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. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Current defence
    Robertson Soyuncu Lundstram Tomori Rico.
    1ft + 0.7m itb
    Tomori > Aurier?????

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good move

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

      Mids
      Dele KDB Salah Traore Dendonker
      Too
      Vardy Jiminez Abraham

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

        Top*

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

      Good move

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

      Good shout this week. Burnley in a bit of a slump

  2. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    When to WC?

    If I WC gw18, I would bring in Maddison for 2 games and get rid before city

    If I WC gw19/20, I would bring in Alli

    Team is
    Pope Heaton
    Taa Lundy Tomori — Rico Lascelles
    Kdb Mane Pulisic Mount — Cantwell
    Vardy Rashford Ings

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

      That is a good squad. I'd wait until GW 19/20 and set up for the January fixtures. Personally with there being so many other appealing mids I'd say Vardy is enough attacking cover for Leicester anyway.

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

    RMT!!
    1.2M ITB

    Martial to Dele?

    Pope
    Aurier, Söyuncu, TAA (Tomori, Kelly)
    Zaha, HBarnes, Martial, KDB, Salah
    Jimenez, Vardy (Ayew)

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Like it. Considering salah captain next gw? Could do really well and great differential in top10k

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

    Would you do it ?

    Auba Tielemens ---> Rashford Alli for 2ft

    1. j16
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

    2. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes. Without doubts

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yep

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

      Cheers all. Auba has been a terrible pick with only 3 goals in last 8 gws

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

      Defo

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

      Nobrainer

  5. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    3 options (ranked in my current order of preference) to free up the cash for Martial > KDB. A, B or C?

    A. Pope and Tomori > Martin/Button and Kelly (minus 4)

    B. Jimenez > Ings

    C. Son > Alli

    1. j16
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      Why are worth considering getting rid of Jimenez?

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

        Agreed, keep him for at least the next 3 games

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

      Neither Imo

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

      C is a sideways move but I suppose beneficial if you need to create funds

  6. Black Belt Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jiminez to Abraham on a FT? Or save it til next week? Really can't make my mind up...

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bad move. Abraham highly likely to be rested for crucial cl game midweek against lille given his fitness concerns

      1. Black Belt Jones
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks mate. Was wondering about that, I'm not convinced he's 100% fit either.

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

      Save

      1. Black Belt Jones
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nice one, I'll leave as is.

  7. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Correct players on the pitch? Bench order ok?

    Gaz
    TAA Robbo Lord
    Mane KDB Son Alli
    Vardy(C) Abra Mousset

    (Soy Cantwell Rico)

    Thanks

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

      Yea

    2. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      yes, GL

    3. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would be playing Soyuncu over Cantwell

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You mean benching ?

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

      Aye

    5. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers fellas!

  8. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope (4.0)
    TAA, Lund, Chilwell
    Salah (c), Alli, Madds, KDB,
    Ings, Rash. Vardy

    Cantwell, Targett, Lowton

    0FT 0.2ITB

    GTG? Correct bench order?

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

    Am I good to go here?

    Gazzaniga

    TAA, Soyuncu, Lundstram

    Mane, Alli(c), Son, Pulisic, Maddison

    Vardy(v), Jimenez

    Stek, Mousset, Tomori, Rico

  10. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Going forward which one?

    A. Tammy
    B. Rashford

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

      Think you need both.

      Both are talismen for each team.

      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        As are Vardy Jimi etc. Obviously both would be ideal but I don’t think I can fit both in. United although had a good result midweek are still very hard to trust although Rashford still seems to be scoring even if they arnt winning

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

      B

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

      A is better value

  11. Cruyff's Eleven
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Son (C) over Vardy or Mané?

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m on Vardy

  12. fgdu
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    yo. 0.1m short of Jiminez to tammy!!!
    Pope
    Robertson Soy Aurier Lundstram Rico
    Mane Maddison Son Alli Pulisic
    Mousset Vardy Jiminez

    any ideas?
    seems like sticking for a week is the best option

    1. JohnBlack
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keep Jimenez

  13. Goat
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Start one?
    A) Cantwell (SHU)
    B) Chilwell (avl)
    C) Tielemans (avl)

    1. fgdu
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      chilwell in my book

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  14. SALVA
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cant do both so

    A) Pulisic to Alli (have son)
    B) Ings to Tammy

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

      Tammy essential

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

      B

  15. mlm
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one:
    A) Zaha
    B) Pulisic
    C) Jimenez
    D) Maddison

    1. Ritchies Magic Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tough but probs A

  16. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mount & Robbo >> Alli & which 5.2m DEF??

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

      Depends which defenders you already have..

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

        TAA-Soy-Lund-Kelly

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Aurier

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

            Good shout thanks mate

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

          Maybe Rico or Aurier..

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

            Thanks mate

    2. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      go for Kelly at 4.1 ( thats what I did)

      That money itb will come in useful over next few weeks

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

        Have Kelly 🙂

  17. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jimi to Tammy for -4?

    1. JohnBlack
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No Jimi still good fixture and proven goal scorer

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

      Nope, good fixtures

  18. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Kane (c) stupid?

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think I’m selling in order to get Alli..he doesn’t look threatening at all although Kane could still come back to bite me

  19. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    TV going through the roof this week. Was 102.9 GW14 deadline, now 104.1.

  20. Cto
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Would you guys do KDB and Jimmy to Rashford and Alli for free?

    1. JohnBlack
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No

      1. Cto
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks

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

    Lost here with 2FTs. Someone big needs to go if I want Alli or Rash! But who? Martial the other one of course!

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

    1. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial>Grealish, Greenwood>Rashford? Live without Alli as you have Son.

      1. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Or Dendoncker if needs be.

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

          Neither of those are anywhere near possible.

          1. shirtless
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Sorry but you didn't state a budget. My front seven is Mane KdB Alli Grealish, Vardy Jimenez Abraham. That's where I'd look to get to. It's working well.

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

      Personally I see the weak links there as martial, Tomori and maybe Pope. Change one of them for now.

  22. Shineonme
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    After this gw would you do jimenez for Abrahams ? Atm I have & 0.4 itb
    Pope
    Williams/ TAA/ Lund/
    Mane/ KDB/ Alli/ Son/ Mount/
    Vardy/ jimenez/
    Subs Button / Soy/ Tomori / Connolly/
    TV 106.1

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You'll want him back in GW18

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

        You're right. Shame I can't have vardy jimenez and Abrahams has my front three and get rid of mount but that would mean a mid at 4.5

  23. Ritchies Magic Hat
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Now that Soy is the same price as Evans I’m thinking Jonny the better pick, or should I spend the extra for Pereira / Chilwell (if fit) ?

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

      if u have the cash go for Pereira

      hes scored 40 points in the last 6 weeks and he seems to be bonus magnet as well

  24. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Season high 26 bench points this week!

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

    Bench one...
    A. Soyuncu
    B. Robbo (have TAA)
    C. Lundstram

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

      A

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

      benching robbo is too highly likely to end in disaster

      got to be soy out of those, whats the rest of ur team ?

      1. 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

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

          looks gtg

  26. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gtg ?

    Guaita

    Robertson Trent Söyüncü

    Son (C) Alli KDB Pullisic

    Vardy Tammy Jiménez

    Lundy Cantwell Rico

    .4 itb

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

      Tuff one but I've played Lund over soy.

      1. Babit1967
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah stuck with that one atm

  27. martyhan
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Would you save ft this week with the team below or anything I should do?

    Gazzinaga McGovern
    Tomori lundstrum soyuncu Rico taa
    Zaha, cantwell, kdb, Salah, son
    Jimenez, vardy greenwood

  28. BananaMan
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Morning,
    2FT's
    A) Alli & Rashford
    B) Son & Ings

    B allows Alzate > Grealish for GW17.

    Cheers!

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

      A

  29. Bonita
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which Bargain FWD would you bring in. Ings, Mousett, or Pukki

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

      Ings

  30. GW16 Breakout Players
    Geoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who do you think will find form and step up to score big this GW, and why?

    Maybe someone who hasn't had a double digit score in a while, has a series of no attacking returns, or has very low ownership.

    Do you think it will be an already-established name in many of our sides or someone who is a major differential?

    Have you seen something in someone's play or in their stats to make you think they could be ready for a breakout GW?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah. Repeat his hat trick from last season.

      1. fish&chips
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I hope so, although that was my reply before last GW, so maybe just wishful thinking!

        1. ted mcnure
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I'm a Cherries man.. we're going to get thrashed..
          Mane (C) for me..not a breakout pic I know
          Also have VVD- 2 more goals incoming..

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

      Dare I say Salah...
      San-Max, Grealish will continue their rise to prominence. Would not be shocked to see Eriksen rock our boats.

    3. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Son(C)

    4. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Willian. Unlucky not to get anything against villa

    5. Sadio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Trossard.

    6. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah - rested, likes playing Bournemouth and (most importantly) I’ve held him for one more week so owner bias 🙂

    7. Alchim1sT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling will finally punish his sellers in the derby

    8. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kane hattrick

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

        I have the same funny feeling

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

      Kane

    10. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kane