Scout Notes

Nine shut-outs in 13 games for Wolves as Palace are hit by fresh defensive injury

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Crystal Palace

  • Goals: Daniel Podence (£4.9m), Jonny (£5.5m)
  • Assists: Matt Doherty (£6.5m), Raul Jimenez (£8.1m)
  • Bonus: Doherty x3, Podence x2, Jonny x1

Matt Doherty (£6.5m) bagged his sixth double-digit haul of the season and moved within one point of Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) in the Fantasy Premier League points table after a typical slow-burner of a display from Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.

Wolves have made a habit out of indifferent starts and strong second-half performances and their latest victory over Crystal Palace was no different.

The hosts had registered only two shots on goal in the opening 40 minutes against the Eagles, with the visitors going closest to scoring when Jeffrey Schlupp (£5.4m) whistled a shot narrowly wide of Rui Patricio‘s (£5.3m) left-hand post.

Joao Moutinho (£5.3m), Doherty and goalscorer Daniel Podence (£4.9m) combined beautifully for the deadlock-breaking strike, however, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side never looked back from that point on, turning in a silky display after the break that culminated in a goal for Jonny (£5.5m).

The Wolves boss echoed that assessment, saying:

Two different halves, it felt much better in the second half, I think we played better. In the first half, I think we should have moved the ball faster. We had a lot of lost possession of the ball that allowed counter-attacks and chances to Palace, so that made the team a bit unstable.

In the second half, what we did better, we were more organised, we won more second balls and we were more threatening in our attack, with more possession of the ball. We had good combinations and good chances.

Jimenez claimed the (fortuitous) assist for Jonny’s goal after a sliced effort of his own and that 24th attacking return of the season was enough to move him into second in the FPL forwards’ standings, just eight points off the magic 200-mark.

He seldom looks like producing a monster score (he only has one double-digit haul to his name in 2020) but the consistency of appearances and returns makes up for it, with the Mexican striker never registering more than three successive blanks this season or last.

While Podence, Adama Traore (£5.6m), Pedro Neto (£4.9m) and Diogo Jota (£6.0m) continue to share pitch-time around him, Jimenez has started 36 of Wolves’ 37 league matches this season.

He may still be a sacrificial lamb in many Gameweek 38+ Free Hit squads but it’s been another phenomenal season for the Mexico international, who, given his track record against the ‘big six’, could still very easily find the back of the net at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

This latest win was again built on a solid defensive showing.

Some early-game wobbles slowly gave way to a more assured display at the back, with Willy Boly (£4.9m) in superlative form after a rare error that led to Schlupp’s chance.

It’s a well-worn stat but it’s no coincidence: Wolves have kept 12 clean sheets in 21 games with Boly in the side and just one shut-out in the other 16 matches without him.

Doherty and Jonny evoked memories of 2018/19 by supplementing their clean sheets with attacking returns, and now Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.8m) is the only FPL defender who has more of those than the Ireland international (12 – four goals, eight assists) this season.

Rui Patricio‘s (£5.3m) owners would have enjoyed their evenings, too, with the Portugal international making his third and final stop – and thus collecting an extra FPL point – deep into second-half injury time.

Romain Saiss (£4.8m) missed out on the points bonanza, however, with Santo indulging in some more low-key rotation and benching the Moroccan for the first time this calendar year.

For Palace, this was almost a repeat of their Gameweek 36+ display against Manchester United in that they battled manfully and had a few half-decent openings but were ultimately outclassed by a better side.

With interest in their Fantasy assets low (none of their starters had an ‘effective ownership’ over 0.2% in the top 10,000 of FPL), their chief role on the final day will be in providing opposition to Spurs and their in-form attacking assets.

This was Palace’s seventh defeat on the spin and they have conceded more goals and big chances than any other team in that time, although the calibre of opposition has to be factored in.

Already without the injured Gary Cahill (£4.4m), Patrick van Aanholt (£5.6m) and James Tomkins (£5.0m), the Eagles lost Mamadou Sakho (£5.0m) to a muscle injury on Monday, with Roy Hodgson turning to midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate (£4.9m) – and not Martin Kelly (£4.1m) – to deputise at centre-half.

For those looking at Harry Kane (£10.9m) or Son Heung-min (£9.7m) next weekend, Palace’s patched-up back four – which included youngster Tyrick Mitchell (£4.0m) at left-back – weren’t particularly overrun or stretched but did concede further presentable opportunities to Traore and Podence in the second half.

Hodgson said of Mitchell’s full Premier League debit:

I’m full of praise for his [Mitchell’s] performance. I thought he was excellent today and he must be delighted to have got through that game as he did, albeit on the wrong end of a [losing] scoreline.

I don’t think he could have done any better than he did and I don’t think I can say his playing instead of Patrick van Aanholt was the difference between us winning and losing.


Wolves XI (3-4-3): Patricio, Dendoncker, Coady, Boly, Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny, Traore (Neto 81′), Jimenez, Podence (Jota 72′).

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita, Ward, Dann, Sakho (Kouyaté 23′), Mitchell, Townsend, McArthur, McCarthy, Schlupp (Riedewald 72′), Zaha, Ayew.

Members Analysis

FPL Lessons Learned From Gameweek 37+

1,100 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    City linep today will be make or break for which assets start in 38.

    I have a feeling Sterling starts today and benched in 38 with Jesus getting his turn.

    If Foden does not start today then 38 he will.

    So if this scenario pans out I will then do Sterling to Foden, keep Dilva and Jesus and bring in Kane for Greenwood for -4.

    Patrico
    TAA Dunk Doherty
    Salah Foden Dilva Fernandes Martial
    Jaysus Kane

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Think I'm keeping Foden regardless.

      Norwich is doomed

    2. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      There's plenty of rest between now and the Norwich game, I think people are overthinking it a little.

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

      30 minutes off the bench for Sterling against Norwich last game of season could still be tasty!

      1. NABIL - FPL otai
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        *Foden 😉

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Don’t put too much in today’s line up. Pep wants everybody to play during the last 2 matches and have in total 10 subtitutes to do. So most will play +\- half games even if they start or not

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

        this is what concenrsme with Dilva captain. What about if he only gets a short time. actually concerns me over any city attacker. Might just go Auba if gets a goal or 2 tonight and is closer to the GB

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

    Just in case you didn't hear the news, Jimenez became a father last night.

    1. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Does this mean he's good to get a hat-trick v Chelsea on Sunday?

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

        You never know, fatherhood affects people in different ways. 😀

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

        Well it took Vardy 8 weeks to score 1.

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Congrats to him and his partner!

    3. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He keeps on scoring 😉

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

        The baby will steal the 2 baps though.

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

      That's one slot filled in my 2038/39 GW1 draft.

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

        Good forward thinking. I presume they will have FPL for the women's league by then.

        He had a baby daughter. 😀

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

      He'll be knackered and probably start on bench. Will need a nap before he comes on

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

      VAR checking for any foul play leading up to the goal.

    7. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Millionaire bloke has a baby = no effect whatsoever on sleep, tiredness, etc.
      He'll just be happier than normal.

  3. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sorry, was on lunch, missed replies; Hey everyone, some of you may have seen my endeavors to take a -12 last week for a late chase on BB. The outcome was I was one point off where I started the GW. So not a huge success. Here is the current situation;

    ML1 - 1st = £300, 2nd = £150, 3rd = £80
    1st - 2167 with; Trent, AWB, Foden, Bruno (c), KDB, Salah with Fernandez off bench for 6
    2nd - 2138 with; Robbo, Martial, KDB, Dilva, Auba (c)
    3rd (me) - 2134 with Trent, AWB, Foden, Bruno (c), KDB, Mane* and Greenwood

    So with 40 points (including Fernandez off the bench) it's a game of Mane and Greenwood vs Salah to chase 1st and it's going to come down to Bruno (c) v Auba (c) against 2nd!

    Can I do it in the last week?!

  4. Rhysd007
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else done a spreadsheet to re-simulate their Head 2 Head league?! Not having a virtual coin toss decide our one!

    1. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Don't you do it on goals scored?

  5. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have no United in my FH and 3 City players at the mo.

    So should I go for Martial instead of Jesus?

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Wait until this GW is over to decide.

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

    How on earth are Bournemouth only getting 35 mill for Ake when the likes of Bissaka go for 50?! On top of the ridiculous fees they pay for shoddy pool players with no experience whoever is doing their negotiations needs sacking.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dammit wanted Ake at Spurs 🙁

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think we'll see lower fees in general because of COVID, there were reports of Bournemouth wanting around the same as VVD and Maguire when the latter moved but clubs have lost a lot of money since and some won't be able to afford to hold out.

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A few reasons I guess.
      -Bou need to sell, probably can't afford to hold out for higher price and risk not selling.
      -Covid-19 pandemic probably means all transfer fees will be down across the board.
      -AWB is English. English players often have an inflated transfer fee. If Ake was English I reckon his fee would be higher.

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

      Because AWB is a better player with higher potential maybe?

      Ake isn't too bad but he's been part of a defence who's been conceding loads, no one is going to pay more than that for him until he proves in a different team that the problem lied entirely with rest of the defenders in Bournemouth and not with him.

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

    Does anyone think we get any last minute team news in 38 and anything that can be trusted. How many are waiting to last minute for anything?

    My concern is there will be so many untrusted sources it will be mayhem!

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

      Top tip for GW38 - Don't listen to any rumours. Shut down your device until the deadline has passed.

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

        seriously thinking the same. Doing my transfers an hour or so before hand and not logging on!

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Some sources are reliable, looking at Cory team news is pretty vital.
      And Arsenal.
      That said I think it’s bad sportsmanship to have access to this info in the final GW

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

        whats the cory team news?

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

        It doesn't seem fair, but then again if you have the FH why not take advantage of the situation. I have no FH by the way but still think managers are going to get their fingers burnt if the change their teams based on last-minute rumours.

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I had it once where I had Kun and switched to Jesus because Jesus was starting. Kun subbed on for a brace I think -_-

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

    A) Pope.+ VVD
    B) Martinez + Robbo
    On FH and Have Pieters

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B imo

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

    Bringing in Mané or Salah for week 38 + as captain. Needing as differential to try and chase ML leader ( and he has Sterling Aubameyang and will captain one of them). Thinking Mané possibly better option away from home. Which would you choose?

    A Mané
    B Salah

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

      A but who for?

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

        That’s the problem...... has to be Sterling so big call!

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

          not sure on that! Whats is your team and what is his? whats the points gap?

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

      B

  10. AiAiCaptain
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Depending on games yet to play for this gw, I think I'm settled on this team for FH38+. Thoughts? 0.0itb.

    Martinez
    Bardsley Pieters Robertson
    Salah Sterling Dilva Martial Antonio
    Jesus Kane
    Subs: Nketiah Branthwaite B Williams

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

      looks great, good to go

  11. rohan
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Do you think this team can hold off a 30 point lead against a FH team (that FH team would have Auba and Kane)

    Henderson

    TAA. Egan. Tarkowski

    Salah. Bruno. Martial. Dilva. KdB

    Ings. Wood

    Subs- Greenwood, Lamptey, Lund

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Should do.
      If you are worried then take a 4 point hit to bring in Auba or Kane as captain, but I think you are fine as it is.

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

      Probably. You have most of the template FH already.

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

      Cheers gents

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

    Best option for FH GW38+ :-

    3-4-3 with Ings as 3rd striker
    3-5-2 with Antonio 5th midfielder

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ings for me.

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

    Sterling less than 30% Top 10k EO

    Could do with a haul from the wee man tonight

    So knowing Pep - he probably gets 1 minute & a yellow card for 0 points

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

      Would be nice, you got the armband on him ?

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

        Actually Captained Rash - but a Raheem haul would still be welcome with tat type of EO should give a nice little OR pop

  14. Avo24
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    Laporte egan digne
    Martial bruno kdb son
    Kane jimmy rash

    2 FT. What should I do? Really need help to break to 10k and catch 20 points mini league.
    Thinking switch jimmy to d.silva or downgrade kdb to silva and jimmy to jesus. Which one better or do u have any suggestion?