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. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Captain my captain?

    A) Kun
    B) KdB
    C) Auba

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

      Got to be A right?

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Actually from the 3 he is my last choice just because of Pep and minutes

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

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

      B safer imo but not much either way its kdb vs kun for me

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

      Kun for a rank boost. KDB to not drop

  2. BRFC
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Only got my TC chip left so trying to build a team to compete in DGW and for rest of season, any thoughts would be great,

    Leno 3.9
    TAA Doherty Lundy Lascelles 3.9
    KDB Sterling(TC) Cantwell Grealish 4.3
    Auba Vardy Jimenez

    Is 6 DGW enough?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I’d want a stronger bench with rotation very likely. The rest are all good picks for me. Bruno Or Rash would be in my WC.

  3. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    RP. Lost down the page!

    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

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

      Good team but not sure about Mahrez mins.

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

    worried about mcginn + saka minutes but here’s where I stand...12 dwk’ers, yikes!

    bb fh wc tc all left (bb this week then wc)

    Leno Henderson
    Targett Egan TAA Saiss Lascelles
    KDB Sterling Grealish McGinn Saka
    Auba Aguero McBurnie

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

      McGinn or Saka > Fleck
      McBurnie > Samata .......(2 Away VS 2 Home)

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

    Sterling or Aguero?

    1. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Aguero

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sergio for me

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

      both!

    4. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Kun

    5. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Aguero

    6. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I went both.

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

    Finalising FH team, can't decide between following options:
    a) TAA/Abraham
    or
    b) VVD/Rashford
    Which combo is best?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A on FH 100%

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A, definitely.

  7. FPL_DON
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Are people hanging onto players they have a large amount of value tied up in? Struggling to ditch Mane with 0.5m tied up in him.

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      One of the downsides to not using a FH this week. Trying to strike a balance between losing some, keeping others.

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

        I'm going to use my FH to get over this and use my WC at leisure. Mane/Salah/KDB all retained.

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

          I've been really tempted to do the same but feels mad not using those unlimited transfers

      2. FPL_DON
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        It's really tricky isn't it, are you doing the same?

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

      No, don't care about value. I ditched TAA and lost loads. I'll cross the bridge of not being able to afford people later when it comes.

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

        I admire this attitude, wish I could be the same!

      2. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Same

  8. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Shuffled the pack. Thoughts on this Free Hit?

    Hendo
    TAA Laporte Baldock
    Mane KDB Grealish Saka Fleck
    Auba Aguero

    Bench tbc.

    1. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      As good as any

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Stevens over Baldock if possible. Don’t like the Fleck and Saka picks but they are cheap

    3. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Perfectly rational team.

  9. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Final BB team. Anything that you'd change? 0.0 ITB.

    Leno Henderson
    Laporte Lundstram Egan Doherty Saiss
    KDB Grealish Bruno Saka D.Luiz
    Aguero Auba Jimi.

    1. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Happy with Saka? Looks a good team imo

      1. InSaneMan-e
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I'm really not . Alternatives could be Mount (for SGW Villa) and downgrade Doherty.

  10. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any shocks or surprises in today's press conferences?

    Lord Lundy?

  11. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who gets more minutes this gameweek?

    1) Saka
    2) Nketiah

    1. chaser123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Important Q that one....currently thinking Saka

  12. gers23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on Ederson as a third City option?

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      like it. i've gone laporte personally. Lapore has better bonus potential but ederson more nailed

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Paying a lot, getting security of starts. Fine pick, just depends if that's where you want to place funds.

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

      thought about it but the high risk high reward of Kun-KDB-Sterling is too tempting for the gambler in me...

      1. gers23
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Suppose allows an easy switch to Pool mid with Sterling.

    4. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Have Ederson, Kun and Kevin and think thats the perfect combo. At leat Ederson will play 180min. Sterling is overkill

  13. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On a BB, which is better:
    A) Leno, Lundstram and McGinn
    B) Reina, Basham and Barnes

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Would be A, except the quotes from McGinn's manager have put me off. Would rethink.

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

    Am I mad to be considering Ozil? Nailed and assist potential

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      don't do it mate. It's a trap

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

        hahah, I fear that is the case

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Also crap and zero goal threat

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

        As a Tottenham fan, I can't say I disagree

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

      i have too, good choice

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

        this is the attitude I like to see, what's the rest of your team looking like?

    4. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'd considered him briefly. For me it's him and Grealish or Pepe and McGinn. Went (2) for now.

  15. Hitmonlee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    This week only, would you rather have:

    A) Alonso & Jiménez
    B) Doherty & Tammy

    Doing my own head in with this decision now!

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

      If Alonso starts then A

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B, i think. Doherty more likely to start than Alonso and Tammy maybe more potentially explosive than Jimi?

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

      A

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

    A) auba rash mahrez

    2 DGW players and a striker who can score against anyone

    B) kun Tammy Bruno

    1 DGW player, 1 striker great fixture, mid who came in like a storm

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

      Is that striker rash? :/

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

    Any improvements to this BB30 team? (Wc31)

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

    1. yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      cantwell to saka?

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

    (Cheeky RP)

    RMFHT

    Leno
    TAA Stevens Egan Lundstram
    Sterling KDB Pepe Grealish
    Aguero (C) Auba

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Solid, though I'd be concerned with the Lord's minutes and Arsenal's defense. Would go Hendo and a different DEF myself, but nothing wrong with it. Tidy, if template.

  19. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 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

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Planning on divesting of Liverpool at some point? If you have all the chips, you might be a bit light on DGWers.

  20. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    FH Team. I've left it alone for a couple of days and haven't wanted to tinker since, but with hours ticking down to Wednesday wanted to put it out to the court of public opinion 🙂

    Hendo (Martin)
    Basham - Lascelles - Egan (Kilman, Simpson)
    Sterling - KdB - Pepe - McGinn (Guendouzi)
    Aguero - Jimenez - Auba

    Thoughts?

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

      I prefer Grealish than Pepe.

  21. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Have TAA since the start of season.
    Bruno since he was 8.1 /now 8.6

    Salah since he was 12.3/ now 12.7
    Jiminez since he was 7.8/ now 8.1

    Question is should I lose the value of these players for the DGW?
    Thinking maybe Salah is worth the change, thoughts?

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I FHed a Salah/TAA team, but not sure I'd drop the value in them permanently quite yet. Jimi I'd keep. Kind fixtures.

  22. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which duo is better -

    A. Stevens*, McGinn*
    B. Basham*, Mount

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

      A

  23. cilz88
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pope Mcgovern
    Lundstram Gomez Soyuncu Saiss Kelly
    Salah McGinn De Bruyne Son Saka
    Aubameyang Rashford Jimenez

    Torn between McGinn and Son v Grealish and Fernandes
    Also any ideas for defender around same price of current defenders?
    Thanks

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

      Grealish and Fernandes.
      Gomez ? not nailed ?
      Lundstram ? not nailed?
      Defender .... Lascelles , Egan

    2. nedsmula
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've got Lascelles and Egan as cut-price defs.

  24. etown
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any feedback on possible WC BB team?

    Henderson

    Baldock, Lundstrom, Boly

    Mahrez, Grealish, De Bruyne, Fernandes

    Aubameyang, Aguero, Jiminez

    Reina, Fleck, Targett, Aarons

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

      Good team not sure only Mahrez.

    2. nedsmula
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I like it. Same front line as mine. I've avoided Mahrez and just not sure of minutes.
      Targett always a liability.

  25. pattayahammer
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Can somebody HELP me please. I've set up a H2H league for the last 9 games of the season. I set a limit of only 10 players. But somehow 16 players have entered ! Once the gw30+ starts will only the first 10 players be allowed ? I tried to suspend the other 6 players, but I can't do that that either ! Any suggestions ?

  26. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    who is the better pick Jesus or Sterling?

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

      I think Sterling will get more minutes. Do you also have KDB? If not, I'd got for Sterling.

  27. nedsmula
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Am I completely nuts with this lineup? Turned myself inside out over the free tranfers

    Comments very welcome...and needed.

    Leno
    Saiss / Egan / O'Connell
    Mane / KDB / Martial
    Aguero / Auba / Jiminez

    Adrian / Cathcart / Lascelles
    Moutinho / Fleck

    potential to swap Jiminez for Pukki and upgrade elsewhere


    TIA.

  28. mr messi
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Nyland starting?