Scout Notes

First Blank of Gameweek 31 confirmed by Watford win

Watford confirmed the first postponed fixture in Blank Gameweek 31 with their win at QPR on Friday night.

The Hornets have progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, which take place on the same weekend as Southampton’s scheduled visit to Vicarage Road.

Watford and the Saints will now not have a fixture in Blank Gameweek 31 and will both experience a corresponding Double Gameweek at some point between now and the end of the season.

The two clubs could end up providing some budget options for our Wildcard squads later in the campaign when Fantasy managers are compelled to stock up on Double Gameweek players.

If Watford vs Southampton is moved to Gameweek 32, it would be better for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side as they would face the Hornets and Brighton, both away from home.

Meanwhile, Javi Gracia’s side would face Southampton (home) and Manchester United (away).

A new date for the postponed Blank Gameweek 31 fixture can only be estimated at this point, but it definitely serves to be aware of their absence from that weekend of action when planning transfers between now and then.

Watford now await the other results in the FA Cup fifth round and Monday night’s draw to see who they will face in the quarter-finals.

How they got on against QPR is the focus of this latest Scout Notes article…

QPR 0-1 Watford

Goals: Etienne Capoue (£4.8m)

Assists: Tom Cleverley (£5.0m)

It was a gritty performance that saw Watford overcome QPR in the FA Cup on Friday night. Their Championship hosts had double the number of shots and also spurned decent chances to find the net.

Thankfully for the Hornets, and Fantasy managers hoping for as many Blanks and Doubles as possible, the Premier League side, mostly at full strength, delivered in the key moments.

Ben Foster (£4.6m) and Craig Cathcart (£4.5m) were given the night off completely, Gerard Deulofeu (£5.5m) was an unused substitute, while Abdoulaye Doucouré (£5.9m) and Adrian Mariappa (£4.2m) came on in the second half at Loftus Road.

Heurelho Gomes (£4.3m), Christian Kabasele (£4.4m), Andre Gray (£5.9m), Tom Cleverley (£5.0m) and Miguel Britos (£4.3m), all of whom have experience as regular Premier League starters, came in to join the other six players who started against Everton in Gameweek 26.

“We are changing players, competitions, some players are injured in different moments, but the most important is always the team compete well and is getting good results. I have the difficult decision to chose only 11 players every game but when they play they show we have a good squad and all of them deserve to play and have recognition.” – Javi Gracia

In a game where Watford managed just six goal attempts, and Troy Deeney (£5.9m) was their top shooter with two efforts, it took some opportune thinking from Etienne Capoue (£4.8m) to settle the tie.

He received the ball just inside the box from a very poor miscued Tom Cleverley (£5.0m) shot and was able to wrong-foot QPR goalkeeper Joe Lumley to find the bottom corner.

It was Capoue’s only shot of the game and continues his run of goal-scoring form that seems largely limited to the cup competitions. Four of his last five Watford strikes have come outside the Premier League, two in the FA Cup and two in the League Cup.

Andre Gray (£5.9m) can consider himself very unlucky not to have scored a second goal in as many matches in all competitions. An exquisite through-ball from Deeney sent him clear to round the goalkeeper and slot in from a tight angle but he was incorrectly adjudged to be offside. Other than that, Gray did not register a single shot, which could count against him in his hopes to displace Deulofeu as the second striker in Watford’s team.

It was QPR who were busier in front of goal, although they could not actually find the net.

Nakhi Wells had two great two chances to score but saw one effort saved by Gomes, and placed the other over the bar, while Massimo Luongo spurned an opportunity too.

Crucially, QPR captain Toni Leistner had the chance to level things in the dying moments at the back-post. A Darnell Furlong shot fizzed across goal and the centre-back only needed to get his touch right to make the net bulge, but it cannoned off his right leg and went wide.

For all those reasons, it’s worth saying that Watford were fortunate to record another clean sheet. Much is being made of their recent defensive form in the national media, as they now have six shutouts in their last league and cup matches. Also, the five clean sheets kept in their last six games in all competitions is as many as they mustered in their previous 24.

The Hornets have now come through three away FA Cup ties without conceding a goal, but it must be remembered their opposition were National League outfit Woking, a goal-shy Newcastle side, and now low mid-table Championship club QPR.

And on this occasion, as already mentioned, they probably should have conceded. It’s worth adding that both of those Wells chances were handed to him after mistakes from Jose Holebas (£4.8m) and Kabasele.

We recently highlighted after their 1-0 win over Everton, that the Hornets have belied their defensive data of late to keep three clean sheets in their last four Premier League matches. In that time, just four teams have allowed more shots in the box than them, and with Liverpool and Manchester City two of their next four opponents, Watford’s shutouts could dry up fairly soon.

That said, Gomes did have a strong performance on Friday night deputising for Foster again, earning praise from Gracia on his birthday.

“Heurelho shows his best face in every game he plays. He collected high balls & was in control of his area along with the defence. Today is a good gift for him.” – Javi Gracia

“Today I think Heurelho, Britos and Christian Kabasele were very important to defend well the long balls. They showed their qualities. The rest of the team as well had commitment as usual with big desire to carry on in this competition.” – Javi Gracia

Watford XI (4-4-2): H Gomes; Holebas, Britos, Kabasele, Janmaat; Sema (Mariappa 74′), Capoue, Cleverley (Quina 84′), Hughes; Deeney, A Gray (Doucouré 74′).

275 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ritzyd
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A derby win here would be most useful

    1. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I want maximum blanks so everyone's team is as bad as mine, and makes strategy more important.

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

          Possible?

      • Bow Locks
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Extra time

      • SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Brighton! Would have a potential TGW if they win

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

          I used TC on Sterling, I don’t want a TGW

    2. Bow Locks
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      What's the format here. Replays? Straight to extra time and pens?

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

        The latter

    3. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If Brighton got a tgw I would seriously consider TC Ryan.

      I know , bonkers, but the more I think about it....

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        che, CAR, tot

        Not bad

        1. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Doesn’t get much worse

      2. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Brighton have a habit of going on the beach after their targets are accomplished.

        This happened when they qualified for PL promotion and threw he chance of winning the title.
        And it also happened last year after they reached 40 points.

        Think AZ & Jonty also pointed this out last year on a scoutcast.

        1. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Ok, food for thought there, thanks.
          I'm thinking of save points mostly and the guarantee of playing , unlike a lot of top 6 outfield players.

          I've also memory of the stoke gw in dgw a couple of years ago.
          Clean sheet and saves against Ars.
          Saved penno and saves against Mcy.
          A rival actually Tc'd him while we all went Kun. He had the last laugh

          1. Karan14
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Yup definitely Ryan could be a good option. But if a PL spot is wrapped he might even give a game to Button maybe.

            1. potatoace
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              True.

        2. Supersonic Marv'
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Nice beaches down there.

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

          You think they’re going to achieve any targets this year in time for the beach? Seriously?

          1. Karan14
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Good point. Just realised how close they are to 3rd relegation spot. Will easily need 4-5 wins more.

    4. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Auba or Laca?

      Money not an issue as ill be left with 3m+ itb even if i get Auba.

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

        Laca for me because I dont want to lose Aguero

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Lacazette will be well rested, so probably him

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Well Auba hasnt played since GW25 as well.

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

        auba still i think.Its a 2week punt anyway and then shift to kane or kun or maybe even higuain

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yup agreed Auba does have a lot of potential exit routes.

    5. RUUD!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      For those with no WC left but all other chips remaining. Do we want the Premier League teams to win and go through, or lose and go out?

      1. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You want them to go out, no?

        1. RUUD!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I dunno that’s why I’m asking lol

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        all PL teams to go out...

      3. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No matter what happens the way the blanks/doubles are scheduled this year there is no perfect way of going about it.

      4. Rostah
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Depends on the players in your team really.

        I've got no WC left but if all the teams go through I can easily get 9 players out in 31, FH 32, & 33 should be fairly navigable as more teams drop out. Conversely I could easily FH 31, have 9 DGW players for 32 (possibly BB), and again 33 should be fairly navigable.

        1. Cojones of Destiny
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          that’s tru but what’s ur plan beyond gw 33 wo wc?

        2. GREEN IS GOOD
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Why would you bench boost with only 9 players?

          🙂

    6. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Knockaert goal

    7. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I really need Ings to be fit for GW27.

      Any word on his injury at all?

      Desperate times 😆

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Ings & fit do not go together?

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

          They do if you're a plumber https://goo.gl/images/YcrtMJ

    8. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If Brighton did end up with a TGW, what game week is it likely to fall under ?

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

        If there's a TGW , it could be either GW32 or GW35.
        But an extra DGW is more likely IMO.

        1. TLF
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Ok makes sense, thanks for the response.

    9. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Brighton 2-0 Derby

      Easy for Brighton

    10. Merlin the Wraith
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hmmmm.... can see myself being forced into a FH Gw31 here, too much value tied into current assets, selling them would rival Wall St crash with no chance of affording them back in. One way or another I'm gonna end up with a cat litter tray of a poop gw somewhere down the line hehe!

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

        Me too, only likely to have 2 players at this rate.

      2. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Only think about how to maximise points. Doesn’t always flow in tandem with TV.

    11. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Brighton you beauts

    12. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Dunk or Duffy? Will TC in the TGW.

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Luffy

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

        Both + Ryan so you can effectively have fifteen Brighton players in one GW

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

          the dream we all share

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

          Interesting maths

          1. MTPockets
              5 years, 1 month ago

              3+3+(3*3)

        3. Merlin the Wraith
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Good luck with that one given the seagull's form

        4. Camino Aleatorio
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Have Dunk, he's a red card, own goal, 2 goal conceded nightmare

          He cost me a mini league H2H loss with his silly Red Card on Brooks

          Ref error but he's a dadgum Captain of his team

      3. TheTinman
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        A TGW? Madness. Hope for more Brighton defeats in the league so they have more to play for then

      4. Ser Davos
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Off topic...

        Looking at buying an SSD laptop/desktop 8-16gb RAM, decent processor for business documents and web browsing. Shall likely link up two screens. No need for editing or gaming. Not au fait with this so just wondering if anyone had any advice or recommendations?

        1. MTPockets
            5 years, 1 month ago

            No idea but found this site handy in the past:
            https://www.hotukdeals.com/search?q=laptop

            1. Ser Davos
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Thank you

          • Team Cruel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Will you be going for the throne this year?

        2. Dave Bauer
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Can anyone explain the triple gameweek thing to me? How is that possible? Or a link to an article etc.

          Appreciated!

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

            Three games in the same GW.

            1. Dave Bauer
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Oh NOW I understand. Triple means 3 and gameweek means gameweek. So triple gameweek means three games in a gameweek. Thank you so much.

              1. Merlin the Wraith
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Ouch! not even my claws so sharp!

          2. Nüno Vippan
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            I didnt see any article but Brighton and Chelsea could have schedule issue.
            - Already one game behind
            - If they reach FA semi final that will be 2 more games
            - if chelsea goes well in EL (semifinal) it means less gap for their fixtures
            So many ‘if’ but solution could include possible 3GW for any of mentioned team.

            1. Dave Bauer
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Ah ok, cool. Hadn’t seen that but I understand. Cheers!

        3. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Crellin can you update the spreadsheet mate? Derby won't even get a consolation goal here.

          1. potatoace
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Done

        4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Keeping Fabianski for sure now with Etheridge looking set to play in BGW31 while Fabianski plays HUD (h)

        5. Champions united
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Hows my plan?
          From where Can i get gw31 matches schedule
          If 31 and 33 fixtures are same we can use FH in 32 and start prep team for 31
          We will have Min 4FT till 31

          Dont know when to use my WC..

          1. potatoace
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Use your wc after 33, in prep of second dgw

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

            If you still have Bench Boost, WC for GW34 (bringing in 15DGW players) and BB in GW35, worked a treat for me last year

            1. Champions united
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              I have bb

        6. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Brighton 2-1 Derby

          Ashley Cole scores with a header. But likely to be a consolation only. Derby have been very poor.

        7. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cole scores. Game on.

          1. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Nah. Derby been poor. Afraid of playing long ball football. Passing it backwards and sideways rather than forward.

          2. Camino Aleatorio
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Cole still playing a this age? Probably still has credit card bills from those wild London nights with Chelsea groupies

        8. tm245
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          That Ashley Cole?

          1. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Yes.

          2. MTPockets
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Just what I was checking. Didn't even realise he was still playing

          3. Merlin the Wraith
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            C'mon Derby, butt another one in fellas!

          4. potatoace
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Listening to match on 5live.
            What town does "Frank Lampard's team" hail from.

            1. Camino Aleatorio
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Derby - somewhere were people revere Goats

              I live in America so don't have a clue about English provinces

            2. Gnu
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              😆
              What are they calling it?

            3. Now I'm Panicking
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Chelsea next season

          5. Camino Aleatorio
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Given how many people own Man U assets we all want Man U to lose to Chelsea this weekend

            No way Sarri Ball can prevail though

            Brain dead Chelsea are bound to create an MU blank week

            1. Skinny B
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Man U plays Man City gameweek 31 so they'll blank anyway, given that City beats Newport County...

              1. Camino Aleatorio
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Thanks for heads up, my man

            2. AzzaroMax99
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Man U will play vs Man C in gw31, so they must lose too, which is SciFi 😀

          6. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Another blank confirmed for BGW31, BHA vs CAR

            1. AzzaroMax99
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Etheridge :'(

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

                Relieved I kept Fabianski now (he has Huddersfield at Home)

          7. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Template strategy looking like it is going to win again.

            FH 32
            WC 34
            BB 35

            1. AzzaroMax99
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              I don't have WC and a bunch of other teams. 😀
              But FH in 32 is the best move for now, while gw35 will be a mess.

              1. diesel001
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Yeah - you are at a significant disadvantage now. You need to hope Wolves, Palace and Chelsea lose. Very unlikely IMO.

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

              well dont think i will get 11 players if there are 6 blanks gw31 and i have to get 8 non-top players anyway to get 11 so would rather fh there and build my team using top 6 players from now on

              1. Karan14
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                This!!

              2. potatoace
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                My thinking too.
                Also there will be more teams to choose from in bgw33. ie: more teams in dgw32 will have preceding games in bgw33. If you're playing fh in 32 however, youre going to have your gw31 dross to work with in bgw33 and only 1 free transfer.

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

                  i am pretty sure on 5 blanks with city , wolves and palace winning.Chelsea utd will decide the if chelsea get the blank

            3. Mo Mané Mo Problems
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Yup. Looking pretty dire.

              That last minute equaliser by Doherty is very painful now.

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

                Bristol City are very in-form, wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to see them beat Wolves

                1. potatoace
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Meh. I'm a city fan. There's one team they consistently have trouble with and that's wolves.

                  Come on city, nonetheless

          8. potatoace
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            AFC Wimbledon v Millwall up next.

            12 rounds of 3mins. Queensbury rules apply.

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

            Come on Wimbledon. Fodder needed for a PL team in the quarter finals.

          10. Goat
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Ryan, Duffy, Murray for DGW 32 😎

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

              No Gross?

              1. fr3d
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                He doesn’t play Man Utd

            2. Karan14
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Their fixture with Cheslea could be shifted to that week.

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

                Damn forgot this. Hope Chelsea win so

          11. Merlin the Wraith
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Wombles v Hard men next... Thug-fest? Quotations as per RC? 2 might be a modest prediction

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

              No idea, but predicted cards by the bookies is very low.

              1. Merlin the Wraith
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Hehee! bit of Mike Dean required, stick by my 2