Scout Notes

Digne and Everton attack thrive in wing-back system but defence leaks more goals

FULHAM 2-3 EVERTON

  • Goals: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m) x2, Abdoulaye Doucouré (£5.3m) | Bobby De Cordova-Reid (£5.3m), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m)
  • Assists: Richarlison (£7.8m), Lucas Digne (£6.1m) x2| Tom Cairney (£5.3m), Ademola Lookman (£5.0m)
  • Bonus: Calvert-Lewin x3, Doucouré x2, Digne x1

CONVERT-LEWIN

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m) owners may be hoping Carlo Ancelotti retains the wing-back system which worked to devastating effect in attack during the first half against Fulham on Sunday.

The Everton striker put his team 1-0 up after 42 seconds as the Toffees pounced on Fulham’s poorly-executed attempt to play out from the back.

Lucas Digne (£6.1m), operating at left wing-back, won the ball high up the pitch before releasing Richarlison (£7.8m).

The Brazilian’s cross took a slight touch off a Fulham defender but found its intended target in Calvert-Lewin, who bundled home from close range.

The England striker totalled three attempts in the match, all from inside the box and all of which hit the target.

“The first half was a representation of me benefitting from the new system, where I’m getting chances from wide areas, crosses coming in.

“That’s what I like, being in the right area at the right time.” – Dominic Calvert-Lewin

WING-BACK TO THE FUTURE

Whether or not Ancelotti retains the 3-4-3 formation will be revealed in the coming Gameweeks, though the Italian is aware that Everton must defend better:

“Alex Iwobi played well, like the others played really well. I am pleased for him. In that wing-back position, he can show his quality.

“We have to improve (defensively) for sure. We were not so compact and not so close to the line. We have time this week to work on this.

“I don’t think it is a winning system because there is no winning system. The sytem gave us the possibility to use more of the width of the pitch and to put crosses in.” – Carlo Ancelotti

Both Digne and the impressive Alex Iwobi (£5.9m) were heavily involved in Everton’s attacking play at Craven Cottage.

Iwobi’s jinking run in the first half led to James Rodriguez (£7.9m) finding Digne on the left.

The Frenchman’s first-time cross resulted in a first-time Calvert-Lewin finish just before the half-hour mark.

Ten minutes earlier, Iwobi saw an assist for Calvert-Lewin chalked off as the striker had strayed offside before beating the busy Alphonse Areola (£4.5m).

Rodriguez owners may be less impressed with the new Everton system, which saw him playing centrally in attack but usually feeding the marauding wing-backs.

That occurred again on 35 minutes as a lovely one-two between Digne and Rodriguez allowed the former to cross for Abdoulaye Doucouré (£5.3m), who rose unchallenged to head home.

It could have been an assist hat-trick for Digne before the half-time whistle but Richarlison fluffed his lines from close range after the France defender put in a teasing low cross.

Richarlison also saw an attempt inside the box saved by Areola earlier in the opening period, following an excellent shot assist from Calvert-Lewin.

TOFFEES COME UNSTUCK

For all of Everton’s excellent attacking play in the first half, Fulham exposed the 3-4-3 formation in the second period.

Parker’s team took control of possession, pushing Digne and Iwobi back towards their own goal.

Fulham’s pressure told on 68 minutes when substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) was fouled inside the area.

The Cottagers’ woes from the penalty spot continued, however, as Ivan Cavaleiro (£5.3m) slipped on hitting the spot-kick to send the ball over Jordan Pickford‘s (£4.9m) crossbar.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.7m) and Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) – who have both missed a penalty this season – were on the pitch at the time.

“I don’t think you could write it. Cav was the penalty taker, we worked on it this week. Like I said it after the last time [with Lookman], you can miss penalties and he slipped. It is one of those things.

“No denying we have issues with penalties. We’ll keep working and training it to see who is the best to take them.” – Scott Parker

Two minutes later, Loftus-Cheek did grab a goal back for Fulham as he steered a Lookman cross past Pickford.

“I thought [Ruben] was brilliant really. He came in and worked really hard with him with the information I’m trying to give him so he can have a big impact. Sometimes he can have a tendency to drift but today was everything we wanted.” – Scott Parker

Ancelotti’s response was to hook both Rodriguez and Richarlison, as Everton clung on for a precious three points:

“It was a difficult game, it was difficult to prepare. It was a good first half, second half we lost physical energy and we had difficulties. James was tired, Richarlison was tired.” – Carlo Ancelotti

While Fulham dominated the second half, their defensive lapses in the opening 45 minutes – and another spot-kick blunder – proved the Cottagers’ undoing. That domination, however, did stop Calvert-Lewin from having an opportunity to clinch a hat-trick.

“It was a game of two halves. Second half, we didn’t really have much of the ball. It was more about digging in, winning fouls and free-kicks. It was more of a lonely role [up front].

“It sounds cliche but in the second half we didn’t have much of the ball and on another day we might be punished for not playing well in the second half.” – Dominic Calvert-Lewin

COTT ON THE HOP

The Cottagers’ issues in defence are certain to be at the forefront of FPL managers’ minds heading into Gameweek 10.

Parker’s men travel to play Leicester next weekend, before back-to-back clashes against Manchester City and Liverpool.

Having conceded ten goals in the opening three Gameweeks of the season, Fulham let in just five in as many fixtures before Gameweek 9.

But going into Gameweek 9 only Everton (7.83), Sheffield United (7.64) and West Ham (6.11) had higher ‘expected goals conceded‘ totals than Fulham (6.01).

That xGC figure was racked up in fixtures against the Blades, Crystal Palace, West Brom and the Hammers.

On Mitrovic’s benching, Parker said before the game:

“[It is] mainly [a] tactical [decision]. Obviously Aleks has come back from international duty. The team I’ve [picked] today is a team that I feel can hurt Everton, can cause them problems.

Cavaleiro was the man tasked with leading the line against Everton, though it was Decordova-Reid who got Fulham’s first-half goal after linking well with Tom Cairney (£5.3m).

After the match, an irritated Parker reflected:

Improved in the second half but three goals down, I have stood here many times, you can’t go on to score four goals to win games.

A reaction? Yes, for sure, but it came too late. First half as always we played some nice stuff, showed what we were about but any second ball we came out second best. It is not the way it needs to be.

We changed things around tactically [in the second half] but we did exactly what we missed in the first half in the battles and the fundamentals of a football match. They have to be a given. We fell short of that in the first half.


Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; A Robinson, Adarabioyo, Andersen, Aina; Reed, Lemina (Zambo Anguissa 69′); Lookman, Cairney (Loftus-Cheek 57′), De Cordova-Reid (Mitrovic 57′); Cavaleiro.

Everton XI (3-4-3): Pickford; Keane, Mina, Godfrey; Digne, Allan, Doucouré, Iwobi,; Richarlison (Sigurdsson 76′), Calvert-Lewin, Rodriguez (Davies 73′).

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 9

1,125 Comments Post a Comment
  1. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Would you wc to this team? Only four moves though: cancelo, kdb and jota in, funded by Kane to brewster

    Mccarthy button
    Chilwell James cancelo ayling mitchell
    Mané kdb Bruno grealish jota
    DCL Bamford brewster

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

    Zaha 30% owned but if he’s out for this weekend then he’s pretty much a guaranteed sale - wonder who everyone will move to from him, personally got funds for zaha to kdb but a bunch of other problems with my team as well

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Might go jota for the hell of it.

    2. BitTight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Anyone know what’s up with Zaha ?

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

        Tested positive for COVID

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

      Grealish ownership is going to absolutely skyrocket

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Jota no brainer

  3. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Can’t decide...need help!!

    A) Foden & Brewster ➡️ Riedewald & Abraham (switch to 3-4-3 but no city attack)
    B) Son & Foden ➡️ KDB & Riedewald
    C) Robertson & Foden & Kane ➡️ Coufal & KDB & Abraham (-8)
    D) keep Foden, hope he plays and save FT

    Current Team:
    Robbo - Chilwell - Cancelo
    Salah - Ziyech - Grealish - Son - Foden
    Kane - DCL

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Foden and Kane to kdb and?

  4. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone else with zaha and Wilson?

    Friday ko could be a real pain here.

  5. Party time
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lamptey super sub for some Zaha owners

    • Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Was excited this evening expecting few points gained for having Zaha ... forget it for now. Taylor on the bench ... do know what to expect!

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        *don't know

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Correct rumour here yesterday abiut him being covid positive. No surprise it was correct with my luc and this season. Green arrow anyway.

    • Lukakuna
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Getting Ayling off the bench for Zaha so guess I can't complain. But was expecting a 17 point haul today 🙁

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

        Yeah, imagine having lamptey -1 coming off your bench ..

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

        Ayling 6 pts > Zaha would have achieved.

    • wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Aston Villa has not conceded a goal away from home this year.

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        *season

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

        Yeah, thinking of playing konsa and cresswell this week

    • james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I have zaha too.

      But the day your game week depends on him is the day you know you are in trouble.

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I'm having a good week - on 82. Was hoping he'd cap it off for me

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

          This

          Zaha owners are extremely unlucky

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

            Depends who's on the bench ; nearest rival has 6 pts of Zouma jam.

      2. 1984 TC
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        haha, true that!

    • MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      *checks lineups*

      *passing out*

    • Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Jota is going to fly in price with the Zaha news

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

        The knee jerking will commence

        I expect him to be benched vs Brighton too

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

      If Semado is the one with Covid I’m going to chuck my laptop out the window

      1. Lukakuna
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I've also got them both... Stay strong my friend

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Hoping it’s Podence ?

      3. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Just hope it isn't Saiss - rival had Konsa waiting to come on

    • Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Martinez Steer
      Chilwell Zouma Saiss Lamptey Mitchell
      Bruno Sterling Ziyech Grealish Podence
      Kane DCL Brewster
      1ft and plan was Saiss to Cancelo. Stick to that or rip team apart?

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

        Stick to that 100%

    • Parsnips
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      My team:

      Martinez
      Robo Coufal Chilwell
      Zaha* Barkley* Bruno De Bruyne
      Watkins DCL Werner

      3.9ITB 1 FT

      What should I do about Barkley and Zaha?

    • Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Semedo to come on for Zaha here

      1. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Not bad. Your team must be in a much better shape than most people's teams

    • Plagued by indecision
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Having a fairly diabolical time of it with all these injuries and essentially putting out fires. Trying to arrest another slump as I am already falling behind. Thoughts on 4 points for

      Brewster > DCL
      Foden > Jota

      Leaves me with:

      McCarthy (Button)
      Chillwell / Justin / Mitchell (Davies* / Lamptey)
      Jota / Son / Fernandes / Grealish (Podence)
      DCL / Werner / Vardy (c)

      Thanks for any advice.

      1. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        For what it's worth, I think you are okay just doing the Brewster for DCL move and keep Foden. He must be really frustrating to own, but as good as Jota has been recently, I don't know if you are not just replacing one rotational player with another. I also can't see a good way for you to get Salah back in unless you sell Fernandes?

    • Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      How many hits have you guys taken so far this season and have they worked out for you? I have taken a -4 hit on 3 separate occasions and have gotten 2 green and 1 red arrows as a result. However, with my rank tier, this is hardly an achievement.

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

        4, took a -8 this week and climbed nearly 900k places so far, might take another one this week haha

        1. Stormbringer22
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Good going, dude! What hit are you weighing up?

          On a side note, are you the same Steve the Spud with a different profile pic, or am I thinking of someone completely different?

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

            Same spud, idk now with zaha news, weighing up a hit for a city defender and attacker

            1. Stormbringer22
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              What's your team like if you don't mind me asking?

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

                Mendy Forster
                Cresswell Lamptey Semado konsa Mitchell
                Son zaha Bruno greilish 4.5
                bam Kane dcl

                Thinking zaha to Kdb now

                1. Stormbringer22
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 4 months ago

                  Not sure if you have enough in the bank, but if you did Zaha to KDB, I think you would be fine to avoid a -4 this week. Team is good

        2. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Nice when it pays off

      2. FPL_Motty
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Its difficult to assess sometimes because usually when I take a hit, its actually with future fixtures in mind, I rarely take a hit just for a 1 week punt. Best to look at did your hit pay off over 3 gws.

        I'd say each 3 hits of mine have worked out though. First for Son who then was captained. Another for Kane. And now for Bruno. It's nice to captain the incoming hit

        1. Stormbringer22
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Good transfers though. I agree, I take hits with fixtures in mind too and I also like to captain my hits. I took a hit this week to bring KDB in and captained him and while it didn't pay off against Spurs, I hope KDB (C) against Burnley gets me the points.

          1. FPL_Motty
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            KDB was unlucky, set up some good chances that city players yet again couldn't finish. But against lesser opposition, he will come good. He wasn't the top points scorer and top points per game last year for nothing

      3. ilikewud
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I've taken two -4 and one -8 (which is honestly pretty good for me) usually I'm more open to hits. Brought in KDB for a -4 this week so that didn't work out the other two did.

      4. 1984 TC
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Two -8's and four -4's (-32) to improve my GW3 WC team and went from 900K to 100K.

      5. Iceball
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Just 1 hit that was success, this week Salah to Bruno(C) but would have Grealish captain instead. Would have to play Lamptey-1 also!

    • dansmusen
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Guy in my ML has Robertson coming in for Zaha. Any luckier ?

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

        That does take the biscuit.

      2. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I am not 100% sure as to why they benched Robbo in the first place to be honest...

      3. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Bad team mgt with great luck. Lucky bugger! 🙂

      4. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        #OR 51 gets rewarded for benching Son!
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1614095/event/9

    • FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Try this again: evidently no Palace fans!

      Can any Palace fans on here give me their opinion on Clyne? Is he the first choice right back or is he still playing because Ward is coming back from injury?

    • Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lets have a goal fest ! so unlikely but with Zaha out will be a joy

      Need the 0-0 in the Wolves game please

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

      Ffs Zaha, KWP coming in for him.

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Hardly bad when a lot have Lamptey!

    • Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Having a better than avg week with Jimi & Podence to play. Anyone find out who the most recent Wolves covid patient is? Got Klich coming off the bench with 3 pts if it's one of mine

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I heard a rumour it was Saiss
        Luckily he's not needed off my rubbish bench!

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks

    • keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      With daily captains available Zaha a huge miss for tonight & Friday for anyone playing Sky
      I'd like to know how clubs manage to prevent team news like this from getting out

    • Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hears Zaha out - checks bench - Coufal 6pts - hooray!

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

      Guaita. The single worst pick I've ever made since getting him GW2.

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

      Guaita is an absolute piece of s***, you could literally wheel out old age pensioners who could get one past him.

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

      WOLVES TEAM NEWS

      Starting XI: Patricio, Semedo, Coady, Boly, Kilman, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Neves, Ait-Nouri, Podence, Jimenez.

      Subs: Ruddy, Hoever, Marcal, Neto, Silva, Vitinha, Otasowie.

      SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS

      Starting XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Bertrand, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Walcott, Djenepo, Adams.

      Subs: Forster, Stephens, Long, Obafemi, Tella, Diallo, N’Lundulu.

    • Valkyrie
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Does anyone have a FH template for the upcoming gameweek?