Scout Notes

FPL pre-season: Chilwell left out of first XI as Mount excels

The pre-season friendlies wind to a close this weekend, with 18 Premier League teams contesting warm-up games and last season’s top two squaring off in the Community Shield.

We’ll be bringing you goal, assist and line-up information from all of these matches in our Scout Notes articles, which could help shape your Fantasy Premier League (FPL) squad ahead of Gameweek 1.

We’re also keeping tabs on the minutes played in all of these warm-up fixtures, with Premium Members of Fantasy Football Scout able to access this information at the bottom of this article.

We begin with Chelsea and Everton, the Gameweek 1 opponents who were both in action on Friday. A second-string Blues XI were actually involved in another match against Udinese on Saturday morning, which is also covered below.

FRIDAY: UDINESE 1-3 CHELSEA
SATURDAY: UDINESE 0-2 CHELSEA

Match highlights (Friday)

  • Goals: Kante, Sterling, Mount | Loftus-Cheek, Ziyech pen
  • Assists: Hudson-Odoi | Kovacic, Loftus Cheek

Thomas Tuchel split his squad in half for two friendlies against Udinese on Friday night and Saturday morning.

The starting XI in the first of those games looks set to be near enough the side that takes on Everton in Gameweek 1, with Kai Havertz (£8.0m), Mason Mount (£8.0m) and Raheem Sterling (£10.0m) dovetailing very nicely up top.

It was a fluid set-up in the front three but Sterling was in the nominal central role, and the Manchester City man showed some promising early signs of a fruitful relationship with Mount in particular.

“He had chances, was heavily involved in other chances. It was a good performance.” – Thomas Tuchel on Raheem Sterling

Mount was arguably the pick of the attacking trident, creating opportunities aplenty for his two aforementioned teammates but crucially also seeing clear sights of goal himself: his late tap-in and an earlier saved effort came from inside the six-yard box, while he had fired at Udinese goalkeeper Marco Silvestri’s legs when jinking his way into the hosts’ area.

Criticism of profligacy seems to have dogged Sterling for a while, and indeed he has finished with a negative xG delta (the difference between his expected goals and actual goals scored) in each of the last two seasons.

He was wasteful against Udinese, too, with even his goal a fortuitous one as the rebound from a spurned chance bobbled in off his torso.

Still, to be repeatedly getting into such dangerous positions is a positive, with 78 goals in his last five seasons evidence that shot volume can be as important as a clinical streak.

Question marks remain at the back for Chelsea, with two of their starters – Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.0m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.5m) – still reportedly keen on a move to Barcelona and Ben Chilwell (£6.0m) not only omitted from Friday’s first-choice XI but clearly still needing to recapture some match fitness after a rusty-looking display with the second string on Saturday morning.

Edouard Mendy (£5.0m) won’t want to rewatch Udinese’s only goal of the weekend either but Kalidou Kouilbaly (£5.5m) was a positive, deployed again in the left-sided centre-half spot vacated by Antonio Rudiger.

Saturday’s game saw Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.0m) used at right wing-back and play a part in both goals, first finishing well from a Mateo Kovacic (£5.0m) pass and then winning the penalty that Hakim Ziyech (£6.0m) converted.

Armando Broja (£5.5m) was spotted for the first time this pre-season, lasting 45 minutes as the spearhead of the Chelsea attack and seeing plenty of chances of his own.

Chelsea XI on Friday (3-4-3): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly (Emerson 72); James (Hudson-Odoi 72), Kante, Jorginho (Gilmour 84), Alonso; Havertz (Vale 72), Sterling (Kenedy 84), Mount

Chelsea XI on Saturday (3-4-3): Kepa (Bettinelli 67); Chalobah, Ampadu, Sarr (Emerson 67); Loftus-Cheek (Vale 77), Kovacic, Gallagher (Gilmour 77), Chilwell (Kenedy 67); Ziyech, Broja (Hudson-Odoi h/t), Pulisic.

FPL points predictions for Gameweek 3 and beyond 3

EVERTON 3-0 DYNAMO KYIV

  • Goals: Calvert-Lewin, McNeil x2
  • Assists: Tarkowski, Iwobi, Vinagre

Match highlights

Dwight McNeil (£5.5m) bettered his entire 2021/22 attacking output for Burnley in a 28-minute showing on his Everton debut.

The newly signed winger emerged from the bench to first lash home an effort from distance and then nod in fellow debutant Ruben Vinagre‘s (£4.5m) cross.

 “I’m really delighted for him because there is pressure coming in and it’s all happened very quickly for him. To play at Goodison, coming on and impacting the game in the way in which he did – he showed the qualities why we brought him here. 

“I’m a big believer in him. It’s a fresh start at a new club for him and if he carries on like that the fans are going to love him.” – Frank Lampard on Dwight McNeil

McNeil has never hit double figures for FPL attacking returns in a season before so the jury remains well and truly out, particularly as a start is far from assured in Gameweek 1. Washed-up wingers Demarai Gray (£5.5m) and Andros Townsend (£5.5m) did have short-lived renaissances of their own after a move to Merseyside a year ago, of course, so we can’t write the England under-21 international off completely.

Frank Lampard seems set to go into the 2022/23 season in the same 3-4-3 shape that he ended the last campaign with, despite his stated desire to move to a 4-3-3.

That’s good news for FPL defenders Vitalli Mykolenko (£4.5m) and Nathan Patterson (£4.0m), who were pushed high and wide as wing-backs against Dynamo Kyiv.

Patterson is obviously an interesting case given his starting price and current injury to positional rival Seamus Coleman (£4.5m), although we did see Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) used at right wing-back in the win over Gameweek 1 opponents Chelsea in May.

Iwobi was here part of a midfield two alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.5m) on Friday but injuries rather forced Lampard’s hand, so the Nigeria international could still be deployed elsewhere on the opening weekend.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£8.0m) nodded in Everton’s opener, with summer recruit James Tarkowski (£4.5m) claiming the assist with a raking ball over the top.

Everton XI (3-4-3): Pickford; Tarkowski (Welch 83′), Keane (Holgate 62′), Godfrey (Nkounkou 83′); Patterson (Mills 83′), Iwobi (Warrington 83′), Doucoure (Allan 72′), Mykolenko (Vinagre 72′); Gray (McNeil 62′), Calvert-Lewin (Alli 62′), Gordon (Rondon 72′)

PRE-SEASON MINUTES TRACKER

Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

1,507 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SAY MY NAME
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    nunez looks very quick

  2. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Haaland looks abandoned behind the Liverpool defense lines while Nunez is still a donkey.

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Slightly annoying that this game has endorsed my picks.
      "Arrogance post "

  3. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Kane > Haaland

    1. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Just did that transfer. Eye test over stats all day.

  4. Sailboats
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Haaland to Kane done.

    1. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland ownership to plummet lol

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Price drop tonight

  5. R.C
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Doherty and Perisic both start

    Sooooo many options

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Was hoping to see Spence

  6. Oscar Slater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Ederson's face prevents new template from being created.

  7. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A. Tripper + Neto

    B. Perisic+ Bailey

    1. Zalk
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B

    2. Z
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B.

      He scored again

    3. Lukakwho
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Trippier and Bailey and use the .5

  8. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Big risk/reward with Haaland's early fixtures. Could make or break your season.

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Risk? Is he not owned by around 60%?

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Definitely not make or break, players that most people don’t captain can’t break your season

    3. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Kane GW 2, swap to Haaland

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Bernardo so deep

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Phillips will take that spot from him alongside Rodri

  10. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    So who’s considering switching from Luis Diaz to Robertson?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I am tempted but that ownership scares me

    2. sirmorbach
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I am.

    3. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Not me because I don't need to switch. This game has annoyed me tbh

    4. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Already on Robbo

  11. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Not many games Cancelo will have to play in his own half to be fair.

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Exactly

  12. Z
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    It is so funny how people change their minds only after 60min of one game 🙂

    1. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      You love to see it

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Hendo
    Cancelo TAA Perisic James 4m

    Done

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Yis sir

  14. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    On other news,
    looks like Coady is being dropped by wolves back 4 formation.
    (Very exciting i know...)

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Relegated

  15. Bram
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Surridge chance
    Chance came about as the keeper came out to thwart a long ball for Johnson, didn't get there and the Reds attacker was able to put the cross in. Decent header from Surridge

    So close
    Surridge with a header which bounces off the far post

  16. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Alvarez is rapid.

  17. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Is Bailey even nailed?

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      So far it is....started in last 4 games....3 goals and add if i am not wrong

      1. Z
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Assist*

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      After the pre season he has had, what more can he do. Manager has done nothing but praise him. I’m definitely going with him.

  18. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Diaz beating Walker for pace. Walker is slowing…

  19. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    WTF Foden

  20. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Trippier the best 5m def (already own Walker)?

  21. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    TAA sleeping at the back post again

  22. @persecuted_by_mods
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Adrian (almost) throwing the ball into his own net, guy is a disaster

    • R.C
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      that's not offside

    • Bubz
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Alvarez is going to break the game at some point this season

      1. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Needs to nail down a starting place
        But if he does £6.5m striker for City
        Absolute bargain !

    • DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Goal

    • Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Welcome to my team Alvarez!

    • Royal5
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Get in

    • Berkshire Hafaway-Line
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Adrian essential

    • BobB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Alverwagon

    • SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Ferran Torres 2.0