Scout Notes

What Bournemouth’s shock win over Leicester means for Fantasy managers

Bournemouth 4-1 Leicester City

  • Goals: Junior Stanislas (£5.8m), Dominic Solanke (£5.1m) x2, Jonny Evans (£5.3m) own-goal | Jamie Vardy (£9.8m)
  • Assists: Callum Wilson (£7.4m), Diego Rico (£4.2m), Stanislas| None
  • Bonus: Solanke x3, Stanislas x2, Vardy x1

Where to start with – and how to make sense of – this one?

A bewildering evening on the south coast saw Leicester City implode spectacularly in a manner that conjured up memories of Brazil’s 7-1 thumping at the hands of Germany six years ago.

From Dominic Solanke (£5.1m) finding the net to the Foxes’ two centre-backs scoring a combined minus five Fantasy Premier League points, it was a scarcely believable watch.

The first 45 minutes went by pretty much as expected, with Jamie Vardy (£9.8m) opening the scoring in a typically opportunistic manner, Brendan Rodgers’ side utterly dominating proceedings, and Bournemouth looking fragile in both defence and confidence.

Leicester went into half-time having racked up 10 shots to the Cherries’ one, with Vardy responsible for five of them.

Only some last-ditch blocks kept the score down, with Nathan Ake (£4.8m) getting a vital touch onto a 36th-minute strike from the Foxes’ forward to deflect one effort up and over.

Based on the first-half evidence, and with Ake limping off injured, many of us would have expected a Vardy haul to materialise and no doubt began looking at options for a Manchester City triple-up in Gameweek 36+.

Eddie Howe switched things around at the interval, making two changes and moving to a wing-back system to match Leicester’s formation, but the first 20 minutes of the second half passed by without much incident.

The Cherries were better, with only poor touches from Solanke and Callum Wilson (£7.4m) ruining promising moves, but had still only registered two efforts on goal before the game turned on its head in the 65th minute.

A suicidal kick out from Kasper Schmeichel (£5.5m) led to Wilson being fouled in the Bournemouth box, with substitute Junior Stanislas (£5.8m) stepping up in the injured Josh King‘s (£6.1m) absence to level the scores from the spot.

Things unravelled from that point for the visitors, with Caglar Soyuncu (£5.0m) seeing red for a kick on Wilson immediately after Solanke had squeezed a shot under Schmeichel.

Jonny Evans (£5.3m) then deflected a Stanislas shot past his own goalkeeper before Solanke rounded off the scoring when pouncing on a dreadful Christian Fuchs (£4.2m) pass.

Substitute Sam Surridge (£4.3m) went on to waste two glorious opportunities in injury time as Leicester’s defence went AWOL.

How to process this result as Fantasy managers?

Firstly, Bournemouth’s admirable second-half fightback isn’t likely to put us off going big on Pep Guardiola’s side in Gameweek 36+, with the Cherries looking brittle at the back.

As plucky as the south coast side were, this was a freakish set of circumstances and Manchester City would unquestionably have swatted aside Howe’s troops had they provided the opposition in the opening 45 minutes.

Bournemouth look likely to be without their best centre-half on Wednesday, too, with Howe saying of Ake:

It doesn’t look too good. With such a short time left of the season, it looks like it’s going to be difficult for him to play.

But what of Leicester?

It’d be easy to chalk this game down as an anomaly from their point of view, too, and it’s unlikely that circumstances will again conspire against them in the way they did on Sunday.

However, the Foxes have taken only 14 points from their last 14 games and they are in serious danger of losing out on a Champions League qualification place that looked all but secured at the turn of 2020.

Soyuncu will now miss the remainder of the season, while the Foxes – who still have doubts over James Maddison (£7.3m) and Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) – ahead of Gameweek 36+ – also lost Marc Albrighton (£5.1m) to injury in the first half.

Luckily, Vardy keeps on scoring regardless.

This was his fourth goal in three games and he himself looks back to his best even if the Foxes continue to be hit and miss, with the support from Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m) and Ayoze Perez (£6.0m) in attack working well over the last week.

All three of those players could have added to the Foxes’ lead in the first half and it made Rodgers’ decision to withdraw the Nigerian at half-time, sending on Dennis Praet (£5.2m) in his stead, look particularly odd.

The Leicester boss said of that change:

[Iheanacho] wasn’t having one of his better games. The issue for us defensively was on the side of the pitch, because there was a lot of space for Wilf [Ndidi] and Youri [Tielemans] to cover.

So we pushed Ayo [Perez] on, he was playing well, and added an extra midfielder in to help cover.

But the defeat wasn’t tactical, it was about the spirit.

Turning his ire on his players and Soyuncu, Rodgers added:

I didn’t see it coming. We didn’t have personality in the second half. I would say an apology to the supporters, that was unacceptable for a Leicester City team, the reaction to the red card. We lacked the spirit and attitude.

It’s disappointing because we’re already without three of our key players. We don’t have a big enough squad.

It’s a stupid reaction [from Soyuncu]. His covering position could have been better. It was reckless.

Saying that, we have to defend better. We didn’t show the right spirit when we went down to 10 men.

While Vardy’s own form isn’t in question, that of his team is and the Foxes have three tricky-looking games remaining, starting with a match against a Sheffield United side who look back to their best defensively.

The Golden Boot may be enough to keep his existing owners interested but there’ll be fewer FPL managers looking at him anew, while the rest of the Foxes’ squad will likely be given short shrift altogether.


Bournemouth XI (4-4-2): Ramsdale; Stacey, Ake (S Cook 40′), Kelly, Rico; Brooks (L Cook 81′), Gosling (Billing 45′), Lerma, Danjuma (Stanislas 45′); Solanke, Wilson (Surridge 90′).

Leicester City XI (3-4-1-2): Schmeichel; Justin, Evans, Soyuncu; Albrighton (Bennett 16′), Ndidi, Tielemans, Fuchs; Perez (Barnes 70′) Vardy, Iheanacho (Praet 45′).

Members Analysis

FPL LESSONS LEARNED FROM GAMEWEEK 35+

4,127 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any suggestions on closing 50point gap over the next 3 game weeks?
    Do I tinker with this team or save transfer?

    Sterling dsilva Jesus Antonio all options this week

    Pope
    AWB boly Digne
    Salah kdb mahrez Bruno Willian
    Rashford Vardy
    Button kiko holgate nketiah

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

      Dilva for mahrez

    2. Roysgotnoboys
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Get sterling and C

      You need to attack to catch 50

      1. The Head-Ake
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Does he start though?

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

          Only one man knows the answer to that

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

        Makes sense but won’t he be the top captain choice meaning it’s better to go for differential?

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

      yes there is always a chance
      2 weeks with the right captain choice will let you close the gab or surpass you rival

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

    Drop 1 from FH team:
    A) Salah
    B) Dilva
    C) Fernandes

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

    2. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

    3. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    4. HellasLEAF
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah or Fernandes may get rested who knows.

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

        Mo wont be. idk about Fernandes

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

          how so sure of Salah start?

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

            Wont be rested vs Arsenal especially when chasing golden boot. Pool got no FA either so decent rest after this game

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

              If he was gonna be rested it would have been Burnley

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

      A

    6. Roysgotnoboys
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      A

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

      Hmmm not very conclusive. Thanks for the answers all

  3. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A friend of mine is a huge Chelsea fan. Claims Alonso starts tomorrow.
    Any other Chelsea fan around here thinking the same?

    If true Alonso better choice than Azpi?

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes if he starts he is one who can get 20 points on his day.

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

    What time does FPL Rockstar usually get team news given the Chelsea match is at eight and the deadline is at five?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      When the big hand is at 3 and the little hand is at 8...

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

        In other words... 3:40pm

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Ah yes, I can see you too have dabbled in the fine arts of the horology

          Not to be confused with whoreology

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

        haha

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

      The deadline is 715pm....

  5. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Took a minus 4 for DCL + Rashford to Vardy + Greenwood which cost me 3 points. Only ended up on 96 cause of that.

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

      Humble brag! Decent score bro

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        🙂

  6. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    If KDB is benched, does that affect the scoreline? City may be a bit flat without him or Mahrez.

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Man City without KDB starting this season:

      GW5: LOSE NOR (A) 3 - 2
      GW8: LOSE WOL (H) 0 - 2
      GW30+: WIN BUR (H) 5 - 0
      GW33: LOSE SOU (A) 1 - 0

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

      If Dilva starts don't be afraid.

      Kdb with Dilva has 6 average in 11 games

      Kdb without Dilva has 9.2 in 20 games

      And I think dilva will start

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

    A couple of final FH decisions,which is best combo?

    A-Kdb and Giroud

    B-Salah and Jesus

    Many thanks

    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      B easily

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

      Thanks guys

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

      B

      Cambridge fan?

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

        Yes Cambridge fan

  8. L S P
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which pair would you rather have for 36?

    A) Dilva + Jesus
    B) Sterling + Giroud

    No hits required.

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

      oof. that's tough. If Sterling gets the 90 I would go B. If not A

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

    Start Trent or Boly?

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      T

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Trent is like KDB

      Benching them is similar to pulling the pin from a hand grenade & hoping it doesn’t go off in your pocket blowing your goddamn nutsack off in the process

      In a way

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

        .... point taken.

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

        This. 24 points away at Leicester this season. Some benched him

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

          Different circumstances now though. They’re really only playing for the 100 points. He’ll def start since Neco played 2 in a row but he hasn’t assisted for quite a few games.
          I sold him for Digne last week fwiw

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

    Kdb nkeitah jimi > Sterling giroud ings?

    -8

    1. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I would keep KDB

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

        Mahrez to sterling

        Jimi to ings -4

  11. DIMITRIS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pick one out of these for C in GW36+ :
    1) Dilva
    2) Foden
    3) Jesus

  12. gers23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    50 point lead at this stage fairly comfortable?

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

      Yes

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes

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

      I wish I could share others optimism

      I’ve just etched out a 60point lead in 1 gw

    4. squits
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      fairly. But I just closed up from 75 down to 22 now. So it's never over

    5. SouthCoastSaint
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Depends on chips

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

    Duda, Auba to Pulisic, Jesus for -4?

    Rest of frontline:
    Salah, Bruno, KDB, Foden
    Vardy, Greenwood

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

    Is Aurier likely to have some time off following the shooting of his brother ?

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

      Surely...

  15. mr messi
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone keeping Mahrez?

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

      So confused. I’m either tempted to sell for dilva or just captain him

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

        why captain

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

          If he starts he could be a great option for 12+ points....if

  16. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jimi- Giroud or Tammy?

    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      whoever starts, hope for team leak

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        whos most likely

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

    Captain?

    A) Willian
    B) Pulisic
    C) Ings

    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      highest ceiling likely B

  18. The Head-Ake
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    Robbo - Egan - Aurier
    Salah - DSilva - Bruno - Martial - Pulisic
    Jesus - Ings

    (Button - Greenwood - Saiss - Lascelles) & 1.4ITB and WC. How does this look for a WC team? I changed Son to Martial after the game. Thoughts on this team as a whole? 🙂

  19. I Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Captain:

    A) Pulisic
    B) Bruno Fernandes

    1. Sotamendi84
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      puli

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

      A

  20. Sotamendi84
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    play one:
    a) jimenz
    b) dcl
    c) ings (-4)
    d) giroud (-4)

    1. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I went with C

  21. gauzah
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    My captaincy choices since the restart have been shocking.

    Tempted to punt on Pulisic this GW. Who's everyone going for?

    1. Sotamendi84
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      puli

    2. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Same here. No cpt goal since Sterling VS Arsenal.

      I might go Foden for a laugh.

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

      Not pulisic then haha

  22. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Instincts all gone this season. Moves not paying off at all, teams a mess!

    Bring on a nice rest and FPL 2020/2021 !

  23. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Impossible not to captain a player up against the team that made Antonio look like Messi.

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

      He is messi

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

      yup

  24. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Does KDB>Dsilva seem stupid? My logic is KDB benching before fa cup and I have FH to still play if I want him after this gw

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

      I would do this if I had FH left.

    2. L S P
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      i'm doing it. tho i may be stupid.

      But i honestly think Dilva is going to be key creative force these last few matches.

    3. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks both

    4. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I went mahrez to dilva, didn’t fancy losing KDB.

  25. shearer9
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    TAA and Jimi -> Fredericks and Jesus??

  26. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Guys, would love some help on what feels like a massive decision for my season.

    Planned my WC for using bench boost this GW. But with the Aurier situation, Holgate plus FA cup upcoming I'm afraid I'll end up with players on zero points. Would you use it or wait?

    Foster (whu) Mccarthy (BRI)

    Vvd (ars) - Azpi (NOR) - Doherty (bur) - Aurier (new) - Holgate (AVL)

    Bruno (cry) - Sterling (bou) - KDB - Foden - Willian (NOR)

    Greenwood (cry) - Vardy (SHU) - Rashford (cry)

  27. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    3 point lead at top of my ML.
    I've only got TC chip left while they have TC and FH.

    Would you TC this week on Pusilic or anyone else?

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

      Dilva gw38

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

    Ederson (Martinez)
    TAA Taylor Keane (Saiss Dunk)
    Salah KDB Foden Pulisi(C) Bruno
    Vardy Ings (Greenwood)
    1FT, 1.5 ITB

    Thoughts on KDB > Dilva this week, then Ederson, Pulisic > Pope, Sterling next week?

    Chasing so need to take a few risks.

  29. KrisMCFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Free hit???

    Gw36
    Gw37
    Gw38

  30. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I am only 2 points ahead of my ML and my rival owns Sterling, do I....

    a) Get Sterling

    b) Get Dilva