Scout Notes

Guardiola promises rotation for Gameweek 36+ after City and Sterling rout Brighton

Brighton 0-5 Manchester City

  • Goals: Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) x3, Gabriel Jesus (£9.7m), Bernardo Silva (£7.6m)
  • Assists: Jesus x2, Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m), Rodrigo (£5.3m)
  • Bonus: Sterling x3, Jesus x2, B Silva x1

A bumper 21-point haul from Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) was the cornerstone of Manchester City’s 5-0 thrashing of Brighton.

The 17.3%-owned midfielder hit a hat-trick as Pep Guardiola’s squad rotation looked out for the many, not the few, for a Fantasy change.

All four of City’s most popular midfielders, including Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m and 52.4%), started, with the 50,000+ managers who’d drafted in Phil Foden (£5.5m) the main losers of Gameweek 35+’s pleasingly dull instalment of Pep Roulette.

In terms of major alterations, the Poundshop Pep that is Brighton boss Graham Potter was the man to blink, although his five changes really didn’t help one bit.

The stats tell that tale with a sparse elegance – City had 26 attempts to Brighton’s three, with eight of those on target to the home side’s zero.

Five of the shots found the back of the net, starting with a lovely finish from Sterling, who curled home Gabriel Jesus‘s (£9.7m) pass from the edge of the area.

The Brazilian striker then hit the bar before scoring when he helped on Rodrigo‘s (£5.3m) flick from a De Bruyne corner.

That goal summed up the Belgian’s day – he was consistently the man who assisted the assister, while his one goal attempt involved a knuckle-ball free-kick that hit the outside of the post.

Two nil to the good before the interval, City doubled that advantage alarmingly quickly after it.

Sterling’s second, on 53 minutes, involved a close-range header from Riyad Mahrez‘s (£8.6m) cross, and three minutes later, Bernardo Silva (£7.6m) got in on the act by following up his own shot, which Brighton keeper Mat Ryan (£4.7m) should have dealt with far better.

It would be nice to report that Sterling saved his best until last, but that would be to ignore the major comedic value of the hat-trick goal.

The winger was released by substitute David Silva‘s (£7.3m) pass over the top. He flicked the ball over one defender, lost his balance in the ensuing tussle and, as he hit the turf, the ball bounced off his unsuspecting head, through Ryan’s legs and in off the post via a doomed last-ditch Dan Burn (£4.5m) clearance attempt.

It was messy and, in Fantasy terms at least, magnificent, helping Sterling to his highest haul of the campaign.

The goal also emphasised just how hot is his form at present – he’s produced three double-digit returns from the last four Gameweeks, of which he’s only started three. And in his six appearances since football resumed, Sterling has six goals, three assists, three clean sheet points and eight bonus.

Mahrez has featured in all seven City fixtures since the restart, starting six of them and producing three goals and as many assists. That might prompt alarm bells among his 10.4% ownership in the run-up to Wednesday’s Gameweek 36+ home match against Bournemouth.

And if it doesn’t, Guardiola’s post-match comments really should:

We played one team against Newcastle, today another one. A new four or five or six players will play against Bournemouth.

One of the men who might survive is Sterling. He was certainly on the receiving end of some major Pep praise, and possibly a hint as to his future selection prospects.

He is a huge competitor, self-confident, aggressive. He loves to score goals. We have wingers who score goals. This is so important. All the credit is for him, not just for the three goals, but they are important for what we have ahead of us.

City have been either brilliant or indifferent post-lockdown, winning four times by an aggregate score of 18-0, but also losing twice away from home.

Their desire to win, and win convincingly, is clearly being influenced by the fact that their best chance of winning the Champions League – possibly for quite a while – will come when that competition returns in August.

The need to find and maintain form is therefore driving this team to ruthless heights at present, and Bournemouth look ill-equipped to cope.

Jesus, with two goals and two assists from his last two starts, could be a decent differential pick as he’s owned by just 5% at present, although he is in the top five for Gameweek 36+ transfers-in, albeit a long way behind leader Sterling in that particular race.

Foden, meanwhile, has been used a lot more at home than away, and his cameo at Brighton suggests much heavier involvement to come in midweek, which could bring in good returns for his bargain basement price.

Brighton were uniformly awful against City, and Potter’s summation of the match is best left brief:

City were too good tonight. We were well beaten by the better team.

The in-form Leandro Trossard (£5.8m), who’d scored in consecutive Gameweeks before yesterday’s debacle, was the team’s brightest spark, although that was in relative terms only.

His two attempts led the way for the Seagulls, but seeing as two City defenders – Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m) and Eric Garcia (£4.5m) – and defensive midfielder Rodrigo also matched that total, it was little to write home about.

Overall, Potter’s side are more muggle than magic at present, unsurprising seeing as they’re all-but guaranteed Premier League football next season.

And their final three fixtures – home to Newcastle in between trips to Southampton and Burnley – will surely involve fewer goals than yesterday’s game, but could still all end in the same result.

The team’s most-owned asset in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is back-up keeper David Button (£3.9m) – an apt summary of their Fantasy appeal as the season winds down.


Brighton and Hove Albion XI (4-3-2-1): Ryan; Bernardo, Webster, Dunk, Montoya (Lamptey 59); Bissouma, Mooy, Pröpper (Stephens 59); Trossard (Jahanbakhsh 70), Groß (Burn 78); Connolly (Maupay 59).

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Mendy (Zinchenko 64), Garcia (Stones 72), Laporte, Walker; Rodrigo (Fernandinho 72), De Bruyne (D Silva 64), B Silva; Sterling, Jesus (Foden 64), Mahrez.

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

FPL LESSONS LEARNED FROM GAMEWEEK 35+

1,106 Comments Post a Comment
  1. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez/Vardy -> Sterling/Ings worth a hit or too risky?

    Pope Martinez
    TAA AWB Doherty Fernandez Taylor
    Salah KDB Bruno Mahrez Foden
    Vardy Greenwood Jimmy

    1. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Risk that Mahrez nor Sterling will play, nothing else imo

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not getting Chelsea?
      Sterling till the end 😉

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

        Im very tempted by by Pulisic/Jesus instead for that reason. Tough one.

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

      Can you lose Jimmy instead of Vardy?

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

        No mate can't afford that

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

    Financial Fairplay death confirmed. Now welcome Dubai Prince's NewCastle to UCL in 2022 :/

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

      Financial fair play doesn’t make much sense anyway

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

        Can you do same with Trump basing on this logic 😛

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

      Alongside his son's other club in 2023 😛

      Let me pick one conveniently.
      Crystal Palace.
      London
      Settled pl team.

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      This!

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

    Which duo do you prefer?

    A: Salah + Foden
    B: KDB + Pulisic

    1. Shankly611
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      A

    3. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A. Worried about both KdB and Puli's minutes.

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

    KDB & Jiménez > Dilva & Ings? Would be for free, but would mean holding onto Aurier

    Will be free hitting in final week so just for next two.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sensible move considering what Pep said.

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

    New article re-post. Sorry!

    KDB & Jiménez > Dilva & Ings? Would be for free, but would mean holding onto Aurier

    Will be free hitting in final week so just for next two.

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

      Utter fail!

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

    Pope
    Alonso Digne AWB
    Pulisic Sterling Martial Foden Bruno
    Greenwood Giroud/Ings

    How about this FH36+

  7. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which would you bench form this front 8 on a FH please?

    Sterling - DSilva - Bruno - Antonio - Pulisic
    Ings - Giroud - Greenwood

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

      One of the Chelsea boys

    2. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yikes....Greeny? Dilva? Tough one.

    3. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Antonio or Puli

    4. Walid_Refai
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bench Antonio

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

    a) Sterling, Dilva, Foden
    or
    b) Pulisic, Dilva, Foden

    Would then be Pulisic then out again next week...

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I wouldn't be surprised if Puli was rested vs Norwich. I've got him and considering benching him.

      (Rest of my attack is Martial, KdB, Sterling, Bruno, Ings, Greeny, Jesus)

  9. The Legend Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which midfield 5 is best for BB,

    A) Salah KDB Mahrez Fernandes Pulisic
    B) Sterling KDB Fernandes Pulisic Son

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A if chasing

    2. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You not tempted by David Silva? Last few PL games in a City shirt

  10. Gooner Kebab
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Auba owners - anyone keeping for 37 (avl) & 38 (WAT)?

    I plan to keep him on the bench vs LIV or should i swap him for Jesus/Ings?

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If you brought in Jesus, who would you have to bench instead of Auba?

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

      I'm doing the same this week - keeping for 37 and 38, but benching against LIV. As such, you should probably do something different - I'm on shocking form since the restart!!

  11. Seekers of Glory
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    My team atm
    McCarthy
    TAA-AWB-Saiss
    Pulisic-Salah-KDB-Fernandes
    Kane-Jimenez-Greenwood

    2FT - 0.5 itb
    Bench
    Pope-Aurier-Lascelles-Guendozi

    Still have BB and FH (thinking 37 and 38 respectively so must change Guendozi to a someone playing)
    Also Jimenez is soon to be a father and I think that will impact his playing time
    What should I do? I was thinking either:

    A) TAA + Jimenez -> Digne + Jesus (then would do Guendozi to Saka in 37)
    B) TAA + Jimenez + Guendozi -> Keane + Ings + Dilva (-4) (then for 37 would change either Kane or Pulisic)
    C) Jimenez + Guendozi -> Ings + Foden (and bench Greenwood)
    D) Another one

    Really would appreciate some help, as I'm currently completely lost

    1. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I like C. Confident that Foden will start and Ings is different gravy right now.

  12. Paolo 10
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have a real conundrum ...really close in 3 mini leagues ( 20 ahead in one and 30 behind in other two) and still got WC and FH left . When do you think I should use the chips and who to use the TC on ? Would really appreciate your help .My current squad is :

    Patricio Foster

    TAA Boly Ferminia Lascelles Simpson

    Salah KDB Martial Bruno Foden

    Nketiah Vardy Greenwood

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

      FH now
      TC Salah in 37
      WC last GW

  13. Villa Velour
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    2FT

    Pope;
    Van Dijk, Laporte, Doherty;
    Martial, KdB, Sterling, Bruno, Puli;
    Ings, Greenwood, Jimenez

    Current plan is Laporte + Jimi -> Tarkowski + Jesus. Thoughts?
    Then, who to bench out of the other 7 attackers? Pulisic could get rested? Would it be mad to bench Tony Martial vs (cry)?

  14. fuzzymike
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Foden a good captain choice this week??

  15. The Reptile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    HELP - can't decide whether to FH this week and get 3x City and Chelsea or wait until the last week to FH which was my original plan

    Pope

    Doc - TAA - C Taylor

    Salah - Pulisic- KDB - Martial - Fernandes

    Vardy - Rashford

    Martin/ Nketiah /Femenia/ Robinson

    0.1 ITB

    Any help to decide appreciated

  16. TommyComebacks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH draft, am I on the right lines?

    McCarthy
    AWB Digne Azpi
    Foden Sterling Salah Pulisic Bruno
    Jesus Giroud

    Greenwood, KWP, 3.9

  17. Akshatjazz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who to captain this GW36+

    A) sterling
    B) kbd
    C) Bruno
    D) jesus

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

  18. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Calvert Lewin to Ings worth a -4?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep

  19. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Free hitting,

    Best combo and 3rd Man City:

    A) Emerson and Pulisic

    B) Pope and Foden

    Thanks

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

    Is triple captain on Sterling this week a good idea? I still have BB and triple captain, with 3 weeks left. Also have KDB, Foden, Martial, Willian, Auba, Jiminez and Greenwood