Scout Notes

Arnautovic injury opens door for more striker changes

An injury to Marko Arnautovic may cause further widespread changes among Fantasy Premier League squads.

His owners will be sweating on a hamstring problem in the coming days and will have their eyes on alternatives already.

Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Felipe Anderson owners as a host of differential options helped West Ham to their latest win.

West Ham United 3-1 Cardiff City

Goals: Lucas Perez x2 (£6.2m), Michail Antonio (£6.8m) | Josh Murphy

Assists: Robert Snodgrass x2 (£5.3m), Arthur Masuaku (£4.3m) | Sean Morrison (£4.7m)

Marko Arnautovic (£7.2m) could be the next player to leave the Fantasy Premier League template after he was taken off injured in West Ham’s win over Cardiff. The Austrian forward went down clutching his hamstring and it seems unlikely he will feature too much over the Christmas period. The return to fitness of Andy Carroll (£5.4m) as well as the form of Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (£6.2m) and Lucas Perez (£6.2m) mean that Manuel Pellegrini has plenty of options to replace him. If he is set for some time on the sidelines, the popularity of Callum Wilson (£6.9m) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.6m) should rise accordingly.

“It is a hamstring injury, we will see tomorrow.” – Manuel Pellegrini

Also stepping up as a potential alternative option at West Ham was Robert Snodgrass (£5.3m) who recorded two assists in the win. Since returning from suspension in Gameweek 14 he has started two matches in a row while Grady Diangana (£4.5m) has featured for just 14 minutes. The Scottish international was also subbed after 75 minutes at the London Stadium suggesting that Manuel Pellegrini is keen to use him again in Gameweek 16. Snodgrass’ two assists were a delivery on the creative promise he’s shown this season. In the last four Gameweeks, he had created more chances than Felipe Anderson (£7.1m), who came out of the 3-1 win with just two points.

The only reason that Lukasz Fabianski (£4.5m) did not get his first home clean since Gameweek 6 was because of a scrappy late Cardiff City goal. The Bluebirds had not particularly threatened in the match and the Hammers were certainly on course for a well-deserved shut-out. In contentious circumstances, Josh Murphy (£4.8m) bundled the ball over the line deep into stoppage time with Fabianski obstructed from being able to make a save. However, his owners will still be content with his first-half penalty save and eight-point haul.

Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m) missed out on the match with his recent injury problems. He was considered a doubt for the encounter but was fit enough for the bench, although he did not come on.

Michail Antonio (£6.8m) got his first goal of the season, a header from one of Snodgrass’ corners. It was an impressive display from him but Fantasy managers looking at West Ham options should probably exercise caution. The midfielder was deployed at right-back, not for the first time in his Hammers’ career, allowing first-choice Pablo Zabaleta (£4.3m) could have a rest. With Ryan Fredericks (£4.6m) still out injured, Antonio may well be the preferred alternative to Zabaleta at right-back during this busy period where rotation will be rife.

Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere (£4.8m) was entirely absent from the matchday squad having sustained a minor pain in his ankle.

“Jack (Wilshere) has a small pain in his ankle, not the one he injured before. If he is not 100 per cent then I was not going to select him.” – Manuel Pellegrini

Joe Ralls (£4.7m) announced himself as Cardiff City’s penalty taker but his time in that position may be short-lived after seeing his poor effort saved.

It was a poor night for Cardiff and their Fantasy options. A number of them are still playing out-of-position, so to speak with Callum Paterson (£5.3m) the centre-forward once again and Victor Camarasa (£4.6m) deployed on the right flank of the attack.

Murphy has now featured only as a substitute in two of his last three matches while, as we already mentioned, the circumstances of his headed goal were fortuitous at best.

West Ham XI (4-4-2): Fabianski; Masuaku, Ogbonna, Diop, Antonio; F Anderson, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass (Diangana 75′); Arnautovic (L Perez 40′), Chicharito (Carroll 64′).

Cardiff XI (4-1-4-1): Etheridge; Bennett, Bamba, Morrison, Ecuele Manga; Gunnarsson; Hoilett (Murphy 64′), Arter, Ralls (Mendez-Laing 64′), Camarasa; Paterson (Harris 73′).

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £15.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

1,129 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Chances of me winning my head to head is slim isn’t it?

    Me: Kane (c), Hazard, Pereira , VVD

    Rival: Salah, Kovacic, Coleman, + 16 points

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      17% chance

    2. Vamos Los Celeste
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      yes slim

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

      High IMO.

    4. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      VVD will save you.

    5. KingOllie
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      you will win that

  2. That Was Easy!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Was plugging along but this week seems to have shaken my team, first hit of the season more or less required. Thoughts?

    Ederson Hamer
    Alonso TAA Digne Duffy*** WB
    Salah Sterling Richarlison Fraser Camarasa
    Kane Ings*** Arny***

    1ft, 0.1itb

    Thinking of Arny > Chica/Wilson and calling it good for the weekend, however something like:

    A) Salah + Arny > Auba + Son (-4)
    B) Salah + Arny > Laca + Eriksen/Sane (-4)

    1. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I like A, personally

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

      A

    3. Citizenkane91
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Why would you want Ings out ahead of 16, 18,19 when you have Fraser who rotates with that?

      Arnie>Lacazette, Alonso>Fernandez/Yedlin for -4 would be what I'd look at. Or simply Arnie>Wilson, but in that case keeping Ings becomes even more important and may limit the flexibility of your front strikers.

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

    Planning to WCgw17 but Struggling with a realiable gw16 captain. Not keen to take a hit for one gw but might be necessary to prevent any further damage in one of my worst seasons:

    Patricio -- Foster
    Alonso Digne Doherty -- Awb Schindler
    Haz Rich Martial Sane Anderson
    Kane Jiminez -- Arnie

    A) Patricio >> Fabianski
    - Avoid double wolves defence
    - Kane ©
    - Loose 0.2m value on Martial and Arnie price drop

    B) Kane >> Auba ©
    - Reliable captaincy pick
    - Loose 0.3m in value through the martial/arnie price drop and buying kane back for gw17

    C) Sane + Arnie >> benchfodder + Auba © (-4)
    - Reliable captaincy pick
    - Keep Martial for Fulham while sane has chelsea away.
    - Lose 0.1m in value with the martial price drop

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

      C

    2. Pilgrim62
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      C

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

      C, just

    4. BeDreamin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      C, Your front 8 means benching at least £6m. I think the key to this game is:
      a) value for money
      b) good captain options
      c) getting money on the pitch each game
      d) 1 fodder and 2 super cheap but playing subs

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

      pretty unanimous then surprisingly.

      Still quite hesitant about taking a hit just before a WC.

  4. Fantasy Gold
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I reckon Danny Ings is my man to come in for Arnie.

    Hoping for a little new manager bounce. Plus Cardiff and Huddersfield in their next 3 always helps.

    1. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      He's stayed on my team since a GW3 WC, hoping he's healthy for the weekend.

    2. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hope so!

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      If he gets the all clear on the injury then I think you could be right
      Attacking record for Leipzig was very good under Hasenhüttl - 5th highest scorers in the Bundesliga last season I think

  5. Vamos Los Celeste
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Predictions for NUFC vs Wolves

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      0-0

      1. Vamos Los Celeste
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Benching Fraser doesn't seem right

  6. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    salah(c)

    praying for at least double figures

    1. Vamos Los Celeste
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      i gave him the armband for a reason

    2. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Same here mate!!!!

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

      8x2 = 16 points enough?

    4. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully this is the GW he gets a killer score, hattrick pleas Mo

    5. KingOllie
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Just ONE brace before i sell him. PLEASE

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

        Yes, a brace of points preferably.

  7. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I have this lot tonight hopefully it stops me falling further back, but I can't see any really ground being made up from 755, what do you Think?

    TAA Alonso Doherty Wan(1)
    Richarlison
    Aubameyang Kane(c)

    1. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Not much better here
      Luiz, Rich, Son, Salah, Kane ( C ) ,amorata

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

        Why on earth do you think you’ve got no hope given you’ve got 7 of 12 left to play and mostly big hitters

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kane’s EO in the top 10k is less than 100% if he does well you’ll have a good week

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

        Have very similar but salah over aubameyang. Captain kane lets go!

  8. Ambrosiana Inter
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    So, no champions league for city next year?

  9. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I thought Kane was going up last night.

    1. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah, it was shocking to see for me that Arnautovic went up the other day...but good as I banck 0.1 when selling now..Kane to go up tonight

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

        I got Kane and Anderson in for a hit last night because I couldn't afford them if Kane went up 0.1m.

        Hopefully Kane doesn't get hurt tonight.

  10. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Pick 1 please really struggling with this decision ?

    A - Son

    B - Sigurdsson

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. Lizardprime
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A though neither convince me personally

    3. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Son

  11. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Any leaks on Liverpool's lineup?

  12. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Best GW in December to WC?

    1. Bingo
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I had intended to wait till GW20 but 4 injuries forced it

  13. Bingo
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    On a WC - which arsenal defender would you go for or stay away from them?

    A)Bellerin
    B)Kolasinic
    C)Stay Away

    1. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

      Stay away but otherwise A

    3. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

  14. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A) Haz & Arnie > Laca & Sane (-4)
    B) Haz & Arnie > Auba & Martial (-4)
    C) Haz & Arnie > Auba & Ramsey (-4)
    D) Haz & Joselu > Sane & Wilson (-4)
    E) Haz & Joselu > Laca & Ramsey (-4)
    F) Haz & Joselu > Auba & March (-4)
    G) Haz > Sterling (0)
    H) Haz > Sane (0)

    Hold and wait for Arnie new?
    Arsenal fixtures look good...

    1. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Get rid of arnie ipse s ruined my season get rid

    2. Lizardprime
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A of those. I wouldn't be wanting to offload Hazard if I had him though.

  15. Steinburg FC
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    4 flagged players and 1 none playing bench player looking like a -8 how about this?

    Hennessey, (Lossl)
    Alonso, Robertson, Doherty, (Wan-Bissaka, Duffy)
    Sterling, Son, Richarlison, Sane, (ward)
    Arnautovic, Kane, Murray,

    Arnie+Murray+Richarlison for Jimenez+Lacazette+Brooks(5.3) -8

    any better ideas?

  16. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Best 7.7 or under mid?
    1) Bilva (cheaper City mid, rotation, have Raz)
    2) FAnderson (nailed, but value drop w/o Arnie?)
    3) Siggy (nailed, have Rich)
    4) Martial (good fixtures upcoming)
    5) Willian (good fixtures after City)
    6) open to suggestions
    Cheers!

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      3

  17. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    The weekend looks like an unholy mess, so considering the following free hit:

    Fab (Hamer)
    Holding / TAA / Bamba / Doherty (Schelotto)
    Salah / Sane / Sigurdsson / Martial (Mendy)
    Auba / Kane (Kamara)

    Thoughts?

  18. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    If on a WC, would you say any Liverpool players are still needed for the festive fixtures?

  19. KJT123
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Can I get a quick show of hands...who here has gone for Laca instead of Auba?

    1. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I have Auba for this week but plan to play my WC soon. Tonight's lineup will help me decide which one to pick on WC.

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

      I may do gonna watch tonight and make a decision.

  20. alexvladutu
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone going for Perez or Chicarito?

    The fixtures look too appetizing to not at least try one of them and Perez was a decent target man in his La Liga Days.

  21. Pieterke30
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Lacazette on bench. Two questions for you guys

    1. Do you think it means Emery now feels (with the change of formation with wing backs) he can only start one of them, centrally, and other on bench? Y or N?

    2. Does that mean Lacazette is more likely to start than Auba vs HUD at the weekend? y or N?

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

    Salah and Arnie out for Aubameyang and D.Silva?

    Yes
    No

  23. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    West ham swapsies Obiang and Arnie to Snoddy and Chica

  24. SirT83
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A: Salah and Arnie for Auba and Son? - 4 points
    B: Arnie for Wilson/Mitro

    Fabs
    Alonso Robbo WB Duffy Doherty
    Salah Siggy Felipe Billing Sane
    Kane Arnie Zaha.

  25. migas2k7
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Best arnautovic replacement?

    A) Lucas Perez
    B) Mitrovic
    C) Chicharito

    1. jaguar shark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Wilson and Jimenez??

      1. migas2k7
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        wolfs suck

  26. Iwobi Wan Kenobi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    On wildcard, and trying to decide whether to shift funds from defense to offense. In the past, I feel like I’ve heard rumors that clean sheets are more common during the festive fixture pileup—has anyone seen a quantitative analysis on this? Wondering this especially in light of no clean sheets this week.

  27. Starsleague
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Nice article! It's interesting to play the football fantasy on the app, Stars league which has immense features all needed. Have a look at the https://starsleagueff.app.link/fantasyfootball_community

  28. jaguar shark
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Mane, Aguero to Anderson, Kane.

    Now, what to plan over the next two GW with Alonso, Hazard and 1.7 ITB??

    1. jaguar shark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Bring in TAA and Salah...?

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

    I'm 01 short of doing the following for a (-8):

    Arnie, Hazard, Alonso -> Kane, Fraser, VanDijk

    Is it madness anyways or other suggestions for Alonso/Hazard downgrade possibilities?

    1. BATISTUTA ®
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kola + Auba/Laca for Alonso Arnie