Scout Notes

Which of Villa’s FPL assets impressed in their win over Vardy-less Leicester?

Leicester City 0-1 Aston Villa

  • Goals: Ross Barkley (£5.9m)
  • Assists: John McGinn (£5.5m)
  • Bonus: Barkley x3, Emiliano Martinez (£4.7m) x2, Tyrone Mings (£5.1m) x1, Matty Cash (£5.0m) x1

A 91st-minute winner from Ross Barkley (£5.9m) maintained Aston Villa’s perfect start to the season as Leicester lost at home for the second straight Gameweek.

The Chelsea loanee took John McGinn‘s (£5.5m) pass and drove towards the Foxes box before hitting a low shot past Kasper Schmeichel (£5.5m) into the bottom corner to make it four wins on the trot for Dean Smith’s side.

In a season of drama, controversy and so many goals, Sunday night’s encounter was of the old school – tight, cagey and, at times, rather dull.

But Villa’s win and Leicester’s woes ensured there was plenty of Fantasy interest.

Choices, Choices…

Last year’s main move by many in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) was a double-up on Liverpool defenders, with a third place in people’s squads for one of the Reds’ exalted front three.

Now, there’s a growing argument that a Villa triple-up is required.

Such is their strength at present, there are Fantasy contenders across the pitch.

Emiliano Martinez (£4.7m), who brought in save and bonus points on Sunday, is the leading FPL points scorer among goalkeepers, while Tyrone Mings (£5.1m) tops the defenders’ chart.

The team also has two midfielders – Jack Grealish (£7.2m) and McGinn – and striker Ollie Watkins (£6.0m) in their respective top tens.

Barkley, with 20 points overall, is close to joining that roll of honour, with 18 of those points having come from his two Villa games, both of which he’s scored in.

The key question is whether Villa’s form is sustainable.

Manager Smith is, as you’d expect, not getting carried away:

To come here, keep a clean sheet and play as well as we did is very pleasing. It’s important we keep our feet firmly on the ground and stay humble.

But with a fine fixture list all the way through to Boxing Day, the prospects of more of the same from Villa look very strong indeed.

McGinn The Groove

How to tap into all this is good stuff is tricky.

Grealish’s 24-point haul against Liverpool meant he went into the Leicester game with double the owners and his blank on Sunday hasn’t dampened managers’ enthusiasm – he’s again in the top five for transfers-in and his price has risen as a result.

The midfielder is all boom and bust so far. Other than his monster haul against Liverpool, he’s managed one eight-pointer and two blanks and he didn’t have a single shot at the King Power Stadium.

In fact, he had a poor game by his standards, with too many wrong choices made in the final third, mostly involving him holding on to the ball for far too long.

But his overall stats for the season – 14 chances created and nine attempts – are strong enough to ensure his 21% ownership will only rise at present.

The same cannot be said of Sunday’s assister, McGinn.

Five Villa players are currently in the top 30 for Gameweek 6 purchases. The 1.5%-owned McGinn is not one of them.

And yet the midfielder has been very consistent, with three straight returns, two of which were for double-digit hauls.

He now has a goal and four assists to his name this season and only Harry Kane (£10.7m) has set up more goals (seven).

Grealish is catching the eye and hoovering up the managers. McGinn remains the differential and currently frees up £1.7m in funds as well.

As for match-winner Barkley, Smith was generous with his praise:

We have seen Ross Barkley do that enough times for Everton and Chelsea so we are pleased he did it for us. It was touch and go whether he started. He had a knock to the knee, but a great goal and a real battling performance by the whole team.

But the midfielder’s previous record of burning brightly and then producing very little has clearly scarred FPL managers as he’s barely out-performing McGinn for purchases at present.

Pick A Defender, Any Defender

As well as being the leading FPL goalkeeper in terms of points, Martinez is also the most popular, with 21.6% ownership (and rising).

But you have to scroll a long way down the defenders list to find Villa names, with Mings (6.7%) and Ezri Konsa (£4.6m and 6.1%) the first to appear, even though the team has kept a league-leading three clean sheets.

The pair also lead the way among Villa’s backline for points – 30 and 28 respectively – with Matty Cash (18 points) and Matt Targett (£4.5m and 17pts) yet to produce attacking returns.

Targett, however, had two shots against the Foxes – no Villa player had more – while Cash has created four chances this season.

In terms of attacking points, the full-backs’ time will come, you feel, and Targett’s price tag could be a key factor for many.

No Vardy, No Party

Leicester out-shot their visitors 11-10, but barely stretched Martinez, a Youri Tielemans (£6.4m) effort the toughest of the five saves he had to make.

Much of the reason for that was down to the absence, with a calf injury, of striker Jamie Vardy (£10.1m).

Leicester started the season by scoring 12 goals in their first three matches, with five of them coming from the forward.

A deep-lying West Ham foiled the Foxes in Gameweek 4, but with no Vardy on Sunday, Villa could keep a higher line and not worry about being hurt in behind by Leicester’s other strikers, Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m) and Islam Slimani (£5.0m), who managed just two shots between them.

Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers delivered the latest news on Vardy post-match.

Jamie will probably miss Thursday (Europa League). It’s a recurrence of a problem he’s had for a number of years with his calves. This isn’t serious, so we’re hopeful he’ll be ready for the next league game.

That will be music to the ears of his 22.5% ownership, although a trip to a defensively-improved Arsenal next week is not the fixture for forwards it was last season.

Leicester’s squad is fairly strong, which is just as well with a growing injury list for Rodgers to manage, but they are not the same threat without Vardy to lead the line and stretch defences.

Fofana Impresses

.

Another key man out injured, the 7.5%-owned Caglar Soyuncu (£5.5m), will not be returning any time soon, as Rodgers confirmed:

Caglar is more serious. The muscle has come right off the bone so he could be three months out.

His absence meant a debut for £32m Saint-Etienne signing Wesley Fofana (£5.0m), and the teenager was, generally, immaculate.

Rodgers was certainly a happy manager:

He was outstanding. Supporters will have great joy watching him. He’s got huge potential and he’ll be a big player for our future.

So while Vardy was sorely missed, Fofana ensured Soyuncu’s absence was fully covered – a welcome piece of news for the 20%+ of FPL managers hoping for future clean sheets from full-backs Timothy Castagne (£5.8m) and James Justin (£4.8m).


Leicester City XI (4-5-1): Schmeichel; Justin, Evans, Fofana, Castagne; Tielemans, Mendy (Choudhury 78′), Praet (Maddison 68′), Perez, Barnes, Iheanacho (Slimani 71′).

Aston Villa XI (4-5-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn, Trezeguet (Traore 81′), Barkley, Grealish; Watkins.

PREMIUM MEMBERS ANALYSIS

LESSONS LEARNED FROM FPL GAMEWEEK 5

2,009 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Kane & Soucek
    B) Grealish / Zaha & JRod

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

      Are you planning on starting soucek?

      1. Kane Train
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I could but I don’t need to
        3.5 in the bank
        Which one?

        A) JRod & Davis > Soucek & Kane
        B) Bissouma > Grealish / Mcginn
        C) Bissouma > Zaha

        McCarthy
        Saiss / Chillwell / Mitchell / Justin
        Salah / JRod / Son / Bruno
        Werner / DCL

        Bench: Steer, Bissouma, Davis, Struijk

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

      B

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

    Should I start Mitchell(Fulham) or Justin(Arsenal) this gameweek?

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

      Mitchell

  3. Ray In Bruges.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    McCarthy (Nyland**)
    TAA Mitchell Justin (Kilman, KWP)
    Fernandes JRod Grealish Son (ASM)
    Jimenez Ings DCL

    0FT 2.3ITB

    a) Stick with this lot
    b) Jimmy > Kane (-4)
    c) Ings > Kane (-4)

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

      B wolves aren’t looking the best going forward

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

      C

    3. Boomerang V
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Same dilemma for me, I have the same front line and I am getting Kane. I think I’ll remove Ings because of next fixtures slightly better for wolves. But is a tough call indeed

  4. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    WC team

    Martinez 4.0
    Sais mitchel taylor X X
    Son salah jrod foden X
    Dcl kane ings/jimi

    Which?

    A) matip lamptey mcgin
    B) matip konsa/target/kilman barkley/mcgin
    C) kilman konsa/target grealish

  5. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What do you make of this -4?
    Jimenez and R James to Kane and Dallas?

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

    Martínez
    Robbo | Chilwell | Saïss | Mitchell
    Salah | Sterling | Son | Zaha
    Ings | Jiménez

    Forster | Soucek | Brewster | Dunne

    88 points.
    Trades: James & Podence to Chilwell & Soucek... my only other ? is whether Dunne to Kilman is worth a hit for a different option to Mitchell

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nice, I'd rather save FT and play Soucek over Mitchell. Dunne is fine for now at the back of the bench at least until you know that Mitchell has lost his place!

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

        yes, that is true. so you think Soucek is more likely to score points v City than Mitchell v Fulham?

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          It seems a close one. I think Lookman gives Fulham a new dimension and can see them scoring. WHU have been pretty impressive tbf and Soucek has been getting into dangerous positions in some games. Toss a coin, but in cases like this I normally favour the attacker

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

            cheers for the feedback.

  7. jia you
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Loads have made or are making early transfers...have a feeling that's going to cause pain to plenty come Friday!
    I'm usually an advocate for pulling the trigger early but this feels a week to wait until Friday for me.
    Already priced out of one of my potential moves involving getting Salah after the Jimenez price drop but that's probably a good thing and I'll avoid taking a hit now at least 😉

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah, COVID and Euro games plus God knows what else could scupper plans made too early.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        yup, feels very precarious atm mate

    2. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      dont stop them

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        true, should've thought that one through 😉

    3. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I think people bringing in Spurs assets yes, it is a mistake. They play this week in the EL and there is no guarantee that Kane and Son will be rested (although I personally think he will rest them). He may give Bale a run about though to help get his match fitness up. For people bringing in Rodriguez, Martinez and Mings etc. I see no risk.

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        The risk isn't just with the players you're buying. Any one of the rest of your squad could get injured and transfers could be better used to cover them on Friday.

    4. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It is hard to be patient but think I'm gunna stick fat and hold my one FT until deadline.

  8. Monya Meow Meow
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    1) Podence > one of the Villa mids
    2) Ings/Jim > Kane

    Martinez
    Robbo Lamp Saiss
    Salah Son Hamez Podence
    Ings DCL Jim

    Thank you!

  9. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    TAA and Mitrovic - Kilman and Kane for - 4?

    Thank you!

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Who are your remaining 4 defenders?

      1. Corona is not good 4 U
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Saiss, Gomez, Mitchell, Justin.

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Precarious enough, arguably only Saiss will be nailed on in a few weeks. Could be Fabinho and Matip as Pool CBs though fairly unlikely that Gomez will be dropped. Justin and Mitchell will prob be dropped soon.

          1. Corona is not good 4 U
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Thank you. This was kind!

            1. GreennRed
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              I'd love to tell you they're all nailed on but, as poor as he's been, Mitro will play. Just be sure to have 3 starting defenders. If you can work it with 2x 4m fodder then do it. No point in wasting money on the bench. I'm keeping Mitchell too, even if he gets dropped.

  10. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    These movescfeel terrible..

    A) Jimenez + TAA ==> Kane + upto 5.5M Def (-4)
    B) Jiminez + Barnes ==> Kane + 5.0M Mid who has to start (-4)
    C) Neither. Play Jimmy.

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

    When will Mitrovic get his brace/hatrick.?

    Want to jump on just at the right time..

    1. Corona is not good 4 U
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Probably next season in the Championship.

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

      If not against WBrom then probably never.

    3. PL Ball
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Go back in time a month.

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

    I have Werner,Jimenez and Kane but i think i need Dcl.He is a must have imo.Do you think i should make the move?

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

      who will you lose ?

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

        Would you sell any of them?

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

          Jiménez to Kane?

  13. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    With Kane about to rise should I do these moves for -4??

    VVD & Vardy > Chilwell & Kane

    Cheers

    1. Kane Train
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah mate I would Can u help with my last question

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Pretty sensible moves

  14. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Targett or Konsa?

    1. Kane Train
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Konsa. Can u help with my previous question

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Targett for me. Prefer full backs unless the CB in question is a bonus magnet + set piece threat. Konsa is only the latter (barely too, as the main target is Mings)

  15. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    3.5 in the bank
    Which one?.

    A) JRod & Davis > Soucek & Kane
    B) Bissouma > Grealish / Mcginn
    C) Bissouma > Zaha

    McCarthy
    Saiss / Chillwell / Mitchell / Justin
    Salah / JRod / Son / Bruno
    Werner / DCL

    Bench: Steer, Bissouma, Davis, Struijk

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

      Wouldn’t lose Hames lad

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

        Agree B with Grealish

    2. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B Grealish

  16. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which group would you choose for the weeks ahead?
    Kane, DCL the other strikers.

    1. Adams, Grealish.
    2. Jimenez, Barkley.

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

      2

  17. Reeker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Only caught 20 minutes of the match, how was Semedo?

  18. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Who is the best

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

      5.6 Mid

    2. Kane Train
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      John McGinn 100%. Swear I’m the only one that rates him

    3. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Damn I just asked this.

      John McGinn, the Podence/Neto dilemma and Klich

    4. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Jorginho

  19. jia you
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I'm normally never happy unless I've invested all of my funds so sitting with 3.7 itb and being content with my team, in the short-term at least, feels very odd!

    1. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah was like that few GWs,now gonna splash 5.2ITB for Kane (-4).
      Hope no injuries midweek

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Risky but GL!
        I kind of want Kane but also kind of want to hold Jimenez and stick with my plan to hold my triple Wolves from GW3-7

    2. PL Ball
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Enjoy the feeling! It will probably last till about friday.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        haha true that!

    3. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It is hard not to spend for the sake of it, usually ends in tears when you are already satisfied with your team currently.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        yeah plus I'm usually tempted to take a hit most weeks...a lot of the time totally unnecessarily!

  20. Riggs
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martinez (Steer)
    Robbo Lamptey Saiss (Taylor) (Ferguson)
    Salah Son Zaha Grealish (Burke)
    Kane Ings DCL

    1 FT, 0.3 ITB
    I want Watkins and replace Burke with more expensive mid, but having 2 GK from Villa block that. Do I waste free transfer with other 4.0 GK and free up space for Watkins or go with another strategy?

    1. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Your team is fine, why not just roll FT?

  21. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Yes or no to the following moves:

    Jiminez + Periera -> DCL + Rodriguez (-4)

    1. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nice moves

    2. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good on paper, but both transfer outs have decent fixtures so reason to be cautious

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not for 4. Just DCL for now.

      1. Utopsis
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        This

  22. In Bale We Trust
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best mid at 5.7m or below?

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A 4.5m and upgrade another player.

      1. In Bale We Trust
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        If only... hoping to find a stop gap for three fixtures before backing Brewster to start scoring. Don’t really want to take a hit as Ive already done three this season...

  23. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Grealish
    B) Zaha
    C) Barkley

    1. SmasherLagru
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes id like to know too, with up coming fixtures

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

      Grealish.

    3. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    4. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Same answer

  24. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Save the FT? Captaincy for Mo?

    Ryan

    Robertson, Chilwell, Semedo

    Salah, Son, Rodriguez, Grealish

    Kane, DCL, Maupay

    Subs: Button, Dallas, Mitchell, Stephens

    1. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good

      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Ta!

  25. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Barnes or Kilmani to change price tonight

  26. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is Kilmani nailed?

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Noi

    2. Corona is not good 4 U
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      See the last page.

    3. jia you
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      probably not with Marcal potentially coming into the team

  27. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    How many points will get Mitrovic and how many points will get Kane over the next three game weeks?

  28. chobentys
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Hi guys,

    Robertson and CWilson to Kilman and Werner for a hit? Here's my 92-point team as it stands:

    Martinez
    Robertson-Chilwell-Saiss
    Son-Salah-Rodriguez-Grealish
    Kane-CalvertLewin-Wilson

    Forster, Saint-Maximin, Lamptey, Mitchell

    Feeling iffy about Liverpool defence with Alisson and VVD out..

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Robbo is on fire atm, I wouldn't sell for SHU. Plus Werner vs Utd isn't really essential.

      Looking at your team it's pretty damn good and I'd roll the transfer tbh mate - I'd put Lamptey as 1st sub though (or play him instead of Wilson)

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

        Thanks for the vote of confidence! Yeah probably just the knee-jerker in me sweating over nothing. If anything I could still make a similar kind of transfer after next week if Timo does show he's fixture-proof and that Liverpool without Virgil are vulnerable.

  29. jia you
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    1.2m to 670k odd...didn't expect such a jump in rank...just goes to show how tight it is and what a difference a good GW can make at this early stage!

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wow, great rise!

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers bud, yeah was getting a bit frustrated with FPL but this has eased the pain!

  30. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Should I do this?
    Jimenez and R James to Kane and Dallas (-4)

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Would just swap out James. Not seeing Leeds defenders as great assets. I know that clean sheets overall are few but I can't see Leeds keeping many.