Scout Notes

Contrasting auditions for Southampton and Wolves ahead of Double Gameweek

There were contrasting fortunes for Southampton and Wolves as the two sides auditioned for Double Gameweek 35.

In a 3-1 win, the Saints showcased a number of viable options for fixtures against Newcastle and Watford, while Wolves disappointed hugely.

We’ve run the rule over the assets available at these two clubs to help us fine-tune our squads for the next round of action.

Southampton 3-1 Wolves

Goals: Nathan Redmond x2 (£5.3m), Shane Long (£4.6m)

Assists: Josh Sims (£4.4m), Danny Ings (£5.4m), Maya Yoshida (£4.1m)

Nathan Redmond (£5.3m) looks set to be the Southampton midfielder of choice for Fantasy managers in Double Gameweek 35. After a run of seven games without a Premier League goal, he netted a brace in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Wolves. The former Norwich City midfielder has shown potential over recent weeks, and finally lived up to it in Double Gameweek 34.

Ironically, that came after Ralph Hasenhüttl deployed Redmond in a slightly deeper role than usual. He had been playing as a centre-forward, alongside either Danny Ings (£5.4m) or Shane Long (£4.6m) of late, but against Wolves, he was stationed just behind the former, playing in a central attacking midfield pair with Josh Sims (£4.4m). That setup helped Southampton apply pressure to Wolves from the front, a key element of their style of play under Hasenhüttl.

“We want to be a team who is pressing to win the ball early and immediately switching forward. We did this today in a good way, which was massive against this team.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Redmond finished the game with more goal attempts, more shots in the box and more on target than any other player on the pitch. Crucially, in the last four matches, he is top for all three of those statistics when compared with his Southampton colleagues. He now looks the best option to consider when looking to invest in the Saints’ Double Gameweek.

“I show (Redmond) what we need in his position that he plays and show him that he can be the guy who makes the difference. I’m very happy that (Redmond) scored again. I think he has waited six or seven games. What was very positive for me is that after the 1-0 he didn’t stop working, he was always going for the second goal. He has the quality and the second goal was a fantastic run from him, exactly what we were demanding from him today in the gap and he was very clinical.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Also impressing, and getting involved in the points was Sims, who earned plenty of praise from his manager after assisting Redmond’s opener. However, it is definitely too early to rely on him currently as Double Gameweek 34 brought just his first Premier League start of the season. The 22-year-old came into the side at the expense of Oriol Romeu (£4.2m), who had started every single match from Gameweek 16 onwards before Saturday’s win over Wolves.

“I want to give (Sims) the chance to play and it was really not easy to pick the first XI. I left Oriol (Romeu) out and it was a tough decision for me because he played fantastic games. The younger guys showed they were very focussed in the first half and then to have experience on the bench to bring in is never worse for me as a manager so it was important for me.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

“I am very happy with (Sims) because he deserved to play from the beginning. As a substitute, he showed that he can help us with his speed. He had a good chance to score. Unfortunately, he didn’t, but I think he is another part and a different player which we need in our team. It is always good if you can surprise the opponent a little bit with new players and that’s what I like.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Despite failing to find attacking returns, Pierre Emile Højbjerg (£4.4m) remains the most promising Southampton midfielder in his price bracket. In the last four matches, of those who are fit and available, only Redmond has more goal attempts and shots in the box than Højbjerg.

Meanwhile, James Ward-Prowse (£5.1m) is looking less of an option for Fantasy managers, especially with the form that Redmond has been showing. After scoring three in a row between Gameweeks 28 and 30, Ward-Prowse is now without an attacking return for three consecutive fixtures. He is still the set-piece taker for Southampton, but his number of chances created in the last four matches is matched by the cheaper Højbjerg and bettered by Ings.

Those looking to Yan Valery (£4.1m) for their Bench Boost squads in Double Gameweek 35 must now wait patiently on for an update on his fitness. The right wing-back was taken off in the 83rd minute and is now a doubt for next Saturday’s trip to Newcastle. Some reports claim it was nothing more than cramp but his withdrawal still warrants paying attention to Hasenhüttl’s upcoming press conference.

In contrast to Southampton, Wolves assets are becoming increasingly unreliable away from home and against the so-called lesser sides. They have now failed to win any of their last five matches on the road, six if you include the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Furthermore, in eight meetings with sides in the bottom five this season, Wolves have won just two, drawn one and lost five. Of further concern was Nuno Espirito Santo’s reaction to being asked about these disappointing statistics. He stormed out of his post-match press conference when asked about them.

“How many games have we had at home? Come on [storms out].” – Nuno Espirito Santo

Once again, Wolves also displayed their struggles to produce positive results and performances when they concede the first goal. After Redmond took the lead in the second minute, Nuno’s side did not look capable of their best. It was not the first time this season that has happened, and it is starting to become a regular occurrence too. Wolves conceded the first goal at Burnley in Double Gameweek 32, at Huddersfield in Gameweek 28, and at home to Newcastle in Gameweek 26.

“In the first minute, that’s where it went wrong. Just like in the Burnley, we had to be coming from behind – we had to follow and come back from 1-0. They got the first goal way too quick and we were behind straight away, so it’s difficult. It’s important to keep them zero, because it gets very difficult to come from behind every time, and we have to see what we can do. In the first half we had three chances against, and two times it goes in, so we have to do something.” – Leander Dendoncker

Such circumstances did not help popular FPL forward Raúl Jiménez (£6.9m) maintain his impressive run of form. After nine attacking returns in as many matches before Double Gameweek 34, he blanked at Southampton from just two efforts on goal, one in the box and one on target. Crucially, his expected goals (xG) score was just 0.17, with the quality of his chances very low. It was a similar story for strike-partner Diogo Jota (£6.2m) who did not register a single shot on goal.

The key problem for Wolves was their defensive organisation, which was not up to its usual standard. That ensured that they still have just one clean sheet in their last nine matches, and will probably discourage investment in options such as Matt Doherty (£5.3m) or Jonny (£4.3m) ahead of Double Gameweek 35.

“Our defensive organisation was very, very bad. We made mistakes since the beginning of the game. We weren’t able to control. Mistakes happen, we have to know why. It’s not about what you miss, it’s about what you concede, this game is what you concede, what you concede in your own box, and we conceded too much. It was not a good performance and it’s something that we have to analyse deeply inside and look at. Since the beginning of the game we didn’t do very well, our defensive organisation was not good.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

However, despite another frustrating result for Wolves on the road, their prospects for Double Gameweek 35 are by no means bleak. It is very clear that they are much better at home, with four wins from the last five Premier League matches at Molineux, featuring 12 goals and two clean sheets. Both of their matches in the next round of fixtures are at home, against Brighton and Arsenal, neither of whom has a decent defensive record on the road.

Southampton XI (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Vestergaard, Yoshida, Bednarek; Bertrand, Højbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Valery (Stephens 84′); Redmond, Sims (Romeu 61′); Ings (Long 61′).

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Boly, Coady, Saïss; Jonny, Moutinho, Neves (Gibbs-White 69′), Dendoncker, Doherty (Traoré 59′); Jota (Costa 87′), Jiménez.

1,375 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tafrère
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Mane max bps with winning goal ?

    1. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      VVD

  2. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone got bonus breakdown?

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Rainer

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        VVD - 3
        TAA - 2
        Mané - 1

        I think.

        1. Buck The Trent
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Nice

        2. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I'll take that, thanks

  3. Vinyl78LP
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Mane (c) - 4th in the baps - WTF?

    1. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Members area says he should get 1.

  4. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Long live the pre-wildcard template!

    1. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Amen.

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      My pre WC would whip my score.
      At least I have set up BB 🙁

  5. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Thought I'd be able to take it if I got knocked out of the FPL Cup this far in. That changed when it was Nathan Redmond who sent me home...

  6. Supersonic Marv'
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Up the pool.

  7. AccountAnt80
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    No BP's for Mane or Robbo. Of course.

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      See above. Mané gets one. Robbo didn't deserve one.

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Bit unreasonable to expect from Robbo

      1. AccountAnt80
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        He was on for 1 earlier in the game. I guess that slip cost him?

  8. @FPLDIARYFPL
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Any chance of one of Lacazette, Deeney or Kolasniac not playing?

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'd love Laca to miss out with a short illness. Brooks first on my bench 🙂

      1. @FPLDIARYFPL
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I have TAA 1st nd VVD 2nd. Also trippier in team so need one more to miss out.

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Good luck!

    2. TallestJohn
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Hope not

    3. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Hopefully Deeney is benched (he loves playing Arsenal though so he won't be) and the others play.

    4. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I need Lacazette points..

  9. Eytexi
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Members Area BAPS says:
    VVD: 3
    Trent: 2
    Mané: 1

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      So nothing for Salah, again...

      1. @FPLDIARYFPL
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Standard

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Saving himself for the annihilation of Huddersfield GW36

  10. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Double cleanies from Brighton (Dunk+Montoya) vs Cardiff next and this could turn out to bea decent GW!

  11. MartialMatas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    When do Lloris and VVD come off my bench for Ryan and Duffy?

    1. @FPLDIARYFPL
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      xD waiting for the same. Would look so much better off the bench already!...

  12. AccountAnt80
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone else beat 29?

    1. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      29 what?

      1. AccountAnt80
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Total points for the week.

        Sorry for not being clear.

        1. Gnu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          There will be a lot higher and a lot lower than that - hence my confusion.

          1. Gnu
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            A mere 27 here 🙁 but 6 to play if Brighton players still count.

          2. AccountAnt80
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I was wondering if anyone got lower.

            1. Gnu
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Me then 🙂

              1. AccountAnt80
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Yay! Thanks.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      o/

      Finally

  13. HTL
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Should have paid more attention to those with Sterling/KDB in their wildcards. Though I guess the next fixtures are much tougher

  14. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    78(-8)

    Deeney and Ryan to go. Fairly happy altough chose wrong player for armband

    1. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Congrats. Fantastic score! I guess you had Lucas.

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Nope. Just didn't have wildcard

    2. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      85 (-4) here! Well played

    3. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      70 then. Very nice score!

    4. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      23 here with 2 Beighton defense to go

  15. Demel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    This morning I had 8 points from 6 players.

    With Lacazette, Kolanasanic, Ryan & Duffy c I might yet escape with a green arrow.

  16. SkeletONv01
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    32 points, what a week. Love this game.

  17. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    So that game delivered me 30
    Points

    2 left to play

    Would have been significantly better off had I not shifted sterling and Fraser for son and eriksen but still feeling good

  18. Eytexi
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    85 (-4) with Ryan to go despite the Son captaincy. I'm true non-wildcard scum. 🙂

    1. Party time
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Ecstasy

      • Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Well done

      • Toby Lerone
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Definition of scum ;p

      • Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Amazing stuff, Eytexi!

        I chased the wildcarders with one hit too many selling Brooks, but have still managed 60 so far. Deeney, Ryan and Duffy to go.

        1. Eytexi
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers mate!

          You're doing well so far despite that hit haha, hopefully you can smash it the rest of the gameweek (although not too much as I have Deeney on my bench haha) 🙂

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            There's no stopping, Deeney 😛

      • Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Non-WCs smashing it this week - there's a 505 OR non-WC player on 110 (-4)
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/3121239/event/34

        1. Eytexi
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          That's incredible. Wow I'm jealous.

    2. Toby Lerone
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      So my gamble of benching TAA went well. Ahh well Brighton clean sheet will make up for it

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, you can't beat yourself up over that. Especially if you have double Liverpool defence.

      2. Buck The Trent
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I benched TAA too but lucky Trippier was rested

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Molinari: Self-destruct mode:ACTIVATED

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        It is a shame he deserves a green jacket for the way he has played over the last year.

        Now that Francesco is out of the picture i hope Tiger takes it down.

      2. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yep. That double was so bad

    4. JohnnyMagrinho
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Shipping out my Bournemouth players and Trent has cost me around 40 points for this gameweek.

        Feel free to have a laugh at that because really, if you can't laugh at that, God help you.

        Hoping for a Deulofeu no show or for him to match Wilson's 15 points otherwise it really has been a ruinous week!

        Still, at least my Rashford captaincy pick (tactical masterclass) wasn't as bad as choosing Duffy (wink, wink) although there's a good chance he'll outscore him still..

        I'd avoid Wilson now as I'll be starting him next week against Fulham. Bring in King if you're umming and aahing over which one to get.

      • TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Woods takes the lead.

      • The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Anyone who didn't keep back a Liverpool Attacker and a Liverpool Defender has only themselves to blame. Even in a DGW they can outscore players with 2 games.

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          They kept zero CS in last 4 games, so dropping their defender wasnt really an issue.

        2. Gnu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Oh great.
          I was really needing a hindsight post from somebody with an all time best of 84k.
          Cheers for that.

          1. The Polymath
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            It's people like you who put off members linking their FPL Website.

            1. Gnu
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              😆 😆
              Yeah, not your banal pointless crud post you mean?

            2. Gnu
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              ...and btw, I always link my team, even when I'm having a shocker like this season.
              So man up.

        3. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          This is the kind of hindsight drivel which is typical of the even declining quality of this site.

      • @FPLDIARYFPL
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        A full team of doublers with Taa vvd and Salah.

        Salah v Cardiff is still looking my best cap option. Is that mad??

        Other options are Sterling, Deeney, Jimenez and Laca.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          See how midweek goes.

          1. Make Arrows Green Again
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            This, but avoiding the DGW trap may define your season.

      • Slitherene
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        BB 35.

        Ryan. Gunn.
        Duffy. Kolasinac. TAA. Valery. Dunk.*
        Sterling. KdB. Son. Eriksen. CHO.
        Jimenez. Aguero. Vardy.*

        Thinking of taking a - 8 here.
        Who to take out from Sterling, KdB, Son or Eriksen?

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Why take out those players?
          Just Vardy > Laca or similar

      • #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        slight recovery in the end

        43 with duffy(c), dunk, ryan to go

        about average or below?

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Average

        2. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Slightly below average which is 45-47
          But fair chance you end up above if Brighton keep a CS!

      • The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Thinking ahead GW36 - both Salah and Mane essential and even Salah TC?

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Sounds good.

      • TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Woods wow

      • Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Woods is on fire 🙂

      • My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Tiger very close to an ace!

        1. MGD
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Would ave been insane