Scout Notes

Little to concern defences of Liverpool and Burnley after bore draw at Brighton

Brighton and Hove Albion 0-0 Newcastle United

  • Goals: None
  • Assists: None
  • Bonus: Dan Burn (£4.5m) x3, Lewis Dunk (£4.8m) x2, Mathew Ryan (£4.7m) x1

The two-word album review for Spinal Tap’s Shark Sandwich sprung to mind as Brighton and Hove Albion secured their Premier League safety with a goalless draw against Newcastle United.

Chances of quality were scarce in a desperately poor game that had a whiff of ‘pre-season friendly’ about it, although that was perhaps unsurprising given the frequency of fixtures over the last fortnight, the low stakes (Albion were pretty much already safe anyway) and the absence of a crowd.

Interest in these two teams is limited from a Fantasy perspective, with not one player on show having an ‘effective ownership’ of more than 4% in the top 10,000.

Brighton and Newcastle’s opponents in Gameweek 38+, Burnley and Liverpool, are much more in-demand, however, so this would have been a scouting mission of sorts for owners of Nick Pope (£5.1m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.7m), Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) et al.

On the basis of what we saw last night, there was little to worry FPL managers going big on the Clarets or the Reds – especially at the back.

The Magpies only forced one save out of Mathew Ryan (£4.7m), with the Australia international having to be alert to palm a Miguel Almiron (£5.8m) flick away from goal.

Most of the visitors’ threat came from set plays, with Dwight Gayle (£5.0m) glancing a header over just before half-time and substitute Andy Carroll (£5.4m) nodding an excellent opportunity wide late on.

So long as Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.3m) is fit, then Newcastle pose a danger to any side’s clean sheet and he’ll be the main concern for owners of Liverpool assets this weekend.

The Frenchman recovered from a calf problem to start at the Amex and showed glimpses of his talent but couldn’t do much with what little possession he was afforded, not registering a single shot or key pass.

At the other end of the pitch, Martin Dubravka (£5.1m) saved smartly from Leandro Trossard (£5.8m) and Adam Webster (£4.4m), with the Belgian also hooking a decent chance over in the final quarter of an hour.

A 0-0 was about right, though, and anyone targeting Trossard and Neal Maupay (£5.7m) for this meeting against a patched-up Newcastle defence who were without five recognised centre-halves were left short-changed.

That makeshift backline will be of interest to owners of Salah and Sadio Mane (£12.2m), who will no doubt give it a sterner examination on Sunday.

Danny Rose (£5.3m) and Emil Krafth (£4.3m) played either side of Federico Fernandez (£4.6m) in a back three, with Matt Ritchie (£5.3m) and Javier Manquillo (£4.3m) tasked with wing-back roles.

Steve Bruce said of his side’s display after the match:

Considering the problems we’ve had, I was delighted. The one thing you can’t deny about this group of players is their ability to roll their sleeves up and have a go.

We played two full-backs as centre-backs today and they were terrific. I was delighted with their attitude.

Emil’s got a really sore ankle and did well to carry on, but I think he epitomised the spirit of all them.

Three of Brighton’s backline hoovered up the bonus points, while Tariq Lamptey (£4.1m) has now started six of Albion’s last seven league games and is a budget defensive option going into Gameweek 38+, with Burnley themselves not renowned for scoring an abundance of goals.

The Seagulls may have been put to the sword by the two Manchester clubs and Liverpool recently but against the rest of the top flight, their defensive record is a bit better: Ryan has conceded 26 goals in 25 matches against non-big-six sides, keeping eight clean sheets along the way.


Brighton and Hove Albion XI (4-3-3): Ryan; Lamptey (Duffy 86′), Dunk, Webster, Burn; Bissouma (Propper 73′), Stephens, Mooy (March 58); Gross (Mac Allister 58′), Maupay (Murray 73′), Trossard.

Newcastle United XI (3-5-2): Dubravka; Krafth, Fernandez, Rose; Manquillo, Bentaleb, Shelvey, Almiron (Lazaro 86′), Ritchie; Saint-Maximin (Joelinton 74′), Gayle (Carroll 74′).

Members Analysis

FPL Lessons Learned From Gameweek 37+

1,266 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    WAT: Foster, Kabasele, Dawson, Mariappa, Kiko Femenía, Pereyra, Cleverley, Doucouré, Hughes, Sarr, Deeney
    Subs: Gomes, Masina, Cathcart, Pussetto, Quina, Chalobah, Gray, Welbeck, João Pedro

    MCI: Ederson, Walker, Cancelo, Laporte, Eric García, Rodrigo, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus, Foden
    Subs: Carson, Zinchenko, Otamendi, Stones, Mendy, Fernandinho, Gündogan, David Silva, Mahrez

  2. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Wow wish Id gone through with a City captain now

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

    3/3! Predictable pep!

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

    3/3
    Let's go!

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

    Raz(C) come on !!!

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

      Yesssssss (c) good luck to us!

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

        4 pointer incoming haha

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

    Mahrez dropped after disasterclass of a SF.

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

    My first sub D.Silva is benched. Successfuly predicted Peps player rotation. Where's my medal?

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

    How is Mahrez not starting. **** sake

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

    stay on the bench mahrez you absolute tool

  10. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    David Silva locked in for GW38

  11. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez in for Norwich then

  12. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    hmmm so does jesus and sterling start against norwich ? got both in my FH team

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

    Faaak no Mahrez

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

      Should be good for 38 though which is a positive

  14. supperspout
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kdb almost a differential yet?

  15. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1 city player 🙁

  16. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Man City XI: Ederson; Cancelo, Laporte, Garcia, Walker; De Bruyne, Rodrigo, Foden; B Silva, Jesus, Sterling.

    D Silva and Mahrez on the bench

    #FPL #FantasyPL #FFScout #GW37 #mcfc

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

      Nice, 2 out of 2 and Roddy in my other one.

  17. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Come on Watford

  18. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Goals, goals, goals.

  19. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    YES GET IN!!! Kiko starts

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

      You have him?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Coming on for Saiss...

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

    Huge. Okay. One big obstacle out the way. Sterling starts. Now he just needs to haul.

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

    Mahrez essential for GW 38.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He looks good yes

  22. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling, Jesus, KDB all starting....unexpected but sweet!! 🙂

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

      What was not expected? Fairly predictable, front 3 Vs Norwich will be the same, except mahrez in for foden. Dilva and kdb behind with either ferna or rodri. Hopefully for me mahrez either gets 30+ or nothing.

      1. Krafty Werks
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Personally i expected one of Sterling or Jesus to be rested and to see Mahrez and/or Dilva. Might consider Mahrez now on FH depending on minutes today?

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

    Will take that line up as a D.Silva and Sterling owner.

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Silva to come on in 55th minute

  24. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Dilva and Mahrez gonna be tempting now

    1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Who would you lose from City to accommodate them both ??

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

      Mahrez been terrible past couple he played. He could actually be dropped

  25. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is that mean mahrez over sterling for 38+ ?

  26. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling > Mahrez (c) for free?

  27. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Everyone happy for now....but makes next week a potential headache

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

    So who else captained Sterling??

  29. n14mul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Phew....and breath....my city 3 start...still have the warm up though

  30. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Chances of David silva getting minutes ML rival started him and has Sterling first sub

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

      High - his last away game

      1. Park the bus
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        ah yes that old tradition of giving people a send off in their last away game....

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Last chance to play at Vicarage Road so I think he'll come on