Scout Notes

Laporte the real star of Double Gameweek 25

It was a largely underwhelming conclusion for those with attacking assets in Double Gameweek 25 as Manchester City laboured to victory over Everton.

The defending champions were not their usual scintillating best at Goodison Park, with benchings and blanks for many of the midfield and forward players involved in the match.

Only those invested in the Manchester City defence will be pleased with Wednesday night’s events, especially owners of Aymeric Laporte (£5.9m).

Everton 0-2 Man City

Goals: Aymeric Laporte (£5.9m), Gabriel Jesus (£10.0m)

Assists: David Silva (£8.5m)

Double Gameweek 25 proved to be a complete anti-climax for those in possession of Leroy Sané (£9.8m). After missing out on Sunday’s 3-1 win over Arsenal altogether, the German international started at Goodison Park but was substituted in the 59th minute having offered little.

After 11 starts in 12 Premier League matches prior to Double Gameweek 25 as well as two goals and two assists between Gameweeks 21 and 24, Sané equalled his worst score across two top-flight games this season. He has not combined for one point between consecutive Gameweeks since the third and fourth matches of 2018/19. That feat happened to come when he was the most popular Manchester City option among the top 10,000 FPL managers, captained by 370,000+ overall and Triple Captained by 26,000+.

Manchester City did spend much of the opening hour of the match probing down the left, hoping to expose Jonjoe Kenny (£4.2m), who had come in for Seamus Coleman (£5.2m) at right-back. However, despite no player registering more penalty box touches than him, Sané was offside on a number of occasions and was the natural player to be replaced when Pep Guardiola wanted to introduce Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) in the second half.

A little over half an hour on the Goodison Park pitch for the Englishman was not enough time for him to truly make a mark on proceedings. Sterling shot just once, playing no key passes on the night. However, there was some encouragement to take for his owners as his short involvement in the match should mean he is in the frame to start when Chelsea visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Sergio Aguero (£11.4m) could not follow up his Sunday afternoon hat-trick as he was limited to just two efforts on goal in the game. Only one of those was in the penalty box and neither were on target. He was unlucky not to find the net in the first half when David Silva (£8.5m) fizzed a ball across Everton’s six-yard box, but Aguero’s pressurised touch turned it onto the bar. Despite proving a much better player at home compared to away this season, the Argentinian’s blank on Merseyside was his first on the road since returning from injury in Gameweek 18. Since then he has assisted at Leicester and Huddersfield, scoring at Southampton and Newcastle.

Aguero looks likely to start against Chelsea as he was substituted in the 78th minute, replaced by Gabriel Jesus (£10.0m). He has now started seven of the last eight Premier League matches, while his Brazilian colleague has featured from the beginning just once in that time. When Manchester City’s Blank Gameweek 27 is out of the way, Aguero may make a strong case for inclusion in our squads if he has reclaimed a regular starting spot. Jesus still reminded Guardiola of his credentials though, netting a stoppage-time goal from his own rebound.

“Many decisions could be better, that is my job. I analyse these decisions but it is important because Sergio scored three goals in the last game and I know how important the feeling is for the strikers to score. But before that Gabriel scores seven, eight, nine goals in a short time so I’ve got an incredible two strikers. Sometimes you see the spaces where the players should go. They play, I don’t play, but in general, I am so satisfied. In the last three months, it’s been game, game, game. Now in three, four days we have another against Chelsea. But I don’t know how far we will get, how far we arrive, maybe we will die on the road, or we are there. Game by game and we will prepare.” – Pep Guardiola

David Silva’s performance was also worth noting, as he was joint-top for penalty box touches on Wednesday night. Having started the last three in a row, he has assisted in two of those. However, on a night characterised less by intricate play in the box and more by hopeful crosses, David Silva only played one key pass on this occasion.

“We were not lucky because football is like this but to score in the last minute of the first half helps us and in the second half they pushed more and it was more difficult to make our game. Some people were tired but we did it.” – Pep Guardiola

Despite Aguero’s Arsenal hat-trick, the top scorer for Double Gameweek 25 was actually his defensive colleague Laporte. The Frenchman, deployed at left-back again, seemed to have an uncanny knowledge of the fact that Fantasy managers were turning to him this week. He had managed just one attacking return between Gameweeks 1 and 24 but recorded a goal and an assist across two matches in Double Gameweek 25. Laporte could have even netted a second had he been on target earlier in the first half when Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) was caught in no man’s land during a corner. Add into the equation a clean sheet and maximum bonus points at Goodison Park, and Laporte came away with 20 points.

After a run of eight Premier League matches without a clean sheet between Gameweeks 14 and 21, Manchester City now have three in their last five outings. That was also beneficial to Ederson (£5.6m), who scored eight points in the end.

However, some of the credit for Manchester City’s latest shutout does have to go to Everton who failed to create a single big chance on the night. There was much more effort and desire from the Toffees compared to their flat performance in the 3-1 defeat to Wolves at the weekend, but ultimately they caused little of trouble for the defending champions.

“Performance was completely different to our last game. Good attitude, strong answer, everything we needed. We should show this tonight, and in every game. It has to be our image as a team. Nothing to compare with our last game.” – Marco Silva

Marco Silva turned heads with a surprising team selection, opting to switch from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3, which involved dropping Richarlison (£6.8m) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m) to the bench. This was just the fourth Premier League game this season that Richarlison has not started. Only once before this game was it by Silva’s choice too, the other two enforced following a Gameweek 3 sending off. In his initial absence, Everton fielded a front three of Bernard (£5.9m) and Theo Walcott (£6.0m) flanking Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.3m), with Cenk Tosun (£6.5m) also among the substitutes.

“I felt it was the best XI to start the match. We had a different profile of players in the middle zone.” – Marco Silva

There was a return in the midfield trio for Idrissa Gueye (£4.8m), who had recently been the subject of transfer speculation about a move to Paris Saint Germain. He was one of Everton’s key performers against Manchester City as they largely frustrated their play.

“Gueye’s performance showed to me, to all, how he is a fantastic professional. He did well despite not training the last few days. In general, the players gave me a good answer.” – Marco Silva

Wednesday’s defeat was the latest in a long line of matches characterised by Everton’s weaknesses to set pieces. After struggling to defend them against Wolves on Saturday, Manchester City’s best opportunities also came from such situations. As already mentioned, Laporte could have easily scored twice at Goodison Park. That could be good news for anyone still holding Jose Holebas (£4.8m) ahead of Everton’s trip to Watford in Gameweek 26.

“Big frustration to concede 47 minutes first half, 97 minutes second half. I don’t want to talk more about set-pieces. What I tell, I will tell to the players. I understand why you ask, but there is something inside the mind of our players. We have to work more.” – Marco Silva

Everton XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Digne, Zouma, Keane, Kenny; Davies, Gueye, A Gomes (Sigurdsson 63′); Bernard (Richarlison 72′), Calvert-Lewin, Walcott (Tosun 78′).

Man City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Laporte, Otamendi, Stones, Walker; D Silva (De Bruyne 88′), Fernandinho, Gündogan; Sané (Sterling 59′), Aguero (Jesus 78′), B Silva.

884 Comments Post a Comment
  1. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Kun to Auba for a hit it's not worthy if I plan to captain Salah?

    1. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If you reckon Auba outscores Kun then you shouldn't need to captain him - he's the obvious captain for GW27 though so the hit will be repaid!

  2. SuperHam
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    With a lot of people swapping Hazard and Kamara for Aubameyang and a cheap mid, who is the best choice right now and why? Ideally 4.6 or less.

    Camarasa, Hojberg, Cork, Romeu, Billing, McNeil, Bacuna, Dendocker, Puncheon, Hudson-Odoi are all viable options imo.

    I quite like McNeil (4.4) Bacuna (4.2) or Puncheon (4.2), but with their places far from nailed is it better to stick with the more secure options? Like most, the cheap mid will be permanently 3rd on the bench for me.

    Which cheap mids do you like and why?

    1. nevins84
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A little more expensive but JWP could be a decent option...

      1. SuperHam
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        yeah- he's got a far better chance of returns than this lot- but really I'm just looking for a benchwarmer, I don't think JWP is that player

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

      The one i like & will bring in after 2-3 gw's is Brooks but he's injured atm

      1. SuperHam
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Would you ever bench him though? I'm really looking for someone who I would never consider playing in the starting 11 and just sit on the bench every week

        1. fenixri
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Ginns White

          1. fenixri
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Gibbs

    3. Kuzser
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hayden. Great fixtures and occasional assits

  3. ASOUSA12
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    2 FT, £2.3 ITB, OR 4,735

    Patricio
    Doherty / Bednarek / Robertson
    Salah / Hazard / Sterling / Richarlison / Pogba
    Jimenez / Rashford

    Speroni / Wan-Bissaka / Peltier / Kamara

    Which one would yo go for?

    A. Hazard + Richarlison -> Son + Mane
    Would get Mane for Blank GW31 and Son would be my GW27 captain keeping Kamara as bench fodder

    B. GW26 Hazard -> Son
    GW27 Richarlison + Kamara -> Aubameyang (C) + Mid Bench Fodder (ideally a GW31 / 33 starter)
    Would move to 3-4-3 formation

    C. GW26 Richarlison -> Son
    GW27 Hazard + Kamara -> Aubameyang (C) + Mid Bench Fodder (ideally a GW31 / 33 starter)
    Would move to 3-4-3 formation

    Difference between B and C would be which one to get rid first Hazard or Richarlison. Still think Richarlison could do more damage against Watford (A) than Hazard against Man City (A).
    Cheers.

    1. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B looks pretty good

  4. Snipez21
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Fraser and Sane
    To
    Son and Felipe Anderson

    For free?

    1. SuperHam
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes!

    2. nevins84
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks decent

  5. BOATIES FC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Doherty Shaw
    Salah (c) Sterling Sane Pogba Rich
    Mitro Rashford
    Hamer AWB Alonso Quaner
    2ft 1 million itb
    I'm a bit lost, there's far too many options.
    Sane Rich Alonso > mane Son Kola
    Sane > Son / Mane
    Sane Rich Quaner > Auba Puncheon jota

    I suppose main thing to decide is who is the priority to bring in Auba or Son

  6. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Licking my wounds after a tragic gameweek. What would you do with this sorry lot?

    Ederson - Hamer
    Doherty - Robertson - Kolasinac - Bennett - AWB
    Salah - Hazard* - Sane* - Pogba - Camarasa
    Rashford - Jimenez - Ings*

    Only 1 FT and three players I'd like to ditch. I will also need a GK next week when Ederson blanks as Hamer doesn't play.

    How does this look:

    GW26 - Hazard and Ings to Redmond and Auba (-4)
    GW27 - Hamer to Boruc

    1. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      It looks good though sane looks the bigger priority than Hazard to shift

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'm tempted by a -8 tbh.

        Hazard/Sane/Ings to Son/Gross/Auba

        Thought I don't often do -8s.

  7. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is this worth 3 transfers over gw 26 & 27?

    Sterling + Sane + Ings > Anderson + Jota + Auba.

    1. Bojaninho
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      yes

    2. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I personally would keep sterling.

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        That means no Auba and probably Rondon/Vardy to replace Ings.

      2. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        this

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes mate.

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers buddy.
        Going to be hit central this week and next to fix my team.
        Last two weeks have been an absolute disaster

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Same here

  8. Bojaninho
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    top 3 players to own this week?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Salah+Auba+Pogba
      (IMO)

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mane, Pogba and Auba maybe

  9. The 5% Team
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    So everyone is convinced that Sane won't start against Chelsea?

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'm pretty sure he won't. His performance and body language yesterday was poor.

      1. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Kinda have that feeling as well, as most people looking at rate he is dropping.
        Up until the Newcastle match he was looking like the best and in-form player for City...that's how fast it goes I guess

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Pep wont start him for a good while following that effort at Goodison

    3. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      No? Has gotten his minutes managed and pep will want to play his best team, i think that includes Sane

    4. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Don't know ,I just got him for DGW and it ended in chaos...and now I've given up on guessing pep, but sane' s performance at Everton and Newcastle has been poor so can be dropped

      1. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        yes. I am on a -4 already...so don't know if another hit to take Sane out is justified (even though his next 2 GWs aren't looking too good for him)

        1. Srv210
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          If he plays at Chelsea can get some return...I can transfer out for free after Chelsea game .....but main issue is benching, I don't want a 9.7m player on for 0+59+0 minutes

          1. Srv210
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            But fwiw ...I'm strongly considering sane to mane myself

            1. The 5% Team
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Yes, he seems like a good replacement. I am already at 3 Liverpool with Robbo, Salah and Firmino so that's not an option...at least not for this GW

  10. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I don’t understand the ‘behind the sofa’ hot topic.. all it does is emphasise the lack of quality assets in a particular squad. Superfluous information

  11. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Are you guys using your FH in blank gw 31 or 33?

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      31 most likely

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      for now 31...but much more will be clear after next weekends FA cup results of course

    3. RIDZ
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      31

  12. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Sané Aguero > Mane Auba (-4) ?

    1. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good on paper

    2. RIDZ
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Do you already have Son and Salah?

      1. Eastman
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yep

        1. RIDZ
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Salah is enough. Anderson have strong fixtures ahead. Pogba maybe?

  13. raskothekid
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    currently got

    etheridge button
    trippier, taylor, doherty, bednerek, TAA
    hazard, salah, pogba, delefeu, brooks
    aguero, rashford, llorente

    want to get aguero out for lacazette this week and slowly bring in

    son for hazard
    higuain for llorente

    Thoughts?

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Why would you get Higuain over Hazard?

      1. raskothekid
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        more profit to be made from him as on 3% of people have him + he's a differential in my league + he's cheaper + I reckon he'll match his output between now and the end of the season.

      2. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        IMO Hazard isn't worth the extra price

  14. Tim
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Richarlison or Lingard out for Son Please guys?

    1. RIDZ
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Richarlison as he will blank

      1. Tim
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Worried about Lingards game time. Plus Richarlison up against his old team

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

      Jesse
      Bin richa after Watford If you have him now

  15. RIDZ
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    KDB+Hazard+Kamara to Auba+Son+Moutinho for -4

    yes or no?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yess

    2. raskothekid
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      definite yes

  16. Joss Ackland’s Spunky…
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I'm 79 points of top in my mini league.

    Is it realistic to think i could get close in 13 games?

    What are peoples biggest (and worst) turn arounds from about here on in?

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

      I was 70 off top 2 weeks ago. Now I’m 13 clear. Easy

  17. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Sane, Richarlison and Kamara to Pogba, Rashford and Camarasa(-8) worth it? Stupidly did Pogba to Sane(C) in deadline panic.

    1. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I also did Felipe to son instead I should have done sane to son.

      Your moves look good...-8 can be recovered quick enough

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Could just do Sane to Pogba for free but need Rashford and have lots of other pressing moves

    2. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Or Sane to Pogba for free

    3. RIDZ
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hit for buyback is not a good idea, keep Sane. I think he will play

  18. canucounttotenbilly
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    0.5ITB

    1. Aguero to Auba

    2. Aguero to Auba, Richarlison to Son, Laporte to Jonny (-8)

    3. Richarlison to Son, Laporte to Jonny (-4)

  19. RIDZ
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone not captaining Salah this weekend?

    Auba looks tempting but I have no balls for it

  20. Cornholi0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hello I need som advices on what`s the best strategy when I have all the chips intact except the "Free hit".

    What would you do?

  21. CLASS OF 78
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is Auba really worth a -4 this week?
    Have Firmino if don't use transfer.

    1. Gringo Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hard to say that, can afford him only if I ditch Kun for a hit, not sure that is a wise move

      1. CLASS OF 78
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I think if I had Kun I wouldn't swap for Auba til the following week when I had to. But for Firmino, I'm really not sure even thouh he doesn't blank and I'd probably end up getting a 3rd Pool player in for aother -4 at some point too.

  22. CLASS OF 78
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What do we think about pulling in Vardy with the usual suspect mid-price forwards (Jimi/Rash/Wilson) for Leicester's good run and spending the extra in mid? Would mean no Auba/Aguero/Kane/Laca etc.

    1. CROCosta
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      i am considering ditching rashford for vardy in gw30, will give me enough time to see how he is doing vs weaker teams, if he performs bad then wilson will be coming in. but i would still go one premium fwd either auba or agero

      1. CLASS OF 78
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, that's a good call going Vardy over Rash at GW30. Fixtures change for both around then. Wilson as backup is also a great plan! I was considering pretty much the same but without the premium forward.

    2. Ramboros
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Vardy is someone you should judge on form, not fixtures.

      1. CLASS OF 78
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, good point. Just 7 goals this season, I think, and should have really done better against Utd. I'll watch for a few games. Kinda thinking that Tielemans could make them more dynamic too. Again, needs a watch first.

  23. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play Shaw, AWB or Bennett? Will probably need the 1st on bench anyway

  24. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Seemed like a good idea last night with the doom and gloom of my Sané TC but how about now?

    Rich, Sané, Kun -> Son, Mané, Laca (-4)

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mane downgrade to Fanderson. Laca to Auba. That I would do

  25. Spicy Mayonnaise
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with this motely crew...

    Fabianski (Hamer)
    Doherty, Robertson, Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka (Schindler)
    Salah (C), Son, Pogba (V), Felipe Anderson (Lucas Moura)
    Agüero, Jiménez (Kamara)

    0.9ITB, 0FT, got all my chips

    I want Aguero > Auba, (which was always the plan, but then...Sane) but don't know whether I should go with the -4 for it...or do it next week

    This week looks fine, but i'm obviously not happy with the Moura(fail)/Kamara/Schindler setup, should I just ease them out slowly...or are these desperate times?

  26. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which to do this week?

    A) Aguero -> Auba
    B) Sterling -> Son

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'm reticent to bin Kun personally.