Scout Notes

Vardy party continues ahead of even kinder fixture run

Leicester City 2-0 Arsenal

Goals: Jamie Vardy (£9.5m), James Maddison (£7.4m)

Assists: Youri Tielemans (£6.6m), Vardy

Bonus Points: Vardy x3, Çaglar Söyüncü x2 (£4.8m), Ricardo Pereira x1 (£6.3m), Maddison x1

Goals from Jamie Vardy (£9.5m) and James Maddison (£7.4m) helped take Leicester City to second in the league and the pair ever further into the hearts and minds of Fantasy Premier League managers worldwide.

Since losing, narrowly and unluckily, at Liverpool in Gameweek 8, the Foxes have become something of an irresistible force, so it felt almost inevitable they would sweep aside an Arsenal team far from being an immovable object at present.

The only surprise was that it took Brendan Rodgers’ men nearly 70 minutes to find a way past Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno (£5.0m).

When they did, it was with a slick team goal to warm many a Fantasy heart, involving four of the side’s most owned players.

Tielamsn provided the assist for Vardy’s goal against Arsenal

Maddison and Ricardo Pereira (£6.3m) exchanged passes on the right, allowing Youri Tielemans (£6.6m) to burst into the box and centre for Vardy to guide the ball home.

Of the quartet, only Tielemans (9.4%) does not have double-digit ownership in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), and that is surely only a matter of time.

The Belgian has two goals and as many assists from the last four Gameweeks and shared top billing with Maddison for both attempts and chances created against Arsenal. His £6.6m price tag makes him slightly better value than his midfield partner, although Maddison edges it for overall points scored, by 62 to 57.

The England man notched his second goal in three Gameweeks to secure the win against the Gunners, rifling home from the edge of the area following Vardy’s lay-off. Only Liverpool and Manchester City players are now ahead of him in FPL’s midfield scoring charts, with all four of them considerably more expensive.

Maddison and Vardy have both offered great value in recent weeks

As for the game’s highest overall scorer, it’s… Jamie Vardy.

He has 11 goals for the season, eight of which have come in the last five Gameweeks, and two of his three assists this campaign have arrived since Gameweek 10.

Much has been made of the striker’s relatively low shot total. He’s had 25 attempts – a figure matched or bettered by 13 other forwards – but delve a little deeper and you’ll find only three have had more big chances than his 12 this season.

Add Vardy’s clinical finishing to Leicester’s dynamism and creativity and 92 FPL points are the result.

Rodgers was understandably happy to praise his striker after the match.

“He is up there with the very, very top strikers in European football with what he brings to a team, his pressing. We’ve allowed him to do essentially what he wants to do – he’s so honest, he’d press the whole back four if he could.” – Brendan Rodgers

Pereira has been unfortunate not to get more attacking returns of late

The Foxes will face Brighton (minus Lewis Dunk (£4.6m)), Everton, Watford, Aston Villa and Norwich after the international break. Little wonder, then, that seven of the top 20 most bought players heading into Gameweek 13 (a full fortnight away) are from Leicester.

And the 21st is Pereira.

The wing-back, at £6.3m, is the most expensive route into a defence that’s kept three consecutive clean sheets and now leads the way for both shut-outs (five) and goals conceded (eight).

Pereira’s offensive threat is the reason for his lofty price tag, although he’s only produced attacking returns (two goals) in two matches this season having proved rather unfortunate.

He did earn a bonus point against Arsenal, but there are cheaper and equally cheerful alternatives to be had.

Söyüncü has been offering Fantasy managers great value in defence

Top of that particular shop is Çaglar Söyüncü (£4.8m), who has been outstanding over the last three Gameweeks, providing three clean sheets, a goal and five bonus points, two of which came on Saturday.

On another day, he could have been on for a second assist of the season when he was blatantly fouled in the box by Matteo Guendouzi (£4.7m), only for VAR to turn a blind eye based on an arguable offside call involving Maddison.

As a result, he’s ‘just’ produced the 28 points since Gameweek 10 and it is no shock to see him behind only Vardy and Maddison for transfers-in among Leicester players.

Chilwell has failed to replicate the dizzy heights of his double-figure haul at Southampton

Another defender gaining owners is Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), who brought in a monster 19-point haul in the 9-0 drubbing of Southampton in Gameweek 10 and was half a post away from scoring again last week against Crystal Palace.

He’s more than doubled his ownership, to 11.6%, in a fortnight, but was unusually quiet against the Gunners, creating just the one chance and having no goal attempts whatsoever.

Still, with those fixtures to come, owning Leicester players across the pitch, from the ever-reliable Kasper Schmeichel (£5.2m), whose 52 points has him joint-top of the goalkeeper standings, all the way through to Vardy up top, looks like an absolute no-brainer.

And such is their form at present, even a nasty Christmas double-header of Manchester City away and Liverpool at home doesn’t look beyond them, particularly as the fixtures that follow are set fair again until Gameweek 25 on the dim and distant date of February 1.

Arsenal increasingly look like a no-fly zone for Fantasy managers

As for Arsenal, they’re currently doing a fine impression of an unsettled team full of players shorn of confidence under a manager with an increasingly tenuous grip on his job. Which is, of course, precisely where they’re at.

None of that makes for rich Fantasy pickings.

Leicester fired in 19 shots, to the Gunners’ eight, on Saturday, with seven on target to Arsenal’s one.

None of that was anything new as only Villa and Norwich have allowed more attempts than the 197 conceded by Unai Emery’s side this season.

If save points are your thing, then Leno is your man. The keeper has made a league-leading 49 stops, which is seven clear of his closest rival, Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale (£4.6m).

Unai Emery switched to a three-man defence for the first time this season

Emery tried to address that by switching to a back three at the King Power Stadium, with Rob Holding (£4.5m) handed a first start of the season alongside David Luiz (£5.8m) and Callum Chambers (£4.4m) at centre-half.

It didn’t work.

Arsenal were overwhelmed by Leicester’s high press, which forced them to cough up the ball in their own half time and again during a relentlessly dismal first period from the visitors.

They were at least more composed and cohesive as a defensive unit after the interval, a vague positive that Emery was keen to stress post-match.

“I know we are receiving criticism, but I have done before and I have recovered. I accept all the criticism. It is normal. Today we did one step ahead being better defensively.” – Unai Emery

Arsenal’s premium forwards have largely let their owners down of late

And things could have been so different, had Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) not missed a golden chance from six yards out.

The striker does have the makings of a real differential punt in the short term as the Gunners’ next four fixtures involve Southampton and Brighton at home and trips to Norwich and West Ham.

But the 1.7%-owned Frenchman is yet to score since returning from injury in Gameweek 9 and it showed when he fluffed his one big line on Saturday.

Fellow forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) has eight goals to his name this season, but only one in the last five Gameweeks, Lacazette having started three of those matches.

The Gabonese international was kept to only one shot at Leicester, while having another one, which found the net, correctly ruled out for offside.

Özil has started getting back into the Arsenal team

Behind them – in every sense of the word – came Mesut Özil (£7.2m).

The midfielder was drafted in by 1,870 managers hoping he might sprinkle his mercurial dust over the fixture. What they got was one chance created and zero shots from 90 minutes of something far removed from the notion of good, honest toil.

Emery allowed the speedier and more direct threat provided by Nicolas Pépé (£9.2m) just 13 minutes against Leicester, but neither he, nor Özil, nor any Arsenal midfielder, in fact, deserves much Fantasy attention at present.

Arsenal usually find a way to score however wretched their form might be. They’ve now blanked twice in four Gameweeks and that’s as damning as the evidence gets for those – and there are now many – who want Emery out as soon as possible.

The manager is well aware of his perilous situation.

“We need to recover our confidence. We need to be patient with some circumstances, and we are going to do that.” Unai Emery

Patience is a commodity valued by Arsenal’s board, but it must be wearing very thin at present. It’s certainly even thinner among Fantasy managers as the side’s most popular asset – the 25.6%-owned Aubameyang – is already experiencing significant sales for Gameweek 13.

Even those tasty fixtures don’t look like saving him as Fantasy heads continue to be turned, quite rightly, by the riches on offer at Leicester.

Leicester City XI (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, R Pereira; Ndidi; H Barnes (Praet 74′), Maddison, Tielemans, Pérez (D Gray 60′); Vardy.

Arsenal XI (3-4-1-2): Leno; Holding (Pépé 77′), D Luiz, Chambers; Kolašinac, Guendouzi, Torreira (Willock 80′), Bellerín; Özil; Aubameyang, Lacazette.

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2,953 Comments Post a Comment
  1. subhojit123
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Hey guys.. Which of these moves do you suggest-
    1. Perreira, ayew - soyunchu, ings
    2. Sterling - salah. Already have KDB
    3 . Hold transfers

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I fancy 2.

    2. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      2

    3. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      3

      1. subhojit123
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks guys

  2. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    A) Sterling -> Salah
    B) Montoya & Rico -> Robertson & 3.9 def (-4)

    Currently have KDB, Sterling, TAA, Mane

    Cheers!

    1. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

    3. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers

    4. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I actually prefer sterling over salah next gw. I think Chelsea at home has more goals in it than palace away. I’d hold

  3. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    That Bilva goal is a bit of a sickener

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

    I have the same players and I've decided on Sterling to Salah and intend to captain him next GW

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

      Meant to be a reply to above!

  5. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    We are the mighty Reds, we are the mighty, the mighty Reds.

    1. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      YNWA!

    2. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Congrats guys, yours to lose now. Although a bit early.

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

    2 FT's to use.
    Sterling and Lowton to Maddison and Robertson, or Salah and Söyüncü?

  7. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    The only thing VAR has achieved is go give Pep an excuse to argue what might have been.

    Well played Liverpool you are certainly carrying the luck this season but it will have to run out at sometime

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

      Next season maybe. This seems to truly be theirs

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

      What was wrong?

      Did Bernardo not handball it too?

    3. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      The season is long, the league is not won in November. Many surprises along the way.

  8. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Get in liverpoooool

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

      The Choke will be Epic to watch

      All Liverpool's fans greatest fear

      1. XabiAlonso
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Just like in the champions League eh

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          😀

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

            Don't worry we will be there to comfort you 🙂

  9. Am sorry to say again it�…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling can easily return in his next 3 games

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

      Could return a YC and rule himself out of the next

      1. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Hope he gets booked after scoring a hatrick against Chelsea! Easy switch to salah

  10. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Salah to get 2bps?

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

      1

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        As it stands or after deductions? He gets the winning goal to

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

          It's final.

          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Oh ok I will take it that 1pt may have pushed me into the top 100k, fat green either way.

        2. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Bernardo and Fabiano are miles clear of him. He’ll get 1

    2. MSTRKRFTSMN
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Only if youve captained him

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

    Looks like 52 is this weeks LMS safety score.

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

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

      52 in or 52 out? I have 52!

      1. BrutalLogiC
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Safety score so in

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

      Love it. Took a -8. Green arrow and still in LMS. Bit of a nail-biter

  12. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    With the decisions made this season for Liverpool there always be a doubt over then even if they win it

    Sad but that's the way it is. Questionable decisions after questionable decisions continue to go their way

    1. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Cry me a River

      1. Party time
          4 years, 4 months ago

          This

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

        Ludicrous.

      3. Evil Buddha
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Wow. This is looking like a vendetta. Doubt even if they win it? Really now.

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

        Had you down as a better fisher than this!

      5. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Nope no one apart from rival team fans will even mention it.

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

        Spoken like a true salty Manc

      7. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Only in the minds of the blindly biased or moronic.

        Atkinson cost them 2 points at Trafford.

      8. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Are you throwing shade on the mighty LiVARpool?

      9. DNFPL
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        You know what I despise Liverpool...compile a list of these incidents and comments like this will get more credibility

    2. Wılly
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A. KDB + Robertson
      B. Mane + Soyuncu

      Gazzaniga (4.0)
      TAA X Lundstram (Rico Taylor)
      Salah X Maddison Pulisic Martial
      Vardy Abraham (Greenwood)

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

      Vardy looks like Albert Steptoe in that headline picture.

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        He is a dirty old man

      2. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Always has done

    4. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      FPL down??

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

        Yes

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

        Figuring out how they can give one of the goals today to kane.

    5. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      So Kdb to Salah or Mendy to Robbo this week?!

      Pope
      TAA Mendy Lunds Rico Soyuncu
      Mane KDB Maddison Mount Cantwell
      Vardy Tammy Jimi

      1. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Robbo first

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

        Robbo

    6. CelticBhoy1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Keep KDB or Sterling?

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

        Sell both

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

        KdB

      3. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Both.

        1. CelticBhoy1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Keep or sell both?

          1. ZeBestee
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Keep unless you are bringing in Mane.

    7. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Rashford or Lacazette?

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

        Rash. Arsenal are crap.

    8. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Patricio
      Lascelles, Taa, Soyuncu, Lowton
      Mount, Sterling, Kdb, Mane
      Abraham, Vardy

      Button, Lundstram, Greenwood, Cantwell

      1FT 1.1 ITB

      A)Sterling>Salah
      B)Sterling>Maddison, Mount> Pulisic

      A or B guys?

      Thanks

      1. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Hold for a week?

        1. All For One
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Could hold but not sure on A or B

          1. Pat Bonner
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            I’d do A after next gw. Palace away is a tough game. They will sit back and take a 1 or 2 goal defeat

            1. All For One
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Cool thanks for the reply back

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

      Think Pool will win the Prem this season.
      Deserved !

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

        Liverpool will find a way to throw it 😆

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

          Will never get better opportunity IMO
          Best squad, depth wise & quality wise too
          Will be an amazing throw away for sure if it happens

      2. KGFC
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Comn Amey, we need to support LEI and CHE now 😉

      3. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        A couple of injuries to key men and could be blown wide open

      4. SOTHPAW
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Pep sarcasm. Thank so you much!

    10. jblakes
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Time to ship sterling out? 12mil seems a waste.

      Looking at montoya + sterling to Robertson and who? Already have triple Leicester and double Chelsea.

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

      Key double up decision going forward..

      Double liverpool defence or attack?

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

        This weeks million dollar question.

      2. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Think salah and mane for 4 games after palace looks too good to ignore

    12. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yarmolenko to Perez or save?

      1. KGFC
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Perez getting subbed before 60 mins puts me off. Can you extend to Tielemans?

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          No only got 6.1m, so I should save and have 2fts?

          1. KGFC
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            I think I'd save to have 2 FTs.

    13. jaguar shark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Can do Sterling/Cantwell to Salah/Dendoncker right now with 0.0 left over... crazy to pull trigger prior to the break though!

    14. Kane-harry Island
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Sterling to Salah

      Gentlemen shall we?

      1. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Glad I did that yesterday

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

        Probably yes

      3. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I’m doing it next week. Chelsea at home has more goals in it than palace away for me

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

        I plan to, is Salah playing international football?

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Not with that ankle, IB injury incoming

    15. RealVirg
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Only a month or so left for the WC, let's all blow it on the IB irrespective of whether your current team requires it...

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

      Like someone said, seems Bravo is not that good a keeper.

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

        He’s no Walker.

    17. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      thank you so much

    18. Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      CHO to

      A. Maddison
      Or
      B. Martial?

      Cheers

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

      Finally! Kompany mentions Bernardo’s handball. Someone needs to let Pep know before he goes on camera.