Scout Notes

FPL managers face ongoing Pep rotation after much-changed City lose to Saints

Southampton 1-0 Manchester City

  • Goal: Che Adams (£5.3m)
  • Assist: Stuart Armstrong (£5.2m)
  • Bonus: Alex McCarthy (£4.5m), Adams x3, Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.4m) x1

A wonder goal from Che Adams (£5.3m) and a defensive performance that was the bus-park version of 300 meets Dunkirk produced one of the more unlikely wins of this longest league season.

Short version: Southampton score after 16 minutes and Manchester City fail in their attempts to equalise.

Stats version: Only three City players (out of the 13 who play) don’t have a shot – and one of those is Ederson (£6.0m).

Fantasy version: Danny Ings (£7.3m) doesn’t score, Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m) doesn’t start and the bonus points are shared out between three players with a combined ownership of 4.3% in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

Full version…

City coach Pep Guardiola almost out-pepped himself by making six changes to his side, with benchings for the 52.2%-owned De Bruyne and Phil Foden (£5.4m), whose 12-point heroics against Liverpool in Gameweek 32+ had earned him nearly 200,000 new managers. The 12.2%-owned Kyle Walker (£5.6m) was another sent for an evening of social isolation behind the dug-outs.

As for Southampton, close to 100,000 had bought Ings on the back of his stellar Project Restart form – three goals and one assist – but the Saints frontman blanked.

One of the key reasons for that was he had just the one attempt all match. It was a great opportunity, on 44 minutes, that he blasted over from inside the area, and it was a rare one – Southampton’s only big chance of the match.

City had five such clear-cut opportunities.

Two came in a frantic few seconds of play in the first half that summed up the entire match.

Home goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) was forced into a fine save at his near post from a fierce Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) drive. The ball found its way out to Fernandinho (£5.1m), whose deflected shot hit the inside of the post but stayed out. Possession was recycled to the right flank, where a cross led to another McCarthy save, this time from a David Silva (£7.3m) header, before Sterling narrowly curled wide from the rebound.

All of that happened after the Saints went ahead.

Adams had been selected up front alongside Ings in a 4-4-2 formation that conceded the width of the pitch to the visitors while giving Southampton two players available for quick counters and the opportunity for a high press.

So when Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.2m) mis-controlled the ball in his own half, the home side had the personnel on hand to capitalise.

Stuart Armstrong (£5.2m) put in a challenge and the ball fell to Adams. The striker had gone 29 matches without a goal for his new club. Such a run invites doubt and dark thoughts. But Adams didn’t stop to think when the ball arrived at his feet. Instead, he curled a wondrous first-time lob, from 39 yards, over Ederson and into the net.

To claim that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side just parked the bus from then on in was not entirely true. They worked Ederson four times in total and broke with consistent purpose over the 90 minutes.

But their victory was definitely built on a backs-to-the-wall doggedness – and some slices of good fortune – that made for a one-sided affair involving pure anguish for the many Fantasy managers with City assets in their squads.

Both Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m and 10.3%) and Sterling, owned by 16.3%, endured a frustrating evening before being subbed off on 59 minutes, thus robbing their owners of another appearance point to soften the blow of their blanks.

Their replacements, Foden and De Bruyne, fared no better, although the Belgian’s work-rate was phenomenal – more of that in the Members Analysis section.

The two Silvas, David and Bernardo (£7.7m), mustered seven attempts between them, only to be repelled by a mix of McCarthy, any number of Southampton defenders throwing their bodies in the way and, occasionally, the duo’s own profligacy in front of goal.

But neither was as wasteful as Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m).

The Brazilian has managed only one assist since football returned. And he’s scored just the one goal since Gameweek 22.

He had plenty of chances to rectify that at St Mary’s Stadium. Six chances, to be exact, of which three were clear-cut opportunities, including a couple of close-range headers he really should have buried.

Still owned by just 4% in FPL, Jesus should really be a tempting differential option for City’s final fixtures, which will involve Newcastle at home and then four of the bottom six. But his woeful lack of form, and good ‘ol Pep Roulette, mean he remains strangely unattractive.

His future is not looking bright at present, and Guardiola, while describing yesterday’s game, could have been talking about what is still to come as well:

With ten Southampton players on the penalty spot, it’s difficult. I am so proud. I like the way we played but it’s not enough. It’s not a complaint of the players. Far from it. The game was a little bit of a repeat of how some games have gone this season – one mistake and they punished us. After, we created a lot, but as I say, they had ten players behind the ball.

Such a strong run of fixtures pretty much demands inclusion of key City assets in your Fantasy side, just with the usual caveats involving rotation.

As for the Saints, trips to in-form Everton and Manchester United are up next, which doesn’t exactly scream ‘buy buy buy!’.

But despite being safe for another season of top-flight football, the players have made it clear they’re not beach-ready just yet, with three wins from their last four matches.

They obviously relished the chance to stick it to the Man City yesterday, and they’ll need to keep channelling that doggedness over the next two matches before their schedule (BHA, bou, SHU) eases and the attacking points might come rather more easy again.


Southampton XI (4-4-2): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand; Armstrong (Smallbone 90′), Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond; Ings, Adams (Long 70′).

Manchester City XI (4-1-2-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Garcia, Laporte, Zinchenko; Fernandinho; Silva, Bernardo; Mahrez (De Bruyne 59′), Jesus, Sterling (Foden 59′).

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

View the full player and team data from Southampton v Manchester City here

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 33+

3,158 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Auba to Kane for -4?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No

  2. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I'm not really liking the look of Arsenal's next few vs Leicester, Spurs and Liverpool and i'm thinking Auba is unlikely to be making any headlines...so would you move to any of these for free or save? Auba > ???

    A - Rashford
    B - Jesus
    C - Vardy
    D - Abraham
    E - Keep and save FT?

    Thanks.

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

    2. Nas
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  3. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Think I might do DCL>Greenwood and Dendoncks>Foden and start both in a 3-5-2 with Jimi first sub.

  4. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    My ML rival has a lead of 10 points and has Kane. While I don't right now.

    A) Salah to Sterling
    B) Salah to Foden
    C) Salah/Connolly to Foden/Kane -4
    D) Save

    1. Oooo Matron
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd save for now, but Sterling is appealing.

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C looks good

  5. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any ideas here? 1.3 itb & 1 free transfer.

    Pope
    Doherty TAA Wan-Bissaka Aurier
    Mane Mahrez KDB Fernandes
    Rashford Jiminez

    Subs: DCL, Saka, Lascelles

  6. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on salah to sterling for my FT?

    Team would be:
    Patricio
    AWB VVD Doherty
    KDB Sterling Mahrez Fernandes Pulisic
    Jimenez Rashford

    Button; Nketiah, Lascelles, Simpson

    1. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No way, too much rotation in pep

      1. FF Dirtbag
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Salah is so meh though.

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          What makes him meh? He's averaging over 6pts / 90 mins since the restart, played well against a dogged Villa

  7. Henning
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pulisic or William?
    My rival in ml have Pulisic(im about 70 p ahead)

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

    Don’t understand people selling Son before Bournemouth. I sold Son and GOT KANE! Son looked 10times more likely to score.

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I wanted a rested Mahrez for Southampton and got rid last week, love it.

    2. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      ha

  9. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Will bring in Kane this week but only because a) I have 2fts, b) I have nothing else to fix and c) I plan on selling him on again for Vardy immediately afterwards.

    If bringing him in would cost you points, leave other weaknesses in your side unattended or leave you scrambling for fts to get rid of him later then I would advise not bothering. Very much a luxury punt.

    1. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Essential then on a WC?

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Would have him on a wildcard, yes. Can easily downgrade him to Vardy afterward while the rest of your team should be in good condition.

  10. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on Salah being rested this week?

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      as owner wouldnt be that bad. He would be nailed for captaincy vs Burnley

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yes good point actually!

      2. EWH2020
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Based on what I've seen post lockdown there is no way Salah should be considered captain for any remaining game. Looks completely disinterested

        1. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          People considering Kane for C. Salah is no brainer then

        2. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I must've been watching a different game!

    2. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Don’t think anyone has any idea. This is the game where you’d expect to see some rotation but Salah and Mane might not be impacted.

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Let's hope so

  11. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Auba -> Kane (-4)?

    Or keep Auba this GW and get Vardy next GW instead?

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      The latter, I think.

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      2nd option

  12. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who would you play this week from these 3?
    And then who you make first sub?
    Thanks

    Jimi, DCL, Nketiah

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jimi. DCL first sub. Laca will start most probably!

    2. Oooo Matron
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jiminez. Not been great, but guaranteed starter and surely due a goal. He's pretty reliable.

    3. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      thanks thats the order I have. DCL first sub.

      Cheers

  13. FPLord
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Probably the wrong time to ask after a CS. Want to get a defender for Lund for the run in. Is Aurier the best shout for a defender of 5.0 and under? I don‘t see many CS for Spurs. Better to go cheaper with Diop? West Ham are not the strongest defensively but those fixtures look tasty...

  14. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez likely to start v Newcastle?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Looks like it

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes I think so

  15. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    so, except United players, are there any viable strikers left?

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ings

      1. Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        yeah, great point, although too early to get him in.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ings

    3. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      vardy , auba i guess

    4. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy and Ings hunting for the golden boot.

    5. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy
      Ings
      Jiminez

    6. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ings Greenwood up top

  16. nadman89
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    looking for a differential captain 20 points off the top in my league , aubamayeng(H LEI) or son(A BOU)

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Son

    2. FPLord
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      20p is not much, go safe with KDB or Fernandes.

      1. Utopsis
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yep, not yet time for such a big gamble with 20pts in it!

  17. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    81 points behind in cash ML and need to take some risks. Kane was poor tonight. Is he worth a hit? Playing BB.

    Salah to Foden and Jimenez to Kane (-4)

    Pope Martinez
    Saiss TAA Doherty Aurier Taylor
    Salah Martial KDB Bruno Mahrez
    Jimenez Ings Greenwood

  18. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any thoughts?
    A) dcl to ings
    B) Jimmy to vardy
    C) play both

  19. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah to Bruno good use of a FT?

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruno is a must

  20. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Folks, how the hell am I going to improve this? 1FT, happy to take hits!

    Pope
    AWB TAA Doherty Aurier
    Salah KDB [C] Martial Bruno Pulisic
    Jimenez

    McCarthy DCL Nketiah Egan

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      salah to sarr

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Just did Sarr > Pulisic last week ...

    2. Oooo Matron
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Looks pretty decent to me. Almost same team as mine so I'd stick with it for now.

      Any thoughts on this?

      Pope
      Doherty TAA Wan-Bissaka Aurier
      Mane Mahrez KDB Fernandes
      Rashford Jiminez

      Subs: DCL, Saka, Lascelles

  21. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this move for a hit?

    Mane & DCL -> Kane/Jesus & Mahrez?

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ye I’d do it.

      With Kane over Jesus as they both as bad as eachother, but at least ones nailed.

  22. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    0.4 ITB 0FT left.

    Any changes jumping out to anyone? Happy to take hits. Think I’m good to go though?

    DDG

    TAA, VVD, Aurier

    Son (c), Bruno, Martial, Mahrez, Foden

    Kane, Vardy

    Subs-Button, Origi, Egan, Basham

  23. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    2fts and 0.5m....was planning salah and nketiah to kane and Foden - but gone off kane after that.

    Advice on best moves please? Very open to suggestions

    Hendo Mccarthy
    Taa maguire boly soy Stephens
    Salah kdb bruno martial mahrez
    Jiminez dcl nketiah

    Thanks

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      nketieh + salah -> sarr + auba/vardy?

    2. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Tough that. Same as me but I'm happy to save an FT. You have 1 to burn. Maybe a defender change get in Aurier?

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        could lose Salah but surely he scores soon (as long as he plays of course)

    3. Baron Penguin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Maguire to Aurier and Nketiah to Greenwood?

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

        I genuinely have no idea.

  24. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have 5.3m for a DDG replacement

    Prefer martinez cuz he gives extra funds and i have a TV of just 101

    Who would u get?

    Pope, hendo, Marti or fosty?

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd go Pope probably

  25. Tomas Brolin ate all Depays
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sell which one for Greenwood ?

    A) DCL
    B) Raul Jiminez
    C) Ings

    1. Oooo Matron
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      DLC everyday

  26. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Time to BOOST?

    McCarthy (eve)
    TAA, Digne, Doherty
    KDB, Fernandes, Pulisic, Mahrez
    Kane, Rashford, Greenwood

    Martinez (LEI) | Foden (NEW), Holgate (SOU), Saiss (shu)

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Holgate hurt

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Oh I missed that. What happened?

    2. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Holgate is injured.

  27. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Spurs have scored 18 goals against Bournemouth in the last 7 fixture between the 2 sides.

    Guess how many of those were scored by Harry Kane?

    Yup, just 1.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Didnt he score a hat trick agains them or am i going far too back

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

        That was further back, think it was a brace and an assist.

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Scored in the 5-0 and 4-0 both in the last 6.

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

        Why let facts get in the way of a good story 😆

        1. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Ha, he'll score tomorrow but can't see any hatty.

  28. Infamy, Infamy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anybody considering Vardy for this week? Incredible record against Arsenal and Leicester have plenty to play for.

  29. Garam MOSALAH
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start

    A) Pope (A) WHU
    B) Martínez (H) LEI

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I expect both to concede but A.

  30. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Love it, Kane is not the flavour of week. Sometimes you’ve got to roll that dice...it’s Bournemouth they’ll give up easy chances.