Scout Notes

Organised Palace defence stops Watford replicating Liverpool display

Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford

  • Goals: Jordan Ayew (£5.1m)
  • Assists: James McArthur (£5.2m)
  • Bonus Points: Vicente Guaita x3 (£5.1m), Scott Dann x2 (£4.3m), Ayew x1

Crystal Palace’s run of clean sheets continued to a third successive game as they emerged 1-0 winners over Watford on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles held off a spirited Hornets side in the opening period before going ahead and surviving what descended into something of a scrappy encounter in the second.

That goal, which proved to be the winner, was scored by budget forward Jordan Ayew (£5.1m), who now has attacking returns in each of Palace’s last three matches.

With some consistency building for the former Swansea City man, he might even be in time to convince Fantasy managers he is worth owning for Blank Gameweek 31, considering Liverpool’s recent defensive problems.

Ayew looks set to hold down his place in the Crystal Palace team based purely on form, although competition for the centre-forward role has been recently decreased by a long-term injury to Cenk Tosun (£5.7m).

“We signed (Ayew) in the summer, but we paid money to loan him last season, and he has shown his worth. I think he has got stronger, and we saw signs last season, but I am delighted for him.” – Roy Hodgson

Ayew looks more likely to warrant investment in the next few weeks than Palace’s defence, even if it has performed well.

The Eagles do have Bournemouth (away) and Burnley (home) in two of the next three Gameweeks but they must also face Liverpool (away), Leicester (away) and Chelsea (home) in their next five.

It will still be interesting to see how Palace do in that spell though, as, since Scott Dann (£4.3m) was installed as Gary Cahill‘s (£4.4m) centre-back partner in Gameweek 27, they are yet to concede.

This match will have also served as another scouting opportunity for Watford assets ahead of their involvement in Blank Gameweek 31, an away trip to Burnley.

However, the Hornets were unable to build on that hugely impressive win over Liverpool and were unable to carve open too many clear cut chances against a well-organised Palace defence.

“We played against a side which is happy to defend with a bit of depth, it’s never an easy game coming here and our quality with the final pass sometimes was the problem. Our set-play delivery, when we had opportunities, later on, that was something we needed to be better at.” – Nigel Pearson

Not surprisingly, Ismaïla Sarr (£6.3m) was the driving force for Watford, used as the main outlet for attacks but on this occasion, he was not afforded as much space as he was against Liverpool.

While the Senegalese international’s delivery was very good, Cahill and Dann had the defence organised well enough to crowd out the intended targets.

Meanwhile, it was clear that Watford were lacking the drive and penetration of Gerard Deulofeu (£6.1m) on the left-hand side, Roberto Pereyra (£5.6m) unable to replicate the Spaniard’s abilities. That, in turn, had something of an adverse effect on Sarr, as Watford’s play became more focussed through him, they were arguably more predictable.

That said, there was enough spirit shown by Nigel Pearson’s men in the early stage of the game to warrant continued inclusion in Fantasy squads, especially with that Blank Gameweek 31 fixture coming up.

“We’ve had good spells of pressure and haven’t made the most of it, but we’ll bounce back because our players here are honest and committed. I think we played pretty well, and it was a missed opportunity in many ways today because of our inability to be decisive in front of goal. I thought we played pretty well and had chances in the first half, in particular, to go ahead.” – Nigel Pearson

Meanwhile, despite failing to keep a clean sheet, Watford did do a relatively decent job of keeping Crystal Palace quiet.

As already mentioned, this was a tight and scrappy game, which probably suited the defences of each team.

With Leicester struggling in attack of late, this performance might indicate that defensive returns against the Foxes are hardly off the cards, especially considering that Watford have the joint-highest number of home clean sheets this season.

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Guaita; Ward, Dann, Cahill, van Aanholt; McCarthy, McArthur (Milivojevic 70′), Kouyaté; Zaha, Benteke, Ayew.

Watford XI (4-2-3-1): Foster; Masina, Cathcart, Kabasele, Femenía; Hughes (A Gray 84′), Capoue, Pereyra (Pussetto 74′), Doucouré, Sarr; Deeney (Welbeck 74′).

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624 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    2 mins til dirty SCENES

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      KDB news?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Chelsea E erton lineups

    2. kamdaraji
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      CHAOS

    3. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Please turn your webcam off

      1. kamdaraji
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        oh no he's going to show his hairy body!

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Naaa, don’t believe in any surprises

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      You'll be able to say that 3:28

  2. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    DCL blank

    Ta

    1. kamdaraji
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      he will score a hatty

  3. Party time
      4 years, 20 days ago

      OMG

      1. kamdaraji
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        OMG

    • lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Omg he starts

      1. Pedram
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        who?

        1. BNMC
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Gilmour.

          1. The Mighty Hippo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            4.5M

        2. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Happy

    • Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      ⚽ Team News 📰
      CHE: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Alonso, Zouma, Rüdiger, Barkley, Mount, Gilmour, Pedro, Giroud, Willian
      Subs: Caballero, James, Tomori, Christensen, Faustino Anjorin, Armando Broja, Batshuayi

      EVE: Pickford, Sidibé, Holgate, Keane, Digne, Sigurdsson, Davies, Bernard, André Gomes, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
      Subs: Stekelenburg, Baines, Mina, Iwobi, Gordon, Kean, Walcott

      1. kamdaraji
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        No James!!!

      2. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Zero players for me in this game 😎

      3. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Gilmour starts !!! Boom.

        Kepa is back !!!

        1. bOttOmEdpOstrEpliEr.
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          That triple save in Liverpool game worked for him

      4. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Interesting bench for Chelsea

      5. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Alonso, do your owners PROUD!!!

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          1 pointer

      6. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        no Mina too 🙁 there goes my planned punt and back to back 15 pters 🙂

      7. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Jorghino, Kovacic & Kante all gone for Chelsea... wow this is bad for them.

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          But it is good for those Everton ankles

      8. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Right. I'll be getting alonso then.

      9. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        DCL to have a field day. Chelsea midfield looks weak

      10. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Who will actually defend in that Chelsea midfield?

    • BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Gomes is back in the side!

    • Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Gilmour gets his start, fair play.

    • Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Gilmour again!

    • The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Bernard’s back !

    • Miniboss
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      DCL time!

      1. BNMC
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Let's go!!

    • Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      OMG he starts!

      Yes Tom Davies!

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Scouse Thug

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Hey, hey, hey calm down calm down

    • Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Mina out of the side for a couple of games now. I wonder if Carlo has lost faith in him.

    • BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Score predictions guys? I'd go on a limb and say Everton win.

      1. RoryzonderR
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        1-1

    • Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      I know it's a bit away but City vs Liverpool predictions.

      I reckon 2 or 3 nil to Man City.

      1. GREEN IS GOOD
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        When they playing?

        1. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          4th April

      2. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Agreed. Think City will win that.

      3. Big Al Stankovic
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Liverpool will win the league there. If they’re out of cl, then I think they’ll be all pumped up for that occasion.

    • GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Who's on pens for Everton?

      1. BNMC
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Gylfi I think

      2. Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Sigurdsson I would imagine.

      3. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        No one.
        We don’t get penalties

    • Totti
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      had an awful gameweek with ryan and lundstram on the bench 🙁
      could you plz help me

      pope ryan
      TAA Soyuncu doherty lundstram kelly
      salah KDB bruno saka snodgrass
      auba jiminez ings

      0.8 itb 1 FT

      still have all the chips with wildcard

    • el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      As a Richarlison and DCL owner I found it very promising that Kepa starts.

    • Party time
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Mount hatty please

      • Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Kicking myself for last minute switching who I had playing between Taylor and Lascelles (figured surely Ings would score...)

        5 points, but still

        1. el polako
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Worst thing happen at sea.
          I got Lundy 1st on my bench.

        2. Totti
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          i played pope and ryan with 7 points on the bench
          lundstram second on the bench after snodgrass who entered the pitch on the 89 min
          total 19 points

      • The Mighty Hippo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        A Richarlison double will do nicely please.

        1. Party time
            4 years, 20 days ago

            A Mounty Hippo?

        2. Chucky
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          DCL your time to shine 😀

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            He's been shining the last 15 GWs. Unlikely he'll stop now!

        3. Pedram
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          All i want is a DCL blank

        4. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Giggs on commentary

          "We were the dominant side"

          "We were the better team"

          How times have changed 😀

        5. GREEN IS GOOD
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Gilmour on a WC? Bargain enabler.

          1. Fpl Richie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Surely he's not nailed, but I'm not itk on him

        6. OverTinker
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Anything from DCL will be so great

          1. BNMC
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Except a card...

            1. OverTinker
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 20 days ago

              😀

          2. Big Al Stankovic
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Own goal and red card incoming.

        7. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Nice little 1-1 with Pedro and Bernard gols please

        8. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          I'm in bad shape for GW31, only have 3 players and no chips other than BB. What should I do? Take hits to bring in players next 2 weeks to get to 6 or 7?

          1. @fpl_phenom
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            try look at players youll be happy enought to have after 31....

            3 x Liverpool...
            3 x Wolves...
            Sarr... Wood... Pope... etc... hits are effectively only costing -2 points if its replacing a blanking layer...

        9. @fpl_phenom
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          when Liverpool win the league how much are they going to rest their top stars? obviously if Madrid knock them out its not going to happen

          1. BNMC
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Sounds crazy, but if that happens, I'd be willing to go Pool-less (or at least Salah-less) right at the end of the season. Especially if City improve.

          2. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Is Klopp going to bench Mane and Salah irrespective of the CL result?

            Why?

            1. Supersonic Marv'
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 20 days ago

              To give young players game experience. To avoid unnecessary injuries to valuable assets.

            2. @fpl_phenom
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 20 days ago

              well if they're out he will play a strong team and try to finish with a big points tally but if they are still in the champions league he will surely prioritize champions league matches over irrelevant Premier league matches...

          3. Syd.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Record, Records, Records

          4. GREEN IS GOOD
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            If Liverpool stay in the CL, presumably Klopp will need his main players match fit and sharp so they'd still get PL minutes.

            I'd be more worried if they get knocked out.

            1. @fpl_phenom
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 20 days ago

              ah come on this is completely counter intuitive

              1. GREEN IS GOOD
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 20 days ago

                To a casual it might appear so 🙂

                They'd still get pitch time to stay match fit.

              2. GREEN IS GOOD
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 20 days ago

                *but how much effort they'd put in, with the PL wrapped up is another matter.

                You might be better off with players from teams with something to play for.

        10. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Starting to get some traction finally. Enjoying my team. But, for me, it's spoiled by needing to choose a chip strategy to remain competitive* and so select from a smaller set of players.

          *JK I've never been competitive this season.

        11. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Alonso to score outside the box, anytime @28/1 Sky.

          Thank me later!

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Please!!!