Scout Notes

Wolves busy schedule to be prolonged by Europa League group stages

Wolves 2-1 Torino

Goals: Raùl Jiménez (£7.4m), Leander Dendoncker (£4.5m)

Assists: Adama Traoré (£5.0m), Diogo Jota (£6.4m)

Raúl Jiménez (£7.4m) continued his excellent start to the 2019/20 season by scoring a crucial goal for Wolves in their 2-1 win over Torino on Thursday night.

The Mexican forward has now found the net six times in as many qualifiers for the Europa League, a truly incredible feat considering that he returned to the Wolves training camp later than his colleagues this summer after winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup with his country.

That said, just one of his seven goals in nine matches in all competitions this campaign have come in the Premier League, as midweek European exploits have been leaving Jiménez and his team-mates a little laboured in their Sunday afternoon FPL outings.

While Wolves fans will be ecstatic to see their side qualify for the Europa League group stages for the first time since 1981, Fantasy managers with half an eye on their assets may be less keen.

As the qualifying rounds have grown tougher with each new opponent, manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been forced to use more and more of his first-team players for extensive periods on Thursday nights.

Raúl Jiménez has been in excellent form in the Europa League this season

Now that Wolves have qualified for the group stages, this trend is likely to continue. Heading into Gameweek 4, their preparation for a Sunday trip to Everton could only start on Friday afternoon according to the manager, while their hosts have been able to do so since Thursday morning.

“It’s so hard, travelling to play different teams. We played on an artificial pitch, it was tough against Crusaders, then Pyunik was tough. Here at Molineux was fantastic, it’s been a long time where we’ve performed so good at home.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

“For me and the boys, in the afternoon we’ll prepare for the next game. Game by game always. Improve during the competition, this is what we want, use the game as a tool for us to grow as a team.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

Both Jiménez and strike-partner Diogo Jota (£6.4m) were on the pitch for at least 81 minutes against Torino, the former coming off only in stoppage time, after the latter was replaced by Patrick Cutrone (£5.9m) just before.

Diogo Jota has been excellent in the Europa League but has struggled domestically

Jota has been a curious prospect so far this season, proving to be one of the hardest working and most dazzling players for Wolves on their European nights but has largely failed to impress in the Premier League.

Still without a shot on target in a domestic match, the Portuguese international was back to his industrious self against Torino, once again involved in the goals. It was his shot in the 58th minute which forced a save out of goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and led to Leander Dendoncker (£4.5m) scoring the rebound.

The Belgian midfielder was one of four changes that Nuno made to the Wolves side that drew with Burnley on Sunday. Having been an ever-present in the Premier League up until that point, Dendoncker was replaced by Morgan Gibbs-White (£5.0m) against Burnley, but was back in the side on Thursday night and played 90 minutes.

Leander Dendoncker (left) scored against Torino but was benched against Burnley in Gameweek 4

The length of that outing, in a tough match-up against Serie A opposition might concern some of Dendoncker’s 14.2% ownership of another benching against Everton in Gameweek 4, especially considering that Gibbs-White did not register a single minute midweek.

We can be fairly confident that Jiménez and Jota will start once again on Sunday afternoon given they were substituted on Thursday, admittedly later than their owners would have liked.

“The boys have been amazing. Coady played all the minutes, Boly played all the minutes, it’s fantastic. You see on the pitch, the reaction is fantastic, the people that come in give everything they have.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

Almost certain to feature from the beginning at Goodison Park are Matt Doherty (£6.0m) and Ryan Bennett (£5.0m) who did not feature against Torino, while Rúben Neves (£5.5m) played only the last five minutes. Jesus Vallejo (£4.9m) came in at centre-back, while Romain Saïss (£4.4m) was used in central midfield once again.

Vallejo did not have the best game in defence, giving the ball away a few times and struggling to contain striker Andrea Belotti, who scored in the 57th minute. The player certainly has potential but it seems clear that Bennett’s place in the back-three is not yet at threat from the summer signing.

Adama Traoré continues to be one of Wolves’ best players in Europe this season

Doherty was, as per usual for these matches, replaced in the starting line-up by Adama Traoré (£5.0m), who continues to be one of Wolves’ best players in the Europa League.

Nuno’s men started this latest match off by sitting deep, allowing Torino to have possession, venturing forward only on the counter-attack. An outlet for this was, not surprisingly, Traoré, whose pace continues to ask problems in the Europa League. It was the wing-back who unlocked the Torino defence in the first-half, providing the cross for Jiménez after a trademark run up the touchline.

As we have mentioned many times in these articles over the summer, Traoré has undergone a transformation over the last few months. Last season, his style of play was underpinned only by his frightening pace but there was very little end-product. However this Europa League campaign has demonstrated that the player has become a lot more focussed in the final third and has been regularly involved in attacking returns. That is something to consider if Doherty is to get another injury, although of course, Traoré is a midfielder in FPL rather than a defender.

“It was important. The way he took the team up, the way he created, the way he unbalanced the opponents. He can do this and he can do other things, he has to improve a lot, but today he was stable in defence, covered the centre back, won balls in the area. We’re building a player and taking the best out of him.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Boly, Coady, Vallejo; Jonny, Moutinho (Neves 90′), Saïss, Dendoncker, Traoré; Jota (Cutrone 81′), Jiménez (Neto 90+2′).

Lessons learned from Gameweek 3

942 Comments Post a Comment
  1. dando89
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton
    AWB Robbo Digne
    Dendo Salah Stirling Perez Barkley
    Kane Pukki
    (Button Lund Greenwood Montoya)

    Not sure what to do this week.
    Kane + Perez > Haller + KDB for -4?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      no

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

      I would

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

    Rico or Kelly?
    Would play him this weekend if brought in

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kelly

    2. Stat Sloth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kelly has been named as central defender from here on, as long as Tomkins and Sakho are out. Look at Roy's quotes from mid-week.

  3. Mortal.Swinbat
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Martial & Wilson

    For

    Wesley & KDB

    -4?

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

    So keep martial and play kelly better option than martial to lanzini for -4?

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

      Yeah

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

      Yes

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

    Everyone except me in my league has Sterling, I'm split between captaining Salah or KdB. Who should I go with?

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

      The one you think will score more.

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

        Who do you think scores more?

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

          I don't know, Salah has higher ceiling I suppose.

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

      Stop spamming.

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

        Thanks!

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

      Same as me. I captained KDB over salah

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

    On Wildcard, what would you prefer?

    A) Aubameyang, Matip, Zinchenko, Mings
    Or
    B) Haller, VVD, Laporte, Digne

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

      B

    2. Stat Sloth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B, without a doubt.

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

      Easy B

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

      Also B with Barnes or Pukki over Haller and TAA over VVD in my opinion

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

        Cheers, already have pukki

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

    Hi....need to sell one of Greenwood and jota - and start the other this week.

    Any clue from ole re Greenwood mins?

    Who do I sell? Jota or Greenwood?

    Thanks

    1. Stat Sloth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      How about both? 😉

      Jota will most likely start, as he was subbed before Raul yesterday, and they play on Sunday.
      Greenwood is perhaps a 50/50 to start.

      So it all depends on who you will be getting for them, and how your team looks with each option.

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

        Haller comes in this week for one of them

        The other goes next week for barnes.....

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

      Sell Jota. You're not gonna get much for Greenwood

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

        Got more than 3m ITb so cash is there for haller and barnes upgrades....

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

          Greenwood too risky

  8. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Current team
    Pope (button)
    Vvd, digne, lund, (Montoya), (rico)
    Salah, kdb, sterling, mount, martial
    Jimenez, pukki, (Greenwood)

    1 Ft, 0.1 itb

    What to do this week please??

    A) martial to Maddison/lanzini
    B) vvd and martial for soyuncu and Pepe -4
    C) vvd and martial to laporte and Maddison -4
    D) vvd for laporte an fun play bench player instead of martial
    E) save free transfer and play bench player instead of martial

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

      E

  9. Bucket Man
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Think I have to go Martial to Mount with a bench of Dendoncker, Montoya, Rico
    Quick thoughts on if this is worth it
    A) Jota to Haller -4
    B) Adams to Haller -4

  10. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How's this looking? Bench order/selection okay? I'm wildcarding tomorrow afternoon.

    Heaton (Pope)
    TAA Digne Walker
    Sterling Mane Ceballos Perez
    Aguero(c) Jota Greenwood

    Bench: Lundstram Zouma Dendoncker

  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Amazing people rate Greenwood so highly considering he's not even played a half of top flight football. The United bias is strong I suppose

    1. Stat Sloth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would have been neat to have a poll asking the people in here for their favourite club. My guess is that MUN wins by a large margin, followed by LIV and TOT.

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

      It is, but who else would you have at 4.5?

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

        Exactly this. Many play only 2 up top so he's perfect for your 3rd striker fodder. You don't buy him to start.

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

      Think it's more false hope that he plays than rating him as a payer.

    4. Wet Knee Houston
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Think it's more wishful thinking than actually rating him high.

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

      I’m a West Brom fan but even I’m excited by a possible £4.5m forward starting for Man U! 🙂

    6. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      First rule of FFS is to hype up any player that is in your team and imagining them hauling, even if you can't remember why you picked him or just picked him because other people did. Second rule of FFS is to deride the players that you don't have.

      So for me as a Wickham bench fodder owner, I expect him to be much better than Greenwood as he'll firmly be 3rd sub, no 1 point cameos, no drop in prices when he doesn't score and no taking up a Man Utd spot (if for whatever reason you would want 3 Man Utd players)

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

    "Martial matters"

    A separate hot topic for all the Martial questions during the international break.

    1. Stat Sloth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would certainly help get rid of some of the 95% similar questions ^^

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

      Oh god yes please!!!

    3. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Like the Eminem ref

    4. Crisnel Ronessi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Will martial play against Southampton?

      1. Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        No

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

        please be a troll 🙂

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

      Permanent hot topic about injury question needed, so true.

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

        Should have been plural 🙁

  13. jake0910
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Transfer for this GW?

    A. Martial to Lanzini/Mount
    B. Jota to barnes?

    Have exact money for jota to barnes before any price increases/falls so would need to pull the trigger now if keeping Martial

  14. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Get Mount instead of Martial or play Cantwell? (Have already Pukki)

    1. Stat Sloth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Play Cantwell. They are up against WHU, for crying out loud ^^

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

      Play Cantwell.

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

      Cantwell

  15. Releasebreaks
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who to captain?

    A - Aguero
    B - Sterling

    Nobody in my league have Aguero, any everybody has Sterling, and for sure they will captain Sterling, so go Aguero ?

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

      A

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

      A

    3. Crisnel Ronessi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Agueroooooiiioiiik

  16. DAVESAVES
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sry bottomed

    Heaton
    AWB Digne Robertson
    Salah Sterling KDB Dendonker
    Greenwood Pukki Jota

    Button Lundstram Montoya Martial*

    Martial >> Mount for free?

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

      I would

  17. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton
    Zinc Vvd Digne
    Dendoncker Salah Sterling Kdb
    Greenwood Haller Pukki
    Bench: Pope/Lundstram/Rico/Martial

    Best play:
    A. Martial to Mount (-4) which allows future upgrades elsewhere.
    B. Dendoncker to Cantwell (-4) who would rotate with Lundstram.
    C. Hold and hope

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

      A in my opinion, Mount for -4 could well pay off.

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

    OLE ON GREENWOOD

    "Mason is not used to playing as little as he is. He is used to playing every week, now he is coming on for half an hour here and there.

    "He won’t be expected to play five games on the bounce, he is cover and an option behind Anthony and Marcus."

    Will greenwood start? "Behind" martial who is injured

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think so.

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He will get more than his usual 5-10 minutes. I read this as a an half an hour sub, replacing Mata

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

      Sounds fairly promising. Either he starts and gets around 60 mins or is first attacking sub and gets 30 mins off bench. Either is good enough for me this GW.

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

      I doubt it

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

      He is 3rd in line for centre forward

    6. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think that reads as Martial is the main guy upfront.. If he is injured then Rashford plays upfront.. If Rashford is injured then Greenwood plays upfront.

      1. FF Dirtbag
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        True it also reads that Greenwood is used to playing more... maybe it's his chance to?

  19. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    "Bournemouth confirm that Charlie Daniels is set to undergo knee surgery and will miss the rest of the season. "

    Does this mean that Rico is nailed on?

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

      Let's hope so.

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

      Adam Smith played at Left Back last season at times.

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

      No, Kelly set to return soon

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        too bad. I need a bargain based defender. thanks

  20. Jässi
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Ryan - Button
    TAA - VVD - Digne - Kiko Femenia - Rico
    Salah - Sterling - Martial* - Dendoncker - Hayden
    Kane - Pukki - Greenwood

    A) VVD > Zinchenko and Kane > Aguero (-4)
    B) Martial > KDB and Kane > Haller (-4)
    C) Martial > KDB, Kane > Aguero and TAA > Lundstram (-8)
    D) Martial -> Mount and Kane -> Aguero (-4)

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

    I hope people start Greenwood.. cries out for a 1 point cameo. Rashford will play 9 with James and one of Lingard, Mata, Periera or Chong on the other flank

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Either way I have greenwood, dendoncker and lundstram to choose from... He is probably the best option.

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

      I will. It's either his one point or a knackered Dendoncker's one point.

      1. FF Dirtbag
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        One point with the higher possibility of a goal/assist

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

          Lundstram xGi says different..

          1. FF Dirtbag
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            I don't see it against Chelsea. Fair enough you have those stats when he was vs Bournemouth, Palace and Leicester but it's a different story away to Chelsea.

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

      Might grab a goal you never know

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      "I'm trusting Marcus, Anthony, Mason to be our centre forwards. We've got loads of options and for me it is time for our boys to feel the pressure. It is something which we are looking forward to.’

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

      no way Chong starts

  22. dynamike
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Comments on filling the gaps in this WC team would be appricated:

    Pope Heaton
    TAA Digne Zinc Lundstrum X
    Salah Sterling KDB Cantwell X
    Pukki Barnes X

    1) Kelly MOUNT Wesley
    2) Guilbert Donks HALLER

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

      1

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

        Cheers

  23. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Has Lampard had his presser yet?

  24. tibollom
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Whats the news on Martial? What should I Do with my FT? 1.1TB

    Heaton Button
    Zouma AWB VVD LundS Rico
    Salah Sterling Martial Perez Dedoncker
    Kane King Greenwood

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

      Try reading the thread

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Gets annoying

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

    A. Martial to Mount
    B. Martial to Mount, Kane to Aguero (c) -4
    C. Martial to Salah, Kane to barnes -4

    have KDB sterling and mane

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

      Think ill do B my self but that stuck me with Perez for one more week and propably ill want Martial back...

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

        Yea that was my problem. I decided to get rid of Perez and leave Martial. Don't understand why so many are flocking when he will likely only miss 1GW. Saving transfers is the aim of the game

        1. BMox81
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Getting points is the aim of the game and this GW, Martial ain't getting any.

  26. Wish you were me
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who will drop to the bench once rudiger gets match fit?
    Zouma or Christensen

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

    Start one:

    Kelly
    Greenwood

    1. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kelly. Should start and if he doesn't won't come on and decent clean sheet chance.

  28. Dave Dreamer
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My transfer next week of
    Perez > De Bruyne
    Ederson > Pope

    has been scewed by that Perez price fall...

    Might just use the spare cash to go King> Haller. thoughts?

    1. Stat Sloth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Do a -4. Worth it to get the right players in.

  29. Stat Sloth
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thinking of playing 5-3-2 this week, with Martial injured and Jota perhaps will get his minutes managed.

    That means Kelly (CPL) and Femenia (WAT) will play instead.

    For some reason, that idea scares me! ^^

  30. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play who

    A. Hayden (home to Watford)
    B. Lundstram (@ CHE)
    C. Dunk (@ City)
    D. Dendoncker (@ EVE)

    I am leaning towards Hayden, but maybe Lundstram could score?