Scout Notes

The FPL Round-Up: Ings update, Rodgers’ rotation and Watkins ‘hat-trick’

Leicester City 2-2 Manchester United

  • Goals: Harvey Barnes (£6.7m), Axel Tuanzebe (£4.2m) own goal | Marcus Rashford (£9.5m), Bruno Fernandes (£11.0m)
  • Assists: James Maddison (£7.1m), Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) | Fernandes, Edinson Cavani (£7.8m)
  • Bonus: Fernandes x3, Luke Shaw (£4.8m) x2, Youri Tielemans (£6.4m)

Bruno Fernandes‘ (£11.0m) seventh double-digit return of the season couldn’t stop Leicester City scrapping to a point in a lively lunchtime encounter at the King Power Stadium.

The Manchester United midfielder set up Marcus Rashford‘s (£9.5m) first-half opener, albeit from a lucky deflection, before latching on to an Edinson Cavani (£7.8m) pass and steering a shot past Kasper Schmeichel (£5.5m) as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

Maximum bonus took Fernandes to 12 points on the day – the fifth time he’s hit double figures in away matches.

Leicester’s most popular player, the 25.7%-owned Jamie Vardy (£10.1m), had a quiet day until the 86th minute, when his shot went in off Axel Tuanzebe (£4.2m) for an own goal and an assist for the forward.

The Foxes’ other strike came from Harvey Barnes (£6.7m), who was handed a third straight start and scored for the first time since Gameweek 10.

The assist came from James Maddison (£7.1m), his first return since a monster 16-point haul in Gameweek 12.

Fernandes’ fine form has earned him an early lead in the race to be Gameweek 16’s most popular transfer-in, although the Red Devils’ schedule – visits from Wolves and Aston Villa before a Gameweek 18 blank – is not exactly inspirational.

Leicester also have an upcoming blank, with trips to Crystal Palace and Newcastle offering the prospect of returns before that.

Gameweek 16 could see Brendan Rodgers ring the changes, however, with the Leicester boss saying after full-time:

There’ll be one or two players that have just come back that there will be question marks over and that we’ll need to have a look at. The likes of Tim Castagne, who has just come back from a hamstring injury, are we going to risk that 48.5 hours later?

Yes [I could rest Jamie Vardy or Youri Tielemans]. I’m not prepared to put a level of risk in that means they’re going to miss six weeks to two months with an injury. We’ll make changes – the number, we’ll have to wait and see.

As for United, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m) missed out and Victor Lindelof (£4.8m) was forced off with a recurrence of his back problem midway through the second half; both players will be assessed before Tuesday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also provided an update on Rashford:

Leicester City XI (4-3-2-1): Schmeichel; Castagne, Evans, Fofana, Justin; Ndidi, Tielemans, Albrighton (Perez 81); Barnes, Maddison; Vardy

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelöf (Tuanzebe 66), Bailly; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, Fernandes, James (Pogba 54); Martial (Cavani 75)

Aston Villa 3-0 Crystal Palace

  • Goals: Bertrand Traore (£5.9m), Kortney Hause (£4.4m), Anwar El Ghazi (£5.7m)
  • Assists: Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) x3
  • Bonus: Hause x3, Emiliano Martinez (£4.9m) x2, El Ghazi, Traore x1

A screamer from Anwar El Ghazi (£5.7m), a tireless if profligate performance from Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) and a red card for Tyrone Mings (£5.4m) were the key takeaways from a thoroughly entertaining game at Villa Park.

The 13.9%-owned Mings was sent off after collecting two yellow cards in six forgettable minutes involving Wilfried Zaha (£7.5m) and high levels of stupidity.

Aston Villa were already ahead by then, courtesy of Bertrand Traore‘s (£5.9m) second goal in a week, the midfielder steering home after Watkins’ shot was parried by Crystal Palace keeper Vicente Guaita (£4.9m).

Traore became the unfortunate victim of Mings’ indiscretion as he was replaced by centre-half Ezri Konsa (£4.8m) on the stroke of half-time.

But any hopes of a Palace comeback were squashed by a counter-attacking masterclass from the home side after the break.

Kortney Hause (£4.4m) doubled the lead after a Watkins header hit the bar, before El Ghazi curled home a beautiful shot on the angle from the striker’s lay-off.

A hat-trick of assists broke Watkins’ five-match barren spell, but he could have had a huge haul on the day, missing three big chances and having 10 attempts.

As for El Ghazi, that was the midfielder’s third goal in two Gameweeks – and his fourth in four – but trips to Chelsea and Manchester United, plus a visit from Spurs, might dampen Fantasy enthusiasm for him and his team-mates.

This was another game to come too soon for hamstrung loanee Ross Barkley (£5.9m), who will again be absent in Gameweek 16 as he is ineligible to face his parent club.

Mings owners aside, it was another good week to be on a Villa defender as Dean Smith’s side kept a fourth straight clean sheet.

Palace, meanwhile, remain in a wretched little spot. Winless in four matches, they’ve now conceded ten (and scored none) over the last two Gameweeks ahead of a visit from Leicester on Monday.

Aston Villa XI: (4-2-3-1) Martínez; Targett, Mings, Hause, Cash; Luiz, McGinn; El Ghazi, Grealish, B Traoré; Watkins.

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; van Aanholt, Dann, Kouyaté, J Ward; Eze, McArthur, Milivojevic, Schlupp; Zaha, Benteke. 

Fulham 0-0 Southampton

  • Bonus Points: Jan Bednarek (£4.7m) x3 Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.7m) Alphonse Areola (4.5m) x2

No need for lazy clichés about Christmas crackers at Craven Cottage as Fulham and Southampton played out a goalless draw involving just three shots on targets between them.

That meant clean sheet points for the second time in three Gameweeks for that rarest of beasts – the Fantasy manager with a Fulham defender in their sides.

It was two shut-outs in four for Southampton, but aside from keeper Alex McCarthy (£4.6m and 22.9%), their most popular defender, the 15%-owned Jannik Vestergaard (£5.0m), brought in zero points as he missed out with a knee injury that could sideline him for a number of weeks.

Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was also without other regulars Danny Ings (£8.3m) and Nathan Redmond (£6.4m), gave an update on all three post-match:

Both Redmond and Ings have muscle injuries and we will have to see. They are both out, but not as long as Jannik. Vestergaard will be out for four weeks, maybe even more, we don’t know.

Jack Stephens (£4.6m) deputised for Vestergaard well enough, but those thinking of swapping him in for the injured centre-half should bear in mind that Southampton face Liverpool and Leicester either side of a Blank Gameweek 18, with Leeds as the other team making up their Double Gameweek 19.

As for Fulham, their new-found defensive solidity will be sorely tested when the likes of Spurs, Chelsea and Man United come a-calling over the next few Gamweeks.

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; A Robinson, Adarabioyo, Andersen, Aina; Anguissa, Reed; Lookman (Kebano 90), Loftus-Cheek, Cavaleiro; De Cordova-Reid (Mitrovic 83)

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, J Stephens, Walker-Peters; Armstrong (Djenepo 90+3), Ward-Prowse, Diallo, Walcott; Adams, S Long (N’Lundulu 90+2). 

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 15

1,257 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Peskey
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hoping Mane can grab the headlines tonight. I enjoyed last season when half were Mane owners and half were Mohamed S owners.

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah it was a more viable scenario when Mane was a bit cheaper and Milner (as pen taker) was often on the pitch.

      These days it's not even viable to go Mane over Salah

    2. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He is benched today as per leaked lineup

      1. thegaffer82
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Lots of fake line-ups this week.

        From what I can gather there was some kind of sting operation at Pool this week to try to flush out the leaker(s). So all kinds of rubbish flying around as a result

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

          Surprised they let it go on this long tbh, was only putting the team at a disadvantage.

        2. KGFC
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          This was the reason last week as well and that lineup came out to be true. Guess we'll find out soon.

      2. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        He is not the line up was fake

  2. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Coufal 🙁
    My bench is Wilson, Stephens, Branthwaite!

    Sad times

    1. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Rumours....

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Is he missing today’s game? Saw his wife gave birth the other day. Here comes Justin’s one-pointer from my bench!

  3. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Having Konsa, TAA and Coufal this GW is no fun

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

    Which gk-cheap def combination ia good for gw 19?

    I have Martinez as another gk and have coufal in def.

    A. Fabianski, gibs(wba)
    B. Johnstone, balbuena

    I am planning to get one whu mid like soucek or bowen if possible

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

    A or B please chaps?

    A) 3-4-3

    McCarthy
    Cresswell | Dallas | Targett
    Salah | Bruno | Son | Grealish
    Kane | Bamford | DCL*

    Steer | Soucek | Taylor | MITCHELL*

    B) 3-5-2

    McCarthy
    TAA* | Cresswell | Dallas
    Salah | Bruno | Son | Grealish | Soucek
    Kane | Bamford

    Steer | Targett | Taylor | DAVIS*

    Thanks

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You don't wanna BB with Davis?

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

        I know, annoyingly 0.1 off Brewster.
        But with B I’ll probs just TC Salah

        1. Rolls-Royce
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Similar team and I am looking at Grealish + DCL-> Vardy + Raphinia

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

            Nice shout

  6. fridge
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    On wildcard would you rather have

    A) Johnstone playing keeper and up to 5.6 forward
    B) no extra keeper and up to 6.1 striker

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      There are no strikers at 5.6 to consider. 6.1 allows you Adams/Antonio at least

      1. fridge
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks, am thinking B is best too

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If you’re BB19 maybe A but otherwise B because the drop-off in quality of strikers in that bracket is significant

    3. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I like johnstone anyway seems like a really good choice

  7. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    My main issue for BB19 was finding a playing replacement for Struijk.

    What are the chances of him playing again in the DGW?

    Cooper out for a while? I was pleasantly surprised to see Struijk start today (though he’s third on my bench!)

    I’ve got no money ITB so I was going to save a FT this week anyway

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Llorente back in training so have to wait and see.

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks, good to know

  8. Kun Tozser
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    FH GW19 - anyone else taking this direction? My intention is that I can get mostly differentials with 2 games whilst still holding my team on the run up rather than losing form players on FTs getting doublers in (past mistakes of building for the DGW and losing focus of what’s just in front)

    Fabianski
    Maguire TAA Silva Coufal
    Pulisic Salah Raphinha Bruno Bowen
    Branford Abraham Martial

    No points spent on transfers either

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

      That's your FH19 team?

      1. Kun Tozser
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Potentially, Mane Salah double would be tempting

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

          It has 12 players 😛

          My draft is:

          Fabianski
          Coufal - James - Robertson
          Salah - Mane - Bruno - Raphinha
          Vardy - Bamford - Adams

          Looking forward to it

          1. acidicleo
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Good one..

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep, exactly the strategy I'm aiming for too. For my team, FH in 18 would be a complete waste of a chip and FH in 19 seems a nice way to use the chip as a sword rather than simply as a shield in 18. It's also lets you carry WC, BB & TC til later in the season - which according to Ben Crellin could have another bumper BGW & DGW.

    3. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Why do you need DGW players on bench if you are FH.
      Maximize playing 11..
      I wouldn't touch Pulisic or Tammy..
      Maguire is a no as well..
      Martial risky but have upside..

    4. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      13 players in that team is a bit of an unfair advantage?

  9. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    On wildcard, keep :
    A) grealish (barkley coming back, villa are attacking)
    B) dcl (only 3 blanks all season, getting big chances)
    C) both (play safe)
    D) neither (really attack dgw)

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I’ve toyed with selling DCL but got scared off by his still ridiculous ownership! He’s just been so consistent

    2. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I keep both think they are season keepers if nothing unexpected happends

  10. wattalowz
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How to get Son?

    A) KDB to Son

    B) Grealish + Watkins to Son + fodder -4 (play Soucek every week)

    C) Grealish + DCL to Son + Wood/Antonio/Adams/Rodrigo -4 (play Watkins every week)

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

      A

    2. Dennis System
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A (KDB to anyone, he's rubbish)

  11. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How reliable is the Coufal news?

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

      What’s that?

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Not in the squad

        1. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Source please?

          1. Rolls-Royce
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Previous page, some guy mentioned it.

            1. FPL.team
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 3 months ago

              What was his source?

              1. Rolls-Royce
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 3 months ago

                twitter

                1. FPL.team
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  Is anyone actually going to paste a link?

            2. Cruyff's Eleven
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 3 months ago

              That's not a source, that's fake news from someone who needs to get a real hobby...

              1. Cruyff's Eleven
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 3 months ago

                You could get banned for reposting fake news I think...

                Anyway, it could be true, but I've not seen irrefutable evidence yet....

                1. Rolls-Royce
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  I am not reposting, get a grip. Just asking if it's true.

                  1. Cruyff's Eleven
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 3 months ago

                    Fair enough, my apologies.

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      People were talking about it yesterday that he became a father. Not seen any real news though.

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

      Banana

  12. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Leeds are playing in 2 days again, no chance that Bielsa wont rotate. Who is certain to srart again?

    1. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bielsa doesn't really rotate for fitness

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bamford, Ayling probs

    3. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      BamBam will play two I've little doubts

  13. acidicleo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hoping for a bissouma screamer if Coufal is on paternity leave...

  14. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    It’s almost a given that Burnley will score from a set piece against Leeds

  15. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Ffs Pope you idiot. Rival has Klich

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bamford scores it

  16. Party time
      3 years, 3 months ago

      KLICH TIME

      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Lol

    • PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      My original plan was to save my FT this week. Probably will - only potential move would be Watkins to Adams but that could wait until DGW19.

      I’ll reassess tomorrow but save here?

      1FT 0.0ITB
      McCarthy Martinez
      Zouma Justin Taylor Coufal Struijk
      Salah KdB Bruno Son Soucek
      DCL Bamford Watkins

      Cheers!

    • Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nice, now Taylor assist time

    • House Frey Wedding Planner
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Planning to FH19

      Martinez, (4.0)
      Cancelo, Dias, KWP, Lewis, Mitchell
      Salah, Son, Bruno, Grealish, Jones
      Kane, DCL, Bamford

      1ft, 0.4itb

      Should I do Grealish & Mitchell to Dier & Saka for a -4?

      A little worried about going double City defence for Everton and Chelsea away plus with Grealish having tough fixtures plus now being 1 yellow from suspension it seems the right time for his exit.

      Thoughts?

    • IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Anyone who doesn’t own Bamford is an absolute casual

    • CSF150473
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Anyone thinking of getting ings in for the double ?

    • Rattus Norvegicus
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Anyone thought of swapping out Grealish for Maddison next few fixtures?