Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Lukaku Finds Scoring Touch

Manchester United’s frontmen both find the net ahead of a weekend derby match at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Chelsea have to rely on an own goal for a share of the spoils with Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge.

It says everything about Romelu Lukaku’s recent fall from grace that, ahead of this Sunday’s Manchester derby, he is second only to suspended team-mate Paul Pogba for transfers out in Fantasy Premier League (116,000 to 190,000)

The Belgian forward’s ownership has been on the slide since Gameweek 8, losing more than a million managers during an eight-match slump in which he’s managed just one goal.

As a result, his equaliser in United’s 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow last night could not have been more timely.

Partnered by Marcus Rashford as Jose Mourinho continued with a 3-4-1-2 set-up, Lukaku steered home a Pogba pass as United finally found a way past the Russians to secure top spot in Group A of the Champions League.

Even more encouragingly for the 35.1% of FPL bosses who have stayed loyal to the forward, he was a purposeful presence throughout the match, although he did miss one big chance when the score was still 0-0.

More than 115,000 have sold Lukaku this week, with 47,000+ moving on to Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata. That’s the most popular swap ahead of Gameweek 16, while 70,000+ made the exact same move last week as well.

But Man City’s defence have kept just one clean sheet over the past six matches and once the derby is done, United’s schedule is set fair until a New Year’s Eve trip to Tottenham.

Rashford hit last night’s winner from a Juan Mata assist to break his own nine-match scoring drought in all competitions.

The 7.6-priced England international was a constant threat against the Russians last night, firing five efforts to Lukaku’s three.

However, Mourinho’s recent teamsheets indicate that Rashford – who has played just 26 minutes in the last two Gameweeks – could be back on bench-warming duties against City.

Anthony Martial was afforded just 17 minutes as a substitute last night and, having started the last four Gameweeks – supplying two goals and an assist – looks likely to partner Lukaku up top on Sunday.

Similarly, Jesse Lingard – unused against the Russians – looks likely to replace Mata in the support role, having netted twice against Arsenal last week.

In defence, Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof worked in tandem for the fifth straight match in all competitions, with Daley Blind completing the back three as Marcos Rojo was rested.

The United boss made a total of five changes ahead of the derby, also giving the likes of David de Gea and Ashley Young the night off, with Sergio Romero, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Mata and Rashford coming in.

The draw for the Champions League knockout stages takes place on Monday.

The first legs of the Round of 16 will take place on February 13/14 (after Gameweek 27) and 20/21 (prior to Gameweek 28), the second legs on March 6/7 and 13/14, either side of Gameweek 30.

Hazard productive in Chelsea stalemate

Chelsea came from behind to draw 1-1 with Atletico Madrid, but it wasn’t enough for the Blues to win Group C.

Coach Antonio Conte made just three changes from the team that beat Newcastle United at the weekend, with the most significant player rested on the night the 15.8%-owned wing-back Marcos Alonso.

Notably, Alonso is the only outfield player to start every league match for the Blues this term and now looks set to return to the teamsheet away to West Ham on Saturday lunchtime.

He was joined on the sidelines by Antonio Rudiger and Danny Drinkwater, with Davide Zappacosta, Gary Cahill and Tiemoue Bakayoko coming in.

The two most popular purchases heading into Gameweek 16, Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata, both started. The former played the full match, while the latter was replaced by Michy Batshuayi for the final nine minutes.

The in-form Hazard, who has five goals and three assists from his last six league starts, was a threat throughout and instigated the equaliser when his cross/shot was turned into the net by Atletico defender Stefan Savic.

However, it was Morata who boasted the hosts’ chief goal threat – he fired seven attempts to Hazard’s two and also bettered him for shots on target, by five to zero.

FPL managers owning Hazard (12.5%) and Morata (35.5%) will have been concerned to see their star men play so long last night, although Conte had little choice but to go with his key attackers with the chance to top the group up for grabs.

With a trip to the London Stadium on Saturday followed by a clash against Huddersfield just three days later, those owners will be hoping that Conte doesn’t manage their minutes too keenly.

Of the two, it’s arguably the Spaniard who looks more at risk of a rest as he’s started the last seven Gameweeks, and finished the last five, whereas Hazard sat out all but nine minutes of Gameweek 14’s win over Swansea City.

Meanwhile, emerging Fantasy asset Andreas Christensen made his sixth straight start in all competitions, and the 5.5-priced centre-half underlined his potential at set-pieces with a couple of headed chances last night. He would seem destined for another start the London Stadium with David Luiz set to remain on the sidelines with his ongoing knee problem.

555 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Olivier Bernards watch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    silva and alonso to coutinho and christensen with my 2FT's?

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      No

    2. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      keep Alonso

    3. kanat_karktl
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I would do it

  2. Silencetheweak
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Hi Guys,

    RMT PLS

    Foster
    Otaman Mee Dunk
    Rich Sane Salah Sterling
    Calvert Kane(C) Morata

    Bench: Elli, Mooy, Daniel, Cedric

    I need advice.........

    1. La Gazzetta
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Solid team. A bit too much on the bench. I'd look to downgrade Daniels and/or Cedric to upgrade Mooy. Alternatively downgrade Mooy to RLC and upgrade one of the 2 defenders on the bench. If you want hazard may need to downgrade all options to upgrade Sane? Not necessarily this week

    2. Johnny Leghorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Agree with this observation.
      Cedric to Mbemba is a fair bit extra in the pocket. So is Mooy to Cork or RLC. I'd upgrade Mee or Dunk or Daniels to a premium defender. Kola, Christensen, Valencia.
      I'd also upgrade Sane or Sterling to Haz or Cout. City have gone a little off the boil. Rich to Ramsey or Ozil is a good punt.

  3. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Guys,

    Only way i can get hazard is by doing the following for a -4 ?

    silva > hazard
    firmino > austin / DCL

    IS it worth it ?

    Tnks.

    1. La Gazzetta
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Silva to hazard if you have some other man city. Probably still do it even if you don't.

  4. jazzy30
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    In need of some help here!

    Current team:

    Elliot/forster
    ward/otamendi/christensen/moreno/jones
    sterling/salah/richarlison/king(leicester)/rlc
    morata/kane/jesus

    2 ft and 0.4 itb.

    Thinking of Richarlison+king+jesus>>>calvert lewin+hazard+doucoure for a -4..suggestions and opinions pls???

    thanks in advance!!

    1. Johnny Leghorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      You have a lot of money in defence and attack. No guarantee of Jones getting place back when he returns.
      I'd downgrade Jones to cheapie and upgrade Forster to DDG to cover off United defence which will continue to get plenty of CS.
      IMO King should be a premium mid so upgrading him to Haz is right.
      Drop Kane in a GW or 2 until GW22 would find you the money.

  5. stat
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Would you take a 4 pt hit to make the following moves?

      Azpi -> Christensen
      Surman -> Ramsey
      Abraham -> Quaner

      It would give me a team of:

      Fabianski - Elliot

      Kolasinac - Christensen - Dunk - Daniels - Mee

      Hazard - Salah - Ramsey - Sterling - RLC

      Kane - Morata - Quaner

      1. Johnny Leghorn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        That only improves your team by 1 player. Surman to Ramsey.
        Any other options you've looked at?

    • leonickroberts
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Start:

      a) Ota (mun)
      b) Kenny (liv)
      c) Mariappa (bur)

    • Patch
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      What is the FFS cup score qualifier?

      Who has been selected as Captain by that Dog?

      Thanks all!

    • Whits
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Brady and Kolasinac to Coutinho and Femenia?

      A) YES
      B) NO

      Other defenders I have are Otamendi, Mee, Naughton and Mbemba.

      Thanks