Scout Notes

The latest on Rashford and Greenwood as United flop away from home again

It is now seven away league games without a victory for Manchester United after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham United.

While the Red Devils admittedly had to face the likes of Arsenal and an in-form Everton in the 2018/19 run-in, they have so far failed to beat Wolves, Southampton and the Hammers on the road this season.

We reflect on their latest away-day display in our Scout Notes below.

West Ham United 2-0 Manchester United

  • Goals: Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.9m), Aaron Cresswell (£4.9m)
  • Assists: Felipe Anderson (£6.9m), Mark Noble (£5.0m)
  • Bonus: Yarmolenko x3, Cresswell x2, Lukasz Fabianski (£5.0m) x1

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that Marcus Rashford (£8.5m) may be “out for a little while” after the England striker limped out of Sunday’s defeat to West Ham.

Rashford, again leading the line in the absence of the sidelined Anthony Martial (£7.6m), lasted an hour of the match at the London Stadium before having to be replaced.

Solskjaer said after full-time:

We’ve got to scan him tomorrow, he felt his groin. He’ll probably be out for a little while but I can update you later on when I know that.

Those comments would perhaps excite owners of Mason Greenwood (£4.5m) given United’s dearth of fit options up top, although the Norwegian went on to say that Martial isn’t too far away from a return.

Greenwood himself failed to make the 18-man squad this afternoon because of a bout of tonsillitis, with Solskjaer saying after full-time:

Hopefully, Mason and Anthony will be back for – definitely Arsenal – hopefully, one of them for Rochdale.

There was further positive news from Solskjaer regarding his injury-hit United side, with the United boss saying about the absent Paul Pogba (£8.4m) ahead of kick-off:

Hopefully, we can get him back next week. He started training yesterday. Probably get some minutes against Rochdale, but definitely we think he’s ready for Arsenal.

The players that made it onto the pitch didn’t pose much of a danger in a stuttering display, with Rashford fairly anonymous up top save for a couple of threatening darts from wide areas.

Daniel James (£6.2m) had little joy on his favoured left flank, meanwhile, with his only shot on goal hitting the side netting late in the game.

United’s striking crisis was laid bare when the Wales international briefly had a spell up front late in the game – United’s makeshift front four in the last ten minutes consisting of James, Jesse Lingard (£6.4m), Andreas Pereira (£5.0m) and Angel Gomes (£4.9m).

The imminent return of Martial and Pogba may well have a galvanising effect, of course, and Pogba’s creativity has been sorely missed in central midfield – Nemanja Matic (£4.8m) turning in another sub-par display in his stead.

Solskjaer said of his side’s attacking performance:

We didn’t create enough chances, but we did create big chances that we didn’t take. They didn’t create too many either and it’s a game that could have gone both ways. When you have Marcus and Dan James I don’t think pace is the problem..

The two sides’ defences will be a topic of discussion after this fixture.

For Manchester United, this was another away match without a clean sheet but there have been hints that the Red Devils are capable of recording more shut-outs than they managed last season.

Solskjaer’s side were undone by a well-crafted Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.9m) strike and a stunning Aaron Cresswell (£4.9m) free-kick but didn’t allow the Hammers a single ‘big chance’ all match and their expected goals conceded tally is the lowest of all 20 Premier League sides this season.

The Red Devils, indeed, have only allowed one big chance away from home in 2019/20.

Certainly, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) put in another solid shift from a defensive perspective, even if his distribution was bordering on the woeful.

West Ham, meanwhile, have quietly gone about racking up three successive clean sheets.

One of the worst defences of 2018/19 have looked surprisingly solid in the last three Gameweeks, with Angelo Ogbonna (£4.5m) and Issa Diop‘s (£4.5m) partnership blooming at the heart of the Hammers’ backline.

The return of the all-action (and sometimes criticised) Mark Noble (£5.0m) can’t be underestimated, either, with defensive midfielder Declan Rice (£4.9m) having looked exposed alongside Jack Wilshere (£4.8m) in the first two Gameweeks of the season.

That’s not to say that West Ham haven’t ridden their luck in the last three Gameweeks: Todd Cantwell (£5.0m), Wesley (£6.0m) and Jack Grealish (£5.9m) had all had gilt-edged opportunities against Manuel Pellegrini’s side and today it was the turn of Juan Mata (£6.4m) and Harry Maguire (£5.5m) to spurn excellent chances, with Mata unable to convert a Pereira cross from close range and Maguire firing straight at Fabianski when unmarked.

One worry for West Ham’s backline would be a possible injury picked up by right-back Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m), who limped off with ten minutes to go.

Pellegrini said of his side’s performance:

Manchester United didn’t create too many chances, we tried to play high, to have good recovery and you must be happy when you score two goals and don’t concede.

For 45 minutes we perhaps played too fast, and both teams lost too many balls, so to score the first goal was a key factor to try and win the game.

I said at half-time if we continued to defend as we did in the first half, not just in our box, but force them to make mistakes immediately when they came into our half, then we are not going to concede too many opportunities. 

Sebastien Haller (£7.5m) wasn’t able to get much change out of Maguire but will have easier tests in the weeks ahead against less-solid backlines.

Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson (£6.9m) caught the eye, though, with the pair combining well for the Ukraine international’s goal and then Yarmolenko almost returning the favour in the second half.

In truth, this wasn’t a game for the attacking assets on show – which perhaps is a testament to the defensive improvement both sides have shown following a sub-par 2018/19.

West Ham United XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Fredericks (Zabaleta 79′), Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Rice; Yarmolenko (Snodgrass 88′), Fornals, Anderson (Wilshere 70′); Haller.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Young; Matic (Fred 70′), McTominay; Pereira, Mata (Gomes 80′) James; Rashford (Lingard 60′).

Members Analysis

Lessons learned from Gameweek 6:

3,161 Comments Post a Comment
  1. osceola31909
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Why was Mane taken off early today?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Dead leg

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

      did not track back with Azpi

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Was that not a knock?

  2. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Best combo on the WC. Please help me.

    A : Otamendi and Salah
    B : Otamendi and Mane ( with 1.2 ITB)
    C : VVD with Mane

    Closest to A, but really dont know how smart is to go without Liverpool defence.

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

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

      B

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

        a

  3. Ludde
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Barnes and Digne to Abraham and Soyuncu for a hit?

    1. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      not for a hit

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

      yes

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

    Help me out.

    Current defence is:
    VVD, AWB, Digne, Soyuncu, Lundstram

    I want to bring in Otamendi.
    A) AWB -> Otamendi
    B) Digne -> Otamendi (would allow me to upgrade VVd to TAA, can’t do that with A)

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

      A

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

      where is taa?

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        See option B

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

          ok b then

  5. FPL FREAK
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Should I do Digne> Otamendi for -4...?? Cuz otamendi is rising tonight and if he rises then I can't afford him... Next week I need to get Mason mount...

    My defence:

    Pope. Button.
    TAA. Digne. Engels. Lundstram. Rico..

    What u say..?

    1. FPL FREAK
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Guys..?? Anyone..??

      1. Baked baines
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not for a hit

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

      Absolutely! I would!

  6. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Average score for this gw?

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

    Which is better A or B?

    A) Son + Salah + Otamendi + Tomori

    B) Sterling + Mane + Guilbert + Rico

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

      Tricky. A gives you three premium players. But owning Sterling for next game could be gold.

      Please help below thanks.

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

      A

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

    Haller to C.Wilson or Abraham?

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

      Abraham for the fixtures and explosiveness

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

        And ownership too I guess. But Wilson also nice fixtures next four.

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

      Abraham

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

        Please can you say why?

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

    "Aubameyang is responsible for penalties," Emery confirmed. "Also Lacazette, [it] is a very big decision from Aubameyang to let Pepe shoot to give him confidence and the possibility to score. Really, the responsibility is Aubameyang and I was happy when I saw that decision." #AFC

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      wow very nice from Auba
      I still remember the first GW, Sterling scored 2, he wanted that penalty to complete hattrick but Kun didnt accept it ))

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thats why Kun wins trophies

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Auba is an idiot for letting Pepe take it.

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        lol

      2. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Completely agree.

    3. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wow, what a nice guy, my captain...

  10. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Sterling > KdB for free?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      should be done 5 gw ago

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        True. But now?

        1. OPTA FPL
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          must have
          could be other player out but you have to get him

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

      no way.

  11. YoungPretender
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Thinking Haller & Zinchenko > Abraham & Soyuncu/Otamendi for free?

    If so, Soy or Ota?

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

      I like that. Woudl prefer Ota, but if you need the cash there is nothing wrong with Soy instead

  12. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What about this wc?

    Pope Button
    Otamendi Soyuncu Tomori Lundstram Rico
    Mane KDB Son Cantwell Guendouzi
    Auba Kun Grenwood

    1. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Only 1 city attacker, no TAA

      Start again

      1. Pras (FPL)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Sorry didn’t see Kun. Looks fine l.

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I am curenntly on this, no Kun but has TAA. So it is between them basicly

          Pope Button
          TAA Soyuncu Lundstram Rico Guilbert
          Salah KDB Son Cantwell Saka/Choudhury
          Auba Tammy Pukki

  13. El Magico5
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Tammy injured?

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      no, hes fine said franky

  14. Twisted Melon
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    KWP to Aurier - 4? Have Cantwell first sub but price drop looks likely for kwp

  15. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pukki plus James plus Cantwell plus Salah plus Barnes plus Abraham....
    15 points.

    Or

    Simply Otamendi.
    By Calvin Klein

  16. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Despite all having away fixtures, (bar Tammy), happy with my team for next week:

    Pope
    TAA / VVD / Otamendi
    Salah / Sterling / KDB / Cantwell
    Abraham / Pukki / Barnes

    Button // Kelly / Dendoncker / Montoya

    Let's see what problems & captain conundrums the week brings.

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Salah C !

  17. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Who should I sell to fund Greenwood > Abraham?

    A. Digne
    B. VVD

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Soyunca
    Mane KDB Mount James
    Aguero Abraham Pukki
    Button Lundstram Geundouzi

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      B as you already have TAA

  18. Freaki
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Mane injury!

    1. Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      How bad?

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        his leg is dead so probably 5 months only, nothing serious.

        1. OPTA FPL
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          lol

      2. MTPockets
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Klopp said: “Sadio has a knock on the bone around the knee and a dead leg. It's an awful combination. “He tried everything but there was one counter situation when he really tried, on a non-dead leg day he'd have got the ball, but we had to say 'come on now' and made the change."
          https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sadio-mane-injury-confirmed-jurgen-16963333

          1. CRO KLOPP
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Non dead leg day hahahhaa

    2. Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Is Auba worth losing this week alone for Vardy or Kane?

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

        crazy

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

        Havnt seen the United game but id say no keep Auba

      3. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I'm going on WC with Kane but switching him for Auba in GW 8

    3. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      How do these moves look?
      Pope Button
      Digne Trent Ota Lundy Soy
      KDB Mount Cantwell Rich Hayden
      Auba Kun Vardy

      Digne Rich Vardy - Aurier Son Abraham -4?

      Want Son and Abraham but seems strange losing Vardy

      1. Baked baines
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        You do realise Vardy has Newcastle at home next don t you!?

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

      What to do here??

      Pope
      Robertson VVD Digne Lundstram
      Salah Sterling KDB Mount
      Barnes Pukki

      Button Rico Dendoncker Greenwood

      1 FT, 1.0 ITB

      1. Barnes >> Abraham
      2. Digne >> Otamendi
      3. Dendoncker >> Cantwell
      4. Other

      Thanks

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

        1

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

      Zinch -> Otamendi obvious now?

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

        Pope Button
        TAA Zinch Digne Pieters Lundstram
        Salah Sterling KDB Mount Cantwell
        Wilson Pukki Greenwood

        2 FT, 0.3 ITB

      2. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yes

      3. JT11fc
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Ye easy switch

    6. Freaki
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Buendia to Lamela ( already have pukki and cantwell)

      1. Freaki
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        ??

      2. Goat
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I’ve 0 Norwich and I feel good.

        1. Freaki
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          How can you name yourself Goat without The Goat Pukki and King Cantwell

      3. JT11fc
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        If you think hes nailed yes, not alot of options for 6mil

    7. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Which striker to bring in next week? (Already own aguero)

      A) Aubameyang
      B) Kane

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

        a

      2. Goat
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        B. Then to A the following week

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

      Went form 200k to 900k last week and now up to 70k. This game is insane

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

        well played

    9. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      RMWCT

      Pope
      TAA, Otamendi, Soyuncu
      Mane, KDB, Maddison, Mount
      Abraham, Pukki, Aguero

      Button, Cantwell, Rico, Lundstram

      Thanks!

      1. Goat
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        8. I’m on WC and mine is 10/10 so close enough

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

        As good as it get's!

      3. Pras (FPL)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Would rather have Sterling than Kun on WC. Sterling has had his rest now.

        Can you fit in Son?

    10. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      a. Sterling and Haller
      Or
      b. Fanderson and Aguero

      ???

      1. Goat
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        C. No west ham

        1. Goat
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I vote C

          1. Boss Hogg
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Haha. Thanks!

    11. Party time
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Just logged back into my team! 14(-8) confirmed all out. Glory days

        1. CRO KLOPP
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          How's that possible?

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

          Ouch

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

          pray you get hacked

          1. Party time
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Got hacked but the hacker changed it back to my password, after he saw my juicy points Shame on him/her!

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

          Worth it to do Dendoncker and Digne -> Mount and max 5.8 def (-4)?

          If yes, which max 5.8 def? (Otamendi not an option as I have Zinch, KDB and Sterling)

          1) Aurier
          2) Tomori
          3) Soy
          4) Other Max 5.8 def?
          5) Just do Zinch -> Otamendi

        5. Ci Siamo
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          How bad is the Madison injury?

          1. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Nothing, he stayed on the pitch for the last 7-8 minutes after being checked out by physios