Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Gameweek 12 – Monday

It’s all about the budget midfielders as Brighton and Stoke City share the spoils in a four-goal stalemate at the Amex.

Pascal Gross and Eric Choupo-Moting both maintain their fine starts to the season with a goal apiece as Gameweek 12 comes to a close.

Gross home comforts strike again

Pascal Gross’ impressive debut season in the top-flight continued with a strike in last night’s home draw with Stoke.

The Brighton playmaker also claimed maximum bonus to climb to fourth in the FPL midfield standings on 68 points and, at a cost of just 5.9, is now the top value midfielder in terms of points per million (11.5).

Gross has now scored or assisted 67% of Brighton’s goals when on the pitch – more than both any team-mate or any other regular midfielder for their respective side.

The German has three goals and five assists to his name and has picked up points in six of the last nine Gameweeks. But he now faces a real test of his consistency, with the Seagulls set to play Man United, Liverpool and Spurs in the upcoming five fixtures.

Yet with home clashes against Palace, Burnley and Watford and a trip to Huddersfield in the next seven Gameweeks, his 19% ownership may well choose to hold a player who is averaging 7.7 points per appearance in front of his own supporters.

Murray disappoints as Seagulls differentials deliver

Up against a Stoke defence that’s shipping two goals per match, Glenn Murray was the most captained player (6,868) for last night’s encounter on the back of four strikes in the previous three Gameweeks.

Transferred in by 112,000 FPL managers last week, the veteran failed to register a single attempt on goal as his claim for the role as our budget striker took a turn for the worse ahead of next weekend’s trip to Old Trafford.

But Chris Hughton’s differential midfielders have shown in recent weeks that it’s not all about Murray – or Gross – for that matter.

Jose Izquierdo’s goal was his second in the last four Gameweeks, while Davy Propper now has two assists over that same period after teeing up Gross for the opener. Anthony Knockaert had also chipped in with a goal and assist in the previous four.

At the start of the season, there was a fear at that the Seagulls may struggle for a cutting edge after arriving from the Championship. But last night’s result means they have now scored in eight of the last nine Gameweeks.

Choupo-Moting breaks away duck

Eric Choupo-Moting was handed another start up front and picked up his first away points of the season by firing the opener against Brighton.

The Stoke midfielder has served up two goals and three assists at the bet365 but has been a source of frustration on the road, drawing blanks in all five of his away appearances prior to last night.

With maximum bonus also in the bag, his 10-point tally means that the Cameroon international has now averaged a respectable 4.5 points per appearance.

Still priced at a mere 5.7, Choupo-Moting ranks third among all midfielders for both shots (35) and efforts in the box (26) over the first 12 Gameweeks.

Like Brighton’s Gross, his upcoming fixtures are somewhat mixed, with a home clash against Liverpool allied with trips to Spurs and Burnley in the next five Gameweeks.

Yet the fixtures around those matches – trips to Palace and Huddersfield and home encounters against Swansea City, West Ham and West Brom between now and Gameweek 20 – suggests he could still be in line to profit.

Consistent Shaqiri in the points again

While Kurt Zouma earned his second eight-point haul of the last three Gameweeks by netting the Potters’ second, Xherdan Shaqiri once again caught the eye from his advanced central berth.

The Swiss international’s assist for Choupo-Moting’s opener was his sixth set of attacking returns in his last eight Gameweek appearances for Mark Hughes’ men.

Although the likes of Gross has established himself as Brighton’s go-to attacker, Shaqiri is challenging Choupo-Moting for our attentions at Stoke.

He’s also averaged 4.5 ppm, yet his goal involvement is far superior – when on the pitch, he’s scored or assisted 54% of his side’s goals, compared with Choupo-Moting’s 40%.

Ranked fifth for chances created in midfield (27), the former Bayern man is now up to two goals and five assists for the season – already more than twice last term’s tally of two assists.

Given that Mark Hughes’ men continue to leak goals at an alarming rate – only West Ham have conceded more (25 to 24) – the Potters’ attack is becoming increasingly crucial to their prospects of survival.

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582 Comments Post a Comment
  1. IWR
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Stones to Alonso worth a hit?

    Asking for a friend.

    1. Ha.
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      YOLO

    2. Pep says
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Depends who your backup defender is. Alonso could possibly wait till next week.

    3. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Aye

    4. IWR
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      I could wait and do Stones-Christensen and Silva-Hazard next week which feels nice.

  2. Pep says
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Quick one; Start one; GK Pope

    Clark (WAT, depends on Lascelles fitness)
    Ward (ARS)
    Duffy (Utd)

  3. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    if howe is foolish enough to buy defoe he's definitely capable of giving him the odd start to preserve wilson's knees over xmas

  4. kfreeman93
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Pep's conference about why he won't play Jesus and Aguero together was interesting. If Jesus plays tonight it's finally time to get rid and bring in Morata I think!

    http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/manchester-city-latest-team-news-aguero-jesus-pep-guardiola-champions-league-feyenoord-a8065526.html

    1. Pep says
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      If Kun starts tonight, it should be no surprise to see Jesus start this weekend

      1. kfreeman93
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Absolutely, but with the squad he's planning to put out I'm not sure Aguero will start. Has already planned for B.Silva, Yaya Toure, Danilo and Gundogan, can easily see Jesus tonight and Aguero at the weekend but we shall see.

    2. buzzkill
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      I think Kun will start tonight and Jesus plays at the weekend. If that's the case I'm binning Kun for either his counterpart or Morata.

      1. Lazaretti
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        I think Jesus plays today and Kun at the weekend. I think City will rotate a lot today. Gundogan, B Silva, Mangala, Toure, Zinzhenko could all play or even to start tonight.

        1. buzzkill
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          I'm not so sure, Kun seems to play the home fixtures and Jesus away - have a look at their results.

    3. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      I fully expect

      Feynoord - Kun
      hud - Jesus
      SOT - Kun
      WHU - Kun

  5. meechamspowders
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    I have 2 FTs and enough cash (just) to do:

    Hazard > pogba & Abraham > morata

    Worth it?

    1. buzzkill
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      You're binning Hazard? You sure?

    2. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      No chance

  6. New Article Posted
  7. Lovejoy
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Smooth:
    - Transferring in Salah, Daniels and Morata.
    - reaching the heady heights of the top 1m for the first time this season after a disastrous start left me at 3.8m in GW4

    Rough:
    - Transferring out Hazard for Salah - the saga continues for me and Eden - had him for 5 GWs and missed his 11 pointer as he'd been jettisoned using the free hit chip that week.
    - Kane (C) Salah (VC) hurt but in hindsight was a stupid move

    Overall 67 so not a nightmare but could have been so much better!

    1. Lovejoy
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Whoops reply fail

  8. Patrick Bateman
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Currently having a nightmare for the next GW. 4 Injured players. Current Team below:

    Stones, Jones, Daniels (Naughton, Hünemeier)
    Hazard, D Silva, Salah (Atsu / Carroll)
    Lukaku / Kane / Abraham

    1ft and 0.1 itb...

    Thinking of taking a -8 hit with
    Stones, Atsu, Abraham > Mariappa, Richarlison, Wilson

    Thoughts?

  9. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Early thoughts about this ?

    Ddg
    Otamendi - verto - mee - azpi
    Salah - sterling - pogba - gross
    Lukaku - morata

    Elliot - niasse - milivojevic - Francis

  10. Athletic Bilbo
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Does anybody know when the FA will decide whether to put Niasse’s ‘tumble’ in front of the retrospective diving panel? And when we would know any outcome?

    I know it has to be before the next match but my other transfer target may rise tonight, could really do with knowing

  11. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Name and shame those hasty Niasse buyers

  12. omthomps
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Early suggestions welcome... sitting in 3rd overall but a hefty gap to 2nd

    De Gea
    Daniels / Monreal / Azpi
    Salah / Choupo / Sane / Richarlison
    Kane (c) / Abraham / Morata

    Speroni / P Jones / Gross / S Ward

    2xFT & 0 ITB

    Cheers

  13. Reesle Kicks
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Smooth. Aguero and Holgate subbed for Cork & Monreal. 16 points better off

  14. drfc_matty
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    1.1m ITB

    Got a playing bench do I?

    Upgrade jones to otamendi
    Or bench jones and upgrade Duffy to mustafi

  15. hawkeyes
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Took a -4 hit and scored 103 points for this GW :)))))))))))))