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. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which one wud u lose for the season; TAA OR Robertson??

    1. Up the tics
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Coin flip

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        keep robertson for the reason that he wud get more mins than TAA?

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

          You can never trust TAA. I own him and regret not getting VVD instead

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

            A bit early to regret after one gw, as he provided an assist too. But I see your point, luckily TAA is easy to swap to VvD if you want to spend a transfer on him. I'll stick for the next few weeks, but will look to transfer if all of a sudden he is being rotated.

    2. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Taa

    3. Marmalade Forest
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Why are you getting rid of one? Why not start the season with just one of them?

      It’s been one week.

    4. Conor1
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      For me, Robertson (and VVD) for the season.

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

      Neither. I suspect both will make it into the Value 11 again this year. LIV have looked poor defensively of late though - especially TAA.

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

    Save the FT?

    Pope (4.0)
    TAA Robbo Digne Zinchenko (Lundstram)
    Salah Sterling Martial Perez
    Wilson Jota (Greenwood)

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      jota to pukki?

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

        ridiculous

    2. FPL-(VAR)dy
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      save..decent team

  3. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Think I will go as I planned in pre season.
    Salah + wilson to Kane + Son for gw3. Although I have other problems like barkley. Not having them will hurt more.

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      i wud rather have salah than kane...kane is almost playing in the midfield for most part of the game

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

        Salah got some tough matches till gw13 while kane has easy H matches

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

          you do know you can have Salah+Kane correct...?

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

            + sterling + son?

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

              sterling yes. forget about Son until he plays and then see if it has any influence on kane.

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

                He is not new to fpl. Already proven. Spurs will play 2 up front
                Think Son will match salah's points till gw13-14

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

                  I did not say he is new to fpl. See if Son returning will push Kane back like last yr.

                  People are silly if they think Son and KgB can "cover" the likes of Salah/Sterling/Kane.

                  Wont happen.

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

                    ...and wait to see what the story is with Eriksen.

        2. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          ok mate, gud luck then 🙂

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

        pity you cant see his heat map for the villa game...or his stats...

      3. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Strange comment really when you look at Salah’s heat map in comparison - but do carry on.

  4. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A or B?

    A) Keep Murray for two easy home fixtures
    B) Switch to Pukki now

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

      B

    2. FPL-(VAR)dy
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  5. Up the tics
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who would yoy priotise getting in? Or shall I hold off for another week.

    A. Sterling (-4)
    B. Martial/Rashford for free

    Heaton
    VVD - Robbo - Digne
    Salah - KDB - Siggy - Fraser - Perez
    Wilson - Jota
    SUBS / Greenwood - Montoya - Kelly

    1. Up the tics
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You Prioritise**

    2. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

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

      Save transfer and get Sterling without a hit.

      1. Up the tics
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Will miss out due to him rising in price

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

      Can’t help but feel man utd assets may not do well against wolves. Could be the case that their assets (martial/Rashford) having one of the highest transfers in for the gw and then blanking. Though I think they’ll do well in subsequent gws after wolves and you’ll also gain on the possible price increase(s)?

  6. FPL-(VAR)dy
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Having both Sterling and KDb is it too much??

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

      By no means

    2. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too great

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

      Nah, I want them both

      1. FPL-(VAR)dy
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        me too but I want martial as well 🙁

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

          Given he's an OOP striker get him in as well and go one up top.

      2. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Son Over KDB for me

    4. Marmalade Forest
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Two best midfielders in the best team too much?

      Midfielders score the most.

      No. If anything you should look to get Bilva as well.

      Saying that I own none of them right now.

    5. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too many points?

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

    Last Man Standing over 3800 qualified for GW2

    Need to score 66 or more in GW1 to qualify.

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2019/07/27/the-last-man-standing-competition-5/ for more details.

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

      cheers TM

    2. Up the tics
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Made it too the last few Gameweeks last season, out gameweek 1 this season haha.

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

      Fantastic work TM .... Very much appreciated !!!

    4. Conor1
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks

    5. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Top class, TM!

  8. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I guess many of us are rolling the transfer but have a plan in mind, possibly for 2-3 transfers after gw2.
    Which players that you own are close to the exit door, & which ones interest you to bring in in the coming gwks?

    Fraser & King probably have 1 gw left in my team, performance & fixture wise.
    Deulofeu is close to that too, with 1 of the 2 LIV defs potentially being considered to being sacrificed soon, in a combined move to rearrange funds.

    As for potential transfer targets, I'm thinking of AWB/Maguire, Martial & McGinn, while monitoring budget fwds.

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Plan to sell: Wilson, Fraser, Trossard

      Plan to buy: Rashford, Martial, McGinn

      Also considering downgrading one Pull full back to Stones/Zinchenko if money is needed.

    2. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sonny is in my plans, as are the WHU attackers/mids. Thinking Laca+Fraser->Sonny+Haller.

    3. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Wilson +Fraser to Son and Jota gw3

    4. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Trossard out soon. Haven't decided on a replacement.
      No plans elsewhere yet.

    5. 4l4n
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Bournemouth seemed to be trying something new tactically. With their fixtures I've dobuled up on Fraser/Wilson. Fraser seems most likely for the cutting block. I'm a bit reluctant to off load both if Eddie Howe reverts to all out attack for home games. Their numbers against non-top six sides are fantastic. They still have Villa at home next. Might just remove one of them if there are some encouraging signs there.

      I would definitely consider getting rid of Deulo if I were you. Not convincing at all against Brighton and is effectively an OOP midfielder now.

      Next on my chopping block could be Jota or Perez, who didn't look too sharp.

      Considering the same players as you. Also might go for some real budget alternatives in order to make way for KDB or Kane.

    6. KujaliaFC
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I will probably sell Mkhytarian and Salah for Richarlison and Mane if injuries or suspensions don't ruin that plan.

  9. Conor1
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Any assistance appreciated!!!

    A) Walker and Ndombele
    B) Laporte and McGinn
    C) Laporte and a different 5.5m midfielder

    1. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  10. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thanks to the FFScout and Twitter no one taking hits. Welcome to boring fpl.. if you finish within 100k this season feel you achieved success. It will be very difficult..

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

      Top 100K is the new top 10K.

      1. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Agree.

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

          Guess I forgot the 😉

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

        Bring it on!

  11. footballcandy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start two for GW2:

    Trossard, Perez, Wood, Dunk

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perez and Tross

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

    I watched Pool and City games but missed the Spurs one. Salah and Sterling were dangerous through their matches and I'm happy I had them. Stats seem to suggest Kane is important to have after gw2 too, but how did he look on pitch?

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

      Spurs live and die by Eriksen. If he's out of the team, no Spurs asset is worth owning IMO.

      60 mins without Eriksen: 0-1
      30 mins with Eriksen: 3-0

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

        Great comment, thanks. Might be worth to wait until Euro transfer window closes then.

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

          Kane did look good btw, but only when Eriksen came on. Can't play without support. Sissoko and Ndombele were ruining almost every action, Lamela was poor and Moura invisible. Villa did defend deep though. Not everyone will.

      2. 1zverGGadeM
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Very much this!

  13. Wolverine
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wait one more week or do Wilson to haller free transfer this week?

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

      you know how this works no 9...

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

        Yh fair enough

  14. Ynwalfc
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Ederson
    Zinchenko,VVD,Gomez,Maguire
    Salah(C),Sterling(VC),NDombele,A.Pereira
    Kane,Barnes

    Subs Button,Dendonker,Dunk,Greenwood

    GTG? Thanks guys

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

      WC? xD

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

        No missed last week so starting a week late

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

          Lol

        2. RoyaleBlue
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Oh fair. Looks a little like chasing GW1 points to me. ie NDombele, Pereira, Barnes especially

  15. Professional Fowl
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    lucas to martial or save ft?

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

      I'm contemplating this. Would be nice to have 2FTs next GW though. Away at Wolves isn't a great fixture for Spurs so him and Lucas could both blank.

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

      Save for now.

    3. KING KOUNDER
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'd give it a week.

  16. KING KOUNDER
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Guys, what are your thoughts on King to Pukki ?

    Can't afford if he increases 0.1
    And I feel he has the better fixture this week too.

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

      pukki is miles off an increase

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

      I'd give King 1 more week. Can't expect a 6.5 player to give returns every week.

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

        3 goals 0 assists away last season 1 was penalty. But against newly promoted team that led CL finalists away for 73 mins

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Correct the mistake now if ion want the change - King was a poor choice imo as a fixture pick and his away stats are even worse than his home ones. You only keep King if you want him for the long haul to get pens - he’s really just the poor mans Mili.

  17. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which one to start this gw out of

    A Lundstorm
    B Perez

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

      B

    2. RoyaleBlue
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Why would you bench Perez against Chelsea?

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

    Good morning Scout experts,

    I have a question for you.

    I am the league Admin in a Overall league. Before Gw 1, I closed the league to new entery’s.

    I now wish to reverse that decision as I have more friends who want to enter.

    I can not seem to do it through the website.

    Any ideas?

    Thanks in advance

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

      Can you just start a new one?

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

        Thanks for the reply. I had thought of that too but it was hard enough to get the players in the one comp as it is.

  19. Tambling5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    With Man United having only 3 seasoned strikers Rashford and Martial seem relatively nailed. Is Sánchez really getting into starting line-up very often?
    Hence with
    Pope/Heaton
    TAA VVD Digne KWP Lundstrm
    Salah KDB Perez Dendonker Trossard
    Kane Wilson Greenwood

    Should I this week do
    Kane/KDB to Sterling/ Rashford, and next week
    Trossard/ Wilson to Martial / Jota total -8 hit
    Leaving a playing front 6 of
    Salah Sterling Martial Perez Rashford Jota

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

      Why should you transfer out Kane, after a brace and before a home game to Newcastle and decent fixtures afterwards

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

      Selling Kane is nuts. Will want him back GW3

      1. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah I guess so. Was hoping to justify a switch round to get Sterling in, but silly this week or next I guess. Probably a bit quick to jump on any Man U bandwagon, as they may well struggle against defensive teams to break them down.

  20. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Rashford is looking a bit hard to ignore this season,

  21. Halmari Tea
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hey guys need a bit of help with the spurs man Los celos from betis
    We have a 7 member draft going on
    my draft is as follows
    Perez sterling bilva trossard CHO

    As i have no idea about this kid called los celos can you help me with if hes a good pick and will be score/assist for spurs?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not a good pick...yet

  22. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wilson & Fraser to Haller & Martial look like decent moves for next week.

    Anyone thinking similar?

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

      Haller???

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      That looks decent. Not sure Haller is a better option than Lanzini/Fornals

    3. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      For gw3 alone yes..for the next 5 gws after that I think the former pairing outscores the latter

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

      Giving up on Bournemouth that quickly? Admittedly Fraser to Martial does look a good move but why the interest in Haller?

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

      Would be typical of Bournemouth players to turn up after a quiet week after everyone sold their assets..

      Im keeping, no sense knee jerking after week one.

      1. ENZO SZN™
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yep remind me of Fraser 18-pointer last season.

  23. Jayben23
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    DeGea or Ederson for the whole season ?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ederson

  24. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thinking of my plans post GW2.
    Which is better

    A)Haller+Son
    B)James+Kane

    Cheers.

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      James will get rotated a lot. I think B, but with a different mid

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

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

    Emerson looked really attacking the other day, will be monitoring, might have to ignore CS possibility though

    1. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      When Rudiger and Kante fit, that defence will look a lot tighter. I think he’s definitely ahead of Alonso in pecking order, but may be less nailed when Champs League starts.

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

        Doubt it, there's no chance Lampard prioritizes CL.

  26. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Still no price changes yet ederson / sterling have twice breached the apparent predictors

    Can anyone tell if there were price changes last year before GW2?

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

      There were, but not many. Everyone starts from scratch so usually it’s Wednesday, Thursday before the first ones come through.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I think you’re underplaying it! Edersen has had more than 250k transfers in, Sterling more than 200k. That would be good for a 0.1m maybe even 0.2m price rise.

        1. Respect My Authoritah
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I reckon everyone is locked for a few days and the thresholds are the same.

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Interesting. Just a couple of days then the net transfers in are reset? Would be a good way for the game to ignore the volume of initial knee jerk transfers.

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

            Imagine if everyone had the 8 day new player lock at start of season but they didn't tell anyone. That would be handy, and a good development imo!

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

          Fplstats are estimating approx 101k for a price rise at the moment - although this is just an estimate as there’s nothing concrete to base it on, just last years calculations. New teams / WCs didn’t count last year so it’s an assumption they don’t this year either. Emerson has net 180k transfers in - based on that I don’t think Fplstats are miles out.

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            How can you say they’re not miles out when we haven’t had a price change yet? They’re already 80% out.

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

              Well, if 80k (ish) of the Ederson transfers in are new teams or Wildcards, that goes part way to explain it. Plus the 101k is only an assumption - it may be higher. How many new managers have started since the GW1 deadline? About a quarter million? How many wildcards? Last season it was 260k between GW1 and 2. So if 20% of these teams get Ederson the threshold, in theory, won’t be reached. I think the numbers stack up ok. I’m certainly not going to beat up on fplstatistics because of it.

              1. Twisted Saltergater
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Sorry, didn’t mean it as an attack. Not sure how the price change websites can be criticised when they need a price change to be able to do their stuff.

                Most of the Edison transfers in are from Alison which only requires a single transfer. No point speculating about potential wildcards when the numbers don’t fit. I think it’s more likely FPL have tweaked something this year - could just be for GW1 however.

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

                  That is highly possible - they normally tweak, and neither you note I nor fplstatistics have any idea what those tweaks are. But I think the numbers do stack up. Ederson is owned by 22% of all teams. It’s not a stretch to think that about 20% of new teams created since GW1 have him in. And I would suspect that higher than 20%, maybe much higher, of wildcarders are transferring him in because many of those will be Allison owners. I suspect he’ll go up for sure - maybe tonight, maybe even not until tomorrow.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      There were definitely price changes before GW2 last year (and every year), and that’s without anyone scoring a brace or a hat-trick!

      I think it’s a very favourable change to FPL if they’ve hiked the price thresholds. The game becomes more strategic rather than a rush to build TV. It’ll allow teams to remain different too. Probably the single best improvement they could make.

      1. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Actually price rises were the fun part and they killed it

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Who’s to say they’ve killed it? They may simply have toned it down.

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

          It was not really a fun for someone who prefers to make transfers on Friday night or Saturday morning! 😮

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

          Not sure how that is the fun part about FPL but to each their own I guess!

          1. Chenku╰☆╮
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Making transfers Friday night is for seasoned FPLers not the masses...chasing the price rises was a thing and I know everyone talked about it at work.. now no FPL chat

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              People made transfers for fear of being priced out, not because they liked the fixture run for said player.

              It was a win-win for those chasing the price rises because they were getting a good player and an increase in TV and a win-lose for those that didnt - an alternative player with good fixtures and no rise in TV.

        4. Markus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          https://fantasyfootballpundits.com/201718-early-season-price-changes-some-very-early-observations/ This was previous seasons. Quite a few years where no changes til the Tuesday (although pre Friday night game). But I agree that there looks like there will be slower this year. Seems like both much more caution (might be because everyone scored big gw1 one way or another) and tweaked algorithms

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Nice article, thanks. I don’t think we’ve had too many braces and hat-tricks in GW1 . Can anyone recall if Michu rose in the first week after scoring a brace for Swansea?

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

              I can't remember tbh. It's one thing a 12m scoring a brace, another thing a 6m player, surprised not to see more Barnes transfers in on that basis though.

              1. Twisted Saltergater
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                McGinn too.

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

        Very much agree with this, would also allow for waiting out on potential training or cup game injuries..

  27. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Cap sterling or salah?

    1. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I'm going with Sterling myself. During preseason I set out captain picks for the first month or so, no reason to change as yet. Salah may be the safer choice though obviously.

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I’ve had it on sterling since the weekend - he’s scored a few against spurs at home in the past

          Don’t have any info on salah against Southampton tho as yet

      • Respect My Authoritah
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Tricky. Probably Salah. Sterling's returns rely heavily on how Spurs set up. Bit less risk with Salah.

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

          That Saints defence - Salah.

    2. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Will Martial rise this week?

      1. Pinturicchio10
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Haven't looked at price changes. What's is % as of now?

        • Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Don't think so. Ederson and rash might though.

        • Respect My Authoritah
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Doubt it

        • Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          No one knows except FPL. We haven’t had a single price rise so the price change algorithms can’t be updated yet.

          If Edersen is anything to go by, Martial would need 200k more transfers this week, so my guess is no.

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

        G2G for GW2? I am saving FT

        Pope
        VVD Digne Dunk
        Salah(c) Sterling Fraser Perez Mcginn
        Aubameyang Jota

        Bench: Button Guilbert Rico Greenwood

        1. Respect My Authoritah
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yep

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

            Bench in order in your opinion?

      3. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Has FPL killed the fun? No price rises yet 200k plus transfers in for sterling and ederson.. making it boring and also hiding the transfers for rivals (forget the money ITB) has silently killed all the fun. Would you agree?

        1. Respect My Authoritah
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Nope. Don't care about the viewing transfers thing.

          I'd enjoy playing the game without any price rises actually. Keeps the game at a more level playing field for a lot longer.

          1. Chenku╰☆╮
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            More level playing field for seasoned FPLers not the masses.

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

          I would not agree.

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

          Another adaptation for the “casual”

          1. Chenku╰☆╮
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Just the opposite..

        4. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I like price changes - tv building

          I believe it was the same the last couple of years

          I recall making moves to get in before price changes that never came

          Everyone seems to jumping about over certain players to beat the rise but two players whom look set to rise and ederson in particular still stay as they were

          1. Chenku╰☆╮
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Agree with you.. no one talks about FPL at work now. Before everyone was like I need to transfer out someone or they will rise. Atleast for a few weeks

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              I think you’re confusing playing the price market with trying to earn the most points.

              If people don’t have to fear price drops they can keep good picks more than a couple of weeks, rather than it be down entirely to luck.

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

          I do usually like to see my opponents transfers yeah.. hoping they've had to take hits lol