Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Gameweek 9 – Sunday

Harry Kane breaks his Wembley duck and climbs to the top of the Fantasy Premier League standings after bagging two goals and an assist in Spurs’ demolition of Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger unleashes Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette in the same starting XI for the first time and watches Arsenal put five past Everton.

Here’s the notes from Sunday’s contests.

Kane banishes Wembley hoodoo

Harry Kane went into Gameweek 9 having produced more shots (28), efforts in the box (18) and attempts on target (10) than any forward in front of their own supporters.

Yet the Spurs striker’s failure to score at Wembley saw over 167,000 FPL managers part company ahead of a schedule that pits his side against Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal over Gameweek 9-12.

Kane wasted no time in making amends on Sunday.

A goal within four minutes was followed up by an assist for Son Heung-min’s strike and a further effort in the second half as he delivered a season-high 16 points for the 18.4% FPL managers who handed him the armband.

As one of only three of the top 10 captains to find the net (along with Sergio Aguero and Lacazette) Kane’s return to scoring form at home was a belated reward for those of us who kept faith based on the underlying numbers.

In spite of his toils at Spurs’ temporary home, Kane has now ominously moved to the top of the FPL player standings for the first time this term on the back of a fourth brace in six Gameweeks.

A trip to Man United’s injury-hit defence will hold little fear in light of their loss at Huddersfield, while a home clash against Palace directly afterwards hands him the opportunity to move further ahead of the pack.

Kane was seen holding his hamstring after being replaced late on but his manager handily offered a quick update, dismissing fears of an injury:

“No (not hamstring). He was a little bit tired after Real Madrid. It’s not a problem. Yes [may rest him against West Ham]. We have some big games ahead. He’s not a machine.”

The striker now looks set to be kept fresh for Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford. He is poised to go into that contest as the most signed FPL asset ahead of Gameweek 10.

Davies absent as Trippier delivers

Among Spurs assets, only Kane and Christian Eriksen are owned by more managers than Ben Davies’ 22.1% base, though he was sold on by more than 195,000 ahead of Gameweek 9. Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to preserve him on the bench against Liverpool is now set to spark another round of sales.

Davies, with 49 points, remains joint-third among defenders this season but has now started just two of the last five Gameweeks.

The return to fitness of Danny Rose seems highly likely to compromise that situation further still, while Spurs’ stiffening schedule also promotes Davies sales.

While the Welshman’s owners were again left frustrated, Kieran Trippier’s Fantasy star continues to rise.

Today’s start was his seventh in the last eight Gameweeks, with an assist for Kane’s early opener the right wing-back’s fourth of the season – all arriving in his last six league outings.

Now up to 47 points – just two behind Davies – Trippier sits in joint-sixth spot among FPL defenders alongside Cesar Azpilicueta. Yet he’s owned by just 7% compared with Davies’ 22%.

Nonetheless, as we’ve witnessed this season, Pochettino’s rotation at full-back/wing-back will continue to remain an issue, particularly now that the Spurs manager has a full quota of four to select from.

Eriksen suffers from shape shift

After firing last weekend’s winner against Bournemouth, Christian Eriksen went into Gameweek 9 as the top scoring player in FPL.

But a tactical reshuffle saw him draw a rare blank in the rout over Liverpool. Sitting in 26% of FPL squads, the Dane mustered just one attempt and two key passes in a deeper role as the home side packed the centre of the park.

Instead, he was overshadowed by fellow midfielders Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli as both overcame recent droughts to find the net.

The second most transferred out (203,000) player for Gameweek 9, Alli has dropped to 9.3 after failing to score since Gameweek 3. Yet – like Eriksen – he only managed one shot and a pair of key passes today as a result of the switch of formation.

Son’s goal, his first of the season, reminded us of his qualities whenever he gets the pitch time.

Yet the South Korean’s minutes will always remain an issue – today was just his fourth start of the season, and he’s been hauled off before the 75-minute mark on each of those occasions.

Salah back in the goals

He’s mainly been overshadowed by Philippe Coutinho since the latter’s return to injury, but Liverpool’s summer signing served a timely reminder of his talents ahead of a fine run of fixtures.

Like Kane, Mohamed Salah was subject to an exodus last week – over 104,000 transferred him out on the back of successive blanks in Gameweek 7-8.

Today’s consolation took him onto five goals and two assists for the season and elevated the Egyptian into joint-third among FPL midfielders.

While Coutinho and Roberto Firmino both failed to impress, Salah’s stock now looks set to climb as the Reds prepare for an excellent run (HUD whu SOU CHE sto bri EVE WBA bou) that hands them just one tough fixture – at home to Chelsea in Gameweek 13 – in the next nine Gameweeks.

Arsenal trio come good

Much was made of the fact that the Everton match would mark Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette playing together for the first time this season.

Forty minutes into the Goodison Park encounter and it all seemed to be much ado about nothing.

But class will out, and by the end of an open encounter that included three goals in a mad final five minutes, all three had delivered points for their dwindling ownership.

Lacazette, who was sold by 159,000+ ahead of the Everton clash, scored his first league goal on the road, while Ozil more than doubled his FPL total for the season with a 13-point performance involving a goal, an assist and maximum bonus.

The German had experienced a seventh successive ownership drop prior to Gameweek 9 and Sanchez also saw a net transfer deficit in the lead up to the Goodison clash.

But the Chilean’s goal, assist and bonus point produced 11 points and pointed to a man finding some consistency from a season fractured by all manner of distractions.

Sanchez has now delivered points in his last three starts for the Gunners. His 11.8 price tag remains prohibitive for most – he’s owned by just 2.1% – but his pedigree is undeniable.

Ozil has never inspired such confidence, while Lacazette is still finding his feet in the Premier League, but all three demonstrated their attacking prowess in spades, albeit against an Everton team in free fall.

Wenger’s prime assets also look set to avoid European exertions as he continues to select bit-part players and youngsters for the Europa League campaign, keeping his key damage-dealers fresh for domestic duties.

That should spark renewed interest in the trio, although Arsenal’s upcoming schedule includes a trip to Man City and visits from Spurs and Man United over the next six Gameweeks.

Other Gunners remain fruitful

Sanchez and Ozil took the acclaim, but Aaron Ramsey was equally productive on Merseyside.

The Welshman bagged 12 points from a goal, an assist and two bonus points, firing in more shots in the box and attempts on target than any of his team-mates along the way.

Ramsey continues to provide decent returns for a relatively cheap 7.0 outlay, while the Gunners’ most popular midfield asset in FPL, the 12.1%-owned Granit Xhaka, chipped in with a second successive five-point haul.

The Swiss international is the only Arsenal midfielder to have started every league match this season, and that consistency has helped him prosper: only Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure (5.3) has scored more points (48) for less money than Xhaka’s 35 from his 5.5 price.

At the back, the Gunners continue to struggle for stability.

The four clean sheets they’ve kept came in consecutive matches from Gameweek 4, but Nacho Monreal has managed to defy the odds, moving up to third in the overall standings for defenders courtesy of a second goal in three matches.

The Spaniard found the net just once in his five previous seasons at the Emirates, so this latest goal rush seems highly unlikely to continue, though his 9.0% ownership won’t be fretting about that.

Everton slip into relegation mire

As for Everton, the pickings remain slim and are getting slimmer.

Wayne Rooney, with 9.9% ownership, is their most popular player and he reacted to his Europa League rest with a fine opener today – his fourth league goal of the season and his second in two matches.

Oumar Niasse came off the bench to net his third goal in four Gameweeks, but the good form of both strikers must be offset by the woeful lack of it coursing through the side as a whole.

Ronald Koeman’s team have won just twice all season and have now dropped into the relegation zone.

The Toffees still have a great run of fixtures – lei WAT cry sou WHU HUD – to come, but their confidence is shot and the pressure on the manager immense.

The goals aside, about the only positive to come from today’s hiding was the performance of Jordan Pickford, who pulled off nine saves and now sits below just Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabianski for total stops this season (32 to 36).

And there was one other shred of comfort for Everton fans – Idrissa Gueye’s sending off for two bookable offences will not force him to miss a league match as he will now sit out the midweek Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea.

3,500 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Game of Throw_ins
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    GTG?
    Elliot
    Azpi Walker Cedric
    Salah Sterling Richarlison Brady
    Kane Jesus Morata

    1. Magic Andrés
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Very nice

    2. Ian Davis
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      I’ll try to, but those moves would leave zero in bank, so can’t have any rises

      1. Ian Davis
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Wrong thread..

        1. Ian Davis
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Team looks good!

    3. Teddy Brewski
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Brady stinking up your team too is he? His good fixtures every other week are annoying. Doesn't get any points in them!

      1. Game of Throw_ins
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah brady is the weakest link. He has next 3 easy fixtures though, so maybe he survives. Burnley as team hv improved too.

        1. Teddy Brewski
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Poor for home goals though!

  2. Ian Davis
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Does this look too risky?:

    Davies/Silva/Jesus > Moreno(or 4.5)/Salah/Aguero

    1. Game of Throw_ins
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Hold ur Jesus ➡ Kun move till midweek game.

    2. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Really don't like those moves sorry, maybe it's just me?

      I have Davies/Silva/Jesus in my team and I'm probably holding on to all three for now.

      Definitely don't bring in a Liverpool defender!!

      1. Ian Davis
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        I agree about the Liverpool defender after yesterday’s showing. I can see Jesus playing midweek and Aguero at the weekend though, and also think Liverpool mids look good for upcoming fixtures.

        1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Yes I have already gone Mkhitaryan > Salah this week!

          What's your full team?

          1. Ian Davis
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Pope/Elliott
            Davies/Cedric/Jones/Naughton/Mbemba
            Silva/Sterling/Richarlison/Choupo-Moting/Carroll
            Jesus/Kane/Lukaku

        2. TOBY1
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Pep something to indicate Aguero will start in midweek -

  3. TOBY1
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Ward or Daniels?

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Not much between them. Both good fixtures, both like to attack. Ward saves a little bit of money?

      I have Ward and looking at Daniels for Cresswell.

    2. Teddy Brewski
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      To play or to buy?

    3. Magic Andrés
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Daniels

    4. TOBY1
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      To buy - it has to be this week as I want to bring in Salah and I am downgrading Davies...

      I know Daniels has chelsea so thats a risk bringing him in, but if he's better after that -I don't mind...

    5. Live Lad
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      I'm getting Ward this week, Dan the next.

  4. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Vardy definitely on the chopping block for me. Maybe not this week but soon. So frustrating.

    Dare I go back to Firmino? Bobby, please forgive me.

    1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping him for Everton and hoping Bobby gets his groove back vs Huddersfield

      Dropped Bobby after Burnley so hoping he's chilled enough to accept me back

    2. Live Lad
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      He was rested (dropped?) last time he was out of sort. There is no game between now and their Huddersfield game. I wouldn't get him. Going Salah instead.

  5. Teddy Brewski
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Which 2 to play?

    A. Ritchie (bur)
    B. Choupo Moting (wat)
    C. Brady (NEW)
    D. Mariappa (STK)
    E. Daniels (CHE)

    1. Champione
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A and B

    2. Magic Andrés
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      AB

  6. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Most points potential in the next few gws?

    a. eriksen
    b. salah
    c. coutinho

    1. boc610
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      b

    2. Teddy Brewski
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      C is what i've gone for. Really tough one though.

    3. Champione
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      B or C. Chose C because I have a feeling he does better against teams being very defensive

    4. Game of Throw_ins
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      B imo

    5. Magic Andrés
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      B

    6. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      B I think

  7. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone else have this issue when viewing on your phone, where comment section doesn't load properly or is slow for latest comments?

    1. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      mail me at mark@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk with details of your handset and browser etc - we'd want to look into this.

      1. PL Ball
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Will do! Thank you.

  8. Champione
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    With Pep's rotation in mind, is it now being risky captaining Aguero going forward? Think many learnt a lesson regarding Jesus/Sterling this week. Is Aguero in the same category - okay to own but risky to captain? Yes, we have vice captains but late came on is always possible

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      After this weekend Man City is even more of a lottery. Can we honestly say anyone is 'nailed'? KDB/Silva maybe?

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      The midweek games should provide clues to minutes - if your guy is fresh he should start...

      1. J T
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Like Sterling coming off at 70minutes midweek last week rested nicely for Saturday.. those sort of clues?

  9. boc610
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    davies obviously had a fairly bad flu or infection -the same as an injury.-wasn't fully fit for liverpool and therefore didn't start. what's so shocking to people about this?

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah I'm holding for now. Could easily play and get a C/S v Man Utd.

    2. Champione
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Nothing shocking but the way I see it is that Trippier, Aurier and Rose are good players who all will get game time. Don't want to own a player who I don't know whether will start or not

      1. boc610
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        arent all city assets in that same boat?

        1. Champione
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          slightly different with attacking assets imo. Sterling/Sane can come off the bench and get returns. We know they will average a fair amount of points each game. Sometimes they score big, sometimes they blank. Davies on the other hand, will struggle to score big if he don't start the match.

  10. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Keep Ritchie or bring in Doucoure ? (can't afford Richarlison)

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Probably keep Ritchie. They both have mixed fixtures but Ritchie seems to be involved in everything.

    2. Ryssel
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Keep Ritchie

  11. RealSocialDads
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Can wildcard from

    Forster Elliot
    Kola Bavies Mee Jones Maguire
    KDB Sterling Salah Ritchie TC
    Lukaku Morata Abraham

    to

    Fab Elliot
    Otamendi Jones Ward Kiko Maguire
    KDB Sterling Salah Richarlison TC
    Kane Morata Abraham

    Worth it? Or should i just do Lukaku + Bavies -> Kane + Kiko (-4)

  12. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Start which three?

    A. Mee
    B. simpson
    C. Naughton
    D. RLC
    E. Abraham

  13. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Likelihood of Davies price holding till Weds? I'm not optimistic looking at fplstats

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah people are ditching like the clappers

  14. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    WC predicament

    Have had Jesus for a while (PP 10.5 / SP 10.6 / CP 10.7)

    Brought in Aguero (PP 11.5 / CP 11.6) and Sterling (PP 8.1 / CP 8.2) recently before their price rises.

    Plan is to ditch one of Jesus or Kun and get Otamendi in DF but with Ota due to rise tonight, who should I downgrade? Was hoping to wait until after the League Cup games but the price changes are forcing my hand a bit. Thoughts?

  15. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Looking at shifting Kola to either Azpi or Daniels after the Swansea match, but who to captain this gwk?!

    Elliot
    Jones/Otamendi/Kola/Ward
    Richarlison/Silva/Salah
    Aguero/Kane/Morata

    Krul/TC/Hunemeier/Chalobah

  16. foley200
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    This is how I’m lined up for next week before weekend. Any moves you’d make with 1 ft.
    Davies a worry?
    Kaku to Kun?
    Silva/sterling to Salah?
    A cheeky punt on Vardy to Sturridge

    Elliot
    Tarkow Monreal Vvd
    Silva Sterling Gross Atsu
    Kaku Kane Vardy
    (Foster Davies Jones Rlc)

  17. Whits
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Good moves or waste? For a -4 hit:

    Lukaku and Jesus to Morata and Aguero.

  18. Ryssel
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Is it just me, or is FPL winning the battle against fplstatistics by not getting the algorithm figured out?

    Yeah still only 9 weeks in, but the price drops and rises just aren't happening.
    (I did Kaka to kun a day early based on the assumption that I'll take the risk and protect my TV a bit)

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Kaku was never going to drop last night..

      1. Ryssel
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Kaku was on -106 when I checked

    2. J T
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Over 30players price changed on Friday

  19. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    On a WC

    A) Hazard & Firmino
    B) Salah & Morata
    C) Salah & Firmino (Pool double up)

    1. Ryssel
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      B - Salah is on fire, hazard and Morata does have much to separate them at the moment...

  20. J T
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    B

  21. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Any suggestions on this lot?

    1FT 0.9ITB, don't mind taking a hit...

    Fabianski Elliott
    Davies Jones Kolasinac Naughton Mbemba
    Lukaku Kane Jesus

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Some midfeilders would help

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        D. Silva Sterling Gross Atsu Carroll

  22. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Midfield is:

    D. Silva Sterling Gross Atsu Carroll

    Maybe Davies to Mee and Sterling to Salah?

    Only bought Sterling last week but this rotation is a problem

  23. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Any of these options look good?

    a) Firmino, Eriksen, Alonso, Bavies >>>> Morata, Salah, Azpi, Otamendi (-8pts)
    b) Eriksen, Bavies >> Salah, Otamendi (2FT)
    c) Firmino, Eriksen, Bavies >>> Morata, Salah, Stones (-4pts)
    d) Jesus, Eriksen, Bavies >>> Aguero, Salah, Otamendi (-4pts)
    e) Other?

    2FT £1.1itb No WC
    Elliot, Foster
    Alonso, Bavies, Monreal, Mbemba, Schindler
    Eriksen, Silva, Ritchie, Carroll, RLC
    Kane, Jesus, Firmino

    a) fixes lots of problems but I have never taken an 8pt hit before
    b) obviously saves most points but end up with no Chelsea and double Liverpool!
    c/d) have pros and cons

    What would you do?

    Cheers

  24. Harmonica1967
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Does this team need a wildcard? Still hanging on to top spot in my mini-league, but feels like this would be a good week to use it.

    1. Harmonica1967
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      post fail, team is

      Forster
      Dunk-Jones-Davies
      Sterling-Silva-Fab-Ritchie
      Kane-Lukaku-Vardy

      Elliot, Mee, Carroll, Femenia

      1FT, 0.2 ITB

  25. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Suggestions for this team folks? Good to go?

    ddg
    alonso bertrand kiko
    salah silva richarlidon gross
    kane jesus vardy

    elliot mee carroll chalobah

  26. Yozzer
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    A Vardy Kaku Davies - kun morata Daniels/Moreno

    B Ritchie Kaku Davies - otto kun carlson

    Both for -4

  27. Arfaish
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Does this look worth while or too knee-jerk:

    Davies and Jesus > Otamendi and Morata

    Would like to wait but Morata goes up tonight..

  28. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Lukaku to Aguero?
    Would like Morata but really not sure after this weekend.
    Already have Silva and Sterling so would like to move Sterling to Salah.
    Worth trying Firmino again?