Scout Notes

Schar underlines goal threat as budget FPL attacking assets blank

Newcastle United recorded their fourth straight home win and third clean sheet in six Gameweeks as they saw off the challenge of Burnley on Tuesday.

The Magpies’ victory ended Burnley’s own eight-match unbeaten run as the Clarets’ budget Fantasy assets suffered a rare blank after the success stories of recent weeks.

We’ll look at how Rafael Benitez’s side chalked up their latest victory and examine how their own cut-price Fantasy options fared ahead of some more appealing fixtures in the weeks ahead.

Newcastle United 2-0 Burnley

  • Goals: Fabian Schar (£4.7m), Sean Longstaff (£4.5m)
  • Assists: Javier Manquillo (£4.3m)

Newcastle United’s second 2-0 home win in the space of four days was an altogether different affair from the victory over Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The procession over the ten-man Terriers in Gameweek 27 always had to be treated with caution from a Fantasy perspective but Tuesday’s triumph over an in-form Burnley side was more of a reliable barometer as to how well the Magpies’ assets are currently performing.

As expected, Miguel Almiron (£6.0m), Salomon Rondon (£5.9m) and Ayoze Perez (£6.1m) had a tougher evening against an improved Clarets defence that had only shipped seven goals in the preceding eight Gameweeks.

As Sean Dyche conceded after the match, Newcastle were the better side but clear-cut chances were few and far between: Perez failing to record a single shot on goal and Rondon’s only meaningful effort being a free header in first-half stoppage time that he couldn’t guide on target.

Still, there were more encouraging signs that Newcastle’s front three will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming weeks as they worked well in tandem at St. James’ Park.

Rondon may have struggled to completely impose himself on James Tarkowski (£4.7m) and Ben Mee (£4.6m) but his presence is always a threat and he registered three key passes on Tyneside last night, more than any other Newcastle player.

Almiron’s searing pace was once again evident, with Tom Heaton (£4.8m) having to rush off his line to deny the Paraguayan midfielder a goalscoring chance before the break.

Newcastle’s club-record signing then had an excellent one-on-one chance after half-time, only for Heaton to deflect Almiron’s effort into the side netting.

While this was a second successive blank for the mid-price midfielder, Almiron has shown plenty of encouragement in his first two Newcastle starts to attract interest from a Fantasy perspective – the Paraguay international had similarly broken free of the visiting defence on Saturday only for his chipped effort to strike the woodwork.

With United’s front three drawing a blank despite their promising displays, it was left to a differential FPL defender and midfielder to seal three points for the hosts.

Fabian Schar (£4.7m) once again underscored his goal threat with a rocket of an opener, his 25-yard effort crashing in off Heaton’s left-hand post.

It’s the Swiss centre-back’s threat from open play as well as set-piece situations that catches the eye and the summer signing from Deportivo de La Coruna has a long-standing reputation as a goal-getting defender, having scored on seven occasions for his country in 46 appearances.

His proclivity to accumulate yellow cards (eight in 16 Premier appearances, just two away from a two-match ban) and United’s competition for places at centre-back have perhaps been deterrents but he is now part of a settled back three in the meanest defence outside of the “big six”, with only two of those Champions League-chasing clubs to come in the remaining ten Gameweeks.

Speaking of his in-form defender, Rafael Benitez said:

We know he is capable of doing that. On the ball, he is good, and now he is improving in defence and the understanding with the other players is getting better.

The Newcastle boss also had positive words to say about Sean Longstaff (£4.5m), who scored his first senior goal to put the cap on his side’s victory.

Benitez said:

I said so many times when he was coming and training with us he was doing well and he was lucky enough to make his debut sooner rather than later because of injuries. 

But he deserved to be there and we decided to keep him in the team because he is working hard and playing well and his understanding with Hayden is quite good.

We are really pleased. To have a local lad playing is an example to the rest of the players. You can guarantee when you have local players they are cheaper! And, also, they are committed. Both things are important.

He had a yellow card and they were trying to play on him, focusing on his yellow card. So we had to protect him [by substituting him].

The return to fitness of Ki Sung-yueng (£4.7m), Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m) and Mohamed Diame (£4.8m) is a concern but Longstaff and Isaac Hayden (£4.4m) continue to be two of the more appealing options among bargain-bin FPL midfielders, having started seven and ten successive Premier League matches respectively and having chipped in with attacking returns during that time.

DeAndre Yedlin (£4.5m) missed out on Newcastle’s latest clean sheet, meanwhile, being handed a breather to allow Javier Manquillo (£4.3m) a run-out in what was Benitez’s only change to his starting XI.

Dyche made his first alteration to the Burnley line-up in seven Gameweeks, with the sick Ashley Westwood (£4.6m) dropping out, Jeff Hendrick (£5.2m) moved inside to central midfield and Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£5.5m) reinstated on the right flank.

The Clarets’ boss said of Westwood’s ailment:

I think Westy and Corky have had a tremendous little run together, and the way they’ve connected, but unfortunately he went down with sickness so we had to get him a car back because we didn’t want it going through the camp.

We got him home this afternoon in a car to give him some more recovery time and hopefully it just a bug that passes quickly. He was in a hotel room on his own thankfully so he was not around the group so hopefully, we have contained that.

Dyche also provided updates on long-term injury victims Aaron Lennon (£4.9m) and Steven Defour (£5.3m):

We are just waiting on news of what they are going to [with Defour]. It is a calf thing and there are a couple of different options so we are just waiting on some clarity on what they are actually going to decide to do.

He was seeing one of the specialists (on Tuesday). I will have to wait and see what the specialists’ report is.

Azza is making really good progress but is not there yet obviously.

Burnley created little from open play but preyed on Newcastle’s vulnerability from crosses and at set plays, with the majority of their chances coming from corners or free-kicks.

Tarkowski wasted an Ashley Barnes (£5.7m) assist when volleying over from close range, while Chris Wood (£6.2m) stung the palms of Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) and substitute Matej Vydra (£5.6m) couldn’t scramble the ball past the Slovakian goalkeeper after yet another set-piece delivery.

With his FPL ownership down to 1.1%, Gudmundsson might be an interesting differential for the remaining Gameweeks if he can now nail down a starting role: no player on show at St. James’ Park created more chances or registered more shots, with the Iceland international’s set-piece deliveries a valuable tool in his locker with the likes of Barnes, Wood, Mee and Tarkowski to aim at.

Tarkowski recorded another three attempts on goal on Tyneside and now only three FPL assets in any position (let alone defence) have registered more efforts from inside the opposition six-yard box this season.

Barnes and Wood struggled to get much change from Newcastle’s three centre-backs, with Barnes’ only effort on goal being a blocked shot in the second half.

Both of the Clarets’ in-form strikers were substituted on a rare off-day for the pair but Burnley at least have three home matches in the next four Gameweeks to look forward to, for those Fantasy owners disenchanted with Tuesday night’s returns.

Another Burnley asset to be withdrawn was budget midfielder Dwight McNeil (£4.5m), who was hooked at half-time.

Dyche said of his young prospect:

When you are young, the games do catch you out sometimes.

We wanted him to again because we got him off on Saturday early and we thought he’d be fine, the energy would be there.

I think sometimes it just catches the young players out, particularly physically and sometimes mentally because it was a big game playing on TV against Tottenham and it was another big game tonight for different reasons.

He’s been fantastic. We did wonder: ‘can you get that next one out of him?’, but I thought he was good Saturday and he just found it tough tonight.

Dyche lamented a “really poor” first half and suggested this was perhaps just one game too far for his in-form side:

It’s a strange one to analyse. We certainly weren’t at the races in the first half and you can’t help but think back to Saturday’s result and all the euphoria that goes with beating one of the big six.

If we’d had a free week, all that furore might have calmed down, but when you hit the big teams as we did on Saturday with a terrific performance and you have to go and do it all again a few days later – well, that’s what it looked like.

In the second half, I thought there was a response. We were a little more like our old selves.

The energy came back and without being amazing, we huffed and puffed and created one or two things. At least it looked a bit more like us.

Newcastle United XI (3-4-2-1): Dubravka; Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune; Manquillo, Longstaff (Diame 85′), Hayden, Ritchie; Perez (Joselu 87′), Almiron (Dummett 80′); Rondon.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Heaton; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Hendrick, Cork, McNeil (Brady 46′); Wood (Vydra 83′), Barnes (Crouch 71′).

593 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    If anyone ever sees me saying that I'm captaining Doherty, a defender, or any Wolves player in the future, you have my permission to shoot me.

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

      Will need your address and your true identity first.

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

        Man United fan, so guessing...…. Surrey?

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

          Zing!

        2. Forever In Our Shadow
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Delhi. 🙂

        3. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          lol, nah, I'm Northern but not living in Manchester nor from there.

    2. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'll do this without your address and true identity, happily

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Second week in a row my captain has got two points, at least it should be pretty easy to beat next time...

        1. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          bad luck bud 🙁

        2. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 28 days ago

          Only second? Wish my luck was that good 😉

    3. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Was initially gutted when I saw Jimenez blanked, and Schindler is my last sub...but then I realised my mini league rival captained Jimenez...and has Jota and Doherty too...so the pain was somewhat nullified.

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I have Pat/Doh/Jota, there was a huge chance for Doh early on which would've been a Jota assist, just gotta laugh at these things.

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Fine margins mate, although maverick call going with Doherty when so many attackers have a good fixture this week.

    4. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Did you really cap doh

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yep. said I was all week, I was gonna Captain someone playing either Hudds or Fulham from now until end of season. I know at least one other on here did too.

  2. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    If I could turn back time, if I could find a way, I'd bring in Schär for this GW.

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

      Does Cher play fpl?

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

        I Believe so

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Do you believe in life after love?

      2. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        poor attempt to be funny given he spelt it Schär

        1. Surfeit of Lampteys
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Ah that was my joke tho. Nm.

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

          That bit passed me by tbh

    2. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      and I would have kept siggy in gw27 and not transferred him out, so I could have triple captained him v cardiff

  3. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Getting rid of rashford has helped raise funds for me to get sterling in the rest of the season.. Pogba is enough Utd..

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      After 29 I don't need any United

  4. SKENG
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    For people without WC - when are you using FH?

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

      32

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Just got the Bench boost

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

    For those who have burned their TC on the likes of Salah earlier in the season, is there a better way of using the remaining chips or is it simply a case of FH32 WC 34 BB35?

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

      seems like the best option with or without TC chip left

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

      That's it. Salah triple in week 3, not disastrous but wish I hadn't.

  6. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Higuain and Anderson

    Or

    Arnautovic/King and Hazard

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      King hazard 🙂 king from gw39 though

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        D'oh, 29

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

          King is the king of the post season piss up.

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

      Depends on how much game time you see Anderson getting. West Ham now have lots of options and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him getting time off.

      He’s been a fixture ever since and scored well but the benching of Arnie is a precedent for me. With Nasri and Lanzini about I can see him getting 60 mins or even 30 mins again

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

    I’m having horrible GWs recently...
    What do you think about Son to Hazard for next week ?

    Fab
    Pereira/Doherty/Shaw
    Salah/Mane/Pogba/Son
    Kun/Barnes/Jimenez

    Hart/Bednarek/Puncheon/WB

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Everyone is having horrible gameweeks.

      Hazard will never be welcome in my side again, maybe consider Higuain? Son does have two tough fixtures and the blank though i guess.

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

        Yeah wanted to sort Son situation and keep other forwards for now

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

      I'm thinking of doing that as well...wait and see how tonights matches go.

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

        Yep, right

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

    Any early ideas on this lot?

    Patricio, Hart
    Robbo, TAA, Pereira, Doherty, AWB
    Salah, Pogba, Son, Almiron, Snodgrass
    Rashford, Aguero, Jimenez

    1ft. 0.0m in bank.

    Stupidly got in Almiron this week instead of getting rid of Rashford so blocked myself doing Son -> Hazard. Might just save if Rashford is fit.

  9. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I notice how some people on here got Aguero in for the DGW and captained him, and are now giving it some, claiming others managers are being found out etc.

    -that double happened because Murray Wallace scored a last minute header against Everton in the cup;
    -before that happened you probably didn't own Aguero, and probably had no plan to.
    -You therefore wouldn't have owned him for either (now hypothetical) hat-tricks if Arsenal had remained a single-gameweek

    This is all relevant because Aguero was not guaranteed to play both games of the DGW, had recently been rotated with Jesus, and effectively scored his hat-tricks in SGWs (blanked vs Everton) which most wouldn't have owned him for otherwise.

    People seem to be underrestimating the effect of Aguero vs Non-Aguero on rank over the last few weeks, and are now getting a bit big-headed over one decision imo. I didn't get him, which should be obvious by now 😀 , but singling out 'so-called 'experts'' because you made a decision and got fortunate is a bit harsh imo.

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

      Good outcome = skill, bad outcome = luck. The way it will always be! A lot of people on here over the years appear from nowhere when they have a good rank and give it large and invariably disappear never to be seen again when they make a bad start to next season.

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

      In simple words.

      Should we get kun now or we've missed the boat?

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Missed it. You will waste some transfers bringing and selling him

        1. Peter Ouch
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers mate, just hope he will continue his horrible away form against bmouth and he will be replaced by Jesus in the 30th

  10. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    my gw31 team (hehe) - gtg?

    fab
    robbo - emerson - pereira
    salah(c) - mane - fanderson - hazard
    arnie - rondon - vardy

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      if emerson loses his starting place before 31, then I may double up on leicester defence with either chilwell/maguire

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ideal

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

      Nice

      I’d consider Bournemouth defence and not double Leicester- they’re ok at home and have decent fixtures in 31:3.

      Too late to get rid of Fanderson? I’d fancy Siggy instead.

  11. Mayo for Sam
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hi Folks,

    What is my best moves here? All chips in place

    2ft 0.3 ITB

    Fabianski
    Pereira, TAA, Bennett,
    Sterling, Fanderson, Pogba, Salah, Son
    Aubameyang, Jiménez

    Hamer*, Dunk, Success*, Wan-Bissaka*

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Auba Higuain
      Son Mane

  12. Gharvey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Best keeper and City asset to have for rest of season?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Fab Sterling

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

        Agreed

    2. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Kun alisson

  13. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I am considering higuain given the schedule ahead but he didn't even start against city carabo cup
    Is he sure starter

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Should be but Sarri might be sacked if they lose tonight so could all change quickly. He didn't start against city because Sarri went with the same tactics that they beat them with earlier in the season.

      1. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers mate, I don't think they will sack sarri now. If they will is has to be end of the year. Still in Europa league

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I think he's gone if they lose tonight, not long until we find out anyway.

    2. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Chelsea fan here. He's a sure starter and also Sarri will not be sacked due to the transfer ban

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

        Idve thought the transfer ban would mean he went sooner - he can’t bring in players for the system now and they don’t fit the system.

  14. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Pogba price prediction next season?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      10.2

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Close

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

      9.5

  15. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    RP for crowd

    What do you think of this plan gents?

    GW29: Save FT:

    Fab
    Robbo, TAA, Luiz, Doherty
    Salah, Pogba (v), Son, Jota
    Kun (C), Jimi
    (Hamer) (Barnes, Pereira, JWP)

    GW30/1: for free
    Son, Jota, Jimi > Haz, Fraser, Rondon
    OR
    Son, Jota, Jimi > Haz, Almiron, King

    To give me 10 players for GW31:
    Fab
    Robbo, TAA, Luiz, Pereira
    Salah (C), Haz, Fraser/ Almirón
    Rondón/ King, Barnes
    (Hamer) (Kun, Pogba, JWP)

    Thoughts? Would you do any of the moves sooner?

    Cheers!

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sorry was meant to say RP for “new crowd”

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

        How can you do 3 transfers for free unless you wildcard?

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

          Oh sorry, over 2 weeks. Getting pissed in the winter sun

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Ha yeh over GWs 30 and 31

            What do u reckon mate? Sound plan?

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

              Yes good, prefer Fraser and Robson combo

              1. Don Kloppeone
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Me too as it stands but I’m sure something will come along to change my mind!

        2. Volley127
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Think he means 2 in 30 and 1 in 31 (or vica versa)

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Exactly spot on

            Sorry should’ve been clear!

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

      Not sure I'd get rid of Jimenez at all with the double after the blank and him being great value. If pressed I'd say I prefer Almiron to Fraser currently, but may prefer Harvey Barnes over both by then? Plenty of time to figure it out though.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yep it’s nice to have luxury of some time to weigh it up!

        I’m sure the whole plan will end up changing!

  16. Atters
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I'll only be able to field 7 players in gw31 without hits. Should I take a few hits or fh in31 instead of 32?

    1. George James
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      couple of hits to get 9 would be my suggestion

  17. Annie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 27 days ago

    Southampton goal!!!!