Scout Notes

Solskjaer provides Rashford injury update as Rodgers backs Vardy from the spot

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United

  • Goals: Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m), Mohamed Salah (£12.4m)
  • Assists: Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m), Alisson (£6.1m)
  • Bonus: Alisson, van Dijk x3, Alexander-Arnold x1

Marcus Rashford (£9.0m) faces at least six weeks on the sidelines after Ole Gunnar Solksjaer confirmed that the England striker had suffered a stress fracture of his back.

Rashford wasn’t involved at Anfield on Sunday, which Solskjaer did warn us of in Friday’s pre-match press conference – although the Norwegian’s reputation as something of a wolf-crier led many of us to cast doubt on the suggestion he would miss out.

Ahead of kick-off on Merseyside, Solskjaer provided the following update on Rashford:

He got a couple of knocks and jolts when he came on against Wolves and has aggravated his back. I wouldn’t expect him to be back in the next few weeks. We’ve got a mid-season break coming up; I’m not sure we’re going to see him before then.

However, speculation swelled throughout the afternoon that Solskjaer was perhaps not providing us with the full details of Rashford’s injury, with journalist Henry Winter suggesting the in-form FPL forward has a double stress fracture and will be sidelined for two to three months.

Asked again about Rashford’s injury in his post-match press conference, Solskjaer gave a slightly different answer:

He suffered a stress fracture against Wolverhampton [in the FA Cup last Wednesday]. Normally six weeks before you can get going slightly, probably, and then he’ll need time to get match-fit again.

That prognosis would put Rashford out until at least Gameweek 28, raising the possibility of increased game-time for budget FPL forward Mason Greenwood (£4.4m) – although, as we saw when Anthony Martial (£7.9m) was sidelined throughout the autumn, Solskjaer may still choose to handle his teenage striker carefully in this his breakthrough campaign.

Indeed, Solskjaer hinted at looking for “short-term deals” for strikers after Sunday’s game.

Greenwood was understandably overlooked for this daunting fixture, with Solskjaer opting to instead introduce Luke Shaw (£5.4m) as a third centre-half and revisit the wing-back system that helped achieve a 1-1 draw against the runaway league leaders back in Gameweek 9.

While still being battered for long periods of the game, a Rashford-less United perhaps performed better than many anticipated, giving Liverpool a scare or two.

Andreas Pereira (£4.9m) was inches away from converting an Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.3m) pass shortly before the break, while Martial had a glorious chance to level the scores at 1-1 when blazing over the bar on 58 minutes.

Fred (£5.3m) also had an impressive game in the middle of the park, although a midfielder with no attacking returns to his name in 2019/20 will be persona non grata to Fantasy managers.

Speaking of his side’s performance, Solskjaer said:

In the last half hour, I thought we were excellent. We pegged them back, pressed them, had the majority of the possession in the second half, pushed them back and created chances, big chances. And we created the pressure, I thought they looked nervy and then, of course, we send everyone up to get the equaliser and they get that [second] goal.

While Liverpool were given the odd fright by their visitors en route to their seventh straight Premier League clean sheet, chances came and went far more frequently at the other end.

Until Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) raced onto a long punt out from Alisson (£6.1m) in second-half stoppage-time to put the game to bed, it had looked like Liverpool’s front three would all blank in the same match for the first time since Gameweek 14.

It wasn’t that Liverpool’s premium attacking options were short of opportunities, though – quite the contrary.

Salah should have been on the scoresheet 45 minutes before he was, somehow fluffing a chance from six yards and ruining an Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) assist in the process.

Sadio Mane (£12.4m) ought to have avoided a second successive blank, too, firing at David de Gea‘s (£5.4m) boot just before the interval and twice missing the target in the second half from the corner of the six-yard box.

The Senegal international also couldn’t bring the ball under control when set free midway through the first half and saw an assist chalked off after the VAR spotted a Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m) foul on de Gea.

It was Roberto Firmino (£9.4m) who put the ball in the visitors’ net for that disallowed goal and the Brazilian can’t catch a break at Anfield, with his goalless streak on home soil stretching back to Gameweek 32 of last season.

Firmino came within inches of an assist, too, teeing up Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) for a shot that crashed back off de Gea’s left-hand post.

While the FPL returns were thin on the ground, the volume of chances arriving at the feet of Liverpool’s front three was encouraging going into Double Gameweek 24.

The problem, of course, is that we FPL managers only have three slots for Liverpool players, and the Reds’ defence is making a damn good case of their own.

On top of their seventh consecutive clean sheet, three of Liverpool’s backline were involved in the hosts’ two goals: van Dijk heading in a Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) corner to break the deadlock before Alisson set Salah free in the dying stages to seal the win.

With Liverpool’s defenders matching and in some cases outpacing their more expensive attacking teammates for FPL returns over the last seven Gameweeks, there is certainly a case to made for a double-up at the back based on current form.

Speaking after the match, Jurgen Klopp said:

Very dominant in most periods of the game. I didn’t like too much in the first half the last five or seven minutes but nothing happened really, just we were not as dominant as before.

We played outstandingly well, we dominated the opponent, we played exactly in the space we had to.

And then the start of the second half was absolutely brutal – wow. We jumped in and had, I don’t know, three, four chances at least and didn’t score. How it always is and how it often enough was now in that season, the opponent has the chance to come back. That’s what happened. 

We had to defend them. The organisation was OK but it’s just about timing then, ‘When do you have the challenges, where do you have the challenges?’. We were a bit late in these moments and that’s why they came through, that’s why they could at least finish their situations off. But we defend then with a lot of passion and big heart and stuff like this.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Lallana 66′), Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino (Origi 83′), Mane (Fabinho 83′)

Manchester United XI (3-4-2-1): De Gea; Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw (Dalot 87′); Wan Bissaka, Fred, Matic, Williams (Greenwood 74′); Andreas Pereira (Mata 74′); James, Martial.

Members Analysis

Burnley 2-1 Leicester City

  • Goals: Chris Wood (£6.2m), Ashley Westwood (£5.4m) | Harvey Barnes (£5.9m)
  • Assists: Ben Mee (£5.0m) | Dennis Praet (£5.3m)
  • Bonus: Nick Pope (£4.6m) x3, Westwood x2, Wood x1

To no-one’s great surprise, Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) would remain on penalty-taking duties after his latest miss from 12 yards on Sunday.

Vardy hadn’t technically failed with a spot-kick this season before Nick Pope (£4.6m) saved his effort at Turf Moor but the most-owned Fantasy Premier League forward had originally been thwarted by Mat Ryan (£4.9m) in Gameweek 13, only for VAR intervention to allow him a second bite at the cherry due to penalty box encroachment.

This time, though, there was no reprieve, with Pope’s save resulting in Vardy’s third duck-egg in four Gameweeks – although the other two blanks were due to his absence through injury/paternity leave.

Speaking after full-time, Rodgers said of Vardy:

There’s no blame attached because he’s been absolutely brilliant for us and we wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in without him. Just one of them days, the goalkeeper saved everything that was there.

He’s normally clinical in that situation. If we have another penalty again, he’ll be the one who’ll step up and take it.

Vardy was anonymous for large chunks of this match but, then again, he often has been this season and still delivered the goods.

The premium FPL forward had only 24 touches of the ball in Lancashire – the same number as 74th-minute substitute Youri Tielemans (£6.3m) – but, to give an example, that’s still one more than he managed in Gameweek 16 when delivering a double-digit haul against Aston Villa.

Vardy has always made the most of limited service or possession, with a lot of his good work done off the ball; as Rodgers said above, this was simply just one of those days.

Pope later stood up well to deny Vardy when the Leicester striker was presented with his second ‘big chance’ of the match on 77 minutes and the impressive Burnley goalkeeper had earlier advanced off his line to force Vardy wide when he was clean through on goal, with the opportunity fizzling out into nothing.

With this being Vardy’s first (playing) blank of 2019/20 against a team currently in the bottom half of the table, many of us will be willing to cut him some slack, particularly as a fairly appealing home fixture against West Ham United is upon us.

Around 90,000 FPL managers have already seen enough, however, shipping Vardy out ahead of Double Gameweek 24.

Therein lies one of the reasons why Vardy is deemed dispensable by some, as funds may have to be generated to lump on Liverpool’s premium assets ahead of their forthcoming double-header.

While Vardy’s slow start to 2020 can be perhaps mitigated, there is growing concern about the players behind him and Leicester as a collective.

The Foxes have won only two of their last seven fixtures and have now lost back-to-back matches against teams in the lower reaches of the Premier League, with only one clean sheet arriving from Gameweek 16 onwards.

We discussed Leicester’s defence in great detail last week, highlighting their spiralling underlying stats but also the fact that a shot-shy Burnley would perhaps provide them with an ideal opportunity to bounce back to form.

The Foxes had seemed comfortable at the back in the first half, restricting their hosts to just one effort in the box, but were undone by the Clarets’ speciality: a set play.

It was Chris Wood (£6.2m) who prodded home to level the game on 55 minutes, pouncing in the six-yard box after Ben Mee‘s (£5.0m) header was repelled by Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m).

That rarest of beasts, a poor Jonny Evans (£5.3m) clearance, then played a part in Burnley’s winner, with Ashley Westwood (£5.4m) slamming home the loose ball shortly after Pope had denied Vardy for the second time.

The absence of Wilfred Ndidi (£5.0m) was perhaps keenly felt again at both ends, with Nampalys Mendy (£4.3m) the latest pretender to fall some way short of the Nigerian’s levels.

There is some good news on the Ndidi front, however, with Rodgers saying after the match:

We’ll see how he is for Wednesday, I think it’ll be too quick for him to be back by then, but certainly by the weekend, and I would say for Aston Villa, hopefully, he’ll be available.

One member of the Foxes’ regular back four missed out on Sunday, perhaps paying the price for some below-par recent performances.

Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), along with Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m), failed to even make the matchday squad, with Rodgers diplomatically saying after full-time:

They missed a very important session for us in the week, which was the build-up leading into this game, so we couldn’t bring them into the game today.

Both will be in contention for Wednesday.

Ben has played a lot of games, so we looked at that, and this was probably the game he could miss out on.

They were just unavailable for the training. We were doing a lot of preparation for this game, they were unable to be there, so we now move on.

Further forward, there wasn’t a great deal of inspiration behind Vardy.

James Maddison (£7.7m) blanked for the sixth time in seven Gameweeks and spent a lot of the afternoon on the floor, although did provide his usual teasing deliveries from dead-ball situations and probed outside the Burnley box.

The hit-and-miss Harvey Barnes (£5.8m) was perhaps the pick of Leicester’s attackers, registering the visitors’ first attempt of the day and later opening the scoring when running onto a Dennis Praet (£5.3m) tackle to fire underneath Pope.

It was Barnes who teed Praet up for a shot that Pope did brilliantly to tip away just after the interval, with the young winger later winning the penalty that Vardy missed when outpacing, and then being brought down by, Mee in the 66th minute.

The Clarets next face Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League, so this win will likely do little to renew much interest in their Fantasy assets in the short term.

Let’s not forget that Pope had averaged only 2.56 points per match in the nine Gameweeks preceding this one, either.

Only one home team (Newcastle United) had fewer shots than Burnley in Gameweek 22, meanwhile.

Still, Burnley will head to Old Trafford on Wednesday with a goalkeeper brimming with confidence – not so good news, perhaps, for the Fantasy managers who own the likes of Anthony Martial (£7.9m).

The Clarets’ menace at dead-ball situations may also come into play, considering that United have conceded eight goals from corners already this season.

Speaking of Pope after the match, Sean Dyche said:

I thought Popey was very good again, not because he had ridiculous amounts to do, but when he did, he made big saves.

That’s the important quality a big keeper has, a top keeper has, so not just the penalty, there were a couple of other moments where he made big saves just by standing up and being what he is, fast reactions from a big frame.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil; Wood (Lennon 90′), Rodriguez.

Leicester City XI (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs; Mendy; Perez (Iheanacho 73′), Praet (Tielemans 73′), Maddison, Barnes; Vardy.

Members Analysis

1,813 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    OK I must have missed this.... we have a winter break now?

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Shocking topper. My apologies.

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Gw 26 is played over two weekends.

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        How very exotic and continental. Like it! Cheers.

  2. Dion D's Solo Shower
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Maddison to Martial a good move for this GW?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'd say so even though w ham.is a good fixture for Leicester

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

    Interested to know the "perfect" WC for this week and beyond.. seems everyone is up in the air atm!

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      All of a sudden there are so few decent midfielders! Unless you want to double up on Liverpool of course.

      I'd consider 4-3-3 but can't convince myself that there's a stellar fourth defender that has form and fixtures on their side. Tough times to WC, might be worth waiting.

      1. Netters2018
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I did Maddi to Grealish....

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

    Which one would you choose?
    1. Maddy to Grealish
    2. Kiko to Williams/Tanganga
    3. Save FT

    Ryan
    TAA Söy Stephen
    Salah Mane KDB Maddi
    Vardy Ings Greenwood

    Button Lund Hayden Kiko
    1 FT, 0 itb

  5. Bruno Commando
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is there a better time to use TC this gw? Feels like TC Mane this week!

    1. Dion D's Solo Shower
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'm very tempted by that myself!
      He got into good positions yesterday, but a bit worrying that Salah seems to be more in form atm..

  6. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any good stats on Mane vs Salah.

    Mane usually looks more threatening when watching liverpool play but Salah is on pens.

  7. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Time to ditch Abraham?

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

      Yep. Just about pull the trigger

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

      well he scored at the emirates

  8. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play which GK

    a. Pope
    b. McCarthy

    Cheers

  9. kempc23
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Dunk Williams
    Salah KDB Mahrez
    Aguero Ings Maupay

    Sarr Lord Cantwell

    Sarr to Traore now, or play Williams then move Sarr up to Grealish next week? £0m itb.

  10. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who is using tc ?

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Me TC

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Who ?

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Salah or TAA. Probably bottling it and going Salah. I need to take a punt that Mané stays quiet for a rank push as he will be the popular TC choice.

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Unlike dgws later on in the season the risks of rotation are minimal. Front 3 should start both . fixtures are decent . There's really a case for it

    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      When’s the next DGW???

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Usually around gw 33

    4. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Officer Dibbly

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        *Dibble

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I stand corrected (but you and I are probably the only ones who know what this means).

          1. SackWenger
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            There won't be many - i remember Benny

            1. The Knights Template
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Yep, I remember Benny.

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

      every smart fpl player. The points potential cant be ignored.

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

    Best defender for 4.8 less for the upcoming GWs?

    Some thoughts: Williams (4.1), Lascalles (4.2), Stephens (4.4), Holgate (4.5) and Cahill (4.4).

    Thanks guys!

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

      Everton fixture run finite
      United close to bottom of cs charts with ho hum fixtures
      Ward cheaper than Cahill but yet to start
      Watford are all cheap too

      Have Holgate and Lascelles. Newcastle are set up to defend and have a glorious run.

  12. Lecky Legs FC
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Worth doing Vardy > Firmino will make it 3 LIV for DGW (VVD & Mane my other two)

    1. kempc23
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Dont know if I would. Vardy could still outscore Firmino. I think TAA more important.

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Could but West Ham are the type to sit in and frustrate away from home might even bring in Jimenez could nab a goal against us Thursday

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      bobby love away games...

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        He really does

  13. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Suggestions on how to fit Mane into this team? 1 ft, 0m itb.

    Mccarthy
    taa soy dunk
    salah kdb richarlison grealish
    kun vardy ings

    button lund dendo rico

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

      Does Kun to DCL and Richarlison to Mane work?

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

        It does mate. That was my plan all along. Now not too sure about ditching kun.

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

      Your only options are to downgrade one of Kun or Vardy, then Rich > Mane.

      Kun > Jimi
      or
      Vardy > Maupay?

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

        How about kdb and rich > mane and trossard?

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

          That looks good too. Although last time I took KDB out he scored 19 points and Son got sent off, so I'll never make the same mistake again!

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

            Oh dam! That's the dilemma - dump kdb or kun. Cheers mate.

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

              Yeh it's sod's law that whichever one you choose will haul.

              Good luck!

  14. GW23 Rough with the Smooth
    Geoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Gameweek 23 Rough with the Smooth

    How did your GW go? Which of your players were benched? Did you get any injuries? How did your bench perform? Did your captain return?

    Feel free to post your tales of joy and woe from Gameweek 23 here:

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

      Rough: I guess same as for many, finally swapped Jimenez to Ings and punishment was brutal.

      Smooth: DCL, Grealish and Salah finally returning faith. All could've scored more too with a bit of luck so happy to go forward with them.

      Undecided: KdB captain seemed like a fail until Vardy 0-pointer.

      1. King Carlos
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Ruff: 33 pts on the bench...

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

      captained salah so ok i guess but could have been more, should have scored from that robertson cross.

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

      Horrific gameweek again, 50k rank drop, KDB captain, only Jimi returned

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

      Rough : Vardy (C)
      Smooth : Pope

    5. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Just happy to get Grealish 10 points from the bench and Virgil plus Trent points, not too fussed the cap Kdb and Vardy blanked.

    6. Will Kane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      My rough is that I walked into the pub to meet my friend yesterday at the exact moment his keeper saved my captain's penalty!

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

        Smooth: you have a friend, and there was beer at hand

        1. Will Kane
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah, beer did help. And I didn't even log in when I got home to make a drunken transfer!

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

        Damn that was rough

    7. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sold Jimenez din'I

      For Maupay, 9 point swing I believe. May pay off for the next few though.

      Only real smooths were that I didn't captain Vardy, I played Grealish, and I won Salah rather than Mané

    8. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez benched.
      Vardy missed pen.
      Soyuncu 1, Martial 2, Maddison 2, Cantwell (sub) 2, Lund 2, Ryan 2, Tammy 2

      Had better weeks.

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

      Bringing Aguero in for 66 points over 2 weeks as captain- rank up from 508K to 136K over 2 weeks and back in mix in ML!

    10. Bird Raymond
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      My goalkeeper saving my captain's penalty must be the definition of rough with the smooth!

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

      Rough: The 8 players that was not pool
      Smooth: 3 pool players

    12. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough:
      - Captain Vardy pen miss, a nice adder to captain son's red card a few weeks ago 🙂
      - Ole finally breaking Rashford - surely Martial is next for the treatment table

      Smooth:
      - Move from Double Pool defence to Triple pool defence 3 weeks ago keeps on rolling - 71 points, 9 Cleansheets, 2 assists, 1 goal in 3 short GW's... Can they do it again this week...

    13. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Grealish benched in place of Cantwell. I'm a fool

    14. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      GW was full of Roughs.
      Vardy © fail. None of the attackers returning anything.
      Rashford Sarr injured !
      Needed to take hit to sell them...
      30k >> 34k red arrow.

      Smooth:
      Pool DD working like Charm. And yes, Pope the legend !!

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

      Rough: Sold Jimenez (13) for Ings (2) and captained Vardy (0).
      Smooth: TAA and Salah - that's it.
      35 and yuck.

    16. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy Capt, sold Gaz, only 3 players returned, another red but my mate is top of the whole monthly league and I’d like to think I had a say in that.

    17. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rooth: Vardy (C) penalty saved by Pope
      Smough: Vardy (C) penalty saved by Pope

    18. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: 6 players blanked including Vardy with 0, can't really complain though as..

      Smooth: 80 points minus 4
      Took a hit to Aguero in as captain, a plan which means triple Liverpool defense next week as can't afford Salah or Mane. Played Traore over Martial. Also owned Van Dijk, TAA and Grealish.

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

        Triple Pool defence now that's a combo I've not seen mentioned before. Might pay off.

    19. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough:
      Finally used my FT on Pope out for McCarthy. Pope got 13pts!
      Benched Jiminez for the first time - Another 13pts lost.

      Smooth:
      Nothing really this week.

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

      Rough: My old team got about 20 points more than my WC team.
      Smooth: 23 points from the Liverpool game which just about salvaged my GW.

    21. Lemongrab
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Roughest of the rough

      Sold Pope and Jiminez for Ryan and Ings - net loss 21 points.
      Benched Grealish.
      Captained Vardy.
      All out for 29. Nightmare week.

    22. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smooth. Salah scored in the last minute meant winning the FPL cup. Otherwise I would have lost the tie on less goals scored 🙂 Rival had Vardy captain too. Thanks Mo and Pope 🙂

      Looks like I am the only one from FFS still in the FPL cup 🙂

    23. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      ‪Smooth; Grealish (had him since first draft), Jimenez, Trent, Robbo, Salah.

      Rough; KdB (c), but had Vardy (vc) so not as rough as it could have been!

      Can’t believe my season. Averaging 60, moved up to inside top 5k now. No hits, no chips, only 18 transfers. Only changed one defensive position all season! Dare I dream... #fpl ‬

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

        Oh 58 points by the way.

    24. Superflymonk
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Pure rough. Had Vardy captain and benched Jimenez for Cantwell. Sidibe cameo didn't help my team much.

    25. claretparrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: Vardy (C), Transferred Pope out for McCarthy and benched Traoré (last two costing me around 20 pts)

      Smooth: Week saved by TAA, Virgil and Salah, Moved from 147k to 106k

    26. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      rough:Sold Pope, captained Vardy.

      smooth: Liverpool beat Man United. Irrelevant I guess but it cheered me up after the above.

    27. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Minor green would have been gloriously verdant if only Mo and Martial could hit open goals

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        The sitter missed by Salah hurt my eyes especially as it was Robbo who put it on a plate! 😀

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

      Rough: KDB captain, Vardy 0 and Sarr injury.

      Smooth: Differentials coming in this week - DCL (8), Holgate (8) and Pope (12)

      58 all out and a 90k rise to 250k

    29. rojojojo
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough Pope+Jimenez --> Mccarthy + ings (-4)

      26 point swing

    30. Mingo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      All rough this week.

      31 points, GW rank of 6.2 mil
      Vardy captain, only Robertson & Grealish returning. Benched Aurier for Lundstram. Out of the cup by a point, he even took a hit and still beat me.

      Still top 10k though so not all bad.

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

        All rough this GW.
        Rivals brought in and captained Aguero; muggins here bought Mahrez and captained Vardy 🙁
        My Liverpool trio of Mo, Trent and Robbo limited the damage late on, but still a disastrous week.

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

      Smooth: Vardy to Kun, and gave Kun the armband.

      Rough: Moved Jimi to Ings and Traore to Mahrez after several unproductive weeks.

    32. NOMONEY
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      wasnt a bad score but vardy(c) was a rough, couldve jumped a few more places if it wasnt for the pen miss and others got a 12pter from pope, huge points swing there

    33. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smooth: Transfers were Richarlison & Abraham out for Salah and DCL. Medicore 51 points but up to 2.3k OR.

      Rough: Vardy (C) penalty miss was painful

    34. El Conquistador
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough:

      - Jimenez to Deeney.
      - Deeney penalty saved by Gazzaniga who I sold to bring in McCarthy.
      - Captained Vardy who missed another penalty
      - That's bad enough lads.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Dear Lord 🙁

    35. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Benched Grealish for Cantwell and sold Jimenez for Ings. Enough said.

    36. Fire Chief Moe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: Did Traore to Salah for -4. Captained Vardy
      Smooth: Grealish and TAA

    37. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough:
      Jimenez out (and a bit unlucky my punt Maupay(C) didn't get a goal and second assist)
      Smooth:
      The other 10 assets that I got rid of on WC all blanked (including big guns Vardy and KDB). Aguero and double Liv defence saved my WC.

    38. Pep Pig
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: -4 bringing Son in for Maddison on Saturday morning to make him captain, though the first transfer was Rashford > DCL
      Smooth: 77 points and through to the last 4 of the Member's Cup. GW15 saw me in 1.5m OR and now sat at 84k so I'm more than happy with my luck at the moment

    39. Chemical76
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough

      Worst GW rank this season

      2 pts from a front 3 of Ings, Deeney & Vardy
      Used my 2 FT to bring in Mahrez & Deeney for Richarlson & Rashford

      Smooth

      Gazzaniga

      Still in top 10k

      Still in FPL Cup

    40. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smooth = Rashford >> Pukki(c) 50k green arrow to 630k
      Rough = Ings >> Jimenez

    41. torshov_bulls
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: Sold Pope and Jiminez for McCarthy and Ings. For a hit.
      Would have been 30+ points better off and close to top 5k had I done nothing.
      Sarr injury, he looked so good.

      Smooth: Aguero C saves the gameweek. He has gotten med five goals in two games as captain.

    42. MrZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough : Vardy's big fat 0
      Smooth : adama deliver & grealish coming of bench for rash

    43. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      rough is that now everyone has that triple pool i have had for 6 weeks, Pool done well but so many missed chances, and all my early moves are now template. What to do? And feels like nowhere to go, all premiums i consider is either not nailed or plays for team that are questionable. Rough is that changing two goalies in a row and just for Pope to save a pen.. i have him though. Rashford out is actually a rough as it means easier for people to remove him and it diminishes Martials prospects. He is gone after Burnely anyway.
      Smooth, nothing really as Grealish goal kind of nullified my Dunk cs, which might would actually been better for me. Salah goal was nice in the end but should have been more. I guess Vardy and Soy combining for 1 point for many kind of is a smooth?

    44. ritzyd
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: jiminez to ings giving me 13 from 6 on saturday and vardy (c) for 0 sunday
      Smooth: pope, vvd, taa and salah for 44pts saving the week

    45. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Gazzaniga and Jiménez > McCarthy and Ings.

      24 point swing.

      Oh and Vardy captain.

      End of topic.

    46. BrokenNative
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough:
      Convinced girlfriend to let me do some spring cleaning on her team (she hadn’t made a transfer in weeks and I wanted to get it in better shape).

      I took out Van Dijk for Robbo, Zaha for Cantwell and Almiron for a -4.

      Even rougher:
      Even after me wrecking her perfectly fine team, she still beat me in our H2H 🙂

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

        This comment was quite disappointing given that it started with 'convinced my girlfriend to do....'

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

          I see now how that could get one’s hopes up aha

    47. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smooth: Gazzaniga has finally done something useful, I've bought Trossard and also had Grealish

      Rough: pretty much everything else, including captaining Sterling because I was expecting a parting gift - not another kick in the balls

    48. TiAgoFPL
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough : only Jimenez and Arnold returned , 39pts

    49. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      So rough.

      Watched Saturday games with my main rival he had Gazza I had aurier benched. Then he had Jiminez playing and I’d benched him too. After an awful Saturday I had double Leicester defence (Chillwell soy) and Vardy C to save me they somehow then scored a combined total 1 point! Then I had Mane (assist VARD) he had salah (last minute goal) I lost 30 points to him in one gameweek (I was 50 ahead) and I only scored 29 points with just one return from my whole team (with aurier and Jiminez 19 points between them benched) also dropped 200,000 places.

    50. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smoothe: Chose Pope over Guaita +9
      Very Rough:
      Tfr'd out Jimi For Ings Ft 2 pts in 13 points out.
      Tfr'd in Firmino for Rash. Meant I had Traore on the bench +2 -10 -4 for tfr
      Forgot to move in Aurier off the bench to Soy by not saving.
      Cost 28 points.

      Ouch!!!

    51. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: transferred Pope out for McCarthy, first red arrow in 8 gws
      Smooth: VVD & TAA saved the day, my only players that returned this week

    52. Queens of the South Age
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Another smooth week for me. 87 points with Aguero(c), Pope and Grealish off the bench to send me top overall.

      Think I've used a whole seasons worth of luck in a few game weeks!

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

        Yep. That's a pretty smooth week.

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

        omfg

        LEGEND

        so getting mentioned on the SC tonight...

        1. Queens of the South Age
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Hahaha. I'll try and tune in live for it but doubt I'll make it. 🙂

      3. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        As smooth as it gets, congrats

    53. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Trans out pope for maCCarthy
      Aurier on bench

    54. GrecianDan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smooth: Brought in Aguero 4wks ago as a punt & captained this week. 75k to 14k in 2 weeks!
      Rough: Need to sell him now to get the Liverpool attack double I've been planning for, but can't bring myself to click the button! Should I keep him and go double defense instead?!

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

        Same punt on Aguero 4gw ago. Just sold him to get Mane. Think Aguero will get a rest and some hard fixtures. We can bring him back in later.

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

        Tapped the button already for mane 🙂

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

      Horrific.

      I took out Aguero for Mane with a hit in a bid to have triple Pool for dgw24 as I had exact funds 0 itb.

      Outs: Aguero, Ramsdale, Willian and -4
      In: Mane, McCarthy, Ings

      Ended up 40(-4)

    56. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smooth: TAA (C) 20 points.
      Rough: He outscored the rest of my team by himself! Everyone else blanked for a total of 18 points.

    57. Balotellitubbies
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: Benched Jimenez
      Smooth: Did the dullest transfer ever by bringing in Button (3.9) for McGovern (4.0) to save 0.1. Had 2FT and nothing else I wanted to do.

    58. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      All rough!

      Sold Pope and Jimenez brought in McCarthy and Ings, 22 point swing and of course Vardy(c). 33 points down to 799k OR, finished top 4K last year.

    59. The Bad Seed
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I Have 1 return, 9 blanks (1s, 2s, and 3s), and a 0 for a captain.

      How smooth is that?

    60. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rough: Vardy (C), sold Jimenez after 2 blanks (the only games I owned him) as fixtures looked bad and Southampton supposedly were more defensively solid now... Chilwell no show compounded by the fact that I had Willems first on the bench thinking Newcastle might always keep a CS at home. I was right of course but Willems got a 1 pointer and a 9 month injury instead of a CS

      I've taken a look through my game week history and ive had good picks every week, yet somehow red arrows every week. Now at 1.2m, never finished outside 100k while taking the game seriously before...

      Smooth: Salah I guess.. everyone else blanked

      1. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        You were really unlucky with Willems but you cannot have predicted his injury.
        I sold Jimi before his haul against City, so I can sympathise with you.
        It seems I haven’t made any immediately successful transfers this year, bar VVD in 3 weeks ago maybe. It’s always the players I held on to for 3-4 weeks at least that eventually came good, patience is key this season, trust your choices and your rank will improve

    61. The Left Duke #3
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smooth: Lpool DF double up again delivers.

      Rough: FT Jimenez to Ings
      Started Cantwell ahead of Traore

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

      Smooth: Aguero(C), Holgate, Grealish, Salah and TAA- 71 points and from 1.9k to 511th OR.

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

      ROUGH!
      Awful gaweweek benching Grealish, Traore, Aurier, and Pope. Also captained Vardy. Ended up in me getting more points on my bench (38) than in my starting line-up (36)!

      5.4million gaweweek rank to match it. Dropped 100k in OR.

    64. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Smooth: Captain Salah salvaged my gameweek at the death!

      Rough: Pope, Grealish and Aurier were all in my bus team but I then proceeded to bench them all for Henderson, Soyuncu and DCL for a net loss of 16 points!

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

      Rough: Pope and Jiminez to McCarthy and Ings

  15. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I look away for one second and Rashford has dropped 0.2 and Firmino has risen 0.2, WTF? Fabianski not dropped once since his injury?

    1. Cahill
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      think it was longer than a second bro

      put the whiskey down

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

        Thought red flag meant protected?

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

          Nope,
          red to none is

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

      Ali drops are pathetic too 😀

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

        Lost 0.3 on him already!

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

    Start One:

    A: Rico (Brighton Home)

    B: Lascelles (Everton Away)

    C: Lundstram (Man City Home)

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

    Bottomed;

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

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

    Budget is around 5m. (Other Pool attacker is Mane.)

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

    Hopefully the league is not matematically over until after the palace home game.

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

    My two rivals in my ML have shown their hand early and I can see they have already doubled up on Salah and Mane.
    They are only 20 points behind and I am sitting on Firmino and Mane, I am absolutely terrified of a Salah haul now. Do I...

    a) Get Salah for a -4, TC him and rest easy

    b) Stick with Firmino and hope their Salah doesn't overtake me

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B definitely for me . And possibly TC mane

  20. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Zaha 2 assists in last 3 and faces (SOT SHU eve NEW bha WAT bou) in next 7

    Anyone considering a punt ?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Good punt imo

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

      Looking at same set of fixtures and I'm not sure of goals/assists as a Ayew owner 🙄

  21. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who else is doing Salah TC this GW then?

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

      Meee

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

      hes looking so good

  22. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Firmino's 7 league goals have been away from home this season.

    2 Away Fixtures for pool, think I'm going to punt on TC to try and save my season.

  23. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play maddison or Doucoure?

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

      both rubbish but a

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

        Yeah I wanna transfer maddison and vardy out for grealish and aguero next week but this week I'm giving Leicester another chance

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maddison. You much have some bench !!

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

        Thanks

  24. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I'm tempted by ayew over DCL . Long term fixtures are better . Cheaper. Had been doing decent this season' thoughts ?

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      My concern is he's probably due a rest and Tosun isn't.

      I've gone DCL for the next 3 but if I need a budget to get Aguero back in, I'll be looking at Ayew.

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        How much can you afford ?

        1. Ady87
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          £7.4, so i'm glad Jimi has a tough run or i'd have just missed out on him.

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            I'd pick someone else that ayew if you can afford this much though

  25. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Absolutely livid. Rico going down means I'm now 0.1m short Maddison > Mane now I've got to spend -4

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

      mane is out of form

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

        Mane is coming in just at -4

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

        out of form lol?? only 4 blanks in the last 14 games

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Unlucky

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

        Annoying

  26. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    MIGHTY MIGHTY ENGLAND. 🙂

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

      Cricket... Phew. I thought I'd clicked on one of those politically dubious twitter feeds.
      Great win!

      1. Monkey Hanger
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        BARMY ARMY.

    2. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Took their time though ha, great win

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

    Thoughts on Sidibe + Maddison + Jimenez to Lascalles + Mane + DCL (-4)?

    Thanks guys!

  28. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best option for midfielder up to 5.8 m

    A Doucouré
    B Trossard
    C Almiron
    D Snodgrass ( then in week 25 move to Fleck)
    E Any other?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Cheeky punt on d

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

      Between A and B for me.

    3. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Troare

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

    I just want to say well done to all Liverpool fans for winning the league.

    I won't lie I am not particularly pleased by it but Liverpool are head and shoulders the best team in the league and deserve to win it

    1. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What bet did you lose?

  30. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    This team is sorted right? No wrong order?

    Hendo
    TAA, Robbo, Digne
    Mane (c), KDB, Maddi, Grealish
    Vardy, Ings, DCL

    Button, Soy, Lund, Cantwell

    Only thought it Soy in for DCL but as a WHU fan I want us, need us, to score badly.