Scout Notes

How Adams fared in Ings’ absence as Walcott plays up-front for Southampton

Southampton 2-0 Newcastle

  • Goals: Che Adams (£5.9m), Stuart Armstrong (£5.5m)
  • Assists: Theo Walcott (£5.8m)
  • Bonus points: Kyle Walker-Peters x3 (£4.5m), Armstrong x2, Jack Stephens x1 (£4.8m)

NEXT BIG INGS?

Che Adams (£5.9m) made a positive start to life in a Southampton team without the injured Danny Ings (£8.4m).

It only took a few minutes for the former Birmingham City man to get on the scoresheet against Newcastle on Friday night, sweeping home Theo Walcott‘s (£5.8m) cross with tremendous aplomb.

That was Adams’ sixth attacking return of 2020/21 and his fifth in the last four matches. That certainly represents promising form even with clashes against Wolves (away), Manchester United (home), Brighton (away) and Sheffield United (home) in the next four Gameweeks.

There had been some concern that Adams would suffer without Ings as the spearhead, whose five goals, two assists and incessant high-press have made him such an important part of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s style.

Instead, the Southampton manager chose to use Adams as his Ings replacement, so to speak, asking his number 10 to shoulder more responsibility for shots on goal, using Walcott to fill in as the more mobile second-striker.

Together, the two players caused Newcastle all sorts of problems, combining for the opening goal, before Walcott went close to bending an effort in from the edge of the box shortly after.

“(Walcott was) very good, I think, especially when he can turn on the ball. He has good technique. He had two good chances where the finish, we need to work on. But what he invests for us is amazing.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

HOME COMFORTS

Since conceding five times in a Gameweek 2 defeat to Spurs, Southampton’s defence has become one of the most reliable in Premier League home matches.

They have now gone three St. Mary’s Stadium outings without conceding, helping Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) to claim the top spot for points-per-million spent among goalkeepers this season (7.3).

Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.5m) was the chief beneficiary in the latest round of action though, as he claimed all three bonus points in the 2-0 win over Newcastle.

Keeping a clean sheet on Friday night was made more impressive by recent injury developments at Southampton.

Ryan Bertrand (£5.0m) missed the game with a hamstring injury, the lack of options forcing Hasenhüttl into deploying centre-back Jack Stephens (£4.8m) on the left-hand side of his four-man defence.

Whether Southampton can continue this run of solid defensive form perhaps depends if they can shore themselves up on the road.

For all their solidity at home, the Saints have conceded three times in each of their last two away encounters and they face trips to Wolves (Gameweek 9) and Brighton (Gameweek 11) soon.

WILSON!!

As much as Southampton were deserving of praise for the way they managed this game, it must be said that Newcastle put in one of their worst performances of the season.

The combination of Allan Saint-Maximin‘s (£5.3m) pace and Callum Wilson‘s (£6.6m) poacher’s instinct has proven fruitful in recent weeks but, for an unknown reason, Steve Bruce elected not to deploy the Frenchman in wide areas on Friday night.

Stationed alongside Wilson in a central role on paper, Saint-Maximin struggled to get on the ball and, with Newcastle’s midfielders repeatedly losing the ball in key areas, their striker was completely starved of service.

“The best team won. We weren’t anywhere near the side that beat Everton. We gave the ball away far too often and we should look after it better.” – Steve Bruce

“That’s the difficulty we have. We go up and down too much. In the 15 months I’ve been here, we have a string of good performances and then we have games like tonight when we’re not ourselves.” – Steve Bruce

Whether Wilson can continue to reward his ownership in upcoming favourable matches against Aston Villa (away), West Bromwich Albion (home), Leeds (away) and Fulham (home), is now dependent on two factors.

Firstly, can Newcastle get back to the sort of performance they showed against Everton in Gameweek 7, characterised by pace in wide areas rather than through the middle.

And, secondly, it also hinges upon whether or not Wilson can recover from a hamstring injury sustained in the closing stages of Friday night. The striker does have the international break to recover, although the severity of the issue is not yet known.

“We’ll not know how bad it is until we get him scanned. We hope that it’s not too bad but we’ll see. It was a hamstring injury.” – Steve Bruce

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; J Stephens, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Djenepo (Redmond 74′), Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Armstrong; Walcott (S Long 88′), Adams.

Newcastle United XI (5-3-2): Darlow; Lewis, Fernández, Lascelles, Schär, Murphy (Joelinton 79′); Almirón, Hendrick (M Longstaff 61′), S Longstaff; Saint-Maximin, Wilson (Carroll 78′).

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 8

1,130 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Ziyech a better pick than Son and is he gonna score more than Jrod in the next two?
    (I doubt it)

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Fulham and Leeds are dreadful, I believe Rodriguez will outscore him. Richarlison returning is a major boost to their attack, they were freescoring with him in the team.

      From the Big Man: Everton have created just four big chances in their previous four games as opposed to creating 13 big chances in their opening four fixtures.

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

      Nobody knows. It's all advanced guesswork

      All three are good players who can pull tricks out of the bag any day, any time... But, as humans, they can have bad days too

      Pick based on your FPL style, and roll with it

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes
      No

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

    Bottomed

    Kane bowen to Bamford bruno for free?

    Martinez
    Lamptey chilwell PVA
    Salah son grealish zaha bowen
    Kane DCL

    4.0 brewster regulion mitchel

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

      Yup

      None of 'em are must-sell or must-buy. But it should work out for free, especially since you can cap Bruno

      Reguilon has to go soon, though. And what's the City plan, if any?

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

        City is a wait and see for me, whilst they aint blowing teams away and other options performing, I can leave it a week at least. Maybe son to KDB/sterling week after

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

    RMWCT?

    Martinez Steer
    PvA Lamptey Justin Taylor Lewis
    Salah KdB Rashford Grealish Soucek
    Werner Richarlison Brewster

    1.3 ITB

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Get Chilwell.

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pva to Dias and you’re set

  4. Rasping Drive
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Out of interest, how many do you all have still to play this gameweek?

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      7 including (C)

      1. Rasping Drive
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes, me too. Hoping it’s more than most and I can get a green arrow this week. 3 out of 4 have returned for me so far, so not a bad start.

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Lamptey, DCL and Chillwell all doing well by me. Just hope the rest can do just as well

          1. Rasping Drive
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Sounds like we have similar teams. Super Sunday ahoy!

    2. Abra Dubravka
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      8 but only on 12 points so far. Massive red arrow

      1. Rasping Drive
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Good chance you will end up with a fat green arrow, I’d say. Good luck!

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

    Lack of fans is imo a big reason for Burnley, Sheff Utd, Fulham, and West Brom performing so poorly. I remember Norwich being able to pull out a result once in a while at home purely through the atmosphere, but they were horrible after the restart. Most of it is them being crap but the 12th man is important

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I was thinking about it yesterday. Besides massively missing being there myself, I was reminiscing about Everton’s often decent home performances against United. The atmosphere in the big games can be intense.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      City should be smashing it this season then, business as usual for them.

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Tired trope that

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

    As things stand, there are three nailed City defenders who have no real competition, just cover for the occasional rest or flag: Walker, Laporte and Dias

    It's been a while since this happened, right?

    Not even sure Mendy's form before injury allows him to compete with Cancelo when he's fit, as there's been a clear gulf there too

    1. HODGE
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      See how the next 2 games go, but if he's a sure starter he will be in my team.

    2. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I wonder if Dias will very occasionally be rested for Stones. That'll be the issue for most players in general though

    3. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Agreed, there is clear strongest back four there which hasn't been the case for a long time. With CL pretty much sorted, I expect the rotation to mainly come in that and other cup competitions. I'm looking at getting Cancelo for GW10.

  7. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Priority of players to get?

    Fernandez
    Ziyech
    Grealish
    Cancelo/Dias
    Vardy

    So many players I want that could haul next GW and are fixtures proof

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think you have listed them in the right order tbh. I am gonna get Fernandes in for Son.

    2. HODGE
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Swap Ziyech and Grealish places, other than that id say the order is correct

  8. HODGE
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Podence not in the Portugal squad is v odd. Think there maybe a chance he misses out today with Covid and Wolves have kept it under wraps so far.
    Thoughts?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Is he needed to play for Portugal?

      1. HODGE
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He was called up last time has been playing well since then and they also have other players out. So seams odd he didn't make the squad this time, just a theory not heard anything

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Neto gets a go this time. Podence subbed on for 15 minutes last time so it's a pointless exercise. Surely Wolves would announce something that big.

          1. HODGE
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Maybe, but Why would Wolves give Leicester a heads up? Don't think they would. I have no info I'm just speculating think there's a chance I think

  9. Abra Dubravka
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez
    Robbo, TAA, Zouma (Taylor, Mitchell)
    Salah, Son, Zaha, Grealish, Podence
    DCL, Jimenez (Brewster)

    A) Save FT
    B) Son to Bruno
    C) Trent and Podence to Coufal/Lamptey and Bruno (-4)?

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C, as you don’t have any other spurs cover bar Son.

  10. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    On WC...

    A. Bellerin + Werner
    B. Robbo + Antonio + 1.0m

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A for me. But maybe bellerin and Antonio and use the money elsewhere

    3. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  11. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How’s it look?

    McCarthy
    Chilwell Zouma Cancelo
    Salah KDB Bruno Grealish
    DCL Richarlison Bamford

    Forster Soucek Kilman Mitchell

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Are WBA that bad?

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        They are awful and as they say, if you can’t beat them, join them. He’s a terrible player to watch but is bringing in the points undeniably

        1. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Is it Bruno you are talking about ?

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Correct

            1. Eleven Hag
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              How exactly is he a terrible player to watch 🙂

              1. Third Eye Vision
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                The constant cheating? Don’t get me wrong, I think he is an amazing talent, but deffo hard to watch at times.

              2. IRBOX ⚽
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Diving and carrying on. Should have been red carded on multiple occasions against my boys

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Love it. Reckon I’d have something similar if I was on WC. Only player I’d want that you haven’t got is Ziyech. I’d prefer him over Grealish, but obviously some sacrifices needed to accommodate that.

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Super!

    4. yash
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks Great

  12. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Long term
    A) Cancelo+Leno
    B) Chilwell+McCarthy

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah. Deffo B. Chilwell is the best defender in the game this season.

  13. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Arrange them in the order of who you think would get the most points in total for next 6-8 GWs.

    A) Kane
    B) Son
    C) KDB
    D) Sterling
    E) Salah
    F) Bruno
    G) Rashford
    H) Ziyech
    I) Werner

    1. Muller Reus Corner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      DCFEHAIGH

      1. Muller Reus Corner
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        B at the end, I don’t think Son will get many points, as his record against next opponents isnt very good.

      2. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Exactly what I wanted to see 🙂

    2. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C
      D
      E
      F
      A
      G
      B
      I
      H

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thnx

        I am exactly looking to have the first 4 as my MF from GW10 onwards

  14. AppleDunk
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who is the priority?

    A) Ziyech
    B) Bruno

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bruno then Ziyech, but both looking like my next moves.

    3. AppleDunk
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers guys!

  15. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ok, I think I am ready, for this Trent 20 pointer

    1. HODGE
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Haha I sold him this week so would't surprise me

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I think everyone did except me!

  16. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Loved Werner’s finish yesterday! The lack of celebration was a bit strange though

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

      I inferred he was just frustrated having missed a very recent sitter (and generally being on periphery of the game)

  17. yash
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    2 FT, 0.3 in the bank
    what would you do?

    McCarthy
    Chilwell Lamptey Robertson
    Salah Son Rashford Grealish
    DCL Kane Bamford

    Button KWP Stephens Branthwaite

    Keep on benching the wrong defender every week 🙁