Scout Notes

FPL assets help Ronaldo and Portugal progress in Nations League

Portugal 3-1 Switzerland

Goals: Cristiano Ronaldo x3 | Ricardo Rodriguez

Assists: Bernardo Silva, Gonçalo Guedes | Steven Zuber

  • FPL Involvement:
  • Rui Patrício – 90 minutes
  • Rúben Neves – 90 minutes
  • Bernardo Silva – 90 minutes
  • João Moutinho – 4 minutes
  • Fabian Schär – 90 minutes
  • Xherdan Shaqiri – 90 minutes

Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the headlines as his hat-trick helped Portugal to the inaugural Nations League final.

However, he was helped along the way by a selection of Fantasy Premier League assets who also impressed on Wednesday night.

There were no fewer than six FPL players involved in the game, predominantly for Portugal.

The most high-profile was Manchester City’s midfield dynamo Bernardo Silva, who was deployed behind Ronaldo and João Félix in a 4-3-1-2 system.

However, he had plenty of freedom to roam into wide areas, and it was his ability to find space that led to Portugal’s crucial second goal.

Silva’s ball across the penalty box from the right set up Ronaldo for his sweeping finish into Yann Sommer’s near-post.

However, the Manchester City man was not the only FPL asset to impress in the build-up to that goal.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva was a key figure for Portugal on Wednesday

Wolves midfielder Rúben Neves was also present, earning his 11th cap for Portugal and was stationed in the central midfield trio.

It was him who found Silva’s run down the right flank with a trademark long-distance through-ball from deep.

Neves’ club-mate Rui Patrício continues to hold down the fort at the back for Portugal.

Switzerland actually started the game stronger than their hosts, forcing the Wolves goalkeeper into two early saves.

Patrício also correctly guessed which way Rodrigo Rodríguez went with his penalty, getting a touch on it, but was unable to prevent it from ending up in the back of the net.

Switzerland enjoyed spells of the game in which they were the better team.

They were spearheaded by Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri, who was deployed behind striker Haris Seferovic in a 3-5-1-1 formation.

The attacking midfielder created plenty of chances for his team-mates and could have put Switzerland ahead inside the first two minutes but was stopped by an outstretched Patrício.

Newcastle United centre-back Fabian Schär was, as ever, at the heart of Switzerland’s defence.

Despite a defeat for the Swiss, both Shaqiri and Schär should be involved in Saturday’s third-place play-off match.

Xherdan Shaqiri was one of the best players on the pitch – and still has another game on Saturday

Meanwhile, João Moutinho came on as a substitute in stoppage time but Diogo Jota remained on the bench.

Their lack of extensive involvement in the game was probably good news for Wolves as they prepare to start their 2019/20 much earlier than their Premier League rivals, with a handful of key players involved in international tournaments over the summer too.

Centre-back Pepe was the only player to come away with an injury, as all FPL assets in the match retained a clean bill of health.

Portugal XI (4-3-1-2): Patrício; Guerreiro, Dias, Pepe (Fonte 63′), Semedo; W Carvalho, Neves, B Fernandes (Moutinho 90+1′); B Silva; Ronaldo, João Félix (Guedes 70′).

Switzerland XI (3-5-1-1): Sommer, Rodríguez, Akanji, Schär; Zuber (Steffen 83′), Freuler (Drmic 89′), Xhaka, Zakaria (E Fernandes 71′), Mbabu; Shaqiri, Seferovic

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251 Comments Post a Comment
  1. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Lingard G

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Offside

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      VAR check for offside.....

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Going to have to get used to waiting for goals to be confirmed for VAR checks now.......

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Why lie?

  2. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Lingard goal disallowed - he was offside

  3. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Thank da lords. Wildrover nearly reverse jinxing Lingard there lad.

    C'mon the Dutch

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Aren’t you English?

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Nah mate. Scottish descent, live in the Caribbean.

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Which island?

          1. Syd.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Thousand Island

          2. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            born in the cayman islands

            1. Epic Fail
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              Never been but looks stunning. Tiny though.

          3. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Worried you might be related?

            1. Epic Fail
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              Wouldn't you be?

              1. Wild Rover
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 9 months ago

                Top lad

              2. Top Lad Dakes.
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 9 months ago

                bit mean

  4. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Feck 🙁

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    VAR working - getting potentially match changing decisions correct

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Really? Is that what it does? Wow

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Lot of hate for VAR - maybe not on here, but if you look on Twitter and other forums then you see it.

        1. Tasty Jerk
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Well the hate normally from "Big Team" followers who know they wont get the decisions their way as much anymore, what a shame 🙂

  6. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    What potential new signings are you most excited about for next season (thinking players that will be brought in/rumored interest by the bigger clubs during this transfer window)?

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Zilch

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I'm interested to see what Man Utd do. They've got some catching up to do, but is the draw of them being Man Utd still a thing any more? Even with them not being in the CL?

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Watching United trying to panic buy their way out of mediocrity will be amusing 😎

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Their wage bill is going to be hilarious.

          The serious fraud squad

        2. Lovren an elevator
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          This.
          Although if the rumours about Bruno Fernandes are true, that's a shame

      2. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        They have a World renowned manager. Players dream of playing for him

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          That’s because the players get to pick the team and decide the tactics

      3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        They are up sheet creek without a paddelle as they would say in France.

        Th club is in ruins - lowest point in the last 30 years of their history (not on league position but general state of the club)

        Glazers, Woodward, Board, sections of the dressing room - way too many cancerous tumours that need to removed before they can get back to health

        Scary times ahead for at least the next 4 - 7 years unless something (or things) very unexpected happens

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          This is true but you would have to be very naive the lay the blame at the door of the usual suspects the Glazers and Woodward. SAF has in all likelihood had the final say in a lot of the footballing decisions since he has retired and he has failed miserably with his decisions.

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            I think you would have to be very naive to lay the blame at Ferguson - apparently he has been totally marginalise by the club in recent years and desperately wanted Poch instead of ole (which would have been the right move):

            https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/05/26/report-alex-ferguson-feels-sidelined-at-ot-wanted-tottenham-hots/

            1. Business Cat
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              ...he also annointed Moyes though...

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 9 months ago

                As bad as that mistake was - Mourinho was the alternative and look how that ended up. Mourinho is a decent coach but even he couldn’t work with the multiple toxic elements that haunt old Trafford currently - I.e. Glazers, Woodward, Board, and (unfortunately) many of the playing staff

                As I say - when you compare where Utd are (struggling to qualify for the top 4) with where they could/should/have some of the resources & infrastructure to be (winning leagues & champions leagues) it’s looks like very scary times ahead through the 5 year horizon unless something very drastic happens

          2. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Typical City supporter making up stuff to diminish the legacy of the greatest manager of all time.

            1. Syd.
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              I’m not trying to diminish his record it speaks for itself but only a fool would believe that he hasn’t had a say in any of the footballing decisions during their recent period of decline. Who else at the club would Woodward seek advice from?

      4. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Pogba was unbelievable when Solskjaer first joined, but tailed off when the team ran out of stamina. A strong pre-season will hopefully help their fitness levels, and turn Pogba into a premium option again. Persuading his French teammates, Mbappe & Griezmann, to join would help too 😉

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          *trailed off when Solskjaer got the job

        2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          I can’t get over just how good Pogba has been (for FPL purposes) generically

          He already has a better career FPL minutes per G/A than both Lampard and Gerrard - who were 11.5’s & above in their day - and it only gets better with each passing season:

          Last 1 season - 23 attacking returns in 35 apps
          Last 2 seasons - 42 attacking returns in 62 apps
          Last 3 seasons - 51 attacking returns in 92 apps

          His 3 missed pens artificially lowered his score this year, and his hamstring injury missing for 10+ games did the same last year so we have been very lucky with his price

          If he stays (big if) he won’t be less than 9.5, possibly as much as 10.5 and could easily justify it if he kicks on again as he has done each season he’s had in England & break thouh the 200 point barrier

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Yep. He averages more goals and assists per 90 than KDB, and United have been shite. That's how good he is. Imagine if the team around him improved...

            1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              He’s an absolutely scary player when in form - that run when Ole first started, from Cardiff to Palace he got 15 returns in 11 games from central midfield midfield

              Absolutely bonkers output for a forward let alone a midfielder

              Then he missed the last minute pen vs Southampton in the next game which started a run of 9 blanks in his last 10 matches (win a 15 pointer thrown in for good measure)

              Talk about hot and cold... but overall he has been very productive from an FPL standpoint

  7. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Memphis The Pie

  8. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Lol at me saying it would be good for England/Ned if Portugal go to extra time as they have a days less rest. Fix

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      You can get banned for lolling

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Already reported him.

  9. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Stickford

  10. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Walker og

  11. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Walker OG

    😆

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Stones assist.

      I blame City.

    2. SAY MY NAME
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      This is what I expect from England

  12. Bragazeti
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Stones thought he was playing DM for a moment there

  13. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Stones/Walker/Maguire - embarrassing they amount they cost/are meant to be worth.

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Leave Slabhead alone. Stones/Walker -> Gomez/TAA

      1. Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Fair enough. Actually Slabhead is great. Has let us score 13 goals past him/Leicester in our last 4 games 🙂

  14. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Get those Man City frauds off the pitch

  15. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Did pep really pay £100 million for Stones/Walker? How is AWB only in the u21s, England really need some good confident tackling defenders. Shocking display tonight.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      But when they play for City they are not playing with 8 other donkeys

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      They're top defenders...if the opposition only has 10% possession

  16. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Bad timing for Marvel to introduce Capt Invisible

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Bet he still has the invisible touch

  17. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Walker has been terrible but only Stones is to blame for the 2nd goal

  18. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Walker finally scores, but wrong net

  19. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Stones and Chilwell outta their depth

  20. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Can't find this new flat track bully feature in the members area anywhere.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      It’s under the dodgy haircut section

  21. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Too many scousers in this England team. Donkeys

  22. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Get BFS back

    They need to stick to the long ball

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      The new philosophy is the right one.

      We just don't have defenders with enough intelligence to know when to play it out and when to just 'get rid'

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        I know

        Just a few individual errors which hopefully won’t happen again. The midfield is an issue very very average

  23. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    2 horrendous goals given away by England. Why do they persist on playing out from the back when they are not great at it.

  24. Business Cat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    England should really go back to long ball... 😆

  25. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Shocking over paid and over hyped defence we have.

  26. Bragazeti
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Another mistake another goal

  27. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Wish Lingard came on for Barkley and not Sancho. Barkley's legs went ages ago, he's been a passenger for some time.

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Lingard for Delph, even

  28. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Good luck to the Portuguese police and bar owners

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

    England fans; the quickest way to exit the stadium is via Southgate.

  30. Business Cat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Will the dutch make it 4-1 just to erase 1996 forever?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      We thrashed them. They have been lucky tonight

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        They've outplayed us in midfield and defence, though we've gifted them 2 goals