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’).

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

View full match data in the Members Area

MEMBERS AREA HOME PAGE

FPL Lessons Learned From Gameweek 37+

2,921 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sanchit
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What's the highest for total points in a season by a defender?
    My guess would be Baines some years ago?
    Can Trent break that if he gets a decent score in GW38+?

    1. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Robbo last year with 213

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

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

    1 FT / 1.2m

    What move(s) would you make chasing someone with a FH & 18 pt lead?

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

      Captain choice is the big one.

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

        V much so. Who do you think?

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

          No obvs standout.....Salah and hope he coverts big tiime.

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruno to Son

  3. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez dsilva ster too overkill?

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

      nope - i have done the same

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        But if i do that i wont have manutd players. But i guess doesnt matter ya?

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      nope provided all 3 start

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      As long as they score points, nope

  4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    help folks!!

    Pope
    Taa Doherty Bissaka
    Salah Kdb Bruno Martial Pulisic
    Vardy Ings

    3.9 Nketiah Saiss 3.9

    2fs 0 itb

    A)Bruno + Pulisic to David silva + Mahrez
    B)Bruno + Bissaka to David silva + Van dijk
    C)Pulisic + Bissaka to David Silva + Garcia
    D)Bruno + Vardy to Sterling + Wood

    Or any other move one can see??

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

      A

    2. luk46
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B out of those, wouldnt get rid of Pulisic - Burno + Vardy > Silva + Kane possible?

    3. Notorious
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd say it depends on who you want to captain. If you are happy with Salah/KDB, then A. If you want to captain Sterling, then D.

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

    WC 38+, I'm chasing:

    XXX
    XXX Bardsley Pieters
    Salah Silva Sterling XXX
    Kane Auba Greenwood

    1. Martinez TAA Mahrez
    2. Pope Robertson Mahrez
    3. Pope Aurier KDB

    Cheers my friends

    1. luk46
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1

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

      1

    3. Notorious
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1

  6. screamer73
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best striker for 5 8 or under for GW38? Have Greenwood.

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

      Slim pickings.....Ayew or Nketiah

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

      J Rod or Nketiah

    3. screamer73
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks guys. Been considering J-Rod.

  7. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Welp, I’m not catching up the 39 points I am now short of our ever-changing ML leader unless I basically win the week outright. I’m also unlikely to drop lower than 6th (currently 4th), so could probably afford to spend some. Any advice? Also, am I assuming correctly that we are unlikely to see lineups before KO on Sunday?

    Pope (McCarthy)
    TAA - Doherty - Tarkowski (Fernandez, Saiss)
    Martial - Fernandes - Willian - KdB - Pulisic
    Greenwood - Vardy (Jimi)

    0.1 ITB

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

      I am not really high on Chelsea defense, so I would start Jimi in front of both Willian and Pulisic. Willian to Dilva would be my transfer.

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

    After much tinkering I am down to 2 options. What to you think?

    Draft 1
    Martinez
    Pieters – Long – Branthwaite*
    Salah – Sterling – Bruno – KdB* – Dilva
    Kane – Ings*
    (Martin) (Nketiah - Williams – Tanganga)

    Draft 2
    Martinez
    Pieters – Long – TAA*
    Salah – Sterling – Bruno – Mahrez* – Dilva
    Kane – Greenwood*
    (Martin) (Nketiah - Williams – Tanganga)

  9. Mr. Chimes
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Wow, I’m no longer a “confirmed follower” of FPL Rockstar so his page is hidden. What’s that all about

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

      Private account

      1. Mr. Chimes
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I hardly use twitter but I was just on his page before Norwich v Chelsea last week and could see everything

      2. Mr. Chimes
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Or are you saying he went private ?

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

          He went private

  10. luk46
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    green arrow from 60k to 30k, trying to somehow get into top 10k now!
    whats the best option on a free hit?

    A - TAA + Antonio
    B - Robbo + Pulisic

    1 - Mahrez (triple)
    2 - Martial

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

      B1

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

      A1

  11. screamer73
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Need help. Which forward to start?
    A J-Rod
    B Greenwood

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

      B

  12. Phil's Stamps
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Chasing a sixteen point lead in my ML, pretty sure they'll all go template and feel I need to do something different to catch them.

    Is this too differential/risky?

    Pope
    TAA Aurier Bardsley
    Sterling Mane Mahrez Dilva Grealish
    Kane Vardy

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

      Sterling C? Looks good, just Grealish the risk as I see it. I know no Salah but you have TAA.

      1. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I can get Salah with a few bench tweaks for exact money, but going with Mane because of the low ownership and Mane's better away record. Think all my rivals will go with Salah.

        Yeah Grealish the obvious risk, but I am a Villa fan and let's face it noone in the top 10k is going to pick him so if -in the unlikelihood- it pays off should be a rank booster.

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

          Plus his last chance in the PL this season to show his wares to a bigger club.

          1. Phil's Stamps
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Yeah, I'm resigned to losing him. For England's sake I hope he goes to City.

            Thanks for the replies.

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

    Who to put on the Bench ?
    And who to Captain?

    Current set up. I’m chasing.
    Thanks for any guidance guys

    Martinez
    Pieters | Robertson | Van Dijk
    Sterling©️| Dsilva | Bruno | Martial | Foden
    Jimenez | Ings

    Schmeichal | Woods | Doherty | lascelles

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

      Se have the same midfield, om tankes 70k

      Om Gonna swap either Martial ord Bruno for Pulisic

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

        And I Will captain Silva, think he Will be on fire and pens

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

    Have 1ft and no idea how to use it. Any suggestions? 0.4itb

    Pope, (McCarthy)
    TAA, Azpi, Digne, (Fernandez, Boly)
    Sterling, KDB, Bruno, D.Silva, Pulisic
    Greenwood, Ings, (Rashford)

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

      Azpi to VVD?

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

    Pick 1 to transfer in
    A. Mahrez
    B. Kane

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

      B

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

      B

  16. screamer73
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pick one.
    A. Vardy
    B. Kane for a hi

    1. screamer73
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      *hit

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

    Sell Martial, Bruno or Pulisic?
    Also have Greenwood.

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

      For who? Martial out.

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

        Mahrez probably. Son possibly

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

          Not seeing your team........Son if no Kane otherwise Mahrez.

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

            2nd on this page mate 🙂

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

              Yeah been replying to heaps. Just had a look and would go Son as Martial away record not great.

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

                Trouble is I’m chasing 18pt against someone with a FH and this would leave me with Pulisic vs double Wolves DEF

  18. Bring back Rafa
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on having Greenwood as a super-sub in a FH team just in case something unexpected happens on final day? Or is it a waste?
    Other bench options would be Braithwaite & Williams

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

      Not a waste if you can get the playing 11 you want.

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

      If you have cash, why not...

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

      makes a lot of sense
      doing the same with nketiah

  19. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Looking at teams here, Aubameyang could be a differential, nice!

  20. Notorious
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hi all, I'm stuck between two options, which one would you go for:

    A) KDB, Antonio, Rashford
    B) Mahrez, Martial, Ings + 0.8 for some defensive upgrade

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

      B

  21. j1ves
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah & Ings

    Or

    Martial & Auba

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

      Second one. Kane rather than Auba?

      1. j1ves
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I already have Kane. I’m just unsure whether Salah will start/play

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

          Salah then. He will back himself to score four goals for the GB lol

  22. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Dang, not satisfied with GW37+ results. This was supposed to make or break. Now left a lot of us to clinging on to GW38+ to save our butts from the mini leagues stakes.

    Captain choices are super important.

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

      Yeah, it's been frustrating couple of weeks with my main ML rival getting 9 pts off the bench twice in a row and keeping the 30pts difference. Right now I can't look past Sterling as captain choice but I will tinker more for sure.

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

    Currently leading my ML by 5 points; have 2 ft

    A) Salah/Martial/Vardy to Sterling/Kane/Dilva for a hit
    B) Martial/Vardy to Sterling/Wood
    C) Salah/Vardy to Sterling/Jesus or Ings

    i have KDB as my only M.City cover;

    leaning towards A - but such a small lead in my ML; should i take the hit?

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

      Dont take a hit

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

      No Hit. Get Sterling in though.

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

      Cheers Gents

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

    What transfer should I make?
    A) Foster to Pope
    B) Saiss to Gomez/Tarkowski
    C) Doherty to Robo

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

      C out of those

    2. Bring back Rafa
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Double Wolves defence would be overkill for Chelsea so either B) or C)
      How about Saiss to Aurier?
      Doherty could easily get an attacking return vs Chelsea
      But I'm not a huge fan of Tarkowski or Gomez.
      For me, I'd rather a Burnley fullback. I know Tarkowski has scored more points than them but if you worked out points per minute I reckon the fullbacks would have gone just as well. Don't like Gomez because I don't think Pool are a certainty for a clean sheet and he offers nothing more (unlike Robbo or TAA)

  25. Mooster©️
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On a FH:
    What do you think about this midfield?
    Pope
    Pieters Bardsley TAA
    KdB Sterling Dilva Salah Martial
    Kane Greenwood

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

      Good midfield

  26. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    3 burnley D is a bit risky but looks good

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

      ^^^

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

        18 points in the bag at least

  27. Legohair
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    G2G or do my team needs something?

    FH

    Pope
    Tierney-Walker-Pieters-Creswell
    Salah-KDB-Mahrez-Bruno
    Auba-Ings

    3.9,Saka,Bardsley, GWood

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

      I think last day will be a goal fest. Switch to a 3-5-2 formation to get Sterling in and I would go Kane over Auba imo.

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

        Auba chasing golden boot is big thing i think. What about this one?

        Martinez
        Tierney-Bardsley-Pieters
        Salah-KDB-Bruno-Mahrez-Dilva
        Auba-Ings

        3.9,Gwood,Braithwaite, Lamptey

    2. Max City
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      they say Bruno showed tiredness during CHE and WHU game, so I'm thinking to go without United this GW

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

    Morning guys,
    Who do you think will get more minutes in the last Man City encounter?
    Jesus / Kdb or Foden? Thanks

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

      KdB - has the assist record to go for (assuming Pep agrees).

    2. Bring back Rafa
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jesus - 60
      KDB -. 60
      Foden-. 30

  29. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Otamendi or Garcia? Who starts for city?
    Or Mendy the better pick?

  30. Chelsea91
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    DCL to Kane for Hit?

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

      Yes.

      1. Chelsea91
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        thanks

    2. Bring back Rafa
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes, I justify a hit if I have that much coin

      1. Chelsea91
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        thanks