Scout Notes

Why Lundstram and Sheffield United struggled against Newcastle

Sheffield United 0-2 Newcastle United

  • Goals: Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.4m), Jonjo Shelvey (£5.0m)
  • Assists: Javier Manquillo (£4.3m), Andy Carroll (£5.4m)
  • Bonus: Manquillo x3, Martin Dubrakva (£5.0m) x2, Shelvey x1

Newcastle United didn’t read the script on Thursday evening as they ended Sheffield United’s seven-match unbeaten league run and inflicted the heaviest home defeat on Chris Wilder’s side since January 2017.

The Blades’ fixture against Steve Bruce’s team was one of the more attractive-looking matches of Gameweek 15, particularly from a defensive perspective.

Newcastle are bottom or second-bottom for shots in the box, big chances and overall efforts on goal this season, while only Leicester City have kept more clean sheets than Wilder’s troops in 2019/20.

Fantasy managers were certainly keen on the encounter, with Dean Henderson (£4.7m) the most-bought goalkeeper of this Gameweek.

John Lundstram (£5.1m) was already a popular option, of course, but his ownership and price hit a season-high ahead of this fixture, with just under 90,000 more Fantasy Premier League managers transferring him in.

Over 16,000 maverick FPL bosses even handed the armband to Lundstram for this plum home game.

Allan Saint-Maximin‘s (£5.4m) 15th-minute header sent millions of clean sheets up in smoke, however, with Jonjo Shelvey (£5.0m) rubbing salt into the wounds when racing clear to double the lead midway through the second half – more on that controversial goal in a bit.

It wasn’t any better for owners of Lys Mousset (£5.1m), who was the most-bought FPL asset of Gameweek 15.

He and strike partner David McGoldrick (£5.4m) were both rested for this encounter, emerging from the bench late in the game for frustrating one-point cameos.

It’s all too easy to apply retrospective narratives to freak results (if we can call it that) such as these.

Some may argue that Wilder shouldn’t have rested two in-the-groove strikers in one fell swoop, especially as understudy Billy Sharp (£5.6m) hadn’t started a league game all season.

Sharp and Oli McBurnie (£5.7m) were a fairly static strike pairing, with McGoldrick’s link-up play and Mousset’s pace missed.

Others may point to the fact that the Blades boss has barely changed his other nine first-team regulars at all, with fatigue something to watch out for in December as the fixture pile-up catches up with this impressive Sheffield United side.

Perhaps the truth of the matter was that this game was so unlike anything that had gone before this season, with the hosts suddenly finding themselves an early goal down, with the majority of the ball and camped in Newcastle’s half.

Sheffield United averaged 41.1% possession and 137.9 passes in the opposition half per Premier League match before Thursday night.

Against Bruce’s backs-to-the-wall Geordies, those figures shot up to 72.7% and 362 respectively.

All of a sudden the boot was on the other foot and a Blades side so adept at soaking up pressure and hitting teams with dynamic, direct attacks had to find a way of patiently breaking down a five-man defence.

There were chances, it has to be said: Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) was forced into a superb stop to keep out a McBurnie header and made some other camera-friendly saves to repel a deflected Enda Stevens (£5.1m) drive, an Oliver Norwood (£4.9m) free-kick and another McBurnie header after the break.

The sustained possession didn’t really lead to many clear-cut opportunities (the first McBurnie header aside), though, and Shelvey’s goal killed the contest stone-dead with a quarter of the game still to play.

The Newcastle midfielder’s strike was the source of much debate, with an offside flag on Andy Carroll (£5.4m) prompting everyone bar Shelvey and match referee Stuart Attwell to halt proceedings (Henderson doing his best Fabian Barthez impression) and allow the former Swansea man to race clear and finish coolly.

A referral to the VAR saw the offside call overruled, with Wilder furious on the sidelines.

The Sheffield United boss said later:

This game in a heartbeat has changed. This game now is completely different to what I experienced as a 16-year-old lad as an apprentice. I don’t know where it is going and it is sucking the life out of me and the supporters.

I was told at the start of the season that the linesman would not put his flag up and let it go. He put his flag up and the referee was about to blow his whistle. Everyone in the ground stopped. Jonjo Shelvey even nonchalantly went up and took an opportunity. His body language said to me he had seen the linesman had put the flag up and he was going to be offside.

I want to be talking about our first season back in the Premier League. I want to talk about trying to break down a team like Newcastle – to talk about football and not yet again VAR.

Reflecting on the game itself, Wilder said:

I’m okay with the performance. With the ball, I thought we played very well. I should imagine that’s the most we’ve dominated any team in terms of possession this season.

But, as I’ve said all along, possession doesn’t win you games. Goals do. We were desperately disappointed with the goal we conceded and then missed a few chances ourselves.

Newcastle are a curious bunch, boasting one of the least-potent attacks in the division yet sitting comfortably in 11th after impressive wins over the likes of Manchester United, Spurs and Sheffield United, to go with Saturday’s 2-2 draw against the reigning champions.

Earlier this season we wrote that the Magpies look much more comfortable when playing in Rafael Benitez’s 5-4-1, with Steve Bruce’s early-season experiments with a 3-5-2 and 4-4-2 bringing heavy beatings and disjointed displays.

To Bruce’s credit, he has revisited the tactics of his predecessor, which undoubtedly play to Newcastle’s strengths: i.e. their defence.

This was the Magpies’ fourth clean sheet of the season (not an outstanding figure but still more than Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have managed) and, yet again, there was a defender involved in one of their goals: Javier Manquillo (£4.3m) crossing for Saint-Maximin to break the deadlock.

While Miguel Almiron (£5.8m) continues to beaver away to little avail and Joelinton (£5.7m) awaits his first goal since August (he was benched for Carroll at Bramall Lane), the Magpies do at least have some creative quality in the form of Shelvey and Saint-Maximin.

Neither really nailed down a start until a couple of months ago but the pair do add a dash of flair to an otherwise workmanlike side.

Budget FPL asset Shelvey here scored his third goal in five Gameweeks and continues to impress in a midfield two, something he had struggled with previously under Benitez.

The exciting Saint-Maximin finally added an end product to his hugely watchable trickery, meanwhile, opening his Newcastle account from Manquillo’s cross.

The Frenchman has been playing through the pain barrier of late and was pictured with ice on his ankle after the game, telling reporters:

In England, you have to walk out when you have some pain. It’s what I do. I started thinking I wouldn’t go and then I told the coach I wanted to play. Even if I have pain, I got one goal and we won.

Bruce picked out Carroll and Dubrakva for praise, saying:

Andy Carroll can be crucial for us. It’s pretty evident, and I think everyone can see that he needs games but he’s got through 65 minutes.

Martin has pulled off some great saves and kept us in it at a crucial time. It’s not bad to have a goalkeeper in such a rich vein of form.

Dubravka is now the joint-fourth leading points-scorer among goalkeepers this season.

Members Analysis

Gameweek 15 – FPL Match Reports

1,052 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ram It
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on mount to Maddison?

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Only if you have 2ft in my view - two good then two where I'd only play Vardy in the Leicester attack.

  2. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Lundstram Robbo
    Kdb Mane Alli Pulisic
    Jimenez Vardy Abra
    Button Soy Rico Dendo
    0.2itb 1ft
    Martial to Alli done. Best move?
    A. Pope to Hendo or Ryan
    B. Robbo downgrade.
    C. Save ft
    D. Other
    Will look to save following week and then lose Robbo and possibly upgrade Jimi to Rashford.

    1. maratus
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Liverpool has been really unlucky with cleanies. Robbo and Taa still up there with the attacking returns.
      Its just matter of time when they keep cleanie and Robbo or/and Taa deliver those 10+ pointers.

      I would ship out Pope or save transfer.
      I would play Soy and put Lundstram to bench

      1. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I've been hearing this same argument for 15 weeks now...

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

    Best Martial replacement?

    1. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I shipped him for Alli

    2. BrutalLogiC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Went with Ali to make Madd mcginn mane kdb. Saving some to move ings along when he burns out, could have switched to Son

  4. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    C Vardy, Mane or Alli?
    Ta.

    1. NotsoSpursy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m on Alli but I need to catch up

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Vardy safety in numbers, Mané could be the one rested this GW, Alli highest ceiling.

      Alli for me

  5. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How this sounds?

    This week: Martial + Connolly -> Cantwell + Abraham
    Next week: Son + Jimenez -> Alli + Rashford (-4)

    1. NotsoSpursy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks decent

      1. KUNingas
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Pretty set for this week moves. Not so seriously for next week moves

  6. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Do I have the right bench ?

    Play- Ayew (Watford away)
    Bench 1 - Cantwell (saints home)
    Bench 2 - Lundi (Norwich away)

    1. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Though call. I would play Lund as ownership is so big.

    2. NotsoSpursy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good point

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

      Cantwell

  7. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench?

    A) Soyuncu (avl)
    B) Lundstram (nor)

    1. NotsoSpursy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m playing A

    2. maratus
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

      1. maratus
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Reply fail. Play Soy and bench Lund

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

      B

    4. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Would be madness to bench Lundstram against Norwich imo

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        More than likely Norwich will score.
        So its basically attacking returns or nothing.

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yup. Villa in good form as well, Soy much less likely to get attacking returns.

          1. Karan14
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yup I also expect Villa to score but Leicester have been consistently the best defence in the league this season.

            1. Royal5
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              True. I'm starting both fwiw. Benching Tomori.

  8. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Kelly or Tomori?

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kelly

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

    Pope
    Taa Aurier Soy Lundstram Rico
    Mane kdb Maddison Pulisic Son
    Abraham Vardy Mousset

    Any ideas? I'm a little stuck
    Want Alli but unsure if double up
    2ft 0.2itb

  10. Lukakwho
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hey guys. Any changes you’d make on a wildcard to this team. I have very low team value.

    Ryan (Button)

    TAA, Chilwell, Evans, Aurier, (Gibson)

    Mane, Son, Alli, JWP, (Dendoncker)

    Vardy, Abraham, (Mousset)

    I will appreciate any reply.

    1. NotsoSpursy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Missing city mids
      Maybe lose Son

    2. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Double Leicester defence is dodgy

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

      remove 1 Leicester def
      try to add KDB or sterling in team
      possible for son or alli
      if not enough downgrade TAA - > like VVD
      replace Gibson for someone who plays like Kelly (4.1) or Rico (4.3)

  11. mr messi
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench Lundstram or Kelly?

    1. Lukakwho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kelly

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        lol

        1. FPL.team
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Why lol? Isn't this site meant to be about people having opinions?

            1. FPL.team
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Apologies. Thought you were laughing at someone for disagreeing with you like a lot do on here 🙂

      2. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Watford have scored 9 all season

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Due then 😉

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Due a 7-0 win

  12. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Aurier, son, alli to much...?

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yup

    2. chriscosta
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      i should think so

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

    Best defender 4.8 or under (not including Rico)?

    1. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Dunk has some sneaky good fixtures ahead. Good bench player too with the goal threat.

    2. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Am I good to save transfer?
      Pope
      TAA,Soyuncu,Lundstram
      Mane,Son,KDB,Maddison,Mount
      Vardy,Jiminez

      Button,Rico,Connolly,Van Aanholt

      Keeping PVA on the bench until further news

      1. Concrete
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yes but what you think if Alli

    3. DALEDOBACK
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mousset to Tammy (mistake to get rid) and mount to Alli done for free. Good transfers?

      1. Pinturicchio10
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Time will tell

        • Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yep

        • The Train Driver
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Mousset great value and rested one game so you get rid? Norwich next...

      2. Nespinha
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        2FT 1.1ITB

        Pope, button
        Robertson, Chilwell, Lundstram, Kelly, Janmaat
        Salah, KDB, Maddison, Mount, Dendoncker
        Jesus, Vardy, Mousset

        Have no clue what to do, any ideas?

        1. chriscosta
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          gtg

          as you have 2 FT maybe replace janmaat (injuired) to rico or someone who plays to not lose a transfer
          or button to Gazza

      3. Silecro
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Would you do this two transfers for -4 or too sideways?

        Son > Alli
        Jimenez > Rashford

        1. Celt Abroad
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I’d do neither of those - son and Alli are about equally likely to score. Jiminez has a better fixture than Rashford this weekend.

          1. Silecro
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yeah,just noticed that.
            How about next week? Provided they dont rise 0.1

            1. Celt Abroad
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Jiminez to Rashford would be a good move next week. Still not sure about son to Alli.

              1. Silecro
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Well,Alli would unfortunately be an enabler. But i'll hold freebie this gw and reasess

        2. Silecro
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Or tomorrow i can do it for free if they dont rise overnight

        3. Pinturicchio10
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Not this week for a hit no.

          • Royal5
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            No way. Rather have Son than Alli.

            1. Silecro
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Other enabling option would be Maddison > Grealish

              1. RAFA THE GAFFA
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Looking at this myself

        4. Eldon
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Martial to who?

          1.6 in the bank

          Front 8 of:
          Martial, Son, KDB, Mane, Maddison
          Vardy, Ings and Wickham

          Downgrade Martial, upgrade Wickham?

          1. Celt Abroad
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Maybe Martial to Grealish, Wickham to Tammy?

            1. chriscosta
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              this

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

          Play baldock over kelly? (Have lundstram also) so with two sheffield def against noriwch. ??

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

          I feel like I need Alli for his upcoming fixtures. With 2 FTs and 0.4 ITB, how would you get him? Please not that a straight swap from Martial is not possible.

          Pope - McGovern
          TAA - VVD - Lundstram - Rico - Kelly
          Mane - KDB - Martial - Mount - Alzate
          Vardy - Jimenez - Abraham

          Thanks guys!

          1. chriscosta
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            maybe downgrade a liverpool def

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

          Anyone holding Salah for (bou, WAT) as a differential?

          1. Pinturicchio10
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Captain this gw.

            • Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Hell yes

          2. OPTA FPL
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Cannt find a decent replacement for Tomori (up to 5.2M)
            TAA Pereira Ludnstram Kelly ___

            Aurirer but Spurs conceded 6 goals in 3 games, and they face Chelsea GW 18 (when I need him becuase of LIV blank)

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

              Keep Tomori?

              1. OPTA FPL
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                maybe

          3. Egg noodle
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I'm planning to use my balls this weekend, to captain Aurier

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

              May work out, but Vardy is an easy choice this week given he is almost certain to start and the likes of Mane may see their minutes reduced. Aurier is a nice punt though, but a risk.

              1. Egg noodle
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                It annoys me that I'm following the crowd. I'm rank 250k, so might as well have a bit of fun while at it!
                If I wuss out of Aurier, I'll captain Alli but had enough of captaining Vardy. Good luck this weekend bud

          4. lumaunited
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            My team:
            Henderson Button
            Robertson TAA Lundstram Soyuncu Kelly
            Mane KDB Maddison Mount Cantwell
            Abraham Vardy Jimenez

            Who on the bench and what order?
            Thanks.

          5. Sz21
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            1. Salah -> Alli.
            2. Save FT for 1 more week.

            Henderson.
            Robbo, Soyuncu, Lundstram.
            Pulisic, Mane, KDB, Salah, Cantwell.
            Abraham, Vardy.
            Button, A. Smith, Williams, Wickham.
            1ft. 0.2m ITB.
            WC in hand but on the slide for a few weeks now.

            1. Concrete
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              1

            2. chriscosta
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              save

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

            Fantasy Football Scout Member5 Years9 mins ago
            Pope
            Taa Aurier Soy Lundstram Rico
            Mane kdb Maddison Pulisic Son
            Abraham Vardy Mousset

            Any ideas? I'm a little stuck
            Want Alli but unsure if double up
            2ft 0.2itb.

            1. chriscosta
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              i wouldn't
              I like your mid 5
              also i prefer son over alli

          7. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            We all know what happened when Salah played Bournemouth away last year don't we?....

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

              back to the future Marty McFly

            2. Basil1977
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Liverpools next fixture after bournemouth is watford at home and we all know what happened there 2 seasons ago, his record against those 2 clubs is pretty special.
              12 goals and 2 assits in 8 matches

          8. Pinturicchio10
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Logging off now for the weekend. Had enough fantasy this week. Good luck all.

              1. RAFA THE GAFFA
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                GL mate

            • RAFA THE GAFFA
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              2FTs. 0itb. Martial must go! Best option?

              A. Martial >> Pulisic
              B. Martial+Tomori >> Pulisic+Aurier
              C. Martial+Maddison >> Alli+Grealish

              Pope
              TAA • Soyuncu • Lundy
              Son • KDB • Mané(C) • Maddison • Martial
              Vardy. Tammy
              (McGov. Tomori. Rico. Greenwood)

            • KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Targett/Mings or Dunk?

              Max 4.6 to spend on defender