Scout Notes

What to do with Man United’s FPL assets after laboured West Ham draw

Man United 1-1 West Ham

  • Goals: Mason Greenwood (£4.8m) | Michail Antonio (£7.1m)
  • Assists: Anthony Martial (£8.5m) | Declan Rice (£4.7m)
  • Bonus Points: Greenwood x3, Antonio x2, Rice x1, Mark Noble x1 (£4.9m)

Fantasy managers wielding the all-powerful Free Hit chip in Gameweek 38+ may have an easier time shedding their Manchester United players after Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.

The Red Devils are set for a crucial Champions League clash at Leicester on the last day of the season, where they will face an injury-hit backline. Such a fixture had largely kept a number of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men in consideration for Gameweek 38+ squads, but two below-par performances, first in the FA Cup and then against West Ham, could reduce reliance on them for Sunday’s showdown.

In light of Wednesday’s tired display, the 30% ownership of Bruno Fernandes (£9.1m) may well be eyeing up midfield options at Manchester City or the funds to sign Harry Kane (£10.9m) this weekend. The Portuguese international put on one of his most anonymous performances since arriving in Manchester and, despite coming into Gameweek 37+ as the top 10k’s most popular captain choice, never really looked like getting an attacking return.

It is clear Fernandes is starting to suffer from Manchester United’s lack of rotation over the Project Restart period, his outing against West Ham showing just how exhausted he is physically and mentally. The evening could have gone differently for the former Sporting man as Marcus Rashford (£8.9m) curled an excellent ball into the box to match his early advanced run. However, just yards away from the West Ham goal he failed to control the inch-perfect pass and, from then on, it was all down hill for him. In the end, Fernandes’ frustrations boiled over in the second half when he was booked for going forehead-to-forehead with Arthur Masuaku (£4.1m). 

Was that enough to warrant selling him for Gameweek 38+ though? Looking at his 106 points in 13 Premier League matches for Manchester United, we know Fernandes is capable of delivering, especially on the road. In away matches since the Premier League restart, Fernandes has averaged 11 points per game and let’s not forget he hit the post at Crystal Palace too, so that total could have been even higher. Either way, his owners will need significant improvement from him at Leicester if he is to hold his own in a Gameweek 38+ squad.

The same could arguably be said for owners of Anthony Martial (£8.5m), although to slightly less of an extent considering a moment of nice link-up with Mason Greenwood (£4.8m) for the equaliser. Apart from that, the Frenchman was industrious if unspectacular with his efforts on goal but never really looked like scoring. Not only could he have provided more penetrative runs, Martial certainly suffered from the lack of creativity behind him. If United were to put on a similarly fatigued performance at the King Power Stadium, that would surely affect Martial as well.

His case for Gameweek 38+ is not particularly mitigated in the same way as Fernandes, considering he has been less profitable on the road recently. Despite averaging 13.3 points per game at Old Trafford since the Premier League return, but has scored just 4.8 per match away from it.

Rashford has a similar issue ahead of travelling to Leicester on the final weekend. He may have notched a 12-point haul at Crystal Palace but the FPL forward has blanked in every other away match since Gameweek 30+. Typically more reliable at Old Trafford, Rashford was the shadow of his usual energetic self against West Ham, another asset seemingly suffering from physical and mental exhaustion.

He tested Lukasz Fabianski (£4.9m) with an excellent speculative knuckle-ball strike from distance early on, but outside of that could not trouble the goalkeeper and lacked his usual creativity in advanced areas too. Is that enough to warrant transferring him out to make room for some of the more in-demand Gameweek 38+ forward such as Kane or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m)? Perhaps.

As already mentioned, United do look as if they are limping over the Premier League line this season, but the biggest problem against West Ham was the lack of any creative spark, usually stemming from Fernandes and Paul Pogba (£8.3m). Neither one of them impressed at all on Wednesday evening, the latter especially. Not only did he have little to no impact going forward, he lost possession in the middle of the pitch often and it was his mindless lift of the hands towards Declan Rice’s (£4.7m) shot that conceded the penalty that cost United the win.

That goal afforded West Ham the confidence to press their illustrious hosts in all areas of the pitch, ask questions going forward and have the opposite impact on United’s attack. Therefore, it almost goes without saying that Fantasy managers will have a dilemma over Manchester United attacking assets over the next few days. In order for them to appeal to their owners against Leicester, they will have to make improvements in the coming days, even if the Foxes have defensive issues of their own.

Owners of Michail Antonio (£7.1m) are probably experiencing the opposite reaction to the United attackers. Aston Villa’s defensive showing against Arsenal had initially sowed seeds of doubt among the Fantasy community, but his latest display showed once again just how good his form is.

Not only did he cause Manchester United plenty of problems, helping the Hammers achieve a higher expected goals (xG) than their hosts, Antonio appears to have wrestled penalties away from Mark Noble (£4.9m) as it was the out-of-position midfielder who netted the first-half spot-kick. That goal took his total since the restart to eight, making him even harder to ditch for Aston Villa’s visit to the London Stadium.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) are likely to be in two minds ahead of Gameweek 38+. While he missed out on a start for the first time since the restart, the right-back does not look particularly under threat from the man who replaced him in the XI initially. Timothy Fosu-Mensah (£4.5m) began the game in Wan-Bissaka’s place, but was ineffectual in the final third, and gave away the free-kick which led to the penalty. No wonder he went three years without playing for United and got relegated with Fulham last season.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; B Williams, Maguire, Lindelöf, Fosu-Mensah (Wan-Bissaka 46’); Matić, Pogba; Rashford (Ighalo 85’), B Fernandes, Greenwood; Martial.

West Ham United XI (4-5-1): Fabianski; Cresswell (Masuaku 75’), Ogbonna, Diop, Johnson; Fornals, Rice, Noble, Soucek, Bowen (Yarmolenko 90+1’); Antonio (Haller 78’).

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FPL Lessons Learned From Gameweek 37+

2,921 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nightf0x
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Puli or bruno to dsilva ?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      bruno

    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      brunose

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

      Puli

  2. Woy_is_back
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    There´s no way Jimmy doesnt score against this Chelsea defence. How Salah did not score is incredible

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Owning Salah has been dreadful for the past 3 weeks. He has dodged a haul every game.

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, hard to watch as owner. And scores for fun when I dont cpt him

        1. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Same. Tempted to sell out of frustration

          1. Free Hat
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            With New next and the chances hes getting, you just have to bite through the frustration im afraid!

          2. Danstoke82
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I’m very close to selling for Sterling

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

    Any risers or fallers tonight?

    Or can I pull the trigger on FH chip tomorrow?

    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      what is the difference?

      1. Phaze 1
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        why not just do it now?

  4. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on this FH team. Need to go big here. Too template?

    Ederson

    TAA Pieters Egan

    Dilva Sterling Salah Pulisic Bruno

    Greenwood Kane (C)

    Martin Nketiah Tanganga Kliman

    TV low so bench fodder necessary

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

      salah to mahrez
      Greenwood to ings

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Three city already

  5. MGMT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Antonio or Dilva? Already have Sterling + KDB

    1. Nightf0x
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dsila

    2. Woy_is_back
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dilva

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

      Why? 🙁

  6. Boss Hogg
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Auba or Kane?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kane

    2. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kane

    3. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kane

    4. Boss Hogg
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Unanimous.
      Thanks guys.

      1. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Listen to the arsenal fan

    5. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      100% Auba

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        lolz

        1. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          We’ll see.

        2. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          You sure about this chief?

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

    Minamino won double the league titles of Henderson this season.

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

    ML rival smashed his BB this week with a monster 102 points. Now I find myself trailing the league by 20 points going into the final GW.

    I have FH vs his no chips.

    Possible lads?

    1. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes it is but its damn hard pick the right players. I'm in same situ for 2nd see below

    2. Stupendous
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mine too wow!

      Except I'm a solid 50 behind now and it's all over

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        It's not over until it's over.

  9. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So surreal in an empty stadium

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If no one was there to witness it did it really happen?

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

      Awkward student dance floor after closing.

  10. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Okay after Salah(c) fail (for Pulisic i might add ffs) I may settle for 2nd in ML (currently 4th twenty adrift but he has no chips)

    So..
    TAA
    Salad
    Sterling
    Bruno
    Antonio
    Rash
    Ings

    How many would u sell.

    Rival has Kane/Kdb/Martial as his different players also Bruno and Salah.

    1. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I have FH

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I going for at least 5 different players and hope he takes hits by being complacent.

  11. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Feel so sad for the Liverpool players getting the trophy with no fans. 🙁

  12. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bring in Dilva or Antonio?

  13. Bubz
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    This is weird

  14. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A) Foden -> David Silva (bench Greenwood)
    Or
    B) Fernandes, Foden -> Sterling(C), Fodder (Play Greenwood)
    ?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B is for a hit *

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Anyone? Any input is welcome

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I reckon A) or B)

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Thinking the same, cheers

          1. 7shadesofsmoke
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            😀 B

  15. DAZZ
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thinking Digne as a final GW punt? He’s due a goal.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m doing it - brace due

  16. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cant wait for the next season tbh.

    Which player is a definite must for you in your team next season?

    Im going Sterling for now (just because I think man city will be hungry again for a new title)

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

      Staples:
      TAA, KDB, Salah, Pope and probably Bruno
      Potentials:
      Martial, Puli, Jimi, Ings, VVD/Robbo

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

        I'll probably try to have one premium spot I can switch about so they wont be a staple, but 12mil or whatever so I can move around on Kane, Auba, Kun, Sterling based on form.

    2. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ziyech. And yes i know he hasnt played a minute in PL. Dude will be on every possible dead ball, probably bpa magnet

    3. Babit1967
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      KDB, Bruno, Taa, One of Sterling Or Salah, One of Auba : Kane

      Potentials

      Foden, Pulisic, Robbo, Richarlison ( reckon will have a good season )

    4. Babit1967
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Actually stick Werner in there

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        A nailed Chelsea striker in that team would be golden indeed

        1. Babit1967
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah can see him being a hit straight away, also since it’s our ten in a row season I’m gonna pick Tierney and Armstrong as fifth mid lol

  17. Stupendous
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Soulless and inhuman really

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

      Because he didn't bring Lallana on?

    2. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bit of a harsh review of the article, but not the worst he's had.

    3. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      you watch my webcam w*nk?

  18. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best Defender and GK with 10.1 M
    I have : Martinez - Doherty - Alonso - Maguire & Egan
    And play BB

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Get some Burnley players in

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Pope or Defender or Both ?

  19. Boss Hogg
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any defender worth a hit?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not really unless you are sure they keep a CS and get BPS or an attacking return

    2. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nah

  20. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    MCI assets in the team: KDB DSilva Jesus ... who to drop for Sterling? If Jesus will need to loose Bruno/Martial/Salah ...

    1. Nightf0x
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bruno

    2. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jesus and lose Bruno

  21. Nightf0x
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Martinez
    Taa long bardsley (lascels sais)
    Puli bruno mane kdb raz
    Gren jimi (rash)

    Chasing ML 16 pts, he have FH i have TC, plan was puli to dsilva, want kane/auba but cant fit without a -8

  22. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    2FT 0.3 ITB

    McCarthy
    TAA-Doherty-O'Connell
    Salah-Bruno-KDB-Pulisic-Foden
    Jesus-Rashford

    Henderson-Greenwood-Taylor-Lamptey

    A) Foden, Doherty to DSilva, Pieters
    Or
    B) Fernandes, Jesus to DSilva, Kane

  23. That Was Easy!
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any chance I swing a 30-pt gap next week? (I am playing BB)

    Them...
    Patricio
    Gomez
    KDB / Sterling / Bruno
    Jimmy / Greenwood

    Me...
    Henderson
    Doherty
    Mane / D Silva
    Rashford / Vardy / Ings
    +
    McCarthy, Soucek, Stephens, Pieters

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

      Captain Dilva and pray! 🙂

      30pt is a huge gap for one gw though, best of luck!

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I’ve seen a fifty point gap made up on the last day.

    2. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Better if u do it this wk imo 🙂

  24. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Weird question, but rather?

    A) Martinez & Pulisic
    B) Bavies & Greenwood

    Basically in A id have pieters, and B i'd have pope.

    1. That Was Easy!
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Like A

    2. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  25. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A) Martial and Dilva
    B) Bruno and Antonio

    1. That Was Easy!
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial and Antonio for me

    2. JBG
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

        Ta!

  26. The Hobbit
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lots of questions about catching ML rivals. I suggest picking differential captain. Everyone on FH will captain Sterling, also many people will take hits to buy and cap him. Thats how fpl masses work, especially this season. If you nail different captain you will get so much ground. If not - you were behind anyway. 😉

    I have Sterling but thinking about captaining Son or Mahrez to catch 11 points difference in my ml.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tried going Salah this week and it failed massively. 1 goal and I'd be so much closer. He could have had a massive haul tonight

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Could he do? Didn't see the game and all I heard on here was he gave it away constantly.

        I got Salah in especially to capt to close a cap too and it's further behind I went.

  27. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Not sure which more sad. Celebration in empty stadium or new Merseyside cluster in two weeks.

  28. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Pieters Braithwaite (Williams Thomas)
    Sterling Silva Son Martial Antonio
    Kane Auba (Greeny)

    GTG?

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yep. Sterling(C) ?

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Probs

  29. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A) KDB+Bruno to Dilva+Sterling -4
    B) KDB+Jimenez to Dilva+Kane -4
    C) Pulisic to Dilva for free
    D) Vardy to Kane for free

    1. Adamdashi
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I've done c) and strongly considering d) for a hit...

      Wouldn't get rid of Jimi with Chelsea's lack of defence.

  30. Nightcrawler
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    No team has conceded as many as chelsea have this season and finished in top4 in the history of premier league wow

    1. tambourineman
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Norwich 1992-93?

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rednapps spurs?