Scout Notes

Who will start for Man City in Gameweek 38+ after win at Watford?

Watford 0-4 Manchester City

  • Goals: Raheem Sterling x2 (£11.9m), Phil Foden (£5.5m), Aymeric Laporte (£6.3m)
  • Assists: Kyle Walker (£5.6m), Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m)
  • Penalties missed: Sterling
  • Penalties saved: Ben Foster (£4.9m)
  • Bonus Points: Sterling x3, Foster x2, Walker x2

Raheem Sterling (£11.9m) has all but cemented himself in Free Hit squads for Gameweek 38+ with his latest double-figure haul.

The premium midfielder’s 20.1% ownership got exactly what they wanted in the big win over Watford, as Sterling secured three attacking returns in a scintillating display and came off just after the hour-mark too.

Between the massive haul and rest time Pep Guardiola was able to give him, Sterling already looks likely to be a relatively sure starter when Norwich come to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

There was already plenty of interest in the Englishman before this latest Premier League outing, his score at Watford the fifth double-digit haul from a possible eight since the restart, but he has also added another feather to his cap. Penalties.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m) has been the spot-kick taker for Manchester City since solving the club’s issues from 12 yards in February.

However, it appears that Sterling’s late charge for the Premier League Golden Boot award might have influenced the pecking order, with the Englishman taking the penalty against Watford which he won. Admittedly, he saw his effort saved by Ben Foster (£4.9m) but was savvy enough to bury the rebound.

“I seen I was on, I scored the first one and knew I was on 18, I knew if I got the second one and I was on the pitch for 90 I knew I had another chance of getting a hat-trick. So I wanted to try and get a hat-trick today but it didn’t happen but I’m really happy with the two goals. A winger to score 20 in the Premier League is a great achievement, we have one more game left and hopefully, I can do it then.” – Raheem Sterling

While Sterling has been involved in eight of Manchester City’s last 16 goals, De Bruyne has had a direct hand in just two, the latest an assist for Aymeric Laporte‘s (£6.3m) headed effort on Tuesday evening.

However, the Belgian was certainly unfortunate not to come away with a bigger score at Watford.

Just before half-time, Bernardo Silva (£7.6m) got to the dead-ball line and cut the ball back for De Bruyne, who was arriving at the back post, but he could only hook it high and wide under pressure from the defence.

The two players swapped roles after the break, De Bruyne pouncing on a loose ball from a Foster save, squaring to Bernardo, who could not find the target.

Then, on the hour-mark, the Belgian won a free-kick in a prime position on the edge of the box. Stepping up, De Bruyne always looks like scoring direct efforts from this sort of range and he went incredibly close against Watford, finding the top corner perfectly, only for Foster to produce a fantastic stop.

De Bruyne would have also received the assist for a Sterling in the second half, were it not rebounded to Foden to convert.

While Sterling was able to get on and off with just over 60 minutes to his name, owners of Gabriel Jesus (£9.9m) might be a little more concerned ahead of Gameweek 38+.

The Brazilian striker, who was arguably a little unfortunate to blank at Watford as a late goal was ruled out for offside, has now played 90 minutes in each of the last two matches in all competitions. That fact, combined with Sterling’s managed minutes at Vicarage Road, could see Jesus drop out of the starting XI against Norwich, especially as his English counter-part can play the centre-forward role and is potentially on a late charge for the Golden Boot.

Similarly, De Bruyne and Phil Foden (£5.5m) also lasting the entirety of the Watford perhaps concerning their respective owners, especially in light of Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m) and David Silva (£7.4m) earning rests in Gameweek 37+. The Algerian came on for Sterling for the last half-hour, while Silva, ahead of a Premier League finale against Norwich was an unused substitute. A start on the last day of the league campaign looks even more assured now, and the Spaniard has double-figure hauls in each of his two most recent home matches.

Silva has played alongside De Bruyne recently, but 90 minutes in each of the last two in all competitions could be enough for Guardiola to consider benching the Belgian.

Foden’s case is harder to assess, especially after he stole in to convert Sterling’s rebounded shot in the second half. Manchester City’s number 47 got his rest in the FA Cup semi-final, playing just 24 minutes of the defeat to Arsenal and has started all but one home Premier League match since the return of football.

With Jesus also getting sufficient game-time to place a question mark over his starting berth, there is a chance the Manchester City front-three could feature Sterling as the spearhead, leaving room for Mahrez and Foden either side.

Anyone looking to Guardiola’s defence for the final Gameweek of the season were given a helping hand by the Manchester City manager.

After he had found the net in the second half, Laporte was handed a brief resting period at the end of the Watford win, replaced by John Stones (£5.3m) in the 74th minute. 

That should see the premium centre-back start against Norwich, who have conceded more goals from set-plays than any other side this season…

“Laporte had a tough tough injury important player for us a lot of time out. a big guy, needed more time to regain condition. today was one of the best games he has played int he last month.” – Pep Guardiola

Watford XI (4-3-3): Foster; Femenía, Dawson, Kabasele, Mariappa; Hughes, Doucouré (Chalobah 82′), Cleverley; Pereyra (Masina 87′), Deeney (Welbeck 67′), Sarr.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Laporte (Stones 74′), Garcia, Walker (Zinchenko 64′); De Bruyne, Rodrigo, B Silva; Sterling (Mahrez 64′), Jesus, Foden.

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FPL Lessons Learned From Gameweek 37+

1,882 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jesus to Wood/Giroud, and KDB to Sterling for -4?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  2. Captain Scarlet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Seriously considering a -8 to be able to bring in both Kane and Sterling. I’ll be triple captaining one of them. Currently top of my ML by a small margin but I feel that with others likely to play the Free Hit it may be worth playing the -8. Would lose KDB, Vardy and either Willian or DCL as an enabler.

    Current team:

    Patricio (Martin)
    Pieters TAA Aurier (AWB Simpson) Fernandes Martial KDB Silva Willian
    Vardy Jesus (DCL)

    1 FT
    0.1

  3. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kane and Ings or Jesus and Rashford?

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      First one

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Former

      1. Will J 256
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks very much.

    3. Moose™
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      First one would be the majority imo

  4. Neo-Viper
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Out : Auba Bruno Antonio
    In: Wood Martial Mane

    Worth?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not loving it, not hating it

      1. Neo-Viper
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Went ahead, came back.

        didn't help.

    2. Moose™
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Lol.. Like a lateral moves imo.. All have potential!

  5. Moose™
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A. Bruno Branthwaite

    B. Martial Lamptey

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      b

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

    Not sure how to spend 1FT here. Possible transfers Martial to Dilva or get a Burnley def if Taylor is out. Toughts?

    Martinez
    TAA Doherty Lamptey
    Salah KDB Sterling Fernandes Martial
    Ings Greenwood

    3.9 Nketia Taylor Holgate 0.0ITB

  7. XX SMICER XX
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which two would you pick to complete the below Free Hit team:

    A. Walker, Bruno
    B. BDavies, Mahrez

    Pope
    TAA, Pieters, XXX
    Sterling, DSilva, Martial, XXX
    Auba, Kane, Ings

    Button, Williams, Tanganga, Guendouzi

    1. Bank$y
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

  8. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Screw Auba, wanted villa down but he's failed me so out of my FH... Gtg?

    Pope
    Laporte Pieters Long
    Dilva Sterling Salah Son Antonio
    Wood Kane
    (Martin, Gwood, Lamptey, Williams)

    1. Moose™
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No Utd coverage.. But solid otherwise..

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Tight game vs Leicester and need to risk it. All highly owned

  9. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hi guys. Hope you are all having a great gameweek so far. Nearly there for my free hit. Just wondering if it is ready to go?
    Martinez,
    Van Dijk, Pieters, Aurier
    Mane, Sterling, Martial, D Silva, Antonio
    Kane Ings
    Subs: Button, Nketiah, Lamptey. B Williams

    0.3 off salah!

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

    Play DCL or Nketiah? Captaining Auba

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

      Nketiah

  11. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1. Auba/Garcia for Doherty/Jimenez (4pt hit)
    2. Ederson for De Gea

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

    Ok how's this for a NON FH...

    Patricio
    TAA Tarkowski Aurier
    Salah Sterling Silva KDB Antonio
    Ings Wood

    Martin Doherty Connolly Holgate

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No United players in my league (City leagues)

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

        Looks solid, Doc great 1st sub.

        1. Stupendous
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Sterling captain? Feels like chasing tbh. Mind has set on Silva all week

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

            Think Dilva will score at least one but Sterling wants a bunch, he’ll be looking for another hat-trick at least

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

              That said, I chase captained last week for his 1 pointer... crying.

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

              Yep

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

    Guys, need your opinions on my FH team please;

    Pope (button)
    TAA, Cresswell, Pieters, (5.2, Williams)
    Salah, Sterling, Bruno, Dilva (Guendo)
    Kane, Jesus, Ings

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

    I need a MEGA haul from TAA tomorrow.

    I mean brace and assist and clean sheet and 8 bonus!

    Promising?

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

      Errr nah

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

        TAA my 1st sub for Saiss no show so just hoping for a clean sheet

  15. spamking
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Tark Egen
    Sterling Dilva KDB. Martial Bruno
    Ings Rashford (Wood)

    a). KDB + Bruno > Salah + Antonio. (-4)
    b) Bruno (or kdb) + Ings > Kane + Antonio (-4).
    c) Bruno to Son (no hit)

    Leading private league by 10 points, rival has FH

  16. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    triple BUR defence too risky when slightly leading ML?

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      My rival just got 24 pts from them.

      Wish I had 3 tbh

    2. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Do it

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

      High reward but high risk v Brighton, one slip or a pen and it’s gone. I’d split the difference and just double up.

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

    Pulisic+Jimenez to Dilva+Kane for -4?

    Basically is Jimenez to Kane worth a -4?

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yea

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

      Yes

  18. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which combo scores more in GW38? :

    Henderson + Pieters
    Martinez + AWB

    1. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A) Pieters

      Both GKs will concede

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

      Henderson + Pieters

  19. Nedvěd11
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sorry for repot, but what to do with boly, doherty vs pulisic in Gw38:

    A) Doherty —> Robbo
    B) Boly —> Tark/BDavies
    C) Pulisic —> Antonio

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B Tarkowski

  20. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which Man City DEF would you bring in for GW 38?

    1. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If I had a free slot: Laporte

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

      Definitely Laporte

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

      Richard Dunne

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

    KDB or Mahrez?

    1. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      KDB for me..

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

      KDB

  22. LloristheHounds
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Option A)
    KDB, Saiss, armstrong
    Dilva, aurier, son - 8 hit

    Or

    Option B)
    Jesus, Saiss, pulisic
    Kane, aurier, Dilva - 8hit

    Or

    Option C)
    Saiss, aurier for free

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B, but you don't need Aurier for a hit

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

        Don't really want to play Saiss vs chelsea, also he may not even play like last gw and I have no other defenders fit

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

          I'd be playing alonso, AWB, Saiss if that was the case

          1. Werner Bremen
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Oh yes then, do it!

  23. Moose™
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which team has higher chance to win ML?

    A. 17 points lead (Mane Willian Greenwood to play) + FH chip

    B. No other players left (except similar players) + 1 FT + BB chip

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A by a long shot imo

      1. Moose™
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Need to maximise my FH chip then!

        1. Stupendous
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Yea

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

          I REALLY REALLY wish I still had it to seal the deal. No looking back. I'm gonna need to spend I think to seal my league.

          Odd tactic.

          1. Moose™
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            If the hits are worth it.. Why not..

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

      A more likely.

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

    Despereraly need Martial blank vs WHU.

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

      RETWEET

  25. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Would you go for Jesus, Salah and Robbo or Kane, Mane and VVD?

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

      Both class but first one edged it for me

  26. otisss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    WHO TO TRIPLE CAPTAIN?!

    A) SALAH
    B) DILVA
    C) KDB

    IMPORTANT DECISION. MONEY ON THE LINE. THANKS.

    1. Will J 256
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Out of those I like salah but D Silva could be a nice option in his final game !

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

        Nice one buddy, I agree. Can see everyone giving him the ball to score on his last game

    2. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

  27. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Would you rather have Martial or Bruno for GW 38?

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

      Bruno

      1. Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Brunou

  28. ㅤRising
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Martial or Dilva ?

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dilva

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

      Martial

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

    Aurier or Gomez?

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  30. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Do we think Jesus and KDB will start?

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

      KDB yes
      Jesus 50/50