Scout Notes

Vardy delivers again as De Bruyne eases injury fears

Fantasy Premier League managers who were brave enough to place their captain armband on a player from Manchester City’s win over Leicester were moderately rewarded on Saturday evening.

Jamie Vardy (£10.1m), Kevin De Bruyne (£10.4m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) all got an attacking return each in the Etihad Stadium’s all-important clash.

We’ve got the Fantasy talking points from that match as well as information on wins for Wolves and Newcastle.

Man City 3-1 Leicester City

Goals: Riyad Mahrez (£8.3m), Ilkay Gündogan (£5.2m), Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m) | Jamie Vardy (£10.1m)

Assists: Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m), Raheem Sterling (£11.8m), Kevin De Bruyne (£10.4m)

Bonus Points: Vardy x3, Gündogan x2, Mahrez x1

Vardy may have been on the losing side of Saturday evening’s televised match but there were few complaints from his Fantasy owners at his 17th goal of the season.

As predicted by many in the FPL world over the last few days, Manchester City were indeed vulnerable to the Leicester counter-attack, despite controlling the match throughout.

Vardy had a number of opportunities to get behind the reigning champions’ questionable defence, showing why in Pep Guardiola’s time as Manchester City manager, no player has scored more against them (Six for Vardy, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min all on four).

We had our first glimpse of the damage he could do in the 18th minute when Vardy found some space on the right.

He did well to get past Nicolas Otamendi (£5.0m) and square to Harvey Barnes (£5.9m) who could not add a decisive touch.

Those two Leicester players combined again in the 22nd minute when Vardy found the net.

Barnes played an excellent outside-of-the-boot through pass to put Vardy behind the City defence and the centre-forward won his one-on-one with Ederson (£6.0m) by dinking it over him.

Five minutes later, Vardy was in again, finding yards of space to get beyond Otamendi and Fernandinho (£5.2m). Unfortunately for his owners, he drifted a little too far to the left and shot over the bar from a tight angle.

Leicester were a little more subdued in the second half but it didn’t stop Vardy trying to get behind the hosts’ defence.

On the hour mark, he found the space on the right again and played an incredible pin-point cross to the on-rushing Barnes. He made contact just outside the six-yard-box, but could not get enough purchase on it before Ederson completely wiped him out.

It was certainly a performance from Vardy that suggested he can be trusted to get attacking returns against Liverpool on Boxing Day.

De Bruyne and Sterling also showed plenty of encouragement for the Christmas period.

Together with Mahrez, the Belgian, in particular, gave Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) an evening to forget, doubling-up on him on their right-flank.

De Bruyne was officially listed in the central midfield again, having been named in the front-three against Arsenal, but he did push forward into dangerous positions on Saturday night.

During the first half, he was advancing into the number 10 area while the majority of his touches came on the right across the course of the fixture.

He got his well-deserved attacking return in the 69th minute when he powered through the Leicester defence and squared to Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m) at the back post.

It could have been much than that for De Bruyne as he set Sterling up in the eighth minute, who could not quite get his shot off under pressure while the Belgian also struck the post in the 14th minute.

There were concerns over De Bruyne when he went down and limped off in the closing stages but the player himself confirmed he suffered nothing more than cramps.

“Yeah (I’m okay). Just a little bit of cramps. It was a hard game, very open, the teams went all the way. In the end, my body said just take a rest. The grass was nice and soft.” – Kevin De Bruyne

Jesus also asked questions before finding his goal, forcing decent saves out of Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m) in the first half.

However, it is possible that the Brazilian’s run in the team could be coming to an end as Sergio Aguero (£11.7m) returned as a second-half substitute against Leicester.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Mendy, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Walker; B Silva, Gündogan (Rodri 79′), De Bruyne (Aguero 90+1′); Sterling (Foden 89′), Jesus, Mahrez.

Leicester City XI (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, R Pereira; Ndidi; H Barnes (Albrighton 64′), Maddison, Tielemans (Praet 77′), Pérez (D Gray 68′); Vardy.

Norwich 1-2 Wolves

Goals: Todd Cantwell (£4.7m) | Romain Saïss (£4.4m), Raúl Jiménez (£7.5m)

Assists: Joao Moutinho (£5.4m), Matt Doherty (£6.1m)

Bonus Points: Cantwell x3, Emi Buendía (£6.0m), Jiménez x1

Raúl Jiménez (£7.5m) continues to punish the host of Fantasy managers who moved away from him several weeks ago.

He scored the winning goal for Wolves in their 2-1 win at Norwich on Saturday afternoon, his seventh one in the Premier League this season.

Crucially, it means the Mexican forward has now had an attacking return in seven of his last eight matches.

His bonus point from the match sees him increase his season score by seven, ensuring he remains inside the top six for value among forwards in 2019/20.

Whether Jiménez can keep up his recent form does remain to be seen though as it’s Manchester City (home) and Liverpool (away) up next for Wolves.

In truth, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were poor for large spells of their trip to Norwich, especially in the first half.

The hosts were by far the better team to begin with and Wolves only got back into the game when Romain Saïss (£4.4m) nodded home a Joao Moutinho (£5.4m) cross.

At the time, the 60th minute, the goal was very much against the run of play, although ultimately, Norwich lost the game because of their defensive frailties.

With Wolves not asking too many questions especially early on, it was a damning indictment on Norwich’s defence that they gave up the lead in the second half.

With Ben Godfrey (£4.4m) recently ruled out until February, Grant Hanley (£4.0m) was forced back into the team probably earlier than Daniel Farke would have liked.

However, the former Newcastle United man was praised for his performance by the local press. Furthermore, it is worth noting that due to long-term absences elsewhere in defence, Hanley, priced at £4.0m, could be set for a run in the team now.

“We were unlucky but we can’t use that as an excuse. If we took our chances and defended properly, we would have won the game.” – Grant Hanley

Ultimately, what truly cost Norwich was their poor finishing. As already mentioned, they were by far the better side across the course of the match, creating much better chances, but failing to put them away.

Teemu Pukki (£6.6m) made some excellent runs to cause the Wolves defence problems but was twice denied by an impressive Rui Patrício (£5.2m), who made a total of six saves at Carrow Road.

Alex Tettey (£4.5m) also hit the post in the first half after a powerful drive from range.

The only Norwich asset to find the back of the net in Gameweek 18 was Todd Cantwell (£4.7m) as he punished those who benched him once again.

He capitalised on a loose ball in the box following a Kenny McLean (£4.9m) to rifle home his fifth goal of the season, although he was still on 571,000 FPL benches.

However, Cantwell may find himself started by considerably more of his owners on Boxing Day when Norwich travel to face an Aston Villa defence that has conceded seven goals across their last two home matches.

Norwich City XI (4-2-3-1): Krul; Byram, Hanley, Zimmermann, Aarons; Trybull (Vrančić 86′), Tettey (O Hernández 87′); Cantwell (Srbeny 86′), McLean, Buendía; Pukki.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-4-3): Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Dendoncker; Jonny, Moutinho, Neves, Doherty; D Jota (Neto 77′), Jiménez (Cutrone 90+4′), Traoré.

Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace

Goals: Miguel Almirón (£5.8m)

Assists: None

Bonus Points: Almirón x3, Paul Dummett x2 (£4.4m), Martin Dúbravka x1 (£5.0m)

A belated first-ever Newcastle goal for Miguel Almirón (£5.8m) was arguably the only story to come out of a dreary affair at St. James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.

Crystal Palace dominated possession but could not offer too much in the way of any real threat as they continue to demonstrate they might not be able to deliver on their appealing set of fixtures.

Wilfried Zaha‘s (£6.8m) counter-attacking runs could not produce anything to truly test Martin Dubravka (£5.0m), Christian Benteke (£5.7m) was also denied by the goalkeeper and Cheikhou Kouyaté (£4.9m) headed over from a corner.

Newcastle were boosted in their attack by the return of Jonjo Shelvey (£5.1m) and Almirón to their midfield and Steve Bruce opted for a more direct 3-5-2 formation, featuring those players in central midfield with Joelinton (£5.6m) and Andy Carroll (£5.4m) up-front.

It was the former West Ham forward’s presence in the air that lead to Almirón’s goal while the Paraguayan asked questions of the Palace defence with his pace for much of the afternoon.

Shelvey also tested Vicente Guaita (£5.1m) with a shot from the centre-circle when the Crystal Palace goalkeeper was off his line.

It’s West Ham up next for the Palace defence which, through Guaita and Martin Kelly (£4.4m) has earned plenty of interest in recent weeks.

Despite failing to keep a clean sheet in either of the last two, after a spell of three in a row, there were some positive news for the Eagles’ backline.

While Scott Dann (£4.3m) was unable to overcome his yellow-flag, forcing Kouyaté to play centre-back, there was a welcome return for Patrick van Aanholt (£5.5m) at left-back.

Furthermore, Jairo Riedewald (£4.5m), who started at left-back against Brighton before going off with an injury was named on the bench while Mamadou Sakho (£5.0m) is now free from suspension.

Newcastle United XI (3-5-2): Dúbravka; Lejeune, Fernández, Schär; Dummett (Yedlin 90+3′), Almirón, Shelvey, Hayden (S Longstaff 64′), Manquillo; Joelinton (Gayle 77′), Carroll.

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Guaita; van Aanholt, Kouyaté, Tomkins, M Kelly; McArthur (Meyer 86′), Milivojevic, McCarthy; Zaha, Benteke, Ayew.

4,072 Comments Post a Comment
  1. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    richarlison for -4?

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

      For who?? If Son, yes. If Mane, no.... Etc

  2. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hi, iv got 2ft
    Pope
    TAA, Aurier, Kelly, Lundstr
    KDB, Mane, Son, Zaha(Cantwel)
    Vardy, Ings, Rashi
    What about to get in Salah or Sterling. Son>Salah(Sterling) and Zaha>?

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grelish?

      1. as33
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Not enough money, 0.9itb

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

    Quick and simple: Son to KDB?

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

      How can it even be a question? Obviously yes

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

      Yes

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

      yes

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

      Been thinking about Salah for a second but thanks ofc 😉

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

    Hmm.... Season of the casual and the casual transfer is very obviously Son -> Pogba... Hmmm *thinking emoji*

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Or Son -> Willian.

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Both are great options next week tbh

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      lol
      that surely cant be the right thing to do

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

      It's Son > Willian that is going to be the most popular switch I think.

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Double rise for Willy.

        😉

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          WILLY, RISE? 😮

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

    Son to Salah no brainer? Already got Mané.

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

      And KDB

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

    Had another go at my wildcard:

    How’s this wildcard draft:

    Henderson McGovern
    Robertson Lundstram Soyuncu Kelly Rico
    Mane Alli KDB Grealish Dendoncker
    Vardy Rashford Abraham

    0 itb

    Thoughts?

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

      Robbo -> TAA
      Mane -> Salah

      I would try to find some dollars to afford those upgrades

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

        Any suggestions??

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

          Grealish -> someone cheap
          Upgrade Kelly when you're at it

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

            (and play 4-3-3)

    2. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      One possibility Is try to get Salah over Rashford, if doable. Abraham and Vardy should get you goals. Salah Has looked great of late.

    3. Abraham & Cheese
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rashford for Ings/Jimi/Aguero/ and upgrade Dendoncker if you can.

  7. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bottomed

    1 min ago

    A. Maddison + Mount ➡ KDB, Cantwell
    B. Maddison + TAA ➡ KDB, Holgate/Airier

  8. UshFPL
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captaincy is quite a tough one again this week. Who are we thinking?

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

      May just go vardy

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kane

    3. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Someone who cud stay on the pitch

    4. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      KDB or Vardy.

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

      I am seriously considering lord lundstram

  9. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hi all these moves, yay or nay?

    Rashford + Grealish > Kane + Traore

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why do you wanna take out Grealish?

      1. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        For Kane (c) it looks like

    2. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      So done with Spurs....

  10. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Was really upset yesterday after my KDB(c) 4 pointer but today's Rashford & Spurs flops reminded me that sometimes you just need to count your blessings in brutal and unforgoving world of FPL.

    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same but I'm greedy so a bit annoyed that KDB didn't punish them further! Could've been a nice rank boost.

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Watched the game he was really unlucky not to get double digit haul.

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

      Yes, the chances of all of them blanking must have been slim to none

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

    Save FT ladies and gentlemen?

    Heaton
    Aurier | Lundstram | Kelly
    Salah | Mane | KdB | Mount | Cantwell
    Kane | Vardy

    Martin | Soyuncu | Greenwood | Rico*

    1FT, 0ITB

    Thanks

    1. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

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

        Thanks mate

  12. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Didn't watch the match,Son why RC?

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

      German guy in the VAR room

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

        Video unavailable but from the title i got it...thanx.

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

      He was just doing a bit of "leg-raise" abs workout with Rudiger on his spikes!!

  13. Salah_Fingers
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Didn't own son, 1ft 0.5itb, gtg?

    Guiata
    TAA - Kelly - lundstram
    KDB - alli - cantwell - mane
    Rash - Abraham - Vardy

    Button - Maddison - soy - rico

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

    Sone + Connolly > Cantwell + Kane
    Or
    Son + Connolly > Grealish + Rashford?

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

      P.s already have Alli but no Utd cover

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

        Y do u need United cover if they Lose without scoring against rock bottom Watford?

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

          True but Utd did have 9 shots on target

  15. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Will Son red be overturned ?

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No

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

      No

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

      No chance

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

      No way

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

      No way

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

      Okay, will remove now

    7. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope

  16. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Can somebody explain when the 5 yellow card cut off is please? Is it 31 December?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      When the club plays 19 games. All on 18 except Pool and West Ham on 17

      1. Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers

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

    Should i play dunk vs spurs or soyuncu vs Liverpool and save a ft or transfer dunk to a palace or spurs defender or any defender about 5m?

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

      Dunk

  18. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    It’s funny that after United’s game I got so mad for captaining Rash and not Son

  19. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    The only certainty in my life is Captain Party.

    Mo Alli Rich Cantwell for Progeny is a sideshow really

  20. Manani
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Son > Grealish or am I crazy?
    already got Alli and KDB

  21. LE CHARO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Avoided a catastrophic week by not captaining Son, but things could have been worse.

    Guaita, Button
    TAA, Soyuncu, Lundstram, Kelly, Rico
    Mané, KDB, Son, Alli, Grealish
    Vardy, Jimenez, Mousset

    1 FT, 0.0 itb

    Where to go from here?
    Thinking of doing Son + TAA to Salah + Baldock. Good moves?

    1. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      *things could have been better

  22. H-Over United
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is the Tammy injury hard? Didn‘t see the game...

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cramp, wait for presser but likely ok

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

      He always seems to be injured but never really is

  23. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best replacement for Martial please?
    Have Grealish

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

      I would keep. Nobody else standing out. He looked so much more threatening with Pogba on the pitch

  24. InvertedWinger
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Son + Pulisic to Salah and Lucas Moura for a -4? Means no Alli and a Salah/Mane double up

  25. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    2 ft - 0.1 itb - WC in gw20

    Which?
    A) son rash out, start ryan
    B) son dendo, start ryan bench rash
    C) son taa, start ryan bench rash
    D) son button, bench ryan start rash

  26. imvs
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    after removing son i'll have
    10.4 m
    1 FT
    should i go for alli? already have mane and kdb

  27. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Son to Salah or Mane?

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

      Both!

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

        Don’t fancy a -8...

    2. Boomerang V
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think Salah, but I am afraid he has slightly higher rotation risk for the next game. He played more minutes in the club World Cup

      1. El Lobito 10
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        A week's rest. No chance rested

  28. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    son and jimi

    to

    grealish and abraham

    leaves me enough (next week) for..

    richarlison out for Salah and 0.3

    thoughts..? and thanks!

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

    Glad I'm out of the fpl cup, now I can focus on the league!

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

      That's how I feel too. Don't have the squad depth for the cup tbh.

  30. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Should I press go with this wildcard:

    Had another go at my wildcard:

    Henderson McGovern
    Robertson Lundstram Soyuncu Kelly Rico
    Mane Alli KDB Grealish Dendoncker
    Vardy Rashford Abraham

    0 itb