Scout Notes

Another home blank for Abraham but chances continue to arrive

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle United

  • Goals: Marcos Alonso (£6.2m)
  • Assists: Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m)
  • Bonus: Alonso, Hudson-Odoi x3, Kurt Zouma (£4.7m) x1

Chelsea continued their impressive start to the 2019/20 Premier League season with a hard-fought victory over Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United, a result that lifts Frank Lampard’s side into third.

The Magpies came into the game having secured upsets against ‘big six’ opposition in the current campaign – namely Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – yet the compact system deployed by Bruce fell marginally short of its intended ambition with Lampard’s side battling to a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. 

Although another clean sheet for Chelsea will be pleasing for owners of players such as Fikayo Tomori (£4.7m), who has emerged as a starting budget defender under Lampard, this was an afternoon of sheer disappointment for owners of the highly-popular Tammy Abraham (£7.7m) – the most popular selection in our Gameweek 9 captaincy poll with over 30% of the vote. 

Abraham squandered a number of golden chances, including hitting the bar and being denied when in on goal with just DeAndre Yedlin (£4.4m) to beat, but the American defender put in a remarkable block to deny the England striker any attacking returns. 

In a Gameweek where a number of non-premium forwards attracted considerable captaincy interest, including Callum Wilson (£8.0m) against Norwich who also blanked, Abraham’s performance will be a source of considerable frustration for managers who handed the mid-price striker the armband. 

This was the England striker’s fourth blank in five home matches this season.

Although Abraham was unable to get on the scoresheet, defender Marcos Alonso (£6.2m) delivered a goalscoring performance that was a reminder of the Spaniard’s attacking abilities, even if he is unable to reach the standards he has previously set for himself in the Premier League. 

Alonso’s goal came after Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m) set up the defender, and the performance from the 18-year-old will have given his manager food for thought after yet another assist. 

This was Hudson Odoi’s second successive start for the Blues in the league, and including his substitute appearance against Brighton in Gameweek 7, the forward has now registered three consecutive assists in the Premier League. 

Given the competition for places in Chelsea’s squad alongside the form that the likes of Willian (£7.0m) are exhibiting, it is difficult to determine whether Hudson-Odoi is likely to retain his starting berth in the Chelsea XI.

Yet at a price of £6.0m, the England international’s performances are certainly worthy of monitoring for Fantasy managers who may be looking for a differential to complement the likes of Abraham. 

Lampard confirmed how pleased he was with Chelsea’s attacking performance in his post-match comments. 

We were upbeat, we had urgency, the tempo was good, and that got us the win. We want to score goals. You can see the fans – I think they’re happy with what they’re seeing at the moment. We want more.

Although lately it has been Mason Mount (£6.8m) who has been grabbing the headlines with four goals and an assist so far this season, in the game against Newcastle the Englishman was unable to deliver any attacking returns and was substituted by Lampard in the 64th minute at the expense of Christian Pulisic (£7.2m). 

Ross Barkley (£5.6m) left the pitch in the 43rd minute, with Mateo Kovacic (£5.4m) coming on in his place, and Lampard confirmed after the game it was an ankle injury and it will be assessed in the coming days. 

It’s an ankle injury. We need to assess it and see how bad it is.

For Chelsea’s defence, although Newcastle seldom troubled their backline, a second clean sheet in two games and just one goal conceded in their last three will be promising news to those managers in ownership of their defensive assets, although Tomori was booked late on to reduce his score to five points. 

Whilst Chelsea will be ruing both their misfortune and inefficiency in front of goal, this was a defeat for Newcastle that underlines the disinterest in their players as Fantasy options in 2019/20. 

A lack of attacking returns has become a familiar tale on Tyneside in the current campaign, and unless Bruce is willing to compromise the Benitez-esque tactical principles whilst playing away from home against typically ‘bigger’ sides, the likes of Joelinton (£5.8m) are unlikely to prosper within Newcastle’s set-up – despite the Brazilian scoring against Spurs in Gameweek 3 when a similar counter-attacking system was deployed away from home. 

Easier tests await though and Bruce confirmed in his post-match comments that the upcoming run of fixtures for Newcastle will be hugely influential in determining the outcome of their 2019/20 campaign:

We’ve had a really tough start. We’ve now got a run of games against teams who are going to be in and around us. Hopefully, we can get a few points.

A fifth successive win for Chelsea points to the momentum they are gathering under Lampard, and although today marked a blank for Abraham, those managers in ownership of the striker should not be deterred the lack of returns in today’s fixture. 

The Englishman was both the creator and recipient of a number of chances throughout the game, and given his price, he is likely to continue to offer exceptional value as an attacking option at an in-form team who now sit third in the Premier League table. 

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Alonso, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta; Jorginho, Barkley (Kovacic 43′); Hudson-Odoi (James 90+2′) Mount (Pulisic 64”), Willian; Abraham.

Newcastle United XI (3-4-3): Dubravka; Clark, Lascelles, Schär; Willems, M Longstaff, S Longstaff, Yedlin; Saint-Maximin (Gayle 85′), Joelinton (Atsu 83′), Almirón (Carroll 70′).

Members Analysis 

Players involved in Chelsea v Newcastle United sorted by expected goals (xG)

Abraham was the second-highest underachiever of xG (-0.66) of all players involved in Gameweek 9, behind only Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi (-0.73). 

Players involved in Chelsea v Newcastle United sorted by chances created (CC)

Hudson-Odoi created the most chances (five) of all players on the pitch, whilst also registering the highest baseline bonus points score (23) of all midfielders in action on Saturday in Gamweek 9. 

Players involved in Chelsea v Newcastle United sorted by attempts on goal

Willian posted some eye-catching numbers, creating three chances and matching Abraham for attempts on goal.

Alonso’s total of six penalty box touches is the second-highest among FPL defenders in Gameweek 9 so far. Since his return to the Chelsea team in Gameweek 5, no defender has registered more touches in the opposition area.

Team-wise, Chelsea won the joint-most aerial duals (24) of all teams in action on Saturday. This again underscores Newcastle’s weakness in the air – only Norwich have allowed more headed chances than the Magpies (29) this season.

Analyse player and team data from Chelsea v Newcastle in our Members Area.

929 Comments Post a Comment
  1. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    *checking who subs-on for Salah*

    Soy coming off my bench. 🙁

  2. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    BREAKING: Manchester United have been dealt another huge blow as Ashley Young's bunny Mohamed Salah is not passed fit to play

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

    Just arrived, why's Salah missing?

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Still carrying the knock I presume

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

      Missed the bus up

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

    No Salah = jammy Rico points for my mini league rivals. I can never win against them; they get jammy points every GW now.

    1. HTL
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Rico is my second sub behind Lundstram. Cocked up there

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

        Bad luck! Who is Lundstram coming in for?

        1. HTL
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Salah

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

            Being an Arsenal fan, I fully expect Sheffield Utd to destroy Arsenal. Lundstram might get something tomorrow!

    2. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Agreed mate I’m top but the guys second in my league had Jesus captain, Bilva and Dilva where’s I have Sterling and KDB like normal managers haha

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

        He sounds fun.

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

        It's just so typical, isn't it! There are a few Dilva owners in my league as well.

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          It is mate!!! We put all our effort and time into this, whereas they just pick a random team, that’s every couple of weeks explodes and claws back the points we have gained through our guile and research haha

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

            Indeed, it really makes you question the time spent planning and researching! A couple of my rivals like taking hits for fun, yet they're not far behind me in the league. It's incredible really.

  5. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Surely no one still owns Salah over Mane though? Maybe some casuals?

  6. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    All I am asking for now is a Mane RC. Not so difficult right?

  7. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sandstorm up there with Mili ringing Dusans mate to tell him Zaha isn’t starting 😆

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Klopp on Salah

    "I don't know where it came from when people said he would play today. Absolutely no chance. People want to make information. Maybe for Wednesday we will see"

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      In fairness his presser was pretty clear

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Maybe you should have ruled him out then you German hipster

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He's such a clown.

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

      Nice of him to mention it in the presser.

    4. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      It came from sandstorms mate.

    5. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Why couldn't he have said this on Friday

    6. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ole’s at the wheel of a bus today ! Nice chunky 541

    7. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Fergie has named a pretty defensive side for a home game...

    8. fusen
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      going on and on about having the real leaked team, to then get it completely wrong.

      People don't half make themselves look stupid.

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

        He’s only taking the piss.

        Those believing are the ones looking stupid.

      2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        It's for internet clout, best to just ignore

    9. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah to Sterling without doubt now

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Why? Seen Sterlings returns?

      2. Pia06rc
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

    10. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Has Martial been on the bench since the injury or is this one step in the right direction for him?

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

        First time back.

      2. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        First time.

      3. teneighty
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers guys. If he gets a cameo and doesn't hur himself again I might punt on him next weekend.

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

      Why no Salah?

      1. Dennis System
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Klopp has Rico on bench

    12. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Otamendi, King, Yarmolenko, Salah, Aguero (c)

      Go me 😎

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Really?

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Really

      2. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Who's your VC?

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Tammy

          1. badgerboy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Ah. At least the average this week has been pretty low.

      3. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Damn. That is unlucky. Yet people say there is no luck in FPL. They are wrong IMO.

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

          Who says there isn't luck?!

          1. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            If you read the comments of people riding high in the Top 20k (or similar) and particularly those who have a lot of Top 20k finishes, they always go on about how it is all skill.

            1. badgerboy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              It's skill when it's going well and bad luck when it's not.

            2. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              It's about 60 to 70 pct luck, the rest skill.

        2. Granville
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Who said that? There is a huge amount of luck involved every week.

        3. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          No one said that.

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

        That is rough!

        VC'd Vardy and just need Trent and Mane to go wild and Lund to give another of those hauls.

        Not too much to ask for 😀

      5. mad_beer ✅
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        At least you got the King and Yarm 1 pointers.

      6. DF
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Barnes, Salah (c), Kun, Otamendi.
        With Saka as a sub.
        Tough week. Tough season.

      7. seewhyaxe
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        wow, I feel you pal.

        Here's an upvote.

      8. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        It's good time to have a crap gameweek. If Sadio and Pierre blank average score won't be much higher.

    13. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Like that Tuanzebe is in midfield for Man Utd. He is more mobile than Matic and relieves Pogba (when playing) of his defensive duty. Only shame is that Martial and Shaw aren't fit so Pereira and Young are playing.

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        5 at the back I reckon, only 2 midfielders

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

      Our team is complete dross.

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Starting with Fred....

    15. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks like I was right

    16. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Where's that guy who claimed he knew the leaked lineup which contained Salah?

      *Clenches fist*

      1. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        What does it matter? The deadline was 16 hours ago.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          It sets expectation, it's much more exciting watching your players play than not play

      2. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Maybe his leak was wrong

      3. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        You pay attention to those posts?

    17. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Well got rid of Salah a few weeks, back. Not that I anticipated this knock/injury, just doesn't seem worth more than Mane when comparing prices and value.

      1. Lucy2019
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Elite players don't have Salah now anyway.

    18. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Original is a big game player, don't think United are really given any more chance by this

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

        Origi too...

    19. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Could be a 352 with James and Rashford hitting them on the counter with blistering pace.

      ..................DDG
      ........Lindelof Maguire Axel
      AWB..McSauce Fred...Young
      ..................Andreas
      ..........Rashford James

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

        5 at the back, unless you think United will have the ball.

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Same thing really, 5 in the defensive phase, 3 in the attacking phase.

          Liverpool's wingers always cut inside so the wide CBs will take care of them, the WBs will be responsible for Liverpool's fullbacks.

      2. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Flat 541 - keep it simple, keep it behind the ball

        DDG
        AWB Lindelof Tuanzebe Maguire Young
        Andreas Mcdon Fred James
        Rashford

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

          More like

          DDG
          AWB Lindelof McTom Tuanzebe Maguire Fred Young
          Perreira
          Rashford James

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            It’s funny because it’s true

        2. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah, maybe a 343.

          541 in defensive phase.

    20. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah to Mane or Sterling ?

      I dont have any others Liverpool players and i have Ota and KdB.

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Mane. Even it out.

    21. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Should've done Salah to Mane for a hit!

    22. CFC1990
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Any live streams for Man United Liverpool?

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

        Sky sports have one

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

        Try sleepfest.com

    23. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Give sandstorm a break, his buddy saw the vardy-rooney mind game and wanted to see which of his mates was posting the wrong team so fed misinformation 😉

    24. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No Salah is a huge blow for lots of fpl managers.

      I was giving a look at some of the teams i am up against in mini leagues last night and i gave a look at RCA's team with Salah(C) and Aguero(VC) and Ota.that is about £30m of the budget tied up in no shows.

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/16115/event/9

      Just shows anything can happen even to top managers in this game.

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Nothing like rubbing salt into the wounds

        1. Ógie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I am not trying to do that Syd.

          It is not the end of the world as it is a low scoring week anyway.
          If something like this happened when some of the other premiums hauled then it would be fatal.

          He is a top manager in my book and i am sure he will bounce back.

          1. RoysCallerAnne
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Son and Kelly too 🙁

            1. Ógie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              That is some weapons grade hard luck that is after coming your way RCA.

    25. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki and Salah combined 1 points this GW. Well done for sellers

      1. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Took both out for a -4 this week for Wilson and Mane. Was not feeling great about it yesterday but very relieved now.

      2. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Got rid on a WC. Brought in Vardy, H-Odoi and Mane

      3. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

    26. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Best 5.1m or below mid for next few weeks

      A) Adama traore
      B) cantwell
      C) others

    27. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      This is genuinely the worst Utd team I've ever known.