Scout Notes

Rodgers offers Vardy injury update after Foxes thrash striker-less Man City

Manchester City 2-5 Leicester City

  • Goals: Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m), Nathan Ake (£5.5m) | Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) x3, James Maddison (£7.0m), Youri Tielemans (£6.4m)
  • Assists: Mahrez | Timothy Castagne (£5.6m), Nampalys Mendy (£4.5m), Maddison
  • Bonus: Vardy x3, Mahrez x2, Maddison x1

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers thinks that Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) “will be fine” after Sunday’s hat-trick hero walked gingerly from the field of play in the closing stages of a remarkable match at the Etihad.

Vardy took his 2020/21 goals tally to five in the Foxes’ 5-2 win over a shellshocked Manchester City but appeared to be in some discomfort towards the end of the match, eventually being replaced with five minutes to go.

Both player and manager confirmed that the issue was Vardy’s hip, rather than his groin as originally reported, that was causing him discomfort but Rodgers revealed that it was an ongoing issue and something that hasn’t stopped him from playing in the past:

Vardy was even more bullish when interviewed after full-time, telling the broadcast media:

I’ve just got a slight issue with my hip, I think it’s a bit of growth in one of the bones, it just clicks every so often and just gives me a bit of pain. It’s no issue. I’ll be absolutely fine.

Rodgers was also optimistic about two other Leicester players who were withdrawn because of injury issues.

Jonny Evans (£5.5m), who was only just back from suspension and a thigh injury, hobbled off in the final 10 minutes, while Dennis Praet (£5.5m) looked in some discomfort when being replaced midway through the second half.

Rodgers said:

Jonny [Evans] felt his calf tighten up, first game for such a long time. We’re hoping that’s all it is. Dennis [Praet], we’ll have to wait and see. A sort of twist of his knee, so hopefully that won’t be too serious. Hopefully, those three [including Vardy] will be OK.

FABULOUS FOXES

Given that Leicester limped over the finish line at the end of 2019/20 with four wins from their final 17 Premier League matches, there were understandable reservations about their Fantasy assets at the start of this campaign.

They have put those concerns to bed in the first few weeks of 2020/21, however, winning all three of their games to date and racking up 12 goals in the process.

Sunday’s win over Manchester City continued the renaissance and there were eye-catching displays all over the park.

Vardy was typically sharp off the ball and clinical on the rare occasions he was on it: only Ederson (£6.0m) of the 22 starting players had fewer touches than the Leicester man, while the 33-year-old striker had only three shots on goal – and converted them all.

Two of his goals came from the penalty spot after he himself had been fouled, while his second strike was a superb flick from a Timothy Castagne (£5.6m) cross.

Considering that only four of his 23 goals in his Golden Boot-winning year came from 12 yards, he could easily trump that total in 2020/21 should penalties continue to be dished out as freely as emojis from the FFS Twitter account.

CASTAGNE DELIVERS AGAIN

Castagne has now registered attacking returns in all three Gameweeks so far and is the leading points scorer among FPL defenders by some margin, having averaged nine points per match since his move from Atalanta.

Leicester may have changed to a back five and sat a bit deeper in this match but the Belgian right-back was still given license to get forward, bombing on to the byline to supply Vardy’s second goal.

It should be said that he has created only three chances all season but both he and James Justin (£4.7m) have really caught the eye, not just for their assist potential: diagonal runs towards the six-yard box brought them goals in Gameweeks 1 and 2.

Elsewhere, Youri Tielemans (£6.4m) was excellent – it’s easy to forget that he struggled for form last season and how much of an asset his slick passing was to Leicester’s front players when Rodgers first took charge at the end of 2018/19. If he has rediscovered that form, then that can again only benefit Vardy.

The Belgian “assisted the assister” for Leicester’s second goal and it was from his through-pass that substitute James Maddison (£7.0m) won the Foxes’ third penalty, a spot-kick that Tielemans converted with Vardy off the field.

Maddison had earlier curled in a superb effort from distance to put Leicester 4-2 up.

Missing out on the points was Harvey Barnes (£7.0m) but he too caught the eye, supplying the key passes that led to Leicester’s first two penalties and looking a real threat around the hosts’ box.

A home match against West Ham is up next for the Foxes and, as strange as it sounds, this might be the toughest test for Vardy, Barnes et al to date: so far Leicester have faced the division’s worst defence in West Brom, a Burnley team missing both first-choice centre-halves and then a Manchester City outfit that played into their hands on Sunday.

The Hammers have looked uncharacteristically solid since moving to a back three in Gameweek 2, allowing Arsenal and Wolves few clear-cut opportunities in their last two games.

WHAT NOW FOR MAN CITY ASSETS?

Manchester City haven’t become a bad team overnight; in fact, this was very reminiscent of their form in 2019/20.

The Citizens may never have conceded five goals under Guardiola before but games against Norwich City, Wolves and Lyon last season were similar to this one, with their defence as capable of shooting themselves in the foot as they are racking up a string of clean sheets (they kept a league-high 17 of those in the season just gone).

Their Gameweek 4 match against Leeds could just as easily end 5-0 to City as it could 3-2 to the Whites, and that’s why our interest remains so keen in their attacking assets.

Given the ongoing injury crisis, the likes of Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.6m) also face little threat of rotation at present.

With Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) and Sergio Aguero (£10.4m) out for a month, Sterling started this game as the central striker in Guardiola’s 4-2-3-1, with De Bruyne supporting him in the number 10 role.

Time will tell if the lack of an orthodox striker blunts City’s attack but Sterling was peripheral and they created little of quality from open play, with their two goals – a Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m) howitzer and a Nathan Ake (£5.5m) header – both coming from corners.

Phil Foden (£6.6m) was borderline anonymous, eventually being substituted just after the hour-mark, while the sight of 17-year-old Liam Delap (£4.5m) being thrown on early in the second half hinted at how desperate Guardiola was.

The City boss said after full-time:

We played really good in the first 30 minutes. We scored early on but I think they defended so deep, so it was not easy. In this situation, it happened many times, we have to control the counter-attack. The problem was that we put extra pressure on ourselves to score the second or third one when they just didn’t want to play.

They just wanted to defend and play on the counter-attack and in that position, we have to be more calm. We started to think we are playing bad. We told them at half-time they were playing good, try to be patient and the rest will be in our hands, but we were not strong enough to be stable and patient.

Manchester City XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Garcia, Ake, Mendy; Rodri, Fernandinho (Delap 51′); Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden (Torres 64′); Sterling.

Leicester City XI (5-4-1): Schmeichel; Castagne, Amartey, Evans (Fuchs 80′), Soyuncu, Justin; Praet (Maddison 69′), Tielemans, Mendy, Barnes; Vardy (Iheanacho 89′). 


PREMIUM MEMBERS ANALYSIS

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 3

2,161 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Will the baps change for the liverpool game or is it final now?

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

      Final

    2. Obi Wan Elokobi
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      They should do as Robertson’s winning goal. TAA with the most undeserved bonus points since James

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

      Final now I think

    4. fusen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      they are still marked as provisional

  2. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Barnes, Mount or Pereira?

    Thanks

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes

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

      Also consider Trossard

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pereira if you plan to spend the mil. Barnes if not

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

      Jota

    5. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Easy barnes

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

      barnes

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

      Harvey Barnes?

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

    Werner and Son -> Jimi and Bruno (-4)?

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

      Yes

  4. timawflowers
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best 2 strikers to have for the next few was
    A - ings and jiminez
    B - werner and ings
    C - vardy and dcl

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C

    2. Obi Wan Elokobi
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think A but not confident.

    4. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    5. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A or C. Probably A by a hair.

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

      B

  5. twisterteo
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Just done
    Son, Davis to Soucek, Ings for a -4

    But not sure how I feel about it...too late anyway

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

      Ouch

    2. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Good moves

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

    How is Burnley looking without Tarkowski and Mee.
    Is it worth keeping Wilson one more week?

    Newcastle are so poor though

    1. nani is michael jackson
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      In this climate hold your penalty takers close

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

        Thanks

  7. Tarzan
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best midfielder under £6.2m?

    Podence? Pereira? Trossard?
    Any other?

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

      Pereira or Trossard for me.

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pereira for next 4

    3. Mr. Chimes
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Trossard the differential imo

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

    39 pts all out. A bad week, but not the unmitigated disaster it looked on Sunday evening.

    1. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah. Was worried last night as well.

  9. I Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    TAA + Robbo on WC?

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

      nah stick unless you'd use the 0.5 elsewhere.

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

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

      Sure
      Best midfielders under 7.5 with Barnes

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

      Both mate, they are beasts

    5. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Sorry read that wrong.

      Yes do it

  10. Powers106
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I’m willing to take another -4 this week but what do you think? Thanks!

    A) Aubameyang —> KDB for 1 ft

    B) Auba—> KDB, and Davis —> Bamford -4

    C) Auba —> Mahrez, Adams —> Vardy -4

    McCarthy (Button)
    TAA - Robbo- Vinagre - Taylor (Mitchell)
    Auba - Salah - Bruno - Bissouma (Soucek)
    Jimenez - Adams (Davis)

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Auba has Sheff Utd

      Save and hope that Leeds do well against City

  11. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    ings (c) gw4?

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

      Kdb
      Ings VC

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

      I want him but I've already used my FT. And don't want to get rid of Jimenez before Fulham. Could be a great differential captain pick. Ings usually always scores

      1. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah Ings or Jimenez is such a dilemma. Both great options.

  12. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    53 all out ... after selling Vardy for Werner ... what could have been 🙂

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

      Wow unlucky

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        for a hit 🙁

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

      Ouch

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

      Still wayyy above average this week

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

    Does anyone know if Wilson is actually on penalties?
    Or was it because Ritchie had already been subbed?

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      yes on penalties

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

        Thanks

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

      Probably because Ritchie was subbed but Ritchie might not be first choice this season anyway.

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

        Just ignore my comment!

  14. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Trying to decide between 343 or 442

    A) 343 with DCL (Jiminez, Ings)
    B) 442 with Robertson

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

      A

  15. All For One
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bruno or Mahrez?

    Have to transfer Son out now before price drop to afford Bruno.

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

      Bruno

      1. All For One
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Heiro
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Zaha?

      1. All For One
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Zaha does have some good fixtures but not too consistent.

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

      I'd get barnes

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

      Just seen this post and thought what a great team name that would be: Bruno Mahrez.

      I expect loads of people have already called their team that, though.

      1. All For One
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Lol

    5. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mahrez... Bruno is too expensive imo

  16. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC team?

    Martinez
    TAA Robbo Castagne
    Salah KDB Barnes Pereira
    Ings DCL Maupay
    Button Anguissa Mitchell Johnson

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

      Like it

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

      Looks sexy.

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

      Hit for 6

    4. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Like it but needs some Wolves imo. Last night was an outlier, Jimenez will score goals and has Fulham & Leeds next 2. Prefer Trossard/Foden to Maupay as well.

    5. All For One
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice I like the Maupay pick.

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

      Nice team. Rather have Jiminez over Maupay

    7. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pretty similar to mine atm 🙂

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

      If I were to WC this week, I’d want Jimi

    9. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers all.

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

    Have no City players and already transferred Martial to Jimenez.

    a) KDB for Son?
    b) Bruno for Son?
    c) keep Son?

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

      A

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

      C

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A defo

    4. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  18. MoSalalalalalalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son to Barnes? Or are there better replacements?

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

      Bruno

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

        Unfortunately, can only do as good as Rashford

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes or Pereira. Maybe Foden if no City cover, upgrade elsewhere

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

        Have KDB, so Barnes it is. Just using the FT so probably will just hold onto the cash

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

      I did son to Barnes just now

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

        Yeah thinking I'm about to press the button as well

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

    43 points red arrow?? Average is 40

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

      Much higher average when Trent Robbo Bonus included

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

      Average is 43

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I have 43 and a green arrow

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

      I guess it depends where are you in OR.

  20. twisterteo
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who would you captain next week

    A. KDB v Leeds
    B. Salah v Villa
    C. Jimenez v Fulham
    D. Ings v WBA

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

      C

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

      A for me but all of them are great options.

    3. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bamford against City from that lot

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

      B

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

      E. Sterling

  21. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A- Klopp
    B- Keane

    ?!

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A of course, haha

      1. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        brilliant!!

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

          I’ll kill him

  22. MoSalalalalalalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Podence injury update?

  23. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I'll try to avoid hits again this week and I've opted to do Harrison -> Pereira for free.
    I'll play AWB and hope, that Sonless Spurs will be a toothless Spurs.

    Gtg?

    Martínez
    Digne - AWB - Lamptey
    (K)DB - Sterling - Rashford - Rodríguez - Pereira
    Jimínez - Richarlison

    (Steer, Taylor, Mitchell, Brewster)

  24. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Lewis to TAA worth -4?

    Or shd i wait another week as lewis has burnley at home

  25. Taff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martinez (Forster)
    Robbo, Saiss, James (Lamptey, Mitchell)
    Bruno, KDB, Mo, Trossard (Bissouma)
    DCL, Bamford, Jimi

    GTG?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Very nice but would expect a Bamford regression

  26. ArseneAllTheWay
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    1-week punt before WC

    A) Werner > Vardy
    B) Werner > Jimi & Mitro > DCL?

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

      if you have to sell werner, im not imI keeping for next two chelsea games i'd do werner to jiminez

  27. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    59 all out. Good for this week by the sounds of it.

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

      Ggs

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

      59 is great

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Link says different?

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Fixed now. Cheers.

  28. LucasMoregametime
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pickford (ryan)
    Justin, Saiss, VVD, Justin (mitchell)
    KDB, Zaha, Hamez (podence)
    Kane, Jimi, Werner

    0.9 in bank save FT? can't believe this is my post WC team....

  29. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Need a midfield penalty taker. 10m budget already got Salah, Bruno and Hames

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

      Klitch but wouldn’t get him with those fixtures.

      Maybe Pereira but that’s not for sure.

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Zaha

  30. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What's the real reason behind picking VVD over Robbo? Must be cheapskate right? The reason why their points were close last season was cos Robbo missed 2 clean sheets.

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

      Yes not enough bank otherwise Robbo assist / goal king

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

        The ownership for VVD is just way too high as compared to Robbo's. He can only score via corners, and corner goals are based on rng...

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

      5 goals last season. Robbo/TAA combined had only one more.