Scout Notes

Groundhog Day for Aguero as Sterling sits out City’s rout of Burnley

Our second set of Scout Notes from Gameweek 9 focuses on two matches contested on Saturday afternoon.

Sergio Aguero is now the leading goalscorer among Fantasy Premier League forwards after he scored his sixth of the season in Manchester City’s 5-0 win over Burnley, but the Argentinean forward once again had his minutes managed.

Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, watched the match from the bench as an unused substitute.

There were blanks for Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson, Joshua King and Danny Ings as the defences won out in a stalemate on the south coast between Bournemouth and Southampton.

Manchester City 5-0 Burnley

  • Goals: Sergio Aguero (£11.3m), Bernardo Silva (£7.6m), Fernandinho (£5.4m), Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m), Leroy Sane (£9.2m)
  • Assists: David Silva (£8.5m) x2, Fernandinho, Benjamin Mendy (£6.3m)

It was a match of few surprises at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon, though Pep Guardiola’s midfield rotation policy left another set of Fantasy managers frustrated at missing out on the Manchester City goal bonanza.

There were several eminently predictable outcomes: Sergio Aguero (£11.3m) got his token goal and was withdrawn just after the hour mark, City’s defence recorded a clean sheet, Benjamin Mendy (£6.3m) registered an assist, the league champions racked up more big chances than any other Premier League side this weekend and Burnley conceded the most shots on target in Gameweek 9.

What wasn’t quite as anticipated was the omission of Raheem Sterling (£11.2m) from Guardiola’s starting XI for this routine victory over the Clarets.

Sterling had been transferred in by over 220,000 FPL managers ahead of Gameweek 9 (and was the most-bought City asset of this round), following a run of six successive league starts and a brace in England’s 3-2 win over Spain last Monday.

Those international exertions might have played a part in Guardiola’s thinking, of course, with Sterling racking up more minutes for his national team than any of the other options available to the City coach in midfield or attack yesterday. That the Citizens now have to travel to Ukraine for an infinitely trickier-looking Tuesday night encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk may have been at the front of Guardiola’s thoughts, too.

A couple of poor displays from Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m) and Leroy Sane (£9.2m) on the flanks might have softened the blow for Sterling’s owners regarding the frequency of his future involvement but the two wingers were among several star performers at Eastlands yesterday.

Mahrez especially was a strong contender for man of the match, scoring City’s fourth with a sublime curling shot and making four key passes – two of which were superbly crafted “big chances” spurned by Aguero early in the first half.

The Algerian international, who missed a penalty in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool a fortnight ago, was once again at the centre of City’s attacking play, trailing only Aguero for efforts on goal and shots in the box at the Etihad yesterday.

No player on show in Manchester created more chances than Mahrez, either.

Speaking of the Algerian midfielder, Guardiola said:

He [Mahrez] played so good at Anfield, that’s why I decided to play him again. It was not easy playing there with a lot of personality, football can happen but only takers can miss penalties.

He scored an incredible goal [vs. Burnley], but an aggressive approach with the ball to go to the full-backs, the movement between the full-backs, especially in the second half with Phil, [Foden] was so good. The second half Bernardo [Silva] moved better in that position and we made a good performance.

But we knew it. [Mahrez] is a talented player and a guy who likes to play with the ball and he doesn’t miss balls. In the box, he is a dangerous guy because he can go to the byline or score with his left or his right, he is a good signing for us.

Sane meanwhile had more penalty box touches than anyone in this rout of Burnley, scoring City’s fifth goal with one of his three attempts and terrorising Matthew Lowton (£4.8m) throughout – though was lucky to avoid a red card for a late kick out on the Burnley right-back.

Sane’s goal came from a low Mendy cross and this was the first match this season in which the two left-footed players had been paired together on the same flank.

Mendy delivered more crosses than anyone else at the Etihad yesterday and created three chances, but it’s stating the obvious to say his numbers are somewhat inferior playing in a back four with a natural wide-man in Sane ahead of him to the attacking KPIs he recorded when lined up in a 3-5-2 earlier this season. Mendy’s number of touches in the final third, touches in the opposition half, passes received in the final third, penalty box touches, goal attempts and crosses were down by 50% or more on the numbers he posted in the Gameweek 2 demolition of Huddersfield.

The numbers are all relative, of course, and despite the drop-off in underlying statistics Mendy still created more chances this weekend than all other FPL defenders bar Joe Bennett (£4.5m).

For the 51.7% of FPL managers who own Aguero, Saturday was Groundhog Day. The Argentinean forward was withdrawn after 65 minutes for the third Gameweek running having again only scored once.

There is nothing wrong with Aguero’s underlying statistics: the long-serving striker had more goal attempts, efforts in the box and big chances than any player on show at the Etihad and indeed all other FPL forwards on Saturday.

That he emerged from the rout over the Clarets with another single-digit (below ten points) FPL return – his eighth in nine Gameweeks – was all the more frustrating, then, particularly given that he was once again the overwhelming captaincy choice this weekend.

His match was summed up when one of his four big chances – a rebound from a saved David Silva (£8.5m) header – ended up drifting out for a throw-in.

Fantasy owners could look at Aguero’s displays and underlying stats in one of two ways: that one big haul in nine Gameweeks and 65 minutes per appearance simply isn’t good enough for a premium forward, or that he is reliably ticking over ahead of an imminent repeat performance of the one he delivered in Gameweek 2 against Huddersfield. Cashing in on Aguero would certainly be a brave move given his sky-high ownership.

There will be those FPL bosses who immediately move Sterling on after his no-show yesterday – the England winger is already the third-most-sold midfielder of this round – but as David Silva and Bernardo Silva (£7.6m) have proven this season and again yesterday, it is perhaps advisable to just stick with one City midfielder for an extended period of time and accept that the occasional rest will happen.

Bernardo scored City’s second goal after a David Silva cut-back, with the diminutive Spaniard’s underlying creativity finally paying dividends for his owners with two assists (the other being for Aguero’s opener). No midfielder has created more chances than David Silva this season, but the long-serving City schemer hadn’t registered a league assist in 2018/19 before Saturday.

The two Silvas lined up in a midfield three with Fernandinho (£5.4m), who top-scored in this fixture with a goal and assist of his own.

Kevin De Bruyne (£9.7m) will soon be another name to contend with in those central midfield positions and the Belgian playmaker made his long-awaited comeback from injury with a 32-minute cameo.

Speaking of the influential De Bruyne’s return, Guardiola said:

Kevin is quick. There is no pain, he is so strong. He needs minutes that is why playing 30 minutes is important.

We will see about Shakhtar. We have three years together, so when we say something he knows straight away what to do.

He is a guy who will help us achieve. Our first target is the result, which we feel is a consequence of how we play. And since the beginning, we said that.

The City backline recorded their fifth straight clean sheet and sixth shutout of the season overall, with Ederson and Aymeric Laporte (both £5.7m) keeping up their ever-present record and maintaining their statuses as the safest – if not the most exciting – routes into the Sky Blues’ defence. Kyle Walker‘s (£6.6m) owners missed out on the clean sheet points, though, with the England defender missing from the match-day squad with a reported groin problem.

There will seldom be easier days for Ederson: the Brazilian wasn’t forced into a single save, with two Sam Vokes (£5.3m) headers from Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m) deliveries the closest the visitors came to troubling the City goal.

Steven Defour (£5.4m) made his Premier League return from injury in central midfield, meanwhile.

Joe Hart (£4.6m) at least compensated for his loss of clean sheet with another save point, with Burnley’s defence once again offering little protection to their goalkeeper in allowing 24 shots on goal – ten of which were on target.

The porous nature of the Clarets’ backline should at least offer plenty of encouragement for Eden Hazard (£11.4m) and co. when Chelsea visit Turf Moor next weekend.

As well as bemoaning the controversial nature of City’s second goal (the ball looking like it had rolled out for a goal kick before Silva’s pass) and several other refereeing decisions, Dyche highlighted the naivety of his side’s defending in stopping play in the build-up to that Bernardo strike:

I’ve seen it back. With the best view we can get of it the ball was out of play – forget about everything else. The biggest learning curve, I was saying to the players afterwards, you have to stay focused and then afterwards remonstrate.

The problem was we were that locked in that moment we didn’t let it go and then they scored from a really soft corner and the game’s gone then. We’re not getting back here at 3-0.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Stones, Kompany, Laporte, Mendy; B Silva (De Bruyne 58′), Fernandinho, D Silva (Foden 75′); Mahrez, Aguero (Jesus 66′), Sane.

Burnley XI (4-4-1-1): Hart; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Lennon (Westwood 69′), Cork, Defour (Barnes 75′), Gudmundsson; Hendrick, Vokes (Wood 69′).

Bournemouth 0-0 Southampton

Ryan Fraser (£6.0m) once again shrugged off a fitness concern that curtailed his involvement over the international break to start for Bournemouth in the league – but there was to be no repeat of the 18-point heroics of Gameweek 5 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Scottish winger indeed failed to test Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) in the Saints goal and only created one chance for his team-mates before being withdrawn on 77 minutes.

Fraser was far from alone in being below-par, with Bournemouth not really posing the threat they had exhibited in recent weeks when putting four past goals past both Leicester and Watford.

Eddie Howe said:

We didn’t get going. It is frustrating because we know we can play better than that. We have to look at ourselves and analyse that game and come back better. A draw is probably a fair result.

Howe had named an unchanged side for this encounter with Southampton after that win over the Hornets before the international break, but with Junior Stanislas (£6.0m) and Jordon Ibe (£5.1m) waiting in the wings, the concern over Fraser and David Brooks‘ (£5.1m) security of starts going forward may have crept up a level or two following this stalemate on the south coast.

Brooks, who had scored two goals in as many matches coming into Gameweek 9, shanked his only effort wide in the first half and for the second time in three league fixtures was substituted before the clock had passed 60 minutes. Both he and Fraser only recorded one penalty box touch apiece.

Callum Wilson (£6.4m) posed little threat in attack, heading his only half-chance wide, and it was Joshua King (£6.4m) – in keeping with the underlying statistics we highlighted last weekend – who represented Bournemouth’s main outlet up front.

The Norwegian striker, who had himself been an injury doubt coming into this match, sliced the best of his three chances wide in the second half after a Wilson cut-back.

Nathan Ake (£5.0m) demonstrated his threat from set pieces by nodding a Fraser corner straight at McCarthy, but the fact that Bournemouth’s best chance of the match – an air-kick from Adam Smith (£4.5m) when well-placed in the first minute – didn’t even result in a shot on goal said much about the Cherries’ struggles on Saturday.

Wilson, who has a league-high seven assists to his name in 2018/19, at least demonstrated his knack of compensating for a lack of goals by creating both of his side’s big chances.

Bournemouth fared well in our international break assessment of defensive KPIs but they were indebted to several stops from Asmir Begovic (£4.5m) and some profligate finishing from Southampton.

Much like their hosts, two of Southampton’s best chances won’t actually have been recorded as shots: Charlie Austin (£5.5m) dribbled wide when one on one with Begovic, before substitute Stuart Armstrong (£5.1m) kicked air when seeing the whites of the Bosnian goalkeeper’s eyes.

Fellow replacement Manolo Gabbiadini (£5.6m) had perhaps the game’s best opportunity, nodding over in stoppage time with the Bournemouth goal unguarded.

This was the fourth league match in a row in which Southampton had failed to score and their ineffectiveness in front of goal – only Huddersfield Town have a worse conversion rate this season – was writ large here. Austin and Danny Ings (£5.6m) failed to muster a single shot from inside the Bournemouth box, with Ings’ only effort being from outside the Cherries’ area.

Ings dropped in price this week and his remaining owners will have been perturbed by his insistence on drifting wide and deep yesterday. The budget forward indeed didn’t touch the ball once in the Cherries’ box.

Hughes at least seemed pleased with his side’s ability to carve out chances, highlighting the roles that he wants wide-men Nathan Redmond (£5.3m) – who created Gabbiadini’s opportunity – and Mohamed Elyounoussi (£6.3m) to play going forward.

Hughes said:

[The chances] come from people getting out in wide positions and getting good balls into the box.

We’ve talked about trying to get more service to our front men. It’s important if we get in good areas we shouldn’t ignore the actual ball into the box.

Clearly, we want to up our numbers in terms of crosses and good-quality balls into the box.

The clear-cut chances came from good deliveries from wide areas, so that’s something we’re going to build on and make sure we’ve always got in our game.

Those FPL managers who own Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (£4.5m) as a fifth midfielder at least have a budget asset on their hands who isn’t afraid of a shot: the Danish international had three sweetly struck efforts on goal, the best of which forced Begovic into a flying tip over.

Hughes reverted to a back four for this match, with Jack Stephens (£4.3m) partnering Wesley Hoedt (£4.4m) in a new-look central defence.

The Saints manager was pleased with his side’s defensive performance, highlighting the work the club had done over the international break in tightening up:

The pleasing part was the way the guys embraced what we talked about during the week.

We did a lot of work with the back four and I think probably some were a little bit surprised with the selection in terms of personnel, but it was a consequence of really the good work that had been done in the week and I felt confident that Wes, Ryan and Jack understood totally what we’re trying to do and I think that helped the rest of the guys, because they were able to press higher up the field.

We had good numbers and were always in connection with each other, and that’s what we were trying to achieve.

Hughes was hopeful that a knee injury picked up by midfielder Mario Lemina (£5.0m) isn’t too serious.

Hughes said:

He got a bang on his ribs just before half-time and went up for a ball and hyperextended his knee as he came down.

He was able to carry on so that would suggest he’s just going to be sore for a couple of days we hope, but we will just have to wait and see how the next two days go. Hopefully, it will just settle down.

Bournemouth XI (4-4-2): Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Smith; Brooks (Stanislas 59′), Lerma, L Cook, Fraser (Ibe 76′); King (Gosling 85′), Wilson.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): McCarthy; Cedric, Hoedt, Stephens, Bertrand; Elyounoussi, Hojbjerg, Lemina (Armstrong 66′), Redmond; Austin (Long 79′), Ings (Gabbiadini 79′).

 

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1,718 Comments Post a Comment
  1. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    If you need to make one:

    Mendy > Laporte
    Robertson > VVD
    Maddison > Pereyra/Schurrle

    1. Rust Cohle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      tough one probably A & hope Mendy gets rotated sometimes.

    3. COYS Down Under
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Laporte

    4. MTPockets
        5 years, 5 months ago

        maddison

      • RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Really don’t like any 🙁

        1. StoichkovFPL
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          So give me 0.4 mil 😉

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Haha, what you trying to do like? Show me your team?

            1. StoichkovFPL
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Fabianski, 4.0
              Alonso, Mendy, Robertson, Bennett, WB
              Salah, Hazard, Richarlison, Maddison, 4.4
              Aguero, Arnautovic, Jimenez

              Trying to get that but 0.4 off

              1. RAFA THE GAFFA
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Richarlison for me! Too much hype on here, he looked rubbish today. I’d do him to Schurrle

                1. StoichkovFPL
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Got him in gor a hit after Fraser injury rumours 🙂
                  Also Im a kind of fan do want to keep him

                2. StoichkovFPL
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Also can:
                  - go 442 (jimenez to fodder and bennett to doherty)
                  - get Allison/Ederson for Robbo/Mendy

              2. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Alonso to Luiz?

                1. StoichkovFPL
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Never. He is almost a striker.

      • Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Maddison on the basis he's the one I don't own

      • JackJack
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Maddi to Schurrle. Why dump Mendy or Rob? They are fantasy gold.

    5. FPL Joker
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Anyone playing FM19? If so, which clubs don’t have a manager in the game? Always like to start at a club with no manager.

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Real Madrid if you download the latest patch.

        1. FPL Joker
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Really?! Man, that’s too high, too soon.

          Any others?

    6. WesMantooth
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      The market suggests that these teams are most likely to keep a Clean next gw
      1 pool (57%)
      2: cfc (51%)
      3: Watford (44%)
      4: Soton!!! (41%)

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Lol no chance for Southampton

        1. WesMantooth
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Bookies and bettors clearly have little faith in NUFC's ability to attack.

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            They must have been there yesterday then! We are garbage

            1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Yes you are. And that's because of Rafa the gaffa.

    7. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      54 pts all out.

      Pretty satisfied, just hoping everyone blanks tomorrow.

      1. Annie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Everyone = Lads and Maddison

        1. Annie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Laca ffs

        2. tafrère
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Laca, Maddison and Vardy, yeah.

          1. Annie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Forgot Vardy. If he does score will be tempted to get in for the upcoming run

      2. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        49 all out. First week I've not hit 50.

        1. Annie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Need 2 from Madd to keep that record

    8. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I am playing with the idea to do Kane + Dilva >> Salah + Arnie (2 ft). But if captaincy wasn't issue might like to keep Dilva or upgrade to KdB. But is KdB even worth it? Pretty much same returns per match last year with him and Dilva.

      I could also get rid of Fraser and Rich and downgrade other to Hojberg and still get Salah for -4. But perhaps ditching Fraser vs Fulham would be idiotic move. So perhaps just the first move mentioned and then consider wc next week?

    9. EgyptianKing
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Bottomed!

      Really awfull GW for me....

      I would need Lacazette (C) and Maddison, combined, to score 30 points for me to win against ML rival.

      See a > 2% chance of happening?

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        2 players in after below. 30+ is very unlikely

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I’m*

        2. EgyptianKing
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Only chance is Laca to shine and do a magic hatty ahah. If that happens I’ll be donating 30£ to charity.

          #FPLCHARITY

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yes. Laca needs to haul, but Laca to score 2+ goals is "only" 11/2. So chances are much over 2%

        1. EgyptianKing
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Well mate I hope you are right. Hatty would be absolutely great, but I would consider it a miracle to be honest

    10. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Kane+Cairney/Kenedy >> Laca+Maddison for a hit??

      Patricio
      Bennett • Alonso • Robertson
      Salah(C) • Hazard • Richarlison • Kenedy
      Kane • Mitro • Arnie
      (Hamer • AWB • Tomkins • Cairney*)

      1. Pinturicchio10
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Seems like a reasonable hit to me

        • a1danslat3
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Keep Kenedy

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah, I’ll probably do the move with Cairney as he’s injured anyways. And put Kenedy first sub

        • TLF
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I'd be thinking about Aguero for that Southampton fixture, seems like the best captain choice that week.

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Eden has Palace at the Bridge

            1. TLF
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Yeah that's true. I'd keep Kenedy too. Good luck.

      2. JaydenLFC87
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Which 2 would you rather have ??

        A) KDB TAA

        ) Silva VVD

      3. TLF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I know trying to predict the rotation of premium assets isnt anything new but im interested to hear peoples views on the odds of Salah getting rested v Cardiff if he plays majority of the champs league match on Wed, surely there is a good chance this could happen ?

        1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Why?

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            To not to transfer Captain Salah in?

          2. TLF
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Played over IB, picked up some kind of niggle which he recovered from but has played plenty of football without a rest thus far, Klopp does rotate on occasion, it's Cardiff and despite their up turn on form v Fulham, Cardiff may be viewed as an 'easy' fixture. Then the next match is Arsenal. That said the champs league is at home so no travel involved.

        2. Webbinho
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Ask again FT midweek. If he plays 90 there will be some doubt, but I’m hoping he makes an early exit.

      4. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        All set for next week already...Laporte in, Salah(c)!

        Ryan
        Doherty Laporte Robertson
        Salah(c) Hazard KdB Richarlison
        Aguero Jimenez Ings

        Button Stephens WB Bennett

      5. DMP
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Best move?

        a) Henny -> Ryan ( Wolwes)
        b) Zaha -> Mitro (Fulham)
        c) any other

        Henny (4.0)
        Alonso-Robbo-Tripps-TAA (Bennet)
        Hazard-Salah-Richarlison-Fraser (Obiang)
        Kun-Arnie (Zaha)

        1. tankle
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          B, but I like both moves. Would consider shifting trippier as well.

      6. Webbinho
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Moving forward, which pair looks the best bet?

        Vardy and Duffy
        Arnie and Mendy

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Arnie and Mendy

          1. Webbinho
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            I was leaning that way. What’s putting me off is both aredoubts/ rotation risk each week where Vardy and Duffy are nailed

            1. dunas_dog
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Arnie safe and Mendy might get very occasional rotation for Delph but have a sub that can come in as should well outscore Duffy

        2. DMP
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Arnie and Mendy

        3. Volley127
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          A&M

          1. Webbinho
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks all. Looks like a landslide.

        4. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          B by a mile

      7. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Game has reached its peak early this season. All teams look the same.

        Can u see any player been a good differential from here on in??

        City is a minefield, POOL off the boil a bit etc etc

        I'm struggling to see how I can shake things up a bit to keep it interesting..

        1. Pinturicchio10
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Vardy - 4.9%

          • penman26
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Look at the fixtures and figure it out for yourself

          • shirtless
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            KdB!

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              His ppm last year compared to Dilva?!?

          • Dr. Rog
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            KdB is the differential pick
            To get him most either have to do a downgrade on Aguero or Salah, or drop a premium defender.

            A score by him will shake things up, although i think that will be a couple of weeks now - maybe SOU in wk12

          • Sting
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            martial if he keeps his place.

            sterling ownership is still pretty low. you could go agueroless and heavy in midfield and defence

            if arsenal stick with the 442 then auba and laca become viable

          • WesMantooth
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Luiz, chilwell, Murphy, balbuena, Firmino, Vardy, Son, Eriksen, KDB, Pogba, øzil

          • Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            I think something will happen soon. Have no idea what, but many assets seem to be losing form. Fraser, Rich and Maddison have blanked and finding new bandwagons is difficult atm.

          • SADIO SANÉ
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            everyone is shite

          • Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Arsenal, triple City attack, double Pool & Chelsea defence, Vardy ....

        2. Scotty B
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Schmeichel
          Trippier TAA Alonso
          Mane Moura Son Maddison Hazard
          Mitrovic Aguero

          Stekelenburg Cook AWB Kamara

          Son & Moura out leaves me 15.8m
          Who would you go get?

          1. Wheyyyy
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            KDB?

        3. Wheyyyy
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Silva & Trippier to...

          A - KDB + Mendy (£1.3ITB)

          B - Salah + Duffy (£0.0ITB)

          1. Volley127
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            B

        4. bananarangers
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          aguero to vardy?

          1. Netley Lucas
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            There has to be another aspect to this move?

        5. child of God
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Arnie or vardy? Money no problem

          1. dunas_dog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            I think money has to be taken into account due to price difference. I would go Arnie and spend 2 m or thereabouts elsewhere

          2. Dr. Rog
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            id take arnie and 2 million personally.
            money is always a problem as you can use it elsewhere

        6. Demel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Effective Ownership Levels for Monday's night game. All players with 1%+ ownership levels listed below.

          Maddison 35.2%
          Lacazette 27.8%
          Vardy 8.3%
          Bellerín 3.6%
          Aubameyang 2.6%
          Ramsey 2.4%
          Monreal 2.1%
          Özil 1.5%
          Pereira 1.1%

          1. BUZZBOMB
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            This is a great post, cheers Demel. Always wondered what the risks were on MNF.

            51 all out, 5k ish OR, Maddison potentially adding to Cedric's points on my bench and no Monday Night Speedway to distract me.

            1. Demel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Thanks. I find it useful to refer to. It is easy to think that the impact of a Vardy goal is the same as Laca. It isn't it is 3 times less of an issue. Or that Laca goals have more of an impact than Mad because of price. It doesn't. Price isn't relevant in terms of impact on rank.

              1. BUZZBOMB
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Id really like to see these posts again when there's just one game on in a day. Really interesting and telling instantly. Thanks again. (pushing sofa out from wall to slip behind after work tomos).

          2. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks. So I'll have to hope quiet night for Madd, Laca an Vardy 😉

            1. Demel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Vardy isn't really that relevant in the grand scheme of things. The other two though should concern you.

        7. Surfeit of Lampteys
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Andy's leaving the scoutcast is he? Can't say I blame him. He's outgrown it, gets to enjoy Tuesday night footy properly/family time and it's taken a real hit in quality since Mark left I think it's fair to suggest. Not a slight on the newbies that- it's just Mark elevated it so much imo.

          1. MTPockets
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Looked like a mix of jump and push.

              1. Surfeit of Lampteys
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Why would they push him?

                1. MTPockets
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    Seemed he had a bet on to display his logo?

                    1. Surfeit of Lampteys
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 5 months ago

                      Really? Lol, fair enough.

            • Man Chest Hair United
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Is TAA to Gomez worth the trade? Brought trent in 2 weeks ago but it’s hard to hold

              1. dunas_dog
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                No too much of a minefield now with TAA Gomez and Lovren not forgetting Clyne. I would say Gomez most secure due to his flexibility though.

              2. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                May as well see who starts midweek.

              3. Dr. Rog
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                this reminds me of Aguero & Jesus in previous seasons.
                one hauls, the other dropped then they switched week to week.
                market punished those who switched often

                its too early to say whether he been dropped entirely or rotated.
                better to wait for the Cardiff game and re-assess then risk looking red faced with a misplaced transfer

              4. StoichkovFPL
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Wait gor CL game but maybe keep and get good first sub like Doherty?

              5. WesMantooth
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Not sure Gomez is as "nailed" as you'd have to be to make that move in good faith. My guess would be that the three of them will be eating minutes of eachother for the longrun. Depending whos your 1st sub going forward, owning TAA might not be a huge "problem", he's cheap as chips.

            • Arctic monkeys
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Disaster GW with 15 pointers, captain still to play is the brightside.

              Been so long since I couldn'y log in for 2 days. Lol

              1. Dr. Rog
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                just variance wouldnt worry about it and you are in the same boat as most

                funnily enough though my wifes ghost team managed 58 points with Mkhi+Hector still to play

            • Gentlemens club
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Did Kane to Arnautovic yesterday. Now I got 5.8£ sitting in the bank, feels kind of wasteful 😮
              Worth taking a hit to bring in someone like Hazard, Vardy or someone else to replace Murphy/Fraser/Kamara?

              Foster
              Robbo Alonso Trippier Doherty
              Salah Fraser Murphy Bilva
              Arnie Aguero

              Patricio/WanB/Kamara/Cairney

              1. Totalfootball
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Has to be Haz

            • Plymouth
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Sup with the slow ranking update

              1. Dr. Rog
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                the game is free man. cut them some slack

                1. Plymouth
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Sick marketing revenues tho

            • Bedknobs and Boomsticks
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              WC time:

              Patricio, 4.0
              Robertson, Maguire, Luiz, Doherty, Balbeuna
              Hazard, Mane, KdB, Murphy, Hojberg
              Aguero, Vardy, Wilson

              Thoughts?

              1. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                4 3 3 obviously

              2. Dr. Rog
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                I like it. some nice differentials in there as well
                do you have enough to fund wilson > arnie?

              3. MTPockets
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Do you have Mane b/c you want Mane, or can't afford Salah?
                  If it's the latter not sure I'd bother.

                • StoichkovFPL
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Maverick or disaster. Dont know which one fit here.
                  Generally strong and brave

                • dunas_dog
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Nothing wrong with your week 9 squad so I would save WC for now and take -4 if necessary. Certainly wait and see if Mane back. Walker to Mendy perhaps

                • Netley Lucas
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  The c/s & attacking returns (7.8ppm) make Mendy a must?

                  1. Dr. Rog
                    • 14 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    after the first few games of the season, Mendy was essential and worth 8mln.
                    then he got injured (or dropped?) and came back, but folks who had sold tried to convince themselves that their decision was justified (Mendy/Sane theory).
                    if he is playing he is as close to essential as any player in the game I would say

                    1. SADIO SANÉ
                      • 8 Years
                      5 years, 5 months ago

                      I'm pretty anti-premium defenders this season, but I can't really argue with this - especially now that he has started with Sane

                    2. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
                      • 14 Years
                      5 years, 5 months ago

                      Cheers Doc. I actually had him for GW1 as well, so qualify for the Mendy smug basterds owners club.

                • WesMantooth
                  • 13 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  I really fancy Fab as the set and forget for the next 10-15 gwks.

                  Mendy would be purf, but its hard to argue against any of the picks in your defence.

                  I dont think Mane's recent performances rewards putting faith in him.

                  Think theres reason to believe that theres better option than wilson for the next 5-10 fixtures. 0.5 more and suddenly Arnie's available.

                • WesMantooth
                  • 13 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Kind of impressive how youve managed to maintain such a similar rank five weeks straight.

                  1. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
                    • 14 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    Some strive for mundanity, others have it thrust upon them.

                • Demel
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  I don't like it. I had Luiz in GW1. I quickly realised he wasn't a good pick. I would want at least 0.5m knocking off Maguires price. No Salah with Cardiff and Fulham in the next 3 isn't for me. I don't think Mane covers him. Murphy or Hoijberg is fine. Not both. No issue with the strikers.

                • Bedknobs and Boomsticks
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Thanks for the feedback all:

                  1. Swapping Murphy down to a 4.4 and Doherty to Jonny would give me the exact change to do Wilson > Arnie or Mag/Luiz to Mendy. Will definitely consoder but.....

                  1a. But Wilson is playing Fulham. Fulham. Arnie has some nice fixtures, bit Wilsons ain't bad for thw next three, and ultimately BOU are better in attack than WHM right now

                  1b. I'd like Mendy, but Mag and Luiz have such incredibly tastey fixtures....

                  2. Yeah, Mane is kimd of just there. Who would you het instead? I suppose i coild bring in a 3rd Mam City

                  1. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
                    • 14 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    *Man City mid and hang on to a bit of cash. Man Coty rotation is kind of the point of having Murphy as a decent first sub, so i could maybe buy that.

                    3. Salah salah salah. I just cant be doing with 12.8 m for a player who can't get a bonus point even when he scores the only goal!

                    1. Dr. Rog
                      • 14 Years
                      5 years, 5 months ago

                      if its any consolation I plan to drop salah for mane + KdB as well, but in around 3-4 wks time

              4. Demel
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                This is % of ownership levels of 10k players 1st subs. The reason it is relevant is that usually when there has been quite a bit of rotation there are some big scores to come off the bench. Not this week. With a couple of minor exceptions the 1st subs have performed poorly meaning that there should not be a great deal of rank movement after the game week is up with autosubs coming in.

                Wan-Bissaka 18.8%
                Maddison 14.6%
                Bennett 13.0%
                Fraser 5.7%
                Neves 3.3%
                Ings 3.0%
                Alonso 3.0%
                Højbjerg 2.6%
                Pereira 1.7%
                Trippier 1.6%
                Knockaert 1.5%
                Hughes 1.4%
                Duffy 1.2%
                Arnautovic 1.1%
                Doherty 1.1%
                Alexander-Arnold 1.0%

                1. Atimis
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  This is me Trippier 1.6% ! 😀

                  1. Demel
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 12 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    I also have Tripps 1st sub (unless Mad is out he isn't coming off my bench).

                2. Dr. Rog
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  thanks for this - very insightful

                3. Dr. Rog
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Maddisson 1st sub for me.
                  Hoping for a haul to troll all the TAA haters

                4. Klaren
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  My main rival has Rudiger and Cedric coming in from the bench 🙁

              5. Silecro
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                I played Fifa 17 yesterday and in my liverpool squad apparently there is a player named Herbie Kane, i couldnt stop laughing for like 2 minutes

              6. Bialystrzelec
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                1FT / 0.2 ITB

                Patricio Hamer
                Alonso Mendy TAA Doherty AWB
                Salah Hazard Richarlison Fraser Maddison
                Aguero Mitrovic Jimenez

                How to bring Robertson/Liverpool defender in? Or would you keep TAA?

              7. barton fc
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                do i roll the transfer? not sure in TTA or knockaert will start

                patricio (hamer)
                alonso robbo TTA doherty (AWB)
                salah hazard maddison (knockaert punchen)
                aguero arnie mitro

                1. Bialystrzelec
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Wait for Knockaert updates

              8. RUUD!
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Foster (Hart)
                Laporte Robertson Alonso Doherty (wba)
                Hazard Maddison Fraser (Richarlison Billing)
                Kane Aguero Mitrovic

                Kane and Richarlison to Arnie and Mane -4?

                1. Bialystrzelec
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Kane to Vardy this week

                2. barton fc
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  would look to get salah my self but if you dont mind going with out then looks good

              9. FPL Virgin
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                It's just dawned on me.

                FPL is one big waiting game.

                1. Rainer
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Waiting to WC? 😉

                  1. FPL Virgin
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    Waiting for the last week of the gameweek; waiting for champions league games; waiting for pressers; waiting for the international break to end etc etc.

                    1. Jay_
                        5 years, 5 months ago

                        We're all just waiting to die 😐 😀

                        1. FPL Virgin
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 7 Years
                          5 years, 5 months ago

                          I'm waiting for the miracle.

                          Sincerely,

                          L. Cohen.

                    2. Toni Kross Don't Let M…
                      • 8 Years
                      5 years, 5 months ago

                      Time to WC. What do you all reckon for this GW? Leaves 0 ITB. Cheers...!

                      Foster (Ederson)

                      Gomez Cedric Dunk (Bennett) (AWB)

                      Hazard(C) KDB Martial Schurrle (Milner)

                      Kun Lacazette Arnie

                  2. Dreaming of glory
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    Yea i wait for the deadline to pass so i can set my team up for the next week.
                    Then i wait for players to fail so i can replace them.
                    Then i wait for my rank to drop so i can pretend i can get back higher again
                    Then i wait for the new season and repeat

                    1. FPL Virgin
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 7 Years
                      5 years, 5 months ago

                      Exactly.

                      1. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
                        • 14 Years
                        5 years, 5 months ago

                        🙂

                  3. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    I think you've just partially realised that life is a waiting game really. Or it is if you let it become one...