Scout Notes

Hazard’s latest display in the false nine role furthers FPL concerns

Our write-ups of the weekend’s matches continue with a look at events at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Chelsea defeated a dogged Newcastle United side in yet another underwhelming match for owners of two of the Blues’ more popular Fantasy assets, though there was joy for the differential alternatives to this premium pair.

As ever, we’ll cover the main Fantasy talking points, key manager quotes and headline injury updates in the Scout Notes below.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United

  • Goals: Pedro (£6.3m), Willian (£7.2m) | Ciaran Clark (£4.5m)
  • Assists: David Luiz (£5.9m), Eden Hazard (£11.1m) | Matt Ritchie (£5.8m)

Another Gameweek and another Chelsea display that left owners of Marcos Alonso (£6.7m) and Eden Hazard with a lot of pondering to do.

Our reviews of the Blues’ performances in recent weeks have had a similar refrain, as Maurizio Sarri’s side have struggled to break down opponents who have sought to frustrate their attacking instincts (see Crystal Palace, Southampton and even Spurs in the Carabao Cup).

The visit of Newcastle United always threatened to be a tricky prospect on that front, given what happened between the two teams in Gameweek 3 and Rafael Benitez’s knack of organising his very limited Magpies side into a difficult-to-penetrate outfit.

An eighth-minute goal from Pedro (£6.3m) seemed to be exactly what Chelsea and owners of their FPL assets needed but any hopes that the Blues would cut loose and subsequently steamroller their visitors were dashed as Sarri’s troops produced yet another disjointed offensive display: it is now 12 Premier League matches since the Blues scored more than two goals in a game.

Sarri acknowledged his side’s struggles after full-time:

I’m really very happy with the result. I was happy with the performance at Tottenham, today we started well for ten minutes but after the goal, we thought it was easy and it wasn’t. We slept for 25 minutes and we were in trouble.

It was better in the second half but we need to improve in the mental reaction because after the first goal something happened. We stopped playing. It was very important to get three points and to score, and for now, that’s enough.

It’s very difficult to understand. In the last five matches, it was difficult to score. Today, we did it after eight or nine minutes so I think the team felt it was easy. We stopped playing and then, of course, we had problems. We were not able to react in the right way to the difficulties but today there were no difficulties as we scored after nine minutes.

For the first time, at Watford, we reacted well to their goal in the last minutes of the first half. We reacted very well at Tottenham. Today we only had to manage a positive situation, not a difficulty. I think we need to improve our mentality.

There was no Alvaro Morata (£8.4m) to blight Hazard in west London on Saturday evening but the Belgian was arguably the least effective of Chelsea’s front three, registering only one attempt on goal – which was blocked – and a single key pass in his 87-minute showing.

Hazard was deployed as a false nine with Pedro and Willian (£7.2m) either side of him but despite the Magpies’ spine looking particularly weak – three of their senior central midfielders being injured or unavailable – the Belgium international was unable to wreak the kind of havoc he has often caused against Newcastle down the years.

Hazard did give the United backline some problems whenever he did receive possession and his brilliant turn and scamper 40 yards out led to an assist for Willian’s curling winner on 56 minutes.

Ultimately, though, there wasn’t enough of Hazard on the ball. The Belgian had the fewest touches of any Chelsea outfield player in the opening 45 minutes and although he was more involved after the interval, his touch count was the lowest it has been at Stamford Bridge this season – with the exception of the counter-attacking win over Manchester City in December.

Sarri was positive about Hazard’s second-half display, though, and hinted that the set-up will continue, highlighting the defensive stability it brings:

Not in the first half but in the second half my feeling was that he enjoyed it. I wanted to see the solution with the three small players and in this moment it is a very good solution because we are not less dangerous in the offensive phase and in the defensive phase, we are more balanced.

In the last six matches, we have conceded only three goals, and one was a penalty, so in the moment in the defensive phase we are doing very well and one of the reasons, in my opinion, is that Eden is playing in that position.

For his characteristics, of course, he goes to the direction of the ball. We need to learn to attack spaces or to attack the box with other players. It was better on Saturday with the wingers in attacking spaces more than the box. We scored inside ten minutes by attacking the spaces behind the line with Pedro, and I remember very well one time at the beginning of the second half the same situation with Willian.

So it is better now, we need to improve in attacking the box when the ball is out of the box on the lateral side. It is impossible for Eden to stay in the box.

Sarri mentioned there about other players attacking the vacant spaces and Pedro and Willian certainly seemed to be the beneficiaries of the vacuums that Hazard was creating when dropping deep and searching for the ball.

The pair racked up seven shots between them and both got on the scoresheet, with Willian spurning two excellent one-on-one situations with Martin Dubravka and Pedro forcing the Slovakian into three stops – one a superb save from the Spaniard as he broke free in the Newcastle box just after half-time.

Chelsea and Hazard’s rhythm wasn’t helped by another poor performance by Jorginho (£4.7m), the midfield metronome who Sarri brought to Stamford Bridge in the summer with the intention of building a team around.

Sarri continues to overlook the impressive N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) for that “regista” role and hinted that the departure of Cesc Fabregas would force him into the transfer market, though mentioned that Ethan Ampadu (£4.4m) is a potential long-term option in that position:

After 20 minutes he [Jorginho] lost a lot of balls and it is unusual, so I think he was in trouble. Maybe he was tired, I don’t know, but if Fabregas was on the bench I think in the second half Fabregas would have been on the pitch instead of Jorginho

The player who plays in that position usually touches about 120 to 130 balls [a match] and so I think we need a specialist there.

The bench is not really very short. It is left short for only one position at the moment because Hudson-Odoi is improving, Hudson-Odoi in one or two months will be at the same level as the other players. I hope the same for Ampadu. Of course, playing as a central midfielder in our team is not easy, we need to try and try and try in training.

As for Alonso, this was more of the same: the third-highest number of touches in the final third among all players on show at Stamford Bridge and plenty of gallops into the Newcastle half but ultimately lacking in any serious threat going forward.

It’s now 12 Premier League matches since Alonso delivered an attacking return and while Hazard’s owners may consider the upcoming trips to Arsenal and Bournemouth something of a boon given the spaces likely to be gifted by those two unconvincing defences, the prospects of Alonso compensating his lack of goals or assists with a clean sheet in Gameweeks 23 and 24 look slimmer than in recent weeks.

An away match at Manchester City in Gameweek 26 will also fuel doubt among Alonso’s existing owners.

The Spanish full-back has always been a streaky player, of course: in Gameweeks 23-33 last season he didn’t register a single attacking return and recorded only two clean sheets in that period.

Alonso’s underlying numbers were still competitive during that stretch of games in 2017/18 (racking up the joint-highest number of shots among FPL defenders) and in Gameweek 12-22 of this season, he indeed ranks joint-third for attempts on goal among players in his position.

The Spain international’s creativity has tailed off, however, and with David Luiz (£5.9m) outscoring him from Gameweek 4 of this season onwards, there is even a viable alternative option in the Chelsea defence for those still wanting representation from the Blues’ backline.

Luiz produced a sublime through-ball for Pedro to score his goal on Saturday and the Brazilian walked off with maximum bonus to bolster his assist points.

Newcastle caused the Chelsea occasional problems in attack, with Salomon Rondon‘s (£5.7m) presence a particular threat: the Venezuelan nodded a late chance wide and it was from his flick-on that Ayoze Perez (£6.1m) wasted an excellent opportunity in the first half.

Ciaran Clark (£4.5m) nodded in a Matt Ritchie (£5.8m) corner to restore parity in the 39th minute and this was another spirited performance from the Magpies, showing that they can at least limit the damage that Fantasy assets from the title-chasing clubs can inflict on any given day: this was their fifth 2-1 defeat to a “big six” side in 2018/19.

Benitez said of his side’s display:

We conceded a goal we could avoid but after that, we were fighting for every ball. These players care, you could see that.

We were working so hard against a good team, and we were doing well. It’s a pity that a player with quality made the difference at the end.

We finished the first half – the last 20 minutes – being the better side. That, for me, is clear. In the second half, they started moving the ball with more pace.

You could see a lot of positives with the performance but no points. We knew that they would keep the ball and we had to maximise what we did when we got the ball. We had some chances on the counter but our final pass wasn’t there.

We will have chances to get points against teams who will be closer to us. We have to be better than three teams and if we play like we did today we will do it.

Florian Lejeune (£4.4m) made his first league start of the season and performed admirably as part of the Newcastle back three, with Benitez highlighting his ability in possession:

He is giving us something on the ball, and he helps us to play the way we want to play sometimes from the back.

He can play short or he can play long, and I am happy with him coming back because he is another player, and he can give us more competition.

Sean Longstaff (£4.5m) made his full league debut in central midfield in the absence of Ki Sung-yueng (£4.7m), Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m) and Mohamed Diame (£4.8m), meanwhile.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic (Barkley 63′); Pedro (Hudson-Odoi 81′), Hazard (Giroud 87′), Willian.

Newcastle United XI (3-4-2-1): Dubravka; Lejeune, Lascelles, Clark; Yedlin (Manquillo 82′), Longstaff, Hayden, Ritchie; Atsu, Perez (Murphy 82′); Rondon.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £10.

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

828 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Just got a deep fat fryer for the first time, what do we reckon, fish and chips?

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

      Stick your hand in to check the oil is hot enough first.

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

      Scotch egg!

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Oh dear Lord, now that brings back some memories.

    3. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Calamari

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Ooh, so many options, hadn't thought of that.

    4. altan8797
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      sounds good. Could do the same before watching my (c)

    5. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Mars bar

    6. All de Gea no iDier
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Mars Bar?

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

      Pizza.

    8. Where has all the rum gone?
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Lukaku would like some fried Mars bar and chips.

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

      Just chips for the first test use. And remember, with new oil they will not be as good as when you make them 3rd time!

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Oh really, any other tips as its my first one?

        1. Beast Mode
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Falafel

        2. Peter Ouch
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Horse

    10. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Haloumi!

    11. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Has to be (as someone else has commented too) a Mars Bar? Let us know what, and how you rate the outcome and deep fat fryer.
      Come to think of it, rather than splashing out on a new gym membership for January, a deep fat fryer would suit down to the ground.

    12. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Ice cream?

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

    Thoughts on Richarlison to Luca Moura or Lamela this week?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Planning Richarlison to Moura next week. Wait and see this weekend.

      1. XABI 15
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        yep this is what im thinking. Better to hold this week and have 2ft next week instead where that can be the move

      2. Beast Mode
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Don't do it! Rich has some sweet fixtures coming up

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I’ve only had a brief look tbh. I kinda hope that DCL leads the line for Everton at Southampton and Richarlison has more touches.

          Not in any rush to sell.

    2. altan8797
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I will do it (lucas) if kane is not gone for more than 1 week?

  3. All For One
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    4th repost please help!

    Allison
    Trippier,Bennett,Trent
    Sane,Richarlison,(c)Salah,Martial,Camarasa
    Ings,Jiminez

    Subs: Kane David Luiz,Peltier

    gtg or

    -4 Kane>Aguero?

    1. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      wait for Kane news, play Luiz instead of Camarasa

      1. All For One
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Chelsea will concede I reckon Camarasa likely to do well against Newcastle

    2. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      GTG and agree with Xabi 15 about swapping Luiz and Camarasa

      1. All For One
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        cool if Kane is out tho -4 to Aguero good?

        1. Beast Mode
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I just don't like taking hits if I can avoid it.. Wait for Kane news and see. Also what about Ings? Isn't he always injured?

          1. All For One
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            He should be back this gw has some good fixtures so will see if he starts or not

  4. HAMMERTIME107
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Pogba or Sane??

    Have both Rashford and Aguero!

    1. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pogba

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pogba

    3. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pogback

  5. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    If you could get any mid apart from Salah and pogba, who would it be?

    1. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling

    2. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Literally anyone? Has to be Sterling or Sané. In fact I was going to get one of them in for Son before the Kane injury - now it'll have to be Salah.

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Which of the two?

        1. Pierce34
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Coin toss for me. Mendy back soon so it tips the scales in Sterling's favour, although they have a blank in GW27 so Sané will be good until then too.

    3. Tigers Time
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sane

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Salah - Pogba - Hazard - Sane

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Still backing Hazard ?

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Hazard is decent. His points to date show it. He keeps ticking over somehow. Think he is worth owning, but not captaining

      2. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        In order of preference?

    5. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I still don’t own Pogba and have no city mid. I do own Aguero though. Hazard to Pogba/Sane is giving me an itchy finger.

    6. Where has all the rum gone?
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling or hazard

    7. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling

    8. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Obviously hazard

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Not sure it's obvious if he's blanking in some great fixtures

        1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          We will comeback to this after next 3 fixtures

          1. internal error
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            It's not as if you're biased or anything

            1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              I would be biased if those 3 fixtures were spurs city pool which clearly is not the case.We will see how many points he scores combined over next 3

  6. Four Hit Wonder
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    4.2 mid, Auba, Kane -> Lucas, Aguero, Jimenez? For -8

    1. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      no way

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No I wouldn’t for free. Just do Kane to Kun if he is confirmed out.

      1. Four Hit Wonder
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks. I want Lucas so bad though

        1. Teddy Brewski
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Really? Who's to say he even starts?

          1. Four Hit Wonder
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Gambling on him starting and scoring vs buying him after he hauls

  7. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Marcos Alonso: Of the 198 players to attempt 50 or more crosses, Alonso has the worst cross accuracy (9.9%) in Europe's top five leagues this season

    1. Where has all the rum gone?
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      It's a dead horse stop beating it already.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah!

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

      Essential

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

      It would be 5 times as good if Rondon were Chelsea's striker.

    4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Awful

    5. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Probably doesn't help having Hazard as a target in the box 🙂

    6. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      @Maximus Bonimus Pointimus 😉

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

    Need a mitrovic replacement. Best striker up to 6,7 ?

    1. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jimenez

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I only have eyes for Jimenez.

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        A pretty filly yeah

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

        And he is a worry also. Fans expect that Wolves will buy better striker. Tbh that is imo what they need.

    3. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wilson is back soon

  9. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Tough to remain positive as you slip and slide your way to a bad ranking. Yet I still believe Hazard will reward us idiots. Next 2 fixtures are imo primed for hauls.Arsenal are going backwards at a rapid rate and then Bournemouth who conceded 2 to a sterile Everton. Both buses on bricks ,so pointless
    jumping ship now ?

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah. But after he hauls in these matches, sell. No point in waiting for another dry spell.

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Oh yes ,agree

    2. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      you need to triple captain him

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Ok will consider

    3. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I captained him almost by default this week (didn't have any good options), but even before that I was saying I expect Arsenal to be an easier fixture. I see no reason to sell, the next two will be very open games compared to Newcastle, who are more solid defensively.

      Original plan was to reassess Hazard after GW25, when they have Huddersfield. I see no reason to change that.

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah. My thinking too Pierce.

        1. Pierce34
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          In fact, if they beat Tottenham in the EFL Cup, it's an easy transfer out in GW26 - Man City and then blank.

          1. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Hoping this happens too 🙂

  10. maaaaloney
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Mitrovic or Wilson out for Rashford?

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Mitro if any good newson Wilson return

    2. moz_1983
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Mitro for me.

    3. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Mitro

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

      Too early to say, wait for news imo.

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

      Mitro's stats have been decent of late, he's been unlucky not to score

      I suspect Wilson's not really injured, and so I'd be inclined to offload him first. There's always the risk that he's at chelsea by next week, but at least Mitro is starting and playing well

      Both teams have ropey ficxtures too, though Fulham's are slightly better

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

        If he isn't really injured and goes to Chelsea, he is a steal imo.

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

    Assuming Kane is out, which team would you prefer gw23 onwards:

    A: leaves 3m itb
    Fabianski -- Button
    Digne Holebas Doherty -- Alonso (ars) schindler
    Salah Hazard Anderson Pogba Rich
    Jimenez Rashford -- Kamara

    B: involves a 4 point hit and 1m itb
    Fabianski -- Button
    Digne Holebas Doherty -- TAA schindler
    Salah Hazard Anderson Pogba Rich
    Jimenez Aguero -- Kamara

    1. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B because I think you need some Man City cover going forward

  12. WVA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any changes needed or G2G?

    Foster
    TAA Digne Kola
    Salah(c) Hazard Eriksen Pogba (vc)
    Aguero Rashford Jimenez
    Hamer Camarasa Bennett AWB

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

      Looks good. Would save a transfer

    2. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      GTG but I would captain Aguero instead of Salah because he's playing Huddersfield.

  13. bolobolo
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any improvement needed for my team below:

    DEGOD
    ROBBO PEREYRA TAA
    SALAH STERLING DEULOFOU SANE POGBA
    RASHFORD AUBA

    SUB : SPERONI, BEDNAREK, AWB, KAMARA
    O.6 ITB..

    Going for 352 for the mext 2 GW

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

      I would personally turn caps lock off

      1. bolobolo
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Haha..sory mate

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

        Because some said they won't answer for those shouting or may even give same quality answers as they give to Scotty B etc...

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

      Do not shout, thank you.

      1. bolobolo
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Sory mate..

        Im thinking of binning Auba to Aguero..

        What do you think

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

          Did so yesterday

          1. bolobolo
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Is it too much risk by having 3 city attacker?

            Im also considering Deeney, but already having Doulefou..and i dont fancy Hazard either..

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

              Bgw27 plan?

              1. bolobolo
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                Dont think about it yet....

        2. Beast Mode
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          You have Sterling and Sane already so you're covered... Keep Auba

  14. ESilva23
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Highest Projection your team has received from Rate My Team tool?

    Just checked it out and my squad got a stunning (to me) 397.39 for the next six GWs...

    How much stock do folks put in this tool when thinking about transfers etc?

    1. Puzzle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I check it usually. Use it for information, but never as blueprint. Did Auba->Rashford this week despite Auba having a higher score for example.

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

      Not too much imo. The model is difficult and needs a lot of work to keep updated. But it does have it's benefits.

  15. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Just out of a 24 hr stint in the sin bin for calling myself a rookie!
    I didnt think they would do that to top 10k ranked players :/

    1. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You can get sin-binned? I didn't know.. I'm rookie!

  16. JasonG123
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Patricio (Hamer)
    Robertson TAA Digne Doherty (Wan-Bissaka)
    Salah (c) Sterling (vc) Pogba Lingard (Snodgrass)
    Kane Jimenez (Kamara)

    1FT, 0.5m ITB.

    Any ideas this week? I'd like to save but Lingard and Snodgrass and causing problems.

    It is tempting to bite the bullet and go Lingard and Kamara to Puncheon and Rashford for -4.

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wait for Kane news.Only other question is can Salah win a pen against Palace

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This time it's gonna be an offside goal ha

  17. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    You just know Trollzard gonna punish the sellers now

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yes cast in stone

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

      No, next week!

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Arsenal are imploding believe me

    3. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      am keeping definitely

    4. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      TRIPLE CAP TIME

    5. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Trollzard LOOOOOOL

    6. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe sellers get what they deserve selling before arse bou hudds

  18. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Captain Salah, Rashford or Aguero next gw?

    1. Beast Mode
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Kun

    2. bolobolo
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Salah...hes the safest option..

      I once have Salah, Kane, Hazard, Sterling in my team...the biggest mistake ive done was captaining Kane because of his fixture...Salah outscore kane if i put the armband on him...hes fixturproof

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Salah.U need some luck in this game and capping the main player from the luckiest team will ofc boost ur rank + EO would be goddamn high if Kane out too

  19. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Considering Haz, Alonso to Salah, Bednarek... would leave me this:
    1.6 ITB
    Fab
    Digne TAA Doh
    Pererya Sane Anderson Mo Rich
    Kane Rash
    (Button, Jimenez, Bednarek, Awb)

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

      And if Kane is injured, you can upgrade him with that money?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I'd downgrade Kane and upgrade Rich or Anderson most likely

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      wait on kane news imo

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

      Just bin Kane...without Son..hes half the player

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Half the player loll.Are u kidding

        1. bolobolo
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Nope..son creates spaces for Kane...

      2. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Enjoy owning him tbh

  20. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on what to do this week? 1FT 1.6ITB

    Patricio - Button
    Alonso - Laporte - Digne - Doherty - AWB
    Salah- Hazard-Pogba- Martial - Hojbjerg
    Rashford-Wilson-Barnes

    Cheers

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

      Watch the match tonite and assess after that? Haz to Sterling or save perhaps.

  21. RealSocialDads
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Which one to bench?

    A. Doherty (LEI)
    B. Holebas (BUR)
    C. Digne (sou)

    Head says Digne but can I really do that after his haul...

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Play all.Maybe bench some another

      1. RealSocialDads
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Who would get benched ahead of them though?

        Salah Haz Rich Pogba Aguero Jiminez Deeney Robbo are my other starters... feel like it has to be one of these 3

        1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Jimmy tbh.Wolves have more chance of clean than scoring in that match imo

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

      Same dilemma between Doherty and Digne

      1. Teddy Brewski
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I remember the last time I had that decision! one scored 2, the other scored 17. Those 15 points still hurt....

  22. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Already done my moves before coming week 23 but what would you say about FAnderson Kamara to Camarasa Rashford for GW24?

    Fabianski/Hart
    TAA/Digne/Doherty/WB/Bednarek
    Salah/Hazad/Sane/Pogba/FAnderson
    Auba/Jimenez/Kamara

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Tough. Would not like to lose Felipe for next though

  23. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Looking at the blanks and the Dgws I see 3 blanks and 2 dgws . I presumed the 2 dgws were for the FA cup blanks. But where would the league cup blanks fit in ?

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

      Where are you looking at them?

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Article on FFS .will need to look again

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      where do you see that debauchy ?

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

      27 for the league cup I thought

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah that's the blank but when the dgw for those teams ?

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

          Will be shoe-horned in somewhere - maybe a TGW 😉

          1. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Ahh ok watch and wait then

        2. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          one option would be GW25....but that might be too little time planning wise

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

          Sorry misunderstood. I've no idea, I don't think anything official is decided this early on, could depend on CL involvement too.

          Aren't the doubles usually 33, 35, or 37?

          1. Lord.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            If you trawl through the fixture list and eliminate GWs where there are mid-week PL matches; Champions League matches (which the PL are supposed to void clashing with); and International Breaks; there are only three potential windows for DGWs, and one of them is GW25 (from memory I think the others are GW31 and GW35). I think this means that the rule about clashing with CL matches will be breached (again) this year.

            Another anomaly I noticed is the likely awkward scheduling of blank and double GWs this year (ie the blank GW for the FA Cup QFs is likely to be followed by a DGW, which means that the traditional formula for using the 2nd WC to set up squads for the Chips will be more problematic).

            1. HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Really good information, thanks for this.
              I think 25 will be too short notice to arrange a DGW now.

  24. HamezMace
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I spend a lot of time considering transfers, and captain choices.
    But I just worked out that if I'd just 'dead teamed' my GW1 team I'd actually only be 3 points worse off than I am now.

    Is it all really worth it?!

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      haha did you take captaincy subs injuries in consideration though ?

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Well perma captain Salah as per my GW1 team.

        But no, I didn't actually work out any points from subs...and Jota was in my GW1 team so there's a few more bench points I should have included.....bugger, I'd actually be better off! Well that's depressing.

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

      Is it because your gw1 team was good, or have you made poor choices later?

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        GW1 team.

        De Gea
        VvD Luiz Wan Bissaka Boly
        Salah (c) Richarlison Jota
        Kane Aguero Wilson
        (Kabasele, Cainey, Lerma, Button)

        I don't really know....I swapped VvD for Mendy pretty early on, and I think I did Luiz to Alonso, and Salah to Hazard in GW4 or something, when Chelsea were flying.

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

          De Gea has not been good choice or Jota either anyway...

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Nope, DdG went on my WC in GW6 I think, to Ederson, who then became Ryan, who is now Lloris...who will likely become Patricio soon.
            ...and to think I got DdG as a set and forget player!

        2. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          you bet it s a great team !

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            That's not what people said when I posted it before the season started!
            I mean the midfield is pretty weak overall to be fair, but if I'd gone with Robertson over VvD, and Fraser as one of my cheap mids where I could be now

    3. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      What was your GW1 team out of interest?

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        As above.
        Although I remember it being really difficult as players like Hazard/Sterling were pretty much ruled out due to WC involvement.

    4. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Lol I'm sure I would have been better off

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        It's a fun exercise, I would encourage it, although I'm feeling pretty depressed about it now.

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          No thank you, would just depress me further 🙂

  25. Pierce34
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Given his recent record, do you think Salah is now no. 1 for penalties, ahead of Milner?

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

      I doubt it.

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

        We have no way of knowing, but Milner is still better penalty taker and since nothing has changed, I believe the pecking order is still the same.

        1. Pep Pig
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          My personal opinion, even as a Salah owner is he will keep them now. The golden boot aim is surely enough for Klopp to keep it as it is? I may be slightly bias though

  26. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Firmino or Auba long-term? Have Salah.

    1. bolobolo
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Non..go for rashford

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Neither are long term ops imo. Get either for short runs .

  27. Pep Pig
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I've taken the WC plunge with 4 flags hurting my eyes.
    DDG (Button)
    Robbo Shaw Digne (AWB) Benarek)
    Hazard Ali Salah Deulofeu (Camarasa)
    Rash Wilson Firmino

    My feeling is that Utd keep the clean sheets and the double up helps me climb the rankings.
    The only players to avoid the cut was Shaw, AWB, Hazard, Salah and Wilson.

    With a measly 102 TV, this is the best I feel I can do.
    Gives me an option to bring Aguero/Sane in if Ali doesn't step up but that's the differential route I'm willing to go down.
    Just 0.3 itb. Any thoughts welcome? 😀

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Alli Wilson ➡ Jimmy Pogba

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

        4 United?

      2. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I wanted to double up on Utd defence so with Rashford that's my 3. I'm also hopeful Ali will get in the goals again. Thank you for responding though mate I appreciate it

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

        Already maxed out on United assets.
        ...first time anyone's had to say that this season.

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

      Torn between Shaw and Doherty. Shaw more likely to keep cs, but Doherty has fixtures again and higher roof. Shaw won't get baps if Pogba and Martial & co keep on delivering big time.

    3. Son is Rising
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I take it that is your team pre wildcard? What are you wildcarding to?

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Great banter 🙁

        1. Son is Rising
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          United defence is a horrid shout though. If you want to climb up the ranks and take a different approach, maybe get in Lingard and Martial?

    4. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Team looks good.

      But I don’t agree with your feeling about utd defence. Don’t be fooled by the last two games, Newcastle suck at scoring and de gea won’t pull off 11 saves every week.

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        It's not that I'm being fooled mate. It's a decision I made to try and climb the ranks. I think first and foremost OGS had to get Utd attacking again. Though they are still more than capable of getting a few clean sheets in the coming weeks. If they look leaky at any point I will change the plan

        1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Well I think if they didn’t get a clean sheet v Newcastle/spurs you wouldn’t be considering a double utd defence. You want to climb the ranks but I feel that’s a risk too far.

          Regardless, I really like your differential picks such as Alli/Firmino/Deulofeu etc.

          Good luck!

          1. Pep Pig
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            That's true although looking at Utd's next 7 fixtures, they have a great chance of keeping clean sheets. At this stage of the season, I guess I'm just willing to take the risk. Thanks for the constructive response mate

    5. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pogba is an absolute must for those on a wildcard IMO. His stats have been so, so good recently. I'd consider him over Hazard as I like the Alli pick.

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I'm inclined to agree with you mate. It would mean a change in plan
        DDG > Alisson
        Hazard > Pogba
        Firmino > Aguero

        1. Son is Rising
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Good moves although can you lose Ali instead of Hazard?

          1. Pep Pig
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Yes. I appreciate I haven't got a high TV which is hurting my options

            1. Son is Rising
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              FWIW the best differential at the moment is City attack. The top 10k has hardly any City players at the moment for some reason.

              1. Pep Pig
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                I think that could soon change after tonight's game. I'm still monitoring how City will get on. Jesus is knocking on the door. KDB just wants to play every game and looks like he's sulking at the managed minutes option. Sane and Sterling will be forever on my watchlist mind

  28. Aubamazette
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    My team’s front 7 will look like this soon, think there’s more value in midfield

    Rashford Jiménez
    Salah Hazard Son Sane/De Bruyne Pogba

    1. bolobolo
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Youll soon regret having Son in MF my friend...

      1. Aubamazette
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Why? I don’t have him rn I’ll obviiously get him after his comp

    2. Son is Rising
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Nice. I'm moving towards:
      Martial Pogba Sane KDB Salah
      Aguero Wilson

      1. Aubamazette
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Looks solid too

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

      Current FPL Value (Season) TOP10 order: G, D, M then F.

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      very very similar to mine but things can change very quickly

      1. Aubamazette
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Very true

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

      What does your G + D lineup look like?

      1. Aubamazette
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Fab
        Robbo TAA Digne Doherty Wan B currently but Digne will move to a 4.5 or under looking at Clyne

  29. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone fancy Wolves to lose a close fought game today or will Man City dominate them? Wolves were fortunate to get a draw last time but had chances, as did City

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      It will be close

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

      1-1 with Jota and Walker scoring with no assists would be good for my OR.

  30. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Which route to get Salah?

    A) Luiz, Sane > Duffy, Salah

    B) Richarlison, Sane > Nasri, Salah

    1. frenchfries
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Depends on rest of defense, but A for me

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

        Current defenders are Luiz, TAA, Digne, Doherty, WanB. Alisson between the sticks.

        1. Teddy Brewski
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          A, but just go Bednarek over Duffy and spend the money elsewhere