Scout Notes

Wolves’ home form causes headaches for FPL managers and Santo

Not for the first time this season, Wolves’ Fantasy assets underwhelmed on their own turf.

We discuss the fall-out from this latest home defeat at Molineux, with the salient FPL talking points, manager quotes and injury updates covered in this Scout Notes piece.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 Crystal Palace

  • Goals: Jordan Ayew (£5.7m), Luka Milivojevic (£6.1m)
  • Assists: Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m), Wilfried Zaha (£6.7m)

Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that his side need to address their form at Molineux after this latest 2-0 reverse at the hands of Crystal Palace – their fifth loss in seven home matches.

The Wolves boss also pinpointed exactly where the game was won, with the West Midlands club’s usual effectiveness in wide areas somewhat lacking:

We have to improve at home, we have to find solutions. Different scenarios.

Today, Crystal Palace took the space and we were not creating enough in the wide areas. This is our game, wide areas, one v. ones, combinations. When this doesn’t happen, the game starts coming inside and it’s easier for who’s defending. So we have to find solutions at home.

Wolves might be one of those sides who are more potent away from home or playing against “big six” clubs, able to exploit their undoubted strength on the flanks much more easily when they are hitting teams on the counter-attack: see their recent 3-1 victory over Spurs in Gameweek 20 and the exhilarating 1-1 draw with Arsenal in November.

When the onus is on them to attack at home, their somewhat one-dimensional set-up (Santo steadfastly sticking with a 3-4-3 or variations thereof) is easier for defensive-minded opponents to negate by funnelling them into central areas where they are less effective: see the 2-0 home defeats to Watford, Huddersfield and now Palace.

Santo’s outfit have actually got more points and conceded five fewer goals on the road than they have on home soil, with three of their four victories at Molineux coming in wide-open, counter-attacking matches in which the visiting side had registered more shots on goal.

All three of Matt Doherty’s (£5.2m) goals have come away from home, meanwhile.

Doherty’s owners needn’t lose much sleep over this defeat, however.

For all Palace stymied Wolves’ creativity on the flanks – Doherty and Jonny (£4.3m) only registering one key pass and take-on apiece – the Irish wing-back still popped up in some dangerous areas and could so easily have scored his fourth goal of the season.

Both of the hosts’ big chances came in the same situation, with Willy Boly‘s (£4.6m) completely mistimed free header bouncing awkwardly for Doherty, who could only nod over from close range.

Doherty then couldn’t react in time when Ivan Cavaleiro‘s (£5.2m) cross found him on the edge of the six-yard box, the ball bobbling off his midriff and into the arms of Vicente Guaita (£4.2m).

Raul Jimenez (£6.4m) cut an isolated figure up top, with one ambitious 30-yard effort summing up Wolves’ attacking endeavours.

The Mexican striker wasn’t helped by some middling displays from Cavaleiro and Helder Costa (£4.8m) either side of him, both of whom were hooked in the second half.

Romain Saiss (£4.2m) took a knock to his knee in the closing stages and had to be replaced, but Santo said he didn’t think the injury was serious:

It was impact on the knee, but everybody that trains and works every day has problems they have to deal with.

Palace have struggled for goals this season but their defence has provided Fantasy managers with plenty of joy – or not, for those who serially bench Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.4m).

Only Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs have kept more clean sheets than Palace this season (eight).

In the 15 matches in which Wan-Bissaka, James Tomkins (£4.3m), Mamadou Sakho (£4.9m) and Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) have played 90 minutes together as a unit, Palace have kept seven shut-outs and conceded only 16 goals.

Sakho was the pick of the Palace backline last night, picking up a bonus point – his ninth of the campaign, all gained without an attacking return – to go with his clean sheet.

That double-chance for Boly and Doherty was Wolves’ only real clear opportunity of the evening and as the game grew on, Palace posed more of a threat at the other end of the pitch.

Jordan Ayew (£5.7m) was brought back into the starting XI as Roy Hodgson switched to a 4-3-3 and the Ghanaian repaid his manager’s faith by opening the scoring on 82 minutes, controlling a wayward van Aanholt shot and firing past Rui Patricio (£4.5m).

Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m) had more penalty box touches than Ayew in Gameweek 21.

Hodgson paid tribute to Ayew, who has been a bit-part player for much of 2018/19:

He has done a lot of good work and he did a lot of good work tonight before the goal. I thought his defending and his stretching of the defence, and his hold-up play when we got the ball up to him, all of those things were good.

But when you are a forward you do need goals, if people are really going to regard you as a good forward, and he has had to wait for that goal.

The games against Manchester City and Chelsea, you sometimes modify your line-up, or system at times. We stick to the same principles, but we are lucky enough to have that flexibility to sometimes play with one, two or three up front, like we did today.

Occasionally, he gets sacrificed in those moments when I decide it will be Wilf and Andros up the front, but it was good to bring him back in the team tonight and it was good to see Wilf and Andros do so well in the wide positions.

Ayew might be given an extended run in the team, too, with Hodgson confirming that a deal for Dominic Solanke (£4.7m) was now dead in the water.

Christian Benteke (£6.3m) is nearing a return, however, as Hodgson revealed in his post-match press conference:

We hope he will get fit and train with us tomorrow, and be hopefully back with us over the course of the next week. He is probably technically able now, but if he gets himself match-fit that to some extent will be like a new signing this year, because we haven’t really seen him at all.

If there are other players the club can bring in, I certainly won’t be averse to that because we have a very small squad and we don’t have a lot to back us up, and there is a risk that one or two players in the squad may be going out.

Wilfried Zaha (£6.7m) hasn’t scored since Gameweek 5 and was largely well-shackled by Ryan Bennett (£4.1m) down the Palace left, though the Ivorian did get the better of his marker in stoppage time to win the penalty that Luka Milivojevic (£6.1m) converted.

Wolves XI (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Saiss (Neves 73’), Jonny; Costa (Gibbs-White 64’), Jimenez, Cavaleiro (Adama 84’).

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur; Townsend, Ayew (Wickham 88’), Zaha.

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288 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Alex_thekid
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Robertson out he's at hospital him Misses is screaming blue murded lol

    1. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      https://thisisfutbol.com/2019/01/blogs/premier-league/pearce-robertson-is-in-liverpool-squad-to-face-city/
      "Andrew Robertson is with the Liverpool squad and set to play in tonight’s (Thursday) Premier League showdown against Manchester City, according to James Pearce."

  2. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    get rid for free:
    a. martial
    b. anderson

    for

    1. rich
    2. siggy

    thx!!!

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

      stick with both

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

      a1

  3. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Son to Salah for a hit or hold?

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      hold for united game then change

      1. EMBOLOFAN
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        this

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Just for the people who use Ben Dinnery as a reliable source of info

    https://twitter.com/BenDinnery/status/1080861641280049152

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

      Ben Dover.

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

      pearce says hes playing

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        ofc he will play when i have Pereira 1st on the bench.

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

          The question is why is he there?

          1. Niho992
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            I played Robbo over him, i made mistake. Im human, not alien.

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

              Why is it a mistake?

              1. Niho992
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                How is not ? Pereira had better match up and he got 12 points, Robbo plays vs City away and he will probably have 1 or 2 points. OFC its mistake.

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

                  If Leicester played tomorrow, you'd probably have a different view. Easy when 12 points is the alternative. You still thought Everton would score.

                  1. Niho992
                    • 5 Years
                    5 years, 2 months ago

                    Yeah, but City have more chances to score vs Liverpool than Everton vs Leicester.

                    Did you play Robbo ?

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

                      Don't own a Pool defender. I like making FPL difficult.

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

      Bald Frauddery has been shut down already

      https://twitter.com/JamesPearceEcho/status/1080868588049874944

    4. Robe Wan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Ben do one

  5. Jafoole_88
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone got Aguero (c) for this evening??

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe a few outside top 3 million

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

    Own Salah, haven't captained, and am having an awful week. Cheer for a hattrick right?

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Very high ownership in the top so won’t matter too much

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

        73.9 EO
        Every point gains 0.261

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

      Yep unless ML rivals have captained. Better for overall rank.

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

    0.1 itb
    2ft

    fab speroni
    alonso robbo laporte lovren doherty
    salah haz son pogba richy
    rash jimi kamara

    think im going to keep laporte until gw24 is over#

    cheers

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

    Do we think Guaita holds his place?

  9. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Defoe will score loads of goals in Scottish league

  10. alexh87
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC?

    Etheridge Guaita
    Digne TAA Doherty AWB Bednarek
    Salah Mane Pogba Brooks Westwood
    Arnie Auba Kane

    Leaves 0.3 itb to swap between Auba and Aguero.

    1. Bat Man
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Unpopular opinion but I think Jonny may be a better value pick than Doh given Wolves atrocious defense

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

        would assume hes had doherty for a while so wouldn't save much

    2. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Would have S over M in the battle of the anes.

  11. Bat Man
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Help please: 1 Ft, 1.5 ITB
    Lloris Button
    Alonso Lindelof Holebas Bennet Peltier
    Hazard Sterling Pogba Rich Fraser
    Kane Jiminez Ings

    Who should I downgrade to fund Salah? Or go without him and spread the cash. Defense needs some help so I was thinking:

    Peltier to TAA for free then following week do Hazard to Salah and downgrade Rich to Camarasa to fund for a -4. Any better ways to go about this? Thanks

    1. Stevie B
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I would do Sterling and Alonso -> Salah and cheap defender.

      1. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Not when his defence is already v weak

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

      sounds good but i'd just do it over 3 weeks

  12. Stevie B
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What to do with this lot?

    Lloris, Speroni
    Alexander-Arnold, Digne, Doherty, Wan-Bissaka, Bednarek
    Salah, Hazard, Pogba, Richarlison, F. Anderson
    Kane, Jimenez, Kamara

    Two free transfers and unfortunately no money in the bank.

    Thanks!

    1. Bat Man
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Nice team maybe get rid of Felipe

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

      looks great

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

      could downgrade fanderson to deulo and get robertson/vvd in

      1. Bat Man
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This

    4. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Upgrade Kamara to Arnau by downgrading Fanderson, to Brooks maybe? Great team then.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Might have to ban Dinnery as a source soon 😆

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

      pfft

  13. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Which combination is better?

    a) Firmino and F.Anderson

    b) Mane and Arnie

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

  14. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Think I would rather some fake lineups, injury shouts and lol@s ... rather than the incessant flow of ‘please pick my team for me’ posts ... can we please go back to the good old days before the police state martial law regime was implemented ? 😉

    1. Alex_thekid
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      New post lol

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        15%

  15. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Rate my Wildcard please

    Guaita Speroni
    TAA Digne Doherty AWB Balbuena
    Hazard Salah(c) Son Hjobjerg Camarasa
    Kane Auba(vc) Kamara

    1. Alex_thekid
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Son ? Transfer waiting to happen already or are you keeping & benching for 3 gw

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

      Son leaving for the Asía games?

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

      + having 2 play 2 bench fodder ever week.
      Hazard? Che playing terrible I'd wait for a decent striker to come in prefer Sterling

  16. Party time
      5 years, 2 months ago

      % chance of a red card tonight?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        For Salah? 100%

    • Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Is this WC team ludicrous?

      Etheridge, Button
      Lovren, Arnold, Doherty, Wan Bissaka, Bednarek
      Salah, Hazard, Sigurdsson, Anderson, Gunnarsson
      Kane, Aguero, Kamara

      1. Alex_thekid
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Hazard? Apart from that its ok

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

        pretty mental but quite like it

    • Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Are all neutrals hoping for a City win tonight? I am.

      1. Party time
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I'm going with Liverpool

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

        Haven’t been this buzzing all season. GTFO here ya bindippers!