Scout Notes

Coady isolation forces four-man defence as McCarthy continues to prove FPL worth

Wolves 1-1 Southampton

  • Goals: Pedro Neto (£5.5m) | Theo Walcott (£5.8m)
  • Assists: Raúl Jiménez (£8.4m) | Che Adams (£5.9m)
  • Bonus points: Alex McCarthy x3 (£4.5m), Adams x2, Kyle Walker-Peters x1 (£4.6m)

SAVING THE SAINTS

Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) was the star of the Fantasy Premier League show on Monday night as he managed a seven-point score in a 1-1 draw at Wolves.

The Southampton goalkeeper made a total of eight saves and, despite conceding, came away with maximum bonus thanks to no player earning a share for a game-winning goal and a late Che Adams (£5.9m) foul.

Thanks to repeated denials of Daniel Podence (£5.4m) in particular, McCarthy has now earned an additional two points for saves in two of his last three Premier League outings and has averaged 4.4 points per game.

Among goalkeepers, only Lukasz Fabianski (£5.0m) has offered better value this season than him too, the West Ham man scoring 10.0 points per million spent to McCarthy’s 8.9.

Crucially, the form of Southampton’s goalkeeper could potentially come into the decision-making process for the Gameweek 10 captaincy.

Bruno Fernandes (£10.8m) travels to St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon fresh from back-to-back double-figure hauls, three of the four he has recorded this season coming on the road too.

However, Southampton are yet to concede a single goal at home since their Gameweek 2 thrashing by Spurs and, if McCarthy is in half the form he was on Monday night, Manchester United assets could easily be frustrated…

COAD BREAKERS

Wolves were forced to contend Monday night’s encounter without club captain Conor Coady (£4.9m) who, following a period of self-isolation missed his first league match in over three years, having played the previous 120 in a row.

“A big (blow to lose Coady). Unfortunately, with Coady and Saiss, players that have been with us since the Championship. Since (Conor) returned from the England squad, he has been self-isolating. He has tested negative, maybe he’s already immune but he cannot be with us.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

“Saïss is in self-isolation since returning from the national team. He tested positive. He is comfortable with the situation. He is at home by himself with his family in another room and he has to protect himself to stay fit and healthy.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

Coady’s absence, as well as a positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test for Romain Saïss (£5.2m), triggered Wolves’ first outing with a back-four since May 2017, when Paul Lambert was the manager for a 1-0 win over Preston North End.

In this rather unfamiliar set-up, Nuno Espirito Santo deployed Rayan Aït-Nouri (£5.0m) and Nélson Semedo (£5.6m) as traditional full-backs with the left-footed Max Kilman (£4.3m) as the right-sided centre-back to Willy Boly (£5.5m), although the two switched over at half-time.

It was clear that Wolves took some time to grow into a 4-3-3 formation, with Southampton causing plenty of problems with their narrow formation.

However, once they added Pedro Neto (£5.5m) to midfield in the place of Rúben Neves (£5.3m) and went for a 4-2-3-1, Wolves were the better team in the closing stages and the most likely to win the game.

“Conor was not available. Saiss also. We decided to go with three midfielders and it was good. I think we should grow, we should find solutions. We have an identity that is more not about the system, it is about the idea that we fight and try to play good football and we try to be solid. I think we managed that. Let’s see (if we use four at the back again).” – Nuno Espirito Santo

INGS ARE LOOKING UP

Despite fears that Danny Ings‘ (£8.3m) injury would limit Southampton’s offensive capabilities, Ralph Hasenhüttl has found a very effective solution in the strike-pairing of Adams and Theo Walcott (£5.8m).

The two players have only enjoyed two Premier League outings as a front-two but have already combined in each of those.

Walcott was the more dangerous of the two at Molineux, using his pace to get around the back on more than one occasion.

In the first half, he whipped an effort back across goal which was well-stopped by Rui Patrício (£5.5m), before punishing Semedo’s momentary lack of concentration in the second, sneaking in at the back post to tap Adams’ cross into an empty net.

Later, Walcott played an incredible chipped through-ball to Adams, straight out of the Harry Kane (£11.0m) playbook, but the former Birmingham man pulled his effort just wide.

Once the Gameweek 10 meeting with Manchester United is out of the way, Southampton face Brighton (away), Sheffield United (home), Arsenal (away) and Fulham (away) between Gameweeks 11 and 15, perhaps the best time to consider investing in Adams or Walcott, depending on Ings’ fitness, of course.

Of the two, Adams seems the most likely to hold his place, but the out-of-position factor for Walcott certainly hands him the most explosive potential before Ings returns to the side.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (4-3-3): Patrício; Aït-Nouri, Boly, Kilman, Semedo; Moutinho, Neves (Neto 70′), Dendoncker; Podence (Vitinha 85′), Jiménez, A Traoré.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Djenepo (S Long 79′), Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong (Diallo 90′); Adams, Walcott.

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 9

999 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A lot can be said about Bruno, but he's really good value for ManU. His weekly salary is "only" 100k per week. Compare that to Fred and Matic both on 120k, Shaw on 150k, Martial on 250k and Pogba of 290k per week.

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

      Criminal

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

      Really? Lol wtf

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

        I kid you not. Rashford on 200k.

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

          Mad, pogba is such a waist of space

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

            I hope he's sold in January. Such a waste of potential. He has no composure to play in midfield 2. Having to be accommodated by a 3 man midfield is sad.

        2. Not again Shirley
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          On that wage Rashford should be paying for the kids meals from his wages and not getting us tax payers to pay!

          A bit like comic relief when all these multi million stars come on and ask for our money. The amount the general public generates is small fry compared to how much the these guys are worth. Poor old ain’t got a pot to pee in but still donates a tenner. Makes little sense.

  2. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bruno to troll us all and blank at the weekend.

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

      Aye, just like United did after RB Leipzig trashing in CL.

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

      Of course. YC and missed penalty, subbed at 59 mins.

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

      Bruno has never blanked in an away league game

  3. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bruno this, Bruno that, Bruno come round and f my wife.

    You lot make me sick.

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

      The salt is real.

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

        Talking about him or his wife ?

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

      Bruno doesn't like your attitude.

    3. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Brunooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    4. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Give me a B

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

    Bruno stop please, save some for the weekend

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

      This

  5. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bruno will be 11 mn in FPL soon

  6. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Obviously Bruno is better than KDB

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'll have whatever you're smoking.

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      KDB is the better player but atm Bruno is the better fantasy asset.

    3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lol you do talk some crap 😆

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

    Sterling or Bruno captain this gw?

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

      Sterling if you have him.

      Good differential captain

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

        Sterling? That's a far stretch - fas done naff all last 4 gw's, and benched last gw. Don't hold your hopes high

  8. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    You'd have to pay me to do Bruno to Salah

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

      I think you meant "or"

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

      Yeah, United's performance against a bunch of non-leaguers is hard to put into perspective. . .

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

    Disappointing Scoutcast tonight- Have always listened to it but just turned it off- with Black Box, the List, Let’s Talk fpl, 59th minute etc there is lot of quality out there

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not the same without Mark imo

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Do you love him ?

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

      * meant fpl wire not the list-

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

      I set a limit of 3. Blackbox, FPL Wire, & 59th Minute are by far the best imo.

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

      Its pretty boring... They all agree with each other and theres really no devil's advocate or contradictory opinion. No banter either.

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

        Also they keep refusing my request to address the season of the casual phenomenon.

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

    Not sure how close Bruno to Spurs really got. The link up between Son, Kane and Bruno could have been something special.

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

      You just made Dele cry.

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

      Dont think it was close, Bruno was a utd fan because of Cristiano

  11. FCRS BGD
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hi guys
    In Draft league, who would you rather have for the rest of the season?
    1) Bale
    2) Foden
    Thanks

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bale

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

      Eh, neither.. probably Foden

      1. FCRS BGD
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks

  12. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Would you do Mane Bissouma Zouma out for Bruno Jota Kilman?

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

      I wouldnt. Do you think its worth doing Kane and Ziyech/Grealish to Salah and Bamford?

      1. The-Red-1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Probably not, but then I'm doing terribly this season!

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

          Dw, its a marathon and a bit of luck too!

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

    Rashford streetwise, clearly manufacturing that penalty

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

      Yep, agree with you. He bought that.

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

        Its still a penalty though, ref given no chance!

    2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      hes good at it

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

    Pen MUN

  15. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bruno hatty coming up...

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

      Erm

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

        😆 Much like Trump, I didn't see that coming...

  16. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Penandas is back!!

  17. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford in pens what is happening omg Bruno owners

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

    Another Ole saving performance against a bunch of non-leaguers. . .

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

    Cringe run up

  20. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    The only thing we are sure of in life are death, taxes and a Bruno pen.

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

      Awkward

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

    ronaldo goal. screamer

  22. F4L
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Penandes owners in the mud

  23. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Nvm Bruno will score hattrick from open play!

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

      I'm sure world class players like Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo will strive to make it otherwise.

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

    Bruno out

  25. lindeg
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Penandes off pens!!!!

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

    Nownow guys. Bruni let him take that because he knows he can get a hattrick anyways

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

      Pull him off a rest him for the weekend.

  27. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pretty sure he gave the pen to Rashford rather than is off them

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

        They're trolling

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

          Actually think rash will take the next with bruno missing 3 as of late

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

            Only 1 miss technically since 2 were retaken. That's the beauty of the hop skip jump. most likely way to save is for keeper to come off his line early which isn't allowed anymore.

          2. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Technically only missed 1, because 2 were retaken I don't think ole sees them as misses and said so himself

            • Brosstan
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Bruno has only missed one.

        2. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Confirmed by commentator, he put the ball on the spot then gave to Rashford

          • HNI
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            That too when on hatrick! Talk about obsessing about team spirit than being the talisman

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

          Why dint Bruno take the penalty inspite of being on hatrick? His selfless is borderline weird in today world when every player wants all the glory

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

            After Everton he said he didn't mind at all if Rashford was given the goal where his cross went straight in.

        4. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Lol better sell bruno then, was a stupid decision to get him in the first place

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

          Penandes no more?

          1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Yep, all over for him