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

    Henderson
    TAA Doherty Egan
    KdB(C) Fernandes Pulisic Willian
    Kane Rashford DCL

    Nyland Aarons Cantwell* Lundstram*

    Cantwell > Foden (-4) ? Bench DCL

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

      Yes

    2. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  2. Chelsea91
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any suggestion for the below team mates for GW 34?

    Pope/Mc Carthy
    Taa,Sais,Soy,Aurier
    Mane,Kdb(c),Bruno,Willian,Son
    Ings

    Dcl,Jota,Egan

    Any changes needed?

    1. yer old da
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I mean, no offence, but it's not great is it? You need more Man Utd.

      1. Chelsea91
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        yes will bring more Man utd and Chelsea player.

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Grenwood for Jota

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

        This

      2. Chelsea91
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        i will do Jota to Greenwood in GW 35.

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

          Too late

  3. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How do you check effective ownership in the top 10k? Could have a bearing on whether I keep Jimenez or bring in Kane.

    1. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      http://www.livefpl.net/top10k

      Of course data is for the GW that just ended.

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

      Somewhere on
      livefpl.net you should be able to check this

  4. FreddyP3
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    3.5m itb, 0 FT

    Patricio
    TAA Doherty Aurier
    KDB Son Bruno Martial
    Jimmy Rash Ings

    Button Söy Davis Robinson

    Gtg?

    1. yer old da
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes - nothing that justifies a hit

      1. FreddyP3
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Agreed! Thnx

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

      Solid team

  5. KanteTouchThis
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ddg Button
    Taa Doherty Justin
    Kdh salah Bruno pulisic Bergwijn*
    Jimi Rashford

    Button nketiah lascalles cahill

    1ft 0.4itb
    Bergwijn to Foden my best move? Or Willian for a Chelsea double up?

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

    Any crazy Rank change stories post covid? Either rises or falls?
    ML leader has risen from 100k to 20k since restart with random bits of luck/brilliance like the schmeichel pen save against Brighton, the last minute son C (A) kane G against Sheffield

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

      He also capped salah against palace then sold for sterlings 16 pts against pool

    2. Jayv807
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not crazy but I've gone from 82k to 12.6k since the restart. 4 consecutive double digit captain picks have helped (KDB, Salah, Auba and Martial) as well as having Mahrez since the restart.

  7. TheOneAndOnly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope 3.9
    Aurier Kiko Saiss (Taylor 3.9)
    Sterling(c) Mane Bruno Martial Foden
    Auba Greenwood (Jiménez)

    I realise that money spent on Jiménez could be spent on defence. Good to go otherwise?

    Chasing a 50point gap.

  8. Aukolofa
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    would you do Rashford + Pulisic --> Greenwood + Sterling (-4) for this week?

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

      Looks risky. Could backfire big time

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

      No

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      no way

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

      Just Rash to Green

    5. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No

  9. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kdb the obvious cap pick this gw?

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

      Yeah

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

        Bruno or Foden I can’t decide for VC and both are decent C shouts too.

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nah!

  10. davies
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Alonso > Aurier for free

    B) Save FT (play Alonso w/ Saiss autosub)

    1. FreddyP3
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I did A tho had Söy as first sub and didnt like his matchup against arsenal. Would probably do A in your case as well

  11. Hypnos
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah & DCL -> Sterling & Ings -4?

    No KDB.

  12. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Last Man Standing GW33+ (85 teams)

    Safety score = 63
    Top score = 86
    LMS average = 64.97 (-0.7) = 64.27

    39 eliminated, 46 through to GW34+
    50% or minimum 23 out next GW.
    Congrats to all the survivors 🙂

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

      Some year I will make it this far !! Well maybe.

    2. Pap Le Cissier
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Well, it was a good ride while it lasted.

      Furthest I’ve ever been!

  13. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    you guys starting Pope or Martinez?

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

      Martinez

  14. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jimenez haul incoming

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

      This

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Unlikely, Wolves are knackered.

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Wolves run forever, that's how they kill their prey', stamina and doggedness.
        Disagree.

        1. ZimZalabim
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          they had he most rest before this past game and looked pretty toothless and tired

        2. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          That’s wolves, this is humans 🙂 Jiminez hardly ‘hauls’ anyway, best taking chances elsewhere this late in the season now imo.

          1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Humans have lived with Wolves for millennia. They used to live here back in the day and left their souls in Wolverhampton.

            It's in the blood and on their shirts. I stand by my sentiment.

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

      Isn’t his girlfriend about to have a baby?

      1. Cruyff's Eleven
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hahaha....

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

    Is it worth it using my FT to replace one of my 2 bench defenders
    Lascelles - city way
    Holgate - possible injury

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Depends on rest of team and how likely you think they play

  16. 23bshumaker
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Saint-Maximin > Foden?

    Also, Swap Rashford for Greenwood? I already have Bruno and Martial too.

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

      Get Foden

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  17. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can anyone give me a quick rundown of last nights game?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Poor game. Both lacked quality in final third, Son looked somewhat threatening but most shots straight at keeper. Everton relied on set pieces :/

    2. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      both were poor through out

      hardly any chances not even one clear cut chance, every player looked poor as well.

      1. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        but I think the way the were set up was cancelling each other out, Mou pretty much wanted to run the clock down after half time

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Shite.

    4. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers all.

    5. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pompeo did not make the final of the play offs because they are a bunch of lightweights.

      GET IN! 😆

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        POMPEY. 😆

        1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Didn't Pompeo get buried in a pile of hot ash, God I'm loving life at the moment. 🙂

    6. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      My two main questions are:
      How did Kane look?
      Did Everton defend well?

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

    How does Salah & DCL -> Foden & Kane -4 sound for someone who’s chasing?

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not bad

  19. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling (-4) or Foden?

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Phil short term or as rotating mid

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

    Not sure I want to make a transfer here. So should I let a FT go? I want to get rid of Son eventually, but not before BOU.

    Any suggestions would be great appreciated!
    Current team with 0.0ITB with 2 FTs
    Pope, Martin
    TAA, Aurier, Doherty Lacelles, Holgate
    Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Son, Martial
    Jiménez, DCL, Greenwood

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pope to Foster or Fabianski? Burnely poor fixtures for next 3

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

        Thanks for the suggestion

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You could turn Salah into a MCI mid.

    3. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah/DCL>Mahrez/Vardy?

  21. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Whatever you say about Jose setup, it is getting better from Kane then under Poch.

    1. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What?!? Are you okay?

  22. 23bshumaker
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    McCarthy vs. Everton or Patricio vs. SHU

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pat

      1. 23bshumaker
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks mate

    2. disha123
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      pat

  23. Greek Freak
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I wonder what the record is for the lowest number of points for a team that avoided relegation. I bet Watford have a great chance to break it with 28.

  24. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    McCarthy or Hendo this week?

  25. Wensink
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Template-y question, sorry. On a FT: Martial, Pulisic or Willian?

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not his biggest fan, but I think he’s more nailed and in form, Martial

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

        Thanks. Yeah, I’ve had Martial twice this season and hated each experience. Think hd scored once in the six GWs I had him.

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Guessing you already own Fernandes, I'd go for 1 of the CHE mids, possibly Pulisic.

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

        Brought in Bruno just after the restart. Pulisic is appealing if only for the fact he is slightly less owned than Willian.

        1. Duffy Dunk
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          As much as Willian may have been benefitting from Pulisic's won fouls, I still think Capt.America is a slightly better pick.

  26. Garth Marenghi
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling or Mahrez?

    1. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd go Sterling

    2. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez for me

  27. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Would you sell Salah for 1 of Sterling/Mahrez/Foden ?

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Aurier
    Salah KDB Fernandes Martial Pulisic
    Kane Greenwood Nketiah

    Martin Egan Lascelles Nketiah

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

    2. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I’d sell Salah for Shelvey

  28. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What would you do here? Should I save FT?

    Patricio
    Doherty Maguire Tarkowski
    KDB Salah Mahrez Bruno Martial
    DCL Jiminez

    Bench: Martin Nketiah Lascelles Kiko

    1FT / 0.1ITB

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes. Gtg

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      KDB > Ward prowse
      Martial > Rashford.

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        -4

    3. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah to sterling or foden or save.

  29. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Everyone going for Foden, I hope his 'sure start' doesn't end up becoming like what Mahrez did to me last gw 😀

  30. Bruno Commando
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who to cpt?

    1) KDB
    2) Bruno
    3) Rashford
    4) Kane

    1. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I go with 1

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If we knew KdB is as nailed as Bruno, it'd easily be 1.
      I think 2>1>4>3.

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I thought KDB is nailed as he was rested in the previous game?

        1. Duffy Dunk
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          We'd like it to be this easy & predictable...

    3. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      4 if chasing, it is Bournemouth after all