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. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Everyone is going for Pulisic and Antonio with 6 days rest will smash it again.

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

      Mahrez to Antonio is tempting but only leaves kdb for city

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

        I think Mahrez will get a rest but no one knows.

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

      Watford also got the same amount of rest tbf which could help

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

    Mahrez to..

    a. Foden
    b. Dilva
    c. Pulisic
    d. Keep

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

      b

    2. Sz21
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      a or d.

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

      I really want to keep and captain as differential but....

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

      b

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

      A or B - both should start

    6. Najoman86
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      D

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

    With a starting XI of the following, would you do A or B? A obviously creates a benching headache, but does strengthen my bench so it’s a tough call.

    Pope
    TAA, Doherty, Holgate
    Salah, KDB, Bruno(c), Pulisic(vc)
    Vardy, Rashford, Greenwood
    Subs: Martin, Lascelles, Femenia, Davis

    A. Davis > Foden (play Foden and have probably Greenwood first sub in case KDB doesn’t feature)
    B. Vardy > Jesus (straight swap so bench as above)

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

      A

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

    Who scores more??

    A) Rashford, Dsilva
    B) Jesus, Salah

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

      B not even close

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

      prob B but I wouldn't say there is a big difference between the two options

    3. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

  5. DeathoftheParty
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Would you go Willian over Pulisic? Or does playin the full 90 in the last game make him more likely to be rotated?

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

      Both should start, chasing CL spot

    2. Najoman86
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Both should start

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

    Are there press conferences tomorrow? (i.e. Pep)

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

    Mahrez to Foden or D.Silva? I feel the Pulisic is a one GW punt and their fixtures against Liverpool and Wolves will be difficult.

    1ft 1itb
    Pope
    TAA Doherty Aurier
    Martial KDB Bruno Sterling Mahrez*
    Ings Greenwood
    Martinez Jimenez Saiss Taylor

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

      If I only had one city player this week it would be Dilva, seriously.

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

        you think he will score more than Foden even though Foden will most likely play in one of the forward 3 positions

  8. Lostrich
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    OK so I'm playing FH and chasing a 40pt deficit against a guy with the usual Man U / Liverpool / City suspects. Thoughts on having Kane on the bench in a FH team? It's basically a precaution as I have the funds and expect one of my city players to get Pep'ed. But perhaps I could be spending that money on the field?

    McCarthy (de Gea)
    Azpi / Digne / AWB (Bertand / Doherty)
    Pulisic (C) / Sterling (VC) / Foden / Dilva / Antonio
    Ings / Giroud (Kane)

    Cheers

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

      Not a huge fan of CHE, EVE and MUN defenders. Don't see them keeping a cs

    2. E25
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kane on the bench? Nope!
      Better off using the money to get Salah or something

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

      Yeh well I mean pick ur strongest possible first 11 u can and then if u have enough money for Kane on the bench then why not shove Kane on the bench

  9. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A-KDB/Tony ➡️DSilva/Sterling -4?
    B-Vardy/Jimenez ➡️ Ings -4?
    C both= -8

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

    FH36

    Ederson
    Azpi AWB Digne
    Sterling Pulisic Bruno Willian Antonio
    Ings Jesus

    Any way to get Dilva in this team?
    Take out Ederson or Jesus and to whom? Is it worth the change

  11. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What are people doing with Vardy?
    Vardy -> Ings this week or just save the ft?

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Out for Jesus

      1. Sz21
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        3 City already so would need to be for a hit for me.

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

      Playing him

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

        Vardy to Jesus.

  12. Rasialdo10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this FH? Chasing in ML

    Patricio
    TAA Alonso Dawson
    Willian pulisic Sterling Dilva Bruno
    Greenwood Jesus

    Deeney Bednarek Creswell

    1. Dont choose VW. Pickford
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I have a similar one:

      Lloris
      Taa Azpi Wan Biss
      Pulisic Sterling Dilva Bruno Martial
      Jesus Giroud

      Worried about Willian starting given his age and recent minutes, esp. since he apparently was v. tired at the end of the Sheff U game

      1. Rasialdo10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I think Willian will start , had Giroud in previous draft but was more worried about his minutes

        Could be some early team news to look out for tomorrow ..

        1. Dont choose VW. Pickford
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Yeah I will probably get Alonso and Willian if its confirmed they start prior to deadline

  13. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pretty incredible that Azpilicueta hasn't even been booked this season

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

      Class act

  14. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is this team worth playing this week, was going to FH but could wait until gw 38? Have 1 FT, 5.2m ITB. Thanks all.

    Pope
    Doherty McGuire Aurier
    KDB Pulisic(C) Fernandes(VC) Antonio
    Rashford Vardy Jiminez

    Martin Saiss Lascelles Guend

    1. E25
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      no need to fh this week

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

    A few days ago, I'd planned for a differential Sterling to replace Salah in GW36 - a calculated risk for someone who is chasing.

    Now Sterling is the predictable move that isn't so differential.

    What would you do to this:

    Salah - KDB - Martial - Fernandes
    Ings - Jimenez - DCL

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

      KDB > Dilva

    2. Sz21
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Philip Foden and give him the armband if you want to be a little different.

      Loves a home game and will be their most advanced player.

  16. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling, Foden, Salah, Pulisic, Antonio
    Jesus, Giroud

    Any better free hit front 7?

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

      I'd replace Foden with Silva, OR replace one of willian/puli with Silva

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

      Probably need some Man Utd cover and maybe Ings

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

        Martial away has not been good. Bruno maybe, but prefer current mids

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

      Would prefer Ings to Giroud

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

        Giroud had rest tho, Ings only gets 3 days especially with Southampton intensity play not sure on him

    4. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I like it.

    5. Dont choose VW. Pickford
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Would up Foden to D Silva if possible, also wouldnt be able to go without at least Fernandes and probably Martial/Rash/Grnwd instead of Salah and Antonio

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

      Richarlison instead Antonio

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

    vardy or jesus for the rest of season??

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

      Jesus. Easier fixtures as compared to Vardy

    2. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Both??

    3. E25
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      jesus

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

    With a front 7 of...

    Salah, KDB, Bruno, Pulisic
    Vardy, Rashford, Greenwood

    ...would you do A or B?

    A. Davis > Foden (play Foden, bench Greenwood)
    B. Vardy > Jesus (straight swap)

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

    ML rival ahead by 1 point and owns Pulisic

    Of these 4 players, which 2 would you pick to bring in on a hit?

    A) Ings
    B) Pulisic
    C) Willian
    D) Foden

    Thanks

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

      A and C

    2. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B and D

  20. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A. Auba -> Ings (-4)
    B. KdB -> Sterling/Dilva/Foden (-4)
    C. Save FT

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

    Before the price changes, first to 5!!

    Who scores more...

    1. Ings (BHA) Mahrez (wat)
    2. Pulisic (NOR) (liv)

    1. Better Call Raul
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1

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

      1

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

    Is the EO on any part the Burnley defence high?

  23. Aubaaaaa
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which combo?
    A. Kdb Vardy Jesus
    B. Sterling Vardy Ings -4
    C. Sterling Jesus Jiminez -4

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

    Game updated

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

    Does playing FH in a gameweek, remove all hits taken in that gameweek?

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

      Yup

    2. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah

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

      Yes, I believe so.

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

    I am lost. Any suggestions on what to do here? 1 FT, 2.5 ITB

    DDG
    Doherty - Aurier - TAA
    Mane - Bruno - KDB - Mahrez - Foden
    Vardy - Greenwood

    (3.9; Jimenez, Saiss, Lascelles)

    1. Najoman86
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jimenez > Ings or Mahrez > Pulisic/Willian

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

        Good shouts, think Mahrez will start or no?

  27. mash
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Though it's unlikely to help any FPL decisions, will we get a presser from Pep ahead of the deadline tomorrow?

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

    GW38 only....

    A) Auba (WAT) + Dilva (NOR)
    B) Jesus (NOR) + Pulisic (WOL)

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

      A

  29. Kevtheotter
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bench boost this week unsure what is best

    McCarthy
    TAA Robertson Caylor Boly Stephens
    KDB Sterling Bruno Pulisic ASM
    Rashford Greenwood Vardy

    A) Vardy -> Jesus
    B) ASM -> Foden
    C) Vardy and ASM -> Ings and Dilva/Foden -4

    Cheers!

    1. osceola31909
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C, with David Silva.

  30. osceola31909
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I am scared I don't have enough Man City, though I also have no idea which one of them will play against Bournemouth. Not saying I would do it, but if I took a -4, which would be the best move:

    A) Salah --> Sterling
    B) KDB --> Sterling
    C) Vardy --> Jesus

    Ryan - Button
    TAA - Doherty - Saiss - C. Taylor - Lascelles
    Salah - KDB - Bruno - Martial - Willian
    Vardy - DCL - Greenwood
    2.1 itb

    1. Dont choose VW. Pickford
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C for me, would worry about taking the hit for Sterling only for him to be benched, Jesus more nailed imo