Scout Notes

Everton’s budget FPL assets underline appeal but tricky fixtures lie in wait

West Ham United 1-1 Everton

  • Goals: Issa Diop (£4.4m) | Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.9m)
  • Assists: Robert Snodgrass (£5.2m) | Mason Holgate (£4.5m)
  • Bonus: Holgate x3, Calvert-Lewin x2, Mark Noble (£5.0m) x1

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.9m) rewarded his growing army of Fantasy fans with another goal in an evenly-matched encounter at the London Stadium.

The Everton striker has seen his ownership rise from 62,000 to over half a million since Gameweek 16, and he responded with his sixth strike of that run.

Chances to cash in on his form and budget price are receding, however.

The Toffees’ short-term schedule is solid enough (NEW, wat, CRY) but turns ugly after that, with Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Leicester and Spurs to play over seven brutal Gameweeks.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side fell behind when Issa Diop (£4.4m) glanced home a Robert Snodgrass (£5.2m) free-kick. It was only the defender’s second-ever league goal for the Hammers, while the Scot’s delivery confirmed he is a man in form, with a goal and two assists from his last three starts.

The lead lasted just four minutes, Calvert-Lewin athletically heading in from Mason Holgate’s (£4.5m) flick-on, and chances then came and went for both sides.

Hammers striker Sebastien Haller (£7.0m) had the best opportunity for the home side, only to shoot straight at Jordan Pickford (£5.3m) from close range, while Theo Walcott (£6.2m), Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies (£5.3m) threatened, but couldn’t convert, at the other end.

Maximum bonus points went to Holgate, who has now produced returns in four of his last six starts. His price, and 1.8% ownership, mark him out as a budget differential, but that horrible upcoming fixture list is likely to put off all but the bravest of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.

West Ham’s assets are equally vexing, despite Gameweek 24’s double helping of matches.

Those two games are away at Leicester and home to Liverpool, and while a Gameweek 25 visit from Brighton looks appealing, the fixtures that follow are anything but: mci, liv, SOU, ars, WOL, tot, CHE.

David Moyes has brought some much-needed stability to a talented, if flaky, set of players, but one win, a draw and a defeat from his three-match tenure is hardly the classic ‘form over fixtures’ justification for investment in their assets.

Snodgrass could be the exception, having registered an attacking return in each of his last three starts.

At least rotation might not be an issue, if Moyes’ post-match comments are to be believed:

We’re a bit short on the bench at the moment, we’ve just not got loads of changes we can make just now, but I’d rather have people here who we know and who we know are going to be reliable, rather than trying people who we don’t exactly know what we’re going to get from them.

Even so, the Fantasy jury will probably remain out on West Ham’s stars, as it should do for assets from both sides until their respective fixtures ease towards the end of the season.

As for those managers already invested in the 11%-owned Richarlison (£8.1m), a return to action in the midweek match at home to Newcastle looks on the cards.

The Brazilian missed Saturday’s encounter, with Ancelotti relatively optimistic that the issue is a minor one:

His problem is on his knee, he had a little twist, but nothing special. I hope he will be available on Tuesday.

West Ham United XI (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Noble; Snodgrass, Fornals (Masuaku 60′), Lanzini (Ajeti 84′); Haller.

Everton XI (4-4-2): Pickford; Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Digne; Walcott (Sidibe 57′), Davies, Delph, Bernard (Gordon 46′); Calvert-Lewin, Kean (Niasse 74′).

Members Analysis

Newcastle United 1-0 Chelsea

  • Goals: Isaac Hayden (£4.3m)
  • Assists: Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.4m)
  • Bonus: Federico Fernandez (£4.4m) x3 Reece James (£5.0m) x2 Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) x1

Newcastle’s last-gasp win over Chelsea wasn’t exactly daylight robbery, but only due to the fact that the match had an early evening kick-off.

The winning goal from Isaac Hayden (£4.3m) came in the darkest depths of the 94th minute following the Magpies’ one and only corner as Frank Lampard’s side dominated possession (69.7%) and attempts (19 v 7) but failed to turn any of that into goals.

The Blues also failed to trouble home keeper Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) unduly, with just three of those 19 shots forcing him into a save.

Chief culprit was Chelsea’s most popular FPL player Tammy Abraham (£7.9m).

The 34.5%-owned striker saw the whites of Dubravka’s eyes on a couple of occasions, being unable to finish when rounding the Magpies’ shot-stopper and then seeing an apologetic effort hooked clear from inside the six-yard box as it slowly bobbled goalwards.

Lampard was at pains to deflect blame away from his profligate striker, though, saying:

We can’t absolutely rely on Tammy Abraham. We have to have goals from across the front line if we want to bridge the gap upwards. Tammy has been fantastic this season – it didn’t quite come off for him today, but that’s football.

At the other end, the goal machine (of the past few days at least), Joelinton (£5.5m), hit the bar with a header, but Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) had precious little else to do until he failed to keep out Hayden’s decisive header from Allan Saint-Maximin‘s (£5.4m) pinpoint cross.

The victory came at yet more cost, injury-wise, for Steve Bruce’s side, however.

Their latest victim was Jetro Willems (£4.6m), who had to be stretchered off with a knee problem after just 11 minutes.

The manager was less than optimistic about the defender post-match:

It looks a horrendous injury for Jetro, which is a big blow to us. We fear it’s his cruciate. We’re due a bit of luck. I’ve never known anything quite like it over the last few weeks, so we’re due.

Willems was replaced by Matt Ritchie (£5.3m), who is only just back from a long-term knee injury himself, while four defenders – and five other squad members – are now out for the foreseeable future.

Newcastle remain a tricky team to exploit, Fantasy-wise.

The six clean sheets they’ve kept puts them joint-seventh, but only five teams have conceded more than the 34 goals they’ve shipped and the 22 they’ve scored is only two more than the league’s most toothless sides, Bournemouth and Watford.

Dubravka, with 89 points, is easily the team’s most productive player, and his 91 saves is a league-leading figure.

Other than that, too many players are scoring too few points too inconsistently to promote investment, which is a shame when Newcastle have an excellent schedule all the way through to Gameweek 34.

As for Chelsea, Lampard’s reliance on youth is, perhaps, starting to bite him.

They’ve experienced two defeats in their last three home matches and have had a curious stretch of away games in which they’ve won at Arsenal and Spurs, but only drawn at Brighton and now lost to Newcastle.

Their immediate schedule involves three home matches in the next four games, but those will be against Arsenal, Manchester United and Spurs, with their one road trip taking them to Leicester.

That is unlikely to inspire purchases of their key players, at least until Gameweek 28, when their fixtures improve immeasurably for the rest of the season.

Newcastle United XI (5-4-1): Dubravka; Krafth (S Longstaff 71′), Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark, Willems (Ritchie 12′); Almiron, Hayden, Shelvey (M Longstaff 84′), Saint-Maximin; Joelinton.

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; James (Emerson 75′), Rudiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Kante, Jorginho; Hudson-Odoi, Mount (Barkley 67′), Willian; Abraham (Batshuayi 80′).

Members Analysis

2,847 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Wılly
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Traore / Maupay to Grealish / Haller ?

  2. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    My front 8 this week:

    KDB, Salah, Grealish, Martial, Maddison
    Vardy, Ings, Firmino

    The chances of Ings being rested are making me lean towards benching him, but otherwise I'm stuck, any thoughts?

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

      You have a benching headache.
      Out of those I would probably bench Ings.

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

      Him or Mads

      1. Louis Van Gaalstones
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah I keep switching between em, might toss a coin

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

      Haha, same question (see below). Thinking the same

  3. UpTheCherries
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    GTG?

    Gazza
    TAA - Soyuncu - Williams
    Mane(V) - Salah(3C) - KDB - Traore
    Jiminez - Aguero - Ings

    Rico - Lundy - Hayden - Button

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Will need a few goals in Wolves game.

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

        Yeah that's the only trouble I got... any suggestions?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Aguero make change hard.

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

            Difficult cuz I'm happy with my 3 premiums but obvs makes rest of the team a bit unbalanced.

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Very nice team

  4. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play Williams or Soy?

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

      Williams

  5. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What are the chances of Ings being benched/minutes being heavily managed?
    Heard Hasenhüttl hinted a possibility of that

  6. Chasing Waves
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone think Ings be rested mid week? Spurs in the FA Cup after Palace then Liverpool in the League?

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

      WAT got the final, BHA got to the semi-final .. both sacked their managers. Think Hasenhuttl will want to avoid the same fate

  7. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best option for 3rd choice striker:

    A) DCL
    B) Maupay
    C) Deeney

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hoping A

  8. Lucas8406
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Have TAA and Salah
    A) Abraham and Maddison/Martial to DCL and Mane (-4)
    B) Abraham to Firmino
    C) Defender to Robertson

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

    Third Pool?
    1) VVD
    2) Robbo

    Already have Mane, TAA

    1. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thinking vvd now

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      2

  10. AdamJ91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Worth taking a -4 to get Salah in for the DGW.. who should I replace Gomez with?

    Already have TAA, Soy, Rico & Fodder (Reid).

    Budget is around 5m.

  11. HamezMace
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is Zabaleta nailed on for the DGW?

    1. Party time
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Lol

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

      OR update? Had a howler week. Benched Jimenez, Vardy(c). Been downhill since I got to 3.6k..

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        OR update 😆

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

          *updated. You knew what I meant mate. Can just say yes or no.

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            GW38 is what really counts.

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

              Brilliant. And this is why this website is useless outside the DZ. People give sarcastic answers, and get upset anytime a high OR is mentioned. Therefore they become jealous and resort to comments like this or insults below.

              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Sounded like a brag tbh. Thought you wanted to know other ORs.

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

            How can you post here and not access FPL?

          3. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Check your total points. It's updated.

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

        Ya poir lad. You're really struggling! Swap with mine 😉

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

        😆

      4. Party time
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Slight green arrow here.

          Still alot of gw's left to turn things around buddy, 3.6k is a great rank

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

        Kelly to Williams?

      6. afs2239
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Mepham, harry wilson, Rash - - - >
        Robbo, Mata, Deeney
        For - 8, yes or no

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

          Mata and Deeney? Put away the bottle mate

          1. JelliedSpark968
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Deeney is good, Mata not so much

          2. afs2239
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Just had h,. Wilson as a deferential but bou are so poor, i think mata would be a great choice, 2 assists vs norwich and a goal vs wolves in the cup

        2. JelliedSpark968
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Not at all

          1. afs2239
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            What about
            Mepham to Robbo
            Rash to max 6.4 fw
            For - 4

      7. ooooo
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        McCarthy
        Trent Soy Lund
        Salah Mane KDB Traore
        Jiminez Vardy Ings

        Button Rico Dendonker Kelly

        Save? 0.6itb and 1Ft

      8. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        How much chance Gomez won't rise tonight? On 96.9 on FPLStats.

      9. Wensink
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Who has more potential attacking returns: Holgate or Cathcart?

      10. JasonG123
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Which move?
        (A) Martial + Robertson + 4
        (B) Salah and Williams

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

          B

        2. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          A

      11. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        McCarthy
        Trent (TC) Aurier Soyuncu
        Mane (VC) KdB Martial Grealish
        Vardy Ings Maupay

        Button Cantwell Rico Lundstram

        Here's the plan:

        GW24: Rico to Robertson
        GW25: Aurier & Maupay to Baldock & Jimenez (-4)

        Thoughts?

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

          Not sure about the gw25 plan, but liking the Trent TC!
          GW24 transfer is fine.

        2. JT11fc
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Good moves, im doing the Baldock Lundy double too

      12. aleksios
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Rashford to DCL or Ayew?

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          DCL. Jimenez though if you're not saving cash for elsewhere.

        2. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          DCL

      13. abaalan
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        A. Abraham -> Firmino

        B. Sarr + Abraham -> Mane + Greenwood/Connolly -4

        - I have 5 playing defenders (Rico + one other usually benched)
        - Cantwell will be my 5th mid
        - Greenwood / Connolly can rotate with a def / Cantwell.

        Was all set on Firmino, but the Sarr injury may have forced my hand somewhat....

      14. Eastman
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Having Deeney and Vardy, 20 points on the bench and only scoring 26 points hurts. Just wanted to have a moan and move on.

        1. JelliedSpark968
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I feel you, I had both Vardy (c) and Deeney with Pope on bench

          1. Eastman
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            I feel for you too. At least we made each other feel better.

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

          Hugs

      15. JelliedSpark968
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        A

      16. Kay317
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        You think Greenwood might start now Rash out long term? Currently have Connolly but thinking might be good time to switch.

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Well he didn’t start today, or any of the weeks that Martial was out for, so I’m not hopeful to be honest

          1. Kay317
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            You're probably right.

            1. HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Not sure why 19 y/o Williams is fine to start four games in a row, but Greenwood gets 10 minutes every now and then.

      17. Red Star Toro
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Ignored last time...

        A) Jimenez, Richarlison -> Greenwood, Mane
        B) Jimenez, Chilwell -> Firmino, Aurier

        1. JelliedSpark968
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          B, but not Aurier

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

          A

        3. Ross Geller
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          A

      18. Kun Tozser
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Kun or Auba on a WC?

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Aguero, if your bench is strong enough to deal with his random benchings

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

            Vardy & Rash out for Kun and one other in?

            6.6 for the other

            Tosun (fixtures)
            Deeney (fixtures)
            DCL (form)

            Can’t afford Ings...

        2. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Is that even a question?

          Kun

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

          don't need Auba till gw26

      19. Gordon Cole
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        a) Rashford to Firminho
        b) Richarlison and Rashford to Salah and DCL (-4)

        Ryan, (Button)
        Alexander-Arnold, Söyüncü, Kelly, (Stephens), (Lundstram)
        Grealish, De Bruyne, Mané, Richarlison, (Cantwell)
        Rashford, Ings, Vardy

      20. Babelcopter
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Williams or Lascelles?

        1. pricycle
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I'm pondering the exact same thing. Currently on lascelles as think Williams might be a flash in the pan but Newcastle are pretty unpredictable

      21. Mr Bird
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Rashford to?

        A) Ings
        B) Jimenez
        C) Jesus

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          A

      22. Bruno Bruno!!
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yes or No:

        Rashford + Aurier -> Delofeu + VVD (-4)