Scout Notes

Fernandes on penalty-taking duties for United as Premier League clubs play friendlies

Several Premier League clubs were in behind-closed-doors action over the weekend as preparations continue for the restart of the 2019/20 campaign.

You can read how the top-flight sides fared in earlier friendlies by reading Friday’s round-up.

As we mentioned in that article, official information has been hard to come by for a lot of these kickabouts, with many teams only producing brief match reports and video highlights at best.

We’ll round up what we know in the piece below.

We may have been provided with a huge clue as to who is first in line for spot-kick duties at Manchester United.

Bruno Fernandes (£8.6m) scored a penalty in one of the Red Devils’ two friendlies against West Bromwich Albion on Friday, with some media outlets also reporting that he missed another effort from 12 yards.

This may have been significant as Paul Pogba (£8.3m) and Marcus Rashford (£8.8m), who have taken a number of penalties for United before, were both involved in that kickabout with the Baggies.

Fernandes had scored from the spot in the Gameweek 27 win over Watford but both Pogba and Rashford were absent through injury.

A strong-looking attacking unit involving those three players, Anthony Martial (£8.0m) and Daniel James (£5.8m) fell to a 2-1 loss to Slaven Bilic’s side in the first friendly, with a team containing United’s first-choice defence 3-1 victors over the Championship club in the second game.

Liverpool didn’t have a friendly per se at the weekend but they did stage an intra-squad match.

This was particularly significant as journalist Dominic King reported that both Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) were involved, with those two players having not been risked for the previous warm-up game against Blackburn Rovers for precautionary reasons.

The Reds apparently have no other new fitness concerns to report:

Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur met in a friendly on Friday in a game that was split into four quarters.

Erik Lamela (£5.7m) was on target for the Lilywhites, while Josip Drmic (£5.3m) and Mario Vrancic (£6.2m) – who scored a direct free-kick – replying for the Canaries.

Harry Kane (£10.8m), Son Heung-min (£9.7m), Steven Bergwijn (£7.4m) and Moussa Sissoko all featured on their returns from injury.

Jose Mourinho said afterwards:

Not against Norwich City, with Norwich City. A good training session, we needed minutes, we needed to know the feeling of playing here without our supporters and to have this session with another Premier League team is the best thing.

Of course, it was a different match. We were supposed to divide the team in two and play another match (against Reading on Saturday) but that was not possible, so I agreed with Daniel (Farke) to have this match of four periods.

Of course, when you get into the third and fourth periods, you start making lots of changes because in the end, what we work on tactically, we do at the training ground, and today was much more about competing, minutes, intensity.

It was very important to do it and to go into this last week without any injuries, because we all know in these first matches, even friendlies, there is always the risk of getting some injuries.”

As Mourinho alluded to there, Spurs’ match against Reading on Saturday was called off.

Danny Ings (£7.1m) is the most-sold player ahead of Gameweek 30+ but the striker was on the scoresheet in Southampton’s 3-2 win over Bristol City on Friday.

All five goals were scored in the first of three 45-minute intervals, with Stuart Armstrong (£5.2m) grabbing a brace.

There was no Shane Long (£4.7m) at St Mary’s, with Michael Obafemi (£4.9m) partnering Ings up front and playing a big part in Armstrong’s early opener.

Nathan Redmond (£6.2m) made his return from injury, meanwhile.

Chelsea put seven goals past QPR on Sunday, with Mason Mount (£6.2m), Willian (£7.0m) and Olivier Giroud (£6.6m) among the scorers.

The returning Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£6.3m) and Billy Gilmour (£4.5m) scored braces, while N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) started for the Blues after a belated return to full-contact training.

Our very own moderator Rotation’s Alter Ego had a stab at cobbling together the Chelsea starting XI from training ground photos:

Reece James (£5.1m) returned from injury for Frank Lampard’s side, meanwhile.

Newcastle United beat Hull City 2-0 on Saturday, with Florian Lejeune (£4.4m) and Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.4m) on target.

Jamaal Lascelles (£4.3m) was among those not involved, although only because he had just become a father again.

Following the decision not to allow any alterations to Premier League squads for the remainder of the season, the fit-again Paul Dummett (£4.3m) didn’t feature.

Steve Bryce said afterwards:

The good thing is that everyone’s come through it OK. I think that’s the vital importance. We have picked up one or two in the week – the two Longstaff brothers in particular – but they’ll hopefully be joining us on Monday or Tuesday.

How I've risen up the rankings in FPL over the last two months

Ismaila Sarr (£6.4m) was back among the goals as Watford beat Brentford 2-0, with Etienne Capoue (£4.8m) also on target.

Troy Deeney (£6.2m) was given a half-hour cameo off the bench.

A number of players were missing but the Hornets later reported that only Daryl Janmaat (£4.0m) and Gerard Deulofeu (£6.1m) would definitely miss out in Gameweek 30+.

Adam Masina (£4.3m), Craig Cathcart (£4.3m) and Roberto Pereyra (£5.6m) were all not risked because of minor issues, while Kiko Femenía (£4.2m) and Will Hughes (£5.3m) were taken off as a precaution.

Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said:

Masina didn’t start as he took a slight knock in training yesterday. It’s precautionary. Same with Kiko (coming off) and Will Hughes (who came off), precautionary. We are expecting everyone to be training on Sunday if not Monday.

Jimenez starts but Traore benched as Santo reverts to a 3-5-2 for clash with Norwich

Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.7m) was Wolves’ goalscorer as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side drew 1-1 with Birmingham City.

Little else is known about the game but Adama Traore (£5.7m) looked sharp in training following his injury issues in the springtime.

Little is known about Sheffield United’s 2-0 defeat to Barnsley, either, although it was reportedly a second-string XI that took part.

West Ham defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Sebastien Haller (£6.8m) and Jeremy Ngakia (£4.0m), who is soon to be out of contract, were on the scoresheet for the Hammers.

Christian Benteke (£5.7m) scored Crystal Palace’s only goal.

Burnley drew 1-1 with Preston North End on Saturday, with Matej Vydra (£5.3m) grabbing the Clarets’ solitary strike.

With injury doubts over Chris Wood (£6.1m) and Ashley Barnes (£6.1m) ahead of Gameweek 30+, Vydra could well feature from the start against Manchester City.

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800 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Probably ought to know this but if I make transfers and then free hit do I revert back to my old team and effectively nullify them?

    1. Mind över Mata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Once the GW passes

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes.

  2. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    RMBBT (wc31)

    Leno Hendo
    Stevens Egan Doherty Lascelles Targett
    KDB Sterling Grealish Mount Cantwell
    Aub Aguero Jota

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      V good

  3. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is 9 double enough for free hit

    Got alonso and abraham for single weems

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes definitely.

    2. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I also have Alonso ,but I'm not sure that he will play .
      Did he feature in the friendlies?

  4. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    People are forgetting Villa have an advantage vs. Chelsea.

    Drinkwater can't play.

  5. tibollom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hey guys, hesitating between FH or BB and still have my WC, whats the general consencus and why?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      For people with WC, BB 30, and WC 31, FH 38

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Personally I think FH in GW38 is not best. I'm contemplating FH this week which gives me loads of big hitters and then I get my bood team back for next week. I'll have more flexibility when to play my WC and BB is still there. The only downsides are
        a) coming to terms with missing out on the unlimited free transfers
        b) having to work towards a good 15 for BB so I cnnot concentrate the dosh on 11 or 12.

    2. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Same position, gone BB.

      1) WC allows you to fix
      2) Unlimited transfers allows maximal dgw gains
      3) Only Dgw left
      4) Leading ML so early pts on board allows for covering transfers at end of season to close off the gaps

  6. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hi all - deciding between FH or BB for GW30+ with no WC and have it boiled down to this:

    A) Pope, Targett, Doherty, Lascelles, Bruno, Cantwell

    or

    B) Sterling, Lundstram

    Has to be A right?

  7. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Call me crazy but don't think I'm going to bother with Aubameyang. His away stats are pants and one of his 2 fixtures is City... Just don't see him being worth the price

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      who is your front 3 if you don't mind me asking? remember also away stats might not be that relevant with empty stadiums.

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Aguero, Jiminez + not sure yet on 3rd spot

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          still have wc ?

          1. Bubz
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Yep

            1. Ajax Hamsterdam
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              if you are planning on using it next week then I think Auba is definitely worth a dgw punt ( more than a punt actually) . imo 🙂

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It’s a strong argument tbf.

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Have a look at when he scored points

      1. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Not against mcy or bri, I note 🙂

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I think Brighton will struggle with the crowd but it’s all guess work

          The point is he has scored as many goals away as at home

          1. potatoace
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Ah, ok. Noted.
            I had flashbacks of my "guess the connection" zoom quiz the other night there.

    4. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Looks like he may be signing a new contract as Arteta now says he is hopeful . Could give him a boost

    5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Don't think home or away is going to play a big part going forwards

      However I have my doubts about subs anyway. He's frustrating when shifted wise with laca starting and he plays city which I don't expect anything

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Doubts about Auba*

    6. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'm leaning towards omitting him; it's just who to put in that third FWD spot.

      I think Tammy is a great option this week. The question is, does he start? Have my eye on Ings, too. Both of them are often subbed early, annoyingly.

  8. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Think I've finally got it! BB team

    Leno
    Trent Doherty Egan O'Connell
    Salah KDB (c) Grealish
    Kun Jimenez Jota

    Reina, Fleck, Sarr, Lascelles

    Plan to do Kun and KDB to Fernandes and Vardy next week probably as I've got no wildcard.

    Any thoughts?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      reina a risk. all good otherwise

      1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        thanks for the feedback, could swap reina and fleck for douglas luiz and henderson but would then have to bench triple sheffield defence for rest of the season...

  9. DALEDOBACK
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Please rate my BB
    WC 31

    Reina Hendo
    TAA Laporte Lund Boly Lasc
    Salah KDB Saka BrunoF Grealish
    Nketiah Aguero C Jimi

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Don't think I'd want Saka and Nketiah.

  10. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    The last FH dilemma

    A) Fleck and Jimmy
    B) Doherty and Pukki

    Thanks guys

    1. DALEDOBACK
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      a

  11. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any suggestions to improve this BB Team chaps? 0.1M spare.

    Henderson*
    O'Connell*, Egan*, Laporte*, TAA
    KDB*, Grealish*, Luiz*, Salah
    Aguero*, Aubameyang*

    McCarthy, Saka*, Abraham, Lascelles

    Don't have WC left so settling with 2 Villa and 2 Arsenal and will likely FH next week.

    Cheers!

  12. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What's all this about Reina being under threat from Nyland.

    1. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Be better off picking Reina than Nyland if Nyland is 1st pick

      0 points is better than -4

  13. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    BB - 30
    FH - 32
    WC - 33

    The winning formula.

  14. Mike2795647
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts,

    A. Laporte and Mount
    B. Targett and Mahrez

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A. By a landslide

    2. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A not even close

    3. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B. By a landslide.

      1. Firminooooo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        A) RMT: 11.47
        B) RMT: 12.80

    4. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  15. southernpacific
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Tammy and son or auba and Grealish?

    1. Mike2795647
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Auba and grealish

  16. Fred the Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hi all, thoughts/suggestions on this team?

    Henderson
    Laporte Trent Lundstram
    KDB Fernandes Grealish Fleck
    Auba Kun Nketiah

    McGovern Doherty Soyuncu Cantwell

    Bank: 0.4
    Chip: BB

    1. Zebrahimović
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Similar to my BB except I went for

      Ederson/Leno
      TAA Egan Lundstram
      KDB Fernandes Grealish Fleck
      Auba Kun Abraham

      Saka Targett Cahill

  17. The SK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone without WC but still BB this GW? What’s your plan after this GW?

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yep - 10 DGW players on BB this week, FH next week then a hit or two to sort for the rest of the season.

    2. shaunyjames
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I have 4 SGW players I want to the run in - planning a hit or two but team looks okay next week with just 1 transfer or 1 hit. Just have to bench the SHEFU players

  18. rokonto
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Laporte or Walker.
    Will Laporte play both games considering before lockdown he was in and out due to injury coming back from.
    Walker when I check his history he is missed a few for some reason

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Laporte!

      1. rokonto
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Ok ta

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Walker should be fit enough after all those lockdown massages he was getting.....

      1. rokonto
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Oh? I'm outta touch

  19. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which scores more? (A BB, B FH)

    A) Reina, Hanley, O’Connell, Doherty, Cantwell, Richarlison, DCL, Aguero(C)

    B) Baldock, Sterling(C), Samatta, Aguero

  20. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Are there any press conferences/ Zoom statement/ team updates planned before Wednesday deadline?

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Only Pep left and he will just make the water even more muddy I expect.

    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      SheffU, Villa and Arsenal all had pressers today

  21. checkit_j
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is Firmino not an option then?

  22. Harmonica1967
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Verdict on this BB team? Realise it's not the best but got a lot of value tied up in KDB and TAA:

    Hendo-Reina
    TAA-Walker-Lund-Egan-J.Simpson
    Salah-KdB-Mount-Grealish-Saka
    Aguero-Aubs-Greenwood

  23. Manani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    have both Pepe and Auba right now in my BB team. Madness?

    1. Legohair
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No,me too

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Everyother arsenal player besides Auba is risky imo. That being said, I have them both as well

  24. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Ederson, Laporte, Otamendi triple-up?

  25. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I still think penalties will be rotated at United between Rashford, Pogba, Bruno, & Martial. But if Fernandes does have them out and out, that's pretty huge for his returns.

    It severely dampens Rashford's potential too. Almost half of Rashford's expected points come from set pieces.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pogba and Martial won't be in contention. It'll be between the other two. Rash is potentially in a golden boot battle so that could work in his favour

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Its hard to tell. You might be right.

      Can you imagine the strop on Pogba being told he's not taking a penno

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      How many actual points have resulted from pens ?

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Haven't separated penalties yet, but he averages 1.24 xPts per game from set pieces. 3.07 xPts in total. So nearly half.

        (xPts is a stat I made that is 4xG + 3xA for strikers, so basically his expected points from goals and assists)

      2. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Oh, I see, I misread (I do that a lot). He's scored 5 penalties, so that's 20pts in total.

        I should have defined expected points though. That doesn't include appearance points and bonus points. It's as defined above.

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Changing its name to xAttPts. Ambiguity is not good. Should be clear from the name.

  26. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How is this FH draft lookibg guys? Do you recommend any changes?

    Leno
    TAA Stevens Egan Lundstram
    Sterling KDB Pepe Grealish
    Aguero Auba

    Could do Pepe + Lund/Egan to Ozil + Samatta/McBurnie.

    1. Knowsnothingaboutnothing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Out of interest why are you playing TAA, surely you would be better off playing Samatta or McBurnie (if you re-orgainse your defence and put in say Targett)

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Because he is one of the few defenders who can monsterhaul.. Not owning him is scary. Think he can outscore both Samatta and McBurnie

  27. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I wonder how much home and away will matter...

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not much at all

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Less.. But still a little as the grass and the field in general differs from stadium to stadium.

  28. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Complete this BB30+ (WC31) team

    A) Sterling Jota Targett
    B) Mahrez Jiminez Alonso
    C) Mahrez Jota TAA

    Leno Hendo
    Stevens Egan Lascelles Doherty XXX
    KDB Mount Cantwell Grealish XXX
    Aguero Aub XXX

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  29. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hopefully my last RMT before the deadline 🙂

    TC Aguero/KdB this GW. FH in 31.

    Henderson
    Trent | O'Connell | Laporte
    KdB | El Ghazi | Fleck | Grealish
    Aguero | Pukki | Aubameyang

    Foster | B.Fernandes | Boly | AWB

    1) TC KdB or Aguero and why
    2) Maguire or AWB

    Many thanks!

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      KDB if your leading ML
      Aguero if your chasing

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Well.. Maybe the other way around. Personally im going with Aguero (C) simply because he has a higher ceiling. High risk, high reward

  30. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which one from villa?
    Mings
    Targett
    Reina

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Targett