Scout Notes

Fernandes and Rashford deliver but Man United still far from their FPL best

BRIGHTON 2-3 MAN UNITED

  • Goals: Neal Maupay (£6.5m), Solly March (£5.0m) | Lewis Dunk (£5.0m) own goal, Marcus Rashford (£9.5m), Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m)
  • Assists: Tariq Lamptey (£4.6m), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (£5.5m) | Nemanja Matic (£5.0m), Fernandes, Harry Maguire (£5.5m)
  • Bonus points: Fernandes x3, Maupay x2, March x1

Important Fantasy Premier League hauls for Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.5m) papered over the cracks of yet another poor performance for Manchester United in Gameweek 3.

The Red Devils were comfortably second best at Brighton on Saturday lunch-time and somehow managed to leave the Amex Stadium with all three points.

They won the pulsating encounter thanks to one of the most dramatic climaxes to a Premier League match in recent history. Fernandes scored a penalty awarded beyond the referee’s full-time whistle, after Solly March (£5.0m) thought he had rescued a deserved point for Brighton.

It was the hosts, who hit the woodwork five times in Gameweek 3, who arguably emerged from this with more Fantasy appeal for the coming weeks as Neal Maupay (£6.5m) added his fourth attacking return of the campaign, March had a wealth of chances prior to his late goal and Leandro Trossard (£6.0m) hit the bar after delivering in each of his two previous outings.

It is, admittedly, a trip to in-form Everton up next, although Carlo Ancelotti’s men have only kept one clean sheet so far and conceded three goals across their first three matches – so there is every reason to believe the Seagulls can cause trouble at Goodison Park.

Meanwhile, Fernandes – who concerned his owners with another poor game – thundered home the penalty and suddenly found himself with a goal, assist and involvement in two more. Despite the relative mediocre display, he ended proceedings with 12 points.

“I’m very happy for Marcus to get that goal. He was just a couple of inches offside on a counter-attack we had, with a great cross from Mason [Greenwood]. We did see some moments that we didn’t see last week. We’re getting a little bit better but I think we need to admit sometimes you get away with one, and today we probably didn’t deserve more than one point.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The 90 minutes were swamped with goals, disallowed strikes, shaken goalposts, overturned penalties and a ‘Panenka’ spot kick. Booked in the first half, the Portuguese playmaker then fouled Tariq Lamptey (£4.6m) and it was Maupay who cheekily dinked the penalty down the middle to put Brighton 1-0 up.

Soon after, in the 43rd minute, Fernandes hammered a free kick to the far post, which led to a goal initially awarded to Harry Maguire (£5.5m), assisted by Nemanja Matic (£5.0m) but later given as a Lewis Dunk (£5.0m) own goal.

VAR also overruled a Brighton penalty early into the second half, given against Paul Pogba (£8.0m) for catching Aaron Connolly (£5.5m) as he chased a March pass. A hectic resumption saw a second Man United goal ruled out, before Rashford scored a wonderful strike after being fed down the left channel by Fernandes. The 22-year-old cut inside and sent poor Ben White (£4.5m) flying with two dummies, before eventually finishing with his left foot.

After Fernandes advised FPL managers to “choose Anthony Martial (£9.0m) because I will give a lot of passes to him”, the Frenchman’s owners will be disappointed to see Rashford get this through ball as Martial toiled in another game without attacking returns. It will be difficult for managers to stick with him when there are so many attractive options up front, such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.3m), Raul Jimenez (£8.5m) and Danny Ings (£8.4m).

“We tried to press but they’ve got really good ball players at the back. When we were low, you can see we don’t have the legs or sharpness still. But we’ll get there.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Rashford’s goal stated his case for being selected as the Manchester United option, as did netting one of the disallowed strikes. Re-classified as a midfielder this time, Rashford may be just short of penalty-taking responsibilities but he would have claimed an extra 26 goal and clean sheet points if he was in midfield last season.

He may even get the occasional spot-kick, although Fernandes’ recent quote saying: “If someone comes to me to ask to take a penalty, I will not fight every time. I can easily say ‘You take it’”, already looks outdated after this match. That is now five consecutive away league wins, although they face Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal amongst their difficult next four outings.

Mason Greenwood (£7.5m) returned to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting line-up after being benched for last Saturday’s shock 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace. He was in great form during Project Restart and ended last season with ten goals, although vastly outnumbering his xG (expected goals) total of 2.91 could be interpreted in different ways. Is he a fantastic finisher, or was it a fluke?

However, if they fail to sign Jadon Sancho or anyone else in his position, Greenwood could end up being the best way to squeeze in some Manchester United coverage. He scored the other disallowed goal and looked bright, until being replaced late on.

“I thought we had scored with the last kick of the game. I don’t know where the extra time in added time came from, but we’re bitterly disappointed to concede in the way that we have because it’s a cruel blow after what was a good performance from us.” – Graham Potter

Brighton were the better, more progressive team of the first half and would have been comfortably ahead had it not been for the frame of David de Gea’s (£5.5m) goal. Trossard was twice denied by the post after being given the ball by Steven Alzate (£4.5m), becoming the first Premier League player to hit the woodwork twice in one game since Ings in January. He made it a hat-trick late on, thumping a left-footed shot off the crossbar.

It wasn’t just him. Adam Webster’s (£4.5m) looping header landed onto the bar, with March agonisingly hitting the post after the break. No team struck the woodwork more than three times in a match last year – the desperately unlucky Brighton did it five times here. Perhaps Graham Potter will want to check that the goal’s height was correct, as Spurs did on Thursday night.

Trossard was fantastic again. The Belgian scored against Chelsea on the opening day and assisted during Brighton’s convincing 3-0 win at Newcastle. He delivered five goals and five assists last season but head coach Graham Potter often rotated him, removing him from Fantasy radars. Yet he has played the full 90 minutes of all three matches so far – once their fixtures improve, he could be a very interesting option.

Up next for the Seagulls is trips to Everton and Crystal Palace, before hosting West Brom and travelling to Spurs. Regardless of opponent, the exciting Lamptey will be a good player to own. The pacy right wing-back turns 19 on Wednesday and bagged his third assist from three games, two of which have come from winning penalties. This follows his man of the match display at Newcastle, although that 57th minute withdrawal means he is still without a clean sheet. Mathew Ryan (£4.5m) remains a solid option in goal based on a balance of save and clean sheet potential.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION XI (3-4-3): Ryan; Dunk, Webster, White; Lamptey, Lallana (Gross 75’), Alzate, March; Connolly (Jahanbakhsh 75’), Trossard, Maupay

MANCHESTER UNITED XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Matic, Pogba (Fred 65’); Greenwood (Bailly 83’), Fernandes, Rashford; Martial (van de Beek 90’).

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2,236 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Adams -> DCL
    B) Werner -> Jimi
    C) Adams, Werner -> Jimi, DCL (-4)
    D) Adams, Werner -> Jimi, Ings (-4)

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C

    3. Viper
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

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

        Sorry, meant B

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

      A

    5. The Chosen One
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B. Adams is playing well, has wba next and decent fixtures.

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

      Cheers all

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

    I hate Saturday nights.... wrecks my brain trying to decide if i want to early transfer or not which I never like doing just because price rises are going to happen.

    Ultimately think I'm going to wait it out. Can't decide between Martial and Werner and want to see how Jimenez does first and if there are any other more pressing concerns.

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

      Worth the wait

  3. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Nice to see Digne got a BAP in the end!

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

      and James managed one wow

  4. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Jim or Ings?

    Can have one now

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      To get rid of Werner?

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

        Yep

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

      Jimenez

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

      Jimi

    4. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Jim

  5. Hangman Page
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Be funny when Werner scores next weekend.

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Own goal?

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

        Haha

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He will still be 40% owned

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

      Many others will score too.

    4. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I own Werner and captained him this week. Even if he scores next week I'm not sure it will be enough.

    5. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Werner when Ziyech and Pulisic are fit is a must. Honest.

  6. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Digne Bap wow

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hopefully price rise

    2. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      How's Reece James snuck one?

      1. DRIZ ✅
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Cross merchant

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          This lol

    3. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      James is more surprising.

  7. Roy Rovers
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martial or Werner > Jimmi?

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

      I did Martial-> Jimmy, I still think Werner will fire, just wish it was sooner rather than later

  8. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any interest in Vardy at home vs wham and Villa?

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

      I sold Vardy for Jimenez this weekend to save money. May well regret it but Jimenez's fixtures are better on paper.

  9. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best replacement for Werner?
    A Ings
    B Mitrovic
    C Wood
    D Richa (have DCL, jrod)
    E Brewster

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      E or C most likely

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Aaaaaaaaa

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

      A

    4. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Danny Boy

    5. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A by a mile, look at those next 5 fixtures, the hardest is Chelsea away who just conceded 3 against West Brom.

  10. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    This one's for all those Werner owners out there...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJZF-skCY-M

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

    Who to lose for Jimi? Looks like both are falling.

    A. Werner
    B. Martial
    C. Both and get DCL/Rich

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

      Just Martial. Keep Werner.

    2. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C

  12. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Should I use the Wildcard mates?

    Mccarthy
    TAA Taylor Justin Davies
    Salah Son Hamez Zaha
    Martial Werner

    Button Egan Bissouma Brewster

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hodor

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

    Kane->Jimenez to catch the rise?

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

      Nah

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

      Kane > Jiminez for more points.

  14. TFP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    does anyone know what the approximate chances of a KdB overnight price rise are?

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Drunken Saturday night transfers = 100%

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

        totally insane given that there are two city and three Belgium fixtures ahead of the first chance for new owners to score FPL points.

        but I like it, count me in.

  15. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Just did Martial to Jimmy. Gonna regret it ain't I

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

      Yea..

    2. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yep

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

      Specially against spurs

    4. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Don't think so. This will pay off in the future...

  16. On The Up
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I've got 16pts but fpl is showing 15?

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah I've got 21 but it says 22..

      1. On The Up
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Some last minute bap changes?

        1. Traction Engine Foot
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I hope so!

    2. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      On 150 but FPL but only shows 12.

  17. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I did asm to podence so;

    Werner for (-4)

    1. Jimmy
    2. Ings
    3. Stick

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

      1

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

      not for a hit

  18. Meme2011
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    anyone picking Vardy over Kane on WC?

    1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No way

  19. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ok so Jim or Ings? Go with better team so Jim?

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think Jimenez will get more points.

      Being in a better team helps, but I wouldn't use that as a cognitive shortcut, as it can mislead.

      Jimenez gets much better chances than Ings, but is an inferior finisher, so it balances out. But over these fixtures, Jimenez is the clear winner imo.

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

        Thanks a lot !

      2. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Agree but Ings game next week vs west brom will have me behind the couch

  20. Prestige_Worldwide
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Rhys James still managed 1 BAP despite being a defender with no goals, no assists and a yellow card in 3-3 game, that’s impressive. Always looks dangerous.

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

      very impressive

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

        be nicer if he didnt do all the other bad things tho

    2. ReindeerHotdog
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Makes sense.

      It's only SIX goals. Not like anyone else did anything of note.

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

    Podence to Harvey Baŕnes for a hit?

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No.

  22. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    For those that saw the United game....

    Martial —> Jiminez before the rise tonight? Better fixtures too...

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

      Did that exact move now

  23. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Werner and Bissouma to Jimenez and Foden -4 (bench davies)

    B) Davies to Saiss

    got 2 hours to decide before priced out...

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

      Goons go A now I think

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

        *Gonna

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

      I'd do a) and b) and take a -8

  24. Ludde
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Werner to jimenez before Price rise?

  25. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martial -> Jiminez
    Davies -> Robbo

    Done for -4. Feeling adventurous. If something goes wrong I have WC in my back pocket.

  26. Going To Win This Year
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martial to
    A Jimi
    B DCL
    C Richa

    Already got Hamez

    1. Meme2011
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      a

  27. Meme2011
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Ings and KDB

    or

    B) Kane & Mahrez

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

      A

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

    How did martial play?

    Worth keeping?

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yep

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

        Looked good?

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Nobody in the United team looked good.

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

      If not, who’d you bring in for him?

      I have jimmy and dcl too

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Ings and Kane look great options..

        Who am I kidding.. Tony was pooor again if you want to get rid I really wouldn’t blame you

  29. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Score predictions?

    Kane
    Mahrez
    KDB

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      13
      8
      5

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

      2
      5
      10

  30. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Maupay is the 2nd pts scorer at the moment in FPL. Thanks to Lamptey... the kid is on fire and unfortunate just to have 11 pts from 3 games.

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

      Yup i think maupay could be a bargain this year. Could do an Ings or Jimenez