Scout Notes

An assist for Hazard scant reward for FPL managers who kept faith

Sunday’s most forgettable local derby was also the first to take place, as a somewhat flat Chelsea side sleepwalked to a 2-0 victory over their west London rivals.

Claudio Ranieri’s Fulham put up a spirited performance and are displaying more backbone than they previously did under Slavisa Jokanovic, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third was telling as the Blues banked their seventh clean sheet in 14 league matches.

Maurizio Sarri’s side never got out of second gear but, as we will discuss, the emphasis was on solidification at Stamford Bridge rather than a gung-ho attacking display that owners of Eden Hazard and Marcos Alonso would have yearned for prior to kick-off.

We round up all the goals, assists, Fantasy talking points, manager quotes and injury news from the Sunday lunchtime kick-off.

Chelsea 2-0 Fulham

  • Goals: Pedro (£6.3m), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.2m)
  • Assists: N’Golo Kante (£4.9m), Eden Hazard (£11.0m)

If Eden Hazard‘s (£11.0m) owners had been told before kick-off that the Belgian playmaker would emerge from an encounter with the division’s leakiest defence with six FPL points, the vast majority would have been fairly underwhelmed.

In the end, Hazard’s excellent assist for Ruben Loftus-Cheek‘s (£5.2m) 81st-minute strike came as something of a blessed relief on what was another frustrating afternoon for the Belgian’s Fantasy investors.

Assist or not, a significant percentage of the FPL managers who own Hazard would perhaps have seen enough to jettison the Chelsea talisman with the Fulham game having been seen as a “last-chance saloon”.

Given the number of premium options elsewhere with better form and/or fixtures, pocketing the £11.0m needed for Hazard’s services would go a long way in funding moves for the likes of Raheem Sterling (£11.5m), Harry Kane (£12.3m) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m).

There were flashes of promise, however: Hazard producing several darting runs in from the left flank and a number of cute passes, one of which should have resulted in an assist when Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) spurned a presentable opportunity midway through the first half.

One of Hazard’s four shots should also have culminated in a “Fantasy assist”, too, with substitute Alvaro Morata (£8.8m) blazing over the rebound after the Belgian’s effort was parried by Sergio Rico (£4.4m).

The Belgium international’s only other shot on target was a direct free-kick that was fired straight at Rico.

The portents were promising ahead of kick-off, with Giroud named in the starting XI over Morata – the French striker having been on the pitch for all seven of Hazard’s Premier League goals this season.

A third-minute goal from Pedro (£6.3m) also boded well for a fruitful afternoon of attacking returns ahead, though Fulham didn’t capitulate as they have done on several occasions this season and had opportunities to level the scores themselves before Loftus-Cheek’s late clincher.

The chastening 3-1 defeat to Spurs last weekend played a part in Maurizio Sarri’s thinking this week and was perhaps the chief reason why the Blues didn’t cut loose after Pedro’s opener, as the Chelsea boss explained at full-time:

I think that we were a little tense. We defended a little better than in the last match, of course. We can do better in the offensive phase, but today the result was more important.

We gave more attention to the defensive phase today in order to kill the match and got a very good reaction for the level of application and attention.

Now we have to start to play our football in a better way.

Pedro made only his second start in nine Premier League matches and registered more shots on target than any other Chelsea player, though regular rotation with Willian (£7.4m) surely awaits the former Barcelona winger over a packed December schedule.

The same is true of the hit-and-miss strike duo of Giroud and Morata, as Sarri confirmed after the game:

They need to find continuity. Morata had a good period, Giroud is in a good period so we need more continuity. But I think its very normal to sometimes play Morata and sometimes Giroud, we have to play every three days so it’s normal.

Giroud didn’t do a great deal to further his case for more game-time, wasting that aforementioned chance provided to him by Hazard and then prodding at Rico from a Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.3m) cross.

Security of starts is something we’ve taken for granted in the Chelsea defence this season, with Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) and the Blues’ entire back four all making the team for the 14th league match in a row.

While Sarri is not renowned for his rotation, there may be rests ahead in December for a number of his backline.

Though he banked a seventh clean sheet in 14 matches and remains the leading points-scorer among FPL defenders, Marcos Alonso (£7.1m) was well below-par against Fulham and was hauled off on 78 minutes.

Sky Sports reported that Alonso had been withdrawn with a minor knock (yet to be confirmed by the club or other media outlets) though to the observer it looked purely tactical due to the left-back’s poor display, with the premium defender having failed to make a single key pass or deliver a successful cross all afternoon. Alonso also looked vulnerable defensively, with much of Fulham’s attacking play coming down Chelsea’s left flank.

While Alonso remains high on our watchlist and still represents relatively good value for money (only Trent Alexander-Arnold is returning more points per million spent among outfielders this season), it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see him rested against Wolves on Wednesday evening – particularly with Manchester City to come on Saturday.

Mateo Kovacic (£5.8m) was pictured with an ice pack on his leg after being substituted, meanwhile, though Sarri merely said the Croatian was “a bit tired” after the game.

The club did confirm that Ross Barkley (£5.8m) missed out with a knock, however.

Loftus-Cheek could deputise at Molineux if either player is unavailable, with Sarri praising the youngster at full-time:

In the last few weeks, he solved me problems. I was really very happy after the Europa League match because I think that was his best performance from a tactical point of view. Today I felt Kovacic was a bit tired and I put him on without problems.I was sure about his impact on the match.

Sarri also praised another midfielder, N’Golo Kante, someone who he had criticised after the defeat to Spurs:

I think he played very well. He defended very well. He needs to improve a little more tactically but that’s natural. For the national team, he usually plays with two midfielders. Last season sometimes with a two and sometimes with three, but in a central position, so it’s normal that he needs to improve.

Today he was better when the ball was on the other side of the pitch, I remember only one mistake in the first half. With the ball on the other side he has to stay close to Jorginho otherwise for us it’s a big problem. Jorginho is well able to make passes through the opponents but he’s not so good in the defensive phase with open spaces.

Kante supplied the assist for Pedro’s goal after winning the ball in midfield and was noticeably prominent in attacking situations in the first half, racking up more final third touches than Kovacic and Giroud.

Another defensive-minded asset who caught the eye from an attacking perspective was Fulham’s Calum Chambers (£4.2m), who was once again used “out of position” in central midfield.

Chambers had more attempts on goal than any Fulham player and three of his side’s four shots on target, including a header from a corner that was well saved by Kepa.

Ranieri said of the on-loan Arsenal player’s display:

He played very well. He’s a good midfielder because he understands what I want and, also, when he has the ball, he moves it very quickly and in the right way. I’m very very surprised.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.6m), the most-bought FPL forward of Gameweek 14, didn’t have any meaningful attempt on goal but easier tests await in the coming weeks.

Mitrovic was paired up front with Ryan Sessegnon (£6.0m) in the first half, though Ranieri’s diamond formation was abandoned at half-time in favour of his more customary 4-4-1-1.

Ranieri said:

I tried to play with a diamond to close the central midfield for the Chelsea players because Chelsea want to pass the ball to Hazard, Giroud, Pedro and then from there attack the space or make one-two straight away and for this reason, I play with the diamond.

When you concede a goal from the beginning, it’s difficult. I changed the diamond at half-time and played with two wingers to make some problems to them and I think it was a good choice.

Tom Cairney (£4.8m) was a creative spark for Fulham in behind the striker(s) – creating three chances in total – and is perhaps a name to monitor as a budget-freeing, fifth-choice midfielder ahead of the Cottagers’ excellent run of fixtures from Gameweeks 17-20.

Andre Schurrle (£5.9m), meanwhile, missed the game as a precaution after he “felt a twinge” in training on Saturday.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso (Zappacosta 78′); Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic (Loftus-Cheek 67′); Pedro, Giroud (Morata 70′), Hazard.

Fulham XI (4-4-2 diamond): Rico; Christie, Odoi, Mawson, Le Marchand; Chambers, Seri, Cairney (Kebano 76′), Johansen (Ayite 45′); Mitrovic, Sessegnon (Kamara 45′).

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4,483 Comments Post a Comment
  1. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Made my transfers but worried about rotation/injuries and my weak bench this week.

    Fabianski
    Robertson | Alonso | Digne | AWB
    Mane | Mahrez | Son | Richarlison
    Kane | Arnautovic

    (Stek || Barkley | Doherty | Success)

    Should I take a hit? £2.5m ITB

    1. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      No hit required there. I’d say Sonny is the main risk and all your bench should play so they cover it

      1. chaser123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Don’t think Son will play 70 mins each game?

  2. noahzark22
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    If you had to change your GKs this week, who would you pick?

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Money an issue?

      1. noahzark22
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        nope

        1. Iceball
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Im happy with Fab with those fixtures but might consider Lloris if money no issue, very good fixtures.

    2. thischarmingman
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Ederson

    3. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Fabianski and fodder

    4. Viper
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Lloris

    5. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      still fab and fodder i think.Think fab can match lloris

    6. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I'm trading Ederson for Fabianski to enable Kane. Can't say I'm desperate for the move but I don't want to downgrade Alonso.

  3. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Have 2ft.
    A) Kane&Sane
    B) Auba&Sterling
    C) Auba&keep Hazard(save ft)
    Will Sane keep his place? Is Hazard fit enough? Go without City attack next 2 weeks?

    1. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B

  4. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    What's the story with diangana?

  5. UpAndAway
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Seriously thinking about going Kun to Arnie instead of Kane. Anyone else looking down that path?

    1. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn't want Kane.

  6. Cruyff's Eleven
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    G'day,

    Trying to sort through the vast array of data and opinions on Kane v. Aubameyang...

    Who would you pick as your first premium striker (C) and why?

    1. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Auba. Proven to be effective even if off the bench.

      Kane's roll this year has been withdrawn.

  7. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Sane or Eriksen?

    Sane has rotation worries as where Eriksen should play every game, has set pieces and better fixtures

    1. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Then Eriksen

  8. Pulp Minion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Foyth from Spurs to keep his place?

  9. awgJose
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A) Martial -> BSilva
    B) Hazard -> Sane

  10. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Play Jimenez or AWB this GW?
    *Have Alonso.

  11. Henning
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Kane Sane and Felipe in for Agüero Salah and Capoue??

    1. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I would for a -4

  12. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    beat way to raise funds for Aguero to Kane?
    A - Downgrade Haz or Salah
    B - Robbo to TAA?

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A- Hazard

    2. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      to who up to 10?
      Have Sane already

  13. cravencottage
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Which?
    A) Mitrovic and Mane
    B) Lacazette and Siggy/Anderson

    1. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B for me, I like both of Siggy and Anderson so can’t help you there

    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B with Anderson

      1. Don Rogers FC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Banderson

  14. fridge
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Going to wild card next week so for this week only (2 FT) would you do

    Aguero and Hazard > Kane and Erik?

    Pat
    Alonso. Robbo. Chilwell. AWB
    Salah. Haz. Gudmunson. Fraser
    Aguero. Arnie

    Foster. Cairney. Jiminez. Doherty

    1. Plymouth
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Why not considering Sané/Mahrez?

  15. Delph & Safety
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Worth the -8 to do Dubravka to Lloris or Gudmundsson to Siggy?

    Kün to Kane
    Hazard to Felipe Anderson (-4)

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      No not worth -8

  16. HD7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    You guys

    In the 12k
    The defence killed it this week

    Thanks for all of your creative advices. I really enjoy this website. Most of the people are really polite and have critical thinking :))

  17. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Aguero Martial > Abua Felipe Anderson for -4?

    1. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I'd wait until the weekend for martial > felipe

    2. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Then again, he'll be at home to Fulham lol

  18. Viper
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A. Hazard - > Sané

    B. Save FT

    1. Kingtekkerz
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I’m going B I thinj

    3. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I did A

    4. Delph & Safety
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B

    5. Bluth Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Easy B

    6. Jules Rimet
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

    7. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Save

  19. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    What a strike that was but aubameyang

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Indeed. Looking to get him in

  20. tafrère
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    If Aguero out :

    A. Aubameyang
    B. Jesus (change again GW16)
    C. Robbo + Aguero > Keane/Digne + Kane (for free)

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Do you have another way to get Kane in?

      1. tafrère
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Fraser > Brooks or TAA > Schindler.

        1. yakirh
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          I like Fraser -> Brooks
          Robbo has been great so far

  21. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Looks like I’ll save on Haz, and swallow the Sane price rise

    Could be better to have 2FT if needed, which could be used for a major overhaul of Salah Haz Jimenez to Richarlison Sane/Erik Kane GW16 onwards, or the like...

    Only problem would be this means going into GW15 with only DSilva for City - but at least he'll start for sure!

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Don't see the problem with Silva. At least you're pretty certain he'll start

  22. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Evening all. What to do chaps? 1 FT & 2m ITB. Advice most welcome.......

    Pat
    Stones - Alonso - TAA
    Salah - Richarlison - Sane - Martial
    Aguero - Wilson - Arnie

    (Hamer) - AWB - Bennett - Stephens

    A) Aguero > Kane/Auba (which one)
    B) Stones > Laporte
    C) Save
    D) Anything else

  23. JWilson3
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I really want to do Kun -> Auba tonight but seems daft if Aguero could play against Watford

    1. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Same here.

      Ben Dinnery's tweets seem to indicate Jesus will start. Aguero preserved and rested for the Chelsea game I guess.

      1. Spacemonkey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Rested for two weeks? He's going after 5 goals then...

  24. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Eriksen or Son? Who is the better option? Is Eriksen worth the extra .9 for nailedness?

  25. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Rp
    Salah + Aguero + jonny to Sterling + Auba + Laporte(-4)?

  26. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Free this week ... Aguero + hazard ->
    A) Kane + sane
    B) auba + sterling
    Or combination of above? Got WC intact

    1. Jules Rimet
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Had the exact same decision to make myself, went for Sane and Kane

  27. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Best caption option?

    Arnie, Sane, Hazard or Aubameyang?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sané

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hard to say without seeing the picture 😉

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      of these 4 easy haz

  28. BONZ
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    remind me - do we have to use our wild card b4 the new year?
    Do we get another in January?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Yes and yes

      1. BONZ
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        i think it may be time then!!

        cant find rules on the app

    2. The Mighty Whites
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah get another in January

    3. Britt Shickhouse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      First Wildcard expires Dec 29

  29. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Aguero+Alonso->Kane+Digne (-4)
    I need money so that I can do Wilson to Auba in gw16.

    Yes or no?

  30. Stevie B
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Hazard and Agüero ->

    1) Sterling and Aubameyang
    2) Sane and Kane?

    1. Jules Rimet
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      2

    2. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Went for Sane and Kane myself