Scout Notes

The Wan-Bissaka latest as van Dijk scores again

After a relatively uneventful opening day, the week of international football stepped up a gear on Thursday.

There were over 50 Fantasy Premier League assets scheduled to be in action yesterday, so we will be splitting our Scout Notes into two parts.

This first article deals with European Championship qualifiers for the Netherlands, Croatia, Northern Ireland and Slovakia as well as England under-21’s 1-1 draw with their Polish counterparts.

The Netherlands 4-0 Belarus

  • Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) – 90 minutes
  • Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) – 90 minutes
  • Ryan Babel (£5.5m) – 59 minutes
  • Davy Propper (£4.8m) – 45 minutes
  • Nathan Ake (£5.1m) – 0 minutes
  • Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) – 0 minutes

Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) were on the scoresheet as the Netherlands got their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign off to a winning start against Belarus.

The Liverpool duo played the full 90 minutes, with Wijnaldum – playing in a more advanced role than we are used to seeing him for the Reds – also claiming a “Fantasy assist” after being fouled for the penalty that Memphis Depay subsequently converted.

Depay, the scorer of two of the Netherlands’ four goals, turned provider for his country’s other two strikes.

Wijnaldum was left with a simple finish from seven yards out after Depay’s backheeled pass set him free, while van Dijk capped off his nation’s victory with a header from point-blank range after staying upfield from a corner-kick situation.

The former Southampton centre-back now has seven goals for club and country in the last five months.

Fulham’s Ryan Babel (£5.5m) played the first hour of this most comfortable of victories, setting up Depay for a presentable chance in the first half with some tricky wing-play down the left flank.

Davy Propper (£4.8m) came on at half-time and slotted into the double-pivot in midfield, while Nathan Ake (£5.1m) and Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) remained unused substitutes.

Belarus had only one shot on target and this effortless win for the Dutch would be exactly what owners of van Dijk and co. would have hoped for going into Gameweek 32.

The Netherlands are likely to face a sterner test on Sunday, however, when they face Germany in another Euro 2020 qualifying fixture.

England under-21s 1-1 Poland under-21s

  • Angus Gunn (£4.3m) – 90 minutes
  • Jonjoe Kenny (£4.2m) – 90 minutes
  • James Maddison (£6.8m) – 90 minutes
  • Phil Foden (£4.5m) – 73 minutes
  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.3m) – 72 minutes
  • Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) – 72 minutes
  • Harvey Barnes (£5.5m) – 18 minutes
  • Dominic Solanke (£4.7m) – 18 minutes
  • Demarai Gray (£5,4m) – 18 minutes
  • Tom Davies (£5.1m) – 17 minutes
  • Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m) – 10 minutes
  • Ryan Sessegnon (£6.0m) – 0 minutes
  • Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.2m) – 0 minutes
  • Freddie Woodman (£4.0m) – 0 minutes
  • Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) – 0 minutes

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) was the only FPL asset called up by Aidy Boothroyd who wasn’t involved in England under-21s’ matchday squad at Ashton Gate.

Reports in the media suggest Wan-Bissaka is on standby for a promotion to the injury-hit senior team should Gareth Southgate suffer any further withdrawals after Friday’s game against the Czech Republic but Boothroyd was quoted as saying yesterday:

I am expecting all three of those boys [Wan-Bissaka, Tammy Abraham and Dean Henderson] to be available to play against the Germans [next Tuesday].

James Maddison (£6.8m) played the full 90 minutes in Bristol but was relatively quiet in terms of goal threat, having started the match in a central midfield three alongside Phil Foden (£4.5m) and the more deep-lying Kieran Dowell.

Foden was excellent and created several presentable chances for his side, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.3m) wasting an early one-on-one opportunity following fine work from the City midfielder before missing Foden’s inswinging cross by mere inches 20 minutes later.

Reiss Nelson then skewed wide from Foden’s flicked header before the City prospect fired narrowly off-target just after half-time.

Calvert-Lewin, who has started Everton’s last four Premier League matches, tapped in England’s opener after good work from Nelson down the England left.

Poland’s equaliser was a spectacular free-kick from distance but Bothroyd expressed surprise that Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn (£4.3m) hadn’t asked for a defensive wall to prevent such a strike:

I was really surprised. More than surprised, you know, because of the size of their team. Obviously, the players decided they thought it was going to get flipped over to the far post where all the big guys were.

And we ended up not having a wall and it was almost a free shot on goal. I was very disappointed with that but it’s one of those things we can put right straight away.

Foden, Calvert-Lewin and Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) were all substituted just after the 70-minute mark, with Harvey Barnes (£5.5m), Dominic Solanke (£4.7m), Demarai Gray (£5.4m), Tom Davies (£5.1m) and Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m) handed cameo appearances off the bench.

Ryan Sessegnon (£6.0m), Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.2m) and Freddie Woodman (£4.0m) were unused substitutes.

Apart from Gunn and Maddison, Jonjoe Kenny (£4.2m) was the only FPL representative to be given a full 90-minute run-out.

The Everton right-back twice went close to scoring, first seeing a shot brilliantly tipped wide and then later striking the woodwork with a deflected effort.

Croatia 2-1 Azerbaijan

  • Mateo Kovacic (£5.7m) – 73 minutes
  • Dejan Lovren (£4.9m) – 0 minutes

Dejan Lovren (£4.9m) wasn’t involved in his country’s matchday squad as Croatia edged past Azerbaijan on Wednesday evening.

Lovren was serving a one-match international ban but will be eligible to play against Hungary on Sunday.

The Liverpool centre-back hasn’t featured in a competitive fixture since being injured in the FA Cup tie against Wolves in early January but was on the bench in Gameweeks 30 and 31.

Mateo Kovacic (£5.7m) lined up in central midfield and played a more disciplined role in the double pivot, allowing Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic more freedom in the middle of the park.

Kovacic was culpable for Azerbaijan’s opening goal, however, having lost the ball before the visitors scored on the break.

The Chelsea midfielder, who has been substituted in every single one of his 18 Premier League starts this season, was withdrawn on 73 minutes.

Northern Ireland 2-0 Estonia

  • Jonny Evans (£4.8m) – 90 minutes
  • Craig Cathcart (£4.5m) – 90 minutes

Leicester’s Jonny Evans (£4.8m) and Watford’s Craig Cathcart (£4.5m) had a comfortable night at centre-back as Northern Ireland secured three points in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier.

Estonia rarely threatened apart from a two-minute spell midway through the second half, when Fulham youngster Mattias Kait (not listed in FPL) blazed over and Henri Anier got in behind the two Premier League-based defenders only to see his shot saved by home goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Cathcart had a presentable opportunity himself before the interval but could only head a Niall McGinn cross straight at Sergei Lepmets.

Slovakia 2-0 Hungary

  • Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) – 90 minutes

Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) kept a clean sheet as Slovakia kicked off their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with a victory over Hungary.

The Newcastle goalkeeper made five stops in all – all of them in the second half – including a fine save to keep out Adam Szalai volley on 62 minutes.

535 Comments Post a Comment
  1. simong1
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    A or B?

    A) Schlupp & Son
    B) AWB & Ali

    1. theodosios
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      A all day long

  2. Samwise
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    Any thoughts/suggestions? 0ITB.

    GK: Ederson

    DEF: Lindelöf, Schlupp, Azpilicueta, Cathcart

    MID: Milivojevic, Sterling, Hazard

    FWD: Pogba, Agüero, Kane

    Cheapest subs possible

  3. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    Slightly different FH as my TV isn’t as good as some others clearly. What u think ?

    Kepa

    Luiz Dunk Schlupp

    Sterling Haz Pogba Miliojevic Deulofeu

    Kane Aguero

    Fodder fodder fodder fodder

    1. Samwise
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      what is your tv

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      I quite like it. Similar ish to mine in a way (posted on the last page). I’ve just got Duffy over Dunk, Rashford (for now) over Kane and DSilva over Deulo with a couple mil to spare atm

  4. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    I think b

  5. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    What’s with the love for Alli (liv CRY) and/or Son? (But especially Alli)

    Worth the £££ extra over Milivojevic (HUD tot), for example?

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

      Have you owned any of Alli, Son or Mili this season ?

      1. Samwise
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 8 days ago

        yes, have you ever had hotdogs for tea?

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

          🙂

      2. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 days ago

        I owned Son for a couple of weeks. That’s about it.

        Why, what’s your point?

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

          My point is that no one has touched Mili with a barge pole this season, now we have a double and he is every FH team ? If he was such a good option we would have owned him from time to time ... just like Son ... think about it 🙂

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 8 days ago

            I suppose. Nice fixtures though, and w/o Salah etc people often have some £ to spend on this FH, to get likes of Mili over cheaper mids.

            Would you rate Alli over Son (who travels a lot this break)?

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

              Son had missed a lot of football this season ... he knows the Spurs system and I think he will be straight in to the team after a nice sleep in first class ... and is a DGW golden option 🙂

          2. G-Whizz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 8 days ago

            Not every team 😆

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

              Of course not, I should have said ‘just about’ ... but the Mili wagon is rolling 🙂

              1. G-Whizz
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 8 days ago

                I know, and that is one bandwagon I won't be buying a ticket to travel on...

          3. cheekumz
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 8 days ago

            Not a particularly valid point tho. I would have considered Mili on a game to game basis throughout the season for example but this game doesn't afford us the luxury of unlimited transfers so taking players in and out week to week is not an option. Assuming a FH this week we do have that luxury, and given his fixtures and peoples budgets he fits into teams nicely.

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

              Fair point, but if he had never been a good single game week pick after 30 odd games, what makes him any better on a DGW when the extra game is away to Spurs ?

              1. cheekumz
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 8 days ago

                Hes scored 9 goals this season, scoring more FPL points than: Dilva, Bilva, Maddison, Pererya, Townsend and Jota.. and just behind Richarlson, Sane, Anderson and Son... All popular options around his price or more. I would argue that in isolated gameweeks he could be a good pick.

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

                  Points per minute or game though ? Not convinced ... no penalty and it’s a wasted pick imho

    2. theodosios
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      What's with the love for Kane? He will have to score at least 3-4 goals in those 2 games to justify his price.With Son/Alli you can share those 4mil over the team

      1. Samwise
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 8 days ago

        new stadium... think he will want to score

        1. Samwise
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 8 days ago

          plus son has traveled a lot

          1. theodosios
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 8 days ago

            He will not travel by bicycle 🙂 In modern football, players get used to this tempo and as for Kane, he can score vs Palace but that's not enough for that price...

      2. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 days ago

        I’m not considering Kane haha. I’m asking if you’d value Alli or Son over Milivojevic for those fixtures

        1. theodosios
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 8 days ago

          Definitely. A midfielder who relies on penalties and plays as DM (easily gets yellow cards) isn't something that you want for 6.3m

    3. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      Spurs fan... could see our bad run of form coming and ditched Son prior to Arsenal. However, I'm optimistic we'll turn it around.

      I don't think they are great options particularly but I don't really have anywhere else to spend the money - I'm happy with my forward line of Rash/Jimenez/Kun and already have max City/Chelsea at the back.

      So yeah. I just think they both have a little more points potential than Milli and that makes it worth it for me.

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 days ago

        Cheers!!

  6. Samwise
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    Any thoughts/suggestions? 0ITB.

    GK: Ederson

    DEF: Lindelöf, Schlupp, Azpilicueta, Cathcart

    MID: Milivojevic, Sterling, Hazard, Pogba

    FWD: Agüero, Kane

    Cheapest subs possible

  7. child of God
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    First time posting here since a Mo salah triple captain fail, really took the thrill of playing this game away for a while but I'm now looking forward to gw 32

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      GL mate. Not owning Salah made me fall from 1k to 60k around Christmas. Now owning in has dropped me more, can't win sometimes 🙂

    2. Andy'81
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      Chips can't guarantee points unfortunately, such is life, onward to GW 32. I haven't got a clue yet of what to do with my TC chip. On the bright side the Sane TC's still had it worse from his DGW.

    3. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      Dust yourself and get ready for DGW32, welcome back 🙂

  8. Lionel Ronaldo
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    (A) Ederson / Luiz / Montoya / 0 ITB
    (B) Kepa / Laporte / (Tomkins + 0.2 ITB) or (Schlupp + 0 ITB)

    Currently on (A) because:
    - Doubts regarding Laporte's playing time
    - (B) involves double Palace defence

  9. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    Love the freedom in formations this gw. My 11th man is between Smalling, Jota, Batman, Jimi and Pedro. Hmmmm

  10. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    Searching a partner for Kun.

    No Kane, No Rashford.

    Any suggestions?

    Does anyone still have some Love-Kaku?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      Luka is my preferred option followed by Palace forwards and then Higuain.

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      Batshuayi,Zaha,Higuain,Deeney,Lukaku all viable options.

    3. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      Regardless of what you all say, Jiménez is a formidable option.

  11. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 days ago

    Do we lose value on players we transfer out using a free hit chip?

    1. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      Irrelevant question. The question is, are you selling the player while it has value tied to him? If yes; the answer to your question is 'yes'.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      Only this week

      Value will be back next week

    3. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 days ago

      So value goes but returns the following week.

  12. New Article
  13. Bertrand Ernie
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 6 days ago

    Any obvious reasons why Deulofeu and Deeney wouldn't play both games in GW32?