Scout Notes

Why Man City assets underwhelmed in 2-1 win over Bournemouth

Man City 2-1 Bournemouth

  • Goals: David Silva (£7.3m), Gabriel Jesus (£9.8m) | David Brooks (£6.1m)
  • Assists: Silva | Callum Wilson (£7.4m)
  • Bonus Points: D Silva x3, Jesus x2, Brooks x1

Manchester City assets largely let the Fantasy Premier League community down on Wednesday evening as they limped to a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

There had been plenty of interest in their attacking options for a meeting with one of the division’s worst defences since the restart, but Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy had the last laugh.

Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m) were at the heart of that, coming into Gameweek 36+ on 20% and 11.5% respective backing for the captaincy among the top 10,000 Fantasy managers, and both inside the five highest for effective ownership at that level too.

However, with Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal on the horizon, which, to be fair to him, Guardiola has been talking up as a game he will factor into Premier League selections, there was a glut of key men named on the bench against Bournemouth.

“(The FA Cup semi-final is factored into the selection) a little bit but some of the players are going to play on Saturday. Every game since lockdown I rotate five or six players.” – Pep Guardiola


Sterling backers will perhaps be the most frustrated as he came on to play on the right-hand side of the front-three at half-time, shifted to a centre-forward role in the 77th minute but barely had a sniff all afternoon and scored just one point. That was his first appearance at the Etihad Stadium since the restart to feature a blank.

However, there was a potential silver lining for De Bruyne owners as he remained on the bench, kept fresh for the FA Cup encounter, allowing anyone who captained or selected him to get points for their vice and/or first substitute. That is sure to cause some interesting roughs and smooths in Gameweek 36+. Make sure you let us know about them ahead of the next Scoutcast.

To be honest, De Bruyne’s absence from the pitch on Wednesday evening was one of many reasons why Manchester City were ultimately outplayed on the own turf for the first time in a long while.

Across the 90 minutes, Bournemouth bested their illustrious hosts for shots, shots in the box and big chances, thanks to some predictably shoddy defending from a centre-back pairing of John Stones (£5.3m) and Nicolas Otamendi (£4.8m). In fact, the Cherries even broke the Premier League record for most goal attempts registered at the Etihad Stadium, and fewest conceded there, during Guardiola’s time in the Premier League. 

“It was a really difficult game, they played really well. We could not control it. Their high pressing was good. It was a difficult game.” – Pep Guardiola

It was these carefully timed forays into home territory that really stunted the attacking potential of Manchester City’s midfield and front-three, which featured Phil Foden (£5.5m) once more, making his fourth successive start at the Etihad Stadium.

But, unfortunately for the Englishman’s 6.4% ownership, he was a largely peripheral figure with David Silva (£7.3m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.8m) the only two Manchester City options to offer much for their backers.

The two players nearly combined for an opening goal in the third minute when Jesus was played through on the right by an excellent Ederson (£6.0m) throw forward. The Brazilian dispatched a great ball across the box that fell just beyond Silva.

The Spaniard reminded Fantasy managers of what he could deliver in the Gameweek 38+ meeting with Norwich in the fifth minute when he curled a clinical free-kick under Aaron Ramsdale‘s (£4.4m) crossbar. While he may have to compete with De Bruyne for such responsibilities against the Canaries, it will, of course, be his last Premier League game at the Etihad on that occasion, which may allow Silva to pull rank.

The fact that Manchester City’s diminutive number 21 has now scored in every home match since the Premier League restart is, on its own, arguably good enough justification to include Silva in a Gameweek 38+ squad.

Less involved around the penalty box than he would have liked, thanks to Bournemouth’s plucky determination of field-position, Silva was about his business again in the 38th minute. He slid Jesus into the box, who stepped to the right of Steve Cook (£5.0m) and coolly buried his effort into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Sterling’s introduction for Bernardo Silva (£7.6m) at half-time was a cause for renewed hope after a subdued first period… but it was not to be.

Between then and full-time, there were no more than three moments when Manchester City might have added to their lead, but none of them involved Sterling in any real sense.

In the 71st minute, Silva played Jesus in, who was brought down by Cook and won a penalty. However, the video assist referee revealed that the Brazilian’s trailing leg had landed on the Bournemouth defender, overturning the decision and robbing Fantasy managers of a chance to see who would take the spot-kick in De Bruyne’s absence.

Shortly after that, Jesus fired an effort back across goal following a Foden through-pass, the ball sailing past the post. That was the striker’s last involvement before Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m) took to the field in his place, shifting Sterling into a central role for the front-three.

After that tactical switch, Foden was the only Manchester player who went close, showing some nice feet at close-range by the near post before Ramsdale did enough to smother a point-blank shot.

Littered between those sparing chances for the home team, were the reason why they struggled to get any rhythm going forward: Bournemouth’s constant desire to create problems of their own.

Josh King (£6.1m) was the man asking questions in the first half, helped in his efforts by Dominic Solanke‘s (£5.1m) spirited pressing of Manchester City’s centre-back pairing.

After the former Liverpool man had won a 33rd-minute free-kick on the edge of the box, Junior Stanislas (£5.8m) nearly found the back of the net, his effort hitting the post, then Ederson’s head, and the woodwork once more.

But Eric Garcia (£4.5m) coming on to replace right-back Kyle Walker (£5.6m) at half time, and in the introduction of Callum Wilson (£7.4m) and David Brooks (£6.1m) played the biggest part in Bournemouth’s second-half onslaught, potentially even earning some Fantasy attention for the two players.

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It was Brooks who fed King at the back post when he found the net but was adjudged to be offside and the Welshman was the man to get the Cherries’ deserved goal in the 88th minute.

Wilson sprung through on the right-hand side, squaring to a completely unmarked Brooks in a central location, who was left to provide a routine finish under virtually no pressure.

A minute later, Wilson almost got the equaliser as a loose ball squirted in his direction and he struck it wide on the turn.

With Southampton (home) and Everton (away), their final two matches of the season, and Premier League survival on the line, there could be worse punts to take a risk on than Bournemouth assets, especially considering the recent performances.

As we’ve already discussed, the Cherries probably could have, and should have, come away from the Etihad Stadium with a point, so with their win over Leicester and two goals at Old Trafford, there’s every chance they could get at least some attacking returns in the last two Gameweeks.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Mendy (Zinchenko 77′), Otamendi, Stones, Walker (Garcia 46′); Fernandinho, Gündogan (Rodri 68′), D Silva; Foden, Jesus (Mahrez 77′), B Silva (Sterling 46′).

Bournemouth XI (4-5-1): Ramsdale; Rico, L Kelly, S Cook, Stacey; J King (H Wilson 77′), Billing (Surridge 90′), Lerma, Gosling (L Cook 70′), Stanislas (Brooks 69′); Solanke (C Wilson 69′).

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1,314 Comments Post a Comment
  1. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    You know your having a bad week when your gk is your highest scoring player and he didn’t even keep a cs

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

      Not true. You get Jimenez off the bench.

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

    Bruno EO this week?

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

      108

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

        Oh dear. I hate owning players and needing them to blank.

        Hard to see Bruno blanking TBH!

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

          Greenwood Martial assisted goals can do 😉

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

            Greenwood injured though right?

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

              Knock
              Swollen ankle.
              Should get some minutes

        2. 272MK
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Probably Goal assist max. I'm expecting that. Hopefully blank

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

        is that overall or top 10k?

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

          Top 10k

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

      Over 100 yet again.

    3. mrodgers91
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Just over 100 I think

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

    Hope Greenwood even just gets 1 point now!! Fernandez 0 to come in if no show to go beside TAA’s 0 too!!

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

      Hey! How’s your team doing so far? I ended up going for Sterling captain and we know how that went...

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

    Too late to sleep.
    Just wanted to say
    LoL at everyone including me 😀

  5. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    "Why Man City assets underwhelmed in 2-1 win over Bournemouth"

    No KDB

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

      I don’t think Jesus and D Silva owners think that

      1. mrodgers91
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Dilva 13 points was nice for anyone wha had. Kdb influence is massive as we all know by now

        1. jdp219
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          "Kdb influence is massive as we all know by now" --- That's what I was getting at.

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

            Oh yeah for sure. Arsenal need to man mark him on Saturday.

      2. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I am one of those owners. I was just referencing the play, not the FPL points.

    2. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      But but recent matches against Burnley was 5-0

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

    Martinez misses out on baps by just 1 bos AGAIN!!! Ughh

    10 points vs lei tot liv not the worst return tho. Need 2 clean sheets now

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

      Nailed on for GW 38 FH

  7. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    32pts on minus 4 play BB 6 to play

    1. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      So it's not over yet?!

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

    I was planning to get Salah IN this week!

    Should I still?.

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm actually thinking I transfer him out. Regardless, it's probably a damned-if-you-do/n't situation.

  9. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Wood vs norwich/brighton anyone????

    1. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Im in either him or ings or someone from BOU

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

        Not Jimenez?

        1. Nightf0x
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Have h already

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

        Im tempted.

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

      0.1 off doing iheanacho to wood.

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

    13 -8

    5 singular points...

    1. Party time
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Impressive maths

    2. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      41 from 7...could be worse

      1. JabariParkersEyelid
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cheeky humble brag to brighten up the gloom, well done.

    3. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Martinez
      Sais taa long (taylor lascels)
      Kdb raz bruno mane (puli)
      Green rash jimi

      Which?
      A) grenwod mane -4 to ings/wood/wilson/king martial

      B) grenwod taa -4 to ings/wood/king/wilson pieters/bardsley/oconell

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

      Captain for next gw?

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

        Came from France

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

        Answer is always Bruno at this point. Don't over think it.

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

        Martial

      4. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'll give you a clue.
        The English press said he had no chance, 50 million, down the drain...

        1. Party time
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Tony Martial scores again!

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

              It’s me !

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

          cheers

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

        Pieters the best 4.5 option now Taylor is injured?

        1. Nightf0x
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Pieters bardsley long

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

        What would you do here? 1ft 0.5 itb

        Martinez
        TAA Doherty Taylor
        Mahrez KDB Bruno Salah
        Greenwood Jimenez Rashford

        Stekelenburg Digne Simpson Guendouzi

        A. Save ft
        B. Jimenez to Ings
        C. TAA to Robbo
        D. Suggestion

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Keep Jiménez mate he has Palace!!

          1. PortoGuy
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Ings has Brighton I guess but yes Jimenez seems to be back at it now

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

          Salah to Son.

          1. PortoGuy
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Had him until two GWs ago, sold him, he's now scoring and assisting...

        3. skeeb14
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Charlie Taylor’s done his hamstring.

          1. PortoGuy
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Shame consistent guy, I don't have Pope so he was covering Burnley CS's for me at a nice low price... Good thing I have Digne too

      7. Bobby
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I know there's always some weeks you just have to forget about, but this is a low point.

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Yes only pulisic to get anything for me

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

        54 on FH but only 2 left and no Bruno

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

          brag

        2. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          54! Impressive stuff mate. Dilva Captain with Jesus?

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

            Mane (c). Have Dilva, no Jesus

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

              Bold captain

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

                Not really.

            2. Don Kloppeone
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              So who got you all your points?

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

                Alonso, Pulisic, Giroud the others.

                1. Don Kloppeone
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Nice work.

                  Pulisic and Dilva have stopped my week being catastrophic but Sterling (C) still stings

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

                    Have Sterling too. Would've captained 100% if I was certain he would start. Still picked him in a 50-50 over Jesus.

                    1. Don Kloppeone
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 8 months ago

                      I was really close to captaining Dilva but lower ceiling put me off 😆

      9. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Only DCL can save my GW now

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

        Dear Lord Lundstram. I have benched you all season and missed the majority of your hauls. Please start tomorrow and get me a haul. Thank you

      11. JURGENAUT
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Is 3-5-2 the winning and most popular FPL formation generally ?

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Flexibility important

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

          Depends on form and price of form players.

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

        Tony Martial
        Greenwood/Vardy
        Bruno

        Save my career.

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

        Rashford to Auba a good move?

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

          Probably

      14. Shardlow
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Had a shocker. Joint top of work cash league. Who wins this week.

        My team - A

        Pope (3)
        TAA (0) Holgate Doherty (4)
        Sterling (c) (2), Mahrez (1), KDB (0), Fernandez.
        Greenwood, Rashford, Vardy

        Bench: Lascelles(0),Guenduozi(0), Robinson

        Rival: Team B

        McCarthy
        Garcia (0), Robertson (0), Wan B
        Salah(2), Foden (2), KDB (0),Fernandez (C)
        Auba (1), Greenwood, Ings

        Bench Saiss(2), Williams (0), Davis

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

          Van D (1) instead of Robertson in team B

        2. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Fernandes(c) = game over

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

          Robertson for 4, he has Bruno C... he has the advantage.

        4. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Bruno gonna kill ya I think

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

          Thanks for feedback. I know he is out of chips so hopefully I can pull it back with FH in 38.
          Down to 310k after top 20k finishes in last two years

      15. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        FA cup semis not televised in US in favor of the American Cornhole Championship. Yay.

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

          No one cares

      16. Jebiga
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Dilva (c).
        What a brilliant decade player for city.

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

          Nice

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

          Fabulous player. Will miss him

        3. Nightf0x
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Tc last gw when he joins my team gw38+

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

        36 pts with 5 to play including captain. Imagine FH-ing to be more tbh.

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

        53 on FH with Digne, De Gea, Ings to go.

        Man united going to decide whether this was the right week to free hit ( would have been on 20 with Maguire, Fernandes, rashford left)

        In the minority Hoping fplrockstar Is indeed done for the season!

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Great score mate! Well played

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

          42 with Schmeichel AWB Digne Bruno Martial

      19. Nightf0x
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        How bad is greenwood & taylor injuries?

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

        Should i still get Salah IN this week?

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

        The last time my captain pick scored a goal was GW27.
        Crazy.

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

          Same. Salah gw27