Scout Notes

Injuries to FPL defenders as Wood hits second pre-season hat-trick

Our pre-season coverage continues with a look at the lessons learned from three games contested on Tuesday.

Manchester United left it late to see off Kristiansund, while there were wins for Burnley and Newcastle United.

We’ll round up all the main talking points – including a treble for Chris Wood (£6.5m) and injuries to two mid-priced Fantasy Premier League defenders – in the Scout Notes article below.

Kristiansund 0-1 Manchester United

  • Goals: Juan Mata (£6.5m)
  • Assists: None

There was a curious choice of penalty taker as Manchester United saw off Norwegian side Kristiansund with a stoppage-time spot-kick.

Despite Paul Pogba (£8.5m) being on the pitch, it was fellow substitute Juan Mata (£6.5m) who stepped up to convert from 12 yards after the Spaniard had himself been brought down – Pogba having provided a superb through-ball to Mata just before the foul.

Therein may lie the answer: the fact that Mata won the penalty may have earned him the right to take the subsequent spot-kick, with any penalty-taking hierarchy temporarily forgotten due to this game being a meaningless pre-season friendly.

Mata hasn’t taken a Premier League penalty in almost four years, although he did net from 12 yards in the FA Cup win over Reading earlier in 2019.

Mata had indeed been fouled for that penalty against the Royals, while Pogba wasn’t in the team.

Line-up Lessons

Solskjaer has used 27 players in pre-season but we may finally be inching closer to the Norwegian’s favoured starting XI and system.

With the exception of Pogba (who had dropped to the bench after sitting out a training session), one could justifiably argue that United’s team against Kristiansund was close to the one that will take on Chelsea in Gameweek 1.

The contrast between Nemanja Matic (£5.0m) and Scott McTominay‘s (£5.0m) performances in central midfield perhaps suggested that the Serbian midfielder may make way for Pogba, with McTominay impressing in a box-to-box role and striking the woodwork in the first half.

Dan James (£6.0m) started on the right wing as Marcus Rashford (£8.5m) and Anthony Martial (£7.5m) frequently traded places in-game between the left flank and the lone striker’s role.

Rashford said of this tactical approach:

It’s never been my aim to be a number nine. It’s about being able to adapt and play in different positions and to be the ultimate forward. I think I can score goals from all positions and I think that’s something that’s shared among the forwards.

If one person is scoring all the goals you get a different feeling as a team than if all the forwards are contributing. It’s definitely a good feeling and it keeps us all on our toes. That’s important.

Jesse Lingard (£6.5m) operated in the hole in a 4-2-3-1, meanwhile.

Full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw (both £5.5m) again spent most of their time camped in the opposition half as the hosts’ attacking forays were few and far between.

When asked about his Gameweek 1 line-up, Solskjaer replied:

It’s not about one team for the first game and that’s the team for the rest of the season. We’ve got a strong squad and I feel there’s not too big a difference when we make the subs. We’re going to have to find the right balance. I’ve not really picked the first XI yet, but most of the relationships we’ve tried. Milan will be another last test and then let’s see how we decide. I think when Paul Pogba doesn’t start, I think you know it’s not the first XI.

Struggle for goals

United weren’t shot-shy in Norway: Solskjaer’s side chanced their arm on 32 occasions, with ten of them landing on target.

Rashford stung the palms of the hosts’ goalkeepers on three occasions with efforts from distance (one a direct free-kick) but there weren’t too many clear-cut chances carved out by the Red Devils, in spite of the high number of saves made.

Solskjaer said after full-time:

I’ve said before in press conferences that we need to be more clinical. That’s where you win games. I think we’re looking solid at the back. They had a great chance early in the second half and we should have done better.

We’re going to keep working, keep improving, keep making the relationships between the players and the patterns work even better. It’s not a concern but it’s something we’re going to have to improve on.

Injury Blow

The expected bad news about Eric Bailly (£5.0m) came in Solskjaer’s post-match press conference.

The Ivorian defender was a casualty of United’s 2-1 win over Spurs last week and his manager provided an update on Tuesday night:

He’s had an operation. He’ll miss the best part of four or five months. Hopefully, we’ll get him back around about Christmas.

It was positive news from the surgeon, he had the operation this morning. He was positive it was all repaired and that he’ll be fine.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea (Romero 60′), Wan-Bissaka (Dalot 60′), Jones (Tuanzebe 60′), Lindelof (Rojo 60′), Shaw (Young 60)’, Matic (Pogba 60′), McTominay (Fred 60′), James (Andreas 60′), Lingard (Mata 60′), Martial (Chong 60), Rashford (Greenwood 60′).

Burnley 6-1 Nice

  • Goals: Chris Wood (£6.5m) x3, Jeff Hendrick (£5.5m), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m), Jay Rodriguez (£6.0m)
  • Assists: Ashley Barnes x2 (£6.5m), Gudmundsson, Ben Mee (£5.0m), Matthew Lowton (£4.5m)

No Premier League player has scored more pre-season goals than Chris Wood (£6.5m) this summer.

The Burnley striker has found the back of the net on nine occasions in six friendly appearances, although the large caveat is that his previous half-dozen strikes before Tuesday evening’s treble were all against opponents from the Football League.

Patrick Vieira’s Nice side were supposed to present more of a challenge to the Clarets in their latest pre-season encounter but the Ligue I club were 4-0 down at the break, with Wood having scored two of the goals.

The mid-price FPL forward pounced on a loose ball to open the scoring before tapping in a Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m) cut-back to double the hosts’ advantage.

Both of Wood’s opening two strikes were characteristically from inside the six-yard box; no other Premier League player had more efforts from this zone of the pitch in 2018/19.

Wood had further opportunities to add to his tally but completed his hat-trick after the interval, intercepting an awful pass from a Nice defender – just one of umpteen errors from the French side at Turf Moor – and firing into a half-unguarded net.

Goals Abound

Jeff Hendrick (£5.5m), Gudmundsson and substitute Jay Rodriguez (£6.0m) were also on target for the home side.

A well-worked free-kick saw Hendrick control a Ben Mee (£5.0m) header and fire past Yoan Cardinale for Burnley’s third, before Gudmundsson’s speculative effort beat the visiting goalkeeper all too easily on 35 minutes.

Rodriguez came off the bench to finish a Matthew Lowton (£4.5m) cross to round off the scoring.

Ashley Barnes (£6.5m) wasn’t among the goalscorers but claimed the assists for Burnley’s first and fourth strikes.

Competition for Places

Sean Dyche used 20 different players in Lancashire on Tuesday and both he and Wood highlighted the competition for places in the Burnley squad.

The New Zealander said:

It looks like we’ve got two players in each position and it’s a fight for places. Everybody is putting their hands up and it making it hard for the manager, which is a good thing for us.

The boys that have come in – Jay and Erik (Pieters) – have done fantastically well and fitted in brilliantly, so they’re good additions so far.

Dyche added:

I thought the attention to detail, the shape, the energy and the quality were all excellent. Those are the things you are after and the over-riding thing is the players are looking fit and sharp and that was on show as well.

There is definitely a good feel and a really competitive edge about the group and we want that to continue, so I must look at that for the weekend because you want that hunger going into the last week.

There were a lot of really strong performances and people coming off the bench affected the game as well.

The good thing is we have a really good, competitive squad and the way we have balanced their minutes allows us to look at options.

On top of the players used on Tuesday, the Clarets were still without the injured Robbie Brady (£5.5m), Ben Gibson (£4.0m) and Nick Pope (£4.5m).

Goalkeeper Uncertainty

With only one pre-season game remaining before Gameweek 1, we are still not much closer to resolving the Burnley goalkeeper situation.

With Pope sidelined, Tom Heaton and Joe Hart (both £4.5m) were each handed 45 minutes against Nice.

The rumours surrounding Heaton’s long-mooted move to Aston Villa intensified on Wednesday, however, and the 33-year-old goalkeeper seems to set to sign for the newly promoted Midlands club in the coming hours.

With Pope’s injury situation not thought to be too serious but ultimately still unclear, Hart may well be on standby to line up between the posts in Gameweek 1 – as happened 12 months ago.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Heaton (Hart 46′), Bardsley (Lowton 75), Long (Tarkowski 46′), Mee (Dunne 69′), Pieters (Taylor 75′), Lennon (Rodriguez 69′), Westwood (Cork 69′), Hendrick, Gudmundsson (McNeil 46′), Wood (Wells 83′), Barnes.

Hibernian 1-3 Newcastle United

  • Goals: Joelinton (£6.0m), Sean Longstaff (£5.0m), Jamaal Lascelles (£4.5m)
  • Assists: Javier Manquillo (£4.5m), Joelinton, Rolando Aarons

Matt Ritchie (£5.5m) handed Newcastle United an injury scare in Tuesday night’s pre-season friendly in Leith.

Ritchie limped from the field after just 11 minutes of the Magpies’ 3-1 win over Hibs, having previously dropped to the ground with no opponent around him.

Steve Bruce said after full-time:

We hope it’s not serious. That’s the awful thing tonight because we’re a bit shy in that area. He’ll have a scan in the next 48 hours and hopefully, it’s not too bad. 

He’s nicked a hamstring. Whether it’s a strain or how serious it is, we do not know. But for him to come off is not a good sign.

The Evening Chronicle reported on Wednesday that the injury isn’t as serious as first feared, although this hasn’t yet been verified by the club.

The 3-5-2/5-3-2 Continues

Ritchie was again occupying the same position as he did last season, as the left-sided wing-back in a 3-5-2/5-3-2.

Rolando Aarons – yet to be priced up by FPL – was the man given the nod to replace Ritchie in that role and crossed for Jamaal Lascelles (£4.5m) to head in United’s third goal of the evening.

United’s midfield three was made up of budget FPL options Isaac Hayden (£4.5m), Sean Longstaff (£5.0m) and Jonjo Shelvey (£5.0m) and there was a sense that, the goalkeeper aside, this was about as strong a starting XI that Newcastle could possibly put out at present, accounting for injuries.

Joelinton (£6.0m) made his full Magpies debut and was joined up front for the second game running by an ‘out of position’ Miguel Almiron (£6.0m).

Almiron has not quite convinced in front of goal in his time on Tyneside and he is yet to find the back of the net for the Magpies either in a competitive match or a friendly, having missed from the spot in the 2-1 defeat to Preston on Saturday.

Against Hibs, the Paraguay international again missed a couple of excellent opportunities as his barren run continued.

Almiron otherwise linked up well with Joelinton, who was arguably the pick of United’s players with his physical hold-up play and promising movement.

The Brazilian striker got off the mark for Newcastle when converting Javier Manquillo‘s (£4.5m) cross from close range and then claimed a Fantasy assist when his blocked shot fell to Longstaff, who fired in from the edge of the box.

Bruce said of his new strike partnership:

All strikers want to score, let’s hope this is one of many. He is up and running, you can see the huge appetite in the boy (Joelinton).

They’re a threat and they’ve already enjoyed playing with each other, you can see that straight away. They will be a threat to anybody. They both can run and they complement each other.

They could be a little bit more clinical but overall I was very, very pleased with the performance of the two of them.

Goalkeeper Situation

Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) missed his second successive Newcastle game but Bruce poured cold water on the rumours circulating that the Slovakian wanted a move away from Tyneside.

Speaking after the match, Bruce said:

Dubravka is fine. He’s at home. It was always our aim to give the two other lads 90 minutes. Martin will be in goal in Saturday. 

He is our number one goalkeeper and will remain so. The stuff that’s circulating about him is not true, there’s nothing sinister going on at all.

Newcastle United XI (5-3-2): Darlow, Manquillo (Sterry 77), Lascelles, Dummett (Clark 71), Schar (Fernandez 77), Ritchie (Aarons 11), Hayden, Shelvey (M Longstaff 77), S.Longstaff (Ki 60), Almiron (Murphy 69), Joelinton (Muto 69).

1,775 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Apollo Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    A. Fraser & Perez
    B. Siggy & Barkley

    (Also have King & Vardy)

  2. SorSy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ryan / Button

    TAA Robo Zinc Kelly Lundstram
    Sterling Siggy Fraser Madison Ceballos
    Kane Wesley King

    Any thoughts, should I try to bring Salah or Mane?

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

    Hello everyone!

    To avoid heart(head)ache, I made a team and left it on ice for the past month or so. But to stay away for longer would be suicidal! So here's what I had at the start - would really appreciate your views:

    4-4-2 setup
    Ryan/Begovic
    VD, Zinchenko, TAA, Enda Stevens (Kelly)
    Sterling, Mane, Zaha, Fraser, (Buendia)
    Wilson, Jota (Greenwood)

    - What do you think?
    - Bournemouth with fixtures worth doubling up?
    - Promoted teams (Buenida and Enda) - decent choices?
    - No United or Tottenham or Arsenal - very bad?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Personally not keen on Bourne. Think it's a trap...

      Stevens may get assists and few Cs but feel better options at 4.5.

      Nah

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

        Thanks man. Having spent some time on here, now I'm going to rip my team up and try and get Kane in 😛

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'd go with just one 4.5 keeper and use dedonker as bench fodder (6m is a lot on the bench). Zaha is a doubt due to AFCON and transfer speculation, Mane may not start the season either due to AFCON.

      Rest looks fine still.

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

        Ok that's really helpful!!

        A. Zaha - assumed he might be good for a start even if he changes teams. Discounted AFCON
        B. Mane - honestly, wanted to save the 1m for Salah
        C. Beunida - I was hoping to play him post GW1, but I see your point

        Thanks again, back to the drawing board to see what can be changed

    3. LSK
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Mane is expected to miss the first game so I would switch him for Salah

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

        Damn! Clearly I am quite lost. Thank you for pointing it out - need to get basic research done again

    4. CROCosta
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Pick one keeper out of the two to keep, as many have said GK rotation is bad.
      Enda Stevens needs upgrade, Mane missing start of season most prolly so go for Salah or Kane/Auba instead.
      Rest of team is good, BOU fixtures I really fancy (went Rico, Fraser, Wilson myself), keep an eye on promoted teams, do not think you should start with team in your team except for bench or as rotating 11th player maybe. Not bad going without Manu, Ars or Spurs at start - Auba has very nice gw1 and 2 and Kane 1 and 3 but rest not looking as good as Liverpools or Chelsea's

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

        I don't know man - GK rotation is like a diet fad that refuses to go away. Was good till last year, not good this time, and so on

        Mane - horribly uninformed of me. Thank you for pointing it out!

        Auba is the one I was really hoping to get. I think FPL really undervalues him, plus good fixtures. Kane has NEVER started a season well, I hope that won't change 😛

        Who would you take from Chelsea? Bit of a wildcard this season

  4. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone have any questions then go for it especially sufc related.

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

      Think I already know from speaking to you before but,

      Will Robinson start, with McBurnie signing?

      Will Lundstram keep his place (I'm asking this on behalf of everyone)

      Is Chris Wilder the greatest manager in the world?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        We have a friendly on 3rd August but Robinson is the one who's nailed his position in preseason for me so I'd think so. Will be on form I'm guessing and Robinson is on fire.

        I don't know about keep his place. We'll switch from 532 where he'll play as a floating cm or play a 5212 where he'll either play a holding cm or not at all. Can still see him being the sub in 75th min or something when 1-0 up to try hold on.

        Yes.

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

          I'll take 1 - 3 point returns from my third bench player.

          Thanks for the reply.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Does the defence sit deep and force opposition shots from distance? i.e. will Henderson accumulate save points quickly?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I wouldn't say sit deep. Last season we were on the press and forced other teams back... Will obvs be different now but many save points to come imo. I'm going with Deano

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

          I knew Blades had least overall goals conceded but also 2nd least away goals. Guess who was 4th

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

          Would you go with Deano at any other club though or is this conscious bias?

          1. Tsparkes10
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Bit of both. He's a solid GK and confident he'll save pens and plenty of save points. Do generally think we'll keep fair share of Cs at home aswell but does help that I love him

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

              If Pope ends up first choice at Burnley I think he tips it for PL experience both himself and his defence. But I am on the fence with him/Heaton/Hendo

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Is your name T Sparkes or T S Parkes?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        T Sparkes 🙂 lol

    4. Conor1
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      How good are the prospects of clean sheets? I’m tempted by Enda Stevens, I’ve followed him over the years since he was playing for Shamrock Rovers and he has improved over the past few seasons.

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        At home I reckon we'll get a fair share. Stevens if at LWB will bomb and cross a lot but idk if he's worth 5.0m. Better options even at 4.5m ie Diop, Gilbert or jack oconnel imo

    5. El Puqi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Do you think you will still use overlapping centerbacks in the Prem?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        This one is difficult. We're used to dominating possession so when a cb bombs on we have 2 and a cm covering... But going to be different ofcourse, we will still try it I'm sure but probs not every game and somewhat adapt

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

      Is When Saturday Comes your favourite film?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Nah but do love Sean bean

    7. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Few ones:
      A) Robinson potential and nailedness?
      B) Enda Stevens at 5.0£?
      C) How many cleansheet do u expect from first 5 fixtures?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        A) not exactly nailed but on fire and exciting one.
        B) not worth imo. Defo at 4.5m but Diop, JOC better picks probs.
        C) atleast 2

    8. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I've lurked around your forums for clues on the starting eleven and tbh they seem clueless.

      Could you give it a shot? tx

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Have guessed a few times with mates but all struggling.
        I'd expect:

        Deno
        Bald Jags Egan JOC Enda
        Fleck Norwood
        Ravel/Freeman
        Robinson Mcgoldri/Sharp

        But obvs other striker options e.g. Mcburnie and maupay but don't think they've had long enough yet. Enda could do cb instead of Jags with Osborn in at LWB. Lundstram may also start with 3 in midfield as Bourne attack a lot. Difficult :).

        1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Thank you Sparkles! 🙂

        2. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          No worries 🙂 will lyk more after weekend game. Mousset not maupay btw*

    9. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      O'Connell fit to start GW1?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yhyh should be. Just had a slight knock, expect him to feature this Sat

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

          Ok. Thank you. O'Connell has been in my team since first draft.

          Atm thinking if I should get Henderson instead. Not interested of Ryan, Pope got injured. Heaton bit of a question mark behind Aston Villa?

          1. Tsparkes10
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Yh. I'd go Hendo and then maybe someone like Dunk, Guilbert or Diop for JOC

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

              That's what I am thinking atm Fredericks maybe attacking fullback..., though Fabianski got injured too so not sure WHU defence....

  5. SharkyT
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Going firm with this bar anything obvious I’m missing/injuries?

    Pope 4m
    Zouma Robbo Colem Walker 4m
    Perez KDB Salah Martial 4.5m
    Kane Wilson 4.5m

    Any shouts on that?

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

      I like the Martial pick.

  6. Jooster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    £0.5m itb - any suggested upgrades?

    Ryan (Button)
    TAA - VVD - Digne - Laporte (Lundstram)
    Salah - KDB - Maddison - Fraser (Dendoncker)
    Vardy - King (Greenwood)

    Thanks

    1. Uncle Avram
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Downgrade Digne to Coleman

      Upgrade King to Haller

  7. Le Bluff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Harry Kane, on pre-season:

    "“Compared to last year, when we had just five days before playing against Newcastle, it’s a totally different situation. It’s helped me.
    I had a nice off-season, got married, relaxed and chilled out. I’ve come back ready to go, as the whole team has, and I feel sharp. There are still a couple more pre-season games but I’m going into the season as fresh as I have been for a long while and hopefully I can take advantage of that."

    https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham/harry-kane-feeling-fresher-than-ever-for-tottenham-after-full-preseason-a4202261.html

    Pick one:

    A) Kane and Fraser

    B) Salah and a 6.0 striker

    Starting to give Kane some real consideration!

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

      Lol at basically steering everyone to the answer you want 😀

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

        A anyway, you don’t need City for first few weeks

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

          Oops read that as Sterling. Still A

      2. Le Bluff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Haha, just trying to spark a discussion!

        Other option would be to keep Salah but get rid of Sterling and *hope* that KDB provides some sort of cover over Sterling's points.

        I do feel that Sterling will score more points than Salah. But I'm much more afraid to go without Salah mainly due to ownership.

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

          I’d go with Salah over Sterling

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

      B

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

      a

    4. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B mainly as I can't see past Salah (c) gw1.

    5. LSK
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      He's not likely to come out and say 'I feel like I will be hopeless this season,' so I always take such quotes with a pinch of salt. Think he will be a good option though.

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

    Lads. Should i or should i not? TIA

    Pope
    Laporte Zinc Robbo TAA
    Perez Sterling Salah Fraser Barkley
    Wilson

    Button Greenwood Nketiah Lund

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Solid. I woudn't go for two City defenders personally. Get some Digne in there or switch to 3-4-3 with a new attacker.

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

        Thanks mate. You mean go 4-4-2 with a 6.5 up front yeah?

  9. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How’s this ?

    Pope (Heaton)
    Zinchenko VvD Trent Laporte (Rico)
    Salah Sterling Fraser Barkley Perez
    King (Wesley Greenwood)

    Wesley on the bench makes his way into team in GW2-5

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

      Who you gonna bench for wesley?

      1. CostaCoffee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        GW2- Perez or Zinc
        Gw3- King/Fraser
        Gw4- not sure maybe Wes stays on bench
        Gw5- Perez

        1. CostaCoffee
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          All subject to change though

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

      Be weary of the Barkley bandwagon. I prefer Trossard at €6m. Heaton and Pope looks like over-kill especially if you plan WC early - can save you €0.5m. Otherwise, it looks well thought-out.

      1. CostaCoffee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I’ve watched every pre season game, no taking me off the Barkley wagon now. He’s playing with a confidence he’s never had at Chelsea

        1. Halftime Lemon
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Think there will be some bargains in the CHE squad this year - thoughts on Zouma?

    3. LSK
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Decent. Money on the bench means you don't have to worry about Zinc/Barkley being rotated.

  10. Uncle Avram
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this please

    Heaton
    Coleman/VVD/AWB
    Salah/Sterling/KDB/Fraser/Tielmans
    Haller/Wesley

    Subs.4.0 gk/ Greenwood/lundstrom/Rico

  11. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Slowly seeing more teams without Sterling. Gonna be interesting

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Finally coming around to the idea tbh. He'll be in my team in GW3.

      Don't know why planning transfers gets such a bad rep on here. It works just fine if you have anti-jerk fitted in your knees.

      1. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Reasons: Only a tiny percentage will captain Sterling in the first couple of GW's. Even a haul wont hurt too bad.

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Yh they are my thoughts aswell. Whats your plan to get him in?

    2. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'm toying with the idea of losing Sterling by 'downgrading' to Kane. And then using the funds to turn a 6.0 striker into Fraser.

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Exact same thoughts here more or less. Possibly even Aubam or Laca

  12. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Is Fraser still nailed with this new wing coming in?

    1. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      With Brooks' injury as well? Yes, Fraser definitely nailed.

      1. Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Didn't know that. Thanks

  13. Daghe Munegu
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT please 🙂

    Lloris
    TAA VVD Walker Coleman
    Salah Sterling Martial Barkley
    Wilson 6.5

  14. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Best 5.0 defender?

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

      Holebas is among them imo

    2. Uncle Avram
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Zouma

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

        I'd agree on this

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

          Or are we potentially waiting on a transfer to happen?
          Tarkowski, Ake, someone new
          Other option would be to pick two 4.5 rotating defenders

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

      Short term arguably KWP while the other options injured.

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

        Or Dunk if he goes to Everton.

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

          In that case I might look at a rotating 4.5 pair

  15. Brev
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ryan / Button
    Dunk / Digne / VVD / Zinchenko / Kelly
    Siggy / McTominay / Salah / Sterling / Perez
    Wilsom / Deulofeu / Greenwood

    2m itb, thinking of trying to reduce down somewhere for Kane over Wilson so need to find 1m

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

      Do you just lurk around waiting for a new article to be posted?

  16. ElliotJHP
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Sorry to add another A or B to the mix, but stuck on this one

    A) Van Dijk, Perez
    B) Robbo, Barkley

    1. Halftime Lemon
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      That one's a coin toss for me

  17. JT11fc
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How we looking?

    Begovic
    Digne Trent Pereira Walker
    Salah Sterling Pulisic Perez Gross
    Murray

    Ryan wesley balbuena greenwood

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

      Unbalanced - try to optimise your budget a bit better and put more in your starting eleven.

      I would remove Gross, Murray and Wesley

  18. dfalk09
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Shoring up my last few spots:

    Sterling and a 6.5 forward (probably Jota or Deulofeu to start)

    or

    Maddison and Aub for the first 2 gameweeks?

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

      1st option with Deulofeu

  19. Springbank
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    New Kane - Sterling - Salah team not looking so bad! A little risky with Matip&Zinchenko at the back week in week out but should be ok until early wildcard i should think.

    Ryan/Pope - Button
    Robertson Matip Zinchenko Lundstram Diop/Taylor
    Fraser Perez Sterling Salah Dendoncker
    Kane Deulofeu Greenwood

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Gomez is a huge threat to Matip. Also you’d have to be playing one of your 4.5’s week in week out and I’m not sure that’s worth the sacrifice

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

        Thanks for the comment. Re 4.5 that would be Diop after gw1 good fixtures.

        I've had a look at Liverpool last night game - and charity shield will tell us but I'd like to think ive done quite a bit of research ( big liverpool fan here) and I feel MAtip is safe to start the season with.

        If Gomez starts on sunday which I doubt based on last night then I can switch with Matip

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

      Looks OK for a 3 biggy team but I still think it's probably 2 from 3 and avoid having to field a total scumbag.

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

        Yeah I think also 3 is pushing, it's just so tempting though!

  20. Longiss
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I know it was mentionned a hundred times.

    A) Robbo and Coleman or
    B) VVD and Digne

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

      A

  21. Apollo Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Foster
    Robbo TAA Coleman
    Salah KDB Siggy Barkley
    Vardy King Jota

    Ryan Masuaku Dendoncker Lundstram

    Deciding between the following
    VVD - TAA/Robbo to raise 0.5
    Coleman/Digne
    Siggy & Barkley / Fraser & Perez

  22. nirst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    OK I've had a go at a Salah/Sterling/Kane team and I don't think it's as bad as I thought it might be - what do others think?

    Heaton (Button)
    Digne, Robertson, Zinchenko (Lundstrom, 4.5)
    Salah, Sterling, Barkley, Perez (Dendonker)
    Kane, Calvert-Lewin, Wesley

    1. Scoop77
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I’ve got those 3 at the moment but have gone 4-5-1 and Using Kane as only striker. Just figure it’s easier to take him out than get him in if needs be

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

        Yeah fair strategy. Who are your benched forwards then? I like to have bench players that will at least score 2 points and I just can't see any cheap forwards I like.

        1. Scoop77
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I’ve gone for Greenwood and Nketiah. There seems more value in have 6-7m mids like Tielemans and Martial (who apparently OGS sees as the more natural finisher at Utd and more likely to play as CF) than attackers in that bracket

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

      Yes its good quite similar to mine a few posts up.
      I think the Liverpool double up is possible with Matip

  23. Flippo_
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I can't choose between Ayoze Perez or Youri Tielemans to have a place in my team. At the moment, I have Perez, but I'm not sure about it. Do you have any recommendations which one I need to choose?

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

      I would go Tielemans because of his established position in the team. Too soon to say what Perez`resposebility and if he gets the nod in the early games.

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

        Thanks for your advice.

  24. Syphras
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Can anyone help me out. I'm interested in what people think their team's first choice 11 would be for the start of the season as of now (excluding any future transfers)?

  25. Scheffert
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    What about this:

    Diogo Jota + Salah
    or
    Raul Jimenez + Manè

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

      To start the season the first option

    2. Flippo_
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Jota is a more safe option, because Jiminez could rotate with the new signing Patrick Cutrone. About the L'pool players I'm not sure. I recommend to wait to choose between Salah and Mane until next wednesday, when there is maybe more news about them.

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

        Where did you get that from?

  26. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    (I have King)
    Wilson (8.0) and Zouma (5.0)
    Or.
    Haller (7.5) and Coleman/Cellabos (5.5)

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

      Zouma is nowhere near nailed at the moment. Lampard has 5 centre backs to choose from and I would say none of them are nailed yet. In fact I wouldn't be surpirsed if he starts with Luiz and Christensen.

    2. Flippo_
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I would say to choose Haller and Coleman. I wouldn't pick any of the Chelsea players until they have proved me that they actually can win games.

  27. Pether
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How is this looking?

    Ryan
    TAA - Digne - Laporte
    Salah - KDB - Tielemans - Fornals - Barkley
    Kane - Haller

    (Button, Lundstram, Gibson, Greenwood)

    Bench too light?

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

      Maybe Sharp or Pukki in place of Greenwood, and Milivojevic for Barkley?

      1. Pether
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Not a bad shout 🙂

  28. Totti
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    is kelly (bournmouth) nailed on?

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

      Just follow the news. I recommend to make your decision next Wednesday, so you will have enough time to make the final touches for your team

  29. twoplustwo
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Suicide going with a budget back line? Enables KDB and Pogba, who of which I have high hopes for!

    Alisson

    Smith (Bournemouth) Taylor (Burnley) Cathcart (Watford)

    Sterling Salah KDB Pogba Perez

    Wilson Deeney

    4.0 Diop Lundstram Greenwood

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      For Pogba nah.