Scout Notes

Why Watford have been missing the presence of the injured Ismaila Sarr

Brighton and Hove Albion 1-1 Watford

  • Goals: Adrian Mariappa (£4.2m) own-goal | Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.7m)
  • Assists: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (£5.8m) | Etienne Capoue (£4.8m)
  • Bonus: Capoue x3, Doucoure x2, Davy Propper (£4.8m) x1

A calamitous late own-goal from Adrian Mariappa (£4.2m) ruined what would have been a fifth clean sheet in ten league matches for Watford under Nigel Pearson.

The unfortunate Mariappa, who went on to record his third minus Fantasy Premier League score of 2019/20, needlessly turned in an Alireza Jahanbakhsh (£5.8m) cross in the 77th minute to gift-wrap struggling Brighton a point in a game low on quality.

While listless Albion had perked up a little in the second half, Watford’s low block had comfortably dealt with what little had come their way and Ben Foster (£4.9m) wasn’t troubled until Aaron Mooy (£4.8m) forced an excellent save from him shortly before the hosts’ equaliser.

A half-chance for Leandro Trossard (£5.8m) late on was barely worthy of mention, with the Belgian spooning the ball over from a narrow angle.

Pearson said of his side’s defensive display after the game:

It’s a game in which we worked very hard out of possession, we were very disciplined and we frustrated them. Apart from Foster making one save in the second half, we didn’t really give them too many opportunities to hurt us.

In terms of frustrating a side who are possession-based, we worked very, very hard. Our mixture of being defensively deep but pressing from the front was very good, the problem was that sometimes we didn’t quite make enough of our own possession when we had it.

As Pearson alluded to, there wasn’t much happening at the other end either, with Watford having only five attempts on goal all game.

It was fitting in such a scrappy match that the opener had come from a Brighton error, with Mooy’s loss of possession resulting in a well-taken solo goal from Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.7m).

That was Doucoure’s fifth attacking return in the last seven Gameweeks, with the cut-price FPL midfielder evidently enjoying his new role in ‘the hole’ of a 4-2-3-1.

Gerard Deulofeu (£6.1m) and Troy Deeney (£6.3m) have enjoyed a renaissance under Pearson too but had few sighters of goal at the Amex Stadium, with the Catalonian winger trundling a shot wide early in the second half.

Perhaps the Hornets have been missing Ismaila Sarr‘s (£6.2m) presence down the right flank over the last three Gameweeks, with the Senegalese winger again sidelined on Saturday due to a muscle injury.

Roberto Pereyra (£5.6m) has his own qualities but he does not quite provide the same direct outlet down the right wing and it’s no coincidence that Watford’s chance creation figures have taken a tumble while Sarr has been unavailable.

Sarr should be in line for a return in Gameweek 27 but Watford’s next four fixtures aren’t great, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Leicester City all to come before Blank Gameweek 31.

One of Watford’s five clean sheets under Pearson did come against the Red Devils, at least, with Foster banking a double-digit haul against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troops in Gameweek 18.

United are also without a single goal to their name in Gameweeks 23-25.

Brighton’s fixture list isn’t much better, with trips to Sheffield United, Wolves and Leicester to come over the next six Gameweeks along with home matches against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Where Watford at least have a guaranteed match in Blank Gameweek 31, meanwhile, Albion could very well be without one.

Pearson’s Hornets also offer us the security of starts and the prospect of clean sheets, which Albion do not at present.

The Seagulls have registered just one shut-out in 15 Gameweeks, while Graham Potter’s constant tinkering of his starting XI – he changed three of his back four on Saturday and Neal Maupay (£5.9m) was again a substitute – is becoming a real annoyance.

We can swallow a bit of rotation with Manchester City because of the high rewards on offer but Albion’s players are seldom going to give us double-digit hauls when they do start.

While Brighton are a markedly different side to the one playing under Chris Hughton, the anxiety at the Amex on Saturday conjured up bad memories of the nervy run-in (and the anticlimactic Double Gameweek 34) in 2018/19.

Reflecting on the game, Potter said:

We’re all quite positive because the performances certainly in the last two games have been there. We have had a never-say-die attitude which we had at the start of the season and it’s nice to get that bit back.

We are a confident group, but we’ve seen good teams go down in the past so we’re aware that we need to keep grafting and keep going.

Solly March (£4.6m) and the fit-again Dan Burn (£4.5m) returned to the starting XI at the weekend, with Potter saying of the pair:

Solly is another player who on his day can be the best player at the club – he knows his talent and potential and so do we. If you give him a run of games – and he hasn’t had that in a while because of his injury – his potential is there. We just need him firing but he was good on Saturday.

We missed Dan a bit. Bernardo has done well, but Dan gives us something different and it was good to see him back out there. They are important players for us going forward.

Brighton XI (4-2-3-1): Ryan; Schelotto (Jahanbakhsh 72′) Duffy, Dunk, Burn (Maupay 56′); Propper, Mooy; March, Gross (Alzate 61′), Trossard; Murray.

Watford XI (4-2-3-1): Foster; Mariappa, Cathcart, Kabasele, Masina; Capoue, Hughes; Deulofeu (Welbeck 85′), Doucoure, Pereyra (Pussetto 81′); Deeney.

Members Analysis

923 Comments Post a Comment
  1. jaguar shark
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    DCL to Jimenez a no brained for next week?

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

      Not really given DCL form.

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

        TBF Richarlison was the one who was sharp, DCL just profited off of him.

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Fancy DCL and Everton to do well against Arsenal but it’s a move I would probably make. Who are your other forwards ?

      1. jaguar shark
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ings and Vardy. Good point, maybe worth a wait?

      2. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Are u selling Kun for Jimenez?

    3. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      i was set on DCL to Ings but reckon I'll hold off 1 more week

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        So was I. But right now I realised that I have also another option, Wood to Jimenez.

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        DCL to Ings is a no brainer given the latters fixtures.

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

          I think I need to use ft to sell 1 of lund Webster or cathcart 1st

    4. jaguar shark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Other idea is to move Alli...

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

      Thinking the same

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

      One other point, Wolves and Arsenal both play in the Europe league so I’d be reasonably happy to keep DCL

    7. A Fat Spanish Waiter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’m doing it. Everton’s fixtures get really ugly over the next 4

    8. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Form over fixtures every time for me

      1. jaguar shark
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Is DCLs personal form that great or is he capitalizing on the teams form? If so, is Everton strong enough to challenge arsenal, United etc?

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

          Man Utd and Arsenal aren't exactly strong themselves.

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        But Everton. And he wasn’t that great.

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Everton are doing great right now.

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

            Easy fixtures ... now departed

    9. Old Gregg
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      This was my plan also.

      Hmmm probably will stick to the move but a lot can happen till the next game week.

    10. jimski
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I always planned to do this move, but now DCL's form has got me thinking. Might now wait two matches, until after Wolves have played Tottenham away. If DCL has stopped scoring, that might be the time to make the move.

    11. jimski
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Worth noting too how well DCL is doing at the moment:

      https://twitter.com/BigManBakar/status/1226400526310526976

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

        I'd have felt even happer keeping him if he's buried that golden chance at the end.

    12. ceejay106
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think I’d do it. Evertons results have been better than their performances.

  2. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kun destroys teams every season

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Actually i ruined my team with wildcard

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

    so you realistically think they will play two games between the 19th and the 22nd? They would need training time when returning from the break so no way would this happen

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Sky Sports suggesting the city v west ham game could be re-arranged for March 10th or 11th

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Gw29 ?

        That's when I wanted to bb

        May have to play in 27 instead now

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

          If Arsenal are playing EL in gw30 and are also free in 29 then it would make more sense to pencil in that match, not the WHU one.

          Given potential cup runs (CL / EL and FA), the gw28 MCI v ARS is going to be the hardest one to fit in

      2. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        United/west ham for a city double up.

        Kun vs utd, jesus v hammers I guess.

        1. Pieterke30
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I would say the opposite actually, but who knows!

          1. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Either way, I guess it's very difficult to say with certainty anyone will get enough points over the 2 games to be worth ripping your team up.

            1. Pieterke30
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Agreed

      3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        all speculation but potentially if both teams agree is what I am thinking

        1. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Good luck finding city players who will play both games

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Mahrez has just posted on his instagram he's getting on a plane and going away. Time for the city boys to enjoy the winter break

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

      Yeahhhhhh

    2. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I hate being happy at others misfortune but I'm doing so bad this year every little lucky break for my Cityless team is welcome

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

        It's a game so you can totally be happy about other managers misfortunes

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

          true. not like I'm happy someone got injured or something

          big boost for my MLs... delighted 🙂

        2. Pieterke30
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Mané TC, then this... played WC early, aggressively, among other things to get Kun C points vs WHM while many wouldnt have him bc of BGW28... it is not true that luck evens out over a season.

      2. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Are you going to stay Cityless right till the end?

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

          god no!

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

      I hope they all get caught up in typhoons and their hotel rooms leak.

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      But he is back on Friday. Pep has always said that they would get 4/5 days off and then back in training.

      So nothing stopping City playing there game on Tuesday 18th

      1. Pieterke30
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        How do you know he is back on Friday?

    5. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Flying on a plane safe, playing football not

      Oh the irony

    6. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      back before the weekend to play 🙂

  5. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Mahrez Instagram with caption ‘off’ (plane emoji)... winter holiday confirmed??

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. Still a small chance it stays in GW26 if the game is rescheduled on Tuesday or Wed 18-19 Feb... but gets more and more unlikely with every passing hour.

      If it happens, I suppose we should know within next 24-48 hrs.

      1. Pieterke30
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Suppose they are only given sth like 5-6 days off anyway, not more so theoretically could play Wednesday 19th.

        1. FCSB
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          would EPL put that as GW27 rather than 26 though??

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

        One thing to have to agree with UEFA re playing on the same night as the CL, different to be doing it at the 1st, and not last opportunity, with little or no notice

        CL SFs are probably out too .... which only leaves 29 or 30 and 32 or 33 (The off-weeks from when city are playing)
        Arsenal playing in the EL could also throw a spanner in the works (being one the matches to reschedule)

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

    Fernandez or Lascelles?

    1. Chasing Waves
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Lassy

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Emphatically Fernandez - ask the Geordie fans.

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

        My Georgie fan cousin just brought in Lescelles and said he’s surprised so many are bringing in Fernandez considering he’s not nailed...

        1. Pieterke30
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          He played 90 mins in every single one of the last 16 games.

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

            lol - you just beat me to it! 😀

        2. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          16 straight starts in which he has played the full 90 minutes. Looks nailed enough for me.

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

            Yeah, but have they had injuries? His view was that one of the centre backs who isn’t currently featuring will sin his place back sooner rather than later, and Lescelles is least at risk if so. No idea if that’s right, but he’s a decent FPL player and a Geordie fan so figured it was worth sharing! I don’t own either of them so makes no difference to me

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

              *win

  7. Chasing Waves
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone else move out Lundy for a blanking sheff utd asset? Am i in a better position knowing mine is now nailed or did I succumb to my own doubts and will live to regret it?

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

      Next GW has the answer.

    2. A Fat Spanish Waiter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I shipped him for VVD, but yeah... I facepalmed when he scored. At least I still have a shot at redemption

    3. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not exactly. I moved him out for Stephens. But it was still a kick in the teeth on top of the City postponement.

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

      Yes I sold him for O Connell.
      Annoying, but I think it was the right call still

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

        Likewise. Just one of those things. I’ve found I’ve been surprisingly philosophical about it actually. Made no sense whatsoever to keep him, confirmed when he yet again started on the bench.

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

      I wanted rid of Kelly and Lundstram, and wanted Egan and Stephens (So'ton). Didn't want to take a hit for it so ditched Kelly and brought in Egan.

      Lord Lund is currently second on the bench depending on what happens with Liverpool mids. Curious to see if he gets back into the team now

  8. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which one to replace Sidibe?
    a)Fernandez
    b)KWP

    1. Chasing Waves
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      C - Lassy

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

        cheers. Lascelles?

        1. Chasing Waves
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Yes lascelles

  9. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    If it's called off I will get Lord's points for KDB so I guess it's great as KDB is in most teams

    1. A Fat Spanish Waiter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Makes my selling Lundstram this week all the more painful.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        He didn't start as we expected. He also played about 30 mins as expected. Probability for him to score wasn't extremely high. It just happened. Bad luck.

  10. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kun (c) Salah (vc) here
    Lundstram first on bench
    Not too fussed

    1. A Fat Spanish Waiter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Except Salah’s wife just had a baby. Hope he plays.

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Of course he will

        1. A Fat Spanish Waiter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          He is my captain. I think you are probably right, but I’m nervous.

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

          How do you know?

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Since his wife isn't swedish feminist (compare with Lindelöf's missus).

          2. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Are you Swedish by the way?

      2. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        As a mo captainer, with ings vc, I think I'd be happy if he didn't

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

          would be a funny read on here if he was given time off

          doubt it tho

        2. Woy_is_back
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Same

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

        I actually think there's a chance he doesn't and is granted some paternity leave. That said Klopp will want to maintain some momentum for Atletico 3 days later. I'm also a Kun C and Salah VC.

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

      Who comes in for Kdb?
      I'm only gutted because I sold Auba. You did warn me but I got Kun-envy and saw the west ham highlights... Well it doesn't matter now.

  11. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Sidibe > Boly, Fernandez or Lascelles?

    Ryan
    TAA Lund Williams
    Salah Mane KDB Grealish Traore
    Ings Jiminez

    McGovern DCL Sidibe Soy

  12. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Those who played BB are the real losers here.. would feel sick

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

      Jeez that'd be awful

    2. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      was it an obvious bb week?

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Would never consider it outside a double but a few in my ML deployed the chip, as did the friendly lad Amey

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

          sweet re rivals. balls for amey

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

        seems a really bad option when it was known that only 4 matches max would happen the weekend

        It looks like he believes in leaving transfers until the last minute ... but then BBs a team which will play in a weeks time?

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Feel sorry for Amey then - he played BB in the final of the FFS cup.

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

      Kun (c)
      Kdb (vc) tops that I think.

      I personally have never had a bench boost that has worked out.

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Lesson here is not to use C/VC in same fixture

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I think that is considered as rookie error. At least without checking weather forecast. Food poisoning and flu are also known risks.

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

    The one bright spark for all this awkward city stuff is the wildcard in the back pocket. Could be very important.

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

      Can also work if you hold TC. Opens up FH and BB for other two DGWs if it works out that way

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

        True - content enough with the Salah one already but it could be better for sure

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

    What a week so far, having a blinder:

    Henderson (2)
    Montoya* (0), Trent, Stevens (1)
    KDB*, Snodgrass*, Traore*, Salah (VC)
    Kun (C)*, Ings, Vardy

    (Soyuncu, Doug Luiz, Hanley)

  15. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lundstram coming in off the bench for Aguero... Not too bad I guess

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      But also Hayden for KDB... Geez

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

    Would prefer to roll my FT so I have 2 for GW 28 changes.

    GTG / bench right?

    Hendo
    TAA Stephens Fernandez
    Salah KDB Traore Mane
    Aguero Ings DCL

    (Button. Grealish Rico Williams)
    (0.5m available)

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

      Looking good to go

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

        Cheers!

  17. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Apart from Liverpool players, which players actually have form and fixtures?

    Ings? Who else?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Saints. Maybe newcastle at a stretch

    2. A Fat Spanish Waiter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Wolves. Pick your favorite.

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

      Jim

      Barnes should count too I guess

      Burnley defence?

  18. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Supposing there is going to be DGW 29 after bgw 28, it looks like pretty difficult to navigate without WC. Ederson, KdB and Kun look like obvious targets. Any thoughts atm?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Just rack up 2 ft if possible and hope for the best.

      Unlikely to want any hammers anyway.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Difficult with Henderson blanking, but being without gk is a possibility. One idea could be FH 29, but it could be expensive later.

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I don't see a city dgw in itself is worth a free hit.

    2. A Fat Spanish Waiter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ederson is nailed. I’ll give him that. Price is high though to I’m torn.

      I was planning to WC after 29 once we know the FA cup situation for 31. This could screw all of that up.

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Pep rotation with fixture pile up may present some problems though.

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

        Doesn’t help the other game is United either when looking at prioritised games

        1. Pieterke30
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          This being said I could see Pep playing the harder working Jesus vs Utd and Kun at home vs WHM

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

            Perhaps

            Kun’s record this season against top teams is abysmal - all his goals bar one have been against also rans. On that form you wouldn’t want him for the United game

      2. Pieterke30
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, there wont be many who start both games. He wont want to start Laporte or Kun twice over 3-4 days when UCL is the priority.

        The only real positive with a City DGW is you can be almost certain the players you get will start one game, which isnt guaranteed in a single GW

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

      I actually think Mahrez is ideal in this case. 8.5 explosive and we already know he's a massive rotation risk so it's no shock

      1. Pieterke30
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        KDB, Mahrez and Ederson.

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

          Yes !

    5. Nailed Jesus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      treble up on city, no need to worry about blanking shu/villa assets, fh28, navigate 31 with fts and hope gw 31 fh teams will be full of dross.

    6. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      That fixture could be against either WHU or ARS - the scheduled weekend match is mnu
      West Ham would have ars and mci OR Arsenal would have WHU and mci

      Likely I will keep Aguero through 28 .... no signs of life from Vardy or Tammy yet
      I was planning on being KDB free from next week- going to have Mane and Salah for a few weeks

      There are also some other good fixtures, all home - LIV v BOU, SHU v NOR, WOL v BHA, SOT v NEW
      Not sure I would want to give up too many of those slots (TAA, Salah, Mane, Hendo, Boly, Traore, Jimi, Ings)

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

      I thought that there is no certainty re the order that postponed games are rescheduled - so if playing in gw29, they could play either gw26 WHU or gw28 ARS

      mun and ARS probably means Ota or Ederson are no goes

  19. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Berge was at fault for Bournemouth’s goal and Lundstram scored the winner lol

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Lundstram looked a bit off until that goal.

      1. Geordie19
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Think he will start again now?

  20. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Save FT?

    Hendo
    TAA Robbo Stevens
    Salah(C) KDB Traore Fleck
    Kun Jimenez Ings

    Pope Taylor Lascelles Hayden

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

      Given most of your team has 2 games to play, yes.

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers TM

  21. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Apologies if this was discussed to death yesterday, but do we think holgate benching was a one off?

    Have dendonker and Williams on bench too which is now looking very lightweight.

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, merely rotated to be given a rest as Ancelotti has always done during his managerial career. He mentioned this last month when he rested Mina also

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks.

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          True, but if he is likely to start I'd rather shift others for now.

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'd look at getting rid of Holgate, the fixture-run ended and hard fixtures to come. Would look at Shu, Newc and Soto defenders.

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Apparently he's been Everton's best centre back this season. I'm probably benching for a few game weeks.

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        He has been particularly since Carlo arrived

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ancelotti trusts all 3 cb's, will get rotated but has played well.

  22. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kelly —> Lascelles or Taylor?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Taylor imo

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Lasc better fix

    3. Geordie19
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Taylor has good stats, Newcastle good fixtures

  23. Geordie19
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Getting Boly this week for good fixtures and no blanks.

    To get him, do I Sell:
    Lundy (May start playing again now but has a blank 28)
    Sidibe (tough fixtures but no blanks)
    Rico (Bournemouth can defend but has no blanks)

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

      Sidibe could blank in 31.

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

      rico

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

      Doing the same, Sidibe for me

  24. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Chances of City vs West Ham happening in GW26?

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Slim.

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

      cant see it - would mean the EPL doing a 180 on the whole point of the winter break

      Better of paying extra dgw with, the kids if needed, than rushing into a fixture this game week

    3. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Imagine your bosses banging on about the need for a mandatory break .. not even allowed a friendly kick around because you need a mental break, as well as a physical one ... then at last minute they pull you off the plane and tell you they were only kidding, as much as your mental health is important to them, there is TV revenue to made and your holiday is cancelled

      Would your mental health improve or deteriorate?

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

      I think the demoralising effect of having to cancel City & WHU millionaires vacations is something neither team is willing to do. Also arranging staff, cops, tv and all infra around a sudden match seems unlikely.

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

    Any chance at all City - West Ham will be played with the rest of the matches in this GW in a week?
    Would make sense to get it out of the way due to CL, Carabao & FA, but I guess it takes a bit longer to plan stuff like that - right?

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Right.

      Still a chance, yes, but seems unlikely. All the noise now is that it would be postponed to GW29, making it a DGW.

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

        Aight. No chance!

        26/02 CL 1/8 finals vs. Real Madrid
        01/03 EFL-Cup final vs. Aston Villa
        04/03 FA-Cup 1/8 finals vs. Sheffield Wed
        08/03 PL GW29 vs. Man United
        14/03 PL GW30 vs. Burnley
        17/03 CL 1/8 finals vs. Real Madrid

        Squeezing a match against West Ham in on the 11/03 would make them play 7 matches in 3 weeks..

        Would make much more sense to get that out of the way next saturday.

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

          If they wanted to make sense they would arrange more fixtures at the start of the season

          See above re why the game should not happen the game week

        2. Pieterke30
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Would make more sense for sure, agreed, but it’s not gonna happen

  26. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Milan derby shaping up to be a classic

  27. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I'll survive, but auch man... Rico + Lascelles in for Mahrez + (K)DB and moving the captaincy to Ings..

    Ryan (2)
    TAA - VVD - Stephens
    KDB* - Mahrez* - Salah - Maddison - Doucouré (9)
    Vardy - Ings (C)

    Rico, Lascelles, Greenwood

  28. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Wilder has brought 'Lord' Lundstram down a peg or two in recent weeks after all the praise on here. Rather than see this happen again, I suggest he be re-named Local Councillor Lundstram.

  29. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Fleck to Snoddy in GW28 looks good if West Ham get a DGW in GW29!

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

      Fleck probably outscores him in 29

  30. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Thinking about benching Kdb/Kun for gw28 if gw29 is a DGW, should I do that or get rid of Kun for Jimi?

    1FT & 0itb
    Ryan
    TAA - Taylor - Lunds
    Salah - Kdb - Martial - Son
    Kun - Ings - DCL

    Subs: Button - Soy - Cathcart - Romeu