Scout Notes

James highlights FPL appeal with goal but United flop again

Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw against Southampton at St Mary’s with a wonder strike from Daniel James (£6.0m) proving to not be enough for Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer’s side, who have won just one of their first four Premier League matches.

We look at the key Fantasy talking points from the south coast.

Southampton 1-1 Manchester United

  • Goals: Daniel James (£6.0m) | Jannik Vestergaard (£5.0m)
  • Assists: Scott McTominay (£5.0m) | Kevin Danso (£4.5m)
  • Bonus: Vestergaard, McTominay – 3, Gunn, James – 2

After signing from Swansea City for a £15m fee in the summer window, James was expected to play a part in United’s attacking armoury, but after four games it is evident that this is a player with the ability to make a significant, impactful contribution for the Red Devils in 2019/20. 

Having cut in from the left flank, James drilled a superb strike beyond the reach of Angus Gunn (£4.5m) to assert an early level of control over the Saints, whilst also testing the Southampton goalkeeper on a number of occasions throughout the match. 

Particularly given the potential absence of Anthony Martial (£7.7m), James is showing glimpses of a player who has the potential to excel for United in the goalscoring department, and once again on Saturday the Welshman, owned by just over 5% of managers, displayed his attacking prowess with a fine finish despite the bitterly disappointing scoreline. 

It should be noted that James’ goal, as was the case against Palace last weekend, came when he was stationed on the left wing and his FPL appeal going forward perhaps partly hinges on where Solskjaer will deploy him, with a role on the right flank arguably not suited to his skill set (as evidenced against Wolves).

For United’s defensive quartet of Harry Maguire (£5.5m), Victor Lindelof (£5.5m), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.6m) and Ashley Young (£5.4m), who was recalled after an injury to Luke Shaw (£5.5m), Saturday’s game marked yet another failure to keep a clean sheet, though they did show defensive resilience.

The Red Devils were denied a shut-out when Jannik Vestergaard (£5.0m) rose highest after a chipped ball into the box from Kevin Danso (£4.5m) to draw Southampton level. 

A start didn’t materialise for budget FPL forward Mason Greenwood (£4.5m), while Marcus Rashford (£8.6m) was unable to reward his 24.7% of owners with any attacking returns despite looking dangerous at times.

The 21-year-old has now blanked in two consecutive fixtures after starting the season with successive attacking returns. 

In the context of United’s ambitions for the season, this was another blow for the club but also highlighted the fragile nature of their defence. If United’s defensive assets are to be considered long-term, viable options for Fantasy managers, then games against Crystal Palace (h) and Southampton (a) should be viewed as having considerable clean sheet potential. 

Yet two successive failures to keep out the opposition will mean ownership of United defenders comes under further scrutiny over the international break ahead of Gameweek 5, with testing games against attacking sides such as West Ham and Arsenal coming up in their next three fixtures. 

Whilst the likes of Sofiane Boufal (£5.5m) and Danny Ings (£6.0m) did test United with several incisive runs, the Saints had shown no real signs of having a goalscoring threat prior to Vestergaard’s opener, with Southampton’s fortunes in front of goal epitomised by Che Adams (£5.8m) in the 55th minute: Adams was played through on goal with just David de Gea (£5.6m) to beat but fluffed his lines to make it a fourth blank in a row for the £15m summer signing from Birmingham. 

An injury to Nathan Redmond (£6.4m) meant that an opportunity emerged in the starting line-up for Boufal, and the Moroccan did look sharp at times though lacked an end product. 

On the basis of Saturday’s game against United, despite looking promising at points, investment in Southampton’s attacking options such as Ings and Adams is a difficult decision to justify with Tottenham (a) and Chelsea (h) on the horizon in their next four fixtures. 

As Southampton appeared to be in the ascendancy, a second yellow for Danso meant that Hassenhuttl’s side were forced to play out the final 15 minutes with ten men, though the south coast side held on to build on their impressive victory over Brighton in Gameweek 3 with a valuable point against Solsjkaer’s men. 

This was a game that served as a reminder towards Southampton’s ability to defy the odds against supposedly superior opposition, but the main headline will inevitably lie with United’s inability to see off ‘lesser’ opposition who, unlike Solsjkaer’s side, are unlikely to be competing for a spot in the top six. 

On the basis of this showing at St Mary’s, it’s unlikely that United will be doing anything more than that, either. 

Members Analysis


Southampton XI (4-2-2-2): Gunn; Cedric, Danso, Vestergaard, Bednarek; Romeu, Hojbjerg, Romeu; Ward-Prowse, Boufal (Armstrong 71′); Ings (Yoshida 77′), Adams (Long 62′).

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Young, Lindelof, Maguire; McTominay (Greenwood 82′), Pogba; Periera (Lingard 68′), Mata (Matic 68′), James; Rashford.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 4


2,545 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FOO FIGHTER
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    James bandwagon in full force.

  2. Spacemonkey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Cantwell+Barnes or James+Haller?

    1. Schliegs
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. the cromulent one
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not really a fair comparison price-wise, is it?
      I'd go for B, if money is no object.

  3. cruzex
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    1 - Have salah next gw is essential '???? . I have mane.

    2- Ceballos is nailed????

    Tks.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      no to both

    2. the cromulent one
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      1. No one is essential. Mane can easily outscore Salah any given week. That said, with pens (when no Milner), I'd say that Salah is the better bet.
      2. I think so, but we'll have a better idea after tomorrow's game.

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

    Worth Wilson > Haller/Abraham to catch a .2 swing?

  5. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    is cantwell good enough to be 4th mid in a 343 formation ? thanks

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      no

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        thanks.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Treat him as a 2 pointer, anything else is a bonus.

          1. SKENG
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            If you didn't have him, you wouldn't have Aguero this week. So maybe he was worth it? 🙂

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 15 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Not really, Kane was always a bank.

        2. SKENG
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Don't just take superficial advice like that, think for yourself (what can you do with the extra money?)

  6. Bruno Commando
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Had Perez and Kane, both needs to go...How does this team look?

    WC team:
    Pope // Button
    Dunk VVD Digne Walker // Lund
    Salah Sterling Mount KDB // Cantwell
    Haller Abraham // Greenwood

    1. Bruno Commando
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Current team:
      Pope // Button
      Dunk VVD Digne Walker // Lund
      Salah Sterling Mount Perez // Dendoncker
      Kane Pukki // Greenwood

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Perez->Ceballos is the one I'd do. Maybe Kane->Auba.

        1. Differential C (Mark)
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Both Spurs and Arsenal's fixtures look good, you have to admit, though.

          1. Bruno Commando
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Yea, and I'm not sure if I should try and fit Kun in..

    2. the cromulent one
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Certainly checks all the boxes, and seems like the ideal WC team for right now.
      Of course, the ideal WC team changes from week to week.

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yea I do have an urge to fit Kun in though..

  7. Spacemonkey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Even with a decent team can we afford to WC in GW8 taken into account all the price increases?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      The highest team without a chip (17th) is valued at 101m

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        and scored 84.

        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I bet that team has Aguero and Salah.

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Link your team seeing you lost the bet. 😛

          2. FOO FIGHTER
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Had a look and surprisingly not.

  8. We Will Klopp you
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    A or B to complete this wildcard team?

    Pope (Button)
    /---------/ TAA Lowton (Lundstram Hanley)
    Salah Sterling KDB /---------/ (Cantwell)
    Pukki Abraham Haller

    A) Digne Ceballos
    B) Zinchenko James (0.1m itb in case zinchenko becomes a rotation risk)

    1. JT11fc
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

  9. FOO FIGHTER
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Will be intersting to see price rises and falls soon.

  10. juho
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do Mane -> Salah for a hit?

    1. BlzE_94
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      hell no! mane could easily outscore salah

    2. the cromulent one
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No. Seems like a transfer to make if you have no other issues.

  11. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Price Changes - 1st September 2019

    🔺  van Aanholt (5.6), Agüero (12.1), D.James (6.1), Patrício (5.1), Haller (7.5), Abraham (7.2), Adrián (4.6)

    🔻  Lacazette (9.4), C.Wilson (7.8), Alonso (6.2), Iheanacho (5.8), D.Gray (5.3), Bernardo Silva (7.8), Shaw (5.4), Fernández (4.4), Almirón (5.9), Bertrand (4.9), J.Stephens (4.4), Costa (4.9), Roberts (5.3), Nakamba (4.4), Gbamin (4.9), Mooy (4.9), Carroll (5.4)

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks mate!

    2. SneakyPete
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      How has Kane survived a week!!

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        He won't survive if he trolls again.

    3. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wilson 🙁

      1. scottmac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I know, 3 assists and a goal in 4 games with great fixtures to boot. Go figure

    4. waldo666
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers, TM.

    5. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers 🙂

    6. juho
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      AwB survives!

    7. Carlton_Goal
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers TM!

    8. Party time
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Very nice 🙂

      • the Penman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Patricio? Really? Have I stepped into a time portal to September 2018?!

      • Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Wilson scores 5, 5, 5, 5, and still drops twice 😆

      • FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Oh my. Carnage

      • FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        0 raisers

      • stu92
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        What determines price changes? I’m sure it’s spmething to do with transfers in/out but what triggers the change?

      • MissouriMarten
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        These threads are like groundhog day.

    9. FOO FIGHTER
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      What is the WC template 🙂

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        All the high scorers this week.

        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Lol, going to be many sleepless nights for some over the next two weeks.

    10. Pass
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No KDB, Kun, Pukki nor Barnes. Should I press that WC button?

    11. Differential C (Mark)
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Props to Potter. To play out from the back against City at the Etihad, massive balls of steel. Respect. 4-0 flattered City imo, Aguero took his chances well. Hughton wouldve parked the bus and gone long with Locadia chasing lost causes.

      1. juho
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Love how brave they were
        They looked really good when they had space to attack

        1. Differential C (Mark)
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          45% possession vs City is an acheivement in itself. At one point it was 49-51. And he's only worked with the squad for a few months, his ideas are already well adopted.

    12. Stupendous
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      What to do with Laporte? I fear we will hear the worse tomorrow/today.

      Only 1 ft and .1itb

      Pope Heaton
      VVD Digne LAPORTE Montoya Lundstram
      Salah Sterling KDB Dendonker Mount
      Ayew Abraham Pukki

      1. Stupendous
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Straight swap for Zinchenko or perhaps 4pt hit for TAA?

        1. LSK
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I’m taking the hit

          1. Stupendous
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Montoya and Laporte to Kelly and TAA?

        2. ManofKent
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I'm in a similar boat. tricky to find extra for TAA

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Sell.

      3. waldo666
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Otamendi?

        1. Stupendous
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Not a chance in hell but thanks

          1. waldo666
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Haha, fair enough.

    13. RyanMK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      1. Abraham or Barnes
      2. McGinn or Dendoncker
      3. Soyuncu or Boly

      The rest of the squad:
      GK: Pope // Heaton
      Defender: Dunk // TAA // Digne // Kelly // [Spot 3]
      Mid: Salah // KDB // Sterling // Mount // [Spot 2]
      Forward: Pukki // Ayew // [Spot 1]

      1. stu92
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Abraham, McGinn, Soyu.

    14. Wag the Drog
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      a) Aguero, Madison
      b) Pukki, Sterling

      Have KDB

      1. RyanMK
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        2 for me.

      2. 1314
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        b

    15. davies
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Any suggestions here lads?

      1FT / 0 ITB

      Heaton
      VVD Digne Soyuncu Lundstram Rico
      Salah Sterling KDB Ceballos Dendoncker
      Kane Pukki Greenwood

      Poor 39 points this week so feel change is needed...

      1. Wag the Drog
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Get in Aguero?

        1. davies
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Not sure I can afford him?

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Defence needs work along with Den/Green and probably Kane.

        1. davies
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I regret selling TAA instead of VVD

          Hold off on WC?

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Depends on later, missed the changes already.

      3. RyanMK
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Depending on how Spurs play tonight, I might move Kane out.

        1. davies
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Agreed same, but then another -4 would be on the cards and that’s not ideal

          1. RyanMK
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            I'm in a similar position. Have Kane, Greenwood.

            Might be using my WC this week. Still ironing a few pieces (template a few comments above)

      4. waldo666
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Kane down and spend the cash after IB? Possibly on a defensive upgrade. Don't see too much wrong with your team really, I'm on a shocker this week too but have the likes of Perez and Jota.

        1. davies
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          And if Kane hauls?

          1. RyanMK
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Think for me it will depend on how the Spurs play vs whether Kane hauls or not. They haven't been great without Eriksen.

          2. waldo666
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            I'd still do it.

    16. Bruno Commando
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Which WC team is better? A vs B..

      WC team A:
      Pope // Button
      Dunk VVD* Digne* Walker* // Lund
      Salah* Sterling Mount KDB* // Cantwell
      Haller* Abraham* // Greenwood

      WC team B:
      Pope // Button
      Dunk TAA* Otamendi* Pieters* // Lund
      Mane* Sterling Mount Martial* // Canwell
      Kun* Pukki* // Greenwood

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Current team:
        Pope // Button
        Dunk VVD Digne Walker // Lund
        Salah Sterling Mount Perez // Dendoncker
        Kane Pukki // Greenwood

    17. kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      This season seems overly reactive with price changes.

      1. MagicMessi
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Makes one do transfer quickly to avoid another hit

      2. Kub3
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I think it will settle down in a weeks. It’s always like this at the beginning

    18. juho
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone with OR 1m+ finding it hard to climb up the ranks?

      This season, it seems like managers are making better transfer decisions

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Early days.

        1. juho
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks, TM.
          Hard to be patient at times

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            In a similar spot.
            Can easily halve that rank with a good GW.

      2. Ragabolly
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Not as crazy as you think to climb up, I was 2m+ before today and now I am 550k in one day.

      3. MagicMessi
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Also early chips usage

      4. Rojo's Modern Life
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Maybe you're not that good?

    19. Captain Blanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Is the LMS league still joinable? Just tried but the code didn't work.

      1. Ragabolly
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        It will re-open after the GW ends I think. But I am sure you have till January or so to join if you make the cutoffs

        1. Captain Blanks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          cheers

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Will be open after the update tonight for the 2 weeks.

    20. HellasLEAF
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling to KDB and those funds to upgrade a Cantwell or a Mount?

      Have Aguero. He looks to be the more worth it of the 12's right now at City.

      Have both but value/price of KDB very tempting to downgrade Sterling..

    21. HellasLEAF
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      One more

      Mount or James

      1. MagicMessi
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Mount

    22. Pukki Blinders
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Otamendi or Stones the better option if Laporte is out?

      1. MagicMessi
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Ota

    23. 1314
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      crazy that price changes has already happened while there's break coming..btw, which two would you go for out of these three :

      a) Barnes
      b) Haller
      c) Abraham

      1. MagicMessi
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Bc

      2. JohnBlack
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        AB

      3. Pukki Blinders
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        BC

    24. MagicMessi
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hello all hope you doing great...
      I would like to say that this site helped me a lot through years in terms of fixtures/team news/.....etc and also thoughts appreciated...
      So I just would like to share my thoughts with you :
      First Norwich has tough next 3 - city-.bur cry - so I would avoid including Pukki
      Second I think taking calculated hits are necessary all I want is green arrows and Ian happy long term too.
      For example I just did Pogba+Mina+Trezeguet >>>Salah+Lowton+Cantwell (didn't notice that Hayden is better 4.5 but its ok) just 0.0 itb
      I know I may regret but really happy with my team now as long as I'm getting green arrows
      Gwk5
      Hendo
      Dunk. Lowton. Guilbert (Kelly. Rico)
      Salah Sterling. KDB. Mount. (Cantwell)
      Haller. Kun. Joeilinton

      Sorry for the long post .. cheers

    25. Stupendous
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Laporte and Montoya to Kelly and TAA?

      Already have VVD but TAA is scary not owning

    26. Henryyy
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Best Laporte replacement 7m max? TAA?

      1. MagicMessi
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        TAA

        1. Kub3
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          TAA

    27. seewhyaxe
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      How many player do you guys left to play?

      Only left with Digne for me

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Same here, only Digne to go with 72 points (cough cough)

        1. seewhyaxe
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Wow impressive.

      2. MagicMessi
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Mina

      3. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Mina + Ceballos with 65