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. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    G2G?

    Pope
    TAA Aurier Pieters
    Mane Mahrez KDB Fernandes Foden
    Wood Kane (C)

    Subs: Jiminez, Doherty, Lascelles

  2. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sorry for such a bore of a question but pick 1.

    Long
    Bardsley
    Pieters
    E.Garcia

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pieters

    2. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pieters or Garcia

  3. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Bardsley + Ings
    B) TAA + Greenwood

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

  4. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So what’s our beat bet at early team news this week?

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      *best

  5. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What time are price changes happening atm?

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      02:30.

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks

  6. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Interesting, I thought. Braces and hat tricks for gw38 that past 10 years.
    Auba, Mane last year.
    Kane, Vardy the year before.

    Source: https://twitter.com/Rover_FPL/status/1286060695428243461

  7. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bottomed! Who would you sell?

    A. Bruno
    B. Pulisic

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A if any

    2. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic looks like peak Hazard, but shoots more. Bruno looks exhausted.

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

        Eh? Puli nowhere near peak Hazard after a good 30mins display

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

      I have the same dilemma. Was set on selling Pulisic but difficult to sell him after that performance. Still leaning towards him though; Wolves is just really good defensively.

    4. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Difficult one - Bruno looked poor and tired but is on most set pieces. Pulisic was brilliant when he came on but up against a tight Wolves defence. Probably Bruno

    5. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A defo

    6. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      A

    8. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B as Bruno has better ppg and an easier fixture.

    9. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers everyone

  8. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Chasing 25 points in cash ML. I need some thoughts on the transfer suggestions below. Midfield is a stalemate!

    a. Foden to D Silva
    b. KDB and Jimenez to D Silva and Auba (-4) Not convinced with the Auba pick.
    c. Foden and KDB to D Silva and Antonio (-4)

    My team
    1ft 2.5itb and no chips
    Pope Martinez
    TAA Doherty Saiss Aurier Taylor
    Martial KDB Bruno Sterling Foden
    Jimenez Ings Wood

    ML Leader - 1ft 0.7itb and no chips
    Hendo Martinez
    TAA Boly Egan Targett Tarkowski
    Martial KDB Bruno Sterling Hayden
    Jimenez Kane Greenwood

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

      1. Don't take a hit
      2. Captain someone he doesn't own (ideally Mane or Salah, but don't think you can get them without losing Sterling)
      3. Cross your fingers and hope!

  9. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    One more 4.3 defender slot to fill, would you go for:

    A) Long (BRI) would be 3x Burnley defense
    B) Diop (AVL)
    C) Konsa (whu)

    Thanks!

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A. In for a penny.....

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      A

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

    Pulisic or Antonio on free hit?

    1. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic

  11. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    wow, so Swansea win 4-1, and Forest lose 4-1... they end up on the same points with 1 goal goal difference...

    mental fine margins, but why they hell arent forest keeping it tight - any forest fans must be sick, been in the play off spots all season

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

      Seriously what happened with them? How did they manage that? Wasn’t even against a top team by championship standards.

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

        I know... Stoke didnt even need to win

      2. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        bottled it, simple

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pressure. It got to them.

    3. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Get your money on Stoke walking the title next season.

    4. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pressure, we bottled it as well!

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

        And the 4th goal was an OG in the 96th minute

        1. Danno - Emre Canada
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Crazy, Far East betting scam. Stoke also done us up last game

  12. SUPER MOKH
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    82pts all out. Phewww

  13. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Assuming Foden is benched, would you do Foden, DCL, Bruno to Greenwood, Dilva, Mahrez (-8)?

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

      Bruno might look tired but selling him involving a -8 is madness.

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

      Bruno to Dilva (c) looks good enough

  14. GE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KDB equal to Henry’s assist-record right?
    Foden felt bad when he missed a goal for a potential KDB-assist against Watford.

    For me Sterling and Dilva is nailed from City, but if Pep wants KDB to break the record he should be nailed right?

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

      I think so.

    2. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pep doesn't care about personal "goals" and said so in the post match interview this evening. He said something like we finished way behind the champions and I am disappointed with that and I hope the players are too rather than thinking on personal goals.

  15. Ashleyajolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Bruno out Sterling,

    B) Or take a hit to get rid of Willian/Doherty for Sterling & Pieters.

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

    Long and Pulisic or Bardsley and Antonio?

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Coin toss
      Pulisic looked v dangerous so possibly A. If wait for team news to get long though, just in case Ben Mee is fit

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

    Which looks best please? thanks.

    a) diop - bardsley - pieters - Mahrez - Auba - Kane - Ings (3/4/3)
    B) diop - bardsley - pieters - KDB - Martial - Kane - Ings (3/5/2)
    C) Pieters -Aurier - Digne - Mahrez - Martial - Kane - Ings (3/5/2)

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

        thanks mate

  18. Mweene
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start:

    A. Fernandes

    B. Jimenez

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  19. mlm
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Son or bruno?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Son

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Son

  20. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling -4 or Dilva for free

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      David

    2. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I would actually consider Sterling -4 tbh. You could easily see him getting a hattrick against Norwich

  21. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I'm amazing, 68 points behind my ml leader 2 gwks ago, now 23 points clear 🙂

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

      You shyt, I'm the opposite guy! Not literally but same situation (worse actually).

      There have been some horses you had to back after restart, which I was just not on

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm amazing

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I was 269 pt behind at christmas. Now 88 clear. I’m amazing too. Still got a sh1te or though. 😉

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Your Amazing

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

      He /she must be fuming

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

      should have listened to you on sterling captain over martial that 12 points would have sent me top of my mini league going in level on points now to the final day.

      although i did see u bricking it yesterday on if sterling would get the start

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah i was nervous

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

    Anyone considering Son ahead of Kane on FH?

    1. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Has to be Kane

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kane only. In great form. No kane, lots of pain.

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

    Ings or Greenwood for the final day? Free hit by the way!

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

      Greenwood

  24. GE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Auba or KDB?

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kdb

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

    The thing that's bothering me, fellow fantasists, is that a few weeks ago we were all of the belief that GW38 should purely be about teams and players that have something to play for. I have my FH activated and I'm happy to have it, but the defining thought a few weeks ago was that, statistically, it's a unique GW and we should use it to target the motivated.

    I'm massively concerned about Liverpool v Newcastle. They'll have had a few beers (Mo and Sadio notwithstanding) and they were sluggish the game after they got the title, and they're away from home with nothing at stake, and Newcastle have nothing at stake, and ... isn't this exactly the kind of fixture we were supposed to be avoiding? Or is it a case of Newcastle being so rubbish defensively post re-start that they simply won't be able to blank?

    I'm torn. I have room for Salah, but he was all over the shop this evening.

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

      Same thinking.

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Depending on what your goals are, I’d pick up a Liverpool asset if possible

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

        My goal is to score as many points as possible. But playing it out in my head, that game could either be a 1-1 snooze, or some 5-1 nonsense. I'm not convinced it won't be the former.

        1. Garth Marenghi
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I think it’s the latter. Newcastle have nothing to play for but I think Liverpool will try to run up the score as best they can.

    3. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      get TAA or Robertson for attacking points for liverpool on FH

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

    This make sense?

    Dilva looks like he’s rising tonight and Sterling looks like he’s not, so worth temporarily moving Sterling to Dilva on a FH?

    Boring I know but that 0.1 might come in handy as I decide on my FH38 team.

    I’m keeping Sterling (so I’d bring back in place of someone) but gives me the option of getting Dilva too

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

      Yes

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

        Thanks, just wanted to make sure I wasn’t going mad!

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

          Make sure you're not losing 0.1m on Sterling.

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

            Thanks, that was my only thought. Doesn’t look like it.

    2. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Why not. No downside

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

        Thanks, thought so. Just good to get a second opinion!

    3. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Do free hit transfers impact price changes though? You'd hope your fellow free hitters make a pile of transfers prior to hitting the free hit button

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

        I don’t actually know that sorry

  27. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    If U have both Lascelles & Martin and with BB Active would u sell both of them with Burno to get
    Pope + DSilva + Garcia / Pieters
    All of this with -8 Pts .

    1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Probably

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thank u

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

    Is Kane and Greenwood on a free hit good enough in a 3-5-2?

    1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yup

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

      I'd certainly say so

    3. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd say yes, I'm going with Auba and Greenwood myself.

  29. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can anyone help with this?

    Fabianski
    TAA/ Bardsley/ Laporte (Aurier)
    KDB/ Mane/ Martial/ Bruno/ Foden
    Kane/ Jimmy (Greenwood)

    0.1

    A) Jimmy —> Ings
    B) Bruno —> Antonio
    C) KDB + Jimmy —> Dilva + Auba (-4)
    D) something else

    I’m chasing. Thanks all!!!

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

  30. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have Fernandez from Newcastle starting in last GW and 2m Itb.
    Any defender worth taking for a hit?

    *Have TAA and Doherty
    Pope is my Gk