Scout Notes

What now for Wolves assets after Soucek and Bowen deliver for West Ham?

West Ham 4-0 Wolves

  • Goals: Jarrod Bowen (£6.3m) x2, Sebastien Haller (£6.3m)
  • Own goals: Raúl Jiménez (£8.6m)
  • Assists: Pablo Fornals (£6.4m) x2, Tomas Soucek (£5.0m), Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m)
  • Bonus points: Masuaku x3 Bowen x2 Aaron Cresswell (£4.9m) x1

Jarrod Bowen (£6.3m) grabbed two goals as David Moyes’ first game as a work-from-home manager went spectacularly well.

The self-isolating West Ham boss watched from afar, while occasionally ringing assistant Stuart Pearce sat in the stands, as his side outplayed a set of Wolves stars who came with most of the Fantasy ownership and left with hardly any points at all.

Phoning in a performance has never been so effective – the Hammers had just 37% of possession, but did so much more with the ball – but from a Fantasy Premier League perspective, it was a disastrous night for the majority of managers.

The five most-owned FPL assets on display all played for Wolves. They scored two points. In total.

A sixth popular player, the 6.2%-owned Daniel Podence (£5.6m), didn’t even make the squad as he failed to shake off a shoulder injury picked up in the Gameweek 2 loss to Manchester City, as coach Nuno Espirito Santo explained pre-match – but not in Friday’s press conference!

“He was not able to recover. He had a knock against City, fell down on the ground. Hopefully it’s not serious.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

That game finished 1-3, but few would have predicted the Wolves backline conceding even more goals to a West Ham outfit with just one to their name across their first two fixtures. Not to mention how solid their defence has been for most of 2020.

That the Hammers did so was down to a superb performance from a well-balanced home team set up in the same formation (3-4-2-1) as the visitors, with lone striker Michail Antonio (£6.4m) putting in a heroic shift which went unrewarded in Fantasy terms.

The 6.2%-owned forward consistently tormented Wolves’ back three, either holding the ball up, beating his marker or drawing a foul, which allowed midfielders Bowen and Tomas Soucek (£5.0m) to run beyond him at pace.

This was certainly the template for the first goal which, based on events at other grounds over the weekend, could probably have done with a bit of VAR.

Antonio was upended by Willy Boly (£5.5m) and what looked like a brilliant advantage played by the referee, Martin Atkinson, allowed Pablo Fornals (£6.4m) to hit a through ball to Bowen, who curled a shot home from the edge of the area.

It turned out that a free-kick had been awarded and Fornals had merely taken it very quickly. Questions were raised: was the free-kick taken from the spot of the foul and was the ball still moving anyway? The answers were ‘not especially’ and ‘yes’, but VAR stayed in its box, the goal stood and West Ham never looked back.

Soucek caught the eye throughout with his brilliantly-timed runs from deep, and the opening goal inspired the budget midfielder to test Wolves keeper Rui Patrício (£5.5m) with a first-time shot from Arthur Masuaku‘s (£4.5m) cross and then a header following dogged work by Antonio.

The striker also forced a save from Patrício, with Fornals blasting the rebound over the bar from just eight yards out.

Such profligacy might have been punished on another day, yet home stopper Lukasz Fabianski (£5.0m) was never really stretched, with Raúl Jiménez (£8.6m) subdued and the team as a whole producing no truly clear-cut chances. A truly rare thing for this Wolves team.

Even so, it was only 1-0 at half-time, but even a muscle injury to Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m) just after the break failed to unsettle the Hammers, although Fantasy managers will be keeping a close eye on the right-back’s fitness situation moving forward.

“Ryan (Fredericks) felt discomfort in his left hamstring while supporting an attack during Sunday’s win and was unable to carry on. He underwent a preliminary examination on Sunday evening before undergoing a scan at hospital on Monday afternoon. The results of that scan confirmed our initial prognosis and he has already begun a programme of rehabilitation. Should everything go to plan, we hope Ryan will be available for selection again after the October international break.” – Richard Collinge, Head of Medical, West Ham

That’s because he was replaced by budget defender Ben Johnson (£4.0m) who, together with fellow wing-back Masuaku, continued to blunt the threat of Adama Traoré (£6.5m), Pedro Neto (£5.5m) and debutant Nelson Semedo (£5.5m) on the flanks, with the trio showing flashes of brilliance without any real cutting edge.

The same could not be said at the other end.

Having scored just once from four great chances in the first half, West Ham buried their opportunities after the break.

Fornals was again the provider for the second goal, after 57 minutes, when his low shot hit the post and Bowen was there to knock in the rebound.

The 15.8%-owned Traoré was hooked not long afterwards, although his two-point haul turned out to be the best of a very bad pack of Wolves scores.

The highly-rated young striker, Fabio Silva (£5.5m), took his place and five minutes later, it was 3-0, with the goal causing more fantasy anguish than joy.

At first glance, it was all very straightforward as Aaron Cresswell‘s (£4.9m) near-post corner was headed home by Soucek, with a deflection off Jimenez.

A few glances later, the strike was deemed to be a Jiménez own goal, downgrading Soucek’s involvement to an assist and handing a big fat zero points to the Mexican striker’s 23.7% ownership.

And just in case anyone was hoping their Wolves defenders might limp off with one measly point from their Sunday night of woe, a goal for substitute Sebastien Haller (£6.3m), who headed home a fine Masuaku cross in time added on, proved to be a manky bit of icing on a wholly unpalatable cake.

Nuno was clear in his post-match analysis, with three ‘bads’ and a ‘didn’t play good’ in just four sentences.

“We played very, very bad. We made mistakes, we didn’t play good and West Ham were better than us. Since the beginning, we were defensively very bad. We were not able to break them and in the second half, very bad.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

West Ham assistant manager Alan Irvine was, understandably, rather more upbeat.

“We were thrilled with the performance and delighted with the result and we’ll probably look back and think maybe we could have got more.” – Alan Irvine

He also handed out some praise to Bowen.

“He’s great to work with on a day-to-day basis and he works on his finishing every day, and I mean every day, and we feel as if he has got a very good future here.” – Alan Irvine

The future for West Ham, at least in the short term, is not so good, however – they’re about to embark on a four-match run involving Leicester, Spurs and Liverpool away and Manchester City at home.

That will surely force most managers to steer clear of their assets for now, despite Sunday’s excellent performance, with their fixtures easing in early November and looking really attractive from Gameweek 12.

As for Wolves, their immediate schedule (FUL, lee, NEW, CRY) offers plenty of chances for redemption, and FPL bosses seem to agree as Jiménez is currently among the most popular players for Gameweek 4 transfers-in, with far fewer getting rid of him or his team-mates.

West Ham United XI (3-4-2-1): Fabianski; Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Fredericks (Johnson 49′), Masuaku, Rice, Soucek; Bowen (Noble 88′), Fornals; Antonio (Haller 88′).

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saïss; Semedo (Hoever 73′), Moutinho (Vitinha 73′), Neves, Vinagre; Traore (F Silva 62′), Neto; Jiménez.

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1,214 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Linca - TerribleFromKepa
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What's everyone doing with Son?

    I'm keen on Barnes. Grelish looked good but only vs Fulham? Zaha still an option?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I went Zaha

    2. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Did son to Barnes, trossard interested me as well however

    3. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Zaha or Barnes. Zaha has the penalty advantage and Barnes has the better attacking team advantage.

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

      I sold to get the price rise.

      But I would be tempted to keep at least until you get some news on him and how long he will be out for. If he's back for GW5, then I'd keep.

    5. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Trossard and strengthen elsewhere.

  2. Muller Reus Corner
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Does Digne to Robbo make sense for a FT, or should I wait for price rise of Digne then sell for profit?

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Digne is as good as it comes.

      1. Muller Reus Corner
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        How has he looked, as he only has one assist and Everton defence looks shaky?

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

          Two assists

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

      Hold Digne for Brighton at home then reassess

      1. Muller Reus Corner
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks

    3. kempc23
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I would wait, although I dont think either will rise this week. Digne is on 60% so there is a chance.

      Whether you want to do it at all is another thing. I would probably give Digne CPL at home.

      1. kempc23
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Oops Brighton, even better

  3. Mayor of Flair
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    VVD & Werner -> TAA & Ings for -4 makes perfect sense, yes?

    What if I told you I have already sold TAA and Ings out this season?

    The ironing is delicious.

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Go for it

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

      As well as the irony?
      Sometimes you gotta swallow your medicine to heal

      1. Mayor of Flair
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        😉

  4. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How does this WC team look?

    McCarthy, 4.0
    TAA, Lamptey, Justin, Mitchell, Taylor
    KDB, Salah, Zaha, Barnes, Anguissa
    DCL, Ings, Jimenez

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Good, like it.

      not sure on McCarthy and Zaha though

  5. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed..

    Does it WCable?

    Current squad

    Johnstone
    TAA Justin KWP
    KDB Son Rodriguez Diangana
    Jimenez Kane DCL

    Button Mitchell Dallas Reed

    WC squad

    Martinez
    TAA Robbo James
    Salah/Raz KDB Zaha Klich
    Jimenez DCL Maupay

    Steer Lamptey Mitchell Stephens

  6. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which triple pool would you go for? Salah + Mane +
    A) Robbo
    B) Mane

    1. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Salah + Trent, oops

      1. Mayor of Flair
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Robbo

    2. Mayor of Flair
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Ah here

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

      Double defence every time for me

      Went double attack last season but poor call. Mane and Mo are mutually exclusive for hauls. Essentially they never haul together.

      1. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        But that only means it doesn’t work in a single gameweek. Over a period of gameweeks, they keep matching each other back and forth. We don’t pick our teams for one week anyway. Personally, I had a good experience with their double up last season.

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

          On a big budget that’s not so bad but on early season budget you’re restricting options by having one “poor” super mid and more importantly restricting Captain options.

          1. Cok3y5murf
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Fair enough. I think this season, more than ever, with the variety of options available and them being the two most expensive assets, their value will be lower than ever. I would only double up on them if they face of series of whipping boys or in double gameweeks. I’m currently doubled up on Sterling and KDB in a similar fashion, but hey, that’s off to a great start 😆

            1. Cok3y5murf
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Face a*

    4. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Double mid, pool will keep lesser CS than last year & should score more goals too

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

        Robbo scored, Salah didn't ....

        1. Mighty Banana
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          It's settled. Robbo is now the favourite over Salah for the Golden Boot.

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

    Benching question

    Guaita
    Robbo TAA xxxx xxxxx
    KdB Havertz Zaha xxxx
    Ings Jim DCL

    Steer Mitchell

    Choose two

    A Lamptey
    B Saiss
    C Foden
    D Soucek

    1. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A very easy A+D for me.

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

    Guys need suggestions badly.

    Ryan
    Taa kwp Justin Taylor Ferguson *
    Salah kdb son* podence * soucek
    Werner dcl Brewster

    2.0m itb 0 ft

    A) son to Bruno -4
    B) son to Barnes -4
    C) son Brewster to Barnes ings -8
    D) son podence to Barnes rashford /mahrez -8

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

      Just Son out unless Podence is dead.

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

    A) Robertson + Soucek
    B) Saiss + Barnes

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B for next few GWs

  10. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Would you do Mitro to DCL for a hit ?

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

      Probably not, personally I think Rich will outscore DCL over the course of the season and that hat trick (which was partly due to the red card) won't happen again any time soon.
      Mitro looked a threat last night still and is on pens... I'd wait till it's a FT if still adamant

  11. Slurpy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ramsdale BPF
    Trent Digne Dallas Justin Ferguson
    Sterling Salah Son Podence Soucek
    Werner DCL Davies

    Would you wildcard this team?

  12. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    doherty > robbo worth a -4? have exact money

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

      only problem is I will find it hard to upgrade mitchell and justin later on

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

        Really good fixtures for Leicester.No need to sell him.

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

      yes

  13. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Might do son & Werner to klich & Vardy
    It'll enable me mid trio of
    Salah kdb Bruno

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

    Seems like a silly question now but Son is going to drop at least twice this week isn’t he...could even be triple
    Really want to save transfer after using wc last week

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

      My guess is one more drop in Saturday.

  15. Harmonica1967
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Does this need wildcarding, or hold for now? Made my worst start in 4 years

    Ramsdale-Nyland
    TAA-Doherty-Mitchell-KWP-Vinagre
    Salah-KdB-Zaha-Rodriguez-Soucek
    Werner-Mitro-Brewster

    1.2 ITB, 1 FT

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

      I really like most of it. With a -4 you could do Klich/Trossard in for Zaha and Upgrade Mitrovic to DCL?

  16. Budgies
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    My current team:

    Martinez
    Digne, Saiss, Gabriel
    KDB, Bruno, J Rod, Podence*
    Lacazette, DCL, Jimenez
    (Steer, Zaha, Justin, Mitchell)

    £1m in bank. Struggling what to do here, podence is a dobt currently but think he will play next game. I weighing up:

    Zaha > D.Jota
    Gabriel > Castagne

    Still leaves £1.1 in bank.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice team. Gabriel to Bellerin or Lamptey, for me.

  17. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    This should be an interesting one...?

    A) Reece James+Ings
    B) Robbo+Maupay

    On a WC.

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Have TAA if it matters.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I’m leaning towards B. They hardly gave Arsenal a sniff last night.

  18. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Sold Son for Podence which now leaves 4m ITB. Team is at a bit of a cross roads; JRod/Foden can become Bruno if penalties are going to continue to be a theme, or I can shift the funds to TAA / Robbo after the Everton game.

    Martinez
    James, Saiss, Digne
    Salah, KdB, JRod, Foden, Podence
    DCL, Jimenez

    Forster, Lamptey, Mitchell, Brewster

    Who’s more pressing to get in?
    Ings, Richarlison, Bruno, TAA?

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pool def

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah, think you’re right. Cheers

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

        This

  19. zman575
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hey guys, so this is my current team after an 8 point hit this week to bring in vardy barnes and foden on saturday night (before sons injury and vardys hattrick).

    mccarthy steer
    taa justin mitchell taylor vinagre
    son salah barnes foden anguissa
    dcl jimi vardy

    Which of the following would you guys do about son.

    A. Hold with current team and move son on next week, benching him this week for taylor away at newcastle.

    B. Bring traore in for anguissa (ive got 2 mil in the bank) for an extra 4 point hit taking my total hit up to 12 points which is obviously huge but could be well rewarded with those wolves and leicester fixtures over the coming weeks.

    C. Bring Mahrez/Greenwood or even Puli/Ziyech (if they are back) for son again for an extra 4 point hit taking my total points hit up to 12 for the week.

    I dont mind a hit if i think the player will more than outscore his replacement by 4 points and especially if its over a 2-3 game period like mahrez or traore.

    Let me know your thoughts please guys!

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

      personally I wouldn't want to take a -12 so I'd probably hold... But this is the problem I see with owning Foden. When another player is out, can you rely on him to start, it leaves you with 3 in MF including a 4.5

      1. zman575
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        i actually just brought foden in this week because i do believe he will get a lot more minutes now without david silva around. in fact i see him getting more mins than mahrez. i know what you mean about the 12 point hit but i just feel like traore could outscore taylor by 4 in addition to his fixtures being unbelievably good and hes easily wolves's 2nd best attacking asset after jimi. also brining him in for the extra 4 point hit means i have 8 playing attackers. so can for example bench foden or dcl next week at home to liverpool.

  20. Camino Aleatorio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I had Soucek on my team this weekend

    On my bench though

    1. zman575
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      which option would you go with bro?

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

        Until I have new information- it appears that Soucek is a big center forward that tries to hammer In headed goals

        He is getting action and shots in the box

        He also wore out the Wolves center backs and Jimi. The picture on the article is telling. Saiss, Boly, and Jimi are big strong kids- Soucek being so influential this weekend means he is legit

        I will play him like I would a West Ham Center Forward

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

    I have Werner Jimenez and DCL.
    A) Hold Werner
    B) replace Werner with Ings
    C) replace Werner with Laca
    D) replace Werner with Richarlison

    1. zman575
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      replace werner with vardy

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

    McCarthy // Forster
    Lamptey // Justin // Taylor // Mitchell // Dunne
    Salah // KDB // Bruno // Zaha // Klich
    Jimenez // Ings // Maupay

    0ITB.

    Opinions please? thanks

    1. zman575
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      good team. dont get why everyone is jumping on maupay. fixtures arent as good as everyone is saying. in form everton and palace away and spurs away in 3 of next 4.

  23. tc93
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Odds on michell rising before start of next week?

  24. Rambo Motin
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Attention to all who's thinking of selling Son.

    Keep him, gaffer said he should be back in time for GW5 after the international break. Plus he's got a juicy fixture!

    1. zman575
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      amazing news where did you hear this?

  25. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Last poll this eve:

    A. Vardy + Maupay, and 0.8 ITB to have option of upgrading Havertz to Son after IB

    B. Ings + Jiménez and 0.3ITB

    1. zman575
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      can you not go jimi and vardy. ings is great this week but not so keen after