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. timPgoodwin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Sound Good?

    Son to De Bruyne
    Kane to Firmino
    Bennett to TAA
    (-4)

    1. Punty
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      TAA out for 4 weeks

      1. timPgoodwin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Shi*t... Good job I can afford Robertson/VVD then.

    2. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Look around re TAA

    3. Eytexi
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Sané over KDB surely.

      1. timPgoodwin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        KdB looked great when he came on last night - Motivated, Sharp and attacking. He will have a point to prove and HUD and NEW to come. Will Sane keep his place on Mendy's return?

        1. Eytexi
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Fair points. How long until Mendy is back?

          1. Takedog1
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            3rd feb i belive

    4. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Not keen on De Bruyne yet and not keen on Firmino, too differential for me.

  2. Niho992
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    TAA,Kane and Son>>>>VVD,Rasford and Salah for -4???

    Does it worth a hit?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Definitely.

    2. antis0cial
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      If Kane def out, yep great moves

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Yeees.

    4. King Kun Ta
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Go for it!

  3. el polako
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I got enough cash to swap Kane & Martial for Tom Daley & Firmino...
    Hmmmm...

  4. DR0GBA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Jeez i'm so glad I held off my Kola > TAA transfer..

    1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      question is who replaces him?? He's quickly losing value and chelsea next is not the best fixture

      1. DR0GBA
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        i'm not sure yet... I might bring in Robertson for him if I downgrade Kane

  5. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I'm glad I didn't do Robertson > TAA last week & got TAA in -as well- as Robertson. He's so unreliable!

  6. Eytexi
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Is Kane confirmed out for a month or just the current thoughts?

    1. el polako
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      No official news, just press speculations.

  7. FDMS All Starz
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    With TAA out for a month and Liverpool missing a out right CB, thoughts on pool defence double up? Would you still double up or stay away?

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      TAA news ???

    2. DR0GBA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I thought maybe Liverpool wouldn't keep a cleansheet last week since no other cb so who knows.... it's definitely tempting to go maverick and avoid all Liverpool defence for now

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

      Isnt Matip back?

    4. antis0cial
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I think they will be fine defensively still. Gomez back shortly Milner will fill in RB. TAA wasn't really there for is defensive ability

    5. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Already have the double up so i'll keep, would be cautious about bringing another one in depending on who you already have. Would want Robertson in any case.

  8. BHA_Seagull
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Considering the triple (c) on Salah this gwk.
    Foolish or Brave?

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Foolishness

    2. el polako
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Foolish.
      Crystal Palace can be very solid plus you may get the ref who is actually not blind.

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Well if Milner plays at RB he'll be on pens, where a lot of Salah's goals have come from recently.

    4. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Stupid

  9. Teror
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Best defender for under 5.0? Not including AWB as I've had him since GW1.

    My shortlist is Tarkowski, Duffy, Bamba and Lindelof.

    1. WVA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Duffy

  10. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Looks like might have to resort to the aguero punt next 3

    1. Eytexi
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      It's that or 3-5-2 with Rashford and Jimi imo.

      1. caldracula
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        This

  11. ktk_interista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    So Klopp will probably be forced to play Milner as a fullback for a while. RIP Salah owners. There goes your jammy points source. You're luck has finally run out.

    1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      lol

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

      Fabinho can play there too. Often does for Brazil

      1. Teror
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        So can Firmino

      2. Fergus1107
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Fabs will prob play centre mid as Wij has a knock too.

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Yikes.

  12. Eytexi
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on Sané or KDB?

    1. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Sane for now, KDB when Mendy back fit.

  13. goriuanx
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    My opinion is that the Trent injury won't negatively affect Liverpool's defence - it might even make them more focussed when defending. Trent is better going forward than he is defensively. Milner did alright at RB against Bournemouth.

    Up against Palace, Leicester, West Ham and Bournemouth whilst Trent is out.

    1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Don’t really want to spend more than what I paid for TAA.

      VVD seems expensive.

      1. goriuanx
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        No 6m mid or striker has more points than VVD. Worth every penny.

    2. Niho992
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      This.

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      exactly my opinion too

      also, one less to compete with in the bps system-)

    4. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Is Matip back? Who will play CB?

      1. goriuanx
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Was on bench vs Brighton. Between him and Fabinho for now - Gomez is back after Leicester according D Lynch from Evening Standard.

        1. Brosstan
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Thanks. Just benching TAA this week and assessing I think. Bare bones bench though

    5. Pukki Party
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Is Gomez back in training yet?

  14. LC1
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Okay really need some help guys!

    Took a -8 for this team on Saturday;

    Fabianksi (hamer)
    TAA(!) Digne Shaw Bennett AWB
    Salah Sane Pogba Richarlison Hojbjerg
    Kane(!) Rashford Jimenez.

    1.4 ITB.

    Then got the news about Kane out for up to a month and now TAA out for a month.

    I can either take MORE hits to get rid or just bite the bullet and WC.

    Any advice is much much appreciated!

    Thank you.

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      More hits

    2. Cesc Pistols
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Does using your WC cancel out the -8 you took?

      1. LC1
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Yep

      2. Amey
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Yes

    3. Aram95
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Same problem here, did Kola to TAA for -4. With Kane in my team aswell I am also considering the WC

    4. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Probably more hits and learn from this moving forward.

    5. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Hojbjerg is back again, you may survive without any hits and WC...

  15. HAMMERTIME107
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Stick it out with Mane or Wildcard just to get Salah in somehow?

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Mane's underlying stats have been good. Salah getting more points by scoring jammy pens.

  16. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    A couple of injuries for Liverpool. Now they'll be tested like City has been all season. This is just the start. 🙂

    1. goriuanx
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Not sure if you're trolling.

      Liverpool have been without Ox all season. Matip, Gomez, Trent, Lovren, Keita, Henderson, Lallana, Sturridge and Mane have all faced spells out.

      City have 30m-60m back ups to their injured players.

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        My bad. I forgot Ox, Matip, Keita, Lallana, Sturridge are such key players for Liverpool. And the maestro Henderson too.

        1. goriuanx
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          You're having a laugh. In a bit Mendy lad.

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

          B team injured. That's why they went out of the cup.

      2. Fergus1107
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        its a troll....

    2. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Ha ha.

  17. Mikey44
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Ryan Button
    Alonso Doherty Digne Bennett Diop
    Salah Hazard Son Pogba Richarlison
    Kane Kamara Quaner

    2 FT, 0.0 itb.

    Any suggestions please? Thank you

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Alonso > Robbo is so obvious it hardly needs saying

    2. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Kane > Rashford
      Son > Alli
      Kamara > Jiminez

  18. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    With many taking hits I may do this...

    Alonso + Lingard + Son + Kane > Bednarek + Sterling + Salah + Jiminez -8

    Thoughts?

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Bednarek > Shaw just realised

  19. nickc123
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Hey guys any advise. Currently have TAA, Kane son hart and Wilson should I play wildcard?

    1. goriuanx
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I would give up personally.

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        😀

    2. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Ouch

  20. asdf_1
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Kane,taa,martial to salah,robertson,llorente for a -8?

  21. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Taa the Christensen of this season.Such a frustration

    1. DAZZ
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Not if you’ve owned him since GW1 ive rode Robbo and TAA all season, he leaves my team with his head held high 🙂

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Got him on my gw16 wc arrgh

  22. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    TAA out for 4 weeks.....Knee

  23. as33
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Which one would u loose for Sane>Richarlison or Anderson?

    1. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Richarlison, Anderson is class

    2. asdf_1
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Rich

  24. Niho992
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Alonso will survive another week in my team. Unbelieveable. This guy is unbrokeble.....

    1. WVA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I also may never be able to rid myself of him haha

  25. Oh Maddison
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    In need of a little help from you fellow fantasy managers 🙂

    Fab / Foster
    TAA* / Luiz / AWB / Doherty / Digne
    Salah / Hazard / FAnderson / Richarlison / Diangana*
    Kane* / Ings* / Wilson*

    What would you do?
    1FT
    0.7 ITB
    Ready to take 1 or 2 hits maybe.

  26. Maddi Son
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I'm really pleased I brought in TAA last night. Very, very yummy.

    a) TAA out for

    1. Maddi Son
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Dunno why it cut out my post:

      TAA out for a hit or play Chambers at home to Spurs

      1. caldracula
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Spurs could struggle without Kane and Son so just play Chambers.

    2. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      No sympathy for that move..he played with an injury for the entire game at weekend, you must have known that??

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Be gentle man.

    3. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Hard luck buddy.
      I'd play chamber's.

  27. Takedog1
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    forced wildcard.. team is suffering

    new WC team

    Etheridge (hamer)

    TAA, docherty , AWB, david luiz, shaw

    salah , sterling, pogba, sane , puncheon

    firmino, rashord, long

    No big hitters in strike force worth the money imo. would like de bruyne in possibly for sterling which i could use to bolster the strike force but hes not fully ready yet,

    1. Maddi Son
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      TAA out for a month

  28. Mo Mané Mo Problems
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Are there no 5th found replays this year? And what happens in QF?

  29. Bubz
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Is Shaw nailed on under Ole?

  30. boc610
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Wear and tear starting to build for pool..this is where city have the edge. Kun and Kdb can get 15 mins between them in a game and they will still win comfortably...while we can throw on divock and studge. Not a fair fight.