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. Salalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Crazy to do this (ahead over 50 points) for -8?
    Salah Bruno Rashford > Sterling (C) Dilva Kane

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

      I wouldnt transfer Salah out he is "due"

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

        Sterling can easily outscore him by 4 though

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

          Try to get both

    2. SH
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      -8 is probably too much

    3. E25
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure minimizing your lead to 42 points is wise. 50 points you're a lock to win.

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

    a. Ings & Pieters
    b. Greenwood & TAA

    1. Scratch
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

        B

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

    What do you think of this free hit?

    Pope
    Aurier Pieters Long
    Salah Sterling Mahrez Dilva
    Aubameyang Kane Greenwood

    Martin Williams Tanganga Guendouzi
    £0.5m left to spend

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

      hot. prefer Mane to Salah away though

    2. Scratch
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Tasty. Beef the bench with your pocket change. Always some randomness on final day

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

      Very similar to mine. Wish I could fit in Ings but can't have everyone I suppose.

      Who are you going to captain?

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

        Sterling for me.
        I wanted Ings too, but figured the extra money my going greenwood was worth it

  4. Mondeo
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which is the best move?

    A) Doherty > Robertson
    B) Willian > Antonio
    C) Rashford or Ings > Kane (C) for a -4

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

      A

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

        cheers! bit nervous about not having sterling when rival will have TC on him...

        I do worry that Rash or Ings could score though, makes it hard for Kane to outperform Mahrez (C)

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

      A if being safe, C if chasing.

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

        1 point behind but he has TC chip and Sterling (I don't)!

        No idea whether to play safe or risky - what you reckon?

      2. Mondeo
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        (and thanks for the reply!)

  5. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Front three for Citybon sunday will be?

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

    Keep Martial and Bruno? Have a small ML lead.
    Considdering: (plus C)
    - Auba
    - Sterling
    - Dilva
    - Kane
    Best move?

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

    I'm 9k and didn't use the unlimited transfers 🙂

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

      nice! For my team it would've definitely helped - beauty of hindsight...

      I wonder how many of us would go back and play that differently?

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

        I thought my team was good before locked down happened, so thought stick with that, I set it up like for a reason

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

          same - used FH instead, sure wish I kept it for a rainy day!

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

      The Unlimited transfers ruined me! Loved my team prior to lockdown, even after a great week this I’m around 100k down from where I was when it restarted 🙁

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

        I was personally dismayed and very surprised when they announced free transfers. It did my overall strategy big time!

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

    Dilva or Mahrez?

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

      Mahrez

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

      Will Mahrez even start?

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

        You never know but he has to

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

      Dilva

  9. ZTF
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Really need some help with this pls fellas

    Ederson (3.9)
    TAA Doherty Saiss (C.Taylor*, Ngakia*)
    Martial Bruno Salah Sterling Pulisic
    Greenwood Ings (Connolly)

    1 FT / 1.2m

    What moves would you make with this if chasing 2 people?

    One has an 18 point lead and free hit, so really hard to know how to approach. The other has an 8 point lead, only main differences to my team as of this week being Dilva, Jesus and Rashford.

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

      Been considering Mahrez for Pulisic before tonight and now Martial. But cannot conceivably see Kdb not starting/scoring and as the guy on FH has him I’m really torn about whether to try and somehow include him.

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

      salah -> silva
      greenwood-> kane

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

        Hmm for a hit? I think the guy FH’ing will have Kane

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

      Easy Pulisic to Dilva transfer. Or Mahrez if you can afford it.

  10. SH
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How the BB team look?

    Pope (Martine)
    VVD Digne Alonso (Taylor*, Cresswell)
    Sterling (C), KDB, Dilva, Bruno, Willian
    Kane, Ings (Greenwood)

    Will take a hit if Taylor is still injured.

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

      *how does

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

      willian -> pulisic

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

        Don’t feel like that's worth a hit, thanks for the reply though!

  11. yalala
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH dilemma.. will Auba disappoint me one last time?

    a. Mahrez + Auba
    b. Salah + Wood

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

      mehrez + kane

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

    Lads, please:

    Martinez
    Laporte, Tarkowski, _______
    Salah, Mahrez, DSilva, Pulisic, _______
    Kane, Ings, _______

    A. Robbo, Martial / fodder
    B. Aurier, Auba / fodder

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

      i think you need sterling

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

        I fear he might not start

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

    pope
    TAA doherty fernandez kiko 4.0
    salah KDB bruno martial mehrez
    jimenez wood greenwood

    1FT 1.3 itb

    A) salah bruno jimenez-> sterling pulisic kane (-8) triple captain sterling
    B) bruno jimENez -> sterling jay rodriguez
    C) other suggestion

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

      Would be more inclined to do a United mid to Dilva.

      Definitely wouldn't sell Salah.

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

        sterling will hurt me mate

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

          He will but so will a -8. And then Salah could convert those great stats against a weak Newcastle side on top of that.

          But if you're determined to do one of them then B.

  14. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On FH, which are your favourite mids & fwds?
    I've been considering all of the usual suspects but slightly moving away from Rashford (since there's Greenwood) & Jesus (since I feel MCI mids like Sterling, DSilva Mahrez are better picks this gw).
    I also lean towards including Kane, Auba, 1 of Salah/Mane.
    Pulisic looked good but not sure WOL will be that open.

    A dilemma I'm on now is, if I go for Sterling, DSilva & Greenwood from those 2 attacks, should I add Martial or Mahrez?

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

      Of the big money players Sterling > Kane = Salah > Auba.

      Would agree with moving away from Rashford and Jesus.

      Would add Mahrez rather than Martial.

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A. Mahrez, Grealish
    B. Dilva, Antonio

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

      b

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

    Would you prefer KDB or Mahrez for the final day?

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

      KDB

    2. SH
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      KDB if he starts

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

      Kdb

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

      In isolation KDB. But as always it depends on how you use the extra money.

  17. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What do we think, the 3-5-2 or the 3-4-3 on the FH?

    Back four are the same in both formations: Martinez, Bardsley, Pieters, Branthwaite

    The 3-5-2:
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Bruno, Dilva
    Kane, Ings

    The 3-4-3:
    Salah, Sterling, Mahrez, Dilva
    Aubameyang, Kane, Ings

    Boils down to KDB and Bruno v Mahrez and Aubameyang. Fancy the Utd game to be low scoring so the 3-4-3’s my preference at the minute.

  18. Wally711
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Rival in ML gets 90 something points and I get 46. He got way too lucky, case and point the sterling penalty save then him scoring. He has foster and sterling captain. And he has a TC left. Im still leading by like 15. I'm captaining salah next gw.

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

    Why do I have a feeling Klopp will play the youngsters on Sunday

    1. FreddyP3
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      This is what worries me

  20. Origal73
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which score more:
    1) Kane (TC), KDB
    2) Sterling (TC), Vardy

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

      2

  21. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pulisic or Dilva?

    1. yer old da
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      That’s an obvious one if it’s a choice between those two

    2. bruuuno
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dilva

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

      Gotta be Dilva. Fixture is miles better

  22. bruuuno
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this FH? Think I will "punt" on a Burnless defence.

    Martinez
    TAA Aurier Digne
    KDB Sterling Dilva Son
    Kane Greenwood Auba

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

    Masterclass 🙂 I'm elite

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

      Only if you're there come 6pm on Sunday 😉

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

        Yeah man

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

      yawn, could you brag anymore? first season or something? lol

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

        Yawn

  24. Mini League Fatigue
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ok as a combo who will score more...

    A) Foden, Bruno & Ings
    B) Mahrez, Greenwood & Auba

    B leaves my bench very weak in case there is unexpected rotation but that’s a minor point

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

      B

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

      B

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

    A. Ings, Martial
    B. Rashford, Antonio

    Pope
    Bardsly, Pieters, Aurie
    Salah, Sterling, Silva, Kdb, xxx
    Kane, xxx

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

    1. Martinez TAA
    2. Pope Robertson

    [I'm chasing]

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

      2

  27. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Still never finished outside the top 100k, but having an awful season currently at 22k.
    This game is honestly pretty simple and I have played dreadful this year sadly.

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

      Awful season at 22k?

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

      I don't these sanctimonious tears will go down well...

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

      22k, awful season.....jesus christ. i mean... really? get out.

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

        absolute pleb, pure and simple.

  28. E25
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Chasing in ML so trying to take some chances. Thoughts on this FH team?

    Martinez
    Tarkowski Pieters Long
    Mane Mahrez Dilva Martial
    Kane Auba Jesus

    Martin Brantwaite Williams McCarthy
    0.0ITB

    Can also do Martial, Tarkowski -> Antonio, VVD

  29. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this latest WC draft (lost count on version!)

    Martinez
    Pieters – Long – TAA
    Salah – Sterling – Bruno – Mahrez – Dilva
    Kane – Greenwood
    (Martin) (Nketiah - Williams – Tanganga)

    1. E25
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      WC in gw38? Wow.

      Not sure I love Greenwood for a 1 week punt but pretty solid otherwise

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah I played FH on restart - hindsight says that was stupid!

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

    My opinion on the final GW if you have a FH, or even if you don't....

    I wouldn't be betting against Villa, Watford & Bournemouth losing this GW. As such, Everton, Arsenal & West Ham assets are poor options. Don't waste money on Auba when Aresnal have nothing to play for in the EPL. Their focus is on the FA cup final.

    Current teams between 8th & 16th have nothing tangible to play for apart from pride. As such, avoid.

    Vardy, Rashford/Greenwood, Pulisic & Kane are must haves in a FH squad. Then 3x City. Then fill in the blanks.

    1. E25
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      So you expect Leicester Man U to be a wide open game vs a cagey affair?

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

        That's hard to say.. Man U only need a draw. Leicester has to win. If Leicester gets up first, I think there will be a lot of goals. Plus Vardy going for goldenboot, even if he is 2 ahead already.

        I also don't expect Arsenal to smash an Aston Villa fighting for survival. I'd bet on Vardy or Rashford scoring over Auba for example.

        1. E25
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          That's a reasonable possibility. Leicester have looked awful though which makes Vardy unattractive IMO when you'd expect Man U to keep it tight and try and play on the counter. I'd rather Martial over Rash (price saving, extra point, etc.)

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

            True. But with a champs league spot on the line, who knows... Leicester is capable of smashing United.

            Agree on Martial but at the moment my midfield is too full to fit him in. Unless I play a 3-5-2