Scout Notes

No huge hauls for City’s most-owned FPL assets as ten-man Wolves dig in

Our latest Scout Notes article focuses on the events of the final fixture of Gameweek 22.

Manchester City kept their first clean sheet since November as they strolled to victory over ten-man Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad, with Willy Boly‘s 19th-minute red card effectively ending the contest as a spectacle.

An FPL points avalanche failed to ensue, however, with only Gabriel Jesus going on to break the ten-point barrier.

We round up the goals, assists, Fantasy talking points and relevant manager quotes after Pep Guardiola’s side kept up the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Manchester City 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • Goals: Gabriel Jesus (£10.1m) x2, Conor Coady (£4.5m) own-goal
  • Assists: Leroy Sane (£9.6m), Raheem Sterling (£11.3m), Kevin De Bruyne (£9.7m)

While the effortless nature of Manchester City’s victory and a first clean sheet in nine league matches would have satisfied fans of the reigning champions, owners of the Citizens’ Fantasy assets would have been forgiven for feeling a little short-changed by the single-digit hauls that everyone bar Gabriel Jesus (£10.1m) – the 16th-most-popular City asset in FPL – picked up at the Etihad.

Those expecting the floodgates to open after the Brazilian’s well-worked ninth-minute goal and Willy Boly‘s (£4.6m) dismissal ten minutes later were to be disappointed, as Wolves, not for the first time this season, proved to be obdurate opponents in the face of relentless pressure.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s defensive 5-3-2 became a 5-2-2 and then a 5-3-1 after Boly’s sending off and the visitors were largely successful in their damage limitation exercise, content to soak up the pressure as their attacking ambition understandably evaporated and throw their bodies in the path of the shots that came their way.

In the end, Wolves’ resistance was only broken by a soft-looking penalty and an unfortunate own-goal: Jesus converting from the spot after Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) was adjudged to have been felled and Conor Coady (£4.5m) turning a deflected Kevin De Bruyne (£9.7m) cross past his own goalkeeper.

Interviewed after full-time, Pep Guardiola said that the recent pile-up of matches perhaps played as much of a part as Wolves’ rearguard effort:

We played a lot of time with ten against 11, we should attack a little bit more, especially the last 20-25 minutes when Kevin [De Bruyne] came in. We were more aggressive attacking the box.

The first half, a lot of passes but we didn’t have the intention to attack a little bit more fluently.

But we have a lot of games in our legs, in our minds and sometimes you drop a little bit our intensity, sometimes it’s normal.

Guardiola added in his press conference:

The game 11 v 11 was quite similar to 11 v 10. We made a fantastic first goal with the action – the movement and the pass.

After that [the first goal], we forgot to move the ball more into the box. We arrived in the final third quite easily but we didn’t make movements to attack the ball.

In that last few minutes, with Kevin De Bruyne and his special quality, we played the way we have to play. We have to keep doing it over and over, winning the second balls.

We didn’t concede many counter-attacks and Wolves put in incredible fast players for the last 20 minutes. They can punish you – we’ve seen it against Tottenham and Chelsea.

It’s so difficult to defend [against] our opponents. It’s so tough when they have five at the back but the quality [to break down the defence].

The goal that Guardiola referred to was brilliantly executed, with Leroy Sane (£9.6m) latching onto a superb Aymeric Laporte (£5.9m) through-ball that dissected the right-hand side of Wolves’ defence and squaring for Jesus to tap in.

Guardiola said in his post-match presser that there wasn’t enough of that type of movement thereafter but in reality, once Jesus put City 2-0 up from the spot on 38 minutes, there didn’t need to be.

Sterling ran into one-too-many cul-de-sacs in his countless bursts forward but still could have added two goals to his “Fantasy assist”, nodding a Danilo (£5.1m) cross straight at Rui Patricio (£4.5m) from the edge of the six-yard box and then having his attempted toe-poke smothered by the Wolves custodian when Sane had released him through on goal.

Sane oozed class on the left flank without breaking a sweat, laying on the assist for City’s opener and that “big chance” for Sterling and causing Matt Doherty (£5.2m) plenty of problems with his fleet-footed trickery.

Sane had more shots on goal than any player on show at the Etihad but didn’t particularly come close to scoring himself: three of his four efforts were blocked and the other was a horribly shanked effort on his right foot after a Bernardo Silva (£7.6m) cut-back.

Jesus scored his sixth and seventh goals of the calendar year on another promising showing and Guardiola said after the match that his inclusion in the starting XI over Sergio Aguero (£11.2m) was nothing to do with the illness that had blighted the Argentinean striker in the ten days preceding this match.

Asked about whether Aguero and De Bruyne’s omissions were because of injuries/illness, Guardiola said:

No, I have an incredible squad. Kevin deserved to play. [Ilkay] Gundo[gan] made six or seven assists in the last two games but didn’t play today. Both deserve to play but Bernardo also deserves to play for what he has done so far and Fernandinho for what they have done against Liverpool.

Today, one of my favourite players, Phil [Foden], was not in the 18 but there are a lot of games and maybe next game, new players are going to come in.

They have to be ready and they have to know they need to play good in all the details because if they don’t another is going to play. I’m unfair for many players. They know that but today I decided for the fresh players like Aymer[ic Laporte], like John [Stones], like Bernardo and Fernandinho.

Aguero came on for the dreaded “one-pointer” in this match, while De Bruyne grabbed his first assist of the season – and 50th in FPL since joining City – and provided some much-needed impetus for the last half-hour with a couple of rasping efforts and incisive passes.

It remains to be seen just how prominent a role Jesus plays in the final 16 league matches of the season but his start and brace on Monday night may just plant a seed of doubt in the minds of those Fantasy managers who were considering executing a straight swap from the injured Harry Kane (£12.6m) to Aguero ahead of Gameweek 23.

City broke their run of eight matches without a clean sheet – the longest in the division before kick-off – but there will seldom be easier evenings for Ederson (£5.6m) and co, with a Boly header on three minutes the only attempt on goal the visitors had all evening aside from two late blocked efforts.

That said, Wolves spurned a fantastic opportunity to level the scores up at 1-1 when Jonny (£4.3m) overhit a pass to Diogo Jota (£5.9m) at the end of a three-on-two break.

Jota and his strike partner Raul Jimenez (£6.4m) both had their minutes managed as Santo effectively acknowledged that the contest was over – the Mexican striker being withdrawn for the rapid Adama Traore (£5.2m) at the interval in what Santo confirmed was a tactical switch:

We were trying to make another approach. We wanted the speed of Adama. Every time we recovered the ball we tried to find him.

We were trying something, always keeping the shape of the team knowing it was hard to defend. We didn’t achieve it but we stayed in the game.

Doherty had a tricky night up against Sane but it seems that no matter the fixture or scenario, the Irish wing-back will always pop up at least once in a dangerous position to threaten an attacking return.

Doherty’s “moment” this time came early in the match when he received the ball in an excellent position near the byline but his attempted cross was wildly overhit and with that delivery went his prospects of mildly punishing the 830,000+ FPL bosses who benched him this week.

Santo reflected on a difficult evening in Manchester:

We are in shape, we are organised, then it’s a 30-yard pass that breaks us. There’s no doubt about it, Man City controlled the game and had chances, but we had a plan and it was about our defensive organisation to try and stay in the game, so with the goal and red card, everything went down.

It’s difficult to stop them but you try to avoid certain situations, knowing that they will break. Then we have to balance ourselves, but I must see better. We must improve.

One of the things Man City have is their possession, we had to trap them in the right places, but we had one man less, so the midfield was short and it started falling apart.

We showed character, we were brave to stay in the game, always working hard, but we can’t stop all the chances for Man City.

We tried to have speed and to maintain the organisation, then play clearly on the counter-attack.

You have to stay compact, knowing the result is going to be difficult. You have to work yourself until the end and my boys did it, so we must look ahead to the next challenge at home.

Boly will now be missing for two Premier League matches and the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Shrewsbury Town, so Leander Dendoncker (£4.3m) – who dropped back into defence from central midfield after Boly’s dismissal – may be deputising at centre-half for the visit of Leicester City and West Ham United in Gameweeks 23 and 24.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Danilo; Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, David Silva (De Bruyne 61′); Sterling, Gabriel Jesus (Aguero 76′), Sane (Gundogan 74′).

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (5-3-2): Rui Patricio; Doherty, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Jonny; Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 72′); Jimenez (Traore 46′), Jota (Saiss 59′).

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1,610 Comments Post a Comment
  1. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Is Kane 100% out? As Spurs fixtures are superb

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Ben Dinnery said early signs signal a minimum of 4 weeks out

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        But wait for confirmation

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

      You'd know if he was.

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

      Jeez... at least they have Clyne, oh wait...

      1. Fergus1107
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Sir James of Milner....

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

          Yep, having a player like Milner can be so important, offers so much versatility. Presume Matip or Fabinho could also play the role if need be.

          1. Fergus1107
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Fabs seems to be the second main man at CB.

    2. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      That would be a disaster as I've already done Alonso to TAA and have Kane to deal with

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

        Did you need to make the early transfer? If not I'd be gutted.

        1. SHOOTER MCGINN
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I couldn't wait to get rid of Alonso and wanted to free up some cash before he dropped. Price changes were the decider for an early sub, which clearly wasn't worth it.

        2. SHOOTER MCGINN
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          So yes, gutted

    3. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Nooo
      There goes my planned Kane, Martial, Schindler > Rash, Sterling, TAA move!
      Digne it will be then!

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

    TAA 🙁

  3. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Is it worth holding onto Kane if he is only out for 1 match or is it stupid to bench a 12+ player? Made 0.1 profit with him too

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

      If it's one match then yes, hold.

  4. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Wildcarding

  5. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    kane's injury couldn't have come at a more perfect time...

    kane + richarlison + kolasinac >>> rash, sane, digne/lindelof?? (-4)

    leaves me with

    foster ether
    robbo digne/lindelof awb doherty yedlin
    salah sane pogba brooks camarasa
    auba rash jim

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

    Taa ffs

  7. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Great decision to loan out Clyne whilst Gomez was injured. Liverpool without a RB 🙂

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      milner can do a job, there goes salah's pen points

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

        True dat

      2. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Good point that 🙁

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

      Lol yeah wtf

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

      Lovren to the rescue.....can Robertson switch and play Moreno?

    4. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Is Gomez back soon?

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        After Leicester apparently, so that would be 2 GWs away

    5. Fire Chief Moe
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      As a red, this was more obvious than night following day

    6. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      TAA?

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        That tweet...

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

      We could loan you Aurier and you could loan us Origi. Simples.

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

    Burn those wildcards bitches!

  9. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Oh ffssssssssss......that screws my plans big time.....and Alonso survives again.....spewing

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

      😀

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

      This is me exactly too!

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

    Crap, another transfer.

    Did Alonso to Robbo to save me from price drop, decided to keep Auba, waiting to transfer Kane out, and now TAA. -8 hit is inevitable.

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

      And Alonso didn't drop and Auba did!

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

    That's one bullet dodged 😮
    Thinking about getting TAA last he for hit.

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

      GW not he*
      Stupid autocorrect

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

      I got him for free last game week, both times I've brought him in he's got injured immediately

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Can you stop getting him please

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

          Yeah, or at least tell us when you bring him in...

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

    Fab (bou)

    TAA (CRY), Doherty (LEI), Pereira (wol)

    Salah (CRY) (c), Hazard (ars), Sané (hud), Fraser (WHU)

    Auba (CHE), Rashford (BHA), Jiménez (LEI)

    (Bench: Guaita, Camarasa, Duffy, AWB)

    Good to go, or should I use my ft?

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      TAA out for 4 weeks supposedly ^

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

        Oh wow, great news.

        Thanks, mate.

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

    Five flags....screw this game

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

      One away from an American theme park.

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

    Play Foster or Fabianski this week?

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

      Foster

  15. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Made my transfers early for once and backfired 🙁 what would you do here if Kane is confirmed out? Switch to Kun? Don’t fancy a -8. Or I could WC. Thanks 🙂

    Fab
    Doherty • Digne • Kola
    Haz • Rich • Salah(C) • FAnders • Martial
    Kane • Rash
    (Button / Bednarek / Kamara / AWB)

    1. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not sure on Aguero, limited game time with Jesus firing and rotation. I think Aub/Firm safer options.

  16. Jealous Viper
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Arnold out for a month. What a bummer. Think I have to find a way to make room for Robbo

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

      We're running out of defenders.

  17. andrinho
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Keep
    a) Richarlison (SOU HUD)
    b) Anderson (BOU WOL)

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

    Well that was a poorly timed loan out.
    Can we get Clyne back from Bournemouth?
    Gutted Trents out.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Should never be letting your back ups go when you're in a title race. Clyne would have slotted in just fine.

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

        Giggidy.

      2. Fire Chief Moe
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Been saying to my mate is was a bizarre move, who sanctioned it? Who loans out their backup RB in the middle of a title race? Why are our downfalls always self made???! Im angry.

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

          Here here

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

      Of course.

  19. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone reconsidering Liverpool defence double up after TAA injury or can they cope with Milner?

  20. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    If Kane+TAA out then Rashford+VVD in for free a no brainer right?

  21. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    TAA not flagged on FPL 😎

    Start the GW now, yah amateurs....

  22. Bullet Eder
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    TAA out for four weeks. Brought him in for Alonso (-4) yesterday. Never do early transfers!

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

      I never do.

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

      Haha. I did the same thing.

  23. Jealous Viper
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    First time waiting till weekend to make a move has paid off for me in a long while

  24. Offside Trapattoni
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    So The Guardian reporting TAA out for up to one month, injured in the warm up vs BHA but played through it.

    Makes the decision to go Firmino up to easier, but playing three at the back who to go with? Leaning Laporte to compliment Digne and Robertson.

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thank god he played

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

    I downgrade Robbo with TAA last week so i can buy Salah this week. Lol to me

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

      Ha.

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

    How does Kane & McNeil to Rashford & Sané (-4) for this sound?

    Fabianski.
    Doherty, Robbo, Alonso.
    Salah, Haz, Rich, Anderson, Sané.
    Rashford, Jiminez.

    Next week will do Rich or Anderson to Pogba or Alli; money already banked.

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

    Alonso alonso I don't want you in my team ffs

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

      You never know, this could be his week, 13 points in the return fixture earlier this season.

  28. Punty
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Bought TAA 75 minutes ago.. luckily I had 2 FT at least..

    Might not want to double up on Liverpool defense now either..

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

      Ahahaha, That is just awful.,

      1. Punty
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Thank you for your sympathy and loving support

  29. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    2 FT, planning on Kane & Anderson -> Rashford & Sterling this week, then Richarlison & Lovren -> Fraser/Nasri/Brooks & Robertson over next 2 weeks. Will give me this Team:

    Fabianski
    Digne, TAA, Robertson
    Salah, Pogba, Hazard, Sterling, 6.1
    Jimenez, Rashford

    Make sense?

    Cheers.

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

      TAA out for 4 weeks

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

      TAA out for a while

    3. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks both, just saw. Lovren survives for a little longer then! 🙁