Scout Notes

Barnes blanks again as Brighton change tactics to stifle Burnley

Brighton 1-1 Burnley

Goals: Neal Maupay (£6.0m) | Jeff Hendrick (£5.4m)

Assists: Solly March (£4.9m) | Matej Vydra (£5.4m)

Bonus Points: March x3, Maupay x2, Hendrick x1

Ashley Barnes (£6.7m) blanked for the second match in a row as Burnley were forced to strike late to avoid defeat at Brighton on Saturday.

The Clarets started the match brightly but tailed off after Aaron Lennon‘s (£4.9m) 37th-minute effort.

After losing 3-0 to Liverpool in Gameweek 4, the international break did not do much to reinvigorate Sean Dyche’s side, who spent large portions of their time at the Amex Stadium on the back foot.

Barnes managed just a single shot, taken from outside the penalty box and falling off target. However, there may be mitigating factors for his bad day at the office.

Barnes has now blanked for two matches in a row

Brighton manager Graham Potter continues to prove himself a pragmatic tinkering tactician as he tweaked his side to negate Burnley’s strengths.

The former Swansea City boss went big at the back in an attempt to counter the Clarets’ long-ball capabilities, deploying Lewis Dunk (£4.6m), Shane Duffy (£5.0m) and Adam Webster (£4.4m) in the back-three and shifting six-foot-seven centre-back Dan Burn (£4.5m) out to left wing-back.

While Bernardo (£4.4m) missed out with a knock, Martin Montoya (£4.5m) was also absent with tonsilitis, which saw Solly March (£4.9m) to right wing-back, having spent most of the season on the opposite flank.

Even though Brighton’s defence has not looked to sure of itself this season, this was the first match in which they remained very tight for most of the afternoon, lasting until the 91st minute.

The very tall Dan Burn was shifted to left wing-back in order to counteract Burnley’s aerial threat

“Definitely not (asked if Brighton should move away from playing out from the back). Defensively we have only got one clean sheet and there have been times where we could have done better in avoiding goals, but there have been moments which have influenced the outcome. We don’t seem to be getting that bit of luck to consolidate positions at the moment. It’s hard to find the reasons for that some times. It’s hard to find why those patterns happen and sometimes you get the rub of the green and sometimes you don’t, so you have to just keep working hard until it changes.” – Mat Ryan

It was only after Dyche made a tactical change of his own that Brighton let their guard down. Chris Wood (£6.3m), who was quiet once again, was replaced by Jay Rodriguez (£5.7m) in the 66th-minute, while Matej Vydra (£5.4m) was added to the equation as a third centre-forward in the place of Jack Cork (£5.0m) in the 78th.

With Brighton set up to defend the skies, Vydra’s movement helped Burnley outmanoeuvre them on the ground, setting up fellow substitute Jeff Hendrick (£5.4m) place an effort beyond Mat Ryan (£4.6m) from outside the box.

That said, this situation is not one that the Clarets will have to face every week. With them hosting Norwich in Gameweek 6 and travelling to Aston Villa after that, there are certainly some fixtures that can perhaps return Barnes to his early-season goal-scoring form.

However, Dyche admitted that he might be tempted to make changes to his largely consistent team selection when he meets Norwich next weekend.

Referring to all three subs, Hendrick, Rodriguez and Vydra, he explained he was impressed with their impact on the game, which certainly should concern owners of Wood, perhaps Barnes less so.

“All three of them affected the game so I was pleased with that. I’ve told them there will be certain players (rotated), obviously defenders it doesn’t change as much, but you have to keep everyone involved. I think that’s the important thing here, we’ve always worked on a group mentality, so I want to keep everyone’s mind on it.” – Sean Dyche

“You can score in this league and all our strikers know that, it’s just about when it does come, you have to be ready to put it in the back of the net. I’m not worried about it. We’re playing good as a team, playing well as a strike partnership so I can’t be too down about it because I’m ready. Five years ago you’d get more worried about it but, for me, as long as the team’s creating chances, the goals will come. The stats are telling us the team’s creating a lot more chances than in previous seasons. It’s dropping to Barnesy at the moment and he’s finishing them fantastically so we can’t argue with that.” – Chris Wood

Maupay has benefitted from the departures of Locadia and Andone in terms of pitch-time

For most of the game, Brighton stretched Burnley’s back-line and will certainly feel unfortunate not to have taken all three points.

They achieved that with a front-three of Glenn Murray (£5.8m) and Pascal Groß (£6.5m) supporting Neal Maupay (£6.0m) who finally got his first home goal of the season.

The former Brentford man used his pace to cause Burnley problems while Murray and Groß spent much of the afternoon providing the ammunition for him.

Solly March’s versatility has been useful for Potter so far

Also crucial to Brighton’s attacking play was the effort of the versatile March. Capable of playing in a number of positions, including number 10 and winger, he was used as a right wing-back and it was his pass that set up Maupay for his goal.

While it is still frustrating to see him playing out-of-position as an FPL midfielder operating at wing-back, if he can get more involved in the goals for his team, March could still offer some value at £4.9m. Manager Potter believes there is more to come from him.

“When he has too much time to think, I’m not sure it’s the best for him. We spoke about that. I think he’s got talent, he’s a good player, he has got quality. He just needs to play with a bit of freedom. If you look at the last two or three games, he has played left wing-back, he has played right wing-back and he has played pretty much as an extra midfield player, as a ten. That tells you we think he is a football player and that he can play in a lot of positions. The key thing for him is he needs to contribute in the final third, the attacking third, more than he has because he has got the quality to do that. Obviously, it was nice for him to do that (on Saturday) and give support for Neal. But I think there is more to come from Solly.” – Graham Potter

Meanwhile, Yves Bissouma (£5.0m) edges closer to his first minutes of the season following a shoulder injury. He featured on the bench for the first time against Burnley but remained there as an unused substitute.

Once he is back to full speed in Potter’s mind, the Mali international should present an additional option to rotate in and out of the team for either Dale Stephens (£4.5m) or Davy Pröpper (£5.0m) when he wants to make tactical changes.

“I think it was more just to help him reintegrate with the group. It was good for him to be out there but, at the same time, with the way the game was going, I didn’t feel it was the right time to put him on.” – Graham Potter

Aaron Mooy (£4.9m) also awaits further game-time since signing for Brighton on loan from Huddersfield Town. There had been suggestions that he would come straight into the side and take over set pieces, but as yet, that has not occurred.

The Australian featured as an 80th-minute substitute in the place of Murray against Burnley and has just 15 minutes to his name in 2019/20. Compatriot Ryan believes he will feature more often at some stage, but it is not clear when that will be.

“(Mooy) is a quality player. He’s demonstrated that in the time he has had in the Premier League, for Australia and throughout his career. We are blessed to have quite some depth in the squad and he is working hard each day to try to make the most of the minutes he is getting. I am sure over the course of the season he is going to be right up there with the appearances. I am sure he will start some games here and there too but that is obviously up to the gaffer.” – Mat Ryan

Members Analysis

ACCESS THE MEMBERS AREA ENTRY FOR BRIGHTON VS BURNLEY

ACCESS THE MEMBERS AREA HOME PAGE

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-2-1): Ryan; Webster, Dunk, Duffy; Burn, Pröpper, D Stephens, March (Bong 90′); Murray (Mooy 80′), Groß; Maupay (Connolly 84′).

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Cork (Vydra 78′), Westwood, Lennon (Hendrick 59′); Wood (Rodriguez 66′), A Barnes.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 5

1,157 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Daniel Exeter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone considering a Mane Salah double up?

    Over a Mane + Sterling / Salah + Sterling?

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

      Fixtures for pool are a bit too tough

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        But they won the Champions League.

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't be bringing in Liverpool players at the moment

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I did that 🙂

      Salah, Mane and KDB.

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

      No. If I wanted a premium player to bring in at the moment, it'd be Son or Auba, and I certainly wouldn't sell Sterling for Mane.

      Alas, I have no room for more

      1. marcus2704
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I currently have Salah / Mane / Sterling / KDB in midfield. It leaves me short elsewhere for sure, but so far its been working very well for me.

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

    How's this WC team?
    Pope
    VVD,Rico,Lowton,Lundstram,Guilbert
    Mane,Son,KDB,Mount,Cantwell
    Aguero,Abraham,Pukki

    Obviously my main focus is attacking assets.

    1. BoomXhakaLaca1
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I like it

    2. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Aslong as you're happy with cantwell bench points

  3. Le Bluff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    RAHEEM STERLING

    I've just done a comparison on Sterling's AVERAGE performances across:

    A) GWs 1 - 2 (where Aguero played 86 out of 180 minutes)
    B) GWs 3 - 5 (where Aguero played 270 minutes)

    Sterling has played 90 minutes in every match.

    COMPARISON:

    A) In GWs 1 - 2, Sterling had an average of:

    - 5 Goal Attempts per 90 mins
    - 5 Goal Attempts In Box per 90 mins
    - 2.5 Big Chances per 90 mins
    - 18 Mins Per Attempt, per 90 mins
    - xG of 1.20 per 90 mins

    B) In GWs 3 - 5, Sterling has had an average of:

    - 2.7 Goal Attempts per 90 mins
    - 2 Goal Attempts In Box per 90 mins
    - 1 Big Chance per 90 mins
    - 33.8 Mins Per Attempt, per 90 mins
    - xG of 0.60 per 90 mins

    CONCLUSION:

    Although I understand this is a very limited dataset and Aguero was indeed partially involved in GWs 1 & 2, does this show that Aguero could be negatively affecting Sterling's FPL output? Sterling's 'Passes Received' heatmap also indicates that he receives the ball more as a Left Winger when Aguero is on the pitch compared to receiving the ball more as an Inside Left Forward when Aguero is not on the pitch, showing that Sterling is maybe asked to play wider when Aguero plays. The fixtures argument cannot really be used, as City played BRI, bou and nor respectively (all classed as favourable fixtures) in GWs 3-5, compared to whu and TOT in GWs 1-2.

    It may be too early to read anything into this, but I'll be keeping an eye on Sterling's performance and stats this weekend. Mendy's return could also affect this, as he may provide the width on City's left which will allow Sterling to push back inside.

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

      Aguero seems to be the better option

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      You're not the first person to say this but what about all the times they played together last season when Sterling did well?

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

        Exactly. Use a larger data set and the results are the opposite.

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tiny sample, but one to monitor.

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        September catchphrase!

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Nah - going with "Just wait for official news, it is pointless speculating" in response to the 50,000 Mount posts.

          1. Skonto Rigga
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I've managed to slip that into the latest article...

    4. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      not likely to be causative. players have good games and bad games, plus luck

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

      Think Sterling had a better Points per min for whole of last season which is a better indicator, although i could be wrong.

    6. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        But would have thought just those GW3-5 stats still put him around the top 5-10 per game

      • Wally banter
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        On another day against norwich, if Kun buried the cross from sterling and instead of woodwork if it had gone in,
        5+3+2+2 = 12 points, though iunderstand what you are mentioning, its largely due to zinchenko i think.
        Once mendy is back next week or so, MCI will mostly change to 3-5-2 with raheem/Jesus as one of the SS

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

      Best move here? Cheers

      A Martial Kane to Son Wilson
      B Kane to Auba

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

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

        A

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

        A

    8. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Is this tomori guy nailed?

    9. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      McGoldrick with a xG of 1.25 against Sheffield, wow, probably one of the biggest underperformances this season!

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        against Southampton ofc.

    10. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Why the love for Pope over Heaton?

      Just for the next few fixtures?

    11. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Best use of FT? 0.4 in bank. Or is it time to play wildcard?

      Pope
      VVD, Robbo, Digne
      Sterling, Salah, Dilva, Robinson, Mount (INJ)
      Pukki, Haller
      Heaton, Montoya (INJ), Greenwood, Kelly (INJ),

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

      Hmmm a wildcard team I’m pretty happy with has 4 mill in the bank

    13. 577cmot
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Thoughts on this 343 WC team?
      - Soy, Engels and Rico rotate nicely
      - May be light in midfield but want Auba

      Pope
      TAA, Digne, Soy (Engels, Rico)
      Sterling, Salah, Mount, Cantwell (Hayden)
      Auba, Pukki, Barnes

    14. And nothing else Mata'…
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Who is a better pick for the next 3-5 weeks:
      A) Aurier
      B) Maitland-Neils

      I don't like having Arsenal defender but M-N seems to be more nailed than Aurier?

    15. And nothing else Mata'…
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Bottomed:

      Who is a better pick for the next 3-5 weeks:
      A) Aurier
      B) Maitland-Neils

      I don't like having Arsenal defender but M-N seems to be more nailed than Aurier?

    16. And nothing else Mata'…
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Ship Coleman to:
      A) Aurier
      B) Otamendi
      C) Someone else