Scout Notes
13 August 2026 34 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Manchester United, Leeds United and Fulham were all in pre-season friendly action on Wednesday.

The first two met at Dublin’s Croke Park, while Fulham were in action in Málaga.

And here are our Scout Notes for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers…

READ MORE: FPL 2026/27 Pre-season friendlies – Minutes, Goals + Assists Tracker


MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 LEEDS UNITED (5-4 on penalties)

What can FPL managers expect from Man Utd boss Michael Carrick?

  • Goals: Zirkzee | Aaronson
  • Assists: Mbeumo | James

Manchester United XI: Lammens (Mee 60′); Dalot (Mazraoui 60′), Yoro, Heaven (Armer HT), Amass (Shaw 60′); T Fletcher (Tielemans 60′), Andrey Santos (Collyer HT); Amad (J Fletcher 60′), Zirkzee (Fernandes 60′), Dorgu (Thompson HT); Mbeumo (Cunha 60′)

Leeds United XI: Trafford (Cairns HT); Bornauw, Bijol (Rodon HT), Muharemovic (Cresswell HT); Bogle (Gnonto HT), Tanaka (Ampadu HT), Longstaff (Stach HT), Chadwick (Justin HT); Aaronson (Wilson HT), James (Okafor HT); Nmecha (Calvert-Lewin HT)

SCOUT NOTES

  • This match saw the return of recently ill pair Matheus Cunha (£8.0m) and Senne Lammens (£5.0m).
  • The Red Devils were still without Benjamin Sesko (£7.0m), Kobbie Mainoo (£5.5m), Marcus Rashford (£7.0m) and Lisandro Martinez (£5.0m). Michael Carrick says the latter three will be ready to face AC Milan in Wroclaw.

“They haven’t been out too long. You’re talking about three weeks really. But they’re in good shape, pretty much all of them, in good shape and it’s balancing the week and wanting most of the lads involved in the three games, in different ways.” – Michael Carrick on Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez

  • As a precaution, Mason Mount (£5.5m) missed out with a foot problem. Also absent was Harry Maguire (£5.0m) – but don’t panic, FPL owners, this was just Carrick spreading out the pre-season minutes.
  • Joshua Zirkzee (£5.5m) played, though Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m) is seemingly continuing as an out-of-position forward. They combined for the opening goal, when Mbeumo sped forward and laid on a pass to the Dutchman. Having scored their previous three summer strikes, Mbeumo almost got another in the 37th minute, but hit the crossbar.
  • Making his debut, James Trafford (£5.0m) saved well from both players, before making way in one of Leeds’ 10 half-time changes. On came Noah Okafor (£6.0m) for his first pre-season minutes.
  • Only two individuals played more than an hour, so nobody reached their position’s defensive contribution (DefCon) threshold. But Leny Yoro (£5.0m) came close by accumulating nine actions, and Ethan Ampadu (£5.5m) reached 11 in just 45 minutes.
  • Leeds equalised before the break when Dan James (£5.0m) won a loose ball and set up Brenden Aaronson‘s (£5.5m) smart, low finish.
  • Like in Saturday’s win over RB Leipzig, centre-back Joe Rodon (£4.5m) kept advancing down the right-hand side. This time, he set up Harry Wilson (£6.5m) who, like James Justin (£4.5m) later, forced a good save. Rodon and new signing Tarik Muharemovic (£5.0m) keep flicking on the team’s long throws.
  • As for Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m), the Portuguese playmaker had a tight goal – assisted by Luke Shaw (£4.5m) – ruled out for offside, and put a shot against the crossbar. Furthermore, Fernandes didn’t take any corners. He took the league’s sixth-most (90) last time, but may now be sharing them with Youri Tielemans (£6.0m), as well as Mbeumo. The Red Devils scored 14 times from such a situation.
  • When it came to the penalty shootout, he put his penalty wide. Wilson and Justin missed for Leeds, however, giving Man United the win.

READ MORE: World Cup Fantasy winner’s ‘no Bruno’ FPL 2026/27 team reveal

  • There was no goal for Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m), having netted three in his other two outings.

Málaga 2-2 FULHAM

FPL Gameweek 34: Saturday’s goals, assists, bonus + DefCon

  • Goals: Sessegnon, Iwobi
  • Assists: Castagne (x2)

Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne (Tete 74′), Andersen (Cuenca 74′), Bassey, Sessegnon (Robinson 61′); Berge (Reed 74′), Smith Rowe (Palacios 61′); Bobb (Zepa 79′), Iwobi (King 61′), Kevin (Charles 61′); Garcia (Muniz 74′)

SCOUT NOTES

  • Alvaro Arbeloa named a strong Fulham XI, although we know that Joachim Andersen (£5.0m) is suspended for Gameweek 1.
  • The early run of facing Chelsea, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Man United isn’t attracting much FPL interest, but Oscar Bobb (£5.5m) looks a constant tease on the wing. He assisted in the last match, and a dummy here allowed Timothy Castagne (£4.5m) to cross for Ryan Sessegnon‘s (£4.5m) back-post header. That’s the left-back’s second pre-season goal, making it hard to say who’ll start between him and Antonee Robinson (£4.5m).

READ MORE: Does pre-season form count for anything?

  • Málaga quickly equalised when a shot squeezed through the disappointed Bernd Leno (£4.5m) but Fulham retook the lead when Bobb spotted Castagne’s underlap, assisting an easy Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) tap-in.
  • £30 million signing Shea Charles (£5.0m) made a half-hour appearance in central midfield, while fellow substitute Rodrigo Muniz (£5.5m) went close. Centre-back Calvin Bassey (£4.5m) lasted the whole match and reached 12 DefCon actions.
  • There was drama at the end. Málaga equalised from the penalty spot, Arbeloa received a red card for his full-time protests, and Fulham players and staff headed down the tunnel, believing the match was over. However, their hosts expected a subsequent shootout to decide the Costa del Sol Trophy winner; Fulham say that this wasn’t agreed beforehand. Eneko Jauregi therefore put a spot-kick into the empty net and celebrated with teammates. Not that this incident is FPL-relevant, mind – just fun.

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

34 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Marmalade Forest
    • 9 Years
    1 hour, 18 mins ago

    Assuming they all stay relatively injury free… who do you think scores more points this season:

    Fernandes & Gross or Mbeumo & Saka?

    Both cost £17.5m

    I’m fully behind Mbeumo and Saka

    1. Stimps
      • 13 Years
      1 hour, 6 mins ago

      A because of captain option, I wouldnt captain the other two

    2. ebb2sparky
      • 15 Years
      44 mins ago

      Saka is a wait and see for me. If he has finally overcome his injury (and any related mental issues) then i expect him to score well this season. I'm not entirely convinced with mbeumo long term. I've got him for his good opening fixtures (along with bruno) but will probably sell before the city match.

    3. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      37 mins ago

      Saka hasnt looked fully fit and on form for a while now

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        25 mins ago

        Ripped France a new one less than a month ago

        1. Funkyav
          • 17 Years
          22 mins ago

          in a game that didnt matter yeah after not playing the game before, before that he was having his minutes managed carefully and last season he very rarely looked like the saka we used to know

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            20 mins ago

            These pre-season friendlies "don't matter" either, so why does that matter?

            1. Funkyav
              • 17 Years
              9 mins ago

              not sure what you are on about, i wasnt talking about pre season friendlies

              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                6 mins ago

                You dismissed Saka scoring a hat-trick against France less than a month ago because it was a game that "didn't matter."

                By that logic, if he does it again on Sunday it won't matter because the Charity Shield is also meaningless. As are all the other friendlies that are currently going on that we use to pick players for GW1.

    4. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      33 mins ago

      Very close. I would agree with you for sure Marmalade Forest if Saka played 90 every week, but he won’t. Maybe Groß won’t either tbf. I think it’s tight but I’d probably also say B

    5. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      4 mins ago

      Saka was one of the first players in my team and I still have him. He said he was fit and wanted to play more at the WC. I fully expect him to start in GW1, but I might be wrong.

  2. Raoul Nogues
    1 hour, 4 mins ago

    It shows Arbeloa can unnecessarily lose his temper during a friendly

  3. Raoul Nogues
    1 hour, 4 mins ago

    Madjo added 5.5

    1. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      27 mins ago

      A very tempting early punt. I could use 0.5 over the 6.0 options. Feels quite risky though given we’ve never seen him at PL level…

    2. Hint
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      9 mins ago

      Mmm, was hoping for 5.0

  4. HellasLEAF
    • 17 Years
    1 hour ago

    Anyone else thinking to punt on Solanke over DCL or others at that price?

    Hard to predict how Spurs will look, but appears he is first choice and on pens. At 6.0 he could make a mockery of that.

    1. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      47 mins ago

      Agree he will make a mockery of that price, should be 4.5!

      1. HellasLEAF
        • 17 Years
        44 mins ago

        WVA not a fan. Probably gone template. It's punty, but looking for potential diffs.

        1. WVA
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          43 mins ago

          Haha I’ll take template over rubbish players

        2. Raoul Nogues
          41 mins ago

          Spurs are expected to buy a new striker in the coming weeks

        3. Pariße
          • 11 Years
          40 mins ago

          Solanke was in last year's pre-season template and he turned out to be an awful pick.

    2. mattyb09
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      31 mins ago

      He's already injured and they are signing Balogun

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      24 mins ago

      Thought Solanke was injured

    4. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      22 mins ago

      Absolutely 0 chance he will be better than the other 6.0 strikers over a prolonged period of time

  5. Brosstan
    • 12 Years
    27 mins ago

    In my opinion the best plan you can make in this game is to plan for as little as possible. I'll try to have a team from the start that can carry my as well as possible through the first 5 GWs without transfers, and then start using my transfers to target the weaker teams aggressively.

  6. LangerznMash
    • 10 Years
    26 mins ago

    Not seeing Dango Ouattara in any RMTs… any reason why?

    1. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      22 mins ago

      I think he is being undervalued for sure within the community

    2. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      22 mins ago

      Hard to fit him in, there's really just 1 spot for players like him and theres plenty of options around his price. Decent pick though, off template

    3. Wirtz Nightmare
      • 1 Year
      15 mins ago

      I have had him in from the start as a Brentford fan if it helps. Think he is in for a big season

      1. LangerznMash
        • 10 Years
        just now

        He had a couple of patches of good form where he was getting attack returns most weeks. Averaged 0.4 goal contributions per 90 mins played. Decent opening fixtures. Feels a pretty safe starter pick.

    4. mattyb09
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      13 mins ago

      I rate Jaidon Anthony more.

  7. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 mins ago

    Team A:
    Kinsky, Verbruggen,
    Gvardiol, Maguire, Calafiori, OShea, Muharemovic*,
    Wirtz, Mbuemo, Semenyo, Gomez, Tzolis*,
    Haaland, Isak, DCL*

    or

    Team B:
    Kinsky, Verbruggen,
    Gvardiol, Maguire, Calafiori, OShea, Hume*
    Wirtz, Mbuemo, Semenyo, Gomez, Sangare*
    Haaland, Isak, J Pedro*

    So basically,
    A) Muharemovic, Tzolis, DCL
    B) Hume, Sangare, J Pedro?

  8. mattyb09
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 mins ago

    I see a lot of content creators forcing BB1...

    If this is your bench: Kinsky; Sangare O'Nien Diop....what are you expecting besides a hopeful 8 pts and a dodgy bench ongoing

    1. LangerznMash
      • 10 Years
      2 mins ago

      If O’Nein starts vs Ipswich then he has a good chance of getting 6 points.