Scout Notes
6 October 2025 31 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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A late Brighton and Hove Albion equaliser stopped Wolverhampton Wanderers from securing their first win, before Erling Haaland (£14.5m) settled the clash between Brentford and Manchester City.

Here are our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Scout Notes from these two Sunday afternoon encounters.


Happy father Haaland won’t stop scoring

Are any Man City players - Haaland aside - worth buying in FPL? 8

Pep Guardiola’s 250th Premier League victory came from the Norwegian forward, extending his freakish early-season form to 18 goals in 11 for club and country.

Haaland loves the opening Gameweeks. The first six Premier League matches from all four seasons (24 overall) have seen him score an astonishing 36 times. Yet Sunday brought his first-ever Gameweek 7 success.

On 70 points, Haaland has now overtaken Mohamed Salah (£14.4m) in terms of price and ownership. Rather sweetly, he attributes this to the happiness of being a father since December.

“You can say so, I’ve never felt better than I do now. So yeah you can say so. I think it’s about preparation first of all, getting ready for the games. You can be physically ready but you need to be mentally ready as well. And to be honest I think with a kid, it makes me even better because I actually disconnect more than ever.

“I don’t think of football at all which sometimes when you’re younger you think of this and that and maybe worry a little bit about things. But when I go home I relax even more so I think I need to give a shoutout to my son!” – Erling Haaland, when asked if this is the best form of his career

The ninth-minute goal was actually Haaland’s sole shot of the afternoon. Assisted by Josko Gvardiol‘s (£5.8m) long ball over the top, he showed great strength to create himself a powerful shot, bringing joy to seven million FPL managers and 5.5 million captaincies.

As for Gvardiol, the centre-back seems to be attempting this pass quite often these days, something to look out for. Alongside a successful clean sheet, last season’s leading FPL defender bagged 12 points in west London.

Blanks for Foden + Reijnders

Remarkably, Haaland became the first non-Phil Foden (£8.1m) player to net for Man City at the Gtech Community Stadium.

All six goals from their previous four visits belonged to the attacking midfielder, and he tried his best to grab another by taking five shots. A cutback led to Foden’s biggest chance but, finding some space inside the penalty area, his effort ended way wide.

FPL notes: Child's play for Haaland, Rutter benched + Rodri update 1

Above: StatsBomb showing one of Phil Foden’s best opportunities

Highly-owned colleague Tijani Reijnders (£5.8m) had an arguably better opportunity when meeting Nico O’Reilly‘s (£4.9m) floated cross with a stinging close-range volley. He was denied by Brentford stopper Caoimhin Kelleher (£4.5m).

The Bees tried to thwart Man City by playing a back five and taking lots of long throws. They nearly equalised mere seconds after Oscar Bobb (£5.5m) was touched inside the box, breaking free to put Igor Thiago (£6.1m) clean through on goal.

But the Brazilian was unable to score his fifth league goal and was replaced soon after.

Hamstring injury for Rodri

However, Man City fans had another brief worry when key player Rodri (£6.4m) had to come off early. He missed most of 2024/25 with a knee injury, and this time it’s his hamstring.

While it’s enough to keep him out of Spain’s upcoming internationals, early words suggest he mightn’t even miss Gameweek 8.

“It is muscular (hamstring), so two weeks or three weeks. Of course, I don’t want to lose him even a little bit, but it is a pity because he is such an important player. We tried to take care of him, but it is what it is.” – Pep Guardiola on Rodri’s hamstring problem

Other good news saw summer signing Rayan Cherki (£6.3m) return to the matchday squad following a thigh issue. He was an unused substitute.

With Omar Marmoush (£8.3m), Rayan Ait-Nouri (£5.8m) and Abdudokir Khusanov (£5.4m) to follow from Gameweek 8, the rotation might ratchet up a notch.

Even without Marmoush and Cherki in the starting XI, the hitherto in-form Jeremy Doku (£6.6m) found himself benched here.

Agbadou + Rutter benched, Mitoma out

At Molineux, Emmanuel Agbadou‘s (£4.5m) owners were disappointed to see the defender benched for the second time in a row. Head coach Vitor Pereira responded to five defeats by reverting to a back four in the last fortnight, and both league matches since have ended with late 1-1 heartbreak.

Looking better since this change, don’t expect Agbadou back in the XI for Sunderland (a) and Burnley (h).

FPL notes: Child's play for Haaland, Rutter benched + Rodri update

Opponents Brighton moved Georginio Rutter (£5.7m) out of the line-up. He came on for Carlos Baleba (£4.8m) at the break and found time for three shots, while Maxim De Cuyper (£4.4m) played the final 20 minutes.

Winger Kaoru Mitoma (£6.4m) missed out altogether because of a knock suffered against Chelsea.

Strand Larsen remains goalless

FPL pre-season: New £4.5m West Ham left-back Diouf shines

Wolves’ boss Pereira received a 20th-minute red card for angrily kicking the ball away in frustration, but his players responded by immediately breaking the deadlock.

Marshall Munetsi‘s (£5.4m) volley was saved well by Bart Verbruggen (£4.4m), but the ball unluckily went in off the latter on its way down from the crossbar.

Speaking of which, Jhon Arias (£5.2m) skied an eight-yard sitter early in the second half, then Jorgen Strand Larsen (£6.4m) placed a right-footed shot against the post. The forward ended last season with seven goals and two assists in his final nine outings, but doesn’t yet have anything in the league.

Predictably, such misses proved costly when Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.4m) headed home a corner, meaning Wolves are still without a 2025/26 win.

Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m) wasn’t part of the goal, ending his three-match streak of attacking returns. He’d recently risen in price, but none of the four chances created were labelled as ‘big’.


VOTE FOR FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT AT THE 2025 FCAS!

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

31 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. linkafu
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 1 hour ago

    Pick a pair:

    A Gakpo Reinjers

    B Enzo Doku (no liverpool player)

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 1 hour ago

      Can afford Gakpo and Enzo?

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 1 hour ago

      Sorry not. Gakpo and caicedo

    3. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 25 mins ago

      A

  2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 1 hour ago

    Early advantage with Isak maybe? WC draft 2. Does it look ok? Gives me flexibility of 3 4 3, 3 5 2 or 4 4 2

    Pope Dubravka
    Gabriel Califiori Chalobah Rodon Mukiele
    Saka Semenyo Sarr Kudus Longstaff
    Haaland Isak Foster

    1. 824545201
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 1 hour ago

      If i'm WC'ing i am tripling on ARS defense. Not sold on Saka either.

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 1 hour ago

        Scary. I have never ever doubled even. A triple up Is logical but dont think I can

    2. GCHILD2K16
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 29 days ago

      Double ARS defence is overkill let alone triple as 201 suggests.
      Look at their run of games and attacks they will face and ask yourself how many clean sheets realistically will ARS get? You may get maybe 2 games out 7.
      Newc and chel are good picks. Maybe consider crystal palace?
      Midfield and forward is very nice for 352 or 343. Malen instead of longstaff prehaps?

  3. Emiliano Sala
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 1 hour ago

    Thoughts on Foden?

    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 56 mins ago

      City mids are a gamble even when City are crushing everyone every week. Id stay away from them on poor form.

    2. Ball Ake
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 40 mins ago

      His hair looks better longer

      1. toerag
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 29 days ago

        😆 😆 😆

  4. Meta12345
    • 1 Year
    2 months, 36 mins ago

    Long term:
    A) palace sarr and strand larsen
    B) caicedo and mateta

    1. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 25 mins ago

      B

      1. Ball Ake
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 13 mins ago

        B, but I'm beginning to lose faith with Mateta, will give him a few more weeks

    2. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 29 days ago

      Many better than Mateta.

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 29 days ago

        Strikers? There’s like one

  5. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 33 mins ago

    Have exact funds for Gyokeres and Foden to Woltemade and Saka with 2FT's...

    Would you do it?

    1. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 24 mins ago

      Yes

    2. Wenger_In
        2 months, 11 mins ago

        Saka feels like a bit of a sidestep/ waste of a transfer bcos Gyok will get you points sooner or later.

      • LOS BLANCOS
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 7 mins ago

        Do it

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 29 mins ago

      Ramsey, Gyokeres to Sarr, Woltemade?

      1. aleksios
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 24 mins ago

        Ramsey yes.
        Gyok not yet.

    4. Emiliano Sala
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 25 mins ago

      Would you save?
      Or sell xavi and evanilson?

      Vicario
      Gabriel Konate Romero
      Saka Semenyo Reijnerds Xavi*
      Haaland Gyo Evanilson*

      Dubravka, Esteve, Rodon, King

      2 FT 2.3 itb

      1. aleksios
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 24 mins ago

        Save just.

      2. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 month, 29 days ago

        Sell

    5. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 23 mins ago

      Ndoye to Gakpo or Kudus?
      Rich to Wolt or Isak?

    6. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 16 mins ago

      Which two players out of

      Richarlison
      Fernandes
      Pedro
      Rejinders
      Tarkowski

      Would you sell with 2FTs

      Any ideas would be appreciated

      1. Ball Ake
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 12 mins ago

        Rich and Pedro, I feel they've already peaked

      2. Fpl_Juggernaut
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 5 mins ago

        Rich and bruno...atlst pedro has good fixtures now, fully rested in IB and suspended for CL so could start firing in PL

      3. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 month, 29 days ago

        Hold Pedro for the good fixtures. Not keen on any of the others.