Scout Notes

Barnes brace sinks Saints as Pope returns to Fantasy form

Burnley 3-0 Southampton

Goals: Ashley Barnes x2 (£6.5m), Johan Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m)

Assists: Erik Pieters x2 (£4.5m)

Bonus Points: Barnes x3, Pieters x2, Nick Pope x1 (£4.5m), Gudmundsson x1

Ashley Barnes (£6.5m) did his best to blow Burnley’s pre-season trends out of the water in a 3-0 win over Southampton on Saturday.

The forward scored twice against the Saints after a campaign of summer friendlies in which he did not find the net once.

Barnes also played fewer minutes in those games than colleagues Chris Wood (£6.5m) and Jay Rodriguez (£6.0m) but still started alongside the New Zealand international at Turf Moor.

His two forward colleagues combined for 15 goals in pre-season but it was Barnes who showed the clinical edge in Gameweek 1.

Barnes scored a brace in Burnley’s 3-0 win over Southampton

However, in truth, the game was closer than the scoreline suggested.

Southampton had chances in the early stages with new signing Che Adams (£6.0m) and Nathan Redmond (£6.5m) hooking wide and stinging the palms of Nick Pope (£4.5m) respectively.

In fact, Burnley did not pose much of a threat in the first half other than a Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m) drive from the edge of the box that clipped the post. It was only in a 12-minute second-half spell that they scored three goals.

“It was a tight game and there wasn’t much in it, but I was so pleased with our mentality to stick at it. We started asking more questions in the second half and lifted the tempo and without putting them on the back foot we suddenly made like awkward.” – Sean Dyche

Barnes first capitalised on a Jannik Vestergaard (£5.0m) slip to connect with an Erik Pieters (£4.5m) clearance, drilling under Angus Gunn (£4.5m).

Minutes later, the former Plymouth Argyle striker was on hand again to double Burnley’s lead. This time there was more intention on Pieters’ ball into the box, an incredible cross to the back post where Barnes poked home.

“I have great admiration for him. This pre-season he didn’t score a goal and he looked hungry for it. The first goal was a fantastic touch and finish, it was great skill. His second finish was sublime, it’s a brilliant ball by Erik Pieters, but when centre-forwards finish like that it looks easy. It’s not easy when the ball is coming over your shoulder like that.” – Sean Dyche

It is worth highlighting the role that Pieters played in this win, as his 14-point score in Gameweek 1 was bettered only by Raheem Sterling‘s (£12.0m) 20-point haul.

Not only did the former Stoke man get two assists, but he also tacked on a clean sheet and two bonus points.

Pieters secured a great Gameweek 1 score but his place in the Burnley team could be short-lived

However, it would probably unwise to jump straight into including Pieters in our squads, for several reasons.

Firstly, while his cross for Barnes’ second goal was excellent, the assist for the first was nothing more than a clearance, that the striker was able to latch onto because of Vestergaard’s mistake.

Furthermore, it does seem likely that Charlie Taylor (£4.5m) will be the first choice left-back for Burnley this season.

The former Leeds United defender missed a portion of pre-season with an injury but still started two of the last three matches of the summer, while Pieters featured from the beginning only once in that run.

According to Burnley’s official website, Taylor was only omitted from the matchday squad for the Southampton clash “during a fast-track to get him up to match fitness.”

In our Team News content, we did think that Taylor would be a doubt to start this Gameweek 1 as he played in a reserve team game midweek a few days beforehand.

Fantasy managers looking at the Burnley defence will have to keep an eye on the left-back situation and Dyche’s next press conference ahead of Gameweek 2.

The third Clarets goal on Saturday came from Gudmundsson’s determination as he dispossessed Ryan Bertrand (£4.5m), bore down on goal from the right flank and curled an effort into the far corner of Gunn’s net.

Nick Pope played his first Premier League match since the 2017/18 campaign on Saturday

Meanwhile, it was rewarding for Fantasy managers to see goalkeeper Pope make his first Premier League appearance since the 2017/18 season on Saturday.

The Burnley shot-stopper picked up where he left off as a Fantasy asset too, keeping a clean sheet, making three saves and claiming one bonus point.

As per usual, the Clarets made life very comfortable for their goalkeeper, largely limiting Southampton to efforts from range, enabling Pope to make enough saves for that additional point.

It will be interesting to see how this tactic affects Arsenal in Gameweek 2, given how much of the Gunners’ play takes place inside the penalty box.

“Popey didn’t have a lot of do, which was also pleasing.” – Sean Dyche

“The lads have shielded me well in tough conditions, it was difficult to get going in a sense. The lads looked after me really well and I helped them out when I could. I feel better than before; I don’t think about it when I wake up in the morning. It’s in the past now, so I’m glad to get it behind me.” – Nick Pope

Meanwhile, despite the result probably being an unfair reflection of the match, concerns about Southampton’s defence under Ralph Hasenhüttl continue.

Admittedly, there was poor defending specifically from Vestergaard for two of Burnley’s goals but it has been some time since the Saints offered reliable clean sheet potential.

This performance does not bode well for Southampton as they prepare to host Liverpool in Gameweek 2, although it could help Fantasy managers make their captaincy decision.

Members Analysis

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil (Lennon 84′), Westwood, Cork, Gudmundsson; A Barnes (Rodriguez 84′), Wood.

Southampton XI (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Vestergaard, J Stephens (Højbjerg 73′), Bednarek; Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Valery; Redmond, Ings (Obafemi 66′); Adams (Boufal 73′).

Lessons learned from Gameweek 1

1,003 Comments Post a Comment
  1. _werre_
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope
    Robertson Digne Kelly
    Salah(c) Martial Fraser Perez KDB
    Kan King

    Bench: Heaton Lundstram Taylor Greenwood

    Any suggestions for near future?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Just one suggestion, STERLING

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

        For KDB?

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

      Looks good to me, I'd probably start Heaton over Pope, and save your FT, assuming you haven't already used it.

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

        Cheers mate

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

    So any news on Guilbert, is he a lost cause? I will have to play Walker-Peters if he doesn't play..

    1. Rock n Grohl
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Think I read yesterday he was left out as he was too attack minded to play against Spurs? Strange thing to be honest. Probably hold and play against Bournemouth.

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Did Kiwivillan say that or a more reputable source?

  3. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bottomed...

    Having no other pressing transfers; would you do Cathcart to Dunk? Was between those two and I picked the wrong one. This would leave me to choose between Dunk (WHU) and Lundstrom (CRY).

    Or should I save a transfer and just play Lundstrom this week?

    Cheers!

    1. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Save

      • circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Play Lund, decent fixture.

      • TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You picked the wrong one for GW1.... whether or not you picked the wrong one for the season is up for discussion

        I think it’s a bit of a waste of a transfer. The flexibility of 2 transfers next will be of great value

      • Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks all.

    2. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good to save a FT?

      Ryan
      Coleman Lundstram VanDijk
      Salah Perez KDB Sterling Fraser
      Wesley Wilson

      Button Ake Greenwood Kelly

      0 ITB

      1. Mr. Funny Name
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah save

      2. Pinturicchio10
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yep

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

        Pope
        Digne, Zinchenko, AWB, VVD
        Salah, McGinn, Sterling, Martial
        Kane, Pukki

        No playing subs except dendoncker etc - can wildcard to this - good enough/any changes please?

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Digne -> Coleman & 0.5 ITB, think you'll want to upgrade McGinn soon

          1. Pukki Blinders
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Until Sidibe comes in...

            1. SADIO SANÉ
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              He might not, no guarantee of that whatsoever

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

          Well it is a good team based on week 1 but what did you have before?

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

            Current team is...

            Pope
            Digne, TAA, VVD
            Salah, McGinn, Sterling, Perez
            Wilson, Rashford, Jota

            Is this one better?

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

              I think that one is ok, not in need of a wildcard and it has a bench.

      4. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Should I start Mings (BOU home) or Montoya (WHU home)?

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Monty

        2. Bruce Lee
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Mont

        3. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Surprised at the answers here, I was on Mings, but I’ve just swapped them.

          Peer pressure.

      5. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        why all the kane polls?

        before the season it was "will you get kane?"

        now it is "will you get kane for gw2?"

        chill bruh

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

          But seriously....will you get Kane?

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

          Better question is why Kane isnt even in the captain poll. Nice bias.

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            He is

            1. Bruce Lee
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              i don't see him there...

              1. SADIO SANÉ
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Had hardly any votes at the bottom

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

              No he isnt, I cant pick him. He doesnt have any votes because hes not an option to pick.

              1. SADIO SANÉ
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                He does/did earlier 100% guarantee that

          2. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            lol

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

          What about Kane for gw3?

          1. Bruce Lee
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            we'll find out next week in the poll

        4. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Auba clearly offers more this week, but I'm not bothered by a hokey cokey.

      6. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Should I hold transfer or make a change?

        pope
        VVD TAA digne walker-pieters
        salah (c) sterling kdb perez
        deuo king

        heaton dendoncker lundstram greenwood

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          0 itb

        2. Sparkys Barmy Army
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Hold

      7. Sparkys Barmy Army
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        A. Ings > Pukki
        B. Pulisic > Martial
        C. Hold FT

        Happy with the rest of my team really, got 0.5 itb so considering this.

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

          C

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

          B maybe, or C

        3. $carface
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          A.

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

          Hold - or Pulisic to Sigurdsson; still I would hold for more info

      8. Baltic Revolution
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        King to Pukki? (Have Fraser)

        Pool fan - the Fin looked very lively on Friday, could do some damage against Newcastle but also expecting a bounceback from Bournemouth this week...?

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

          In the same boat. Holding on to king for one more week

        2. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I was thinking deuo or king for puki but was thinking the same Bournemouth to bounce back and deuo to haunt his old team

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

            Deulofeu injured? Was subbed quite early last game. Does he play upfront?

        3. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Imagine having 2 FTs GW3 when some fixtures turn 😉

          1. Baltic Revolution
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Fair enough - guess we're holding for now...

      9. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thinking of shifting my team to something like this.

        Pope
        TAA - Laporte - AWB - Christensen - Coleman
        Salah - Sterling - Son - Mount
        Rashford

        4m - Dendoncker - Greenwood - Wickham

        Thoughts? Too crazy? 🙂

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

          Gudmundsson rather than Mount

          5 at the back ahhh could work but ... probably just me

          1. pundit of punts
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            That spot is up for grabs.

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

          Shifting how? Like wildcarding?

        3. Pinturicchio10
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Bad idea

        4. Kristobal
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Thoughts about Maupay? Anyone think that he might offer good value and will be nailed on? He did quite well in Championship last year even though it’s not the same as Premier League of course.

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

            Looks promising for €6m but I would like to see him constantly starting for at least 60 mins.

        5. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Mepham nailed on?

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

            Who knows, but I wouldn't start a BOU defender at this juncture.

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

            Nope, first to be dropped when they switch back to a back 4.

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

          Seriously can't wait to watch Auba - Laca - Pepe playing together week in week out. They give me hope we can still win matches even if we concede 2 or 3.

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

            Tempted to captain Auba this week

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

              I am.

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

                Me too

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

            Are you that convinced by Pepé? Last two were Gervinho and Yaya Sanogo. Hope you're right obviously.

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

              I'm not convinced he's as prolific as everyone makes him out to be. His non-penalty expected goals vs his xG is intriguing.

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

              *last two Ivorian players

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

          Would you play Diop (bha) or Lundstram (CRY)?

          1. Pinturicchio10
              4 years, 7 months ago

              L

            • AuFeld
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Lundstram at home.

          2. $carface
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Do we think Everton defence will be as solid as last season in the absence of Gueye and their inability to replace him? Is Digne's attack threat enough to justify 6.0 price tag?

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

              Nope.

            2. EMBOLOFAN
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              prob similar and yeah dignes fine

          3. The Train Driver
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            FIFA loves that Qatar money...

          4. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            So much for Man City getting banned. Fine less than a players weekly wage. That will hurt 🙄

          5. McGowan
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            A. Rashford + 5.5mid (McGinn)
            or
            B. Martial + 6.5 forward /(Maupay + 0.5)

            Will Maupay play vs West Ham?

          6. chrisb182
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Hi All,

            Got 88pts for GW1 with this team:

            Pope (Heaton)
            Walker-Peters, van Dijk, Zinchenko (Kelly, Lundstram)
            Sterling, Salah, Barkley, Perez (Dendoncker)
            Kane, King, Kean

            I'm deciding not to wait until GW3 to get two free transfers, so I'm thinking of making the following changes for GW2:

            Heaton > Pope
            Lundstram > Walker-Peters

            Has anyone got any advice on any other changes they would make?

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

              That looks like you're just swapping subs .. not making transfers?

              1. chrisb182
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Not going to make transfers until GW3

                1. chrisb182
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Sorry, I was meant to say in the original email that I am going to wait until GW3 to make my first transfer.

          7. Gizzachance
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            play
            A heaton
            B pope
            cheers

            1. Bada Bing
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              I'm playing Heaton out of those two, he's at home and I think Burnley might get trashed at Arsenal.

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

                my thoughts to, just that i have wilson & king !
                cheers

                1. Bada Bing
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  I have Wilson, King and Fraser, so I'm also kind of betting against myself. 🙂 But if they fail, I might at least get a clean sheet for my goalie as a small consolation.