Scout Notes

Recent defensive promise helps Saints stifle shotless Vardy

Leicester 1-2 Southampton

Goals: Dennis Praet (£5.3m) | Stuart Armstrong (£5.2m), Danny Ings (£6.7m)

Assists: Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) | Shane Long (£4.6m), Che Adams (£5.3m)

Bonus Points: Praet x3, Armstrong x3, Kasper Schmeichel x1 (£5.4m)

Southampton’s defence duly delivered on its promise to frustrate the masses of Fantasy Premier League managers who captained Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) for Gameweek 22.

The Leicester forward was backed for the armband by 52.3% of the top 10k and comfortably won our Captain Poll too – but finished Saturday afternoon without even a single shot to his name.

As we mentioned in our Captain Sensible article this week, Southampton had restricted their four previous opponents to Leicester to a total of just four big chances, the second-best in the league.

They carried that form into Gameweek 22, with the Foxes managing just five shots on their own turf all afternoon.

Admittedly, Vardy still managed to get himself an assist, playing an excellent ball across the box to opening goalscorer Dennis Praet (£5.3m), but to not even register a single shot is somewhat concerning, considering his underlying statistics this season.

Whether it suggests that his FPL usage has run its course remains to be seen and we must remember that Vardy is still on the comeback from injury. He missed two games over Christmas and had to receive treatment in the first half against Southampton. The fact he is facing an increasingly shaky Burnley defence in Gameweek 23 is an encouraging one for Vardy owners.

Perhaps the most important lesson to take from Vardy’s shot-less outing at the King Power Stadium is just how well Southampton have developed defensively recently. It now feels like centuries since writing arguably the most scathing match report of my career after the Saints were thrashed 9-0 by Leicester.

However, their defensive statistics coming into Gameweek 22 were already impressive, especially considering they were recorded in a period when they faced Chelsea and Spurs, but to stifle Leicester too indicates their defence may be ready for investment.

We’ve already seen roughly a fifth of Gameweek 22 Wildcards played among the top 10k select Alex McCarthy (£4.3m) and it seems likely that interest in him can only increase.

The Saints are about to embark on a run of incredibly appealing fixtures from a defensive perspective, hosting Wolves, Burnley, Aston Villa and Newcastle between now and Gameweek 30, while away trips to Crystal Palace, West Ham and Norwich also hold clean sheet potential considering the way they are currently playing.

The fact that Southampton’s back-four has been increasingly settled in recent months has also helped their defensive effort – and makes it easier for Fantasy managers to select one to invest in.

Jack Stephens (£4.3m) and Jan Bednarek (£4.4m) are very-much nailed-on at centre-back and seem to offer better value than their full-back counterparts Ryan Bertrand (£4.8m) and Cédric Soares (£4.8m).

By stark contrast, Leicester’s defence seems to have completely dropped off a cliff, perhaps bad news for owners of Çaglar Söyüncü (£5.1m), Ben Chilwell (£5.7m) and Ricardo Pereira (£6.4m), all of whom are in at least 11% of Fantasy teams.

Leicester did come into Gameweek 22 among the division’s bottom three for shots allowed in the box and big chances conceded over the previous four matches, although this was a run that pitted them against Liverpool and Manchester City.

But to see the trend continue against Southampton should ring considerably more alarm bells. Not only did they give up 16 shots, they also gave away a penalty, which was only overturned by a VAR call deemed Shane Long (£4.6m) to be offside in the build-up by mere millimetres.

It appears clear that Wilfred Ndidi (£5.0m), who had knee surgery this week, will be sorely missed by Leicester. That said, Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m) was able to use the increase in shots faced to earn two save points and one bonus despite conceding twice and losing the game.

“I thought both parts of our game were not quite to the level of where we’ve been. Firstly, our defending, we weren’t aggressive enough in our pressing. And Southampton are a team that when they win it, they want to get forward early so you’ve got to try to stop that, and we didn’t do that well enough. You saw the number of chances that we conceded. That’s not us. Throughout the season, we’re normally very tight, very compact and press the game well. We lacked that energy and intensity in our defending.” – Brendan Rodgers

Danny Ings (£6.7m) arguably should have come away from the King Power Stadium with four goals on Saturday afternoon, his owners perhaps unlucky to only pick up five points from him.

Ings had a grand total of nine shots against Leicester, rather ironic when compared to Vardy’s tally (9-0), and went close with a number of them.

There was a 60 second period during the first half in which Ings hit the cross-bar twice and he later forced a world-class save out of Schmeichel in the second half when Southampton, once again, caught Leicester on the counter-attack.

“We had 16 shots on the goal and in an away game that’s not so normal. It’s a sign of how well we played. We pushed a lot of good buttons during the week. We never spoke about revenge or something, because we should be thankful for this result. We wanted to show everybody who was watching us that we can do it much better and that we have changed since then.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Southampton’s talisman Ings now has 10 goals in his last 11 games and can only increase in popularity considering how sustainable his output looks. After all, a total of nine shots in the box across one 90-minute outing is hugely impressive.

However, Ings’ owners will, of course, be fuming at his conduct after finally finding the back of the net on Saturday afternoon. Scoring what proved to be the winning goal, Ings ran over to the travelling fans and promptly removed his shirt and, in the process, one Fantasy point for the yellow card and the chances of any bonus!

Leicester City XI (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Chilwell, Evans, Söyüncü, R Pereira; Choudhury; H Barnes (Iheanacho 58′), Maddison, Praet (Tielemans 77′), Pérez (D Gray 67′); Vardy.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, J Stephens, Cédric; Redmond (Romeu 90+2′), Højbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong (Djenepo 78′); Ings, S Long (Adams 78′).

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Everton 1-0 Brighton

Goals: Richarlison (£8.1m)

Assists: Lucas Digne (£5.7m)

Bonus Points: Digne x3, Richarlison x2, Mason Holgate x1 (£4.4m)

Richarlison (£8.1m) continued his impressive start to life under Carlo Ancelotti by scoring his eighth goal of the season against Brighton.

Once again, the Brazilian was deployed as a centre-forward, this time in a 4-4-2 system, and reaped the rewards of such an advanced position.

Both he and centre-forward partner Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.9m) helped Everton dominate this game, each of them enjoying a handful of chances to score.

Out of the two, Richarlison has arguably been the more clinical in the last two matches, as he netted an excellent goal in the first half.

Receiving the ball from Lucas Digne (£5.7m) inside the box, he used some dazzling footwork to get around Adam Webster (£4.4m) and place a curled effort into the bottom corner of Mat Ryan’s (£4.8m) goal.

Grabbing what was the only goal of the game, as well as a clean sheet, helped Richarlison add some additional points to his tally.

However, those who invested in Calvert-Lewin can probably feel somewhat unlucky and possibly hard-done-by too as he managed just a solitary point against Brighton.

It was not for lack of trying, though. Just like Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin was a busy member of Everton’s attack, with his best chances coming in the second half.

In the 64th minute, his point-blank effort was well-saved by Ryan and just a few moments later, he was through on goal and unleashed a powerful drive from just inside the box – forcing an even better stop from the Australian goalkeeper.

Later on, Calvert-Lewin even had the ball in the net, bundling home in a scrappy goal-line exchange. However, somewhat harshly, VAR overturned the goal for a handball and ordered that he be issued with a yellow card for his efforts.

Meanwhile, Everton’s control of the game helped continue to boost the credentials of their defensive players.

This latest clean sheet means the Toffees are yet to concede at home in the Premier League under Ancelotti, particularly encouraging considering that Newcastle (Gameweek 24) and Crystal Palace (Gameweek 26) are the next two sides to visit Goodison Park.

Djibril Sidibé (£5.4m) was the option we were most positive about in the build-up to Gameweek 22 although, against Brighton, a few others helped further the case for their inclusion in Fantasy squads.

Mason Holgate (£4.4m) has become nailed-on at centre-back in this team and emerged with one bonus point on Saturday afternoon, while Digne got the assist for Richarlison’s goal.

Everton XI (4-4-2): Pickford; Digne (Mina 85′), Holgate, Keane, Sidibé; Bernard (Delph 72′), Sigurdsson, T Davies, Walcott (Coleman 74′); Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-3): Ryan; Dunk, Duffy, Webster; Bernardo, D Stephens (Murray 72′), Pröpper, Montoya (Groß 62′); Trossard, Maupay, Jahanbakhsh (Alzate 62′).

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1,497 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I spent quite some time and developed theories after theories and eventually (bravely) benched Soy for Rico 🙂

    1. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Could still be right choice.

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

    Webster or Holgate for the next 5

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Coin toss, but I'm going with Holgate

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

    What's people's thoughts on Sarr as a long term investment?

    1. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I want him.

      1. Kungfueric
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Only seen him with my own eyes against United. Can't decide wether it's a flash in the pan or the real deal.

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Own him. Good price and stats. A player like that is always a bit of a punt though so go in with your eyes open.

      1. Kungfueric
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Well I'm needing to make up ground in my league so a punt is probably what I need.

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

    Those hoping for a KdB rest there´s no way. He already rested the full FA-cup game the game before the United derby.

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

    Minor injury a potential cover up?

    Coincidental to get it the same week that the equally shocking Rico is dropped.

    If Travers uses his hands today, it should be his spot.

  6. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is having Salah, Mane, Gomez for the DGW good enough or does it need a premium defender over Gomez? Or go with 2 defenders

  7. LSK
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    For those of us with Fabianksi or Ramsdale is it worth looking at Allison as our third Liverpool asset?

    Saves using two transfers (1 for a keeper, 1 for a Liverpool player) and most of us have 3 or 4 defenders that we're not comfortable benching anyway, so adding Robertson to that will give us benching headaches every week.

    Obviously, doesn't apply to those looking at two attackers rather than double defence.

    1. Liber
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, looking at that posibility very closely. Saves -4 points for now. If I get him I can play Soy, otherwise he's going to bench. So It's more like Mccarthy + Robertson vs Allison + Soy. I think I like Robertson more ofcorse, but so undecisive lately as I got all my decisions wrong.

  8. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What are the chances of Rico staying on the bench and Williams coming on as my 1st sub for 10points?

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Very high

      1. Londongeezaa
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Here’s hoping

  9. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Even more tempted to do Rico to Robertson.

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

      Same. I’ll be doing it next gw

  10. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    holy shyt, I got no gk this week

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Who were your two?

  11. SB8
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Where is Ramsdale?

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

      Probably at home dropping things.

      1. SB8
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Haha... Is he going to do the same for the rest of the season?

  12. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    So who are the best cut-price alternatives to the likes of Rico and Kelly?

    1. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B. Williams

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        He's gonna be in constant rotation with Shaw though, isn't he?

    2. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Cathcart and Holgate looked good to me after a 15-min research, Williams and Tanganga are cheaper but riskier

    3. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Stephens

  13. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Fabianski beats Ramsdale 😎

  14. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    ok so I have no need to think about it already.

    Ramsdale + Kun + Willian -> McCarthy + Ings + Mane for -4.

    Funds just nice, 0itb

  15. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Soy to Gomez for free
    or
    Soy and Alli to Sarr and Robertson for -4

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

    Martial (have Rashford) or Grealish? Can afford both. The extra money will sit in the bank, for now

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Wait and see how grealish performs without wesley

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

        Good idea

  17. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Early thoughts here, which move would you go for here? 2FTs 0.3ITB. I will use 2FTs next week to get Robbo in for a 3x Liverpool for the dgw.

    A) Guaita > Ryan
    B) Martial/Maddison > Grealish
    C) Jimenez > Ings
    D) Smth else

    Guaita
    TAA, Soy, Lundstram
    Salah, KDB, Maddison, Martial
    Vardy, Abraham, Jimenez

  18. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best mid 5.7 or under?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Traore

  19. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I need a revenge for all the damage you have done to me Danny Ings.

    I'll buy you

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I did it last night, I couldn't stop myself.

  20. kime67
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Wich one are you more comfortable captaining salah or mane?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Away Salah
      Home Mane

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

      Mane

    3. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Salah

  21. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Tough going here for young Brewster. Lack of senior experience telling

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      That's why he joined

  22. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ramsdale to Fabianski paid off this week. 1 point up.

  23. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    My 3rd striker is Deeney... should probably get Ings in huh?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  24. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I've made so many bad decisions this season but getting ramsdale in is probably the most irritating.

    Don't want to use a ft on a gk.

  25. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Holgate coming in for ramsdale 😎

    Should have put dendonker 1st sub.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Masterclass in FPL 😎

  26. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    To get in Mane my defence will now end up being TAA, Lund, Soy, Williams, Rico, how bad is it? I'm thinking of swapping out Soy in GW25.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      TAA, Lund, Soy is pretty much every defence in fpl at the moment

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

      I'll raise you

      I'm going to have TAA Lund Holgate Williams Simpson to get Rashford in GW24

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I really like Holgate, has great fixtures, Doherty to him was my original plan but going Williams instead because I couldn't resist getting Ings. I just need Williams to start at home to Burnley in 24, wish I could get Rashford then but there's no way.

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yup. I also only need Williams for GW24. Just gotta hope that's not when Shaw gets his occasional 80-minute excursion from the treatment table

          1. The Ejiptian King
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            He should be playing 'easy' home games because he gives us another dimension in attack, lefts us overload on the left and underlaps into box too, he's far more attacking than Shaw who just really doesn't have the fitness/pace to contribute.

            1. Ze_Austin
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Useful info there. Thanks

              1. The Ejiptian King
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Here's another one if you didn't already know, he's also right footed which should mean increased goal throat coming in from the left hand side as he likes a shot.

    3. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      As long as TAA Lund Soy don’t get injured dropped or rotated it’s ok...

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

      I’m planning on playing the first 3 of those most weeks

  27. Paulie Walnuts
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Pope and Stephens

    Or

    McCarthy and holgate -4

  28. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    My rival played Ramsdale and benched Henderson. Now he has closed the gap. Super jammy as Henderson was the right pick.

  29. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is it safe to say that McCarthy is now a safe 4.3m GK?

    Need a cheap Fab replacement

    1. Paulie Walnuts
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      Expected "safe Fab replacement"

      Yes, it's safe

  30. Paulie Walnuts
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi

    Pope and Stephens

    Or

    McCarthy and holgate -4