Scout Notes

Keen interest in new-look Chelsea side under Lampard

Bohemians 1-1 Chelsea

Goals: Michy Batshuayi

Assists: Kenedy

Fantasy Premier League managers were reminded of the wealth of options available to Frank Lampard’s Chelsea team in their first pre-season match.

With most of last season’s regulars absent, the Blues drew 1-1 with Irish side Bohemians on Wednesday evening.

The result was not too encouraging, but at this early stage of pre-season, it’s important not to read too much into such things.

Instead, it’s more important, especially in the case of Chelsea, to examine which players were and were not involved – as well as Lampard’s tactics.

At this admittedly early stage of his time as the Blues’ boss, he initially deployed his players in a 4-2-3-1 formation, finally taking the club away from Maurizio Sarri’s favoured 4-3-3.

A 4-1-4-1 was used in the second half, but this featured more peripheral figures.

Against Bohemians, Lampard also encouraged his players to apply a high press when they were without the ball and when in possession they were much more direct than in the 2018/19 season.

However, we will have to see these tactics utilised when more first-team players are involved before we can say with certainty that Lampard wants to use them in Gameweek 1.

As already mentioned, most of last season’s key assets were absent.

Antonio Rüdiger (£6.0m), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£6.5m) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m) all missed out due to injury.

Meanwhile, Willian (£7.0m) and Christian Pulisic (£7.5m) are yet to join up with the squad after involvement in the Copa America and CONCACAF Gold Cup with Brazil and USA respectively.

Only six options currently priced up by FPL were in the matchday squad on Wednesday night. We have updated the Google spreadsheet cataloguing their pre-season minutes.

Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) and Pedro (£7.0m) were the biggest names to feature from the start.

After 12 months of right-back duties under Sarri, new manager Frank Lampard returned Azpilicueta to a centre-back role, which could have some interesting implications for the rest of pre-season.

Obviously, there is still a long way to go, but if the Spaniard ends up being preferred at centre-back, it would leave a vacancy in the right-back position.

It was youngster Dujon Sterling who started there against Bohemians but Davide Zappacosta (£4.5m) was handed the role for the second half.

If the Italian were to hold down a starting position in the Chelsea defence this season he could provide exceptional value, so we should definitely continue to monitor him and Azpilicueta during pre-season.

Crucially, the match with Bohemians reminded Fantasy managers just how many players will be at Chelsea’s disposal in 2019/20.

Fantasy managers should track where Azpilicueta is stationed during pre-season matches this summer

It was Michy Batshuayi who scored their only goal of the game to highlight that the centre-forward battle is between three players for the 2019/20 season.

Olivier Giroud (£7.0m) is the only one to have been priced up by FPL so far but Tammy Abraham and Batshuayi, returning from loans at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace respectively, will also be in the fight.

Monitoring each of these players during pre-season will be vital, to see which one claims the number one spot given the potential bargain on offer.

In defence, former Newcastle loanee Kenedy was deployed at left-back to throw his name into the hat for competition there.

Marcos Alonso (£6.5m) already faces the challenge of Emerson Palmieri (£5.5m) so there is definitely uncertainty on that side of the defence, although Kenedy is also capable of playing on the left of midfield.

As Fantasy managers clamour for Everton assets, especially in defence, Chelsea’s match in Ireland provided a chastening reminder of the Toffees’ missing puzzle piece.

Kurt Zouma (not currently priced by FPL) was deployed at centre-back in the second half as his future continues to hang in the balance.

Marco Silva is reportedly hoping to bring the Frenchman to Goodison Park on a permanent deal but this pre-season will give us an indication of whether Lampard will let him do that.

If he starts getting regular game-time in the pre-season friendlies, it might suggest the new Blues boss would rather keep hold of him.

This would be a blow to Silva and Everton, as well as Fantasy managers looking to the Toffees defence as Zouma was a key factor in them keeping eight clean sheets in their last 11 matches of 2018/19.

Also worth tracking during pre-season is the versatile Ethan Ampadu (£4.5m).

The former Exeter City man is also capable of playing at centre-back but has historically been used in a deep central midfield role at Chelsea.

Against Bohemians, Ampadu helped screen the defence and earned high praise from the local press, who described the bite and aggression he added to midfield as something Chelsea missed under Sarri.

Meanwhile, as promised, Danny Drinkwater (£4.5m) was given an opportunity by Lampard after being forced very much out of contention by Sarri last season and Willy Caballero (£5.0m) played 45 minutes in goal.

“Fitness was our issue, we’ve been working hard on it, even this morning. Fitness was always going to be an issue against a team that’s halfway through their season. We certainly pushed ourselves to the limit. The quicker we get there the better. It’s about individuals getting fit. Some of the young lads were really good. We want to get a level of fitness and intensity in their game.” – Frank Lampard

Chelsea first-half XI (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Kenedy, Guehi, Azpilicueta, D Sterling; Ampadu, Drinkwater; Palmer, G Gallagher; Pedro; Batshuayi.

Chelsea second-half XI (4-1-4-1): Cumming; Maatsen, Zouma, Chalobah, Zappacosta; Bakayoko; Brown, Baker, Gilmour, Piazon; Ugbo.

1,361 Comments Post a Comment
  1. farmerfat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Unpopular opinion:

    Fraser > Siggy for first 2 game weeks.

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      like it

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      have both, but I would agree if I had to choose

    3. How I met your Mata
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I think VAR will be massive this year like what happened at the World Cup so siggy hitting pens swings it for me though very tight

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

        Even if VAR increases the athe number of penalties, he misses more than he scores 😉

        1. How I met your Mata
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          True true..tho heard digne could be back up penalty taker so I’m well up for that

      2. infamousprob
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Siggy missed 3 pens last season...

        1. Majestic Chanka
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          2 scored (10) + 3 misses (-6)

          means pens was still a net positive for Siggy

  2. How I met your Mata
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Help please with this dilemma

    A or B
    A Ederson VVD Taylor Siggy
    B Allison Zinchenko Kelly/Gibson KDB

    1. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

  3. The 5% Team
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    PSG still very much interested in Everton's Gueye...opening bid at 27m

    1. How I met your Mata
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Gueye was the key to Everton’s clean sheets last year imo

    2. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I keep hearing this too... what a blow it would be for Everton. Maybe there is something in their reported interest in Delph?

    3. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      This is not good news for EVE.

  4. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Someone talk me into Siggy

    1. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Get Siggy

      1. NUFCAndrew
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Sold

    2. farmerfat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      It's a trap

  5. Yordan Letchkov
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Guys, how is she looking?

    Ryan, Button
    Robertson, VVD, Coleman, Smith, Kelly
    Salah, Sterling, B.Silva, Maddison, Dendoncker
    Giroud, King, Jota

    1. How I met your Mata
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Would prefer 2 of Fraser siggy an zaha for Maddison an bsilva just think they will get rotated more than the rest but could still be nice picks

  6. Offside
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Only thing with Sigurdson is he seems to come through as season progresses. Sig and Kane like mud and rain. These carthorse type players won’t be firing early on. And Pep seemed to rotate Sane with Sterling opening few games. Even Aguero/Jesus. There’s some goalscoring record Aguero is fired up about so I can see him wanting get goals early.

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

      That's why I'm starting with Richarlison. Starts well then fades away.

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      The thing I found owning Kun last season, apart from the hauls, is that horrible feeling when it gets to around 55 mins when you're constantly expecting him to be subbed, not sure I want that every game.

      1. Babit1967
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah if we knew Aguero was guaranteed 80+ mins he would be right in my team

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          If you don't have Sterling, watching those last 30ish mins of numerous games will be painful.

  7. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I know RMT is just a guide, but what's the best team you have come across?

    Mine is 349, which is:

    Ryan (4.0)
    Robertson, Laporte, Coleman (4.0, 4.0)
    Salah, Sterling, Siggy, Milli, Kante
    Jiminez, Wilson (4.5)

    Has anyone got way above 350, and how did you do it?

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      My team below with Heaton instead of Pope is 352.5

  8. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    If you had to downgrade one, would you rather go Robbo > VVD or Digne > Coleman? Already got TAA.

    1. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Everton personally

    2. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Digne > Coleman easy

    3. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Robbo—>VVD

  9. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How will score more - King or Zaha?? Considering 4-4-2 vs 4-5-1.....

    1. Andrew
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      King

    2. How I met your Mata
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Would need to wait an see what happens with zaha first I think

    3. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      With Zaha's future up in the air, King seems the safe pick for the minute

      1. Andy Mac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks guys. King stays for now then! 🙂

  10. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Any opinions on this team?

    Pope (Norris)
    TAA Robbo Digne Coleman Laporte
    Salah Sterling Siggy (Jorginho) (Romeu)
    King Wood (Wickham)

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      bit too reliant on Everton imo, if they don't start the season with Gueye and Zouma especially

      1. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah if Gueye goes I'll get rid of one of their defenders

  11. beetlejuice
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How would you order these forwards? I need to drop one for Vardy and cannot decide.
    Wilson, Rashford, Jota

    1. Goat
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Easy drop Jota

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Jota but depends what it does to the rest of your team, that's a pricey forward line.

    3. Treadstone
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Rashford and only .5 to find.

    4. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Any would mean upgrading u got ought itb? Or does that mean taking a knock elsewhere. Rash is the easiest in that case. Jota if not

  12. Goat
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ryan

    Robertson, Digne, VVD, Coleman

    Fraser, Salah, Siggy, De Bruyne

    King, Lacazette
    ————-

    Love my team. Mini WC for GW3 as fixtures turn on my strikers

  13. Yordan Letchkov
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Which of these

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

    2. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kane

    3. farmerfat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      7

    4. Foogle
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'd say just save your free transfer

  14. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Have messed around with my team and formations but appear to have landed on the dullard’s choice! Typical...pretty template but welcome any thoughts guys!

    Main risk is no Sterling, got KdB currently.

    Heaton/Pope
    TAA - Robbo - Laporte - Digne
    Salah - KdB - Siggy - Perez
    Vardy - King

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      It's good of course, not far from mine, you already know the risk with not having Sterling. Personally I wouldn't want double Lei from the start, maybe later on, I'm going Vardy because of his record against the bigger teams.

    2. chrismoo75
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Got exactly the same dilemma and reached the identical team to you after playing with 3-5-2. Just don't like having a forward line with no money in it. At least this way, if vardy doesn't fire it is easy to change

      Only difference now is that I put in Brooks for Perez (subject to pre-season line ups) with the view to switching to Perez/Tieleman/other 6.5 in GW3

    3. Treadstone
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      It is pretty template but mine even more so as I prefer Sterling and another 6.5 forward.

  15. joeyc_33
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    De Bruyne & Vardy or Jota & Sterling?

    1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Deu/King + Sterling

      1. KunDogan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        +1

  16. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this?

    A) Sterling & Deulofeu/6.5 (Have King)
    B) KDB & Vardy

    1. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Same question asked above

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You want Vardy

  17. Offside
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Kepa
    Aarons
    Maguire
    Elmohamady
    Salah
    Perez
    Brooks
    Djenepo
    Aguero
    Kane
    Vardy

    1. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Most unique team award.

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Breaking the limits with that one

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

    King Kane or Wilson Vardy

    1. Andrew
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      KK

    2. Zinedine Kilbane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      KK

    3. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      KK

    4. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy + Wilson = kane x1.5

    5. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Wilson Vardy for me

  19. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Draft 1/ or 2/?

    1/ Ryan
    TAA - Robbo - Laporte - Digne
    Salah - KDB - Siggy
    Vardy - King - Deulo

    2/ Ryan
    TAA - VVD - 4.5 - Digne
    Salah - Perez/Tiele - 6.0
    Kun - Kane - King

    1. Zinedine Kilbane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      1 for me- Rather KDB than Aguerro

    2. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      1

  20. Zinedine Kilbane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Just signed up for membership- happy my teams getting over the 350 mark in RMT!

    Ryan (Button)
    Trent, Van Dijk, Digne, Walker (Kelly)
    Salah, Sterling, Siggy (Dendoncker)
    King, Calvert-Lewin (Wickham)

    If Gueye goes il prob get rid of Digne and Calvert-lewin. Everton are bound to reinvest the money in a forward

    1. Zinedine Kilbane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      4th Mid- B.Silva

  21. Ole's at the wheel
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    [ 352 ] final draft
    Lloris
    Robo AWB Maguire*
    Salah Zaha Pereyra Sterling Pèrez
    Vardy King
    Bench: Dunk + fodder

    Was between that and this
    Same with - Vardy Salah lloris >
    +Kane Mane Ryan

  22. StayoutheSpiceZone
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Going with this lot as my opening xi
    Any thoughts?

    Ryan
    VVD Holebas Zinchenko Digne
    Brooks Salah Sterling Tielemens
    Kane (c) DCL

    Thanks

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

      Wheres Robbo or TAA?

  23. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Will bego or boruc start?

    1. StayoutheSpiceZone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No chance for Begovic imo

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Boruc, Travers or they'll sign someone.

    3. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Travers

    4. Siggy in the Middle
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Too unbalanced

      1. Siggy in the Middle
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Reply fail for the team above you

  24. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Kane or Vardy + 2m?

    1. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Tough decision.

    2. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Same for me. Depends how far that 2m stretches. I've gone for vardy

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      These questions are so silly. Tel us what that 2m will do

      1. The Yorkshire Pirlo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Not really.

        It’d basically give me Laporte + Vardy over Kane + O’Connell.

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          That’s better and more clear isn’t it. That makes it an easy Vardy and Laporte

  25. LangerznMash
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    A) Mane, Auba and Kane + £3 million dollars
    B) Salah, Sterling and Aguero

    Both lists have 3 premium attackers, but the £3.0m saved on 'A' is the difference between having a £4.5m starting mid or someone like Siggy.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I liked his team too

    2. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B with Kane ?

  26. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Lol it looks like West Ham are actually set to sign Haller this can’t be real. Just waiting for our owners to tell them we will pay £36m in annual instalments of 2m so the dream can die again

    1. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You're actually set to sign every striker known. Next you'll be in the costa race wait u already are...

  27. Me Spurs
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How’s this looking?
    Heaton
    Vvd, taa, Coleman, targett
    Siggi, salah, kdb, Perez
    Kane, king
    B: button, dend, wickham, Gibson

    Would obv mean starting targett every week

  28. Me Spurs
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Lloris in goal not Heaton

  29. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ryan
    Laporte vvd taa digne
    Siggy salah perez sterling
    King deulofeu

    Subs:button kelly dendoncker wickham

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

      I like it actually.. you could potentially DG vvd or taa and upgrade wickham?

    2. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Close to my team, thumbs up!

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Do you think if i swap out sterling deulofeu for aguero and felipe/zaha will actually be better?

        1. KunDogan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          It is a coin toss tbh

    3. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      What do u have in the bank 7mil?

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        What 7mil? Show me your team fker

  30. FatmanAndRobin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Trying to get a Salah/Sterling team together - my best effort so far.
    Am I lacking in too many other areas trying to do so?
    Downgrade sterling and spread the wealth?

    Ederson/Button

    TAA/AWB/Digne/Taylor/Kelly

    Salah/Sterling/Siggy/Tielemans/Dedon

    Vardy/Wesley/Wickham

    Plan would be 3-5-2 or 4-4-2

    1. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Salah&Sterling teams are more balanced whitout Vardy imo

    2. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah Vardy is the thing weakening the rest of your squad.