Scout Notes

Palace defence out of form ahead of Gameweek 36+ meeting with United

Yet another Fantasy Premier League deadline is only a day away so, with time against us, we will rattle through the main discussion points from two more Gameweek 35+ fixtures in an abridged Scout Notes below.

Watford v Newcastle United and Aston Villa v Crystal Palace are our featured games in this article.

Porous Palace

An away clash at Crystal Palace would ordinarily be a tricky test on paper.

From Gameweeks 1+ to 30+, Palace had the joint-sixth-best defensive record in terms of goals conceded and only three sides had kept more clean sheets.

Since then, however, the Eagles have lost five on the spin and conceded more goals than any other team.

Without arguably their best centre-half in the injured Gary Cahill (£4.4m) and drifting towards a lower-mid-table finish, this seems to be a good time to take on Roy Hodgson’s troops – and it’s Manchester United who face Palace next in Gameweek 36+.

Aston Villa had only scored twice in eight games before Sunday’s clash in the Midlands but they doubled that tally in one fell swoop against the Eagles.

A double for Trezeguet (£5.2m) handed Dean Smith’s side their first victory since January.

Patrick van Aanholt (£5.6m) blanked as a result of a fifth successive clean sheet loss but, as is his wont, he so very nearly popped at the other end with a late consolation, registering Palace’s only big chance of the match with a shot that Pepe Reina (£4.2m) saved.

Gayle Force

Among sub-£5.5m forwards, Dwight Gayle (£5.0m) is second only to Mason Greenwood (£4.9m) for FPL ‘form’ over the last month.

Gayle scored the opener in Newcastle United’s 2-1 defeat at Watford and has attacking returns in four of his last five starts, with his only blank coming in the 5-0 defeat at Manchester City.

The budget striker tapped in Federico Fernandez‘s (£4.6m) flick-on to give Newcastle the lead, later being denied by Ben Foster (£4.9m) and setting up Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.4m) for the Magpies’ only other ‘big chance’ of the match.

Steve Bruce’s recent change to a 4-2-3-1 has certainly led to a bit more attacking thrust from the Magpies, although no clean sheets in five matches (their previous two shut-outs were recorded against ten men) does suggest that it has come at the expense of some defensive stability.

Dawson’s Leap

Deeney on the Spot

Troy Deeney (£6.2m) emerged from Watford’s win over Newcastle with a 13-point haul, which is more than he had managed in his previous six appearances combined.

The Hornets’ striker was indebted to two penalties to end his goal drought and in truth, his threat from open play remains limited – his four shots on Saturday (two of which were from the spot) more than doubled his total for the previous five Gameweeks.

His only other clear-cut opportunity was presented to him by an awful Fernandez clearance and the mid-price striker shot straight at Martin Dubravka (£5.1m) with the goal at his mercy.

Deeney limped off towards the end but Nigel Pearson said after full-time:

Troy has what I would call a ‘grumbly knee’ that he has to manage on a daily and weekly basis. This is nothing new, it’s something which he’s come to terms with and has to manage, so you may see him with a bandage today, but it’s nothing new.

Injuries and Bans

Christian Benteke (£5.7m) will miss the remainder of the season after being sent off for violent conduct after the final whistle at Villa Park.

Jordan Ayew (£5.1m) will now presumably revert to being a central striker for the last three Gameweeks, after a spell on the right flank.

Villa lost two of their defence to injuries on Sunday, with Kortney Hause (£4.4m) pulling out in the warm-up and Neil Taylor (£4.2m) being substituted after 36 minutes.

Ahmed Elmohamady (£4.1m) was given the nod at right-back, with Matt Targett (£4.3m) making a timely return from injury to replace Taylor on the opposite flank.

Line-ups

Watford XI (4-2-3-1): Foster; Femenia, Kabasele, Dawson, Masina; Capoue, Hughes; Sarr, Doucoure, Welbeck (Gray 90′); Deeney (Cleverley 85′).

Newcastle United XI (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Manquillo, Lascelles (Lazaro 87′), Fernandez, Rose (Krafth 79′); Schar, Shelvey; Saint-Maximin, Almiron, Ritchie (Joelinton 72′); Gayle (Bentaleb 79′).

Aston Villa XI (4-3-3): Reina; El Mohamady, Konso Ngoyo, Mings, Taylor (Targett 36′); McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane (Nakamba 80′); Trezeguet (El Ghazi 88′), Samatta (Davis 80′) Grealish. 

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Guaita; Ward, Dann, Sakho, van Aanholt; Zaha, Kouyate (Riedewald 66′), Milivojevic (Meyer 75′), McArthur (McCarthy 46), Ayew (Townsend 66′); Benteke. 


FPL LESSONS LEARNED FROM GAMEWEEK 35+

1,118 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Unchanged FC

  2. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Unchanged pretty much - Shaw in

  3. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    RMFHT

    de Gea
    Alonso, Doherty, Bavies
    Sterling, Bruno, Martial, Willian, Antonio
    Jesus, Giroud (c)

    Cresswell, Hause, Conolly

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

      Nice one! I think I would rather have Pulisic over Willian and Ings up front though

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks, Puli vs Willian is close.. stats favour Will Ian and he has pennos

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

    MAN UTD TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Southampton: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Matic, Pogba, Fernandes, Martial, Greenwood, Rashford.
    Subs: Romero, Bailly, Mata, Pereira, Fred, James, Ighalo, McTominay, Williams.

    SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Man Utd: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bertrand, Stephens, Bednarek, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Adams, Ings.
    Subs: Gunn, Vestergaard, Long, Obafemi, Hojbjerg, Smallbone, Vokins, Danso, Ferry.

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

    OMG! Unchanged XI!

  6. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    MUN: de Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Shaw, Lindelöf, Fernandes, Rashford, Matic, Pogba, Greenwood, Martial
    Subs: Romero, Bailly, Williams, James, Mata, Pereira, McTominay, Fred, Ighalo

    SOU: McCarthy, Bertrand, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Redmond, Armstrong, Oriol Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Ings, Adams
    Subs: Gunn, Vestergaard, Vokins, Ferry, Højbjerg, Smallbone, Danso, Long, Obafemi

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Damn. Was hoping Romeu wasn't in the team and Vestergaard was in the team. Would have made Man Utd's job much easier.

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

    All play for United

  8. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Today is not Monday, today is Rashforday

  9. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    AWB, Martial Bruno(c) Ings lets go!!!!

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

    Parting gift Rashford(C) please !

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

      I have never understood the logic behind captaining a player you have decided to transfer out

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

        why not

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

          think

  11. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    🙁

  12. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bruno (C), Martial, Greenwood.

    Same again please!!

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nobody cares what you have GB. Pipe down.

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

        😀

      2. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        This

      3. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I care! But mostly because I have exactly the same 😉

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Ings too? Forgot him... 🙂

          1. Catastrophe
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Unfortunately not although I will almost certainly be transferring him in tonight!

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Many of us with that combination but it's unlikely to happen again. (hope I'm wrong)

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

    McCarthy to get all bonus points 😀

  14. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    The irony of bringing in unconfirmed City starters to attempt to cover for unconfirmed City starters.

    Pure speculation of who will play who won't. It's Pep. 5 or 6 changes could mean an entire new back 4 for a start.

    I personally think Bernardo and David are the only ones close to being sure starters, and even that is speculation.

    FH nightmare

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

      Males it fun.

      Almost reverses the psychology of the FH.

      To cover rotation of Man City first 11.

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

        *makes

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

    What a surprise Utd lineup...

    Bless Ole for making fantasy managers' lives easy.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ole is at the wheel

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He must surely rotate for Palace though... 3 days before a semi too.

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

        Think they want CL more

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          The players surely can't go another game in a row though?

      2. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Number of mins played today should give us an indication of who could be rested vs cpa

  16. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I rate Ole... he gets it... no need to change your XI every bloody week because you want to be like Pep

    Leicester, Chelsea (with Mourinho) and many other teams got this concept. Get a group that play well together and let them play more and more to get them comfortable

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

      If it ain't broke, why try and fix it? Also, Utds reserve players isn't that great atm.

    2. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      David Silva is slightly better than Lingard.

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

        Gone down on both of them?

    3. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Agree if it wasn't for the really tight schedule because of corona.

      We have been lucky to avoid serious injuries.

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

      As if he has decent options willing to come off the bench.
      He doesn't have that luxury, it's a necessity!

  17. MGD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Will there be pressers or any more news on city line-up?

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

      Would think City presser tomorrow as City play the next day

    2. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure if his presser is ever helpful

  18. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Cant even count on Martial pre game injury anymore....
    This game sucks.

    1. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Wishing injury on players, you suck my friend...

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

        This.

      2. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        To be fair Martial used to be pretty consistant with those in the past, missed a game or two with cold.

        Yes I am really bad bad person.

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          The girls will like you then - has it's compensations

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

    Bruno©
    AWB
    And one kid with finishing abilities of prime strikers...

    Let's go 😀

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Rashford?

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

        Ighalo

    2. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Lingard?

      1. Joyce1998
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        its masonnnnn

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

        Whatever happened to that young lad?

        1. The Train Driver
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          He's still young, his time will come...

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

        I said kid
        Not an upcoming talent 😉

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

          Upcoming talent is Lingard, right?

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

      Tea lady

    4. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep he is a cut above the rest in terms of finishing, actually i rate Martial closest to him. PVA on his side on thursday is actually making me think captaincy material. Only worry is minutes so short before fa cup, but that kind of affects all the other ones too. mané punt captain is really tempting, he gets 90 minutes and Liverpool is going crazy for 100 points. Two wins and one draw is enough

  20. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FPL gods please make Bruno look really stupid

  21. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best defender for GW36 on my FH? Got Digne and Azpi. AWB? TAA?

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bavies an outside shout

      1. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Oooh I like it!

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

      I'd go TAA

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      if you get any team news from Chelsea line up confirming Alonso to start then him too, Digne struggled a bit vs Wolves with cramp-like tendencies that looked like something in his hamstring/thigh.

      i don´t see many good ones, so the ones you mentioned is perhaps the best ones. Going TAA or not is down to pure gut, you just have to decide how you think that game pans out.

      If i gone FH myself, Digne, Alonso and TAA, maybe even Azpi too, but Chelsea are not thrustworthy at the back so a gamble perhaps

      1. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks mate, might go Trent

  22. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bruno(C), Rashford and Greenwood. Come on

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Wishing you and all Bruno(c) the worst of luck

      1. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        hm...

        as a Vardy capper i hope he does not get more, but if he does i want that to be points for Martial and Greenwood and Southampton brakes United defence with an og by Maguire or AWB. The one not scoring og gets a yellow and DDG no save points-)

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I have the same three - best of luck to us both!

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

    Points prediction for Bruno, Martial & Greenwood?

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

      3

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

        Three goals each, nice 😉

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

          Nah 3 red cards, sorry 🙁

      2. Joyce1998
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        21

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruno 1 Martial 14 Greenwood 2

  24. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who to (i) bench and (ii) captain from these lot this week -

    A. Mane
    B. KDB
    C. Sterling
    D. Foden
    E. Fernandes
    F. Greenwood
    G. Rashford
    H. Ings

    Thanks 🙂

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

      Bench Mane
      Captain Sterling

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

        🙄

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

          Why that face?

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

            Would never bench Mane 😀

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

      Cool name! Can't help you though

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

        Haha!

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      no one in his right mind can give you advice on this one. All 8 are playable and almost everyone can be capped. Try to analyze what you will think will happen for your 8 players and their team and pick the one you feel has the lesser chance of getting points.

      For example; is there any certain ways the opposite team concedes? Do you think Ings or Mané will outscore one from the three City or United assets and in case which do you think will have less points from those, how do Bou concede goals, from where, where do Palace concede goals, Brighton and arsenal and so on. Which of the city mids do you feel will not start for instance?

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

    For the first time since January/February 1993, Manchester United name an unchanged starting line-up for the fifth straight league game.

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Luck with injuries will eventually run out. Ole showing his inexperience.

  26. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1 nil Utd matic

    1. Party time
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Eat my goal

      • Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Come on mate.
        You had your time. At least let me reach 50 😀

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fernandes Rashford & Greenwood ... hope springs eternal

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

        Same here. Although I'm having a veggie lasagne for tea

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          lush 🙂

    3. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      good deal for 36+?
      nketiah + mahrez -> ings + foden (hit)
      Y/N

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

        Yes

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

      Do we think Jesus will start this coming GW?

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

        Dial 0800 askpep

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

      Rotation coming up for united against palace or will Ole run them to the ground

      1. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Rotation for cup probably...

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

        Martial and Greenwood will be rested. Rashford and Bruno can handle the minutes