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. Gunner1290
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Best midfielder under 5.7 for just this week?

    Thinking either

    A) Traore
    B) Dacoure
    C) Ward prowse

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Possibly A, but a good case could be made for all 3.

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Better one of AV boys. If you own them then A

  2. Ronnies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Henderson - Leno
    TAA - Doherty - O'Connell - Egan - Lascelles
    KDB - Mahrez - Mount - Grealish - Saka
    Aguero - Auba - Tammy

    Bench team for gameweek 30

    Thoughts?
    Tnks.

    1. George Sillett
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Same as many.

  3. Duffy Dunk
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Egan v O'Connell.
    Is there any reason to pick one over the other?

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Goal threat: Egan, Stevens, OConnell, Baldock, Basham

      Creativity: Stevens, OConnell, Baldock, Basham, Egan

      Bonus: Basham, OConnell, Stevens, Egan, Baldock

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I seroously doubt that validity od these considering baldock has the most attacking returns

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Accuracy not validity

        2. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Outperforming his stats. Stevens is 100% more attacking, even on the eye test

        3. Amey
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Source: check latest HT's

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Egan cuz its easier to write

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Who's your favourite MMA fighter ??
        😛

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I am picking both. But if I have to go with one it would be Egan probably.

    4. Sterling Malory
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      O'connell overlaps Stevens so plays further forward. Egan is the pivot at CB. Plus we rarely score for corners etc.

  4. Amey
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Is McGinn a good punt ??

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      It sounds like he might not get much game time at the start

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Wow
        I missed that information completely.
        Lol
        Thanks mate

  5. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 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

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Insane team value.
      Team is almost identical but have Jimi/Bruno/Leno/dohery instead of abraham/salah/mccarthy/lascelles.
      It's a good team tbh.

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks. I'm about to lose a chunk of Team value getting rid of Fernandes, VVD and DCL though 🙁

        1. InSaneMan-e
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I held onto Bruno/Jimi for value but also i want them long term.
          But i understand your move.

        2. Belli2007
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          It's a tough call to lose team value especially as no real idea who will play.....but it will be fun!!

  6. S.Kuqi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pretty satisfied with my bb team. 1.0M itb and not sure how to inprove my team.

    Any ideas?

    Hendo (Leno)
    Taa-Laporte-Egan (Mings,Doherty)
    Kdb-Fernandes-Grealish-Mount (Fleck)
    Aguero-Auba-Samatta

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good, if you don't have WC could consider Jota/Deeney over Samatta?

      1. S.Kuqi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        No wilcard left. Jota is a good shout. Worth considering

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      upgrade mings

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Yep

      2. S.Kuqi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        For who?

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I prefer O'Connell and Stevens to Egan.

      Better stats imo.

      1. S.Kuqi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks.

  7. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Who would you rather have?

    A) Doherty
    B) Alonso

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Alonso

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

    3. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Split. Hopefully someone comments as a tie breaker.

      1. FPL_Devil
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        A

    4. Rover
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Doherty easily

    5. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks all

  8. Stuck in the Mudryk
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    GW30 BB (WC or FH in 31 - so 1GW only)

    Who scores more in GW30?

    A: Jimi/Mcginn/David Luiz
    B: Nketiah/Mahrez/Doherty

    Hendo/Reina
    Lund/Egan/Saiss/Lascelles/XXX
    Mane/KDB/Grealish/Saka/XXX
    Kun/Auba/XXX

  9. yanky
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    saka or cantwell?

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Close. I'm going Saka.

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Im going Cantwell as I have no WC and saves me a FT

      Saka is a FT waiting to happen imho

      1. Rover
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        If on a BB wouldn’t he just become first on the bench going forward?

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Saka man

    4. FPL_DON
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      depends on whether you have a WC?

  10. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    As and Bs!

    A) Henderson & Saka
    B) Leno/Pope & Fleck

    A) Laporte, Egan & Lascelles
    B) Walker, Baldock & Saiss

    A) Ings & Saiss
    B) Abraham & Lascelles

    A) Ings, Luiz & Egan
    B) Jota/Deeney, Fleck & Saiss

    A) McCarthy, Henderson, Saka
    B) Reina, Pope, Fleck

    On BB this week, FH next week (no WC).

    Cheers!

    1. FPL_Devil
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B,A,A,A,A

  11. gryffsonofarthur
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    A) Henderson, Mount, Samatta

    Or

    B) Reina, Fleck, Jiminez

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. FPL_Devil
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

  12. FPL_DON
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Really struggling to pull the trigger on transferring out either Mane (0.5m value) or Salah (0.2m value), when I'm pretty sure I'll want at least one back.

    Would you still wave them goodbye with that tied up value? More specifically Mane....

  13. Jet5605
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    If Liverpool bag the title in GW31 then does that not suggest that squad value becomes less of an issue from GW33 as everyone dumps Mane, Salah and TAA? I assume they will be heavily rotated with fringe and young players getting more minutes?

    1. Jet5605
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I meant from GW32 onwards

    2. FPL_DON
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I really feel as though they won't take their foot off the gas and why would they!

      1. Jet5605
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Why would not Klopp not take the opportunity to keep fringe players like Ox, Lallana, Minamino, Clyne etc. happy as well as blooding youngsters and giving them valuable PL experience?

        1. FPL_DON
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I would presume keeping his star players happy will be further up the agenda, but do definitely take your point. I guess like with most things it will be a wait and see

  14. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Doubts are creeping in...

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Whole FPL is one big doubt

    2. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Hell yeah.
      I am on the verge of getting in Aguero
      Even though that will cause me a hit next GW 😀

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Mate I saw his stats earlier and have been ripping my team up

        Auba mahrez rash > kun bruno Tammy

        But I lose a Dgw player and plans for future gws

        1. Amey
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I love the later one.
          Nothing not to like about it tbh

          1. Eat my goal!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            It still comes back to will aguero actually play against Burnley - mahrez seems more likely to which appeals (based on nothing but gut)

            Whereas auba more than likely to get Brighton and without the crowd is a great fixture

            Rash looked hungry in the friendly the other day but Tammy against Villa

            Arghhh!

            1. Amey
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Aguero is a rank killer man. I have no chips and am not ashamed of saying i am afraid of losing out on his points.

          2. Amey
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            I see that as 2 upgrades one downgrade.

  15. yanky
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    El Ghazi or McGinn?

    1. FPL_Devil
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      McGinn

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Same dilemma here. Was on Mcginn for days, now starting to consider El Ghazi just cause of minutes. Have Jacki G already

  16. FPL_Devil
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Think I’ve settled on this team.
    Thoughts?

    Leno Pope
    TAA Laporte O’Connell Egan Justin
    Mane KDB Fernandes Fleck Shelvey
    Rashford Jimenez DCL

    1.7 itb FH BB

    31+ Laporte to Doherty
    32+ Egan to Maguire
    33+ Leno to Henderson and BB

  17. Nightcrawler
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Which shu defenders go up for corners/free kicks?

  18. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Views on this wildcard am I better going Mount over Pullisic and Doherty over Trent?

    Leno
    Lunds Stevens TAA
    KDB Sterling Grealish Pullisic
    Auba Aguero Jimi.

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mount over pulisic sounds good.
      Doherty with Taa can be better

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Never go over Trent. But Mount can be better yes and it saves you some money.

    3. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Trent and Mount. Or Barnes/Sarr

  19. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    BB

    A) Leno, Mahrez, Vardy
    B) Ederson, McGinn, Auba

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Tricky. The Auba one probably

  20. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    A. Fernandes, Abraham
    B. Fleck, Aubameyang

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B this week

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Am thinking long term.

        Not gonna FH this week since I'm not so happy about my current squad.

  21. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Is there a captain's poll?

    The FFS twitter feed says it is up on here, but I can't see it anywhere.

    1. FPL_Devil
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Under the comments

  22. Miguel Sanchez
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Any feelings who scores more in the Merseyside derby:

    A) Salah
    B) Mané

    Leaning towards Mané with the days training missed by Salah and being more on the receiving end of TAA crosses than Salah

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B for me

    2. Amey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Salad

  23. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    A. Stevens, Mount Nketiah
    B. Egan, Moutinho, Samatta

  24. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on this? Been so long since I last looked I can't remember what I was planning on doing!

    Pope - Martin
    Robbo - TAA - Saiss - Taylor - Lascelles
    Salah - KDB - Maddison - Fernandes - Hayden
    Vardy - Jiminez - Nketiah

    0.1 ITB, all chips still to play going forward if I wanted to pick a team now and then do a wildcard in a few weeks

  25. The Tinkerman
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bit of a reshuffle, got cold feet with McGinn:

    Leno, Hendo
    O’Connell, Egan, Boly, Azpi, Ward
    KDB, Mahrez, Grealish, Zaha, Mount
    Aguero, Auba, Samatta

  26. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    All set on Bench Boost. Will WC soon after. Looking solid? Cheers 🙂

    Leno. Hendo
    TAA. Stevens. Saiss. O’Connell. Targett
    KDB. Grealish. Mount. Mahrez. Cantwell
    Auba. Agüero. Jiménez

  27. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Fairly settled on this bunch now, feel free to rip it apart.....

    Henderson Leno
    Laporte Lundstram Egan Saiss Lascelles
    KDB(c) Bruno Pulisic Grealish Sarr
    Kun Auba Jota

    Bench boost active, good luck fellas

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Not sure about Pulisic.

      You think he'll start most games?

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Only for this week mate, will be wildcarding in 31

  28. HD7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Should I change Salah to some DGWer? On BB with Wc and FH available

    12.3 bought
    12.7 current price

  29. Rhodes your boat
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    On bb before wc next week

    A) mane mcginn cantwell jota
    B) Fernandes grealish Mount jiminez

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B

  30. cigan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    A - Henderson, Bellerin, Fleck
    vs.
    B - Leno, Baldock, Mount

    A a no-brainer right?