pain disappears for him to be able to play. With respect to Rodrigo he’s not going to play against Liverpool and Pascal I place him on the same range as Bamford and James. They are all subject to the evolution, I never not give up information that I possess. What I try to avoid is to not say something I’m not sure of. I take advantage when I made a reference to the operation of Phillips – I thought you were talking about the possible surgery to his shoulder, and the expression that was understood, perhaps I expressed myself wrong. I didn’t know whether he was operated under on the back part of his knee.” – Marcelo Bielsa

1,517 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    What are the rules on teams and the number of covid cases? Surely the bigger teams are able to field a team purely down to the depth of the squads.

    Or are they able to get the games postponed with x amount of cases?

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

      Think it's number of registered first team players not infected that is the magic number.

      So yes, lots of cases in a big squad could be managed than a similar case load in a smaller squad

      1. Mork calling Orson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Every squad is the same size no ? 25 players registered per club ?

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Don’t bother trying to figure it out. They’ll only change the rules once you think you have it sorted.

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

        Dull take - not surprised

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

      That is THE question right now. Hopefully there is some clarity when the clubs all meet tomorrow. I know everyone wants football to continue but we must also remember it’s a sporting competition. It has to be fair for everyone.

      1. Kodap
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        This is what makes little to no sense to me, it's not exactly fair if certain clubs are given an advantage just purely based on squad size. I know i'm a Leeds fan so it may sound bias but.. we have 9 potentially 10 first team players out, injured (not covid) but we're still expected to field a full 11 and subs. At what point can we say well, we can't field a team can it be postponed? We're still expected to field a team, same should go with Covid if all proper measures are being taken.

  2. TKC07
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Who are the lowest and highest ever priced defenders (at any stage) in FPL history?

    1. Aadii
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Both Liverpool this season. TAA and Tsimikas.

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Highest was Baines I believe

      No idea on lowest, could well be the current 3.7m player we have

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Was Baines over 8 million?

        1. Aadii
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Don't think so anyone ever crossed that limit. Baines was high though, coz played as wing back and pushed forward, plus on penalties. But not sure if he ever reached 8.

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

            He started a season at 8.0 but not sure how high he got

        2. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I would’ve thought so

        3. Dokdok666
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Yes. Didn't he start off as 8.5 one season, or did he merely rise to it..?

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

      3.7 and 8.3

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

      I've seen it mentioned John Terry at his mid-naughties peak was £9m. No idea how legit the claim was.

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

        Not remotely true

          1. lilmessipran
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            wow that was beyond my time I guess

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

            Fpl existed in 2004? 😮

            1. Lanley Staurel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              I started playing it 2 yrs before that 🙂

          3. Ginkapo FPL
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            No way

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Now come on, apologise.

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

            Well it wasnt mid noughties so my point stands

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

              Your point doesn't stand. You said it wasn't remotely true. But it was completely true.
              I was around during World War 2, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen...

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

                *wasn't
                (obviously)

              2. Rupert The Horse
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                2 years, 3 months ago

                Don’t argue. It will literally never ever end.

            2. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              Ha. You sure do stick to your guns on absolutely everything. You remind me of an ex colleague. You’re not from Durham are you?

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

                That would be my uncle

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

              You’re wrong just accept it

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

                Were both wrong

                Its currently 5 Oclock in France! Well its 5 Oclock somewhere!

            4. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              04/05 isn't mid-naughties?

              It's literally bang in the middle of the naughties 😆

            5. g40steve
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              Sometimes you have admit you got it wrong & stop trying to argue a point that is false.

            6. @persecuted_by_mods
                2 years, 3 months ago

                Wth, isn't it right smack bang on mid noughties?

      2. lilmessipran
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Baines highest was 8.1, Taa is now 8.2 highest ever for a defender.. no idea about the lowest maybe 3.7 or 3.8

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          TAA is 8.3

      3. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Easy.
        Tsimikas and TAA

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

          Wrong

      4. TKC07
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Terry went up to 9.0 according to Official FPL.

        Tweet: https://twitter.com/OfficialFPL/status/1470790865371414528?s=20

      5. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Official FPL tweeted recently that Terry was 9m

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Wait whaaaaat?!

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

            04/05, I'm in shock

        2. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          TAA is value for money if JT was 9

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            He’s incredible value even if Terry was 5m

      6. TKC07
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        * Highest: 9.0 Terry (Source: https://twitter.com/OfficialFPL/status/1470790865371414528?s=20)
        * Lowest (could be more): Tsi this season.
        3.7 Matt Targett (2015/16 season) Based on Player History details available on FPL.

        1. bench boost for every gamew…
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I said targyy, i remember a friend who got him in because he was so cheap. He was not first choice but Bertrand was as he is, very injury prone so he was bought plenty but then he himself got injured. My friend did not last more than until Christmas that year in fpl. He said he had burried himself in a corner which he coudnt escape. Worse corner than the shape of the double 4.5 mid Mark was in when Rlc played for a Palace.

      7. MysticMac17
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I’ve been playing since 2003. Henry was a 14.0 striker and Ronaldo was a 14.0 mid. I don’t recall seeing a cheaper defender than 3.7. They did introduce 4.0 midfielders halfway through a season in the last few years

        1. MysticMac17
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Oops I misread, thought it was players.

    5. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      We won't be seeing RMTs and transfer questions for a few days. In other news I started playing Red Dead Redemption 2 a few days ago, 3 years late. Pretty amazing game for any gamers on here.

      1. BERGKOP
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks for the heads up. Not making time for games (two young kids) but keen to get back into it a little if I ever get leisure time back!!

    6. Jet5605
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Are WC holders planning to play it in GW19? Every game except one is on Boxing Day and so we should have a better idea of postponements before the deadine? GW20 on the other hand is spread over three days and so more scope to get burnt with postponements.

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

      Happy (C)ancelo day 🙂

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        You spelled Sterlo(c) wrong

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

        Cancelled Day.

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Lol

      3. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Wilson will score, as I sold him.

      4. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Sincerely hope so mate!

      5. valurth
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        A walk(er) in the park today

      6. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Hope he will at least match Salah points so won't end up being a disaster

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

      If no news of cancelations before 13pm today games should go ahead right?

      1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        You'd hope so. If everyone has had their LTF's by now, then that should be it. Unlike yesterday's Villa debacle

      2. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        13pm - what is this sorcery? If no news before 62 past eleventy it should be ok

    9. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Away from the real life situation, does anyone think FPL should be trying to do anything different regarding postponements? Or are you someone who just thinks it is what it is and it’s down to luck what players you have available?

      After all, FPL is supposed to be a fun game. I’m sure if they wanted to they could issue additional transfers, free hits etc. to help keep demotivated players on board.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I’m enjoying just how it is.

        1. DeadStarComing
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          You love the chaos of not even knowing what games will go ahead!? I bet you slow down at road accidents don’t you? 🙂

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            Yeah I enjoy it. It really exposes the emotional players. The lot that come here and use words like ‘disgusting’ and ‘unforgivable’ and demand the season get paused immediately because their players won’t get points this week and they have, as always, made early transfers. That means those that are patient and calm can begin to move ahead while all those around lose their heads.

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

              Rudyard Kipling

              1. Rupert The Horse
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                2 years, 3 months ago

                Great cakes and FPL mastermind.

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

              I guess I agree with that side of it but I can’t help but feel it’s just luck (to the FPL player) how many players you have available right now. You can’t really plan for so many postponements.

              1. Rupert The Horse
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                2 years, 3 months ago

                You can’t plan, but do everything in your power to help what you know can happen. Many saying they thought the game was safe when the previous Burnley game had set a precedent. Even check down below, people are again suggesting the game is safe to go ahead by now.

      2. Hiiler
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Enjoyment might be lower rightnow yeah that's true. But at the same time I don't see anything that can be done do avoid it by FPL. Thing you do would have to only help does who need it and at the same time don't make it worse for those who have not been affected by postponements so far.

        1. Hiiler
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Meant those instead "does". 😀

          1. DeadStarComing
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            Surely the things I mentioned would help the situation, as crazy as they are. I just worry about FPL itself actually becoming a little unfair in the coming weeks (if it hasn’t already). I actually felt sorry for those with less than 6/7 players yesterday.

      3. Sad Ken
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, maybe. I’m packing it in as it’s no longer the fun game it once was. Impossible to keep up if you have any kind of life outside of Fantasy Football. And all because some tool wanted to eat a bleeding bat.

      4. Walter White (WW)
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        It sucks that they haven’t. It is meant to be a fun game like you wrote. If we were not that much players, I bet they will try to do something about it but they are just a cocky bunch & pretty selfish too

      5. fusen
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        There are already two camps of players

        Those that make transfers midweek to catch price rises

        Those that wait until the final moment to try and get as much info about what players are fit/rested/haven't been seen on the team bus etc etc

        This is just an extension of that IMO.

        I'm also firmly in the camp that not enough appreciate the inherent luck involved in FPL during normal times. We all need to accept that if we are capable of having an 'unlucky' week then when we have a good week surely we are actually having a bit of a lucky week as well?

        I do appreciate that what is happening does sort of massively change the tactics needed to do well, mid game though. It's like playing monopoly and then half way through someone decides instead of getting $200 passing go you suddenly have to give $200 back instead.
        It just means you have to adapt but also hope that the absolute luck involved anyway starts to go in your favour more often.

        1. fusen
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Something that is true as said above by others also is that you need to spend a lot of time and attention now to react. I can see how that isn't fun for some players.

          Personally as someone who is always thinking about FPL then I just roll with it, but for more casuals it probably does just make them want to stop.

          I'd personally counter that thought with too much FPL content is making the game dull any way for people like me.

          I don't want every random person who doesn't live FPL to just be fed a template team on a Friday that they can follow and then do well by the end of the season.

          1. DeadStarComing
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            I like the Monopoly analogy 🙂 . Although I'd argue it's more like some players suddenly lose a random number of properties they've purchased!

      6. asquishypotato
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I’ve seen it echoed across Twitter, and all the pleading and complaining for extra transfers and free wildcards is nonsense.
        Just make the assumption that we will get some bad luck concerning delays. Think the Spurs game with the weather, or when London postponed all their games a few years ago. We didn’t hold the hands of the managers that had 3 spurs suddenly go missing against Burnley, why should we do it for other cancelled matches?
        Just take it on the chin, and move on. We all have squads with players we’ve chosen, those that have chosen differently shouldn't end up weakened because of others choices.

        1. DeadStarComing
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Yep fair enough. I expect most to have that attitude towards the current situation. I can't help but feel FPL is about to lose a lot of active players though. I know most of my mini league have given up on it. Only us saddos on this site keeping it alive 😉

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

        People have been affected by postponements already. Last week, many had 11 players and some had only 6/7 players. You can’t just change the rules once more people have been affected by it.

        They changed the rules 2 years ago by giving out a free wildcard because ‘everyone’ was affected by it.

        1. DeadStarComing
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I'm thinking going forward if games are going to be postponed regularly without much notice (even after deadlines) FPL may lose the interest of a lot of managers. I'm a very heavy FPL manager in that I love doing the research leading up to a game week deadline but what is happening right now is not something you can plan for. It's almost blind luck if you get 11 out or not right now. Worryingly there's no sign of it changing for at least a number of weeks.

          1. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            That may well happen. I’m not enjoying the game right now as well, total uneven lottery that you can’t plan for as you say.

            But giving out extra transfers or chips to help through period just wouldn’t be fair on those that have already been hampered badly by postponements.

            1. DeadStarComing
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              Hmmm I'm not sure I agree with that - "Keep it random and unfair because it already has been for a couple of weeks". I mean it would be consistent but I can't help but feel more along the lines of FPL should adapt as a game to the real life situation. It's so locked in structure. When the season stopped last season it was almost laughable how they managed it. Site limitations and all that I know but still quite funny. I just want a game to enjoy playing.

    10. mdm
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Games today are safe now to go ahead? Testing should have been completed by now, right?

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

        Nope, still time to cancel

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Ahahaha. Why does nobody have learning capabilities?

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

          Haha the horse has spoken.
          Probably want to justify hits this week or even using FH

      3. Hiiler
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Games can be postponed at any time always.

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

        Give it 2 more hours

    11. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Morning all!! Rather sceptical that will will have any football over the festive period but ESR owners what are your thoughts??! Keep?? Or move to Martinelli??!!

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Keep

      2. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        It is hard to sell a 6.0 player that has 7 goals already.

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Agreed mate!! I got him at 5.5 too, next two fixtures are decent aswell

      3. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Keeping two games off the bench a goal each time.
        2 goal in 36 mins total past two games.
        He is Arsenal’s most lethal finisher.

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah he’s class mate!! Clinical!!

      4. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I’ll keep him as he keeps on scoring points.

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Same mate I think!!

    12. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Top four teams have vast squads to the extent they could easily field two teams?
      Why are they allowed to cancel games when only a few ‘first’ team have covid.
      Teams like Leeds (small squad) decimated by injuries still put out a squad even with a 15 year old on the bench.

      1. TheTinman
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Because that would be subjective

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

        Yeah Leeds had to put a 15 year old on the bench last night. This inequality could eventually lead to Leeds been relegated.
        You are better as a club as it stands to have an outbreak of covid .
        Very unfair.

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

          I'm fully edpecting half the players to pop round Llorentes

      3. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Every PL team registers 25 players at the beginning of the season (after the transfer window closes).

        If you don't have enough players from that 25 (I don't know what the exact number to have 'enough' is) then the match does not go ahead.

        Strength of squad is not a factor.

        1. Kodap
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          What's stopping Leeds players saying they've had an outbreak though to get the games postponed? Seems like that's what everyone else is doing. Obviously not suggesting teams are lying about cases, but surely IF you can field a full 11 plus subs, you should have to.

          1. Kodap
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            & that applies to everyone, Leeds included.. however, this is where squad depth becomes an advantage, City, Chelsea, Liverpool etc all have such strength in depth that other teams don't.

            1. diesel001
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              Squad strength has always been an advantage in the PL. That was true in the 2000s, for example, when Arsenal and Man Utd had the best squad strength.

          2. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            You need to have positive tests come back to prove the cases. I can't believe the PL clubs are manipulating the testing to get lots of positive tests.

      4. Ruth_NZ
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        You might notice that Chelsea, City, Liverpool are doing exactly that. They don't want a fixture backlog later on.

        United and Spurs have been fudging figures and using their influence to get games suspended because their new managers want as much time on the training pitch as possible before they play.

        West Ham are depleted by the strains of Europa League, Leicester too and both teams have critical defender issues un-connected to covid. That's why they want games off.

        The blatant dishonestly at the clubs (some, not all) is the worst thing about all this, only matched by the ineptitude and lack of transparency at the PL itself. Meanwhile, the likes of Burnley have been royally screwed.

        1. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Agree totally.

      5. fusen
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        A journalist posted on twitter about the opaqueness on the PL rules regarding this.

        You can't seem to postpone if you just have 3-4 covid cases who are all isolating, but you can seem to postpone if you have 3-4 covid cases and you've shut your training ground as you're worried about it spreading.

        There seems to be a "people following all the rules" get penalised. If clubs want their games off then they should be shutting the training ground and demanding to the PL that they don't feel safe, as that appears to work

    13. rokonto
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Leicester Spurs OFF

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        What ?

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

          I mean he's not wrong.

          Just that everyone knows it's off because the game was scheduled four days ago....

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

        Yes we all found out 3 days ago

      3. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        That isnt one of the games

      4. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Got any predictions on the Leeds v Arsenal game?

        1. Philosopher's Stones
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          1-4

        2. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Laca hattrick

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

        BBC standards of fact checking

    14. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I’m hearing that Kane & Son are going to punish today

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

        Is that what you have your alarm say?

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Kane will punish every fan that’s paid for a ticket.

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

          He has covid?

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            No, that would be quite the reward. They might actually play well.

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

            Doesn't sounds like it

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

        Well then sell them

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          They thing is, we don’t know whether it’s punishing owners or non owners

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

        Punish owners, yeah.

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

        I admire your faith in Kane.

      6. The Ilfordian
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Son not one of those that had covid? Got Kane in on a whim so hoping he relives his glory days

    15. CroatianHammer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      A casual perusal of transfer movement right now suggests that, for the first time in months, "early transfers" are not so prevalent.

      1. Grand Thibauto
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Yet 85,000 already bought in Martinelli within 12 hrs

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          You ended that pretty quickly. Thank you.

      2. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Early transfers are a pet peeve, whats the rush?!
        Id rather fpl locked prices for the week, then post update, move the price accordingly, so up 0.1, 0.2 or whatever it would have been.
        But never going to happen

    16. Jet5605
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Are WC holders planning to play it this week (GW19)? Every game except one is on Boxing Day and so we should have a better idea of postponements before the deadline? GW20 on the other hand is spread over three days and so more scope to get burnt with postponements.

      1. Grand Thibauto
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I don't have it saved, but I'd still play it GW20 as GW19 has pretty good fixtures for the template team, and you can also hopefully know GW21 possible DGWs.

        Even if cancellation affects your GW20 squad, you will definitely not be the only one

        1. Jet5605
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks - that makes sense. My team for GW19 doesn't look too bad and so it seems a waste to WC. No harm in having a draft WC ready before both deadlines just in case new info comes to light.

    17. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Call me crazy but I like FPL this way

      1. The Ilfordian
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I’m with you (and what Rupert the Horse said earlier). The Villa cancellation was unfair but generally manoeuvring the cancellations and no shows requires more thought ( eg bigger nailed squad) and more research

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Research into what? There can be no research when games are being called off 2 hours pre deadline.

          It just adds much more random luck to fpl.

          Not something you can plan or research for in my eyes, the opposite if anything, when you don't know what games may or may not go ahead next week.

          If you enjoy that fair enough. In my eyes you just have to get on with it, but definitely makes the game more random/luck based than it already is.

          1. bench boost for every gamew…
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            There was a note from PL when they cancelled the first games on thursday that Villa-Burnley would be decided saturday morning, and it was. You can plan for that. I had Watkins, but i had Watkins from the Liverpool game, because of the Norwich game. And all the sign were there to see that those teams with outbreaks was going to get cancelled. So you react after what looks most likely, which you do in most cases in life on general. Nothing Lucky with having Chelsea, City and Liverpool asset when you look at fixtures is it? Arsenal also have had and have good fixtures.

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

        In that case, why not auto-pick your team next season. Throw even more chaos and chance into the mix.

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          No thanks.
          I like to find the way to navigate through the difficult times

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

        Maybe FPL could add a feature where you randomly lose between 3-7 of your scores each game week? 🙂 . In other words I think you're crazy! I agree that the VIlla game was less of an issue because it was pre deadline, but the ones that get postponed after deadline - that's just luck then isn't it.

      4. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        It’s a nice.

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          /Borat the Horse

    18. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Frustrated that 12 min cameo from esr returns more points than my laca punt, and everyone in my ml seems to have him, just to rub salt into the wound!

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Poor you

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Appreciate the sympathy.

    19. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      What's everyone's plan for ESR?

      As nice as the goals have been, clearly he won't come on and score in 10 to 20 mins every week. The 1 point cameos are coming.

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Move to Son next week

      2. Mork calling Orson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        He’s the 3rd most transferred in player this week.
        But he’s also the most transferred out player this week.
        I’d say opinion is split.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Probably the same people that sold who bought him back when he came on and scored

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

        I'm getting rid.

        Will do my transfer 5 mins to deadline and hope the site doesn't crash...

    20. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Kane to punisg his owners today

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Has been doing so for weeks.

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Today? 😆

      3. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Wrong, he’s going to punish Liverpool

    21. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Point predictions for below players?

      Cancelo
      Trent
      Salah
      Sterlo

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        12
        7
        10
        5

      2. DF
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        12
        2
        7
        3

      3. Grand Thibauto
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        6
        Blank or 12
        Blank or 7
        1

      4. mdm
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        7
        5
        5
        16

      5. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I have a feeling Salah will be kept quiet today

        9
        5
        2
        7

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

        As a cancelo capper I can only hope these predictions are close to the actual outcome!

        1. Atimis
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Me too!

      7. Matjes_taet
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        7
        5
        8
        1

    22. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Covid postponements aside, is Ramsey currently the best of the 4.5 bench fodder mids?

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Seems it mate

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

        Thanks. Do you happen to know if he's fairly nailed long term?

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Not a clue on that one mate, surely keeps his place while performing tho!!

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

        Cheers

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Best of luck mate!!

      4. valurth
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        One of the best players on the field last game they played, should have had him rather than Douglas Luis on WC gw 16.

    23. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Still haven’t seen the game, went Saka over ESR but Martinelli was the one to get.

      How did Saka play and does he look like worth keeping?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Saka had a great game.

        1. Babit1967
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers mate, he seems to be less prone to rotation than the other 2 as well, prob keep as my 5th mid

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            He was the only one I feared before the game.

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Saka and ESR are Arsenal's most attacking players, IMO.

        Martinelli benefits from teams who play higher lines and so he gets in behind or on the counter attack.

        Lacazette and Odegaard player a deeper, more creative role.

      3. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Gutted as I went laca and chickened out getting saka for -4 as already had ESR

    24. valurth
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Fingers crossed for: A Walk(er) in the Park today

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Walker will miss out again bro

    25. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Everton vs Leicester lineups:

      (Blank)

    26. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I see on Chelsea fan forums rumours that James, Alonso and Jorginho tested positive. Don't see any source quoted yet.

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

        Any photos of them from yesterday of today ?

        1. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I haven't seen any training photos. Just saw the rumours and wondered if anyone on here had heard anything

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

            Oh ok be gutted if true , but sounds possible as lots of positive tests at Chelsea

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        If that is true then surely they are close to postponement?

        1. Atimis
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Would recon so

      3. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Can stomach it as a james owner if alonso is also out.

        If its just one or the other, be a nice boost for the owners if the one not positive.

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

        Really surprised it hasn’t been postponed yet

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

        Omg have James and Alonso

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          We all have them mate

      6. Gooner97
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Sauce?

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

        Would leave me with just Rudiger so could do with the game being called if James is out.

    27. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Interesting how Raph survives in my team and keeps getting me points. I was already set to get rid of him good few weeks ago. It will be yet hard to decide what to do with him going forward.

      1. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        A bit like the ESR conundrum. At least you get a full game out of Raph...

      2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Keep

      3. Philosopher's Stones
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Hold imo. You've held him through him tough-ish fixture run. Bar Liverpool, he has a decent run coming up.

      4. Blunder fc
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Keep, he's got through 3 of his hard fixtures with two goals and liverpool - leeds is one of the safe looking fixtures next week

    28. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Tell you what, Salah TC on Boxing day is MASSIVELY tempting..

      1. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Until you hear at 11:05 that the game is cancelled...

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        It’s tempting, but none of us will do it.

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          What the wise man said

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

        Think I’m doing it, first match of the gameweek, should/hopefully know before the deadline if the game is going ahead or not

      4. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I’m going to wait until he’s rested, he’s played an obscene amount of mins and he’ll be rested soon I think

    29. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Who’s going to be the bette option to go for out of Son or Ronaldo folks??! Think this is the decision I have to make to decide which route my team goes down !

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        *best

        1. DavvaMC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          United fixtures are good.

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            They are indeed mate, Spurs will have more double gameweeks tho, which complicates the decision

            1. DavvaMC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              I am considering same moves, and not sure either!

              1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 3 months ago

                Really close call mate!!

    30. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Feel quite aggrieved with Saka’s 7 points - he should’ve scored a boat load. Then to make matters worse, ESR who my rivals all have, came on and scored! [rant over]

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Cool kids have Martinelli 😎

        1. Jinswick
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I’m also annoyed at myself for this! Could have got him for Gray, but went Saka in for Bowen as thought Gabi would get a rest given his knock. Have made a lot of mistakes this season!

          1. La Roja
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            Seems Gabi is Arteta’s favorite now. Apart from odd rotation, he is completely nailed on at this rate

            1. Arteta
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              I love them all. Saka, Martinelli, Smith-Rowe, Odegaard. I love them so much.

      2. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I have both, but I agree with you about Saka. He certainly isn't the greatest finisher.

      3. Blunder fc
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        ESR just looks like a way better more clinical finisher than saka

        1. Matjes_taet
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Agree. But i don`t care because of Saka`s assist-potential.

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

        Saka has everything but once he improves his finishing, he will be world class.

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I reckon whatever you said applies for Martinelli

    31. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Arsenal's 11 shots on target in the first half v Leeds was the most by any PL side in at least 17 years.

      https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1472271012259680259

      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        ESR would have had a hattrick if he started, fuming

      2. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Should’ve been up 6-0 minimum girth half to be honest. Laca missed them for fun

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          It was a bit thick.

      3. BERGKOP
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Wow. Impressive. Leeds conceding so many chances atm

    32. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      For most security it’s picking players in 12:30 games on Boxing Day but already got 3 Liverpool, don’t really want Leeds, already got Dennis so but maybe just a Wolves defender? Looks like will have to dip into 3pm kick offs too.