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. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Guys on wc
    A) kun maitlandNiles Mount
    B) Digne Abraham Pepe/kdb/son
    Already have sterling..

    Second option will give me atleast 0.6m itb also

    Pope button
    Taa zinchenko **** Kelly lund
    Salah sterling James cantwell *****
    Haller greenwood *****
    Replies will be helpful..

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

      B) kdb is involved in everything atm

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

      B.. Though I'd free up cash somewhere to upgrade Kelly and greenwood since you'll soon have no bench. Not sure where you'd downgrade though lol

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

        That what I told..0.6m itb can upgrade Kelly to a 4.5m even in the wildcard..

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

    How did pukki look yesterday? Looking good after mci match?

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He didn't get a scrap, Norwich were pretty poor.

    2. Party time
        4 years, 7 months ago

        looked pooky

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

        I'm just hoping Norwich haven't been found out by teams and their honeymoon period isn't over.

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

          That being said I've got 30 points from pukki in 3 games.. So even if he blanks for 3 more games il be happy since he'd have still got me a 6 ppg lol

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

            + few ££ too

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Did norwich look found out? Anyone see how West Ham managed to completely snuff them out or was it just a tried, poor performance from norwich?

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

        Average age of that def was below 22 I believe

        Theyll be back

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

      Can Kane, Digne, & Ceballos rescue my game week, had my worst score & biggest ever drop in three years of playing?

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

        Many have had all their players in action alredy, so its possible.

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

          Spewing, went from 100k to 1.2M in a day 🙁

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

            Oh snap. Sorry mate :/ have it like that as well, only half as bad: from 101K to 695k... kane and digne to go.

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

        Kane and Digne sure 🙂 captain?

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

          Sterling

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

      Is there any Chance Aguero to rise again once more before next gw?

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Wouldn’t surprise me

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

        Depends on NLD result.

    6. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      OR of 2037.

      Can only go one way from here unfortunately!

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

        Don’t count on it I dropped seven figures in one day!

        1. Not again Shirley
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Exactly. That’s what I mean.

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

      AWB looks like a mistake

      And suggestions up to 5.7?

      No other issues with the team really. Would get Barnes if the downgrade if AWB freed up more cash.

      Pope

      Trent Zin Digne AWB

      Salah Sterling KDB Mount

      Pukki Haller

      Usual assortment of bench fodder.

      1. Monkey Pits
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Matip. Or go for a 4.5 with good fix like Lowton and upgrade the mount trap

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

          Thanks mate was thinking of Lowton or Mings

      2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I would go Matip

    8. Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      So I have triggered my WC, I just couldn’t wait any longer:

      If Eriksen stays I’m seriously considering him at 8.8m

      Thoughts?

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

        I love int break wildcards. Could be a massive diff, but would like to see some upturn in form this gameweek

      2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah definitely. Could be a bargain

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

      I know its still a couple of weeks down the road, but who would you start?
      a) Pukki (MCI)
      b) Lundstram (SOU)

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

        Both tbh!

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

        Got a starting but edging towards b

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

        Only starting both if Martial doesn't recover, although this will be unlikely.

        1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          You sure martial will be back?

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

            He's already gone orange, and OGS said the IB will give the injury the rest that it needs.

    10. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Best AWB replacement? Upto 7.3m
      A) Matip
      B) Robbo
      C) Digne

      Others I have are TAA, Mina, Lundstram and Kelly

      1. Little fekirs
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Matip and use the cash elsewhere

    11. One Wheels Enough
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pep being outraged on the bench at Laportes injury is hillarious - maybe he she stop teaching his players to do 'professional' fouls to stop opponents counter attacking - serves him right...

      1. One Wheels Enough
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        he should

    12. rjcv177
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      2ft
      Awb and rash out?
      A) taa and barnes
      B) zinchenko and wilson
      C) other combos
      D) keep both expecting good result vs leicester

    13. dshv
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      What changes i have make?

      Heaton

      Vvd - robbo - digne - walker

      Salah - sterling - martial - mount

      Pukki - wilson

      Dendo, lund, green

      The question is about wilson, still with him and i think to trust him 3-4 weeks.
      Also who else to play lund over somebody from my starting eleven?

    14. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Any changes needed here? Hold on to WC for now?

      pope
      taa vvd digne dunk lund
      salah sterling mount
      kun pukki

      button cantwell dendo greenwood

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

      Should i wait to after the IB-matches to sub out Pérez or do it know?
      Who should i choose?