Scout Notes

Heavy Chelsea defeat offers hope to owners of Leicester assets

Manchester United’s demolition of Chelsea could be a positive omen for those amongst us who have invested in Leicester City’s attacking players.

The Foxes drew a blank against Wolves on Sunday but owners of Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) et al will be hoping that Chelsea’s second-half capitulation in Manchester is indicative of deeper defensive problems, with Brendan Rodgers’ side in action at Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 2.

United got their season off to a dream start but their victory, as we will discuss, was not quite as one-sided as the scoreline suggested.

Our final Scout Notes article of Gameweek 1 also examines the main Fantasy talking points on Tyneside as Arsenal edged past Newcastle United.

Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea

  • Goals: Marcus Rashford (£8.5m) x2, Anthony Martial (£7.5m), Daniel James (£6.0m)
  • Assists: Andreas Pereira (£5.0m), Paul Pogba (£8.5m) x2

Marcus Rashford (£8.5m) downplayed suggestions that he was Manchester United’s new first-choice penalty taker after scoring from the spot in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Chelsea.

Rashford won and converted a 17th-minute spot-kick to give the Red Devils the lead but afterwards said that there were ‘four or five’ United assets who could potentially step up from 12 yards.

The England striker said:

I wouldn’t say I’m the penalty-taker. There’s four or five players that are 100% comfortable being in that situation. For the keepers it’s more difficult, they don’t know who’s going to take it.

Paul Pogba (£8.5m) took ten of United’s 12 Premier League penalties last season, scoring seven of them, while Jesse Lingard (£6.5m) and Anthony Martial (£7.5m) also netted on one occasion each.

Rashford, meawhile, scored from the spot against PSG in the Champions League in March, while Juan Mata (£6.5m) found the back of the net from 12 yards against Reading in the FA Cup in January.

It is worth noting that Pogba, Martial and Lingard were all on the field when Rashford took this latest penalty, although it could be that United’s players are adopting a similar approach to Burnley’s Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes (both £6.5m) and taking penalties that they themselves earn.

Whatever the system, the suggestion that Pogba doesn’t have the monopoly at spot-kick situations is something of a blow to his Fantasy appeal.

Seven of Pogba’s 13 goals last season came from the spot and his expected goals total of 15.11 was halved when penalties were taken out of the equation (an xG non-penalty of 7.23, inferior to 31 other players).

Having occasionally played as a number ten under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Pogba’s role in the double-pivot of a 4-2-3-1 would also seem to be detrimental to his goal threat – the Frenchman had just one effort on Sunday.

Assists will no doubt continue to flow, however.

The France international has reached double figures for those in the last two seasons and he began 2019/20 with another two, setting up Rashford and substitute Daniel James (£6.0m) for United’s third and fourth goals – his assist for Rashford’s goal being a superb lofted ball from deep, while his pass for James’ strike followed a lung-busting run upfield.

Speaking after the game, Solskjaer said of Pogba:

I think Paul can do many, many jobs. He can do the attacking midfield job. Today, he was more of the link player and when you’ve got Lindelof, Maguire and David at the back, they can feed Paul the ball.

Paul can do everything a midfielder can. Today, he was asked to play that sitting role and first half, I thought Chelsea pegged us too much back so he had to do loads of running.

That pass for the third goal was fantastic and the run for the fourth – I just wanted him to go all the way and open up his legs.

Lingard and Andreas Pereira (£5.0m) lined up on the right flank and in the hole of a 4-2-3-1 respectively, with Pereira providing the assist for Martial’s goal.

Most of the Fantasy discussion will surround Martial and Rashford, though.

It was, as predicted, the Frenchman who got the nod to lead the line, with Rashford stationed on the left flank.

Martial naturally gravitates to the left wing and Rashford tends to drift inside, however, and the two players are fairly interchangeable in the roles mentioned.

Martial was bang centre of goal when he bundled in Pereira’s cross from four yards but Rashford was the one making the dart in behind to capitalise on Pogba’s pass for United’s third goal.

While we have seen the two players frequently changing position in pre-season, Solskjaer’s post-match comments suggest the set-up at Chelsea is something he wants to stick with.

Talking of Rashford, Solskjaer said:

Marcus Rashford played that left-hand side striker role more or less to perfection more or less today.

Yes once in a while he’s caught out of possession defensively but that means we can counter-attack. His second goal was absolutely outstanding. That’s where we want him, running in behind. We don’t want him out on the touchline, crossing the ball.

On Martial’s tap-in, the Norwegian added:

That’s a number nine’s goal. Anthony knows what I expect from him and where I want him. I don’t mind if he drifts wide once in a while and tries a curler but that’s where the number nines get the goals.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire (both £5.5m) made their competitive United debuts and helped the Red Devils to a home clean sheet, which is already half of the number of shut-outs United kept at Old Trafford in 2018/19.

While there were some impressive individual contributions from both players over the course of the game, particularly Wan-Bissaka, to say United were rock-solid at the back would be stretching the truth.

Tammy Abraham (£7.0m) and Emerson Palmieri (£5.5m) both rattled the woodwork in the first half, while David de Gea (£5.5m) had to make a fine stop from Ross Barkley (£6.0m) and a half-dozen more routine saves from distance.

Chelsea were arguably the better team in the first half and it’ll be interesting to see how much joy United get against a less-obliging defence when they visit Molineux next Monday.

For owners of Leicester assets, Gameweek 2 is an appetite-whetting prospect based on Sunday’s evidence.

While Chelsea gave it a go going forward, they were repeatedly exposed at the back and Kurt Zouma (£5.0m) had a nightmare afternoon at centre-half alongside Andreas Christensen (£5.0m).

The Blues actually conceded fewer chances than United but the way they were sliced open in the second half will be of great encouragement to Vardy’s owners, given how easily Frank Lampard’s side were exposed on the counter-attack.

The imminent return to fitness of Antonio Rudiger (£6.0m) will be a boon, of course, while N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) got another substitute’s appearance under his belt following a knee injury and his inclusion in central midfield ought to further shore things up.

Lampard had benched Christian Pulisic (£7.5m) to make way for both Barkley and Mason Mount (£6.0m), with Barkley stationed on the left to allow Mount to play as a number ten.

The experiment didn’t really work out and it may be that the two £6.0m-rated assets are left tussling for one spot against the Foxes next weekend, although it is worth reiterating how much on top Chelsea were in the early stages.

Mount, interestingly, took all five of the Blues’ corners and completed the full 90 minutes as Barkley was hauled off before the hour-mark.

Asked about his tactical decision involving Mount and Barkley, Lampard said:

Christian Pulisic is 20 years old. He will be a fantastic player for the club. He has got great ability. You saw little moments with his acceleration on the ball.

But I have also got other options in midfield and in those areas, and I don’t want to stick Christian straight into the fire without trying to help him along the way. It was one of those games where I felt it was better to start with Ross and Mason, who have been very strong in pre-season, and bring Christian on.

Pedro (£7.0m) and Abraham were lively early on, meanwhile, but, like so many of their teammates, quickly wilted.

Reflecting on the game, Lampard said:

We were clearly the better team for 45, maybe 60 minutes, but what was evident was we made individual errors that led to four goals out of their five shots. There’s the harsh reality for us.

If we go in half-time 2-1 or 3-1 up, as we probably should have done, if we were more clinical ourselves and had maybe a stroke of luck here and there, the game would be completely different.

What I felt on the pitch and in the dressing room afterwards, and although the players are obviously disappointed, there were lots and lots of elements of the game I liked. There were four or five elements I really didn’t like and they proved fatal for us.

Solksjaer, meanwhile, said that Alexis Sanchez (£7.0m) is nearing a return.

Alexis came in very late, so he’s had now almost two weeks of training and a game behind closed doors against Blackburn. So he’s getting close to full fitness.

Members Analysis

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): de Gea, Wan Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Pogba, Andreas Pereira (James 74′), Lingard (Mata 85′), Martial, Rashford (Greenwood 85′).

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson Palmieri, Jorginho (Kante 73′), Kovacic, Pedro, Barkley (Pulisic 58′), Mount, Abraham (Giroud 66′);

Newcastle United 0-1 Arsenal

  • Goals: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m)
  • Assists: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£5.0m)

Not one of Arsenal’s new signings featured from the start as the Gunners narrowly beat Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

Dani Ceballos (£5.5m), Nicolas Pepe (£9.5m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.5m) were all thrown on as second-half substitutes while David Luiz (£6.0m) remained unused on the bench as Unai Emery kept faith with the players that had played the bulk of pre-season.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) didn’t make it onto the field, either, although his ankle injury had improved sufficiently for him to be among the substitutes.

With Mesut Ozil (£7.5m) and Sead Kolasinac (£5.5m) also not involved for personal reasons, the Gunners’ starting XI had something of a makeshift feel.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m), who played a chunk of pre-season on the right flank, led the line in Lacazette’s absence but there was the unfamiliar sight of teenagers Joe Willock (£5.0m) and Reiss Nelson (£5.5m) – plus Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£7.0m) – playing in the attacking midfield trio behind him.

As well as Nelson and Willock performed, there was an understandable lack of spark to Arsenal’s attack: indeed, only four Premier League clubs registered fewer shots on goal (eight) than the Gunners in Gameweek 1.

Aside from Aubameyang’s well-taken 57th-minute goal, Emery’s troops only had one other shot on target.

With the Gabonese forward in the side, of course, Arsenal always pose a threat.

Aubameyang looked to exploit Newcastle’s high defensive line in the first half but was afforded few opportunities, taking too heavy a touch with his first chance before stinging Martin Dubravka‘s (£5.0m) hands after a ball over the top from Mkhitaryan.

The Gabon international didn’t need to be asked a third time and coolly slotted past Dubravka following a cross from Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£5.0m).

Mkhitaryan had earlier blazed over and Granit Xhaka (£5.5m) flashed a header wide but the Gunners didn’t have one shot in the final half an hour, with Pepe and Ceballos unable to make much of an impression.

In truth, there was probably little to glean from Sunday’s victory and we will learn much more about Arsenal in the weeks to come as their new recruits begin to bed in and their absent first-teamers return.

When asked about the likes of Pepe and Luiz, Emery responded:

David Luiz did pre-season with another team and he is okay to play physically but he only trained completely with us yesterday. On Friday he did 30 minutes with us. I was thinking to give them confidence to work together because they were working well together, Sokratis and Chambers.

Nicolas Pepe came one week ago and physically he needs to get his best fitness to be ready to play 100 per cent for 90 minutes. I think that today 20 minutes is good for him.

And Ceballos is in the middle because he came before Pepe but he got an injury and he stopped training. But he needs to know the Premier League, so today was important for him and for us.

I also used Reiss Nelson and Willock because they deserved to be with us and to give them confidence can help us. It’s the same with Martinelli, he played the last 10 minutes because he deserved it.

On whether Ozil and Kolasinac would be ready to return against Burnley, Emery added:

The club is managing that circumstance. We want to be with them as soon as possible and with normality in training and normality to be ready to play. I don’t know now.

Arsenal at least kept a rare clean sheet on the road and have already matched their away shut-out count from last season.

Calum Chambers (£4.5m) had a decent match at centre-half although the Gunners still occasionally looked suspect against a limp Newcastle attack and stiffer tests await in the next three Gameweeks, so a truer gauge of Arsenal’s backline will be how they perform against Burnley, Liverpool and Spurs.

On the subject of Chambers and his absent defensive contingent, Emery said:

Really, last year for Calum Chambers was a very good year because he played all the matches with Fulham. They played him as centre-back in a three, in a two and they played him as a midfielder. From pre-season, he deserved to play today in the first XI and he was very focused and with Sokratis was also very serious.

I want to have very competitive players in each position. With David Luiz, with Holding when he is coming back to help us, with training regularly and playing with the under-23s because he will play again tomorrow.

And with Hector Bellerin, one month more. Today we also had Sead out and the injury to Kieran Tierney. I think we can and will want to become stronger defensively, but above all being one offensive team.

The Magpies battled gamely against their visitors, with Joelinton (£6.0m) going close with an early header before producing a tame shot when bulldozing his way through the Arsenal backline.

Jonjo Shelvey (£5.0m) also struck the upright but any attacking threat evaporated after the break, with an ‘out of position’ Miguel Almiron (£6.0m), playing up front alongside Joelinton in a 3-5-2, unable to break his duck for the hosts.

Goalscoring looks a concern for Newcastle this season but it should be said that Ayoze Perez (£6.5m) and Salomon Rondon failed to score in the first ten Gameweeks of 2018/19, when the Magpies faced a similarly tricky opening set of fixtures.

Shelvey and wing-back Matt Ritchie (£5.5m) shared dead-ball duties but an injury to the former saw Ritchie move infield early in the second half and Jetro Willems (£4.5m) introduced on the left flank.

It was during this positional reshuffle that Newcastle were caught out for Aubameyang’s winner, with Steve Bruce bemoaning after the game:

A lack of communication with him [Willems]. We wanted to play Matt Ritchie inside. He played there for two minutes until we got the information to him.

We were OK first half and unfortunately against a good team we’ve gifted them a goal, which is never easy to recover from. We left ourselves a bit exposed then but overall, I was pleased because there wasn’t anything in it. 

I can’t remember playing against Arsenal and the goalkeeper has had so little to do but unfortunately, we’ve made a mistake which has cost us.

On the subject of Shelvey’s injury, Bruce said:

Shelvey had a knock. We don’t think it’s too serious – we’ll see tomorrow but that’s why it [the substitution] happened.

Members Analysis

Newcastle United XI (3-5-2): Dubravka, Lascelles, Schar, Dummett, Manquillo, Hayden, S. Longstaff (Saint-Maximin 67′), Shelvey (Willems 54′), Ritchie, Almiron, Joelinton.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno, Monreal, Sokratis, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Nelson (Pepe 71), Willock (Ceballos 64), Mkhitaryan (Martinelli 84), Aubameyang.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 1

1,583 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Pep Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Did not have a great gw1 and so would appreciate any advice you can give me on how to improve this team:
    Pope Heaton
    Robertson Digne KWP Montoya Rico
    Sterling Salah Perez Robinson Dendoncker
    Aubameyang Wilson Greenwood 

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

      Not terrible. Could save FT

    2. Rhinos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      hows that not a great gw1?

      1. rdpx
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Maybe he captained Dendoncker?

    3. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Do nowt mate .... G2G !!!!

    4. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nothing wrong with team, so no need to do anything this week

    5. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      probably had Montoya on bench

    6. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same team as mine, except I think I had a great week and these are the differences:
      Robbo -> VVD
      Montoya -> Zinchenko
      Robinson -> Moura
      Wilson -> Murray

      So basically your team is fine, give it another week. Maybe your guys start firing this GW.

    7. MosF94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Looks good tbh - I'm off the Perez train though, gambled on Grealish for Villa's good run (not a popular pick, more a gut feeling combined with being impressed by his 22 BPS against Spurs, higher than any other non-scoring/non-assisting midfielder) - I'm getting Gross 17/18 vibes

    8. The Pep Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks all.

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

    Those without kane do yall have a plan to get him or just gona go alternative with son maybe

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      going to do the hokey cokey with him and auba from gw 3 i need to see son back playing before i commit

    2. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I just posted my Kane plan below

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

        I may have to minus already did moura to mcginn to start the process

    3. nisag17
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No plan to get him in. Already have Salah and Sterling. Son is someone I might get in, but also considering Mahrez and Chelsea and Man U attackers.

    4. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      son

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

      Going with Son.

  3. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    GW2 save FT
    GW3 Wilson & Moura to Kane & Dendonker

    Will give me:
    Heaton
    Robbo VVD Digne Montoya Cathcart
    Salah Sterling Martial Perez
    Kane

    (4.0 Dendonker 4.5 4.5)

    Do you think this team is too imbalanced?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      yes, thats too imbalanced and gives you no flexibility

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

      Kinda imbalanced fureal but a simple downgrade from.one of the lfc boys in the back and atleast u can get another attacker

    3. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Dendonker needed to be Capoue 2yrs ago therefore

    4. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      that's a solid team. Not a fan of premium strikers myself but that team looks strong. typical case of 2 mid priced players (8m striker + 7.5m mid) vs a premium (kane) and a 4.5. I tend to side with the 2 mid priced players over the one premium and 4.5 but that's me. With salah and sterling, I'd never captain kane but if the 4.5 rotation works out (always tricky) then it's alright.

      1. yakirh
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers man
        Nice feedback

    5. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Gives you no flexibilty in attack, as soon as one 6.5 emerges

      1. yakirh
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        6.5 strikers are a bit meh..
        Prefer a nice premium defender

        1. TheSpecialOne
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          yes. easier to get a clean sheet than to score.

    6. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nope, you have Martial and Perez to ditch if needed. Saving extra ft returns your flexibility. Naturally should a new striker that you want for gw4 emerge, you have a problem.

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Takes multiple transfers to get in another player in another position, or upgrading in the midfield. Hence no flexibility

  4. Dr. Agabuse
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    4,5 to Adrian is obvious

    in my case Heaton.

    Just a shame for all the good fixtures but hell they play for different teams

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Honestly the liverpool defenders have such value (although expensive) I don't see the appeal for using a pool spot on adrian for 1-2 months.

    2. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      but i only have 2 pool

      TAA Digne Caglar(rotating with)Fredericks Rico
      is my defense

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perhaps for those who have free Pool spot. But I would save and try to get rid of too many Bou assets.

    4. TheSpecialOne
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      who knows what pool will do. they might already be bringing in a new keeper.

      plus id like to save the extra spot for mane when he gets back in form.

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Bringing in a new keeper?

  5. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would you start Lundstram over Smith (or anybody else) here this GW or is it GTG?

    Ryan.
    Robbo, VVD, Adam Smith, Coleman.
    Sterling (vc), Salah (c), Perez, KDB.
    Wilson, King.
    Button, Lundstram, Wickham, Dendoncker.
    0.0m, 1 ft.

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

    Wilson to Rashord - before price rise ?

    Have Fraser & 0.5 itb

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you want him long term, expect Wilson to beat him this week.

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

        Thx TM

    2. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      no. next week people will be likely asking the exact same question the other way round.

    3. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Be a few days before he rises. Might make the week but be tight

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

        Yes. Cheers

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

    Do price changes generally take place this hour?

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      top of the hour i believe

    2. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      yes

    3. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      2:15 bst

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

    Would playing Lundstram over Barkley be a ridiculous decision?

    1. SalahFingers
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No. I'd probably fancy a southampton CS over a 2/3 from Barkley.

      1. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Southampton?

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think Luke Freeman will get the nod over Lundstram against Palace tbh.

      1. Coolbean
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        The gospel is spreading fast 😉

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

    Ryan (Button)
    Digne, Robertson, Zinchenko (Lundstram, Rico)
    Sterling, Salah, Martial, Fraser, Perez
    Wilson, Jota (Greenwood)

    Digne + Jota -> Kelly + Rashford (-4)

    Sound good?

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Saving FT sounds better.

      1. SalahFingers
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cool, thanks

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

        This

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

      All good.

  10. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I was surprised to see all the love for martial and (not as surpised) rashford on here earlier, mainly at the expense of bournemouth attackers (or moura) but then I though about it:

    Pricing is very close (fraser/martial identical), (rashford only .5 more expensive than wilson).

    I prefer bournemouth attackers this week but later in the season, I think most will look back to now and be surprised how similar the pricing was for united players vs b'mouth. Players are priced largely on how they performed last season (obvious but sometimes we value that too much). Bournemouth had a dream season last year. I don't really see that being repeated. God bless Wilson but he'd do well just to stay healthy this year, let alone put up 180+ points.

    The mentality is so much different between the United side and Bournemouth side, which I think is everything. United are expected to beat promoted sides/mid table sides 2, even 3 nil at home. Fair enough if you consider united a mid-table side but you have to admit the expectation is still there. If Bournemouth draw 1-1 with a mid-table team at home or fail to score away from home to a mid-table side, nobody bats an eyelash. I still think Fraser is a solid pick, as well as Wilson, but at the same price as United attackers, I think this is something we'll look back on at the end of this season and be surprised. Anyways, that's my two cents

    1. rdpx
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'm hoping you're right because I just dropped out Vardy for Rashford and if he's going to be a bandwagon at least I'm on it early!

      1. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I`m hoping after a brace at Stamford Bridge the Vardy train will commence.

        1. Boberella
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I’m definitely keeping faith in Vardy for now and monitoring Rash.
          Seeing Tielemans looking so good down that right side makes me think vardy is in line for a good few if he can get his eye in.

          1. rdpx
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            The extra 0.5 made me do it...

            1. Boberella
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              It’s tempting I must say. But I’m holding firm.
              For me, that extra .5 means Wesley to Pukki, which is even more alluring!
              I’m making an effort to be patient this year and not spunting hits and WCing in GW3 like I normally do.

      2. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Vardy is a solid pick, on a strong Leicester team. I wouldn’t put them in the same category as b’mouth at all

  11. osceola31909
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Rico nailed for Bournemouth now?

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

      They drew at home to Sheffield United so who knows

      1. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Hey Kiwi, can you shine any light on Guilbert for me, do I need to start thinking about a transfer?

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

          Lot of perplexed Villa fans over Taylor and Elmo starting. Possibly ultra defensive against Spurs. Many would like to see vs Bournemouth

          1. waldo666
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            A wait and watch for the time being then, cheers.

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

            Hmmmmm I think I called this! But would agree most out there thought Targett and Guilbert would start. Targett I’m more surprised about.

      2. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Good result for them.

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

          Right. I said numerous times people overrating Bournemouth early fixtures

    2. _nod
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nah

  12. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    @TorresMagic
    That "Quadrilogy" Team I created (95ish) 🙂 actually scored better than my own GW1 team (84) 🙁

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not sure what that means but well done 🙂

  13. akhilrajau
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton (Pope)
    Robertson, VVD, Digne, Zinchenko, Lundstram
    Trossard, Salah, Sterling, Lucas moura, Dendoncker
    Kean, King, Greenwood

    1.5 m in bank
    A. Lucas-> Martial
    B. Lucas -> pulisic/mount
    C. Keane -> Rashford
    D. Trossard -> A/B
    E. No transfer (5-3-2)

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you have no idea what to do long term, perhaps save ft?

    2. Geezer
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    3. _nod
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A or E

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

    Best long term 4.5 replacement of Alisson? Didn't see the matches of Heaton, Pope or Ryan. How did their defense look?

    1. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I presume you already have Button - so Ryan seems the logical move .........

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

        Yes I do have Ryan. How did Brighton paly in terms of defemse?

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

      Villa looked surprisingly decent. Mings was a rock. I think fixture wise Heaton would be best. Pope will be good to rotate in when not playing against the top 6.

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

        Didn't watch the whole match, just saw the later minutes where they conceded so quickly.

    3. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Heaton or Pope for me. I've the latter. Rather invest in the Liverpool defenders instead of the gk

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

        Heaton has the fixture, but I trust Burnley more. Also Ryan is a good option. Confused atm

        1. Clintymints
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yea it will even out over the season as it's basically a set and forget option

          Burnley is the D I trust the most, but Villa have the immediate fixtures while Brighton looked good against a woeful opponent

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

    Never quite understand it when people say they are ‘not keen on premium strikers’. If someone like Kane is nailed, on pens and historically gives good returns, why aren’t people keen on him/them?

    1. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Because they're going to captain Salah and Sterling

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perhaps because they get less points from goals and cs points?

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

        In an ideal world that sounds awesome, but in general they tend to score more goals than midfielders (yes I know, Salah). But why dismiss them completely? Seems like burying their head in the sand. If Kane scores 2 against city, id bring him in to my team.

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          And yet he won’t

        2. Clintymints
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Just the price and the money is spread better elsewhere so people can monitor trends and bandwagons at the start

          We don't really know yet who the cheap options/bandwagons are and this just helps spread the cash and keep options open at this stage, if you took a punt and didn't work out it also gives you options.

          Captaining mids is easily the best option to go to as Salah and Sterling as basically forwards with incredibly good defenses.

          Kane doesn't assist that much and an uncapped Wilson or similar could easily match Kane while having the spread elsewhere

          Just my logic behind no 11 mil strikers at the start. I also can easily get an 11 striker with a -4 but not worth it since I had a good week with a nicer spread of players so far

          At the same time Kane will generally do well but if I'm not going to cap, I'm not as fussed

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

            100%. I’m not arguing/disagreeing that for a set up you should have a premium striker - I don’t. I’m saying I don’t agree with managers dismissing owning one full stop. To me that’s just putting your head in the sand and ignoring how well a player is doing.

            1. Clintymints
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Oh yeah for sure. If Kane braces next week he's in 😆

              I'm more than happy to chase pennies at the start. Hits or no hits!

    3. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’ll admit I’m in that group you’re describing but I do see the appeal with Kane. Chopping and changing mid and cheap strikers often means you miss out on points. Just keeping kane as set and forget is a solid option. However I’d rather apply that set and forget strategy with a striker like vardy or possibly Rashford as they’re less expensive and I back their teams to score goals, as I wouldn’t be capturing Kane over salah/sterling

  16. JAYPEE
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Not sure if this is a Kneejerk move or something I should consider. I already have Ryan I might do Zouma for Dunk. I know Chelsea will come good but Rudiger might be back by then. Suggestions?

    1. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Have a good reason to change

  17. Geezer
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Keep both King and Perez one more week? Or Perez to Mount/Harry Wilson or King to Pukki?

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

      Perez to Mount? Please don't

      King to Pukki? Maybe

      1. Boberella
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        THis

      2. Geezer
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers

      3. _nod
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Stick

  18. TheSpecialOne
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    who here is regretting bringing in adrian for alisson?

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

      I would if I had

      1. TheSpecialOne
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        im contemplating it.

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

          Don't

    2. _nod
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’d be nervous if I had.

  19. rainy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Nothing yet!

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

      Excellent

      1. rainy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Indeed 🙂

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      5 up, none down 😉

    3. Geezer
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      0-0

    4. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cheers Rainy Days! 🙂

    5. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cheers, Rainy.

      1. rainy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        277 😛

    6. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Great. I wish for no changes until Thursday night.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ederson and Sterling will go up tonight. They're the super-obvious ones though. May not be much other movement this week.

        1. Crazygopher
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Don't mind that. Not getting Ederson and have Sterling.
          Thanks rainy

    7. Miniboss
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Have fpl managers gone patient?

    8. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This time last year Jota had gone down 0.3

    9. WesMantooth
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Is this the longest period without pricechanges between gw1 and 2? Cant remember the market staying this quiet early on. Counting friday its been 5 oppurtunities and no rises. Not that I'm complaining 😉

      1. AnfieldsWind
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Price changes are acting a really a bit weird this year, no price changes since the beginning of the game, and we have players like Allison being transfered out from 600k teams, and Sterling transfered in from 200k, without any reflection of the price? Is there something that got changed this year?

        1. WesMantooth
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          My thoughts as well. Only thing though. Gw2 sees a lot of new teams, which affects transfers in but not the market? I’m not sure.

          But yeah, it seems like they’ve tweeked some things in their formulas....

    10. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Any idea when price changes will be happenining?

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

        Any one with any ideas when prices changes will happen?

  20. Lukakus Unit
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    After Son is back:
    A. Son & Pukki, or
    B. Rashford & Martial

    1. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

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

      Prefer Rashford to Martial, wouldn't have both

    3. _nod
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A, but mostly as I wouldn’t want to double up on United attack after just one games evidence.

  21. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Perhaps they have some "technical issues" to fix before they actually can change prices 😉

    1. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      The game is currently being updated... 😉

  22. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Back from playing board.
    I noticed we can get all players from top six each even their highest price players.

    Salah 12.5
    Sterling 12.0
    Kane 11.0
    Auba 11.0
    Rashford 8.5
    Pulisic 7.5

    Gw1 there is four 4.0 players playing.

    Rico
    Kelly
    Lundstram
    Hanley

    Got Gibson as non playing enabler.
    Mid : Dedoncker and Hayden / Stephen / Romeu / Cantwell / Guendozi.

    Exacly 100.0 m
    Just for fun tough.

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

      Chelsea top 6 😆

      1. 3 A
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Food for tought haha

  23. Yasir97
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    should i exchange sigurdson for martial

    sigurdson next 5 games : WAT (H)
    Fri 23 Aug 20:00 AVL (A)
    Sun 1 Sep 14:00 WOL (H)
    Sun 15 Sep 14:00 BOU (A)
    Sat 21 Sep 15:00 SHU (H)

    martial next 5 games: WOL (A)
    Sat 24 Aug 15:00 CRY (H)
    Sat 31 Aug 12:30 SOU (A)
    Sat 14 Sep 15:00 LEI (H)
    Sun 22 Sep 14:00 WHU (A)

    1. _nod
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you don’t have anything more urgent I’d keep the FT for next GW. unless Martial looks likely to rise?

  24. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Last three seasons in the top 10k overall ranking. Anyone else thinks that top 10k is easy to achieve?

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

      No. 7k 11k 1k last 3. Only improved massively after subscribing here 3-4 years ago and doing a lot of other research

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Subscribing here is a waste of money, no offense

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

          Made around $2000 from cash leagues for $100 entry so would argue it's not

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

            5 x $20 entry

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Without a link, it's hot air 😛

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I don't want to out myself

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          For the record 10xxx is outside 10K 😉

          1. Fitzy.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            FPL Virgin type logic...

          2. Woy_is_back
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Haha, are you admin? Used my e-mail to identify me 🙁

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Cool story, try to tell the truth. I bluffed and you fell for it. 😉

          3. Woy_is_back
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Last 4 in top 20k then 😀

            1. Fitzy.
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Last 5 here... 🙂

              1. Woy_is_back
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Niceeeee

            2. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              So you straight up lied?

    3. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nice brag.
      No. I’d be happy getting in the top 100k. Always come very close, but haven’t made it yet.
      What’s your “general” strategy?
      I normally spunt a few hits (probably 20 or so most years), end up chasing points and use WCs early. All things I’m going to change this year.

    4. _nod
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah, being top 1% is a piece of piss. Don’t know why everybody can’t manage it.

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

      I actually enjoy it here. It's nice to get other peoples views and generally talk about the Premiere League. I don't think it's a waste of money at all.

    6. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      lol, wtf is that comment...

  25. Habs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What are thoughts on B Silva ----> Martial? I am beginning to think it may be too much rotation risk to have 8.0 tied to BSilva. Or should I give it a week and contemplate a BSilva pivot with 2 FT?

    Ryan Heaton
    Kelly Cathcart Walker Robbo Coleman
    Salah Sterling Sigurdsson BSilva Hayden
    King Barnes Ing

    1. _nod
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’m waiting a week when Zouma to 4.5 and Bilva to Son. (Assuming I can avoid a price drop).

      1. _nod
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        But it be very tempted to avoid city rotation and do Bilva to Martial in your situation

        1. Habs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yes. Agreed. I would like to have flex of another week and 2FT but it seems to be screaming at me right now

      2. Habs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I was looking at price trackers and martial and bilva are about halfway to going up/ down respectfully ... I’m worried about the price change as well

    2. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      There are very good nailed MID options for upto 8m. Maybe a Tielemans or even McGinn.
      You could upgrade a Forward.

    3. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Well D. Silva is the captain of City and plays left of a 3 man mf. Mahrez had a fantastic performance and shouldn't be benched.

      If anything B. Silva will be subbed on for Mahrez or replacing Dave the newly pointed (by the players) team captain so might be best just to cut your losses now

  26. Sillet Bang
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Ryan
    Mina WB Virgil Lundstram
    Sterling Salah Guendozi
    Kane Origi Auba

    Pope Dendonk Stephens Rico

    Anyone else taking an Origi chance?

  27. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Probably going to save my FT for now. But should I move on Adams or did he show enough in GW1?

    Pope
    Robbo Digne Zinchenko
    Salah Sterling Perez Lucas
    Wilson Jiminez "Adams"
    Button Dendonker Guibert Lundstram

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

      Hold up and play Lundstrom tgis weekend. 2 FT's better.

  28. MaverickNILRG
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who is number one on your watch list?

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

      Pukki for me

      1. Miniboss
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Kane. Pukki is a great option too, had him on gw1 punt and will stick.

    2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Rashford and Martial

  29. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I'm not sure Pogba is worth holding on to when he's not on penalties and playing that deep. What do you guys think?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      For me there's still some doubt he'll be at United at the end of the month. I'd wait until the Euro transfer window is closed.

  30. Roys Peak
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Does this team need a WC to get Sterling in and frontline out?
    Heaton/Button
    VVD Aarons Walker KWP/Reid
    Siggy KDB Martial Salah/Guendouzi
    Wood Wilson Vardy