Scout Notes

Hasenhuttl praises Ings’ fitness levels as Holgate succumbs to injury again

With yet another Gameweek deadline on the horizon, we summarise the key quotes, talking points and underlying numbers from two more Premier League games – Southampton v Brighton and Everton v Aston Villa – in the Scout Notes round-up below.

Ings on Target

Danny Ings (£7.5m) moved within three goals of Jamie Vardy (£9.8m) in the race for the Golden Boot after scoring Southampton’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Amid the fixture pile-up, Ings looked as sharp as ever – even if Southampton struggled to get going in the opening 45 minutes.

An offside flag and Mathew Ryan‘s (£4.7m) left-hand post had initially denied him a 20th strike of the season, while he was inches away from teeing up Che Adams (£5.3m) for a tap-in in the second half with a volleyed ball across the six-yard box.

Ings’ goal eventually came in the 65th minute as he latched onto a Nathan Redmond (£6.2m) pass to finish coolly beyond Ryan.

While three games in a week would previously have been a concern for Ings, Hasenhuttl provided some encouraging words about his striker on Friday:

Calvert-Lewin Blanks Again

It’s eight straight blanks for Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.2m), seven of which have arrived after the restart.

There were a few more openings for the Everton forward on Thursday evening, with one turn-and-shot creeping narrowly wide and the striker almost deflecting a Tyrone Mings (£4.4m) clearing header past Pepe Reina (£4.2m), but it was another grim watch as Aston Villa carved out the better chances.

Calvert-Lewin sits a poor 24th among FPL forwards for expected goal involvement since the resumption last month, while only Norwich have carved out fewer big chances than Everton from Gameweek 30+ onwards.

With a trip to a defensively strong Sheffield United up next for the Toffees, the exodus looks set to continue.

Holgate Injured

Mason Holgate‘s (£4.3m) comeback from injury lasted all of 15 minutes before the budget FPL defender limped out of Everton’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

Everton reported that the issue was a recurrence of a shin problem that had forced him off against Spurs a fortnight him ago and led to him missing out in Gameweeks 34+ and 35+.

Carlo Ancelotti didn’t mention Holgate in his post-match press conference but we may get an update on the centre-half in additional quotes released from that media gathering on Friday or Saturday.

Budget Defenders

Holgate’s early withdrawal and Yerry Mina‘s (£5.3m) thigh injury left Everton short of options at centre-half and, for the second successive match, Ancelotti was forced to turn to youngster Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.0m).

The teenager turned in a commendable display alongside Michael Keane (£5.2m) and, should Mina and Holgate be ruled out for the run-in, then Branthwaite could be a decent budget option for the Toffees’ remaining games against Sheffield United and Bournemouth – matches that are decent shouts for clean sheets, even if Everton have been short of them of late.

Indeed, Villa could easily have added to Ezri Konsa‘s (£4.3m) goal on Thursday, with Jack Grealish (£5.9m) dragging a couple of good chances wide and Anwar El Ghazi (£5.2m) somehow missing from three yards.

Ancelotti said of Branthwaite’s display:

I am really happy with him, he is really young, a kid. But he showed quality and personality and character.

He is really calm with the ball, really comfortable, and really aggressive without the ball. He can be a fantastic player for us.

Tariq Lamptey (£4.1m) was handed his fifth start in six games on Thursday, meanwhile, and he too has two favourable fixtures remaining from a clean sheet perspective.

Albion face Newcastle United in Gameweek 37+ and round off their season with a trip to Burnley.

Graham Potter’s constant tinkering with his starting XI remains off-putting, while Lamptey – who has otherwise been excellent since the restart – was caught on his heels for Ings’ equaliser and substituted not long afterwards.

Jake Vokins (£4.0m) started at left-back for Southampton but was perhaps a one-off inclusion (see below), while Ahmed Elmohamady (£4.1m) continued at right-back for Villa for the second straight game.

Relegation Scrap

Brighton all but ensured Premier League safety with their 1-1 draw against Southampton, with only a point needed to be mathematically certain – although chances are the Seagulls are already home and dry.

Villa’s concession of a late equaliser to Theo Walcott (£6.2m), however, leaves them right in the thick of it.

By the time their Gameweek 37+ clash with Arsenal comes around, and depending on Watford and West Ham’s results before that, it could well be win or bust for the Villans.

That would perhaps be of interest to owners of Arsenal’s assets, if Villa need to open up and go for the jugular to get three points.

Rotation

There were 11 changes to the two starting XIs at St Mary’s on Thursday, with Ralph Hasenhuttl making five of those alterations.

We’re used to seeing rotation at Brighton, with Graham Potter tinkering pretty much every week, but this was the first time Southampton’s starting XI had changed in four games and the resultant opening 45 minutes, coincidence or otherwise, produced a disjointed display from the hosts.

Adams, Stuart Armstrong (£5.2m) and three of the Saints’ back four were all benched and few of their understudies really impressed in their place, with Hasenhuttl going on to make two changes at half-time.

The Southampton boss said:

It was a disaster in the first half and a very good second half.I think we made the right changes at half time and I think we could have scored five or six times in the second half but we didn’t deserve more because of how we started.

We were a little bit slow in our minds and there was a lack of automatism because of all the changes which is normal. We had to do it because it’s quite tough at the moment.

The hope for Ings owners will be that Saints are back to something near full strength on Sunday to aid him in his push for the Golden Boot, although there is again a turnaround of less than 72 hours between Southampton’s Gameweeks 36+ and 37+ fixtures.

Line-ups

Everton XI (4-4-2): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Holgate (Branthwaite 15′), Digne; Iwobi (Walcott 61′), Gomes, Davies, Bernard (Gordon 61′); Richarlison (Kean 73′); Calvert-Lewin.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-2-1): Reina; El Mohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane; Trezeguet (El Ghazi 63′), Grealish; Samatta (Davis 63′).

Southampton XI (4-2-2-2): McCarthy; Hojbjerg, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Vokins; Romeu (Walker-Peters 46′), Ward-Prowse; Smallbone (Armstrong 78′), Redmond; Obafemi (Adams 46′), Ings.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-1-2): Ryan; Webster, Dunk, Burn; Lamptey (Montoya 68′), Stephens, Propper (Bissouma 68′), March (Mac Allister 76′); Trossard (Gross 76′); Murray (Mooy 59′), Maupay.  

FPL Lessons Learned From Gameweek 36+

392 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Digne > Long this GW? Would give me the spare funds if I want to bring in Dilva and Auba both for 38. Plus Everton have looked rotten defensively and Digne a card magnet.

    1. A19
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep!

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

      I'm bringing Digne in this week 🙂

  2. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Good day everyone.

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Kiko
    Salah KdB Bruno Pulisic
    Rash Vardy Greenwood

    3.9 Fernandez Holgate Guendouzi

    1ft, 0.2itb

    I am chasing and need to risk more. Would you do the following?

    GW37: Vardy + Puli to Ingsy + Dilva for -4

    GW38: Rash to Auba or maybe even Mo to Sterling (depends on my ML situation and still have TC left to play). If I go completly mad I can do both for -4 in GW38.

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

    For a hit:
    Vardy & Foden ->
    A. Ings & Pepe
    B. Auba & Dilva
    C. Ings & Dilva

    Rest of attack:
    KDB sterling martial willian *
    Greenwood jimmy *

    1. A19
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C. But maybe Ings in 37 and Dilva 38? No hit

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

  4. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ings unlucky not to have a premier league medal. Better player than Firmino when he's fit.

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

      Better goalscorer

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

        Debatable that he's just a better goalscorer...Ings is a complete defensive forward with fantastic technique and vision; when he's not endlessly tracking back and breaking up opposition forays, he's spraying passes or retaining possession. Granted Firmino has been there and done it at a higher level than Ings, but the latter is a complete player. By no means just a poacher.

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

      Luck has nothing to do with it. It was his choice to leave.

      Better goalscorer, yes.

  5. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Those comments are encouraging!

    Leaning towards Giroud-> Ings over Wood /Jimenez

  6. Srv210
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Whi h pair looks better for last 2 weeks

    A) Jesus + Antonio
    B) Aubameyang + D.Silva

    1. A19
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

    Which plan?

    1)
    This week: Pulisic > Martial
    Next week: DCL + Doherty > Jesus + Pieters

    2)
    This week: DCL + Doherty > Auba + Pieters
    Next week: Pulisic > Dilva

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1 for me

    2. A19
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1

  8. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Yay or Nay?

    TAA & Nketiah -> Tarkowski & Wood (-4)

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

      You chasing? Are you starting NKetiah?

      1. Prison Mike
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yes chasing, and Nketiah would be benched. Wood would be starting ahead of Pulisic/Greenwood.

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

          If chasing, yes think so

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

      no

  9. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Manager said a few weeks ago that he was gonna play Ings in all remaining games. That's why I got him in. Nothing to beat certainty.

  10. ZakyJ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who do I bench this week?

    Pope Button*
    TAA Lampty Boly Digne Pieters
    Salah Martial Bruno KDB Mahrez
    Jimi Ings Greenwood

    Or do I bench boost this week? (replace Button with Martinez next week)

    1. Netley Lucas
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Digne, Lampty, Greenwood, Button.

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

        That in order? If so why so low on Greenwood?

  11. A19
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which option for 37? Thanks!

    A) Burnley defender + Foden (Dilva in 38)
    B) Baldock + Wood (Foden on the bench)

    Have Henderson in goal

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

    Anyone with a link to Mourinho's comments that Son could be rested?

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

    Ole should really try to convert WanBissaka into a centerback and get someone else to play right back

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Rubbish

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

        He is in attack yes

  14. G Banger
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bench are crocked, only 1FT, GTG?...

    Pope
    TAA Doherty AWB
    Salah Bruno (C) Mahrez KDB
    Vardy Jimmy Greenwood

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

    Anything else needed for the BB? 0.8 itb, 0 FTs

    Will do Foster & Diop -> Pope & Pieters (-4)

    Pope
    Trent Doherty Egan
    KdB Sterling B.Fernandes Martial (c) Pulisic
    Jesus Greenwood

    Henderson Gayle Pieters Stephens

  16. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    GK Pope
    DEF TAA, Lamptey, Doherty.
    MID KDB, Sterling, Bruno(c), Martial
    FWD Ings, Greenwood, Vardy

    Subs (Foster), Pulisic, Azpi, Lascalles.

    Im sitting at 50k

    Mini leagues - the 3 cash leagues im on average about 70/80 points ahead.

    I have free hit left for GW38 but rivals have bench boost left.

    With this in mind, all rivals have jimmy and salah

    So - Vardy and Sterling to Jimmy and Salah to protect my lead? Kinda makes sense.

    Cheers

    1. Jon Snow
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      For a free, do it - Make sure you share your winnings with the class 😉

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

      Selling sterling ahead of Norwich in gw38?

  17. Jon Snow
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who would you drop for Ings, Vardy or Jimenez?

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

      neither this GW

    2. pablo discobar
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy

  18. Poison Apple
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    TAA / Digne / Wan bissaka
    KDB / Dilva / Bruno / Willian / Antonio
    Rash / Jesus

    Injured bench

    A: Doherty
    B: Wood

    Would you play any ahead of willian (or Digne)

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Id play both over digne

  19. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    WC team

    How's that lineup?

    Martinez
    Maguire Tarkowski Long
    Salah(c) Sterling Martial Dilva
    Rashford Ings Wood

    Bench: Fabianski Antonio Toby Tierney

    (BB 38)

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nice team.

  20. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Greenwood and Pulisic
    to
    JRod and Martial for free?

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

      No. Unless greenwood is unlikely to feature

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Better to take out Puli and CTaylor?

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

          Definitely for taylor but it depends on replacements n if u will play them

  21. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have my BB and TC left to use in the final 2 GW's of the season. Planning to use my BB this GW and possibly TC a city asset as home in 38 against Norwich.

    However my bench is looking a bit dire at the moment so Im planning to take a -12.

    Giroud + Aurier* + Azpilicueta + Taylor* -> Wood + Doherty + Pieters + Dunk (-12)

    Leaves me with:

    Pope
    TAA Pieters Doherty
    Sterling Martial Fernandes Foden Salah
    Greenwood Wood

    Martinez Ings Dunk Boly

    Thoughts please

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

      -12 would likely kill most of the bb pts for a sgw. Not for me

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

      TC Silva
      Can keep Aurier - think he'll start

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

      -12!!!

    4. FPL Mentor
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      -12 pretty much makes the BB useless (unless very fortunate and you gain 30+ points)

      I would expect average BB to return around 15-20 points.

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

    Thoughts on Jesus -> Kane for a one week punt?

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

      I wouldn't

  23. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What do with this team? 1FT and playing FH GW38

    Rui 3.9
    TAA Doc Aurier Lascelles 4.0
    Raz KDB Martial Bruno Pulisic
    Jiminez Greenwood Jesus

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Lascelles>Pieters

    2. Old Gregg
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is Aurier available?

      Lascelles > sheff Utd or Burnley

  24. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Why is everyone going for Tarkowski instead of Bardsley or Pieters I don't get it, they are 1M cheaper

    1. FPL Mentor
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Goal threat

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Money doesn't matter now. Most are probably also going to use FH on 38.

  25. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hello,

    One week punt as FH‘ing in 38+.

    A)Woods
    B)Maupay
    C)Jota

    1. FPL Mentor
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  26. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A or B for a hit?

    A. Azpi & Deeney > Pieters & Jiménez (Palace in poor form and have injuries, double BUR defence)

    B. Azpi & Deeney > Tarkowski & Wood (Triple Burnley vs a dreadful Norwich)

    Current team is:

    Pope
    Azpi AWB Doherty
    KDB Sterling Bruno Martial
    Vardy Ings Deeney

    Fodder bench

    1. Old Gregg
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure for a hit.

      B) or just Woods

  27. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How many good captain picks have you made since the restart?

    I've only done it once - Fernandes in GW 33+.

    1. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Only two - Auba in GW32 and Sterling in GW35.

    2. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      30+ is the only time the player I captained got more than 7

    3. Feanor
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      GW 32+ was the worst. I captained Salah who scored 2 points, and had these three guys all haul.

      KDB - 14
      Bruno - 15
      Auba - 16

    4. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Twice I've got 20+ (KDB in 30+, Bruno in 33+)
      4 times I got something, but not much
      1 outright fail

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

      Salah gw25

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

        gah, since restart, kdb gw30

  28. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on what to do here? Will fh next week so am looking for a 1 week punt. 1 ft and 1.3 itb

    Patricio Button
    TAA Doherty Ritchie Holgate Kiko
    Martial Bruno KDB Mahrez Foden
    Vardy Ings Greenwood

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

      Maybe get some Burnley coverage in the back. Lots are going tarkowski. I already had pope so skipped on a Burnley defender and opted to bring in Egan.

      I also don’t think burnley clean sheet is guaranteed. Nothing to play for really, could see a sloppy match where both sides concede.

  29. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is Pieters nailed?

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

      Yes

  30. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez or Son?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Son