Scout Notes

Form and fixtures aligning for Wilson as clean sheets dry up for Everton

Having scrutinised Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Watford, our next Scout Notes article focuses on the other Premier League match to take place on Sunday.

We assess what the match at the Vitality Stadium meant for owners of Bournemouth and Everton assets.

Bournemouth 3-1 Everton

  • Goals: Callum Wilson (£7.8m) x2, Ryan Fraser (£7.3m) | Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.8m)
  • Assists: Joshua King (£6.3m) x2, Diego Rico (£4.0m) | Richarlison (£7.9m)
  • Bonus: Wilson x3, King x2, Fraser x1

The list of bonus point awardees at Bournemouth yesterday had a distinctly 2018/19 feel about it, with Callum Wilson (£7.8m), Joshua King (£6.3m) and Ryan Fraser (£7.3m) all being rewarded for their attacking returns against Everton.

It was the first time this calendar year that all three of Bournemouth’s key mid-price assets had delivered FPL returns in the same match and the points were a nice reward for Fantasy managers who had kept faith amid the mass exodus of the last month.

The afternoon had started in a less-than-positive manner for owners of Fraser and King, however, with the former dropped to the bench and the latter shunted out to the left flank to accommodate Dominic Solanke‘s (£5.4m) promotion to the starting XI alongside Wilson.

The Norway international duly responded with perhaps his best performance of the season, with his pace and powerful runs down the wing causing problems for Seamus Coleman (£5.5m).

It was from one of King’s surges forward that Bournemouth ultimately retook the lead on 66 minutes: the free-kick that arose from Richarlison‘s (£7.9m) foul on the Norwegian being converted – via a deflection – by Fraser.

King had provided the assist for Wilson’s first goal, too, heading a corner back across to his erstwhile strike partner.

As superbly as King played (he registered more key passes and take-ons than anyone on show), we Fantasy managers ultimately don’t want our forwards to be playing out on the left flank.

King’s only attempt on goal was a fairly innocuous header in the first half and the concern from an owners’ perspective would be that he performed so well out wide, Howe may consider him in that position more often.

Whether the Cherries’ boss saw enough to deem Solanke a first-team regular up front is another question, with the former Liverpool striker causing Everton plenty of problems and showing signs of a decent understanding with Wilson but again failing to break his goal drought – Solanke has yet to score a goal for the south coast club since joining in January, although admittedly hasn’t been given much of a run in the starting XI.

With King performing admirably on the left, Fraser’s remaining owners might be a little concerned about his security of starts.

The Scot is capable of playing on either flank, though, and it was the anonymous Harry Wilson (£6.0m) he replaced, rather than Solanke or King, in the second half.

Explaining his team selection and Fraser’s impact, Howe said:

I was really pleased. It was 1-1 and we hadn’t started the second half particularly well. I felt we needed his enthusiasm, energy and quality. When he came on, I thought he made a huge difference to the team.

I wanted to play Dominic Solanke after his impressive cameo against Leicester. He deserved to start so someone had to miss out and, unfortunately for Ryan, it was him. But I think you saw by his reaction what an impressive professional he is and he made the difference.

As for the more popular Wilson, Bournemouth’s upper-mid-price forward is now one of only three Fantasy assets who is yet to blank so far this season.

Five FPL strikers have still scored more points than the England international and three are proving better value for money (based on points per million spent) but Wilson is quietly continuing to deliver and faces some excellent fixtures from Gameweeks 7-10: Bournemouth take on West Ham, Arsenal, Norwich and Watford over this period, four of the least convincing defences in the division and who have kept only two clean sheets between them.

This game saw the return of Lewis Cook (£5.0m) in central midfield after a nine-month absence and, while he is not much of a Fantasy asset in his own right, his composure on the ball may well be beneficial to the players ahead of him, who have had to contend with more limited options in the middle of the park so far in 2019.

Howe said of Cook’s return:

It was hugely impressive. He’s missed a lot of football and he has done everything right in his recovery. He really had put the yards in.

I never have seen a player run as much as he has in his recovery. We have really taken our time with him, we haven’t rushed him.

He has had two behind-closed-doors games and looked really good in those games. That’s why I selected him off the back of those performances in those matches.

He handles the ball in any situation and you saw early in the match how he manipulated himself out of some really difficult holes.

That’s full credit to him and the type of player he is. He is very much the modern-day centre midfield player and we are just pleased to get him back now.

We hope he stays fit and available for us and gets back to the levels he was consistently before, because he was a huge part of our team.

With Adam Smith (£4.4m) carrying a hamstring injury, Jack Stacey (£4.4m) was given his first start at right-back and coped well with the threat of Alex Iwobi (£5.9m).

Fantasy managers would have been more interested in who lined up on the opposite flank, with Diego Rico (£4.0m) getting his first start since Gameweek 1 and going on to record the assist for Wilson’s second goal.

It looks unlikely that the budget FPL defender will become a first-team regular at left-back, though, with summer signing Lloyd Kelly (£4.4m) now back in training and Smith’s injury (the right-back deputised on the opposite side of the pitch for several games last season) not a long-term one.

Rico indeed perhaps only played on Sunday because Nathan Ake (£4.9m) – who played at left-back in Gameweek 4 – was needed at centre-half, with Chris Mepham (£4.5m) not quite fit enough to start after returning from international duty with an injury.

As for Everton, this was another away match without a victory (their third of the season) and the concern for owners of Lucas Digne (£6.2m) and co. is that the clean sheets have started to dry up – although they are not alone in that regard in the top flight this season.

The Toffees have now conceded as many goals in their last three league games as they had in the previous 13, with two of Bournemouth’s strikes on Sunday coming from set plays.

Marco Silva said after the game:

It’s a disappointing result, of course. We didn’t deserve more after the mistakes. We conceded the three goals so easy. I don’t want to take away the credit from Bournemouth but it was our fault. We had good offensive moments in the game but the way we conceded the goals made a big impact.

We reacted well to their first goal. We started the second half doing what we planned, creating dangerous chances around their box but then they scored from one mistake from a set piece and were clinical.

We have to become again that solid team that we were towards the end of last season and at the start of the season when we had 10 clean sheets in 13 games. We created chances and should have scored more but when you defend like that you are not going to win the game.

It was a lack of focus. We addressed these type of moments last season. We were solid at the start of this season and we need to be more solid again. It’s something we must address as fast as we can. We’ve been a solid team before and I don’t see any reasons why we can’t be again.

The positive news is that the Toffees next host Sheffield United, who have had fewer shots on target than any other club in the division.

Digne’s attacking returns can often compensate for a loss of clean sheets, of course, and he was prominent in the attacking third at the Vitality Stadium, even if his crossing wasn’t at its usual high standard.

The Frenchman, who briefly looked like he was struggling with an injury midway through the second half, still carved out presentable chances for Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.8m) and there needn’t be any reason to panic just yet despite this first duck egg of the season.

Sigurdsson and Iwobi were unable to follow up their impressive displays against Wolves with anything of note on Sunday but the in-form Richarlison certainly looked threatening before fatigue caught up with him in the second half.

The Brazil international, who had played for his country in the early hours of Wednesday morning, had cracked the bar with a dipping 18th-minute effort and probably should have done better when nodding Digne’s cross wide later in the first half.

Richarlison turned provider for Everton’s only goal of the match, producing a teasing cross that Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.8m) headed in via the underside of the bar.

Calvert-Lewin’s recall up front would have been a blow to those Fantasy managers who took a punt on Moise Kean (£6.7m) and the centre-forward spot looks to be unsettled at present, particularly as Calvert-Lewin responded to his Gameweek 4 benching with a much-improved display here.

The England under-21’s international’s work rate almost led to further goals, with the hosts’ impressive Aaron Ramsdale (£4.5m) having to twice thwart Calvert-Lewin following errors from his teammates upfield.

Andre Gomes (£5.4m) missed this match with a rib injury, with Silva saying:

He felt something after the Wolves match. He tried to work during the week but in the last days, he felt it again.

It’s the ribs. It’s something we will have to see day by day how he recovers from that situation. What we want to do is get him ready as fast as we can.

Members’ Analysis


Bournemouth XI (4-4-2): Ramsdale; Stacey, S Cook, Ake, Rico (Mepham 90′); King, L Cook (Lerma 77′), Billing, H Wilson (Fraser 57′); Solanke, C Wilson.

Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Schneiderlin, Delph; Richarlison (Walcott 81′), Sigurdsson (Kean 71′), Iwobi; Calvert-Lewin (Bernard 71′).

561 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tyron
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    anyone knows that feeling when they wildcard out of the "need" for a player/s and their original team does way better than the wildcard xi. SMH i hate this game sometimes. but need to recover quickly

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      yes happened to me a few times, also last seaosn took a -12 which and evryone I took out got braces and stuff. In one game week I dropped 1.7million places and I never recovered from it -_-
      It was the worst move I ever made in fantasy. I cant remember the details but I ditched in form players for players with good fixtures.
      This season im all about form unless the fixtures are terrible

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

        Is there even such thing as terrible fixture for any decent attack atm. Pukki has scored against Mci, Liv and Che. Even Cantwell has two goals against those teams. Wolves were supposed to have pretty solid defence.

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          depends the player really, someone like Pukki with his current form I trust to score vs anyone. Not many players in that category or form tho

      2. tyron
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        wow sounds hurtful bro. its hard to maintain composure when these things happens. i feel the frustration. have u learned from that this season though? i hope

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          yea, as i said i focus on form now over fixtures. What made that partiicular move worse is the following week I took another hit or two to try bring some of those players back and it got even worse LOL
          Hence why I said to you sit tight 😀

          1. tyron
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            thanks man well this is the team that has me in a disastrous position right now in case u wondering

            heaton
            taa digne lowton (lunds rico)
            salah sterling silva cantwell ceballos
            aguero barnes (greenwood)

            saving and "sitting tight" until gw 7

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

      One "rule" should help imo:

      "Never transfer any player in based on one good gw"

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        and try not to transfer out one who just got you points

        1. Gooner Kebab
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          i kept Vardy a week too long on this logic

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            ah so did I even though my gut said he wouldnt get much vs Man U. Still prefer to get a blank then him get a haul when I dont have him tho
            What swayed my decision to keep him was people saying he is good vs strong teams, and many were considering bringing him in on wc. Shouldnt gone with my instinct tho, and Man U dont lose that fixture tbh. I knew that..

    3. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I feel this will be felt next week by those who get Sterling out

      1. tyron
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        hmmmm i hope so ahah cuz i aint selling

  2. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Auba OR Sterling on WC?

    Can afford only one. Will be captained most of the time

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

      Auba until laccas return

    2. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Sterling.

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

      Why not both? Auba, KdB, Son, Sterling/Mane/Salah is doable on wc imo.

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        One of Mane/Salah has to be there.

        That leaves out one of Auba/Sterling/Son

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

    Adrian
    AWB Digne Zin
    Sterling Mane Martial Mount
    Auba (c) Tammy Pukki

    Cantwell Lund Kelly

    Wud u do (martial mount AWB) to (son Deb Vertonghen) ??

    Thanks in advance

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't want to lose Mount so can't see an easy way to get Son for you unless you were to do Sterling to KDB and Martial to Son?

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

        I wudnt want to lose martial either - so can I afford leave son out of my team 🙂

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Then it's a case of 'you can't have them all' - got a great front 7 there.

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

            Thnx mate I will stick to these front 7 for 4 more GWs and then see how it goes

  4. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    A bit (a lot) top heavy here. Any ideas to get a better balance?

    Ederson/ Button
    VVD/ Coleman/ Aurier/ Lowton/ Lund
    Sterling/ Martial/ James/ Mount/ Dendonker
    Aguero/ Firmino/ Pukki

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

      Sterling Martial James to KDB son lanzini

      1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Ooh. That does sound nice...

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Aguero + Martial/James --> Tammy + KDB/Son

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

        Tammy, KdB, Son imo. I wouldn't trust Firmino with these fixtures.

        1. Karhumies
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          You need one of Firmino/Salah/Mane, though. Liverpool has 5 wins in a row. Feels silly not to have any attacking players from them regardless of their fixtures.

  5. tyron
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    For now though, just try and sit tight. It's still such early days. Man City have a glorious run of fixtures and could easily hammer Watford this weekend. Sometimes the best (but hardest) thing is to do nothing with your FPL team. And try to focus on something else this week - i.e. enjoy the Champions League matches. - Balfy

    some of the best advice i got here for a while. thanks guys

  6. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Any thoughts on who the best captaincy option in each of the next 4 GWs is. For me it is something like:

    GW6 - Aguero/Sterling (WAT) or Auba (AVL)
    GW7 - Son (SOT)
    GW8 - Auba (BOU)
    GW9 - Son (WAT)

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

      Auba every week other than for the game at OT

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

    selling aguero before watford is an absolute no no for me especially after that norwich embarrassment.

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

    Pope 4.0

    Rico Lund Soy Guilbert Kelly

    Salah Sterling KDB Mount Cantwell

    Pukki Kun Tammy

    0 No money left

    With 2 transfers in the good position of can’t see what to change do I just lose my transfer ?

    Or do Guilbert to yoshida ?

    1. Mobydeus30
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Same team except guilbert/hamlet,same 2 FT,same 0 ITB. Money for defense no,to change someone upfront seems madness.wait for CL and chill

      1. Mobydeus30
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Hanley autocorrect

    2. Mintu
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Mount to someone 4.5 mid and upgrade kelly

  9. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on Eriksen @8.8??

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

      How much did he get against palace?

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        You wouldn't define him on one game right?
        Lad has set pieces and has done well in his last 3 seasons (Outscored Son as well)

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

          I mean he hasn't been starting due to contract issues so is he at his best mentally?

          1. Weeb Kakashi
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Get it. With the transfer window closed now i think the issue is sorted.

            Only a matter of time he gets back to his usual self. Has 10 shots till now. At 8.8 he is good value

  10. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Best move here? Cheers

    A. Kane to Auba
    B. Martial / Kane to Son / Haller (+ 1.3m)

    Pope
    TAA - Digne - Zinch - Lund - Montoya
    Sterling - KDB - Martial - Mount - Cantwell
    Kane - Pukki - Tammy

    Cheers

    1. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      1 FT A, 2 FT B.

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

      Tough one really, but extra money would make me go for B. Then I would upgrade defence

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers

  11. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on Martial on WC if fit?

    1. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        There are so many decent picks that aren't Martial

      • Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        avoid like the plague

      • De Gea Van Dijk. 10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        You must have Tammy then.

    2. KennyKickIt127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Hi all,

      Currently contemplating a couple of transfers for the upcoming 6/7 matches.

      This is my current side:

      Pope Heaton
      AWB Boly Dunk Diop Lund
      Salah Sterling KDB James Dendonk
      Pukki Haller King

      I Have 1FT and 2.2 ITB

      I am contemplating doing Salah + King > Auba + Son .... Worth it?

      I could also do a potential 3rd transfer .... maybe Mount for James or a better defender?

      Any advice welcome.

      Thanks

      1. Champagne supernova
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        salah➡️Mane is better

        1. KennyKickIt127
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Agreed I’d love to have Mane but considering the fixtures, it’s crucial to have Auba I feel ... and mane doesn’t quite fund getting him in

    3. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I probably would

    4. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Best Gw to Wc this.

      Money to be made, will be a few good risers.