Scout Notes

Relegated Cardiff offer owners of United assets a final chance of points

Cardiff City were relegated from the Premier League on Saturday after a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.

From a Fantasy perspective, the Bluebirds are still at the forefront of our thoughts as Manchester United take on Neil Warnock’s side in Gameweek 38.

The Red Devils were well backed going into their final two matches of 2018/19, with Paul Pogba (£8.5m) and Luke Shaw (£5.1m) among the five most-bought Fantasy Premier League players of Gameweek 37.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troops disappointed against Huddersfield Town on Sunday, however, leaving their Fantasy assets with plenty of salvage work to be done in their final-day home fixture against Cardiff next weekend.

We assess the Bluebirds’ performance on Saturday below and study Palace’s latest away-day success.

Cardiff City 2-3 Crystal Palace

  • Goals: Martin Kelly (£3.9m) own-goal, Bobby Reid (£5.2m) | Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m), Michy Batshuayi (£6.2m), Andros Townsend (£5.6m)
  • Assists: Leandro Bacuna (£4.3m), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (£4.8m) | Andros Townsend, Jordan Ayew (£5.7m), James McArthur (£4.8m)
  • Bonus: Andros Townsend – 3, Bobby Reid – 2, Wilfried Zaha – 1

The ‘must-win’ status of Cardiff’s final home match of 2018/19 led to a fairly predictable outcome, with away-day specialists Crystal Palace picking off their hosts on the break and condemning the Bluebirds to the drop.

With relegation confirmed and nothing riding on the final-day dead rubber at Old Trafford, there is no longer a need for Neil Warnock’s side to go for the jugular against Manchester United next Sunday.

This might be Warnock’s swansong as a Premier League manager, however, and the veteran Cardiff boss is unlikely to want to bow out with a whimper.

Speaking in his post-match press conference (and before United’s top-four hopes were dashed), Warnock said:

There’s the little matter of going to Old Trafford next week. Now I want them to have a chance to get in the top four because that gives us the opportunity to spoil the party!

Should their performance against Palace be replicated, there will likely be chances at both ends.

There were 39 attempts on goal in total at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 14 of which were on target and 27 of which were from inside the opposition box.

Cardiff had 18 of those shots but it was a familiar story in South Wales as chance after chance went begging.

Bobby Reid (£5.2m) curled in a fine consolation just before full-time but there had been some profligate finishing before then, with Josh Murphy (£4.8m), Kenneth Zohore (£4.6m) and Junior Hoilett (£5.0m) spurning presentable opportunities (all of which were deemed ‘big chances’ by Opta).

Murphy also struck the post with an effort from distance but it was only through a clanger from Martin Kelly (£3.9m) that Cardiff first hit the back of the net, with the Palace defender turning a Leandro Bacuna (£4.3m) cross past his own goalkeeper.

Warnock bemoaned his lack of a goalscorer after full-time, saying:

You could see the limitations. We haven’t had a goalscorer. You’ve seen the chances we’ve had today, there were ten in the second half.

Cardiff are the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League this season, which potentially bodes well for a United clean sheet – although the Red Devils were breached on Sunday by the division’s lowest-scoring team, Huddersfield Town, and are without a shut-out since Gameweek 27.

United’s attacking assets also flattered to deceive at the John Smith’s Stadium but they will have a second bite at the cherry against Cardiff, who have lost all 11 of their matches against ‘big six’ opposition this season and conceded 33 goals in the process.

Huddersfield, of course, had a similar record against the top half-dozen clubs going into Gameweek 37.

Victor Camarasa (£4.4m) may be missing in Gameweek 38 to further dent Cardiff’s ability to convert their chances, with the influential Spaniard – and the Bluebirds’ joint-top goalscorer – being substituted with an injury after just ten minutes.

There has been no update on the on-loan Betis midfielder’s condition so far.

Palace registered their ninth away win of 2018/19 as they condemned Cardiff to the drop.

Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m) delivered his 14th attacking return this season away from home but Saturday saw the Ivory Coast international re-deployed as a winger in a 4-4-2.

Andros Townsend (£5.6m) was recalled on the opposite flank, with Jordan Ayew (£5.7m) and Michy Batshuayi (£6.2m) leading the line in the absence of the injured Christian Benteke (£6.3m).

All four of those players registered at least one attacking return in Wales, with Zaha discussing the tactical tweak after full-time:

I am out wide, and that is okay with me. Me, Michy, Jordan and Andros, we understand each other, and it just made sense; it worked well us four together.

The move from centre-forward to left-winger didn’t particularly affect Zaha’s output, with only Batshuayi registering more penalty box touches than the Ivorian in South Wales.

Zaha rifled low past Neil Etheridge (£4.6m) for Palace’s opener, with Batshuayi firing in from close range and Townsend adding an excellent third from distance.

Batshuayi was also denied twice from point-blank range by the Cardiff goalkeeper and Roy Hodgson hailed his side’s attacking display after full-time.

The Palace boss said:

A clinical performance and extremely good play as well. It was an exciting game as well, although I thought we spurned quite a few chances which the quality of our play had managed to produce.

I have got to say that over the 90 minutes, our performance, our creation of really good goalscoring opportunities, and the way we went about our business as well [was really good].

We knew they’d be giving us nothing and that we’d have to work hard and fight for every opportunity to come our way. I must congratulate the players for that because I thought we matched them very much in that area as well as showing the necessary quality when we were on the ball.

Zaha, Townsend, Ayew and Batshuayi had 16 efforts between them on Saturday and there may be modest interest from Fantasy managers in Palace’s excellent wingers in particular after Saturday’s display.

Concern remains about the Eagles’ ability to replicate their away-day results at Selhurst Park, though, with Hodgson’s side second-bottom of the Premier League table based on home form.

Only Huddersfield have scored fewer home league goals than Palace (14) this season, with Zaha’s FPL returns in south London amounting to one goal and three assists.

The visit of a Bournemouth side that has lost ten of their last 13 away matches at least offers hope, with the Cherries having conceded 40 goals on the road in 2018/19 – only Huddersfield and Fulham have shipped more.

There will perhaps be encouragement for owners of Callum Wilson (£6.8m) et al, with Palace – still without key centre-halves James Tomkins (£4.3m) and Mamadou Sakho (£4.9m) through injury – allowing Cardiff 14 shots from inside their own area on Saturday, including those three aforementioned (and unconverted) big chances.

Cardiff City XI (4-4-2): Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Bennett; Mendez-Laing, Gunnarsson, Camarasa (Bacuna 11′), J Murphy (Hoilett 80′); Ward (Zohore 60′), Reid

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Dann, Kelly, Ward; Townsend (Kouyate 84′), Milivojevic, McArthur, Zaha; Ayew (Meyer 78′), Batshuayi (Sako 73′).

707 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Who are people captaining this GW and why?

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

      Dann because my team is filled with sh*t players

      1. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Must be to cap Dann

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

          😀

          1. FPL Pillars
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Duffy 2.0 😀

    2. Dannywaz
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Sterling simple will smash Brighton simple

      1. Gegenpress
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Hope he blanks again! 🙂

    3. Dannywaz
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      ..city..

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Redmond atm.
      I'm chasing OR & he looked good after coming on from the bench last match. Rest done & Hudds home.

      Have Kun Raz Hazard Mane/Vardy as other candidates too

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        I thought about this if I had a lot to make up but now there is only 1 point difference in my mini league. Could still be tempted though.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Yep.

    5. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Salah,Siggy or Redmond because my ML rival doesn’t own them.

    6. Gegenpress
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      If Salah is going to start and Klopp says he's fit I'm going Salah (1 point behind in ML and rival doesn't own him).

    7. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Sterling because City will crush Brighton

  2. Gegenpress
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Why did sterling not get that yellow last night??

    Would put me 1 point above rival with 1 gwk left, instead of 1 point behind lol!! (2 cash leagues at stake)

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      visit your eye doctor

      1. Gegenpress
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        🙁

  3. Dannywaz
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    38 in front in ml that enough?

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

      yep

    2. SMOOTH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      i was 44 ahead last week, now 16. 38 generally should be ok unless your opponent hits captain on a player you dont have

    3. Dannywaz
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Looking at his team it's pogba and redmond that I don't have I'll just match him up

    4. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      As long as you don’t go hit crazy you’re all good. You can look into blocked their better differentials to secure.

    5. De Gea is GOAT
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      So 38 points can be made up if you get your decisions right? I need to catch up haha

  4. Doolittle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Son and Jimenez to Pogba and Wilson? Not happy with Pogba looking at his stats but max of 8.5 to spend.

    Lloris
    TAA/Bednarek/Laporte
    Son/Mane/Hazard/Jota
    Aguero/Vardy/Jimenez

    Foster/JWP/Doherty/Peltier

    2 FTs, 0.3 ITB

    1. Gegenpress
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Why not Bilva as an option

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

        Not a bad shout, I'd almost forgotten that I had a City spot free. Thanks!

  5. Gegenpress
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    1 point behind in 2 cash ML's

    Rival has following differentials, the players I have in place are on the right (ATM) :

    Fabianski. Leno
    Bednarek. Valery
    TAA. Doherty (I'll be benching him and playing Valery Rival will probably play TAA)
    Sterling. Hazard (Do you think Hazard will start? If so I reckon he can outscore Raheem)
    Pogba. Salah (My worry is if he'll start or not if he does he'll outscore Pog)
    Wilson. King
    Rondon. Llorente (Will be interesting if Spurs go out he'll start I think)

    We both have Son who I reckon we'll both change.. So whoever we bring in could be a differential too.

    Any changes I need to make, is it worth taking a -4? I'll keep an eye on him too to see if he takes a hit in which case I will too.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Bring in Redmond (HUD). How many FTs have you both got?

      1. Gegenpress
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        We both got 1 FT and both have Son (So I reckon that's the obvious move, will be difficult for him to get Salah due to price without a hit he only has 1.2itb)

        Yeh looking at Redmond Sane Bilva

        If Salah is confirmed fit I'll captain him

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Cool just keep a note of his money in the bank and transfers made. You can try and workout what move they made and decide if you want to match it or go differential. Unless you are in danger of getting priced out try and make your move as close to deadline as possible. Good luck!

          1. Gegenpress
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Yeh exactly was thinking that! Not looking at being priced out atm Thanks

  6. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Captain:

    A) Salah (WOL)
    B) Sterling (bha)

    Regardless of title Salah might be shooting on sight to secure a second successive golden boot.

    1. Gegenpress
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      How confident are you Salah plays? TBH if he doesn't start he won't be fit enough for bench

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        We should know by the deadline next week so will only consider capping Salah will strong indication he starts. Sounds like it was more of a whiplash type injury than actual concussion.

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          *with strong

        2. Gegenpress
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Yeh Klopp said he was fine and wanted to play but medical staff advised against it.. Check my post above and help is poss please 🙂

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Even if both fit in going Sterling

      1. Gegenpress
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Salah (Last Home game of the season)

        Sterling vs Brighton Away

        Both teams on the beach..

  7. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    A) Son,Boruc to Pogshit+Guaita
    B) Son,Boruc to Moura/Babel/Tielemans+Allison

    1. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Oh the irony of you wanting to bring in Pogba and calling him names

  8. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Am I G2G? FT will be Son to Bilva. Think Kola has been my worst signing.

    Ederson
    Robertson Luiz TAA
    Salah Sterling(c) Bilva Pogba JWP
    Wilson Jimenez
    Gunn Doherty Kola Quaner

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Yes
      GL bro 🙂

  9. De Gea is GOAT
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Best differential for this GW Please. GO!

    1. De Gea is GOAT
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      *Apart from Redmond haha

    2. Gegenpress
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Red Zah Arn

    3. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Arnie

    4. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Chong

    5. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      This should be a Hot Topic

      I'm going for Redmond & Vardy myself (atm)

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Watched the comment re Redmond afterwards 😀

        Moura, Arnie, Perez, starting Jota against Pool good differential imo

        1. De Gea is GOAT
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Thanks all! Already brought Redmond in and now considering Perez and Arnie for -8. Worth the risk? 3rd place is only 8 points off but im assuming he will also be taking hits this GW

  10. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Who would you start this gameweek?

    A. Jimenez
    B. Doherty

    Doherty seems to have more goal threat to be honest.

    1. Offs!de
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Fair enough. I am leaning towards Doharty. Jimi enjoys scoring against big teams

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Jimenez

  11. OOJ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Pls help:

    Which of these three options will score more:

    Sterling, Long & Jota
    Sterling Redmond & Jimenez
    Pogba, Redmond & Vardy

  12. scpitc
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Any thoughts on this setup, I am 14 points behind leader in money league ( after making up serious ground in last few weeks ).

    My team for GW38:

    Guaita (Pickford)
    Robertson Laporte Digne Manquillo (Jonny)
    Hazard Salah(C) Fraser (Siggy Westwood)
    Wilson Robson Jimenez

    Rival Team (from GW37)

    Foster (Boruc)
    Diop Bednarek TAA Cathcart
    Moutinho Son Sterling Mane Eriksen (Adam Smith)
    Ageuro (Firmino Perez)

    I have 3.3 mill in the bank but have already used transfer this week for son > Fraser.

    Help on the following would be much appreciated!

    1. Are there any good trades that would use the 3.3 mill but be worst the 4 point hit that anyone can suggest. Having the 3.3 seems like a waste but can't really see anything, maybe bring pogba in...

    2. Should siggy start? I think he should but not sure over who, probably Manquillo is my thinking as Fulham been looking better over the last 5 GWs.