Scout Notes

Palace assets limited by Zaha’s isolation as Pope outscores fellow defenders

Burnley 1-0 Crystal Palace

  • Goals: Chris Wood (£6.2m)
  • Assists: Jay Rodriguez (£5.8m)
  • Bonus points: Nick Pope x3 (£5.4m), Wood x2, Charlie Taylor x1 (£4.4m)

WHERE THERE’S A WILF

Crystal Palace’s reliance on Wilfried Zaha (£7.4m) was exposed once again as his enforced absence coincided with a 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Monday night.

Ahead of kick-off, Roy Hodgson revealed that the out-of-position Fantasy Premier League midfielder had tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and was now self-isolating.

While there has been no official line from the club to say he will play no part in Friday night’s Gameweek 10 opener against Newcastle, the unusually quick turnaround for Palace makes it very unlikely that Zaha will feature.

“[Zaha] has tested positive unfortunately for coronavirus so is self-isolating, and is awaiting the results of the next test. He is not feeling particularly ill, but unfortunately, the test proved [positive], and he is following the procedures.” – Roy Hodgson

Unsurprisingly, Palace were unable to get a positive result on the pitch without Zaha in the side. Since 2014/15, when he rejoined the club, the Eagles have lost 20 of a possible 28 Premier League games without him, including each of the last seven on the road.

Zaha’s absence was certainly frustrating considering his increasing ownership among the top 10,000 FPL managers (48.1%) and the fact that 32.7% of these took him into Gameweek 9 alongside Jack Grealish (£7.6m), who mustered only a solitary point in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton.

That said, Zaha’s absence on Monday night did allow some fortuitous auto-subs and the nature of his flag does make it easier to sell him in light of movement in the midfield bracket.

WHILE MY GUAITA GENTLY WEEPS

The stock of Crystal Palace defenders continues to fall this season as they failed to even contain the Premier League’s lowest scorers in Gameweek 9, who were comfortably the better team.

In fact, the Eagles have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 league games, conceding in eight consecutive matches since the 1-0 win over Southampton in Gameweek 1.

Against Burnley, Cheikhou Kouyaté (£5.0m), still filling in at centre-back, was at fault for the goal, his wayward header allowing Jay Rodriguez (£5.8m) to play Chris Wood (£6.2m) in.

Considering he is naturally a central midfielder, the fact that Gary Cahill (£4.5m) and Mamadou Sakho (£4.5m) were on the bench could spell the end for his time in defence, if Hodgson is looking for a way to freshen things up at the back.

Meanwhile, the 20% still invested in Tyrick Mitchell (£4.1m) are sure to be considering his place in their squad, provided they have the funds and/or transfer to move him on.

It is now three matches since he featured for Palace, return from his injury in Gameweek 9, having firmly lost his left-back place to Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m), who ranks best for minutes per shot on goal among Palace players with at least two starts in the last four matches.

While the left-back could be the penalty taker in Gameweek 10, with Zaha likely absent through isolation and Luka Milivojevic (£5.6m) suspended, the lack of clean sheets does make it hard to justify his price right now.

HAPPY PLACE

Nick Pope (£5.4m) continues to highlight his impressive points potential, this time coming away from Gameweek 9 with a 10-point haul.

It was his second double-digit score in the last five matches, which has yielded three clean sheets, two at home.

Pope was a key reason for the latest shut-out rushing out to deny Michy Batshuayi (£5.8m) after a sloppy Dwight McNeil (£5.8m) back-pass before a brave, sprawling save stopped Christian Benteke (£5.5m) at close range in the dying moments.

Since the start of last season, no goalkeeper has registered clean sheets than Pope who has averaged 4.9 points per game in 2020/21.

And it is still worth noting that, despite his dearer price, no Burnley player can match him for value this year, offering 7.2 points per million spent.

During the Clarets’ most profitable period of the season in terms of defensive returns, between Gameweeks 3 and 9, Pope and Charlie Taylor (£4.4m) have both been present five times, but the goalkeeper has outscored the left-back by 35 points to 23. That margin of 12 is largely comprised of saves and bonus.

However, whether Burnley’s recent clean sheet pedigree will count for much moving forward is another matter.

It is clear they are more solid at home and three of their next four take them away from their happy place.

Furthermore, recent meetings with Manchester City, who they face in Gameweek 10 have proved too much for them. Across Burnley’s last five trips to the Etihad Stadium (in all competitions) they have lost by a combined score of 22-1 and the last three have all been 5-0 defeats.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; C Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Brownhill, Westwood, Gudmundsson (Brady 67′ | Pieters 84′); Rodriguez, Wood.

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; van Aanholt, Dann, Kouyaté, Clyne; Eze, McArthur, Riedewald (Schlupp 67′), Townsend; Ayew (Benteke 77′), Batshuayi.

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 9

339 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    do we buy jota before the price rise or wait?

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

      Annoying...

  2. OneJuan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    3 green arrows in a row but still languishing.
    I already did Barkley to Jota so worried about another hit.

    McCarthy
    Mings, Chillwell, Vestergard
    Bernandes, Son , Jota, Maximin
    Kane, DCL, Werner

    Martinez, Zaha, Kilman, Braithwaite

    1.1 itb
    A. Zaha -> Mahrez (Burnley) -4
    B. Zaha -> Grealish (WHU) -4
    C. Keep Zaha till next week and probably lose 0.1 or 0.2 on him

    What to do?
    Thanks in advance

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      That’s not your team linked then

      1. OneJuan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Oh No! Have not been on here in ages. Hence the languishing part I guess. Link was probably using last year's id. Not sure. Apologies. Fixed.

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

    Chelsea now have two extra days rest ahead of the Spurs game. I doubt Jose will even notice.

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

      Spurs playing Ludogorets at home. It shouldn't be a difficult opponent so Mouro can rest some players. They plays also at home, so no traveling saves a lot of energy too.

  4. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Werner to Vardy ?

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

      Yes 100%

    2. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yes

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    brunoooooo juuuuhuuu have him in ucl ff

  6. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    do we buy jota tonight before the price rise or wait?

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      we ? I wont

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Do you need the 0.1m?

      Does it ruin your plans without it?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        yes i need it. always in the season happens when i can't afford something by 0.1 /

        0.1m is important for me

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          do you need it now for this transfer though or you do you just want an extra .1 generally for the future ?

          Tempting. Not sure I want Jota and Salah though when there are nailed alternatives that will match Jota’s output over the season, just to get .1 now.

  7. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Good god, what a shot.

  8. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    great goal from bruno, carrying united on his shoulders right now

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

    Bruno's home form rubbish, bruno hasn't scored from open play at home, bruno only has pens.. Bruno doesn't do stats, he just produces magic

    1. Who are all Lukakus
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      And Bruno owners are casual, are lucky, jammy af...
      Source: every salty non owners

  10. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rash G Bruno A

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ooo, just offside

  11. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    bruno rashford combo doing miracles for me in ucl FF. moreee we need more on the weekend

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      oops ruled off for offside

  12. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    any news on zaha?

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

      Holding until defo out, remember last time he was sold heavily, brace.

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

      Not until it's too late...

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

    Ok so Bruno is the most urgent to have then Salah and KDB after that if you can.

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      It’s only Istanbul

  14. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    brunooooooo juuhuu

  15. Pino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hahaha Ferensvaros leading against Juve in Torino

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      oh my. unbelievable

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    i am sure i was among few ones who has bruno captain for the weekend plenty of people are on vardy or kdb. now the sheep will follow 🙂 ?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not me. If Aguero gets minutes (not 90) tomorrow he’s my captain

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        good luck. i like your call

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

    Bruno again

  18. Akshatjazz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Cancelo or Dias who to get ??

    Mendy is back and he can also get some considerable mins in the champion league wat to do ??

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

      Cancelo for attacking returns imo

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

        Don't you think Dias is nailed on ? And cancelo can lose his place even though he played all the fixture well

  19. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    ronaldo scores

  20. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    fernandes off penalties

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

      Lol