Scout Notes

Coleman and Digne display attacking threat against Monaco

The pre-season picture continues to build as more Premier League teams played summer friendlies over the weekend.

We’ve got all the latest Fantasy talking points as Everton, Crystal Palace, Norwich and Brighton were in action on Friday.

AS Monaco 0-1 Everton

Coleman scored the only goal as Everton beat Monaco on Friday

Goals: Seamus Coleman (£5.5m)

Assists: Oumar Niasse

Everton defenders Seamus Coleman (£5.5m) and Lucas Digne (£6.0m) both demonstrated their attacking credentials in Everton’s win over Monaco on Friday.

The right-back scored the only goal of the game with a brave header inside the six-yard box after an effort from Oumar Niasse.

Meanwhile, Digne, his colleague on the other flank, went very close with a spectacular left-footed volley from a Gylfi Sigurdsson (£8.0m) corner.

Between the two full-backs was young centre-half Lewis Gibson, who has been involved in all three pre-season matches so far.

In fact, no Everton player has registered more minutes in the summer so far.

Admittedly, he did give away a penalty against Monaco but the word is that he has largely been impressive.

Whether or not he has a serious chance at breaking into the first team is another matter entirely though.

With plenty still up in the air about Everton’s defensive situation, it would premature at this stage to seriously discuss Gibson’s potential for the season ahead.

We must remember that Yerry Mina (£5.5m) missed the first portion of pre-season as it fell under his extended leave following Colombia’s quarter-final exit from the Copa America last month.

The centre-back arrived back in training on Monday morning, along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m), and will fancy his chances of starting alongside Michael Keane (£5.5m) against Wigan on Wednesday.

Furthermore, the future of Kurt Zouma remains up in the air and should have an impact on the centre-back situation at Everton this season, as we found out in THIS MEMBERS’ ARTICLE.

“In terms of Kurt Zouma, he’s a very good defender for us, very good player, very good person and professional. I want him here, simple as that. We are competitive with the centre-backs we have in the team and he had a very good season at Everton and I can understand why they want him. But he’s a Chelsea player and I want him. I want him to be happy. He’s working really hard and if he competes and plays well, he plays.” – Frank Lampard

Gibson’s Under-23s colleague Nathan Broadhead has also been involved extensively in all Everton’s pre-season matches so far.

The winger has caused opposing defenders plenty of problems so far and may hold promise for the future.

However, like Gibson, we certainly can’t predict extensive first-team involvement this season just yet.

Richarlison (£8.0m) is set to return to Everton training on Monday, July 29 following a victorious Copa America campaign with Brazil and is ahead of Broadhead in the pecking order.

However, it is worth pointing out that Theo Walcott (£6.5m) and Bernard (£6.5m) have both been around for pre-season but still have fewer minutes to their names than Broadhead currently.

Finally, Everton’s pre-season campaign so far might have indicated who Marco Silva’s preferred second-choice goalkeeper is.

Despite limited summer minutes so far, Jordan Pickford (£5.5m) is still the number one, but Maarten Stekelenburg (£4.0m) has been the most-used so far.

It had been thought that Jonas Lössl (£4.5m), arriving from Huddersfield Town, would be the England international’s understudy, but Stekelenburg has impressed in pre-season so far.

Against Monaco, he put in a particularly strong display, with a string of decent saves, also saving the penalty conceded by Gibson and smothering the rebound effort too.

Everton (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg; Digne, Keane, Gibson, Coleman; Schneiderlin (Davies 46), Gomes (Adeniran 83); Broadhead (Walcott 46), Sigurdsson (McCarthy 78), Bernard (Mirallas 78); Niasse.

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson has not hidden his concern over Palace’s defensive problems in pre-season

Goals: None

Assists: None

Crystal Palace’s defensive problems continued as they were defeated by Championship side Nottingham Forest on Friday.

That came after a 6-2 loss against League Two outfit Barnet earlier in the week, with Roy Hodgson lamenting the defensive situation at Selhurst Park in the wake of injuries to James Tomkins (£5.0m) and Mamadou Sakho (£5.0m) as well as the departure of Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m).

“We really don’t have any defenders, to speak of. Aaron’s gone and we’ve got three others injured. We will have to do the best we can to make sure we replace [Wan-Bissaka] in some way.” – Roy Hodgson

Those issues led to another start at centre-back for Martin Kelly (£4.0m) alongside Scott Dann (£4.5m).

Joel Ward (£4.5m) continues to appear the temporary replacement for Wan-Bissaka as he started at right-back again.

There has been some interest in Connor Wickham (£4.5m) as a third-striker during pre-season but he wasn’t treated to any minutes at the City Ground, remaining an unused substitute.

Christian Benteke (£6.0m) remains the most nailed-on forward player for Palace’s Gameweek 1 line-up as he spearheaded a 4-4-1-1 attack.

The Belgian striker currently has the third-most pre-season minutes among Palace players, while only Alexander Sørloth’s total of 225 is greater than his 224 in the forwards’ department.

Supporting Benteke against Nottingham Forest was Jeffrey Schlupp (£5.5m), who was deployed as a number 10/second-striker in the 4-4-1-1 formation.

Meanwhile, Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m) continues to be absent from Palace’s pre-season campaign.

The fact that he was missing from the matchday squad in Nottingham caused some fans on social media to further fuel rumours that he is leaving the club.

However, Zaha simply remains on his extended leave period after involvement in the African Cup of Nations this summer.

Ivory Coast were eliminated from the tournament in the quarter-final stages on July 11, still only 11 days ago.

Extended leave after major international tournaments is typically three weeks, and if Zaha were to follow suit, he would not be back in the Palace fold until the first week of August.

That would mean the only pre-season friendly he could participate in would be the visit of Hertha Berlin to Selhurst Park on August 3.

Crystal Palace (4-4-1-1): Hennessey; van Aanholt, Dann, Kelly, Ward; Meyer, Milivojevic, McArthur, Townsend; Schlupp; Benteke.

Schalke 1-2 Norwich City

Pukki (right) has started pre-season just as he finished 2018/19 – in the goals

Goals: Teemu Pukki (£6.5m), Moritz Leitner (£4.5m)

Assists: Patrick Roberts (£5.5m), Pukki

Teemu Pukki (£6.5m) continues to look sharp in pre-season as he scored and assisted in Norwich’s 2-1 win over Schalke on Friday.

The Finland international already opened his summer account as Bonner SC were defeated 4-1 earlier in the week.

While these are only pre-season matches, impressive performances and a hand in three goals show that Pukki’s confidence is still high since winning the Championship Golden Boot last season.

The ex-Schalke forward could have come away with another goal against his former employers a few minutes later but forced a good save from Markus Schubert.

Norwich’s loan signing Patrick Roberts (£5.5m) also continues to draw some attention on the right flank of attacking midfield.

He has now racked up 195 pre-season minutes in three matches, only four players managing more, none of them in his position.

The Manchester City man assisted Pukki’s opening strike against Schalke, having also set up Adam Idah’s first goal against Bonner SC.

That takes his assist total for pre-season two so far, more than any other Norwich option so far.

There was welcome news for Daniel Farke in the defensive area of the field as centre-back Ben Godfrey (£4.5m) returned from the injury picked up in the first pre-season match against DSC Arminia Bielefeld game.

Christoph Zimmermann‘s (£4.5m) remains out with an injury that could see him miss the start of the season.

It had been assumed that Timm Klose (£4.5m) would come in alongside Godfrey, but is yet to play a single minute of pre-season.

Meanwhile, centre-back Grant Hanley (£4.0m) has registered more time on the pitch than any other Norwich option this summer.

Norwich XI (4-2-3-1): Krul (McGovern, 46); Lewis (Heise 83′), Godfrey, Hanley, Aarons; Trybull, Leitner; Cantwell (Idah 86′), Stiepermann (Hernandez 75′), Roberts (Byram 75′); Pukki (Srbeny, 75).

Crawley Town 0-1 Brighton and Hove Albion

Goals: Taylor Richards (penalty)

Assists: Max Sanders

It was almost entirely a Brighton youth team that beat Crawley on Friday.

Of the 18 players involved in the friendly, only one of them currently has a price in FPL.

That is centre-back Matthew Clarke (£4.5m), who recently joined the club from Portsmouth.

The fact that Graham Potter chose him for this match, with most of the first-team used the next day against Fulham, probably indicates that he will not be troubling Shane Duffy (£5.0m) or Lewis Dunk (£4.5m) for a place in the first team just yet.

Leon Balogun (£4.5m) is yet to play his part in the pre-season friendlies given his time at the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon.

However, a second-round exit for the Indomitable Lions should see him back in time to provide the first line of cover.

Meanwhile, Tomer Hemed, who spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Queens Park Rangers, was handed 45-minutes against Crawley.

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Walton (Sanchez 46); Sanders, Baluta, Clarke, Cox (Cochrane 61); Ahannach (Gwargis 61), Roberts (Kazukolovas 74); Mlakar, Hemed (Spong 46), Gyokeres (Davies 61); Connolly (Richards 46).

1,579 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Which option is better:
    A: Zinchenko, Jota and De Bruyne
    B: Targett, Fraser and Vardy

    Thx

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

      A

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

        A

    2. NED KELLY
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      B - just

  2. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA, VVD, Coleman, Zinchenko
    Salah, Sterling, Lucas, Fraser
    Delu/Jota, Wilson

    Button, Greenwood, Hayden, Kelly

    Is this looking alright? An old school english 4-4-2!

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

      Pretty much, but if Wilson becomes King, you can put Ederson in goal, who'll bag twice as many points as Ryan.

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

        Food for thought. Went with King last season, and that was disappointing.

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

          The points gap between Ed and Ryan will be wider than Wilson and King.
          Ed will be a season keeper whereas you'll prob waste transfers n chasing cheap goalies.
          Bournemouth players are not long-term bets either. You'll move on when bandwagons emerge.

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

            You are probably right. I was thinking 2 Bournemouth players were too much tbh, as I have in my team now. Cheers man.

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

              Going Jota and Deulo then?

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

                Id like Jota, but not really loving the fixtures. And Delu is a bit hit or miss. But Bournemouth first 2 fixtures look juicy, but they trolled me last year. So I havent decided yet. Will give it a bit more time to see if pre season can reveal some more info.

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

            Thing is King is only likely value long term as pens are so unpredictable. He had a terrible open play record last time out. The short term punt on him makes little sense to me

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

    a) Kane + KDB
    b) Sterling + Vardy

    1. NED KELLY
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

        B

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

      A

  4. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this lot?

    Ederson

    TAA Robertson Digne Zinchenko AWB

    Salah Sterling Siggy Perez

    King

    Button Greenwood Nketiah Dendonker

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

      Fine for a Starting XI but disastrous bench. You could shave a little off defence by opting for VVD and/or Coleman in order to get playing subs.

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

        Greenwood and Nketiah will get sub appearances this season and Dendonker appears to have nailed a starting position. I never put money on the bench, especially at the start of a season. How’s your team looking?

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

          Okay, so long as you're sure.
          Mine's looking great - all 20 drafts 😉

  5. De Gea is GOAT
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Someone please decide between the 2 for me please! TIA

    Pope Button
    Robbo TAA Digne Diop Rico
    Fraser Sterling KDB Salah Dendon
    King DCL Greenwood
    ---------------------------------------
    Pope Button
    Robbo TAA Digne Zin Taylor
    Fraser Sterling Perez Salah Dendon
    DCL Wilson Greenwood

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

      2

    2. NED KELLY
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      The bottom team.. loads of Pope an button could be going in to GW1 without a keeper it's risky I think

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

        Well it's not like the deadline is today. I think most people with a functioning brain will be able to switch Pope for Heaton without too much difficulty.

        1. NED KELLY
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Nah any of them could start the first game id wait an see

        2. De Gea is GOAT
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks Andy. Anything you would recommend for the team?

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

            Yeah, the second one is excellent apart from DCL. Easy fix - shave 0.5 off defence by having VVD or Coleman and get a decent 6.5 striker. Done.

            1. De Gea is GOAT
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Awesome. Thanks a lot mate.

      2. De Gea is GOAT
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks guys much appreciated. Currently on team 2 as well but KDB is looking goooood. Pope to Ryan is any switch if required.

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

      Second one, but I'm not a fan of the DCL pick personally

      1. De Gea is GOAT
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks mate. And yes im the same. Unless he starts performing in pre season he'll be out before the new season

  6. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Everyone picking jota/king/deul
    But everton doesn't seem likely to sign a CF
    Surely there will be attacking returns for DCL

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

      He's kinda allergic to the goal though. Pretty sure Silva knows that and will get someone in.

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        And he still started 10 last games of previous season and they did well. Silva won't change so many things there

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

      I had him in my team for a while but I checked his stats from last season and they were quite underwhelming. I think it’s worth spending 0.5m more to get Jota/Delo/King.

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

      Everton cf spot is fascinating.

      They’re reportedly sniffing around Zaha which suggests to me that it’s possible that Rich up front could be on the cards again.

      DCL could be gold - just not on last season’s form. There should be lots of chances created and if he can learn to put them away he’d be brilliant value.

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Zaha won't happen for everton
        And you know there will not always be same for DCL. Will convert more. Fixtures are great

    4. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Overpriced. I'd be interested at 5.5

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

    Think I’ve finally cracked it! Sterling to De Bruyne is a good sacrifice to get Kane in. Good to go? I know the defence is template but should be clean sheets to mop up

    Ederson
    VVD TAA Zincky Coleman
    Pereyra De Bruyne Salah Brooks
    Kane King

    Button, Hanley, dendonker, Mousset

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

      With Pereyra in your team, you surely haven't cracked it. Upgrade him to Perez by downgrading Mousset to Greenwood.

      1. Respect My Authoritah
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Pereyra is an attractive option for the first 4 fixtures. I'd back him if I didn't have Deu

      2. Stokelona
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah Pereyra may be the weak spot but I like having Mousset to cover e.g. when the Bournemouth lads play Man City. Could Go with Digne and 5 at the back but could be a risky double up

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

    Pascal Gross anynone?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Been in and out of my drafts. It's tempting, but I can't get away from the first 2 fixtures for Brooks. Easy switch to Gross or a Leicester mid too

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

        Baps magnet, had an injury plagued season, set pices, should be on pens even if Murray on the pitch- correct?

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

      Brighton are crap though.

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

        That's the thing. Need to be convinced they can survive first.

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

      Nope

  9. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    De bruyne and kane

    Or sterling and wilson

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

      KDB + Kane, bargain buys this year.

    2. patricio33
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      S and W/

  10. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How is this

    Ryan (pope)
    Robbo digne taa (kelly simpson)
    Perez fraser salah sterling (dendoncker)
    Wilson jota (greenwood)

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

      bar greenwood and simpson (who wont play) it looks good

  11. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    If you could get only one of these for the first three gw?

    A. Richarlison
    B. Siggy
    C. Fraser

    1. patricio33
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      C

  12. Roy Rovers
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Y or N

    Ederson > Pope
    Brooks > Bsilva.

    (Have Zinc & KDB)

    1. OFord
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Brooks > Siggy

    2. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nope

  13. patricio33
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Which combo is best?

    A. Siggy and King
    B. Perez and Wilson

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

      A all day

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

    Not many teams with Vardy. Should I dump him? I just think he always scores.

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

      Why? Fewer teams better differential.

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

        Good point. Betting against the house going without Liverpool defenders is my next decision.

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

    New member. Thoughts on squad:

    Ederson (Button)
    Robertson, TAA, Zinchenko (Kelly, Diop)
    Salah, Sigurdsson, Zaha, Fraser, Tielemans
    Vardy, Jota (Long)

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

      Zinc to Maguire for goal threat.
      Zaha and Tman to Sterling if possible.

      I like Perez, Tman and Maddison. With Vardy Leicester could be a force this season.

  16. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Lundstram has started 4 out of 5 pre-season friendlies.

    Just achieved anothet assist.

    Don't plan to start him often, but surely one of the best 4.0 defenders to start off with?

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No sh1t, Sherlock. 😉 🙂

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

    This article erroneously states that Leon Balogun was away with Cameroon. He was away with Nigeria please.