Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Pre Season

A goal for Jesse Lingard and lots of praise for Anthony Martial as Manchester United see off Real Madrid after a penalty shoot-out of many more misses than hits.

Here are the notes from Sunday’s single pre-season match.

Manchester United 1 Real Madrid 1 (United win 2-1 on penalties)

A decent goal, an almost comedic penalty shoot-out, Ronald McDonald…Manchester United’s friendly with Real Madrid had a little bit of everything, not all of it good.

The best came from Jesse Lingard, who put the Red Devils ahead on the stroke of half-time after brilliant work by Anthony Martial.

Lingard now has a goal and three assists from a pre-season programme in which he has been consistently favoured by Jose Mourinho.

Against Madrid, he played as part of an attacking trio in a 4-3-3 formation, but he has also been employed as a wing-back as the United manager clearly seems to want to feature the 24-year-old heavily in his various plans.

Should he remained favoured once the season starts, the 6.0-priced midfielder could yet attract considerably more than the 0.8% of Fantasy Premier League managers currently with him in their squads.

The same cannot be said for new signing Victor Lindelof (5.5). The centre-half had a torrid time of it after coming on at half-time for Eric Bailly, and his struggles peaked when he gave away the penalty that led to Madrid’s equaliser.

The Swede is not looking comfortable in a United shirt, although Mourinho has yet to play him alongside Bailly – the presumed ideal partnership that has persuaded 16.1% of FPL managers to plump for Lindelof over the proven but pricier Ivorian.

The teams were led out onto the pitch by Ronald McDonald; a farcical start to a match that finished in similar fashion, with just three of ten penalties scored in a penalty shoot-out that even a burger-loving clown would have improved.

By then, Mourihno had more serious issues to chew on, particularly the precious few second-half minutes Ander Herrera managed before going off injured.

The United boss remained relatively upbeat about it post-match.

”I just feel sorry for one more injury which I hope is not important. For Ander to come off after 10 minutes, it has to be painful. But sometimes painful doesn’t mean there is a real problem, so let’s wait.”

And Mourinho was full of praise for Martial, an 8.0-priced midfielder in FPL who has not always enjoyed the public backing of his manager.

”Obviously we want more consistency in his talent. I think today was positive for him, that is why I left him for 90 minutes on the pitch. He was enjoying it, he was trying new things, and it is important in these friendly matches to try new things, which he did. That is important for his confidence. I can say that he is training better than before, he is working harder than before, his ambition is to try to bring his talent in a consistent way.”

United’s eye-catching early schedule – home matches with West Ham, Leicester City, Everton and Crystal Palace and trips to Swansea City, Stoke City and Southampton – almost demand our FPL investment.

Their summer remains hectic, with three more friendlies and then a UEFA Super Cup date with Madrid still to come, but should give us further pointers as to Mourinho’s early-season intentions.

At present, the stock of both Lingard and Martial is in the ascent, while our confidence in Lindelof has suffered a knock.

Manchester United XI: Romero (De Gea 46); Fosu-Mensah (Blind 46), Bailly (Lindelof 46), Jones (Smalling 46), Darmian (Valencia 78); Carrick (Herrera 46 (McTominay 51)), Fellaini, Pereira (Pogba 46); Lingard (Mkhitaryan 46), Martial, Rashford (Lukaku 46).

Keep up to date with all the summer action with our Pre-Season Guide available here.

1,629 Comments Post a Comment
  1. One Man
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sane looks good value at 8.5m ??

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Not for me rotation and Pep could end up playing him in goal.
      City are a wait and see for me except for KDB, Jesus and aguero

      1. Limbo
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Jesus + Aguero arguably less so than Sane + KDB.

    2. UnitedFan
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Correct. He's more nailed than people think and KDB isn't worth the 1.5 over him.

      1. Limbo
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Agreed.

      2. Postman Ty
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Sterling, Silva, B Silva, Sane, Aguero, Jesus, and KDB are all fighting for 4 or 5 attacking spots. That doesn't include Toure, Fernandinho, or Gundogan who will be fighting for the other 1 or 2 defensive spots. Nailed isn't a word you can use to describe any of the attackers right now. KDB has to have the best chance imo, but around big fixtures with congestion he can be rested without notice as well.

  2. Jake.l_8
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Best 5.0 - 4.5 Defenders? (Already have Daniels and Cedric)

  3. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Any thoughts on this 3-5-2 team lads?

    Foster
    Trippier / Bertrand / Daniels
    Alli / Coutinho / Willian / Zaha / Phillips
    Kane / Lukaku

    (Elliot / Mee / Rangel / Fletcher)

    1. Cato Fong 你好
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Solid

  4. Cato Fong 你好
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Hi Doosra, just wondering would you go Fraser over Daniels?

  5. Transferred Out
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    RMT

    Foster (Hart)
    Luiz, Trippier, Cedric, (Yedlin, Hunemeier)
    KDB, Alli, Coutinho, Willian, Loftus-Cheek
    Lukaku, Morata, (Fletcher)

    1. afcbbbb
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Over 100m?

      1. Transferred Out
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        nope it is 100m, any thoughts?

        1. afcbbbb
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Great team!

  6. afcbbbb
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Settled for this 4-4-2!

    Elliot Foster
    Bertrand Cedric Trippier Deikmeir Ake
    Alli Willian Zaha KDB Carrol
    Kaku Kane MCburnie

    Any opinion?
    Cheers lads

    1. Transferred Out
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Is Elliot definitely going to be starting?

  7. wachu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Guardiola-best manager in the world...in spending money. I really hope he won't win nothing this season.

    1. Waxys
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      He will win the league

  8. Chrisirwin01
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    What everyone's thoughts on Sanchez? Is he essential. I have Kane and Lukaku already.

    1. No Professionals
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Seems to me that if you do decide he is essential, Kane is the one to go. He's the only one that have proven EPL alternatives in alli and eriksen in my opinion.

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

      I'm getting déjà vu.

      I'll say what I said last year I have Ozil so I feel I hage enough Arsenal attacking coverage Sanchez is too much right now I'll see how it goes.

      Of course Sanchez turned out to be essential and Ozil a flop so make of that what you will.

      Ozil may be too expensive this year so idk go with Ramsey if you're feeling ballsy

  9. Coys96
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A) Foster, Alonso, Salah
    B) Forster, Dawson, Mane

    (already got Cedric)

  10. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Play without Man City attacking player in GW1:

    A. Ok
    B. No

    Mine is Lukaku, Kane, Gayle, Sane, Alli, Willian, Tadic and Carroll.

    Thinking to downgrade Sane to Mkhitaryan or Ramsey.

    Thx you.

  11. H-SF
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone else got Sane just for City coverage alone? The pick itself doesn't convince me.

    1. IWR
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I'd rather stump the extra 1.5 for the magic leg of sir KDB.

  12. One Man
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is there any statistic to support the theory that defenses don't keep as many clean sheets early on ?

    1. Waxys
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I think that it's because strikers get a tad tired and worn out as the season progresses so they score less goals.

      It's a minor difference but I see a trend towards more clean sheets being kept towards the end of the season.

      Also everyone is more motivated at the start as any team can win he title unlike towards the end where clubs have a idea of where they're heading

      1. Sylas
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        There should be a limit to the amount of rubbish you post.

  13. IWR
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Getting there

    Foster (4.0)
    Tripper Bertrand Yedlin (Mee, 4.0)
    KDB, Alli, Willia, Phillips (Carroll)
    Kane, Kaku, Gayle

  14. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    I don't often do RMTs, but I have 0.5 ITB and don't know where to spend it!

    Foster Elliott
    Cedric Daniels Trippier (Mee Long)
    Willian Sane Salah Phillips (Carroll)
    Lukaku Kane Defoe

    Thanks

    1. IWR
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Daniels-Bert if you're game for the double up.

      Nothing else looks worthwhile.

    2. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Cedric to Bertie for me. More guarantee he'll actually play.

  15. No Professionals
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A alli and aguero
    B Kane and sane?

    1. Hazardouss
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      A

  16. Hazardouss
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts?
    Foster
    Alonso Bellerin Trippier Daniels
    KDB Eriksen Willian
    Lukaku Firmino King
    Fab Carroll RLC Mee
    Planning on King to Chica when he's in
    Cheers

    1. One Man
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I'm not certain about Firmino, but your team looks good, particularly defense and midfield. If it were me I'd down grade KDB to Sane and mee to a 4.5m and bring in Morata. But it's just a personal opinion about Fir. Good luck.

    2. One Man
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sorry Mee to a 4mil Def

  17. shearer9
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on this team? Other than Arsenal, I think I have strong attacking cover for the top five teams, and a solid defence to match it.

    Foster (Myhill)

    Lindelof Cedric Trippier Bellerin (Mariappa)

    Willian Coutinho KDB (RLC) (Carroll)

    Lukaku Kane Gayle

    1. shearer9
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      *top six

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

      You're safe to go without Arsenal but I'm not sure about having 2 4.5m midfielders. Maybe downgrade Bellerin.

      1. shearer9
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Not saying I disagree, but what makes you think it's safe to go without Arsenal? And yeah perhaps but I don't plan to rotate at all, so as long as one of them plays regularly it should be fine. I'll bear it in mind though cheers.

        1. No Professionals
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          I think ignoring Arsenal could be dangerous. No Champions League can be a huge advantage (worked for the last 2 league winners) in terms of not having to rotate the team. And Sanchez staying probably improves the chances of returns for people like Lacazette.

    3. One Man
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I think this is a very good team, keep an eye on Lindelof tho, might not be as good as first anticipated.

  18. valamapulis
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Hart

    Cedric Trippier Lindelof

    Sane Alli Coutinho Willian Zaha

    Lukaku Jesus

    Any changes needed?

  19. joeynse99
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    RMT

    Foster (Hart)
    Trippier, Bertrand, Daniels (Lowton/Rangel)
    Salah, Willian, Sane, Phillips (Romeu)
    Kane, Lukaku, Gayle

    1.0 mil ITB and swapping Gayle for Chicharito if he's priced at 7.5
    Thoughts?

  20. SteliostheGreek
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    What are peoples thoughts on Sanchez? I don't have him at present as I thought he was on his way out. If he stays I believe he is essential. What do we think. Staying or going?

    1. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Big price tag, doubts over whether he will stay or go, still on holiday after a busy confed's cup. A wait and see for me.

  21. ThisPostsOnFire
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is going double Saints at the back a viable option? (Considering their opening run of fixtures)

  22. Hariga
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    What do you think Guys?

    Elliot Foster
    Huddersfield Francis Trippier Cédric Hünemeier
    Zaha Alli Coutinho Sánchez Willian
    Mitrovic Vardy Jesus

    1. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Vardy is interesting.

      Where do you see your regular armband going? Sanchez/Jesus rotation on that?

  23. plunksss
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    a) Morata & Gayle (Kane)

    b) Firminio & Benteke (Kane)