Scout Notes

Nine goals in as many Gameweeks for Mane but Salah flops yet again

Liverpool kept their title bid on track at Craven Cottage on Sunday with an unexpectedly close-run win over relegation-threatened Fulham.

There was further joy for owners and (especially) captainers of Sadio Mane as the Senegalese midfielder registered his third double-digit haul in four Gameweeks and drew level on Premier League goals with Mohamed Salah for the season.

The Egyptian, however, blanked for the sixth time in eight top-flight games.

There was to be no clean sheet either for those Fantasy managers backing Liverpool’s defence after a calamitous passage of play allowed Scott Parker’s side to temporarily draw level.

There’s plenty to discuss in our Scout Notes below.

Fulham 1-2 Liverpool

  • Goals: Ryan Babel (£5.5m) | Sadio Mane (£13.4m), James Milner (£5.6m)
  • Assists: None | Roberto Firmino (£9.2m), Sadio Mane (£9.9m)

There was a depressingly familiar feel to Mohamed Salah‘s (£13.4m) performance in west London on Sunday.

For those not watching the match, the Egyptian’s underlying attacking statistics would have caught the eye.

Top of all players on show at Craven Cottage for penalty box touches, overall goal attempts, shots in the box and efforts on target, the data analysts amongst us would have been impressed by Salah’s numbers.

In reality, the Egypt international rarely looked like hitting the back of the net.

Only in the final 15 minutes did Salah pose any kind of serious threat but even when afforded a one-on-one opportunity with the error-prone Sergio Rico (£4.4m) just before full-time, FPL’s leading points-scorer (still) of 2018/19 lacked any kind of conviction with his finishing.

The Liverpool winger fluffed an early chance wide and fired in another two efforts that Rico should have gobbled up with ease – though the Spanish custodian made a hash of both shots, with one error proving costly.

Even aside from his tame shooting, Salah frustrated.

The Egyptian’s touch was awful and he failed with all five of his attempted take-ons, getting tackled on nine occasions – more than any other player in Gameweek 31.

A miserable afternoon for the 44% of Fantasy managers who own him, particularly the 1.7 million who captained him, was summed up by Liverpool’s winning goal.

Rico hauled down Sadio Mane (£9.9m) after spilling Salah’s 79th-minute shot to give the Reds the chance to retake the lead from the penalty spot but it was James Milner (£5.6m), on as a substitute just seven minutes earlier, who stepped up to win the game for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The Liverpool boss shared his thoughts on the Reds’ spot-kick running order after full-time:

Mo scored a lot of goals and then he got the penalties as well but when Millie is on the pitch, I think it makes sense. And so, wonderful. Doubts, no, but even Millie is a human being and you can fail. But, you know, very, very good.

What to do with Salah is now a serious question that many Fantasy managers will have to ask themselves.

For those with the Free Hit and/or Wildcard chips still in their locker, the Egyptian is, some would argue, perhaps dispensable for Double Gameweeks 32 and 35.

Whether he remains a staple of Fantasy squads outside of these dates (and after Blank Gameweek 33) is another matter.

Salah will undoubtedly deliver attacking returns between now and the end of the season, maybe even posting a double-digit haul or two in the run-in.

Some attractive fixtures (Huddersfield at home in Gameweek 36, in particular) and his overall/effective ownership are further points to consider and it is this “fear factor” that deters many of us from selling him.

A blank against the worst defence in the Premier League may have been the tipping point for a sizeable percentage of Fantasy bosses, however, and his average FPL score over the last eight Gameweeks is now 3.5 points per match.

Mane, in contrast, is in red-hot form.

The Senegalese midfielder averages 8.9 points per game over the same period and now has 11 goals in his last 11 competitive starts, including nine in as many Gameweeks in the Premier League.

Mane’s underlying stats away from home haven’t been great of late and again, on Sunday, he hauled despite registering so-so numbers: two shots, one key pass.

There could well have been other attacking returns, though, despite these unremarkable KPIs: it was Mane that sent Salah through on goal in the dying stages, while the Senegal international himself hit the woodwork with a header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.6m) corner.

Quite simply, the stats tell only part of the story and don’t begin to reflect Mane’s current confidence and clinical streak in front of goal.

While there was an element of fortune about his “Fantasy assist” for Milner’s penalty, Mane’s goal was superbly constructed: the former Southampton winger trading passes with Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) and meeting the Brazilian’s cut-back to put the visitors 1-0 up after 25 minutes.

How many Fantasy managers missed out on captaincy points or Mane’s 13-point haul altogether because of his absence from training ground photos on Friday is an intriguing question.

Liverpool in general made hard work of a side that had conceded two or more goals in all ten of their previous league fixtures in 2019.

The Reds’ recent away form is something of a worry and this latest display was similar in style to their previous league matches on the road this calendar year.

While Liverpool average 3.4 goals per league game at Anfield in 2019, they are scoring at a rate of 0.83 goals per match on their travels since the turn of the year.

The Reds rank a lowly 11th for total attempts on goal over their last six away games, joint-eighth for shots on target, sixth for efforts in the box and joint-fifth for big chances.

They rank in the top three for all of the above categories over their last six Premier League fixtures at Anfield.

Klopp acknowledged that Milner’s penalty came at just the right time before any panic could set in:

I didn’t see us panic, that’s right – I liked how we reacted – but we needed a penalty for that situation.

That doesn’t say we were sensational, the boys are human beings. I was sure we would not panic, we would not show the nerves you are all waiting for. We are long enough in this situation. We know it’s difficult for other teams to beat us, that always gives us the opportunity pretty much to win it.

Most of the draws we had, we were closer to winning the game. That gives us confidence, that we know another chance will come.

Much of the league leaders’ early threat came from their full-backs, in particular Alexander-Arnold.

The Liverpool right-back conjured up memories of his performance against Watford with some of his teasing deliveries, with Joel Matip (£4.9m) wasting a free header from one Alexander-Arnold corner and Mane hitting the bar with another.

His distribution from open play was also commendable, with the England defender finding Salah in the box (who predictably took too many touches) with one pass early on and then producing a superb cross-field pass to Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) minutes later.

Robertson ought to have done better when he broke into the box on ten minutes but could only find Rico’s arms with a pass along the six-yard line.

The Scotland left-back could have had an assist himself later when Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) headed his cross over.

Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) was again prominent at set-piece situations, drawing Rico into a save with one header and very nearly capitalising when the unconvincing Fulham goalkeeper spilt a Salah shot at his feet.

Not only was there not to be any attacking returns for owners of Liverpool’s defenders, there was to be no clean sheet either.

Fulham had barely troubled Alisson (£6.0m) before their 73rd-minute leveller and the Cottagers’ goal was all Liverpool’s own making.

Milner’s skied clearance towards his own goal put van Dijk in trouble, with the Dutch centre-half producing a tame header back to a hesitant Alisson and allowing Ryan Babel (£5.5m) to almost apologetically score against his old club.

Klopp said:

We let them back a bit into the game, with counter-attacks and passing the wrong ball. It’s just the intensity of the competition, it’s nothing to do with nerves. Trent passed the ball into the middle, they get the ball, pass only one time and then Babel is against one or two [defenders]. These situations hurt, but it’s normal.

The goal they scored, I thought a little bit we begged for it – there were two or three moments where we asked for it. There were two or three moments not exactly like that but they had their best moments in that period of the game and then finally they scored.

But then I actually saw the reaction of my players and I’m really pleased with that. It was a good reaction. After they got the equaliser, we were again much clearer than we were before the equaliser. So, all good, a good reaction. Not a perfect football game but, in a difficult week for us, a sensational result.

For Fulham, this was another battling display under their interim manager.

Parker kept faith with a 4-2-3-1 set-up but brought Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.4m), Jean Michael Seri (£4.9m), Timothy Fosu-Mensah (£4.5m) and Floyd Ayite (£4.3m) in at the expense of Kevin McDonald (£4.2m), Ryan Sessegnon (£6.0m), Denis Odoi (£4.4m) and Havard Nordtveit (£4.5m).

Calum Chambers (£4.2m) moved back to centre-half, meanwhile.

Manchester City next face the Cottagers in Gameweek 32 and there have been signs over Parker’s three-match reign that they won’t quite be the pushovers they were towards the end of Claudio Ranieri’s tenure.

Ultimately, though, they have shipped seven goals in three Gameweeks under Parker and rank bottom for shots on target and efforts in the box conceded during that time.

Joe Bryan (£4.8m) again impressed at left-back, however, and whoever plays on City’s right in a fortnight’s time will likely face a sterner test than their counterpart on the opposite flank.

Parker said of his side’s display and of the forthcoming clash with Pep Guardiola’s side:

First half, we set off a bit and tried to stay in the game and we worked on that this week and the second half as the game moved forward we put them under pressure and got a goal, albeit from a mistake.

We played against the best counter-attacking team in Europe, a front three which are pretty deadly. We need to stay in the game and we did that first half and there was some massive positives in the second half where the players took the front foot and we got back into the game, but it’s a shame we couldn’t hold on.

We worked all week on a gameplan, the boys have been superb in understanding and applying themselves daily and they’ve been first class. We’ll do the same for Man City.

Klopp meanwhile provided an update on Jordan Henderson (£5.3m), who missed out with an ankle injury:

Hendo will go to the national team; two or three days at Melwood to do the rehab, but it looks positive.

I think he is in contact with Gareth [Southgate] so when he can train in that moment, he will go to the national team. If he plays, Gareth will decide then, but it’s really positive.

He was still not able to play today but it was not that serious and now, in three or four days, he should be fine.

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Rico; Fosu-Mensah (Christie 74′), Chambers, Ream, Bryan; Anguissa, Seri (Sessegnon 65′); Cairney (Kebano 82′), Ayite, Babel; Mitrovic.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Lallana (Milner 73′); Salah (Sturridge 90′), Firmino (Origi 72′), Mane. 

1,484 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Eytexi
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Surely Milivojevic is a better option than Batshuayi, right?

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

      Yeah I think so

      1. AYLD28
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I’m looking at him. Huddersfield (H) primed for PK

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

      Why?

      1. Eytexi
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Set pieces & pens

  2. AYLD28
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I thought I had good TV but some of the teams on here.. wow. Here’s how I’m looking so far:

    Kepa
    Azpi Lindelof Laporte
    Sterling Hazard Pogba Mili/JWP/Deulofeu
    Kun Lukaku Jimenez

    Boruc Valery AWB Romeu

    1. AYLD28
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Free Hit of course

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I had the same thought as you, though this looks better than what I’ve managed so far.

        1. AYLD28
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          My TV is 108.1 which I think is high. I quite like this team, I may need to squeeze Kane in

          1. PascalCygan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Wow, that’s awesome. Mine’s barely 102m. Feels like the first season I’ve paid proper attention to the game but tumbled from top 40k to 150k in recent months!

            1. AYLD28
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              My first two seasons I was 1m and then 500k

              Last season 50k and this season top 2k

              All a learning curve bro

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      No spurs ?

      1. AYLD28
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Not sure who is worth going for? Liverpool away is not nice! Ali could be a shout...

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          I’m rolling with Kane aguero and rash

          Think Jimenez might be protected for the cup midweek

          Kane has scored 3 in the last 4 and he’ll play palace in the new Stadium

  3. The Pep Revolution
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Am I right in saying that the free hit chip allows unlimited transfers in the one game week so I change make transfers to get in players rising in price and change them out before the deadline?

    1. AYLD28
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Free Hit = Make unlimited free transfers for a single Gameweek. At the next deadline your squad is returned to how it was at the start of the Gameweek.

  4. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Last Man Standing GW31 🏆 (237 teams)

    Safety score = 25
    Top score = 54

    63 eliminated, 174 through to GW32
    Up to 30% or minimum 53 out next GW
    Congrats to all the survivors. 🙂

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks TM 🙂

    2. Fantasy Challenged
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Phew...-8 didn't affect my progression. Thanks TM 🙂

  5. tafrère
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    49 (-4). Up from 15k to 11.5k, second green arrow in a row, after a sea of red arrows it feels good, even though it could have been better. Salah (C) is yet another captain fail. Lucky me to have kept faith in Richarlison and brought King when I thought Wilson wouldn’t be ready for BGW31. Now into DWG32 with all my chips remaining. Will use FH first.

    De Gea Boruc
    Azpilicueta, Laporte, Schlupp, 3.8, 3.8
    Sterling Hazard Pogba Deulofeu, Dendoncker
    Aguero Rashford Jimenez

    Very first draft there. Other ideas ? Maybe Milivojevic or Zaha ? Deeney ? Higuain ? Son ?

  6. Pigeon
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Can any Palace fans tell me if it's likely for Schlupp to play both games?

  7. goriuanx
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    This is becoming a horrible FPL season. Red arrows bigger than my forehead.

    1. Pigeon
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Agreed, luckily I had a great start so still hovering around the top 70k

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Swap you.

      1. goriuanx
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Lol let's hope the chips improve things

    3. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      18 red arrows out of 31 game weeks here 🙁

    4. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I think Id actually be doing better had I set up a team gw1 and never touched it thereafter

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        1793 points for you.

        1. fedolefan
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          where can I check this? I'd like to see what an unchanged team scores.

        2. Optimus.
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Wow, this makes sad haha

  8. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    3 x Chelsea on FH 32 not such a good idea after today I'd say??

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

      Just Hazard and possibly Kepa for me

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Sticking with haz and probably bring in luiz or azpi but that’s as much Chelsea as I can bear

    3. goriuanx
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      They look quite blunt but those fixtures are too good to ignore. I'll be going for 2.

    4. AYLD28
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Those fixtures are too good not to go in on the defense and Hazard is hazard

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I regret -8 for Hazard and Luiz just gone. Absolute garbage they are

        1. fedolefan
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          lol, fell for the trap then.

    5. fedolefan
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Chelsea are a rubbish team. Not reliable in attack or defense. Just their fixtures mean one of the regular assets might explode so everyone's going to get atleast two.

    6. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Hazard + 1 defender (currently Luiz) for me

    7. Mr Bird
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I have Hazard, Luiz and Azpi... probably get rid of Azpi and keep the other two

  9. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Are there any more gw35 doubles due than Man U, Man City?

      1. KLOPPTOMANIA
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks TM, when will it likely be resolved, any idea?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Early this week.

          1. KLOPPTOMANIA
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Thanks

      2. fedolefan
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        That table is no good for the colorblind.

        1. KLOPPTOMANIA
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Serves them right. Can’t be trusted.

          😉

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      According to BC
      Tot and Bri are confirmed

      https://twitter.com/BenCrellin/status/1107364246965366784?s=19

  10. Eytexi
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Last question of the night:
    A) Gunn & Kane.
    B) Kepa & Lukaku.

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      B

  11. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    How important is Hazard for those of us using FH 31?

    For example, would you consider Pedro if it meant you could upgrade a striker to Kane?

    Playing with a few draft FH teams at the moment so all options open!

    Cheers

    1. tafrère
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I think there are good midprice forwards for DGW32 while there aren’t many midprice mids so I’d rather have Hazard than Kane. But if you’re chasing maybe go for Kane as a differential.

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks, good point about the dearth of mid price mids.

  12. The EJJ
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Any reason not to press the FH button this evening?

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Nope

    2. KLOPPTOMANIA
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Well I’ve WC’d with vies to FH for blank

    3. Norfolk&Chance
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      If you're happy with your team without needing FH..

    4. Victor6359
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      No

  13. HD7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    If Saints have a DGW...

    A or B?

    Ederson
    - Lindelof Schlupp
    Sterling Pogba Hazard JWP
    - Aguero(C) Rashford

    A) Azpi ; Higuain/Jimenez
    B) Valery ; Kane

  14. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Even though I am FHing this gw, If I bring in Mane for Salah to catch the price rise (and likely double rise) would I be able to sell him for extra 0.1 before deadline?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      yes

      1. Ten Season Wonder
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Do I need to activate FH chip first or make transfer first?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Only one way works.

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Really?

        2. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Make transfer and can do FH later

  15. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    World #1 knocked out of LMS.
    Now he can concentrate on winning FPL 🙂

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

      To be honest I was knocked out today with what I think was strong team and not sure if can be bothered now for rest of season as LMS the one to win as mark of consistency over the season

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        🙁

        Think I'm up to 4 or 5 times out if that helps.
        Finish off the season strong, plenty of ground to be made.

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

          Thanks- yes will no doubt get going again with FH,WC, BB, and TC to come.

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

      Disappointed to drop out TM! But I ran the risk with a -8 and paid the price. Thanks to you and Ragabolly for LMS, see you next season.

  16. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Are we waiting on confirmation of games midwk before we hit FH or going for it now??

    Can't get my head around it just now.

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I’ve gone for it, for what it’s worth. Even if it’s only a couple of doubles, my team is so specifically designed for 31 and 33 that it would need major surgery for 32 anyway.

    2. Mr Bird
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I’d say if you have the likes of Salah, hit FH, anyone that’s about to drop take out and wait for confirmation of DGW’s

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah just did Salah ➡️ Sterling. Let the fun begin.

        1. Mr Bird
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Have to say i read everything you write in Jack Nicholson’s voice haha

      2. Mr Bird
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Sorry, i’m assuming everyone with a FH left will be using it in GW32 but if not then you have plenty of time to decide if you need to use it

  17. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone else WCing this week for doubles with FH for blank?

    1. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yes FH’ing

      1. KLOPPTOMANIA
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        No I mean WCing this week, not FHing

  18. Victor6359
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    This has probably been said quite a bit 🙂 but I’ve but been on for a while. Who’s the likely teams with a double this GW?

    Cheers

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Ben Crelin Twitter

      1. Victor6359
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers Kiwi

      1. Victor6359
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers

        1. JoeJitzu +42
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D14BqonXgAEEq2J.png

          Found this easier to read

  19. HD7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Schlupp or AWB gor GW32?

    1. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Awb

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Isnt Schlupp with more attacking returns recently?

    2. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Are palace have a DGW?

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yes HUDDS ans Spurs

      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        HUD tot

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I've owned AWB all season but Schlupp certainly has a better chance of attacking returns, I just can't stretch to him

  20. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    If I make a transfer tonight, but then activate my FH after that, when my team reverts back will it contain my newer transfered player?

    1. Rhinos
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      it's amazing how many people don't get this. Would be a free wildcard if you did

      1. Ten Season Wonder
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        If I have a free transfer this week. Theoretically, I could leave my FH chip and only activate it on the last day.

        Would that wipe out my free transfer then?

        1. Rhinos
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          soon as you activate it all transfers made that gw are free

  21. Optic1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    How's this one looking..?

    DDG
    Luiz Laporte AWB
    Sterling Hazard Pogba Milly
    Aguero Rashford Jiminez

    3.8 Brooks Jonny Bednarik 0.7itb

    First draft. Opinions welcome. Cheers

    1. AYLD28
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Don’t need Brooks. Go JWP or fodder and upgrade elsewhere

  22. tafrère
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Hits taken are cancelled while activating the FH just like a WC right ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      yes

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        But the trades you've made stay in team until 33?

        1. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          They all get consumed in the FH. Your team goes back to what it was at the end of gw31.

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            If I did Salah>Sterling yesterday that's not undone by FH right? I know I lose FT and Salah back in 33 yeah?

            1. potatoace
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              When you say yesterday , do you mean after the gw31 deadline yeah

              No, its not undone , as far as I recall. It's just like playing wildcard.

  23. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    TC Mane saved a pretty dire GW - 61 pts (-8) leaves me with an OR of just outside the 11k mark. Happy days 🙂

  24. Bob B
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    (A) GUAITA
    Luiz LINDELOF AWB
    Sterling BILVA Pogba Hazard MILIVOJEVIC
    KANE Aguero

    (B) KEPA
    Luiz BOLY AWB
    Sterling SON Pogba Hazard ERIKSEN
    RASHFORD Aguero

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

      A

  25. AYLD28
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    What do we think to this FH team, different to the template forming on here so far with 5 in midfield

    Kepa
    Laporte Luiz Lindelof
    Sterling Hazard Ali Pogba JWP
    Kun Lukaku

    Speroni Valery Quaner Simpson

    1. AYLD28
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Could go Guita and Mili over Kepa and JWP but I do love those Chelsea fixtures and Southamptons are nice too

  26. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Which palace option for 32??

    A...mili

    B....bats

    C...zaha (if fit)

    Thanks

    1. AYLD28
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      A for me

    2. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Think il go mili

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

        Cheers....I'm on mili in a 352 for now....

  27. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    BC is saying Tot doubles confirmed. It's that just his calcs or officially announced.

    https://twitter.com/BenCrellin/status/1107364246965366784?s=19

      1. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks.

  28. juho
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    My ML lead cut by 10/13 points against rivals who FH in 31 and captained Mane while I chose Salah

    Let’s hope my FH in 32 makes up for it

  29. Paganoi
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Need a 7.3 or less mid for the DGW.

    A) Martial?
    B) Jota?
    C) Deulofeu?
    D) Other?

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

      Jota

  30. Rhinos
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    All the people chasing the Patreon buck are never gonna admit this but I'm convinced FPL is 90% luck and the 10% skill is more about paying attention than actual skill, all those with impressive rank histories undoubtedly have knowledge but I can't shake the feeling that they just been the right side of variance and there's loads of us equally informed managers that keep getting hit in the nads by lady luck

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Paying attention and making decisions based on that is being skillful.

      1. Rhinos
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        interpreting what information you gather is the skill rather than the gathering of the information, and ultimately the results are governed by luck

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Paying attention is the skill

    3. Reedy
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      It's an interesting question, how much a part luck plays in all this. Estimates vary wildly!

      1. Rhinos
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        depending on how well our season is going 😆

      2. MINUS FOUR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I think what people forget is that managers doing well have had bad luck too. It's not like many have coasted along all season with nothing going wrong. My tale of woe is a long and frustrating one as it is for many. But it's about making a lot of good decisions and hoping the luck follows.

        Also, if you ever make early transfers for any reason, I believe you can no longer claim bad luck. My biggest piece of advice is to leave transfers until deadline day - it has been the key to my great season and it's the one thing I see people ignore constantly.

        1. Rhinos
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          well of course they do, only one person can win it. Im just saying 2 managers can make equally logical decisions and finish with very different ranks

    4. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      It's not even 50% luck

      1. Rhinos
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        let me guess, you've had a couple of good seasons in a row

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Ever since I subscribed to FFS and started using stats tables massive improvement. Not luck

          1. MINUS FOUR
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Also this. There is a direct correlation between effort I've put in and results I've achieved. The more strategically I've played the game, the better I've done.

    5. MINUS FOUR
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Things I've done this season:

      Benched Digne's 17 points
      Benched Deulofeu's 23 points
      Benched Rashford's 12 points
      Had significantly higher VC returns than C returns (consistently making the wrong choice between 2 good options)
      TC chip = 6 points total
      Started the season without Mane when many of my mini-league rivals had him and got an early jump.

      That's a few that spring to mind. Despite this, my OR has been inside the top 100 for ages.

    6. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      If luck was that high a factor how come the same people in my 50 person cash league repeatedly finish top 10 of ML. The answer is proper planning

      1. MINUS FOUR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I joined a new ML last season with about 40 managers and immediately won it. This season I'm winning it again and my lead over 2nd place is more than 200 points.

        So consecutive wins vs 40 random managers who have all been playing the game for a number of seasons in an established league. What are the odds of that happening if it's all luck?

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          "90% luck" 😆

        2. Rhinos
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          fair play to you but hard to say as dunno how tuned in they are

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            The saying you make your own luck comes to mind

          2. MINUS FOUR
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            They are 'active'. I don't necessarily rate a lot of their decisions, but it's easy to see they follow the game and they probably believe I am luckier than them.

      2. Rhinos
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        because the others don't pay attention or get bored if don't set off fast? This is where the illusion of skill comes in, yes we should all beat the sort of player who misses deadlines and picks Kante coz he won the world cup but against motivated managers the edge is minimal to non existent

        1. MINUS FOUR
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          You've had KDB, Willian and Mounie but you've completely ignored Jimenez. Luck?

          1. Rhinos
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            jiminez scored with wolves only shot on target via a huge deflection. Skill?

            1. CaTriEm
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Jimenez has 20 PL goal contributions and started out at 5.5

          2. Rhinos
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            willian and mounie were one week punts v fulham thats just the way i play

            1. Kiwivillan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Punts rely on luck 😆

            2. MINUS FOUR
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              That's interesting. "Just the way I play" - that sounds like it goes against your original point. If you have made some questionable decisions and been punished over the course of the season, that's not just bad luck.

    7. THAT'S LIFE
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      the clever people this week realised Mane was a risk so didnt cap him right? or those that picked Sane cap for the doubles when he was the ‘secure’ pick? The latter cost me around 100k of places id think

    8. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Getting a massive GW score is 90% luck. Consistency over a whole season is not luck

      1. THAT'S LIFE
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Hall of famers are not lucky but you can have a one off season. I did so 3 years ago being OR2 with 7 weeks to go. I had shedloads of luck

    9. MTPockets
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Luck's a much bigger factor than most admit, but 90% is exaggerating it

        1. Rhinos
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          yeah 90 may be a bit high but im in a bad mood 😆

          1. Gnu
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            😆

      • Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        There is no definitive correct answer to this but I'd have to disagee on the 90% luck for a couple of reasons.
        There are a large number of players who do consistently well season after season , are they just lucky every season?

        Secondly and this is more of a gut feeling but I don't think I would have invested as much time and thought into tis game over the years if it was 90% luck.

        I don't know the answer - 70% luck, 50% luck, 30% luck.
        I reckon it's nearer the last two.

        As Gary Player once said when popping a ball onto the green from an almost unplayable bunker lie and somebody shouted out "lucky shot"
        "The more I practice, the luckier I get"

        1. THAT'S LIFE
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          there are a pool of viable fantasy options. savvy managers pick from these on form n fixtures and set their stall out. what happens after that is in the main luck. however like in poker if you give yourself enough 60/40 situations you will get a decent rank

        2. Rhinos
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          but the luck factor doesn't have to influence the fun, we love predicting whats gonna happen in a footy match, that won't change

          1. Gnu
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            True but as you commented above, 90% is a bit high.
            Know how you feel btw, I can't buy a decent score at the moment so I'd would say the my luckometer is peaking at about -98% at the moment.

      • fedolefan
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        There's never a good time for this debate. There is always luck involved. How much, no one can tell.

        Those having a bad season will exaggerate how much part it plays, whereas those having a good season will exaggerate how little a part it plays.

      • juho
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        check out this tweet by Marc Rubinstein

        https://twitter.com/MarcRuby/status/1064214512205815809

        "With that demand comes an increased supply of information via Twitter, websites & podcasts. Via those resources skill has been democratised. Given that performance is a function of skill & luck, if the variance of skill goes down, then more of the result will stem from luck."