Scout Notes

Great FPL fixtures ahead for Palace but weak attack exposed again in M23 derby

Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton and Hove Albion

  • Goals: Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) | Alexis Mac Allister (£5.3m)
  • Assists: Michy Batshuayi (£5.8m) | Aaron Connolly (£5.5m)
  • Red card: Lewis Dunk (£4.9m)
  • Bonus: Mac Allister x3, Zaha x2, Solly March (£5.0m) x1

Owners of Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) were the only real winners as a scrappy M23 derby ended with the spoils shared.

Zaha scored from the spot to notch his fourth goal of the season – as many as he managed in the whole of 2019/20 – but the other three players who delivered attacking returns at Selhurst Park were all owned by fewer than 1% of Fantasy Premier League managers.

With no clean sheets or save points arriving, and with Lewis Dunk (£4.9m) seeing red for a reckless late foul that will now rule him out until Gameweek 9, there was no joy for those who backed the defences of either side, either.

PRAGMATIC PALACE

After scoring just 31 goals in 38 Premier League matches last season, Palace have fostered a reputation for being a defence-first side under Roy Hodgson.

A move to a 4-4-2 in the current campaign and a 3-1 win over an out-of-sorts Manchester United in Gameweek 2 did suggest that the Eagles would attack with more abandon in 2020/21 but the Eagles have since reverted to type.

The hosts managed just one shot – Zaha’s penalty – in Sunday’s clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, having mustered only four attempts in the 4-0 defeat at Chelsea a fortnight ago.

Granted, they might have shown more attacking ambition against the Seagulls had they not had an early lead to defend, but their lack of response against Frank Lampard’s side was a concern.

Palace sit top of our Season Ticker over the next six Gameweeks and will face some of the division’s weakest defences in Fulham and West Bromwich Albion in that time.

Perhaps fixtures will count more than form in those cases but there is otherwise little incentive to invest in their attack.

Palace’s rank v other PL clubs in 2020/21
Minutes per chance20th
Minutes per shot on target20th
Minutes per shot in the box19th
Minutes per big chance17th

Zaha does have an ‘out of position’ tag to his name, at least, and being a nominated penalty-taker currently counts for a lot given the spike in spot-kick awards.

The return of Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m), who was on the bench on Sunday afternoon, is one to monitor, though, given that the Dutchman stepped up from 12 yards on one occasion last season.

Should hitherto first-choice penalty-taker Luka Milivojevic (£5.7m) reclaim a starting spot, that would lead to further uncertainty.

CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

A shot count of 20-1 in Brighton’s favour might have looked like one-way traffic but Albion didn’t often trouble Vicente Guaita (£5.0m), aside from one smart stop that the Palace custodian made from Neal Maupay (£6.6m).

Guaita only made one other save apart from that and it took a deflected, 89th-minute effort from substitute Alexis Mac Allister (£5.3m) to spoil the Eagles’ clean sheet, even if it gave the scoreline a fairer look.

While there are reservations about Palace’s attack, their defence has traditionally excelled against the also-rans (they managed clean sheets in half of their 18 meetings with fellow bottom-half clubs last season) and the upcoming schedule bodes well on that front.

Providing the knock he took to the shin from Dunk isn’t serious, the return of Gary Cahill (£4.5m) is also a boon – as his manager explained:

First of all, he’s a very, very good defender. His positioning is very good, he’s exceptionally good in the air, he’s a strong challenger for the ball and a very good blocker of the ball. These are the defensive qualities we don’t talk about every day. They’re the qualities that get you the clean sheets.

He’s also brought us leadership qualities, he’s been very good leadership-wise. He’s the best type of leader: he’s the quiet leader people don’t see from Row Z in the stand. He’s the leader we see in training week to week.

Brighton, too, have looked comfortable at the back against mid-table fodder (Newcastle, Palace) despite their concession of ten goals in matches against Manchester United, Chelsea and high-flying Everton.

While it’s difficult to gauge how solid they are based on Sunday’s match against a limp Palace, they too have favourable home games against West Brom, Burnley and Southampton in the next six Gameweeks.

Dunk’s suspension weakens them to an extent but if there is one area in which the Seagulls are well covered, it’s at centre-half.

BUDGET ASSET WATCH

Two budget defenders with double-digit ownerships locked horns at Selhurst Park on Sunday – quite literally at one point following a second-half coming-together.

Mitchell’s yellow card and late loss of a clean sheet meant that he emerged with another blank and his place looks a lot more at risk than Lamptey’s, with van Aanholt finally fit enough for bench duty on Sunday.

The young defender has exceeded expectations this season but the attacking impetus that van Aanholt brings has arguably been missed and the changing of the guard at left-back seems to be a matter of when, not if.

Lamptey may fall foul of Graham Potter’s on-hold rotation when the fixtures mount up in December but he’s an important cog in the machine at present, with no player creating more chances than the right-back at Selhurst Park.

Yves Bissouma (£4.5m) continues to offer a bit of a threat in the budget midfield bracket, even if most of his efforts tend to come from distance. The Mali international, who scored in Gameweek 4, rippled the side-netting with one early shot and saw a well-hit effort from outside the box sail over after the interval.


Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Ward, Kouyate, Cahill, Mitchell; Townsend, Riedewald, McArthur, Schlupp (Benteke 88′); Batshuayi (Milivojevic 83′), Zaha.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-2-1): Ryan; Webster, Dunk, Burn (Gross 82′); Lamptey, White, Bissouma, March; Trossard (Connolly 78′), Lallana (Mac Allister 78′); Maupay.

PREMIUM MEMBERS ANALYSIS

LESSONS LEARNED FROM FPL GAMEWEEK 5

369 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    B covers it all

    1. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      xD nice failed comment

  2. DIMITRIS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What to do with my team? It looks like this:
    Martinez (Forster)
    TAA - Lamptey - Saiss (James, Mitchell)
    Sterling - Son - Grealish - Hamez - Barnes
    Werner - Jimenez (Davis)
    0.4 itb, 1 FT
    I was thing something like this : TAA and Barnes out for Tierny and Bale in or Barnes and Werner out for Aguero/Kane and Trossard in.
    What do you think?

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

      thinking*

  3. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Let's settle it, set piece and assist potential vs headed goal potential:

    A) Konsa
    B) Targett

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

      A i guess. Villa looks dangerous from set pieces, and Konsa looks dangerous in the air

    2. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Konsa easy.

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A, doubt both will get any attacking returns though 😀

    4. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I like wing backs better, especially on a team that is not the most dominant offensively.

      Players like Maguire and VVD play on teams that have loads of offensive zone time which results in more set pieces closer to the box so it suits their headed goal potential. Villa not so much. Targett also plays on the same wing as Grealish and likes the overlap so is decent in open play. That’s my logic anyways

    5. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

      1. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Target did shoot a free kick too ! Probably won't take it again but still :D)

    6. All about the galacticos
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B, more upside especially now they have barkley and watkins

    7. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I prefer Targett. Not much in it though.

    8. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thought this would clear things - thanks all for the contributions.

    9. Chris_H
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Similar to the Dallas/Ayling argument - pick whichever you fancy and don't beat yourself up when the other gets the extras!

  4. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    In straight comparison, who would you prefer between Sterling and Bruno?

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

      Bruno for the pens.

    2. All about the galacticos
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno for pens + 1m, guaranteed to start, and play 90mins.

      1. KennyKickIt127
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        This ^

    3. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling all day

    4. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno

  5. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wow Ivanović and Hegazi starting. Now that's a throwback.

    1. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It would be great for bench if Hegazi (4.3) can keep starting.

  6. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    JRod is benched!!

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

      JRod junior*

  7. KennyKickIt127
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    So I have just wild carded and my team is looking pretty good for next week:

    Martinez (Button)
    Ward Reguillon Lamptey (Diop Branthwaite)
    Salah Mane Son Rodríguez Grealish
    DCL Jimi (Brewster)

    Got 0.2 ITB

    I would be tempted to get on the Kane bandwagon but it would cost me -4 to do so (thinking only really Jimi I could get him in for but would need to downgrade a midfielder)

    I reckon I am good to go but if I have to get Kane ... who would you get him for? Or how?

    Thanks!

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

      Go without, nice tean

      1. KennyKickIt127
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks ... yeah I’m definitely against taking hits after a WC

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I spent -8 to get on last GW
      green arrow

      1. KennyKickIt127
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah but will he get 2 goals and assist every game? He’s only really got 3 plum fixtures and there’s always one that throws up an anomaly!

        The only thing is his price... I like taking advantage of price rises that I can then use to get other players!

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

    Maupay + Pulisic -> Kane + Trossard (-4)?
    Would leave 0.0 ITB so gotta do today

    1. KennyKickIt127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I would ... but depends on who else you have in midfield/up front... Pulisic could be a differential in the coming weeks

  9. Cruz88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Do you think Barkley is a good enough replacement for Grealish, if it means being able to upgrade Barnes to Bruno?

    1. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes!

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      the upside of the combined transfers is considerable.

      AKA, yes.

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

      Could work but hold and see if Barkley is injured as another member suggested he was.

      1. Cruz88
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        He said he had a knee complaint in the week but credited the medical team for getting him back on track. Played 90 mins so assuming he's ok

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

          Thanks. Anything regarding knees having issues are worth waiting out the week in my opinion.

          1. Cruz88
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Good call

  10. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Let’s go! Woody woody gun drops!

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I swear we have the same team lol

  11. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any comments from the Prem front offices on the Pickford non RC

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No further action

  12. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any improvements on this team?

    Martinez
    Robertson, Sais, Lamptey
    Salah, Son, Fernandes, Grealish
    Kane, DCL, Watkins

    Subs: Forster, Mitchell, Dunne, Reed

    1. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That's a great team

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Good team.

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks

    4. Whiskerz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Don't like the villa triple up but I can see the temptation. I'd rather jamez over grealish.

    5. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Cracking side

  13. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    1-0 win for WBA through a Wood own goal would be sweet.

    We can always hope.....

    1. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Why?

      I got Wood 🙁

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

      What u got against Wood?

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I don't own him and others do.

        Nothing personal. Just FPL business.

  14. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would love a Podence double figure haul as a parting gift tonight.

    Reality is he’ll probably get benched.

    1. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You never know....

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Leeds games have been high scoring. One can dream

  15. tafrère
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Team is :

    Adrian McCarthy
    Chilwell Aurier Konsa Mitchell Kilman
    Salah Son Rodriguez Grealish Podence
    Kane Wilson Bamford

    1FT, £2.6

    DCL is very tempting (replacing Bamford). Mids like Barkley, McGinn and Jorginho are tempting too (replacing Podence). No idea where to go in defence even though I'm not satisfied with my current defs... Save the FT seems like the most logical thing to do (for now). Any ideas ?

  16. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Let's go Pereira!

  17. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    M23 derby?

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah

    2. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Are Wythenshawe playing Wythenshawe?

  18. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would love to know the numbers on these box office matches. Can’t imagine them selling well

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Just paid... let’s go!

  19. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wilson maupay bamford owners getting frustrated after one blank.

  20. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Keen to get Salah in for Havertz but will need to take a -4 hit. Which option looks best: 1 FT and 2.6 ITB

    A - Digne & Havertz > Salah & Konsa
    B - Havertz & Jimi > Salah & Maupay
    C - Havertz & Jimi > Salah & Wilson

    McCarthy
    Digne - Saiss - Egan - Taylor - Egan
    Son - Bruno - Havertz - Soucek - Grealish
    Ings - DCL - Jimi  

    1. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      All three options look great imo.

    2. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wait till after the match today to see how Jimi is doing. They have generally not been up to their usual standard. Hopefully today better.

  21. tafrère
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Who need something special from Bamford tonight ?

    Actually the first PL game I'll be able to watch this season so far !

  22. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would love to see Laterizer's team (post match of course)...how do I do that? Am a fan.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      mods and cons league, listed up the top somewhere

      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Don't see it. Any further pointers? Sorry, new finding stuff.

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Scroll down the rankings - may take a few days though 😉

      1. Joey Tribbiani
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        pew pew, shots fired

      2. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Where do I find Mods and Cons? Thanks

        1. grumpyman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          League code 581

          1. bso
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks mate

          2. bso
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Pranil Sheth (Bad team on paper)...does not look like Lateriser?

            1. Fred54
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Plenty of us brown people play this game, have an open mind.

              1. bso
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                What you talking about Fred? I am brown too. The name of the team is "Bad Team on Paper".

                1. Fred54
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Fair enough, I guess its plausible that you haven't seen him on twitter, or articles here, or FPL podcasts and videos or even that billboard in Times Square.

          3. bso
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Or maybe that is his name? Much appreciate you helping me.

  23. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Who is more essential over the next few weeks?

    A - Salah
    B - Kane

    Already have Son and no Pool assets

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

      A

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes.

  24. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Opinions on these moves?

    Jimmy+VVD+Guaita to Kane+Gomez+Martinez

    1. Seanigula
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Gómez doesn’t offer much and might even be rotated...I wouldn’t bother with a keeper transfer

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Ok. So just Jimmy to Kane?
        What about Vvd? Which player to get for him? I have Chilwell, Saiss, Mitchel and Lamptey.

  25. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Come on Pereira!!

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

    GO CHRISTOPHER WOOD

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      This guy definitely has Wood.

    2. Tingate
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hahah +1

    3. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hegazy and. Ivanovic are solid

  27. spamking
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Who to captain next week
    a) Salah
    b) Kane
    c) Son

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      b

  28. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Your predictions for the game?

    1. bOttOmEdpOstrEpliEr.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Which one?

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Baggies-Burnley

        1. bOttOmEdpOstrEpliEr.
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          2-0 Grant brace