Scout Notes

Jota ends goal drought as Jimenez’s creativity is brought into focus

Brighton and Hove Albion 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • Goals: Neal Maupay (£5.8m), Davy Propper (£4.9m) | Diogo Jota (£6.1m) x2
  • Assists: Leandro Trossard (£5.8m), Dale Stephens (£4.4m) | Raul Jimenez (£7.6m), Jonny (£5.4m)
  • Bonus: Jota x3, Maupay x2, Stephens x1

Diogo Jota (£6.1m) doubled his number of Fantasy Premier League attacking returns for the season with a brace in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

There has been plenty of attention on Raul Jimenez (£7.6m), Adama Traore (£5.2m) and Matt Doherty (£6.0m) of late but Wolves’ upturn in form hasn’t coincided with a glut of goals or assists for Jota, who had just one of each in 2019/20 going into this weekend.

The promising underlying stats had hinted that a return or two could be in the offing soon; Joe’s Goals Imminent table had indeed suggested that in the build-up to Gameweek 16.

They duly arrived at the Amex, with Jota first latching onto a fine Jimenez pass to break the deadlock and then turning sharply in the Brighton box to restore parity after the Seagulls had gone 2-1 ahead.

There could have been other/further attacking returns for Jota, too, with the Portugal international spurning a one-on-one chance with the score at 1-0 and seeing a shot from ten yards blocked by a couple of desperate Brighton challenges on the hour-mark.

The interplay between Jota and Jimenez was superb in the first half especially and something Nuno Espirito Santo highlighted in his post-match interviews.

The Wolves boss said:

It’s good for us. No matter who the scores the goal, it is a team goal. But it’s good to see Raul and Diogo combine for us.

It’s so good. It can give us so much in the future, and it’s something we want to invest in, clearly.

The momentum of players goes up and down but we stick with them, trying to find solutions. It’s football.

Jota was a similarly slow starter last season, registering just one attacking return in the first 14 Gameweeks before going on to bank nine goals and seven assists in his final 20 appearances.

Could lightning strike twice this time around?

Fantasy managers may want to see a bit more of this from Jota before they take the plunge (the fixtures aren’t great either) but at least the focus for Wolves now will be on the Premier League, with Santo’s side out of the EFL Cup and not facing a meaningful Europa League tie – Thursday’s game against Besiktas effectively being a dead rubber – till late-February.

Jimenez was surprisingly the most-sold player of Gameweek 16, with the return to fitness of Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) and the form of Marcus Rashford (£8.9m) perhaps coming at his expense.

The Mexican offered little in the way of goal threat himself, registering no shots, but his Fantasy appeal isn’t just about finding the back of the net.

Jimenez hit double figures for assists in 2018/19 and he was the arch-creator at the Amex, supplying all three of the ‘big chances’ that Wolves carved out.

The mid-price FPL forward had set Jota up for that aforementioned one-on-one opportunity and almost replicated his assist from Gameweek 14, with Mathew Ryan (£4.8m) pawing out a Romain Saiss (£4.4m) header from Jimenez’s cross.

Traore and Doherty didn’t get a great deal of joy down the Wolves right but the former was, as has become increasingly common, the target of some ‘special’ treatment from the opposition, with three Brighton players booked for fouls on him on Sunday.

Santo said of Traore after full-time:

He’s a strong boy. Everybody can see that. No matter how strong you are, if you are being kicked it’s impossible.

Wolves’ clean sheet was ruined by two quick-fire first-half goals, with Neal Maupay‘s (£5.8m) early shot catching out Rui Patricio (£5.2m) before Davy Propper (£4.9m) nodded the Seagulls in front.

While Wolves sit bottom of our Season Ticker over the next ten Gameweeks, Graham Potter’s side lie somewhere near the top.

The Seagulls have exhibited their attacking credentials in trickier games over the last week, taking Liverpool close before beating Arsenal and holding in-form Wolves to a draw on Sunday.

Maupay has two goals in as many games and he is now the leading points-scorer among sub-£6.0m FPL forwards.

He hasn’t always convinced – he is joint-second among Fantasy players in his position for goal attempts this season but the lack of a clinical edge, or too many touches, has meant that many of those chances have gone begging.

Still, the former Brentford striker was a handful on Sunday and his overall link-up play was something his manager highlighted after the game:

Neal thinks he has struggled. I just think he has worked really hard for the team. He has sacrificed himself at times and it is nice when you are a forward and you do that and you get your rewards.

He got the winner on Thursday night (at Arsenal) and again he has contributed to a point.

I thought he was as good as anybody with his link-up play and how he affected the game. That’s six goals now in a team that is going through a transition. He has been fantastic.

Aaron Mooy (£4.8m) had another fine game for the Seagulls and went close to scoring when dragging a shot wide, while Leandro Trossard (£5.8m) returned to the starting XI and set up Propper for Brighton’s second goal.

Potter’s rotation in the wide areas and up front is somewhat off-putting from an FPL managers’ perspective.

Even Maupay didn’t escape a benching in Gameweek 14, while Trossard has been in and out of the team since his return from injury and may well not have started on Sunday had Aaron Connolly (£4.7m) not missed out with a dead leg.

The gaps at the back and the handful of unforced defensive errors were a cause for concern but, as we mentioned on Friday, Ryan’s ability to accumulate saves and bonus points at least provides his owners with some consolation: this was the tenth match in 11 Gameweeks in which he has picked up at least one save point.

Forthcoming matches against Crystal Palace and Sheffield United ought to provide better chances of clean sheets after the Seagulls’ recent tricky run, too.

Members Analysis

876 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pick one:

    A) Williams to Kelly/Aurier
    B) Stephens to Grealish/7.1 mid max
    C) Jimenez to Tammy

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Long term c, short a

  2. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which pairing would you go for -- even if it means a hit?

    1) Son, Mousset
    2) Grealish, Rashford
    3) Maddison, Ings

    Notables already in squad: Alli, Vardy, Tammy, Mane, KDB

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Son and Rashford in this order

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sooo, #1? Because I can’t afford both.

    2. rdpx
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Shelvey, Rashford

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Considered Shelvey

    3. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2

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

    Have the latest "overall" league tables been updated on FPL??
    Can't tell if my rank has changed..

    1. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not yet

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not yet, so many players coming from bench makes it slower. They haven't hired Ragabolly.

  4. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Zaha and Jiminez to Grealish + Rashford ?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good moves

    2. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      For free yes

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

      Doing the same for free next gw

    4. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Absolutely

  5. Soto Ayam
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any thoughts on the best replacement for Pellegrini?

    Benitez and Houghton aren't giving me much hope

  6. Alan The Llama
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    LiveFPL saying qualifying score for the FPL cup is 53 (90% accurate)

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

      It's official now, 53 is the safety score and a very small fraction (1.5% or so) of 52's will qualify.

  7. Ragabolly
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    GW rank is updated and I am glad LiveFPL did the calculation correctly for the cup! 53 guarantees qualification and some of the 52's qualify.

  8. RAMZES666
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Starting goal keeper next week?

    A. Pope (NEW home)
    B. Henderson (AVL home)

    1. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A if you have Lunds

    2. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tricky one! Iv both in my draft league... currently on Pope

  9. Uns95
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    The top 4,194,304 teams qualify for the FPL Cup... my GW rank is 4,205,634 with a score of 52 - dammit! KDB's yellow card has ruined it haha

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

      If you hadn't made transfers this week, you probably would have qualified with the 52.

      1. Uns95
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Damn, I made one transfer

  10. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which move would you do first?

    A) Stephens to Grealish
    B) Mount to Pulisic
    C) Jimenez to Tammy
    D) Rico/Williams to Aurier or Kelly

    1. korbendallas82
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

      A

  11. ADH
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    To fund Jimenez to Rashford;

    A) Maddison to Grealish
    B) Pulisic to Grealish
    C) TAA to 5.8 or lower def

    Have Vardy and Tammy if that helps sway.

    1. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B maybe, I wouldn't touch LEI assets

      1. Gooner97
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        at least for another GW

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

        such a tough one. Easiest would be KBD downgrade, but cant bring myself to doing it.

  12. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I wanted to do KDB, Greenwood > Rashford, Grealish next week to have sufficient cover for the blank but since KDB fell and Rashford and Grealish are both set to rise I will no longer be able to afford it. My other move I would have liked to make will also be priced out by 0.1... Ughh, why's everyone gotta be getting in grealish this week and selling KDB vs Arsenal 🙁

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

      You could be selling Mane next week, so hold off until the mid week fixtures are over

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

        Unless he get injured for me Mane's going nowhere.
        I'm gonna get priced out of Rashford tho then I feel like i'll end up never getting him which could rly hurt...

      2. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Why on earth would one see lMane?

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          sell Mane*

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

            I am and wildcarding to bring back one of Salah or Mane after

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

    Any news on Aguero?
    (Jesus owner)

  14. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    For those who still own a WC, when would you play it?

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

      20 as of now.
      19 could be an option too

    2. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      18

  15. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    B.Saka and Auba to:

    A) Son & Ings
    B) Alli & Abraham
    C) Maddison & Rashford

    or Saka, Auba and PVA to:

    D) Alli, Rashford & Kelly (-4)

    1. lifes a pitch
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  16. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    ML rival had Mane (c), Vardy (vc), Baldock 1st sub. 25 point swing if Mane came on for a 1 pointer...

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      So many lucky swings this GW, not punished for wrong choices.

      1. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        As an Abraham holder, Rashford's haul really hurt being the easiest escape option. I feel all season has been quite volatile with subs and vice-captains though.

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Really has, all season long. My rival leading our league has lucked out EVERY GW, not jsut talking a random one here and there, literall....every....gameweek, never known anything like it. The luck will run out soon.

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I feel you mate. Stick with it.

            1. Salah’s Sonnet
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Will do bud, cheers.

  17. Scout15
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What'd you do if money is not an issue?

    A) Jimenez -> Kane
    B) Jimenez -> Rash
    C) Save FT

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

      B if you have spurs mid

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

      B

  18. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Congrats to all those who qualified for the FPL Cup!

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

      i feel ashamed qualifying in 3.5m rank this past week!

  19. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    any chance Guaita rises today?
    was planning to get him next week on wildcard but don't want to pay more than current price

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

      Pretty low.

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

        can never be too sure these days

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

          Most of the changes happen only when both fplstatistics and fantasyfootballfix predict so. Fplstatistics always get too excited about trends so you have to look at both sites. Granted GK predictions are usually less accurate.

  20. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A- son and Tammy
    Or
    B- alli and Rashford

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A and B

  21. lifes a pitch
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A

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

    Isn't it price rise time? Or am I an hour ahead of myself?

    1. Bada Bing
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Maybe there's a tear in the space/time continuum.

  23. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How do you even qualify for this cup?

  24. Reeker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Would you do Jimenez + De Bruyne to Rashford and Alli?

    Side question: What's up with Matt Targett yellow flag does anyone know?

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

    2. E25
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      For no hit?
      Would probably just do one if you have 2ft, depending on what happens with CL

  25. Bouncebackability
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jiminez dropped

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

      from the team???!!!!

      oh I see

  26. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Need some advice

    B.Saka and Auba to:

    A) Son & Ings
    B) Alli & Abraham
    C) Maddison & Rashford

    or Saka, Auba and PVA to:

    D) Alli, Rashford & Kelly (-4)

    1. E25
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Probably B for long term. I like A though.

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

    I've been the biggest KDB season keeper preacher all season since picking up early.

    Is it time to put the bible down?

    Would leave me with no City for now

    We have cups and rotation, some tough fixtures coming up and also just look pretty bereft of ideas atm.

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

      It was time to go in GW8.

      KdB has been here a few years and hasn't been a season keeper yet. Very few players ever manage that.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Agreed, since switching to sonlast 4 weeks or so it's proved very well.

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          son last*

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

            I got rid the week before the Liverpool game. Hard to judge the impact but I've been getting green arrows from 1m to 190k since ditching all city that week so can't have gone far wrong

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

      it's scary going without City attack

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

        Only scary against fodder and teams in bad form. And since about GW12, Burnley aside, it's not been fodder, or fodder in great form.

        When the fixtures swing I'll reconsider. But a team who average under 2gpg in trickier fixtures isn't scary when the players are premium and the points spread so thin. Not when you have a predictable set of players hoovering up the points at other teams, for less

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

          true that

          would you give up KdB or Pulisic for Son?

        2. E25
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          KDB vs Arsenal is a juicy fixture

    3. E25
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'm struggling to lose him before Arsenal but am tempted... (see below)

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

    Price Changes - 10th December 2019

    🔺  Evans (5.2), Vardy (10.1)

    🔻  Choudhury (4.3), B.Mendy (5.5), Jiménez (7.5), Robinson (5.1), Morrison (4.6), Joelinton (5.6), Willock (4.8)

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers Rainy, party still rising 😉

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimenez? Is everyone jumping on Rashford here?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        To my neverending shame, i did.

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

          It'll end when he hauls against the woeful Toffees. I'm getting him for Tammy the week after - prolly too late.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Hehe i really hope so, i could use it i tell ya 🙂
            Nah some good fixtures to come for Rash, be grand to catch his hauls.

    3. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Vardy !!!

      Started as 9, went down to 8.8( i guess) and now 10.1

      1. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I got him at 8.9!

      2. jesus jesus
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Didn't get to 8.8

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

        im alive

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

      Okay!
      1-0 & saved a 0.2 drop by some early transfers this weekend... racing ahead!

    5. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      you just know that the selling of an in firm Jiménez to get a Rashford blank against a resurgent Everton will be the bitterest pill to swallow 🙂

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        *in form

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

          It's the fixture swing that did it for me, spurs in theory tougher than Everton, and more "poor" fixtures for wolves coming up.
          Of course jimi could easily continue to do well, but rashford was too good to ignore, and the possible 0.3 swing was the final convince for me!

          1. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            i would probably have done it next week, I don’t think Everton will be easy and Spurs have conceded in 6 of the last eight.

            Ings to Rashford for me next week anyway, but only after the midweek games this week 🙂

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

      Salah says burn in hell, Choudhury

      1. Subzero (-4)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        this comment literally made me spit my tea out lol. Great crack 🙂

  29. E25
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    WCing in 19 or 20. Thoughts on best use for the transfer this week?
    A) Jimi -> Rash
    B) KDB -> Son
    C) Zaha -> Alli

    Plan was originally TAA + Zaha out for Grealish + def in gw18.

    Ryan
    Soyuncu Lund TAA
    Mane KDB Zaha Maddison
    Vardy(c) Jimi Abraham

    Button / Kelly Rico Dend

    2FT 3.2ITB

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

      When's the deadline for using the 1st WC?

      1. E25
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        GW20 although I'm thinking GW19 is the best option

    2. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 3 months ago

        B

        1. E25
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          KDB against Arsenal though... :/

      • Werkself
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        A or B. I did B yesterday prior to the price changes. Thought about Zaha to Alli but I want to give Zaha 2 more weeks.

        1. E25
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks. I was thinking this with Zaha... although going to be hard resisting Grealish in 18...

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

      Play Pukki or Maguire this week?

      First to 3 votes wins?

      1. Pinturicchio10
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Play Pukki

        • E25
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          No pukki no party

        • Werkself
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Maguire - just to keep it interesting.