Scout Notes

What next for Pogba after penalty miss and deeper role against Southampton?

Fantasy Premier League managers will be paying close attention to the fitness of Nemanja Matic (£5.0m) in the coming weeks.

His absence from the side has had a knock-on effect on the assets around him, especially for Paul Pogba (£9.0m).

The midfielder was captained by 730,000+ in Gameweek 29, in time for a negative score.

Whether he is worth holding, with Blank Gameweeks coming up, is now very much a question Fantasy managers are considering.

Manchester United 3-2 Southampton

Goals: Andreas Pereira (£4.5m), Romelu Lukaku x2 (£10.7m) | Yan Valery (£4.0m), James Ward-Prowse (£5.1m)

Assists: Diogo Dalot (£5.3m), Pereira, Fred (£5.4m) | Charlie Austin (£5.5m), Stuart Armstrong (£5.1m)

The Gameweek 29 win over Southampton saw Pogba’s Fantasy appeal drop once again, as he continues to deputise for the injured Matic in a deeper role. The Frenchman was deployed in the central midfield trio for the third match in a row on Saturday, after enjoying plenty of time in a more attacking role before Matic’s absence.

Consequently, Pogba has seen his goal threat drop in recent outings. Between Gameweeks 24 and 26, he registered 14 penalty box touches, 10 goal attempts, seven in the box and five on target. That was converted into a total of 30 FPL points, at an average of 10 per game. In the three matches that have followed it’s just eight touches in the box, six goal attempts, three in the box and three on target. Factor in a miss from the spot and it’s just seven points in that time, an average of 2.33.

However, that does not necessarily mean Pogba should be on the way out of our teams. Despite the miss against Southampton, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he will take the next penalty and while it’s Arsenal and a Blank next for Manchester United, they have two fixtures in Gameweek 32, against Watford (home) and Wolves (away). Those who signed Pogba at around £8.0m now have a sizeable amount of profit tied up in him and may prefer to hold him through the Blanks with those Doubles in mind.

“I just said to him there: ‘Get ready for the next one, because you’re gonna take that as well’. I’ve missed penalties. He’s a confident boy, he wants to go and take the next one, you want that character and today was one of the ones he really blasted them, he normally just places them, so he’ll be okay.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

There is also a chance that Pogba could still return to his more attacking role against Arsenal anyway. He became much more of a threat against Southampton after Solskjaer put Fred (£5.4m) into the action. He sat deeper to allow Pogba to push forward, although that may have been because Manchester United were chasing goals. We need more to go on before predicting that Fred will start regularly in Matic’s absence.

In contrast to Pogba’s recent shift, Andreas Pereira (£4.5m) looks like he could find himself in a more advanced role at Manchester United. The 23-year-old started for the third home match in a row and was a crucial part of the Red Devils’ comeback. Only two of Pereira’s colleagues recorded more touches in the final third than him and nobody created more chances than him at Old Trafford. That translated into a goal, an assist, two bonus, a 12-point haul and high praise from Solskjaer.

“So pleased for him and so happy for him. He’s gone through the academy, we know what he’s capable of. He’s got loads of energy, drive, we maybe found a better position for him than as a number six, more of an eight or 10. He’s got high energy quality in his passing, crossing and shooting. So pleased for him, a goal and an assist, it’s a nice day for him to remember.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Up front, Romelu Lukaku (£10.7m) may be forcing his way back into the equation after a second successive brace for Manchester United. After a spell of games deployed on the right flanks of attacking midfield, the Belgian has returned to a centre-forward role and is reaping the rewards. Against Crystal Palace, he was the lone striker but played alongside Marcus Rashford (£7.7m) in a front two in Gameweek 29.

Lukaku outperformed his English colleague for total goal attempts, shots in the box and efforts on target. It was the latter that the former Everton man was so impressive, recording four accurate efforts to Rashford’s zero. The latter was unfortunate not to get some attacking returns as it was him who was fouled for the penalty that Pogba missed, but Lukaku was clearly the better player from open play. In the last four Gameweeks, no player has more shots on target as him. With the Double Gameweeks coming up for Manchester United, Lukaku may have put himself on the radar as a potential differential captain option in those rounds of fixtures.

“(Lukaku) is a quality goalscorer. We need to have him more in front of the goal but he’s done fantastic in his work rate, attitude, and he keeps working every single day on his finishing. He loves scoring goals, he smiles every day after training because he does extra finishing every day and that’s the way to score goals. If you practice that practice comes out on a Saturday. He’s got goalscorers’ qualities, finishing, he knows what he wants to do and he’s got the quality to do it, right foot, left foot.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester United’s injury crisis looks to have worsened in the win over Southampton as Alexis Sánchez (£10.0m) was taken off with a potentially long-term injury. It is too soon to tell the extent of the damage with Solskjaer fearing it could be ligament-related.

“We don’t know yet. We haven’t checked it too much, it might be the ligament. It was a bad knock on his knee, we’ll do a scan tomorrow but we don’t know until we’ve done the scan.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Fantasy managers might be able to capitalise on this development though. Sánchez’s replacement was FPL defender Diogo Dalot (£5.3m) who, for the second time in as many matches, played on the flanks of attacking midfield. His introduction switched Manchester United’s formation from a 4-3-1-2 to a 4-3-3 with Rashford on one wing and Dalot on the other. No player played as many key passes as Dalot at Old Trafford, despite his 38-minute pitch-time, and he also provided an assist. With Sánchez doubtful and other midfield assets also on the sidelines, a real opportunity has opened up for Dalot to get some regular starts as an out of position option.

While Manchester United’s defence conceded twice against Southampton, there continues to be signs of encouragement for Luke Shaw (£5.1m). Despite no attacking returns, his presence in the final third still shows potential. Only Lukaku had more touches in that area of the pitch against Southampton.

“It’s hard to try and pinpoint anything that I’ve changed, I haven’t changed anything massively. ”I think it’s more down to confidence and enjoying myself again, a lot of which is down to the manager and the way he is with me. He’s helped me a lot since he’s come in and I think he’s helped a lot of other players as well. We’re very lucky to have this job but to do it day-in, day-out, like any job, you need to enjoy it. The more you enjoy it, the more you get out of it, and I think everyone’s showing that at the moment. Real positive things are happening and that’s showing on the pitch but also off the pitch. This place is a much better environment. There are lots of positives but I just need to keep going, keep focused and keep enjoying football.” – Luke Shaw

Southampton certainly gave Manchester United a fright, scoring the opening goal and pulling it back to 2-2 once the hosts had edged in front themselves. However, the Saints expected goals (xG) for the match was actually as low 0.43. That was because the first of their two strikes was an outstanding effort from range by right-back Yan Valery (£4.0m), while the second was a James Ward-Prowse (£5.1m) direct free-kick. On another day, Southampton might have also had a couple of penalties themselves but in open play, Manchester United were statistically untroubled. It means that in the last four home matches, only Manchester City have conceded fewer shots in the box as the Red Devils.

Nevertheless, Valery earned plenty of praise for his wonder-strike, after progressing very well in recent months. The wing-back has started six of the last seven matches on the right of Southampton’s five-man midfield and probably offers better value than colleague Jan Bednarek (£4.0m), given his attacking positioning.

“I think Yan Valery like Prowsey also are two young guys we try to develop and to bring them on the next level. Yan made fantastic jobs in the last games in the defence and what he was missing was more brave in the attacking situation and he showed he can be brave also. It was a marvellous goal.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Ward-Prowse now has five goals in the last eight Gameweeks as he continues to prove the best of Southampton’s Fantasy assets. While he offered no goal threat from open play, his role in set pieces led to his latest goal and he was the Saints’ joint-top chance creator at Old Trafford.

“Prowsey in the last weeks is a key player for us, working hard also on the ball and making good decisions. He is in fantastic shape at the moment and he can score with his fantastic shooting technique. It’s a pity that we didn’t get something for it.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Investment in Southampton might not be advisable at this time though. It’s the visit of Spurs in Gameweek 30, followed by a Blank in Gameweek 31 and a trip to Brighton after that.

Manchester United XI (4-3-1-2): De Gea; Shaw, Lindelöf, Smalling, Young; Pogba, McTominay, A Pereira (Fred 82′); Sánchez (Dalot 52′); Lukaku, Rashford (Chong 90+5′).

Southampton XI (3-5-2): Gunn; Vestergaard, Yoshida (Gallagher 90′), Bednarek; Bertrand, Højbjerg, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Valery; Austin (Armstrong 63′), Redmond.

679 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dthinger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    What's up with Yedlin getting benched the last two matches? Do we think that's going to continue? Or will he get back into the team?

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Bound to happen 'cause I bought him. Plan to sell again, so he'll be back in starting line-up then

  2. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    Doherty to Azpilicueta -4.. Worth a gamble?

    1. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Yes, not much of a gamble really

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        Tidy

    2. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      I would say not worth..
      Wolves play well vs top 6

    3. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      No.

  3. FOMFF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    Thoughts on Auba & Pog > Vardy & Haz for a -4? I would do just the Vardy move but think I might lose out on price rises. Would leave me with:

    Etheridge, Button
    Robbo, Doherty, Luiz, Digne, Kola
    Salah, Son, Haz, Fraser, Maddison
    Vardy, Jimi, Rondon

    Then bring in Fab for BGW's and I'm feeling good!

  4. Clarity
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    is snodgrass likely to start next games?

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Ask hakim ziyech

  5. The 5% Team
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    something different: a while ago I read here someone saying it isn't allowed to have multiple teams, and that it says so in the rules.
    I couldn't find this anywhere. Who knows if/where I can find this. And why shouldn't it be allowed to have another team?

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      FAQ --> Can I enter more than one team.

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        Or Rule 7 of T&C's.

        It's considering very unsportsmanlike and unfair to enter more than one team - entering more than one is just trying to cover all the bases and win via luck rather than skill - not something people will appreciate here.

        However, zombie teams often get set up at the start of the year, which may be registered to an unidentified relative, and people are less bothered about that.

        1. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 25 days ago

          ah yes, I see it now...for some reason looked over it.
          And yes, was somewhat related to the use of zombie teams.
          thnx.

    2. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Havent seen it myself, but if you want to enter another team im sure it's no risk. A lot have teams which they leave untouched and havent heard of anyone being punished for it.

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        Oh great, wise words from who?
        It's a one player- one team game.
        That's the rules and there's been many discussions on it on here over the years.

    3. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      BAN HIM!!!

    4. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Another great addition to the site.

    5. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Some people use one team to play in a certain style to maintain a good track record & history, then get other teams to challenge in money leagues which requires a different style in order to win the monthly prizes etc

      Apart from it being against the rules, I don’t really see the problem .... other FPL games (Telegraph etc) allow and actually charge for extra teams

  6. tibollom
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    hey guys, what to do with my FT + 0.7iTB?

    Fab stek
    robbo taa bamba pereira doherty
    jota salah pogba son camarasa
    jim kun rondon

  7. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    Back to back -4's (GW30 + BGW31) or a -8 going into BGW31?

    1. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Depends how much it would help you to do the transfer one week early.

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        Would mean getting rid of AWB before BHA (h), not worth it, cheers for your good point!

        1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 25 days ago

          My -8 the week after would be getting rid of players who aren't featuring in BGW31

    2. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Completely depends on the players involved fixtures.

  8. balint84
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    recommended Richarlison replacement under 7.0?

    1. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Brooks, Fraser or Maddison?

  9. Eytexi
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 25 days ago

    I know pressers will be a big indicator, but as it stands, who do we think is more likely to start on Saturday?

    Arnie or H.Barnes?

    1. Party time
        5 years, 25 days ago

        If I tell you, will you trust me?

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 25 days ago

          Lol

        2. Eytexi
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 25 days ago

          Probably not; know the gardener?

      • Richd
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        H Barnes probably

      • AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        H. Barnes.

    2. balint84
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Do you know which gameweek will play Spurs twice?

    3. Netters2018
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Thinking of triple cpt salah im gw31......

      1. Snevitz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        Away to Fulham isn't a bad fixture but wouldn't you prefer to do it week 34 against HUD?

        1. Netters2018
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 25 days ago

          Yeah good point...might be out of the CL then ans guaranteed 90 mins also...

      2. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        Everyone will have Salah (C) so if he scores say 8 points you will only be 8 points ahead of normal teams. For it to really work you need Salah to go crazy like last season and at least get a double figure return.

        1. Netters2018
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 25 days ago

          Yeah hadnt looked at it like that but guess that will happen most gameweeks. Guess on a normal week there are a few more cpt choices.

    4. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      I might gamble on doherty and Son to Robertson and a 8.4 for free

      Then I can play Robertson over Barnes this week

      What 8.4 would you get ? Or shall I just avoid Robbo for now and do Puncheon to brooks and play brooks over Barnes ?

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        You’d back a cs this week no? Don’t see any reason to delay if Robbo is your man.

        In all events I’d back Robbo over Brooks and Barnes - not least as neither is 100% tied on

        1. Richd
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 25 days ago

          That’s my logic yeah that’s why I’d move this week instead of next.

          Struggling to work out a 8.4 Son replacement I’d be happy with however !

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 25 days ago

            I’m somewhere between Siggy and Lanzini. Probably waiting till next week tho to pull that triggrr

            1. Richd
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 25 days ago

              Yeah I like Lanzini too. But almost want that one extra week to decide

              However it’s the only way I can get Robertson !

              1. The Big Fella
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 25 days ago

                Exactly the same boat as you. I want an 8.5m replacement for Son and want to wait an extra week before deciding on Lanzini

              2. The Big Fella
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 25 days ago

                I was thinking one of the Silvas too

    5. balint84
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      after freehited gameweek31 from gameweek 32 who is more recommended?

      A) Shaw+Jota
      B) Maddison+Lascelles
      C) under 9.0 City player

    6. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Pogba, Kamara > Brooks, Vardy -4 good moves?

    7. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Did Aubameyang Kolasinac and Redmond out for Higuain Maddison and Trent

      -8

      Now back on track up 10k

    8. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      Two Bournemouth related questions:
      1) What am I missing with King? Everybody seems to be buying him and I cannot see why
      2) Is Boruc first choice keeper? I want a second playing keeper for when I use BB

      1. AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        1. Talisman (currently), on PK's, and has good fixtures. Underlying stats are not great in term of goal threat but he has created the most amount of chances for BOU over the last four.

        2. Imo, his position to lose.

    9. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 25 days ago

      GW30 Chelsea A, 31 Blank, 32 Burnley/Utd, 33 Blank ...

      Jiminez & Doherty being sold quite heavily (with double/triple red arrows on FPL Stats) presumably due to tough next games & blanks .... and it’s still early in the week. Both likely to be rotated in any DGW too if you listen to Santo. That makes it 2 or 3 games in the next 5 fixtures with two of those against Chelsea & Utd.

      People seem to be holding these players due to the value they have in them, but will that value still actually be there by GW32 or GW34 ? Isn’t cashing in now the way to go ... with points over team value at this late stage of the season, surely ?

      1. Flaming Flamingo
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 25 days ago

        Have to bench someone, might as well be a cheap player you have value tied up in. I suppose if you're not wanting triple Liverpool and Chelsea you can afford to bench someone more pricey, but I'd rather have my money in my XI than on the bench personally.

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 25 days ago

          But it’s not just about benching players, many are starting with 9 players in 31 ‘because I have £x in Doherty/Pogba/Jiminez/Kun etc ... isn’t it better to potentially get 10 - 20 points more over the next 5 game weeks out of a player rather than worry about a TV of 105 instead of 106 ?

          Is this TV issue bit of an FFS curse ?

          1. Flaming Flamingo
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 25 days ago

            Oh, I agree with you there for sure. I just think there's an obsession with team value because unlike points it's a variable people can control. Can't see much merit in fielding less than 11 in the blanks for anyone going FH 32 myself.

    10. Pianoman
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      JESUS