Scout Reports

What Moussa Djenepo could offer FPL managers at Southampton

Southampton have added to their attacking options for next season with the capture of winger Moussa Djenepo from Standard Liege.

The 21-year-old Mali international was signed for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £14m.

Djenepo has been priced up at an appealing £5.5m in Fantasy Premier League.

A pacy wide-midfielder who is fond of a dribble, the predominantly right-footed Djenepo played the bulk of his games at Standard on the left flank as an inverted winger.

That would perhaps give an indication that Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl is looking to use his favoured 4-2-2-2 formation more often in 2019/20, having settled on a 3-5-2 for much of last season – the wing-back system not leaving any space for wingers.

Upon signing for the Saints, Djenepo said:

I have a good mentality, I never give up and always work hard. I’m quick and I enjoy dribbling with the ball. That’s what the fans can expect of me and I will give my all for them.

Hasenhüttl said of his new signing:

He is an exciting player, with tremendous pace and good finishing abilities, who we have watched closely for some time.

He combines his quality with a good mentality and he is the right profile of player that we want to sign – still in the early part of his career, already with a lot of talent, but also with a great amount of potential that I believe we can help him to fulfil.

I think he will be an excellent fit for our style of play and shape, and these are the important characteristics we must look for.

In an interview with Read Southampton, Belgian football journalist Bob Faesen added:

I would say you can use him in a counter-attacking formation and in an attacking formation as well since he’s fast, but also a good dribbler and pretty calm in front of goal. He even played a couple of games as a wing-back in a 5-3-2 system.

He would often surprise you with his dribbles: for example, his dribble against Ajax in the Champions League qualification stage which resulted in a penalty.

Plus, he’s pretty effective and very fast. He is your typical right-footed winger on the left flank.

The History and Statistics

One of Moussa Djenepo’s three Europa League goals came in the 1-0 win over Sevilla

Born in Bamako in June 1998, Djenepo plied his trade with Malian side Yeelen Olympique before Standard Liege snapped the then 18-year-old winger up on a loan move in January 2017.

The half-season trial was successful enough for the Belgian club to make the move permanent that summer, despite Djenepo not featuring for the first team during that time.

Djenepo’s senior debut arrived in August 2017, as a substitute in a 4-0 defeat to Club Brugge.

The Malian was only used as an impact sub in his first full season in Belgium.

All 33 of his appearances in the Belgian top flight, the end-of-season league playoffs and the domestic cup came off the bench, his one and only goal of 2017/18 arriving in a 3-2 win over KV Oostende in March of last year.

The 2018/19 campaign was Djenepo’s breakthrough year, with positional rival Edmilson Junior having departed for Qatari club Al-Duhail SC in pre-season.

Making his first Standard start in the season-opening Jupiler Pro League match against KAA Gent in July, Djenepo became a semi-regular fixture in his side’s starting XI and went on to make 32 appearances across the regular season and the subsequent playoffs – although eight were as a substitute.

Djenepo scored eight goals and recorded two bona fide assists in those 32 fixtures, although did win a further three penalties for his team – fouls that would have led to Fantasy assists in FPL had, as they were in this case, the spot-kicks been converted.

Tasting only five minutes of Champions League football in the third qualification round defeat to Ajax in August (the new Southampton signing winning a penalty in that cameo appearance), Djenepo made his mark on the continental stage in the Europa League, where he scored three goals in five group games.

Having played for his country at under-20 level, Djenepo made his senior international debut in a World Cup qualification match in October 2017 and is a part of the Mali squad at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Prospects

Nathan Redmond was a popular Fantasy asset at the back-end of 2018/19

Twelve months ago, Southampton welcomed another promising young left-winger with an eye for goal from a ‘lesser’ European league.

A year on, Mohamed Elyounoussi (£5.5m) – who reportedly cost the Saints more than Djenepo – finished his debut Premier League campaign without a single goal or assist to his name in 785 minutes of top-flight football.

Priced up by FPL at £7.0m at the start of 2018/19, Elyounoussi ended the season at £6.5m and in 0.1% of Fantasy squads having made only one league start this calendar year.

Caution is always advised with a Premier League rookie such as Djenepo, then, although unfortunate circumstances – a change of manager and formation midway through the campaign – contributed to Elyounoussi’s woes as much as his own indifferent form.

The difference here is that Djenepo is very much Hasenhüttl’s man and would presumably have been targeted for his capacity to slot nicely into the Austrian head coach’s system as much for his potential and – being cynical – maybe even his sell-on value.

FPL have generously priced him at £5.5m, too, about as cheap as we could have hoped for a winger of this calibre.

Scrutinising Djenepo’s fairly decent underlying stats in 2018/19, he still has something to prove if we Fantasy managers are to look beyond Nathan Redmond (£6.5m) and James Ward-Prowse (£6.0m) as our go-to Southampton midfield options:

PlayerMins per shotMins per shot in boxMins per shot on targetMins per big chanceMins per key passMins per big chance created
Djenepo44.964.5103.225866.6688
Redmond44.399.2148.9363.963467.9
Ward-Prowse62.6138.7121.4485.542.2388.4
Hojbjerg52.2145.5145.5921.3102.4691

Redmond’s minutes-per-shot average narrowly trumps Djenepo’s, although the Malian has a definite edge when it comes to quality of chances (shots on target, efforts in the box and big chances).

Weighting has to be applied to Djenepo’s statistics, though, given that he was playing in a title-chasing outfit in the Belgian top tier and his new teammates were part of a Southampton side that finished 16th in a superior competition.

In a wider context, Djenepo’s underlying goal threat wasn’t too noteworthy: Richarlison (£8.0m), for example, averaged a big chance every 167.4 minutes, an effort on target every 95.6 minutes and a shot in the box every 41.2 minutes.

Djenepo’s creativity stats were well below what Ward-Prowse was offering and two regulation assists in 32 league appearances underscored this.

As we mentioned in our Scout Report of Daniel James, though, the ability to draw fouls and win penalties could compensate for a lack of creativity: Djenepo won three spot-kicks for his side in the league last season and drew 70 fouls in 2064 minutes – a higher rate than even Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m) managed at Crystal Palace.

The general consensus is that the Malian is still very much a raw talent. In the aforementioned interview with Read Southampton, journalist Bob Faesen added:

I would say consistency [is where he could improve]. You can see him as a bit of an unpolished diamond. Maybe one more year in Belgium wouldn’t have been bad for him, but he really improved a lot – maybe he can surprise again.

But he lacks consistency, even though his potential is clear. At the start of last season, he made quite a clumsy impression; as if he was too enthusiastic, but you could see he had something. For example, he took some stupid yellow cards early on.

Sometimes he lacks the ability to see team-mates in the box.

We might not see much of Djenepo in pre-season as he is currently in action with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, which finishes three weeks before the start of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign, and will presumably be handed a post-tournament breather by the Saints.

Mali could, of course, be on a plane home before the tournament final on July 19 but have made it as far as the round of 16 at the time of writing.

We may get a glimpse of Djenepo in a Southampton shirt in the friendlies against Feyenoord or Koln, then, should Mali bow out early.

If he is used as one of the two supporting midfielders in Hasenhüttl’s narrow 4-2-2-2, then we could see Redmond playing alongside Djenepo behind a strike duo – though Ward-Prowse will expect to be crowbarred into that system, too.

Redmond could continue ‘out of position’ up front, of course, but bona fide strikers Danny Ings and Che Adams (both £6.0m) have already been snapped up over the summer.

It may be that Hasenhüttl has other ideas up his sleeves, with Redmond perhaps in a more central supporting role in a 4-2-3-1.

Barring some sensational form for Mali, interest will likely be limited from a Fantasy perspective anyway.

While Southampton have some appealing early away matches at Burnley, Brighton and Sheffield United, they also face all of last season’s top nine in the first 13 Gameweeks of 2019/20 and sit bottom of our Season Ticker over this period as a result.

We’ll therefore get a good look at Djenepo before Southampton’s fixtures turn for the better in Gameweek 14 and we face any kind of decision about his Fantasy appeal.



189 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    When do you think FPL will go live please?

    1. Mince n Tatties
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      4th July last year - the 2018/19 site is still live...

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Was 5th July last year 🙂

    2. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Some time during the week of the 8th July probably

    3. Earn your Spurs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks to you all 🙂

    4. George James
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Between 9-12 July

  2. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    That's a big no to this guy then

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

    Ill stay away from all newcomers until I see them do well in the PL this year.

  4. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Morning all, happy Friday to you. Quickie advice sought - I'm thinking of doing 3-way rotating budget defenders as a strategy this upcoming FPL season. I know the fixtures only came out last week, but does anyone have access to any useful guides on this topic at all?

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

      They already wrote an article based on the fixture list

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2019/06/13/a-guide-to-fpl-fixture-rotation-ahead-of-2019-20/

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks, but it mainly focused on pairings rather than trios. I'll have a proper read.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      More or less did this last season in the first half or so with AWB (who I played consistently) Jonny (who I benched quite rationally) and Digne (who I got cheap but always missed with).

      One issue I ran into was the complete unpredictability of budget end defenders. Palace were better or as good away as home and Wolves were rubbish aside from Doh’s briefish golden spell even against bottom end teams . I can see a similar lottery next time out mutatis mutandis.

      The other problem was if you’re looking at a budget keeper too then that’s another team to factor in or risking budget double defence. I ended up with AWB and Guaita - both good options but dicey as a combo.

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        So on that basis, what would you recommend?

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Dunno. Yet

          I’m seriously contemplating Ederson to avoid the budget double up scenario. He was great value last season and I can’t see my having triple City outfield until second WC budgets. (But there again I started with DDG last season!).

          Suspect I’ll have one completely fodder defender and possibly a mid too. I’m going to try and not be too hung up about guaranteeing eleven outfielders when the eleventh is a probable 2 pointer.

          1. Milk, 1 Šuker
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Set and forget GK strategy went well for me in the second half of last season (playing Lloris). With a 4.0 GK on the bench it allowed me to spend funds elsewhere.

            1. pingissimus
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              Lloris is the other premium gk I’m most interested in right now. I can see Spurs potentially racking up cs in their new home - they’ve done it before under Poch after all.

              The side benefit of Lloris would be spreading the risk of premium defence. At least part of the charm of RAM (which I missed completely) was I suppose the strong probability that at least one would get a cs.

    3. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      yes, don't waste your time.

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Meaning?

        1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          You will spend time doing them then after 3 weeks they become irrelevant

          Rotations never work.

          1. Milk, 1 Šuker
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            It's true I suppose. Various factors could come into play affecting this. Thanks all.

          2. Get up ya bum
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            This. If you want cheap defenders just get some 4.5s in decent defences with some decent attacking threat and then pick weekly based on form and fixtures. Don't let fixture rotation restrict your options.

  5. Boris Bodega
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone else getting constant 'we value your privacy' pop ups every time they navigate to a new page on this site?

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Would expect it to happen if your cookies are regularly wiped or if you're using something like incognito mode on Chrome or a browser like DuckDuckGo.

      Is it every single time you click on something during the session (article, comment, homepage etc), or just once every session?

    2. Faron Collins
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah, it's beginning to get rather annoying.

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

      Do people really dont have adblockers in 2019?

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        This

        1. Gnu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Now now Pumpy.

          1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            😆

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

      I'm experiencing the same issue. It pops up on every click.

    5. FrankieTheGent
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Can we hulk this?

    6. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Interesting - haven't experienced this at all on any devices but sounds like a big problem. Will be passed along immediately, sorry for the annoyance!

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        For anyone affected:

        What device and browser are you getting it on?

        1. Bezzer
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Android using Chrome

        2. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Edge on PC

        3. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Happening on my Huawei P Smart 2019 phone using standard Google browser.

          It's happening every click and is damned annoying.

    7. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Yes - it's very annoying

    8. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I've reported this to Mat and co, who will hopefully be able to look into it.

      1. Get up ya bum
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        But who the feck are you?

        1. GreenWindmill
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Deputy Editor of FFS and he wrote the article you're commenting on 🙂

          1. Get up ya bum
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            I'm locking this thread

            1. 32chickens
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              Champ retreats delicately.....
              How you doing old boy?

          2. Skonto Rigga
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            You're both right - I'm the deputy editor and also a nobody.

            1. George Sillett
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              Watch out ? Maximum Boner is after your job.

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

                That's the third poster with a fixation on Boners I've seen in the last 24 hours - I for one consider this a step forward, and a positive endorsement of the liberal forum which we share 🙂

                1. Geoff
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 9 months ago

                  😀

                2. George Sillett
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 9 months ago

                  When you are able to differentiate between a comment and a fixation please let me know.

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

                    It's ok friend - you don't need to hide - this is a safe place, there is no judgement here & we are a tolerant forum 🙂

                    Now, if we can get Yourself, Mr. Rover and Fantasy Gold to share with us your passion for FPL analysis as much as you all seem to be sharing your recent passion for boners - everyone's a winner 😉

                    1. George Sillett
                      • 8 Years
                      4 years, 9 months ago

                      I must confess that you are very proficient at side tracking the point of a post and I heartily commend you for this . However in some company it just doesn't wash and your pathetic attempts at the humour diversion just don't work.
                      You would be well served to pursue a career as a politician with your ability to blatantly avoid the point of a question and spin a totally diversionary answer whilst saying absolutely f all.

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

                        Well now that wasn’t very friendly was it 🙂 Why the hostility? Was it because of the boner thing?

                        If so, whilst I am flattered, I’m afraid I just don’t lean that way. Don’t despair however, I’m sure there are other like minded individuals and groups out there with whom you guys could explore this newfound passion for boners in private if you aren’t comfortable doing so on here just yet?

                        But as pointed out above, this is a safe place, there is no judgement here & we are a tolerant forum - so when ready we will embrace you with open arms for who are

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

                        And who knows, maybe someday we can get Yourself, Mr. Rover and Fantasy Gold to share with us your passion for FPL analysis as much as you all seem to be sharing your recent passion for boners - in which case everyone's a winner 🙂

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

                        Wishing you best on your journey friend, we all believe in you 🙂

      2. Skonto Rigga
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Update: Mat's deployed a hack to disable the consent message, so hopefully you're no longer seeing it at every turn.

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

    ENG vs SL: Sri Lanka won the toss and will bat first

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

      Game has got a bit boring after the initial flurry of wickets. Sri Lanka not taking any risks and England happy for Sri Lanka to take singles.

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

        Lovely from Rashid now. Turning the game in England's favour.

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

      Bairstow golden duck. Damn. He is popular in Fantasy Cricket World Cup too.

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Captained him. Disastrous game for me.

        Was in the top 20 at the start of Sri innings. Big red arrow coming up

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

          Wow. Unlucky.

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

      This game has got interesting. You would expect England to get to 20 overs and reassess. But they should have more than enough to pull away.

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

      Well this has put the cat amongst the pigeons. England in trouble and with some tough games to come.

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        They haven't played any of the other big guns yet, unless you count Windies or Pakistan as big.

  7. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Admins please turn off that ‘we value your privacy’ message. I'm getting it every single time I'm refreshing this site on my phone even though I've accepted it a million times. Along with the constant login issues this is getting rather annoying.

    1. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Yep, this has started over last 36 hours.

    2. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I don't get it unless I have to clear browsing data after I accidentally end up on xhamster

      The logging in constantly has been a thing on this site for years. My theory is it's all about the click through dollars. Annoying af and enough to stop me posting half the time

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        How's the rash these days? 😉

        1. Get up ya bum
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          All cleared up thanks to that cream you recommended

        2. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Different root cause ftom Speccy's I hope.

          1. Gnu
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Speccys rooting is the obvious cause of his rash. 🙂

            1. George Sillett
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              Haha

      2. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Accidentally indeed!

  8. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone have the lowdown on Hasenhüttl at Leipzig - particularly with regards to defence?

    Did he play 4-2-2-2 there? How comparatively did that defence hold up?

    The early fixtures aren’t great (and horrid from gw7) but Valery at 4.5 could be interesting as a non fodder 4th defender - perhaps to be switched with a cheap fifth mid in a 4-4-2 3-5-2 combo.The odd cs would be nice of course!

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      https://www.transfermarkt.com/ralph-hasenhuttl/profil/trainer/2300

      Click Leipzig in history and go through the last couple seasons. Going off preferred formation 442 double 6 that is same as your 4222

    2. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Attacks were easy on the eye, the defence wasn't so great. Okay, but nothing to brag about.
      Fullbacks and inverted wingers heavily involved.

  9. Dennis System
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Hello all,

    How do I find cash leagues?
    How do I add the link to show my team on my profile?
    How do I change my avatar?
    How ling does this summer middley bit go on for??

    cheers

    1. Andy'81
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Ideally, friends and family for cash leagues.
      Have to wait for the game to start again for links to teams to be any good.
      Gravatar.com for images.
      Personally I enjoy summer down time, it'll pick up eventually.

      Godspeed.

  10. Dennis System
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    *long (obviously)

  11. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone playing afcon fantasy?

    1. child of God
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Would love to play the official one if ever there is one

  12. Markus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Community, I wondered if anyone could shed any light on a goalkeeping conundrum...
    You would have thought points lost for goals conceded would largely mirror save points which it largely does, however there is strong variation across middle teams.
    West Ham, Arsenal, Spurs and Cardiff did really well (ie c.20 more save points than lost to goals conceded); Newcastle and Bournemouth did really poorly (points lost to goals conceded totally cancel out save points).

    Do you see this is because of:
    A) Style of play, eg more long shots?
    B) Quality of goalkeepers?
    C) Just random and would even itself out over longer period?

    I can't seem to find a particular trend to get a feel if it's replicable or not. Any thoughts?

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

      I think 70% of it boils down to the quality of goal keepers. There's a reason why Fabianski has been consistently on the top for the number of saves and save points even when switching teams.

      The other 30% has to do with the defenders and their ability to put opponents under pressure to limit the probability of a big chance to be produced and also to hinder the quality of a shot.

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

        Thanks, yeah save percentage definitely aligns with it which does vary a bit year to year but can draw some conclusions from it to see similar results from this year (albeit would expect leno/fabianski slightly down with career averages and Dubravka slightly up, rafa dependent. Lloris just seems like a great shot stopper)

    2. Marmalade Forest
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      There’s a tool on the FPL app that lets you compare player stats.

      Some of the stats cover all players and all years. So you can see how many clean sheets Mark Crossley got compared to Tim Flowers.

      Some of the stats are more specific (and cover post Opta years I suppose). So you can compare Fabianski’s save% vs Tim Krul.

      Not sure what it’ll tell you about who’ll do better in the future mind.

    3. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Well a point is lost for every two goals conceded and you'd expect a goalkeeper to average more than three saves for every two goals they concede. Therefore it should be expected that most goalkeepers will earn more save points than points lost through goals conceded. Also, the largest variance is likely to be with teams who concede a high volume of shots on target.

      That said, it should also correlate with save percentage, so I'd expect your findings to be as a result of a mix of A and B.

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

        Yeah seems like a combo of those is a good explanation.

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

      I think a mixture of A and B.

      Newcastle play very defensively IMO and so they don't really give up chances which leads to fewer saves. West Ham and Cardiff are poor defences who give up lots of chances and have good shot-stopper GKs so get a lot of saves. Bournemouth are a poor defence with a poor GK so not many CS and not many saves - which is why they are in the market for a GK.

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

        Thanks, yeah that all makes sense. Newcastle are a bit of an odd one as Dubravka still has OK save percentage but may have just been a bit 'unlucky' this year in conceding more even number of goals and saves in a match that weren't a multiple of 3. Think your ultra-defensive thing is right though if opposition don't go for shots from distance (2 cdm + 3 cbs probably stop that I guess)

  13. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Marko Arnautovic wants to leave West Ham and return to Serie A this summer, claims Gianluca Di Marzio.

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

      A lot of fans would be fine with him leaving actually, took a real downward spiral after his January strop and we're not so well equipped that one of our better players can down tools etc. The new contract was a strange decision back then, but his agent and brother is always looking for the next pot of gold.
      Very talented, but you know he has a bit of a shelf life and I think West Ham have done well to get a few decent years from him. What with his knees going slowly, I'd be fine with him leaving for a decent fee (£25-30m).

  14. Dammed Utd
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Any links to African cup of nations fantasy football it starts tonight

      1. Dammed Utd
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers Torres Liverpool’s number 9

    1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Lets open FFS league. What do you say ?

  15. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    I set a team. if some one from here have league would love to join

    1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      reaply fail ^^^

    2. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      For your info, Egypt's lineup is posted
      M. Elshenawy
      Mansour Hegazi Alaa A. Elmohamady
      Hamed Elneny Esaid
      Salah Trezeguet Mohsen

      1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks! Only Salah im my team.
        Are you playing the game?

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

          I am but joined no leagues

          1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            GL m8

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

    75th Minute - England 0 Romania 0
    89th Minute - England 2 Romania 3

    Absolute belter of a 2nd half but Individual errors costing England.

  17. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    If I can afford it, thoughts on this team draft?

    Foster • 4m
    Digne • TTA • Mee • Chilwell • Balbuena
    Siggy • Brooks • Sterling • Mane • Hughes
    Kane • Arnie • 4.5 fodder

    1. Marmalade Forest
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      *One of the first affordable ones I’ve seen.
      Kane in August is traditionally a poor pick.
      Only 3 Man City + Liverpool players won’t get much love.
      I had 4.5 fodder upfront last year and it was fine, but not as good as I hoped.
      Brave to go for Arnautovic

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      As a guess

      5, 4
      6, 7, 4.5, 5.5, 4.5
      8.5, 5.5, 12, 11, 5
      11.5, 7, 4.5

      9, 27.5, 42, 23 = 101.5

      1. Ci Siamo
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        If Kane is 11.5 he is 100% in my team

    3. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Probably a little bit over imo but closer than most I've seen

      1. Ci Siamo
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks. Don’t want to go with the crowd at the start, I think 1 Liverpool defender will do me and not owning City defence doesn’t worry me too much

        1. Ghost Gooner
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Going against the crowd early doors is a recipe for disaster

        2. Bad Kompany
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Like the Kane pick although I wouldn't want him unless he gets a price drop. Also like the arnie pick (if he stays) and the brooks pick. Don't like the defense though

      2. Jimmy Boy
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Finally people are starting to see that all the 'drafts' so far are mostly unrealistic. People saying Robbo, TAA, Sterling, Mane, Salah and Aguero were all essential and in their GW1 teams smh

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Too many Poolers to all be essential.

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Balbuena and Mee both at 4.5 presumably are an either or option. That’s one way to save.

      Rich over Siggy might get you within budget - but no pens of course that way.

  18. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    I got an email from Sun Dream Team, asking how important I thought aspects of a fantasy game would be. They are looking at making a better fist of it. I told them that the loyalty of serious players was with FPL and they're better off trying to do a deal to link FPL to The Sun (but not mess about with it).

    I'd post a link but I can't get any sort of link to work. Do you all see Dream Team as an irrelevance and could that change if they improved it enough?

    1. Marmalade Forest
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Think I’d give up FPL if the S*n got involved.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I wouldnt wipe my arse with The Sun let alone play their game...

    3. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I do my best not to look at The Sun. Rumor has it, you will go blind if you look at it long enough.

    4. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I played dream team in a work WC14 league. No assists and clean sheets for subs who play 1 min, pretty terrible rules.

      I won the league but felt dirty having to associate with that scummy rag. Never again, FPL would be killed if the Sun got involved.

    5. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      What're the prizes? Think the real pros play Telegraph and Sky for the money aspects.

      I did The Telegraph World Cup one last year, so good but can't be bothered with VPN and having to get up in the night to do transfers throughout the gamedays.

  19. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    I looked into how Man City did when playing against a back 4 vs a back 5.

    The reason why I looked into this is because when City have possession in the other team's half, they general shift to a 2323. The fullbacks move up and are inverted and the 2 attacking midfielders move high up in the half spaces. They get the ball wide to one of the wingers and look for the attacking midfielder on the same side makes a run behind the outside back. This eliminates the outside back from the play and forces one of the centerbacks to come out and defend the attacking midfielder. This, however, leaves equal numbers in the box. The striker will either try to get in front of the defender, try to get behind the defender, or fake a run behind the defender and then stay put. The winger on the opposite side will either make a run towards the penalty spot for a cut back or make a run on the outside of the defender. The attacking midfielder with the ball will then deliver a cross on the ground to whomever is open. Man City scored a number of their goals in this fashion last year. However, if the opposition is playing a back 5, even if a centerback comes out to defend the attacking midfielder they will still have numerical superiority. The difference was most notable in how different the game between spurs and city was in the 2nd leg of the ucl and their epl game a few days later (there were also other reasons as well such as fatigue, city chasing, and a spurs goal giving them the advantage in the tiebreaker).

    Against top 6 playing a back 5: 1.5 goals/match (vs spurs and man u)
    Against top 6 playing a back 4: 2.125 goals/match
    Against non top 6 playing a back 5: 2.25 goals/match (wolves, everton, newcastle, bournemouth, fulham)
    Against non top 6 playing a back 4: 2.95 goals/match

    Against back 5: 2.1 goals/match
    Against back 4: 2.714 goals/match

    At first I thought that part of the reason might just be that the teams that played the back 5 were better than those who played the back 4 but the average position of a team that played back 5 was 10.14 (just slightly better than average) and the average goals conceded by a team that played back 5 was 54.86 (compared to 55.21). Some of the teams that played back 5 are known to do well against the top teams so opposition may still have played some part, but I think back 4 vs back 5 also has an effect.

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      What about goals conceded though?

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Don't see much of a reason why there would be a difference in the number of goals city concedes vs a back 4 compared to a back 5.

        1. Flaming Flamingo
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Because a back 5 is in general a more defensive system, so you'd expect them to score and concede less on average.

          1. Bad Kompany
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Yes but it is different when a non top 6 team is playing against city. The other team will generally be looking to counterattack with a few players since city plays a high line and whether they are playing a back 4 or a back 5 won’t have a huge effect on this.

            1. Flaming Flamingo
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              You literally made a whole post suggesting that playing a back 5 does have an effect though?

              1. Bad Kompany
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 9 months ago

                I was talking about how it affects the number of goals city scores, not the number they concede. How it affects the amount they concede is much more complicated as there are many more variables present.

                1. Flaming Flamingo
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 9 months ago

                  I agree that it impacts the number of goals City score. What I'm trying to say is that when a team sets up more defensively against City (i.e. with a back five), one would expect there to be less goals at both ends.

                  If there were no opportunity cost, then City would be playing against a back 5 every week.

  20. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Krystian Bielik is the shinnig star of Poland's U21 team who beat Belgium & Italy so far - it will be interesting to see if Unai Emery is brave enough to give him a chance in the 1st team.

    1. Parm
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Unai Emery left out their best player (Ramsey) for half the season and played Özil & Čech in the biggest game of his Arsenal career. Doubt he even knows who Bielik is.

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Emery is a clown.

    3. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      His transition from CB to CM has been brilliant. its where he has belonged all along. If he wants to move, us here on the South Coast could use a young, versatile player like him. His buddy Bednarek is here too.

  21. Parm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    116 comments 12 hours into an article. Where is everyone?

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

      At work. I am going to head home momentarily, pour myself a beverage, unwind, and start cooking bucatini pomodoro.

    2. The Royal Robin
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Sad times eh. Make the most of it though. A few weeks and those pages will be flying.

      1. Sap
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        !

  22. Parm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Also nice to see the flat track bully filter. Remember suggesting it a while ago. Next on the list should be filtering out stats from sub appearances, be able to sort per 90 minutes, by position/formation played in/against, in depth individual player profiles etc.

    As good as stats are they need as much context as possible.

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

      IF you could only have one, would you rather have stats based on per match OR per 90 mins?

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        I prefer to look at per start stats.

        'Per match' makes a 1 minute sub appearance equal to a 90 minute start, which doesn't sit right with me.

        'Per 90' stats are a bit 'meh' as someone like Aguero will reguarly play 25-ish minutes less than someone like Salah and that adds up over time.

  23. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    I know a Saints fan who is genuinely excited about Djenopo. Has anyone seen enough/any footage of him to suggest he’ll be decent or not?

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A whole one Saints fan ? Wow.
      A few thought Mohamed Elyounoussi was the dogs but he proved to be crap.

  24. Richd
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Alright ladies 😀

  25. Rasping Drive
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vtX7UIlCeHU

    In his prime, unplayable and untouchable. Less said about the later years, the better. Farewell El Niño and thanks for the memories.

    1. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Loved him in his prime and to honest still was desperate for him to prove everyone wrong in later career.

      Not a Chelsea fan but celebrated that CL semi goal wildly!

  26. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Am I right in thinking we’re a couple of weeks away from launch day?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      2 or 3.

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

      TM has inside info.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Molar.

      2. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Thought it was just me awake, lurking

        1. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          We would never let you down dad.

      3. Parm
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        He's like the banker on deal or no deal and Mark is Noel Edmonds.

    3. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I'm guessing 4th July...

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

    Predictions for the cricket world cup top 4?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      More about picking which of the top 5 misses out.

  28. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Harry Kane got married today....so he claims...

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Surprised that he could pronounce "to love and cherish"

      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        You try saying it with your mouth open all the time?!

  29. Parm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Where is the article on Salah's abysmal performance against Zimbabwe? Should he be on the chopping block?

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

      Wasn't that abysmal, just poor finishing. he had at least 5-6 shots on target, created a couple of key chances too

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        They had a 35 yo 5'11 keeper in nets. Unacceptable, gone from my GW1 team.