Scout Notes

Budget FPL assets shine for Leeds and Fulham but Bielsa highlights lack of creativity

Leeds United 4-3 Fulham

  • Goals: Helder Costa (£5.5m) x2, Mateusz Klich (£5.5m), Patrick Bamford (£5.6m) | Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.0m) x2, Bobby Decordova-Reid (£5.5m)
  • Assists: Bamford x2, Klich | Joe Bryan (£5.0m), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m), Kenny Tete (£4.5m)
  • Bonus: Mitrovic x3, Bamford x2, Costa x2

Patrick Bamford (£5.6m) rewarded his growing Fantasy following with a double-digit haul in Leeds United’s second seven-goal thriller of the week.

The forward’s goal in Gameweek 1’s 4-3 loss to Liverpool prompted nearly 365,000 managers to buy him in for the Fulham game.

Seasoned Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bosses, and many a Leeds fan, would have considered the move optimistic at best as Bamford has plenty of previous for missing his fair share of chances.

But the striker struck again on Saturday, finishing with aplomb when released by a Mateusz Klich (£5.5m) pass early in the second half of the win over Fulham.

His boss, Marcelo Bielsa, was quick to play down the side’s eye-catching start to the season:

This won’t be a constant all year. It is very difficult to maintain the efficiency we have had in these first two games. The characteristics of our game is to create goalscoring opportunities. In these two games we have created very little, but we have scored all our chances.

He might as well have been talking about Bamford, who has now scored from two of the three chances he has been presented with this season.

That has tempted another raft of managers to back the striker. He’s currently in the top three transfers-in for a Gameweek 3 trip to Sheffield United and a Yorkshire derby that should be, to use a technical term, proper tasty.

Whether his fine form is sustainable is highly debatable.

FPL has indulged plenty of fine early starters who failed to deliver consistently over a season – Norwich’s Teemu Pukki is the most recent example of that, while Manchester United striker Anthony Martial (£9.0m) is another who hit the Premier League ground running before being reduced to a stagger within a few weeks.

As we detailed in pre-season here, Bamford has never been the most clinical of strikers, missing 34 (77.3%) of the big chances he had in the Championship last season.

For now, however, it would be churlish not to bask in his point-scoring glory. He also had two assists against Fulham, earning a penalty when he was pushed in the back by Joe Bryan (£5.0m) and then setting up Helder Costa (£5.5m) on the break to make the scoreline 4-1 with barely ten minutes of the second half played.

Add on two bonus and the forward ended with 14 points on the day –  a total he shared with Costa as the midfielder opened the scoring when he picked up a loose ball from a corner and smashed it in off the bar with five minutes on the clock.

Costa also earned two bonus points and has now hauled in both matches for his 1.6% ownership.

But spare a thought for the 4.6% with Klich in their squads. He also scored in Gameweek 1 and was on the score sheet against the Cottagers when he rolled home the penalty Bamford had earned.

Such was the madness of the match, a goal and an assist were not enough to bring in any extra points for the Poland international. In fact, the maximum bonus award didn’t even go to a Leeds player at all.

That honour was reserved for visiting striker Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.0m), who marked his first start of the season with two goals and 12 points.

The Serbia international was a very popular pick heading into the season and the 20%-owned forward was quick to reward his followers when he blasted in a first-half penalty, awarded when Robin Koch (£4.5m) mistimed a slide tackle on Bryan.

He then headed in from a fine Kenny Tete (£4.5m) cross to make it 4-3 with just over 20 minutes left to play.

Fulham’s other goal was a sweet one, with the impressive Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m) playing a beautifully-weighted pass through to Bobby Decordova-Reid (£5.5m), who shot across Leeds keeper Illan Meslier (£4.5m) and into the far corner.

Both Meslier and his Fulham counterpart Alphonse Areola (£4.5m) were, unsurprisingly, busy boys on the day and the pair picked up a save point apiece for their efforts.

Two players who were rather less involved were Leeds playmaker Pablo Hernandez (£6.0m), who suffered a groin strain in the warm-up, and the club’s record signing, Rodrigo (£6.0m), who replaced him in the starting line-up.

The striker was peripheral at best playing as a number ten behind Bamford and he was hooked at half-time, although that was more an indication of his lack of match fitness as Bielsa, who has very high standards in that regard, was quick to point out post-match:

I was under the impression that he lacked a bit of energy to show his qualities. I think that has something to do with the physical effort he used against Hull (in the EFL Cup). That’s why I decided to sub him.

The coach also gave an update on Hernandez:

Pablo had a small knock in the warm-up. We don’t think it’s very serious.

Fulham boss Scott Parker had understandably mixed emotions about an away game in which his team had 55% of the possession and scored three goals, but still lost:

We showed some real quality in possession at times. We showed a real impetus and caused Leeds a lot of problems. On the flip side we gave away easy goals today and left ourselves a mountain to climb.

He also made it clear that he will chop and change his side this season:

The players who did not play today are vital and will play a vital part this year. As I showed last year I will make changes for matches that give us the best chance of winning.

Not that Fulham rotation will be a major concern for most Fantasy managers, with Mitrovic by far and away the most likely to be drafted in for a good schedule from now until late November.

As for Leeds, they currently have the dubious honour of being an even worse defensive unit than Fulham, having conceded seven goals to the Cottagers’ six.

But in Bamford, Costa and Klich, they have three in-form and very nicely priced assets who will surely find their way into many FPL teams over the next few weeks.

The Leeds rush might have to wait, however – after that derby in Sheffield, Bielsa’s men will host Manchester City in Gameweek 4.


Leeds United XI (4-4-2): Meslier; Dallas, Cooper, Koch, Ayling; Phillips, Harrison, Klich, Costa; Bamford (Alioski 70), Rodrigo (Roberts 45).

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Bryan, Hector, Odoi, Tete; Reed (Lemina 70′), Zambo Anguissa; Kamara (Kebano 58′), Onomah (Decordova-Reid 58′), Cavaleiro; Mitrović.

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 2

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2,659 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Lamptey / Son / Bamford

    B) Saiss / Harrison / Jimenez

    C) Lamptey / Bamford / Jimenez

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      a

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      D) Targett Son Watkins

    3. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  2. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone other than Werner worth having in che attack against West Brom?

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Any news on Puli fitness?

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

    Would you play your Wildcard with this team?

    McCarthy
    Digne / Davies / KWP / Justin
    Salah / Auba / Fernandes / ASM
    Werner / Ings

    Steer // Bissouma / Brewster / Mitchell

    - Double Southampton defence
    - ASM injured. Bissouma out. Brewster not signed.
    - Mitchell and maybe Davies out of favour soon.
    - Justin has Man City (and will lose his place).
    - Will need to get City players in too.
    - Plenty of fallers in there.

    1. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No sell Auba and asm. Most defences are bad so leave for another week. I have similar issues only got 10 players

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Don’t forget Utd looked awful too, so Bruno is a worry.

      I’d WC that personally

    3. KUN+10
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I would

  4. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Sold Havertz and Werner today on WC.

    Could still well butwthem back for cheaper for West Brom..

  5. james 101
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    GTG for GW3 gents?

    Martinez
    Digne Saiss James
    KDB Rodriguez Bruno Zaha
    Jimmy Martial DCL

    (Steer Mitchell Justin Hendrick)

  6. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Lads I've just had THE WORST fpl gw of my career.. Help.
    1FT 0ITB
    McCarthy? Steer
    TAA Davies* Ayling? Taylor? Mitchell
    Auba* Salah Alli**** Soucek? Bissouma?
    Werner Martial Adams?

    * = Needs to go
    ? = Not a fan of

    Wildcard that lot? Obv lacks Everton, City and Wolves assets but could potentially salvage it with a -8?
    Auba, Alli, Martial > Sterling/KDB, Son, Jimenez? Martial out does feel kneejerk however but I need the 0.5
    Auba, Alli > Sterling/KDB, Rodriguez(plays palace tho)?
    Any help is greatly appreciated 🙂

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      More price drops in bound as well

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If I didn't already have a Villa defender I'd be looking at Martinez in goal

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        If i wildcard then absolutely.
        Almost got Targett this week instead of Ayling but decided against after much deliberating

    3. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      That looks like a wc waiting to happen.
      My front 8 is similar, but have ASM/J Rod instead of Soucek/Alli.

      I don't think you'll regret Martial > Jimi. If you feel you want a Man U player, you can always get Greenwood later, as it looks like he's served his time on the naughty step.

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeh its not in good shape as my points have shown

        Very tempted to hit the button now and get it done with

        1. Team Bobcat
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I kinda hit the button last night at 1am and I now regret it. My team came gome in a big way today.

          The problem for me now is i need to get lucky as I am in my last chance saloon. Iknownothing of the ManC assets and ManU are in a similar boat.

          If I could reverse I would. I was angry after taking a hit the previous week it had backfired.

          Hold it. Your team is not bad

    4. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      You could salvage it with a few moves but you could also sabatage it as handy.

      Advice here last week was to get rid of son for a hit. Rash or anyone really. Martial was a great addition also. Be careful of the advice.

      Reality is neither Auba or Salah are problems as far as I can see. Both brilliant on their day.

      Maybe Alli and Che to Calvert Lewin and another 7m or less mid. One of the Leeds ladsmight get youout of a hole this week with funds and more knowledge next week.

      Alli is your only real problem from what I can see. Anything after that is a luxury only

    5. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldbe wary of off loading Martial too especially as you cant afford but for a minus four.

      United will tear let loose big time next week. They are hurting, just like sours were last week. Be careful

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Noted, ik its a risk. My only slight doubt with Martial is that he scores well at home and all the next coming home fixtures are potentially difficult on paper? Could still explode ofc but potentially better value in Jimenez, ik the hit isnt ideal tho but its primarily for funds

        Thanks for all ur great advice tho really appreciated

  7. Sterling Archer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Zilch looks decent and on pens, but wouldnt mind a wolves mid for the fixtures

  8. Ings on the up
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How nailed on is Reece James? Who is the competition for his place?

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Azpi

    2. diabydoesgallas
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He’s looked very good. Not sure azpi will kick him out

    3. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      lamps has a reputation for giving the kids a run, so id say its his to lose for the time being

  9. Twisted Melon
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How many more games does Mitchell get before PVA returns?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I guess PVA will be back in the team after the international break! So next 2 gameweeks for Mitchell!

  10. reason17
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    If you wanted a guaranteed starter every single week, which wolves defender would you go for?

    1. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      the english one

      1. reason17
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        coady?

    2. MrZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Boly... But i went with saiss

      1. reason17
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        why did you go with saiss? is he nailed on?

        1. MrZ
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Looks pretty nailed & can score goals too.

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

      Semedo once he's added to the game!

    4. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Probably Saiss. I had him most of last season too. Thinking about Davies > Saiss soon

  11. Totti
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    reposting looking for replies

    after son hit
    i did auba-> son
    adams -> jimenez for -4

    wildcard this?

    ramsdale button
    arnold justin KWP dallas mitchell
    salah son bruno mazimin burke
    jimenez mitro werner

    any suggestions plz?

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      -4 is fine no WC

    2. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Good to go imo.4-3-3 i would bench Justin.

  12. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mahrez anyone?

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Would want to see who is in favour with Pep first.

  13. mash
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Davies C.Taylor
    Salah Auba Son ASM*
    Werner DCL Mitrovic

    Steer KWP Justin Bissouma*

    2FT 0 in the bank

    I had planned to sell Auba to get a Man United mid (probably Fernandes) as part of a mini-WC for GW3, but that seems less attractive now! What would you say is best out of these two broad options:

    A) Auba to James Rodriguez before his price rise tonight and then take more time to decide where to spend the 4.5. Wouldn't be able to get KDB/Sterling without taking a hit or selling Salah with this option.

    B) Wait to see how Man City play tomorrow and weigh up Auba to KDB/Sterling, ignore the James price rise.

    Leaning towards A for now, and go without United (poor form) or City (Pep roulette) for now.

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B by a mile

      1. mash
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers - I'm doing my best to ignore my itchy trigger finger!

  14. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best to hold firm and look at the stats during the wk then make informed decisions?
    No point panicking and making rash moves.. Have 2fts and plan to use them..

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      UTV!

  15. MASTER ROSHI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    My defence is TAA Davies Tierney Taylor Lascelles, going to use 2FTs to sort it out
    Davies will become Saiss later in the week, who should Tierney be subbed to? (as some may rise tonight)

    A) Castagne
    B) J Justin
    C) R James

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Castagne looked awesome tonight

  16. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I think I'm going to keep Havertz. Another OOP false 9 against West Brom could be really good!

    1. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      That is the spirit. Good shout

  17. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any particular objections to Auba + Adams > Zaha + Jimenez (-4)?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Zaha is a troll
      Same price you can get Barnes

  18. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best option here?

    A. Son
    B. Rodriguez
    C. Zaha

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  19. Dr. Rog
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Probably going to land on this.

    Martinez/Steer
    Digne Saiss James (Justinho, Mitchell)
    Salah Sterling Sonaldo Soucek (Bissouma)
    Werner Jimmy DCL

    Although if i think the Brewster move is going through im tempted to pre-empt the future template with

    Martinez/Steer
    VVD Digne Saiss James (Mitchell)
    Salah Sterling Sonaldo JRod (Bissouma)
    Jimmy DCL (Brewdog)

    with funds leftover to shoehorn in pulisic for jrod

  20. Purse83
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    On WC - last two spots...

    1) Justin & Wood

    or

    2) James/Marcal (have Saïss) & Mitro/Bamford

    Cheers

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      James & Watkins

      1. Purse83
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers hadn’t thought of Watkins!

  21. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I know I want Sterling C in GW4

    I'm just not sure how I'll get there

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Same

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Current plan involves selling Jimenez

        ...which feels kinda dumb

        Maybe Bruno goes, then...

        1. Peter Ouch
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          If you have Bruno and Jimenez keep jim and sell Bruno.

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'll probably do Fernandes > Sterling that week given United are playing Spurs.

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        This will leave me with 2.1M in the bank, with no United

        I look forward to it

  22. FPLShaqiri
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Just realised Spurs play today, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday... Great fixture at home to Newcastle, but Doherty out?

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

      First team will be rested in the cup game for sure.

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      3 Spurs here and keeping. Surely the PL is the priority

  23. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Currently wildcarding, is no Liverpool defence a bad idea?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'd get one of TAA/Robbo at least

    2. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pool defender is a season keeper for me. Seen lots of teams without any though

    3. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      its not a bad idea. there is potentially better value elsewhere.

      1. Team Bobcat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I beg to differ. You can noy put a value on peace of mind. TAA and VVd have more than shown their worth in their price category to justify a set and forget option.

    4. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not necessarily, i'm thinking to possibly do the same and spread the funds.

      1. Fresh_From_Desh
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Removing TAA allows me to have a hamez, salah, kdb, son midfield

        And werner, dcl Jimmy front 3

    5. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A wildcard still works with double Pool defence, no matter what the emotions tell you

      See my linked team, for instance

      Auba => Son my GW3 move though. Sticking to the obvious from now on. Hits killed me last season

    6. KUN+10
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I went without, used the 1.5 mil from TAA to get 2, 5 mil defenders. Saiss and Keane. May hurt me, but I need the funds to balance out my team.

    7. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I am on the WC button also. I had two Liv and they did just fine for me. I am edging toward including one again near the end of the week.

      Best to leave them out until then anyway. Taa may drop and you could get him for cheaper then.

      I think Liv fixtures warrant at least two players for now.

  24. thorvaldsson
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which do you prefer? Would appreciate the help

    a) Robertson/Webster

    b) VVD/Saiss

  25. Tosa86
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Draft for my WC:

    Guaita-Ryan
    mitchell - digne - castagne - VVD - james
    Son - Zaha - Rodriguez - KDB - Costa
    Werner - Mitrovic - DCL

    ItB: 0.4

    any other suggestions?
    1) goalkeeper rotation
    2) castagne/james rotation

    thanks!

    1. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wolves cover?

  26. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I’m not rushing to get Kane or Son.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they are bad picks. But, I doubt Son will face a defense playing such an ill-disciplined high line again all season. That was shocking from Southampton!

    1. Sir_Dunc
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He won't get four goals every week, but where are the solid defences in the league right now? I can see him getting a lot of joy in behind wing backs this season. Every time Spurs got the ball Kane dropped off a bit and Son pushed ahead of him. He looks a lot more involved and dangerous than some of the premium mids

  27. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Bale injured?

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

      yes. For about a month

    2. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      haha lol @Levy

  28. F_Ivanovic
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Aubameyang out a luxury transfer? Obviously it depends how City look vs Wolves but Aubemayang has been on some form vs the big teams recently so he could get something against Liverpool and then next up it's Southampton at Home which looks to be an insane fixture with how bad Southampton seem to be right now.

    1. MrZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Get only assist in whu match.

  29. Punty McPuntface
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who is the better option going forward?

    A JRod
    B Zaha

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

      A

      1. Punty McPuntface
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks

  30. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Sorry for another 'would you wildcard this?' post but, 'would you wildcard this?'

    McCarthy
    Davies*, Saiss, TAA, Justin
    Havertz*, Salah, ASM*, Auba*
    Werner, Martial
    (Steer, Bissouma*, Ferguson*, Brewster)

    1. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

    2. Punty McPuntface
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not yet!

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

        What's your thinking? Worth fixing with a hit or two?