Scout Notes

Big chances for Aubameyang as Arsenal remain work in progress under Arteta

Burnley 0-0 Arsenal

  • Goals: None
  • Assists: None
  • Bonus: David Luiz (£5.7m) x3, Hector Bellerin (£5.4m) x2, Charlie Taylor (£4.2m), Bernd Leno (£5.0m) x1

Arsenal enjoy one of the best runs of fixtures in the Premier League over the next two months but it won’t be just the blank in Gameweek 28 (and a potential postponement in Gameweek 31) that gives Fantasy managers reason to doubt the Gunners at present.

We have used the words “work in progress” on umpteen occasions since Mikel Arteta’s appointment and, as mentioned in previous articles, it may not be until 2020/21 that we see the ex-Manchester City assistant really make a telling impact at the Emirates.

There is no doubting that Arteta has already put his own stamp on Unai Emery’s former side.

Only Liverpool and Spurs have conceded fewer league goals than the Gunners since he took charge, while the aggressive pressing we have seen from the north Londoners from Boxing Day onwards is lifted straight from the Pep Guardiola coaching manual.

At times, Arteta’s Arsenal look like a very good team indeed.

Burnley couldn’t cope with their visitors in the first 25 minutes of Sunday’s match, with Sean Dyche’s troops reduced to aimless long hoofs upfield (and no, that isn’t Plan A) in a bid to relieve the incessant pressure.

Mesut Ozil (£7.2m) was finding a lot of space in between the Clarets’ defence and midfield, while premium FPL forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) and Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) both had excellent opportunities to break the deadlock.

The pair combined as early as the first minute, with Lacazette nodding a cross from his teammate agonisingly off-target.

Aubameyang, transferred in by over 280,000 FPL managers ahead of Gameweek 25, wasted two superb chances of his own, skewing horribly wide from a David Luiz (£5.7m) pass before seeing an attempted lob smothered by the advancing Nick Pope (£4.6m) when latching onto a similar through-ball from Granit Xhaka (£5.1m).

A fine James Tarkowski (£5.1m) tackle had denied Lacazette his first away league goal in a year in between those efforts and Arsenal would have been good value for the lead at that point.

As has been the case previously, however, the Gunners could neither make their early pressure count or sustain their dominance.

Fatigue had evidently been an issue in the defeat to Chelsea in Gameweek 20 but there were parallels with the Crystal Palace game in how Burnley strong-armed their way back into this one, with Arsenal unable to regain a foothold for long periods.

Arteta said after full-time:

I think we started really, really well, we could have scored at least two. We dominated the game like we wanted, we got out from their pressure pretty well, we played in the opponents’ half and we controlled the long balls and second balls.

After 20 to 25 minutes, we started to concede a lot of unnecessary free-kicks, throw-ins, corner-kicks and when that happens you can’t find any continuity in your play and that is not the game we want to play.

I was very disappointed with the way we started the second half, the first 15 to 20 minutes we could not control any aspect of the game and we allowed a lot of crosses and second balls inside our box, and at some stages, we were lucky not to concede a goal.

The positive thing is the reaction in the last 20 minutes, when we started to play again, we had the courage to play and the courage to take the opportunity that they allowed. The space was there because they committed a lot of people forward but we couldn’t finish the actions well enough to score.

While there has been a definite improvement in an individual and collective sense in defence – Shkodran Mustafi (£5.1m) was again unrecognisably impressive at centre-half – some familiar failings remain at the back.

Burnley clearly targeted the Gunners with deliveries from wide areas, with one comical moment occurring shortly before half-time when the Clarets implored referee Chris Kavanagh to award a free-kick rather than play advantage in a promising position.

Over half of Burnley’s efforts came from headers, with Tarkowski, Ben Mee (£5.0m) and Jeff Hendrick (£5.4m) all missing presentable chances in the air.

The best opportunity of all fell to Jay Rodriguez (£5.7m), who rattled the underside of the bar with a volleyed effort from close range on 78 minutes following another cross and headed lay-off.

The loss of Bukayo Saka (£4.5m) to injury at half-time didn’t help the Gunners, with Xhaka forced to deputise at left-back and unable to offer the kind of attacking thrust that the teenager had been providing in the first half.

Arteta said of Saka’s fitness after full-time:

He had a knock in his knee and his hip, so we will see.

He’s been a threat for us and in the way we planned the game, we thought we could exploit them with him and he did really well when he was fit. 

I think in the last 10/15 minutes [of the first half] he was carrying his injury. We decided to substitute him because he wasn’t feeling good, so tomorrow we will know how he is.

Gabriel Martinelli (£4.6m) was also nowhere near as effective as he had been in recent weeks, with a switch of flanks to accommodate Aubameyang’s return seemingly having a negative impact on the young Brazilian.

The only Arsenal player with double-digit FPL ownership, Aubameyang will be the main candidate for inclusion in our squads either side of Blank Gameweek 28.

Seven straight matches against sides ranked ninth or below sees Arsenal riding high in our Season Ticker, and Aubameyang’s existing and prospective owners would have been encouraged at the positions he found himself in at Turf Moor.

Another excellent chance presented itself in the 75th minute, with the Gabon international nodding a Lacazette cross just wide.

Overall, though, the Gunners are flattering to deceive under Arteta from an underlying attacking stats perspective: only two clubs have had fewer shots from Gameweeks 19-25, while just three teams have carved out fewer big chances.

Burnley’s fixture schedule is less inviting (matches against a much-improved Southampton, Spurs and Manchester City are to come before the March international break) but there are more appealing games against Newcastle and Bournemouth in the short-term and a guaranteed fixture in Blank Gameweek 31.

Pope is doing his best to establish himself as a set-and-forget goalkeeper whatever the opposition, having registered an unfathomable total of 28 points in matches against Manchester United, Leicester City and now Arsenal.

His ninth clean sheet of the season (no FPL goalkeeper has more) could have been even better, had Opta adjudged an injury-time catch to be from a Martinelli shot on goal rather than a cross – that would have not only handed him a save point but some bonus points, too.

Dyche was full of praise for his troops after the game, saying:

It’s probably our best all-round performance of the season and if there’s a tiny niggle, I felt we deserved to win it with the chances we created. I thought the whole performance level was good, but you don’t want to get greedy.

I thought the front two were excellent. How one of them hasn’t got on the scoresheet is a surprise, and their partnership grows in the absence of Ashley Barnes.

Behind that, the midfield does an excellent job with and without the ball, and the back four have been solid.

Once you get all those connections right, you are heading the right way, and when you don’t you have a keeper behind them who is outstanding.

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

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Luiz, Saka (Torreira 46′); Guendouzi, Xhaka; Aubameyang, Ozil (Willock 63′), Martinelli; Lacazette (Nketiah 89′).

Members Analysis

1,142 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Will Salah even start vs Norwich?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Can’t see why not, Klopp will want them back in rhythm.

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

      Of course - will want him sharp for Champions League

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Don't care
      Cameo is enough for a haul

      1. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Amey Son did us proud. Villa next when the crowd may jump on.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Yep
          I'm hopeful of a haul. He's a differential atm

    4. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Is the pope catholic?

      1. Long ago I drew a walrus
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        That's questionable

  2. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Auba(c)

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

      Last gw or next?

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Awkward unassuming blank argh
      AUBA

  3. drughi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    six straight red arrows this is getting silly

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

      mine's 5. wrong captain choice?

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

      Chin up bro - a bit of poor luck recently. Stick with it and keep making the right decisions and the greens will come.

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hard luck mate

    4. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Had 5 in a row. Last GW 1st green in a while.

    5. maverickga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yup, same here, I wildcarded this week

    6. MITHRRANDIRR
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stagnating in 100-150k for many weeks now. Utter bad luck from Man City assets all season. Zero differentials (Rich, Auba) working for me.

  4. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    So little options in midfield...

    1. Rocky FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I know right. Which is why I am against wildcarding now. Too few options to choose from. FTs should do the trick for now.

      1. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ft and hits 😉

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I am happy with mine

    3. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Going with Salah Mane KDB and Son. Get what you pay for in the long run (hopefully)

    4. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      So few

  5. Mork calling Orson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Have gone fixtures over form & got stuck with Zaha & Martial.
    Do I stick with it or how do I replace them with £15m - I have zero idea at the moment & could do with some suggestions

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Zaha and martial to son and troare possible?

      1. Mork calling Orson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Unfortunately that’s £15.7m & I only have £15m.
        I could swap Son for Alli, but then I’d end up with Alli.

        1. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Son and mooy!?

  6. Kaiser123
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Salah might get benched against Nor.

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      You should remove him

      1. Kaiser123
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Get a grip

    2. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Winter break, two weeks rest? Not enough rest bench him for Norwich too. He will be right and fresh for GW1 2020/2021 at that rate.

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Theme of the week !!

    4. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yea sell for a hit mate

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I agree. Sell him immediately.

  7. ZolaG
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Guys NEED HELP!
    Had a rubbish season. Missed out on Salah's hauls has left be 55 points behind in mini league.

    What are your thoughts on clawing this back? Any strategies out there? Only free hit left!

    Current team:
    Pope
    VVD Trent Holgate Rico O'Connel
    Salah Son Grealish KDB Hayden
    Aguero Ings DCL

    Brought in Salah/O'Connel for Martial/Robertson

    Any help will be much appreciated on this Monday morning 🙂 After a 37 point weekend 🙁

    1. Ian J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      One more game week for Everton then swap DCL & Holgate for Wolves - Boly/Doherty & Jimenez
      For week 28 at the mo you’ll have to play Hayden & Rico - maybe swap one for Lascelles or Barnes (Lei)
      Monitor Aguero - he’s your differential or could swap for Auba
      Permanent capt Salah as a shield - still got plenty of weeks to catch up - try not to second guess your ML leader - focus on your best team
      Your team is good & will pick up points

  8. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan
    TAA VVD Lundstram
    Traore Salah KDB Son
    Ings DCL Jimenez

    Button Lascelles Cantwell Williams

    No FT. Any thoughts?

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Save. Gtg

      1. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        thanks

  9. Sterling Archer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero should win the captaincy poll if everyone was is honest!

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      You sure he'll start against WHU ?
      If not then he's not the best choice.

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Unless you are the real Iggy Pop, that's a bit rich.

      1. Fitzy.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        He's bored

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Lost his lust for life?

          1. Fitzy.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            🙂

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

        Nah, he's just a passenger

        1. Hibbo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          And he rides and he rides.

    3. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Salah for me at bottom of the league.

  10. venitol
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    TAA VVD O'Connell Stephens
    Salah KDB Fleck
    Auba Jiminez Ings

    Button Traore Lascelles Hayden

    1FT 2.0ITB

    Sooooo tempted by auba -> kun for the West ham fixture, but was also thinking of going to Vardy from GW28 for fixtures

    Thoughts?

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      auba -> kun
      This is just not wise. Sideways and presumably you only just got on Auba, you’re thinking way too trigger happy

  11. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone thinking Vardy to Kun (C) this week?

    I have other positions to take care of but Kun(C) might outscore Salah(C) by 8 points (two hits if you consider getting him and out)

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

      Not worth it if it costs 8 points in hits in total

      1. Whats the Mata?
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        It is for free. Vardy to Kun.

        But I'll have to get him out in gw28.

        That's the reason I'm keeping a buffer of 8 points assuming every transfer costs 4 points.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Can work or might result in waste of points. One of those 50-50 decision

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Doing it for free. Not sure about a -8

  12. Live Scoutcast 8pm Tues - leave your questions here
    J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    LIVE SCOUTCAST - 8pm TUES

    Joining me is @FPLCruyff74 and @KaramTayser to look ahead to #GW26.

    Feel free to leave your questions for us here.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Midfield contenders is very sparse at the minute. Is it time to consider a cheaper mid of say Barnes, Traore, Henderson etc? But is Grealish time up? Is he still the focal for Villa attack?

      1. Fitzy.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Got the right man on this week to answer that question.

    2. The Rumour Mill
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      One of the best scoutcasts I ever heard was when Mark wildcarded and you and Granville spent 45 minutes pulling it to pieces. So anything similar here should make for a good episode!

      1. J0E
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        "You can't run from a Loftus Cheek" 🙂 I remember it well.

        One of my favourite bits was after I tucked in was the upcoming pause as Granville rolled his sleeves up and said "right..." before the next onslaught.

        Note: I do not have Loftus Cheek on my wildcard 😉

        1. The Rumour Mill
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          It was superb entertainment, a fantastic episode!

          Hahaha, it was wave after wave of attack wasn't it? I seem to remember Mark going for TAA on that wildcard, he was ahead of his time with that decision as it didn't pay off at all that season, but came good about 12 months later.

          LOL, was that also the episode where the term "magic bean" was coined?

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

            He’s had the last laugh on Terence Trent D’Arby though!

    3. Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Benefits of holding WC for later?

      1. carlosice
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        What is looking like optimum time to use WC (if you still have it), and similarly, the BB and FH chips?

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

      Is it time to sell the Lord?

    5. Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      For people having sold Mane and have a third Pool spot vacant, go double def or double attack?

    6. Yippeekiyay Mertersacker
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      With new signings potentially turning into options, first half of season favourites falling out of favour, and managers often blinkered by good upcoming games/assets when planning for BGWs/DGWs; to WC or not to WC; that is the question...

    7. Long ago I drew a walrus
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      City assets against West Ham in the aftermath of that debacle yesterday. Would like to hear Karam's thoughts on Aguero/Jesus, Mahrez, and Sterling being dropped.

    8. Sterling Archer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Liverpool play Atletico 3 days after Norwich, do you think minutes will be managed?

    9. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      With blanks and tough fixtures on the horizon for highly owned attackers like KDB, Grealish, Vardy etc should we be looking to sell them?

    10. ragonian
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Is the template defence in tatters? Budget defenders like Rico, the Lord, Kelly and Soy have served us well, but are now stinking out many teams (mine included) – how many and who do we replace them with?

    11. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Is WC36 & BB37 bad strategy?

      Title race could be over and relegation battle could be over too so maybe a lot of rotation for BB37

    12. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Who are these @ people? Do they have FFS names (as this is FFS and not Twitter)?

      1. mookie
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This

    13. james 101
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Would appreciate your latest thoughts on retaining / losing Mane

      Including best replacements if losing

      (Are spurs assets a good shout? Man U? City? Etc)

    14. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Which premiums/teams are you investing in?

      Arsenal still figuring things out, Man United can’t score. Spurs aren’t necessarily firing. Chelsea off the boil. Leicester form is so-so. Man City used to be a joy to watch owning 2-3 attackers but not anymore

      Seems like it’s Liverpool and then everyone else.

    15. Balotellitubbies
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      What is the best Lord Lund replacement?

      Comparson of Shu defs would be nice. Who's best of the 5.1 guys and the 4.5 guys, and is it worth it spending the extra cash on Stevens/Baldock.

    16. P-h-o-e-n-i-x
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      As we approach blank gameweek 28, which of the highly owned assets do you think are expendable and which ones should we hold on as we approach the blank.

      1. P-h-o-e-n-i-x
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        The highly owned players I am referring to are - Aguero, Auba, Grealish, KDB, Henderson, Lundstram

    17. YuvalFPL
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      What is the more important transfer? Sheffield United or Liverpool defender? I currently have no coverage in either.

    18. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Is triple Wolves a bit premature?

    19. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      After his debut goal and his reasonable price, is it time for Steven?

      AKA

      The minute you let him into your team, will you Bergwijn to make it better?

    20. Corin_Wright
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hey Guys!

      I want to know your opinions on price predictor web-sites. I am currently winning my mini-league by around 70 points and this week I was accused by a couple of my league opponents as "cheating" as I often consult a price predictor web-site. After I explained that the information was free and available to everyone the accusation was downgraded to "bad sportsmanship" and "Not in the spirit of the game" but I would like to know what you guys think of this and if you have ever encountered players who feel the same way as my league competitors? How much of an advantage does it really give its users? How deeply would it have cut into my 70 point lead if I didn't consult the website?

      I have also emailed FPL to find out if they have an official stance on such websites, but I'm not expecting a particularly thoughtful response.

      Thanks guys 🙂

      Corin

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

        Your opponents are clearly a bunch of filthy casuals. That is all.

        Honestly that's a ridiculous argument. You could manually track transfers in and try to correlate them with price rises/falls if you wanted. All these tools do is to automate the process. Admittedly they are more accurate than you could probably manage on your own but they are not foolproof. The number of times we as a community wait too long or go too early because someone in FPL towers presses a button...

      2. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        if you've kept it a secret then it's bad sportsmanship imo - if FPL wanted us to know about them they would just tell us themselves

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

          How is that different from paying for FFS membership or all of the live football subscriptions or other ways to get better at FPL other than using FPL stats and point tallies? If someone finds a resource that gives them an edge over everyone else then are the obliged to share it? Your point is sound in principle but not enforceable IMO just because there are so many resources out there, of which price prediction sites are just one tiny category.

          1. The Polymath
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Your ML opponents are just jealous. I would expect all good FPL players to be using price-predictor websites. Be prepared to find out they've all started using them, but probably won't have a clue how to make full use of them.

      3. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Your rivals probably in flip flops based on how casual they are. Some of my mates said similar a few seasons back because I’m in FFS league, I was just like lol?
        Anyway these days they all have their own place to look or people to follow, it’s clear by their teams. In regards to price changes I think the algorithm has been really off this season so I haven’t been trusting it at all, I did moves like 3/4 times now which I didn’t need to do because I thought they would rise and they didn’t.

      4. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ask your rivals if they would like some chips to go with their salt 😀

      5. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        For me, I always research everything I do. If you don’t know a subjects environment you are competing / working in then you will always be left behind. I bet they read the FPL scout articles and watch the videos on the site. That’s the same kind of content just presented differently.

        I have a philosophy. Play to win and if that means working hard on research and figures then that’s just fine. Sounds very much like sour grapes and poor sportsmanship from the other way not from your end.

      6. Corin_Wright
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks for the responses guys! Disappointed the question didn't make the show, but I guess it's just not considered a contentious issue amongst sensible fantasy managers.

    21. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Time for The Lord to go? I’ve owned since first draft, so can cash in at 4.5m. I’m thinking spend 0.2m and get Boly, or Lascelles and save 0.3m? Thoughts?

    22. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Any of the new signings worth picking up on WC as differentials ? And name who you think are best differentials to pick up on WC to try and get ahead of the pack!

    23. GaribaldiT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      When do you expect there to be double gw's and blank gw's? If you hold back your wc, BB and Freehit to use in those weeks could you end up not being able to play them effectively because they are so close together?

      1. GREEN IS GOOD
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Blank GW28 (EFL Cup Final)
        Blank GW31 (FA Cup QFs)
        Blank and Double GW34 (FA Cup SFs)
        Double GW37
        There'll be another DGW if a team gets 3 postponements.

        Hold on to your chips!

    24. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Best budget defenders to get and replace Kelly, Lundstram etc?

      Lascelles, Stephens ?

    25. M Heaney
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Is it time to change the middle field. De Bruyne and Madison are doing nothing. There is little to choose from. Do you have any good ideas.

    26. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Simply. When are the dgw fixtures likely to be announced?

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Usually shortly after the FA Cup QFs (so around GW32)

    27. Toby Lerone
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Would you keep KDB on a wildcard? With mixed bag of fixtures plus the blank and CL coming up - is it worth swapping for say, Son?

  13. COYR
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Morning all,

    Team has several fires to fight:

    Pope Woodman*
    TAA Soy* Lund* Kelly* Williams*
    Salah KDB Traore Maddison* Cantwell*
    Auba Vardy* Ings

    1FT 1.2ITB

    Would you:
    A) Kelly > O'Connell
    B) Kelly, Lundstram > O'Connell, Gomez (-4)
    C) Kelly, Lundstram, Maddison > O'Connell, Van Dijk, Barnes (-8)
    D) Wildcard

    1. Ynwalfc
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. COYR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers, ideally want VVD but don't like taking too many hits for defenders

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I would focus on getting Lundy and Kelly out. But no need for a WC or hit.

      1. COYR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers, yea they're the focus

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Woodman, Kelly, Williams, Cantwell can sit on bench, so no WC required.

      Do A for now

      1. COYR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers, yea that seems the most sensible

    4. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Don't take a hit for defenders. A

      1. COYR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers mate, yea that's normally my golden rule but I was just getting impatient.

        1. BERGKOP
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Easy to do 🙂

    5. whitewaydavid@gmail.com
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Wildcard

  14. Ynwalfc
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    TAA,Gomez,Aurier
    DeBruyne,Fernandez,Salah(C),Traore
    Aguero,Ings,DCL

    Subs Button,Grealish,Lundstram,Kelly

    Did Mahrez to Fernandez. Fernandez looks like he’s gonna be the man at utd after watching the highlights V Wolves. he was taking everything and think Mahrez will be dropped after a poor performance.

  15. Grimlock
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any thoughts on lundy....
    Wait and see? Whatever back room stuff is going may get sorted and hell be back refreshed from a break

    Or sel. That it wilder has replaced him

    1. Hitmonlee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’d like to think this but I think his time is up. No way are they spending 22 mil on a midfielder to warm the bench

    2. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      https://www.sheffieldunited.news/news/john-lundstram-wins-the-praise-of-chris-wilder-despite-impressive-berge-debut/

      Lundstram was singled out for praise by Wilder after the match. He's obviously still a massive rotation risk, but that link it encouraging at least.

    3. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'd be getting rid if there are no other pressing issues. I have too many others 😀

    4. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      If you are still 'unsure' about Lundstram in your team then the rest of your team must be in great shape...

  16. Hitmonlee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would you play:

    A) Ings v Burnley (H)
    B) Doucore v Brighton (A)

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ings

    2. ManUtdFan_UK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      If you don’t play Ings at home to Burnley then when are you going to play him?!

    3. Eastman
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ings

    4. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A all day

    5. whitewaydavid@gmail.com
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ings

      1. OneTreeTwoStars
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        You should sell Ings IMO

  17. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this WC?

    Pope McCarthy
    TAA VVD Fernandez O'Connell Williams
    Salah Barnes Bruno Bergwijn Traore
    Aguero Ings Jimenez

    1. Crashjct
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good.

    2. COYR
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I like it, few nice punts in midfield

    3. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It's different. I quite like it. Lots of risk but could pay off.

      1. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks guys!

  18. Crashjct
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hi all.

    Choose one:

    A. Richarlison & Dunk to Son & VVD
    B. DCL & Dunk to Firmino & Boly

    Thank you in advance.

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A for me but B is also a good option!

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

  19. Roy Rovers
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tough one....who gets the (c)?

    A - Salah (nor)
    B - KDB (WH)
    C - Ings (BUR)
    D - Auba (NEW)

    1. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Salah. Man is on fire.

    2. ManUtdFan_UK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. COYR
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A. I have all of those and that's who I'm going for (Auba is tempting but not worth the risk until he gets his shooting boots back on)

      1. Roy Rovers
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Very tempting between him and Salah but Auba might be a big enough differential as he is.

        1. COYR
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Agreed

    4. Roy Rovers
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Looking like A.

    5. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    6. MITHRRANDIRR
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Norwich are so bad and Liverpool looking clinical. Going against Salah a massive risk.

  20. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hi all,

    Current team is below. Not sure on best moves

    Was thinking perhaps doing Aguero/Grealish to Jimmy/Traore after next GW?

    Anything else worth doing?

    Thanks

    Ryan
    TAA - Robbo - O'Connell
    Salah - KDB - Grealish - Fleck
    Aguero - Vardy DCL

    Button / Sidibe - Cantwell - Williams

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      FT? Money ITB?

  21. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    There were 8 Portuguese on the pitch during Man Utd - Wolves. Crazy!

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Wolves are Portugal 2.0

    2. MITHRRANDIRR
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      All probably represented by Mendes, I guess.

  22. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lundstram/ Mane >
    VVD / Son ?
    Have TAA and Salah

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No

  23. Lukakwho
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy and Martial > Aguero (c) and Mooy? Mooy will only play this week at home to Watford and then in the blank.

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yikes. No

  24. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Highlights of the Arsenal game yesterday were painful viewing. Aubameyang and Lacazette, their finishing was beyond bad, like the shots they had weren't even close to the target.

    Burnley appear to have turned a corner but they've been very lucky recently. Before this abysmal Arsenal attack they faced a toothless United and an out-of-form Leicester who missed a penalty. Then before that they had a shocking performance against Chelsea and a string of other poor performances too.

    What they need is an 'easier' game after their run of tough fixtures to bring them down to earth. A team that's easy on paper but in form and with a striker that's far more lethal than what Burnley have faced for a while.

    Ings (c), you heard it here first

    1. MITHRRANDIRR
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Way too risky with Salah and KdB with far easier and bad opponents.

      1. Long ago I drew a walrus
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Pool will be happy to play at 75%, see the game out with a 2-0 and rest Salah after 65. KDB could play deep. Ings will score and get 3 bonus.

        1. MITHRRANDIRR
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Didn't you see the last match? Salah scored his second after 90 minutes and Norwich play open football while Burnley park the bus at times.

          1. Long ago I drew a walrus
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            And he didn't need to score that second because they were already 3-0 up. Nothing to rest him for this time but next time they'll have an eye on Atletico. Parking the bus restricts damage but can't prevent the single goal which for Ings is 9 points

    2. Relaxing
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Very very tempting

  25. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Mccarthy
    TAA Holgate Stephens
    Salah(c) KDB Martial Moura Hilson
    Vardy Aubameyang

    Button Long Lundstarm Kelly

    -8 Vardy/Long/Martial to Firmino/Ings/Fleck

    Cheers

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No

  26. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any news on Mané? Reckon he will get a few minutes vs Norwich?

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He will

  27. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    already regretting getting Martial in last gw..was a 3 gw punt..stick or twist

    A: Martial + DCL + 1.8m with a view to do Martial >> Maddison (gw28) and DCL >> Jimmy (gw27) or
    B: Son + DCL...but then a bit stuck ito what to do DCL from gw27

  28. navyadav
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hey Guys .... Do you think should I wildcard this team or maybe I can make changes ?

    Hendersen (Button)
    TAA Soyuncu Dunk Egan Kelly
    Martial KDB Salah Grealish Cantwell
    Firmino Auba Ings

    Currently sitting at 90k .... Confused as to what to do for GW28 where SHU and City dont play.

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      FT? Money ITB?

    2. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Good team, no need for WC.

  29. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Benching headaches - is this G2G?

    McCarthy
    TAA VVD Lund
    Salah(C) KDB Son Adama
    Vardy ings Jimenez
    - Grealish Stephens BWilliams

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      GTG

    3. OneTreeTwoStars
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Swap Lund and Stephens

  30. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lundy to who?
    A) Fernandez
    B) O'connell

    1. Roy Rovers
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I went Lascelles due to cash but wanted Fernandez

    2. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Both have good fixtures. Personally I would favour Sheffield for their ability to get a cleanie away from home. New only appear to do it at home