Scout Notes

Ominous comments from Guardiola after City flop in Double Gameweek opener

Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City

  • Goals: Anthony Martial (£7.9m), Scott McTominay (£4.9m)
  • Assists: Bruno Fernandes (£8.4m)
  • Bonus: Victor Lindelof (£5.3m) x3, David de Gea (£5.4m) x2, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.3m) x1

Manchester City’s first Double Gameweek 29 fixture was a dire watch for Fantasy managers who went all-in on Pep Guardiola’s side.

After an underwhelming set of scores from Arsenal’s key attackers on Saturday, this was another blow for anyone who lumped on assets with two fixtures this Gameweek.

Not one City player registered more than two points at Old Trafford, with Sergio Aguero (£11.9m) failing to even last 60 minutes, two Ederson (£6.0m) errors costing his side a clean sheet, and the likes of Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m), Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) reduced to second-half substitute’s appearances.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m), by some distance the most-owned City asset in Fantasy Premier League, didn’t even make the bench, with the 2018/19 champions not prepared to take a risk on the Belgian’s shoulder injury.

There is still one more Double Gameweek 29 match to come for City, of course, and there could still be plenty of points to be salvaged from the wreck on Wednesday night at the Etihad.

Concern remains over who makes the starting XI against Arsenal and just how fully motivated the Citizens will be, however.

Guardiola’s comments on De Bruyne just before kick-off on Sunday not only cast the influential midfielder’s involvement in midweek in some doubt but confirmed what many of us were thinking: that the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup will now take precedent over the Premier League, given that the title race is effectively over and City are looking assured of a top-four place (whether that leads to European qualification or not):

He feels better but he doesn’t feel 100%. And we don’t take risks. We have three important games in the Premier League but of course, the position that we have, Madrid and Newcastle are the real important games for us.

The likes of De Bruyne, Aguero and Mahrez will continue to get Premier League minutes from now until mid-May but anticipating when those starts will come may now be even trickier.

To give two examples, the Gameweek 30 clash with Burnley comes three days before the rematch with Real Madrid, while the two legs of the Champions League quarter-finals (should Guardiola’s side make it that far) fall either side of a Gameweek 33 trip to Southampton.

Aguero’s participation on Wednesday night might also hinge on his fitness, as he was spotted with an ice pack on his thigh immediately after being withdrawn at Old Trafford – although this is not an uncommon practise for substituted players who are nursing even the most minor of knocks and there has been no word from the City camp on any injury so far.

The Argentine striker had little to work with in the Manchester derby, not registering a single legitimate shot on goal and having fewer touches of the ball than even Mahrez managed in a 30-minute cameo.

Aguero did have the ball in the net just after the break but was denied by an offside flag, with a quick VAR check confirming that the premium FPL forward had marginally strayed beyond the last man.

There were few players in light blue who actually made a positive impression, in all honesty.

Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) was pocketed by the excellent Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.3m), while Phil Foden (£5.1m) posed very little threat on a rare Premier League start and there was precious little creativity from the visitors’ central midfield sans De Bruyne.

Sterling did test David de Gea (£5.4m) with a low effort early on and went close to connecting with Mahrez’s cross on 74 minutes but City had only seven shots on goal all game, the joint-fourth-lowest total in Gameweek 29 so far.

There was encouragement at the back for owners of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) and co, meanwhile.

With City deprived of Aymeric Laporte‘s (£6.3m) services, we were treated to one of Nicolas Otamendi‘s (£5.0m) more reckless displays, with the experienced stopper perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty for a challenge on Fred (£5.3m).

Otamendi’s woes paled in comparison to Ederson’s horror show, however, with the Brazilian goalkeeper first letting Anthony Martial‘s (£7.9m) deadlock-breaking strike squirm through his grasp and then having to dash back to his line to prevent the Frenchman from adding a second when a routine pass back from Joao Cancelo (£5.2m) rolled under his feet.

Ederson then laid the ball on a plate for Scott McTominay (£4.9m) to seal the victory in stoppage time, with the Brazil international’s misplaced throw out presenting the United substitute with an empty net from 35 yards.

As one would expect, Guardiola backed his goalkeeper after full-time:

He saved one or two, he’s an exceptional goalkeeper. I don’t come to judge my players, mistakes are part of the game. He will recover.

It’s part of the game so next time he’s going to be better. He’s an extraordinary player. The way we needed the build-up, sometimes it happens.

This was another superb result for United in one of the so-called ‘bigger’ games, with the Red Devils having taken six points off their cross-city rivals in 2019/20 on top of victories over the likes of Chelsea (twice), Spurs and Leicester.

Jose Mourinho’s fatigued troops are next up for United in Gameweek 30 and there is little to fear in north London at present, despite the red blob on the Season Ticker.

It has often been in matches against the ‘also-rans’ that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have struggled this season and United have plenty of those after the international break, with six successive fixtures against bottom-half teams from Gameweeks 32-37 (FA Cup permitting).

In Bruno Fernandes (£8.4m), however, they now possess a player capable of unlocking most defences.

His superb, no-look assist from a free-kick for Martial’s goal was his fifth attacking return since his debut in Gameweek 25 (nobody has more in that time) and the bleak days of Andreas Pereira (£4.8m) playing in the number ten role are a dim memory.

He should also perhaps have had a penalty to take for that aforementioned foul by Otamendi on Fred, while a bit more vision and less selfishness from Dan James (£5.8m) in the 69th minute would have seen the Portuguese midfielder played in unmarked on the edge of the City box.

Martial is certainly prospering from his new teammate’s arrival, with his last two league goals owing much to the vision of Fernandes.

The Frenchman continues to impress and frustrate in equal measure, having failed to capitalise on two chances shortly before his opener, but he now has seven goals to his name in the last 11 Gameweeks – only Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.4m) has more in that time.

Those who aren’t using the Free Hit chip in Gameweek 31 and who don’t already own the likes of Martial and/or Fernandes are unlikely to make a move for the in-form pair now, given United’s upcoming blank, but the Portugal international is nevertheless the most-bought player of Gameweek 30 at present and the bandwagon will surely only gain further momentum after the international break.

Interest in United’s defence may also gather speed.

This was their fourth clean sheet in five league games (their eighth in ten matches in all competitions), with Victor Lindelof (£5.3m), de Gea and Wan-Bissaka all pocketing bonus points to supplement their shut-outs.

Brandon Williams (£4.1m) was recalled to the starting XI as McTominay made way, with the hosts reverting to a wing-back system for the visit of Guardiola’s side.

The ease with which they kept City out was particularly impressive and Solskjaer said after the match:

Look at the two goals we’ve conceded [over the last ten games] – one shouldn’t have been given against Club Brugge because the ball was rolling [from their goal-kick] and the last one was David [De Gea’s mistake], so we are getting there.

At times, we pressed and pushed them back and we tried to be aggressive with the wing-backs and three up front. So we ended up with three at the back, and, when we hit the press, I think we made them make mistakes and, of course, we’re happy with the result.

Manchester United XI (3-4-1-2): De Gea; Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Fred, Williams (Bailly 78′); Fernandes (Ighalo 88′); James, Martial (McTominay 78′).

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Zinchenko (Mendy 77′); B Silva (Mahrez 59′), Rodri, Gundogan; Foden, Sterling, Aguero (Jesus 59′).

Members Analysis

591 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    UTV

    1. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Good lad!

  2. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    Can anyone let me know why I still have Vardy please?

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

      I'll tell you when i figured out for myself 😀

      1. villa_til_i_die
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        And me

      2. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Once this guys figures it out he can tell us all
        Jiminez > dcl instead of vardy > dcl in gw 20 gonna haunt me for a while

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

          He hasn't done a thing for past 10 gw's !
          And I'm holding him like a bugger 😀

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      well i got him to block rivals cos they all had him ,needless to say theyve dumped him weeks ago ,i held ,so many great fixtures always on the horizon,just balls to this year...

    3. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Because you didn't want to sell him for 9.5 when he was 10.00 'cause that would have lost something called TV?

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Vardy economics (Just because people think selling high profit players costs them money)

        Sold after gw23 for 9.5M - 500k profit / dropped 500k TV - Vardy points total since (to 28), 7 points
        Bought Bobby for 9.4M, sold after 26 for 100k profit - Bobby points 24 (or 31 inc C)
        Bought Jimenez for 7.7 ... currently of +300k TV - Jimenez points 12
        7 points vs 43 (-8) .... recovered the 500k TV, made 100k profit

        If I had kept, I'd be down 200K profit, down 35 points and still have Vardy

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

    Hope AVL win and Rodgers get fired for his garbage team decisions

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

      Hopefully that first thing happens at least.

    2. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Rodgers proving he is fraud

    3. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      That’s why Reading fired him.

    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Leicester will lose I feel it, they wont even get a CL place in the end, exposed for what they are tonight a mid table team

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Exposed because Brendon doesnt play his best players

    5. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      I’ll have some of that!

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

        I'm a Villa supporter tonight !

        1. villa_til_i_die
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Good man!

  4. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    vardy one assist since dec 21st ,why is he still in my team ,SMH, *logs off and stomps off*

  5. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    Grealish first sub with KDB is first XI

    Could get interesting

  6. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    Pep never leaks

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      He doesn't know the team himself until a minute before

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

    Another GW of unprecedented luck for Vardy owners.

    Once again, an autosub might actually score more than 2 points.

    1. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      He'll come on for 1 pt

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      KDB © Perez vardy

      Bench is
      Grealish Stephens Lascells

      I think a minute each for all !!

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

        Hopefully 😀

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      He'll come on and score twice.

  8. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    Vardy to Auba not bad afterall

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

      Yep
      1< 4

  9. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    What would you say about KDB Robo to Mane Alonso for free ?

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      I like it.

      I’m considering the same with Trent for a hit.

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

        Great move

      2. The_Fish
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        That’s awful

        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          I’m free hitting 31 so he’ll come back in for Palace. So Man City and Merseyside derby with Adrian the next 2 games.

          Not convinced KDB will play against the rugby team at the weekend.

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Only you know your strat going forward

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

    Henderson
    TAA VVD Lundstram Doherty
    Salah KDB Grealish
    Ings Jimenez Vardy

    Pope Traore Soyuncu Hayden

    1 FT, 0.2 ITB

    What to do here?? Save??

    Thanks

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Wait and see for now. I think I'd want Vardy, Ings, Lundstram, Traore, Soyuncu all out. Probably Vardy this week

      1. FCSB
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Who would you bring in for Vardy though, I’m planning for 31

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

    Come on big Caglar, lad. Clean sheet and a towering headed goal. Not much to ask.

  12. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    When u saw Justin at left back you knew it was real

    You couldn't make that up

    1. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Vardy brace off the bench, lets pray

  13. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 20 days ago

    any one haunted ?

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

      I'd say haunt levels are around a 6/10 for me.

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      If my life ends tonight I will haunt that shrimp Ayoze...

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

    Vardy will come on and score so its fine

    1. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      He better, I'm set for a huge red arrow otherwise

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      He'll come on and block ur bench pts

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

        Block Aurier? Oh no

    3. Party time
        4 years, 20 days ago

        ...an own goal to leave owners furious

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

      Rodgers

      "Vardy will play part as of when needed"

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

        And this is also part of having to listen to Michael Owen talking through his behind again.

    5. some witty pun
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Who should I prioritise getting rid of?
      A) Ings
      B) Vardy
      C) Mount
      D) R. James

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        ADCB

      2. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        B/D

    6. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      If Leicester slip up today, fair chance they drop out of the top 4 come the end of the season

      1. some witty pun
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Possible. Chelsea and Utd are on the up

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Guy at work has several bets, with mainly combos of top four, be he is cashing out tonight.

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Bet

    7. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Stay benchEd no Party tonight ......

    8. AD2110
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Currently have 6 players for 31. Would you free hit or save?

      TAA, Boly,
      Salah, Mane, Dend
      Jimi

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Save.

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Save, look to get Jota & Sarr by removing Dendo

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

        Save

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

      It's nice to see Sven again. He's good fun.

    10. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Can the utterly useless xA King get me more than 3 points please!

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

      Could have handled Vardy not being in the squad with Ayew first on my bench. Him sitting on the bench was the worse case scenario as clearly he will come on for 1pt. Perez being benched as well is unbelievable. Those two muppets have have been dragging my FPL scores down now for several weeks.

    12. Forgetmeknot
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      Carrying over my 1ft with Robbo, Trainee, KBD, Vardy & Rico now seems like a terrible decision

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

        Traore*

    13. Vlad Tepes
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 20 days ago

      100% sure Perez will come on for a 1 pointer

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

      Get ready for Vardy coming on in the second half ladies and gents.

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

      Which Gw 31 player to get?

      Have

      TAA, Taylor, Saiss
      Salah, Mane, Sarr
      Jimenez

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Antonio/Jota/Doherty

      2. some witty pun
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 20 days ago

        Doherty

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

      What's a good film to watch for those who are haunted?

      1. Party time
          4 years, 20 days ago

          Freddy vs Jason

        • Party time
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Friday the 13th or Saw I II III

          • Jordan.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            LA confidential ,great film ,bollocks to ghosts...

        • Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 20 days ago

          imagine if Vardy comes on and the misses a penalty 🙁

          1. FCSB
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 20 days ago

            Scenes

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 20 days ago

              i’ve owned him through no shows and penalty misses - glad i sold this week

          2. Party time
              4 years, 20 days ago

              Imagine if Vardy comes on & goes off to take an extra sht on owners

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

                You are a very cruel man

                1. Party time
                    4 years, 20 days ago

                    Lol

            • have you seen cyan
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 20 days ago

              what mad man would field their weakest xi vs a relegation candidate, bizarre decision. Villa wont just roll over, Grealish masterclass incoming

              1. villa_til_i_die
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 20 days ago

                Here’s hoping!

              2. FCSB
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 20 days ago

                Agreed, can see a Villa win here, Rodgers trying to be too clever

              3. some witty pun
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 20 days ago

                Vardy's just returned from injury actually

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

                Chilwell injured, Vardy coming back from one. Perez is shite.

                Not sure what else he can do?

            • PlayPercentage
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 20 days ago

              Have Vardy and Brendan had a fall out? It's starting to look that way.