Scout Notes

The FPL Round-Up: Pep on Cancelo, Lampard to rotate and Richarlison update

Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea

  • Goals: Alexandre Lacazette (£8.2m), Granit Xhaka (£5.2m), Bukayo Saka (£5.1m) | Tammy Abraham (£7.2m)
  • Assists: Kieran Tierney (£5.3m), Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe (£4.4m) | Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m)
  • Bonus: Saka x3, Lacazette x2, Bernd Leno (£4.9m), Xhaka x1

A much-changed, and much-improved, Arsenal saw off Chelsea to ease the pressure on manager Mikel Arteta.

The result meant a third straight away loss for the Blues, incurring the wrath of boss Frank Lampard, who branded his players ‘lazy’.

Fantasy managers were ill-served by Lampard in the run-up to the match, with injury doubts over full-backs Ben Chilwell (£6.1m) and Reece James (£5.2m) prompting many to sell them on.

As it happened, both started and promptly handed their remaining owners another day without clean sheet points – Chelsea have managed just one shut-out in their last five games.

The team’s most popular attacking player, the 15.3%-owned Timo Werner (£9.3m), made it seven starts without a goal, although his opportunities were severely limited when Lampard hooked him at half-time:

Timo today wasn’t giving us enough with or without the ball and some of it we have to give him time because it is a different league, but also we have to get there quickly. So we’ll see about his tiredness. I will have a conversation with him, but it was a decision I just felt I had to make.

Werner won’t be the only player nervously checking the teamsheet for Gameweek 16’s visit from Aston Villa on Monday either:

I will have to rotate players, I will have to see after Arsenal where players are in their fitness, every individual is different, we will do our best to get the turnaround right.

Arteta has an extra day to plan for the Gunners’ trip to Brighton, with the immediate future of the benched Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m and 7.4%) the main Fantasy concern.

In his absence, Alexandre Lacazette (£8.2m), Granit Xhaka (£5.2m) and Bukayo Saka (£5.1m) got the goals, while Emile Smith-Rowe‘s (£4.4m) energy caught the eye.

Tammy Abraham (£7.2m) managed a late consolation goal – his third in two matches – and Bernd Leno (£4.9m) then saved a Jorginho (£4.8m) penalty, but the hosts deserved their win, with the outstanding Saka bringing in maximum bonus points for his 2.4% ownership.


Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tierney, Mari, Holding, Bellerín; Elneny, Xhaka; Martinelli (Pepe 71), Smith Rowe (Willock 65), Saka; Lacazette (Mustafi 90+2). 

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): E Mendy; Chilwell, T Silva, Zouma, R James; Mount, Kanté (Havertz 74), Kovacic (Jorginho 45); Werner (Hudson-Odoi 45), Abraham, Pulisic.

Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle United

.
  • Goals: Ilkay Gundogan (£5.4m), Ferran Torres (£6.9m)
  • Assists: Raheem Sterling (£11.4m)
  • Bonus: Gundogan x3, Joao Cancelo (£5.6m) x2, Nathan Ake (£5.4m) x1

A routine win for Manchester City came with another unremarkable score from the team’s most popular Fantasy asset, Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m).

More than 189,000 managers sold on the 23.8%-owned Belgian heading into the match after a run of just one assist from three starts.

And a further blank on Boxing Day has prompted another 58,000+ to put him in the top three for Gameweek 16 sales, including (presumably) some of the 561,821 who captained him against Newcastle.

With Gabriel Jesus (£9.1m) ill and Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) still being eased back from injury, City manager Pep Guardiola handed the striker’s role to Ferran Torres (£6.9m), who steered home the team’s second goal of a predictably one-sided contest.

But it was Raheem Sterling (£11.4m) who had he most penalty area touches (12) on the day, and from one of those he set up Ilkay Gundogan (£5.4m) for the opener.

That was the midfielder’s second goal from his last three starts, and although he later picked up a knock, he played it down post-match.

I got a couple of kicks on my foot, but it shouldn’t be that bad. I should be able to go again on Monday.

Based on Guardiola’s penchant for rotation, that confidence looks ill-advised.

And the manager’s comments on Joao Cancelo (£5.6m), who impressed at both ends of the pitch on the way to a fourth clean sheet in five matches, should send shivers down the collective spine of his 6.1% ownership:

He’s a player with incredible quality, and his regeneration and physicality is incredible. He could play tomorrow!

Newcastle, meanwhile, came to defend, did that well, but not well enough and then left, with their main attacking threat, Callum Wilson (£6.6m) missing out with a knock – and boss Steve Bruce’s desire not to risk him after four matches in 12 days.

The next two will take place over five days and involve visits from Liverpool and Leicester, ensuring interest in Newcastle assets – aside from the 15.7%-owned Wilson – remains the wrong side of meh.


Manchester City XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Ake; Gundogan (Foden 90+1), Rodrigo (Fernandinho 57); De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling; Torres (Aguero 77).

Newcastle United XI (5-4-1): Darlow; Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Clark, Ritchie (Lewis 66); Murphy, Hayden, M Longstaff, Almiron (Gayle 82); Joelinton (Carroll 71).

Sheffield United 0-1 Everton

  • Goals: Gylfi Sigurdsson (£6.8m)
  • Assists: Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.3m)
  • Bonus: Sigurdsson x3, Michael Keane (£5.1m) x2, Yerry Mina (£5.5m), Mason Holgate (£4.8m) x1

Everton made it four wins on the bounce – three involving clean sheets – with a hard-fought victory over an increasingly desperate Sheffield United.

‘Desperate’ also adequately describes those (few) Fantasy managers still hoping for returns from Blades players, so after a quick mention of yet another blank for the 6.6%-owned Rhian Brewster (£4.5m), it’s back to Carlo Ancelotti’s side for the rest of this report.

Gylfi Sigurdsson (£6.8m) scored the winner, his third return in those four victories, from an Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.3m) assist in the 80th minute.

The fact that was the first shot on target in the second half spoke volumes as to the attacking play on offer from both teams.

Then again, with both James Rodriguez (£7.7m) and Richarlison (£7.8m) still out for the visitors, that was no great surprise as the 60.9%-owned Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£8.0m) blanked for the first time since Gameweek 10.

Ancelotti confirmed that Richarlison would not be ready to return against Man City on Monday:

There is no possibility to prepare the team. We have to think about the players who can recover in two days. After that, we have to rotate some players. Richarlison is following his concussion protocols and has to stay out.

That could prompt plenty of Calvert-Lewin sales – he’s currently sixth for Gameweek 16 transfers out – as the striker struggles for goals without the Brazilian in the team.

And with a clean sheet a tall order against Guardiola’s troops, it’s no surprise to find zero Everton players in the top 30 for purchases either, despite such a fine run of recent form.


Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Basham, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, McGoldrick (Norwood 63) Osborn, Ampadu, Stevens; Brewster (Mousset 76), Burke (McBurnie 45). 

Everton XI (4-5-1): Pickford; Holgate, Keane (Coleman 66), Mina, Godfrey; Doucoure, Davies (Gomes 74), Sigurdsson, Gordon (Bernard 55), Iwobi; Calvert-Lewin.

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 15

4,308 Comments Post a Comment
  1. jb1985
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How to get in this GW:

    A) Vardy
    B) Kane
    C) Son

    1. yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Son for me, talk about vardy rest. Im going Son then gw19 moving him for either rashford or mane for double

    2. BilalM
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I reckon Kane or Son are your best 2 options. I keep hearing Vardy will be rested?

    3. Transfer Window
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Vardy is the darkhorse. Palace are horrible defensively

    4. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Think Vardy best option if all play but a rest likely... maybe wait and see if any early Leicester news pre deadline...
      If nothing I’d be safe with Kane.

  2. Don Van Vliet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Start Welbeck over Ayling, right?
    Danny to bang against his old club...

    1. Transfer Window
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes. WBA can score too

    2. Transfer Window
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Therefore, little CS potential this week for Leeds

  3. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    last budget striker spot...
    a) Wood
    b) Adams

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

      A

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

      After a lot of thinking and looking into stats...I have gone with adams

    3. Don Van Vliet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

    4. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

  4. Sotamendi84
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    best lamptey replacement?
    a) holding
    b) taylor?

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

      Going for Taylor
      Great next 2 home fixtures

  5. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Two Defenders to get :

    A- Dallas
    B- Dier
    C- Taylor

    Selling both Matip and Lewis/ Mitchell for free

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

      Depends how many D or SGW you need. Taylor and Dier for current fixtures and Dallas for DGW one.

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

    Team g2g folks? 2fts, 0.2m itb. Keeping kdb so no choice but to waste a ft.

    martinez
    robbo zouma taylor
    salah kdb bruno son soucek
    dcl bamford

    forster dallas coufal brewster

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

      You'll probably have to waste a FT since nothing to change, could downgrade DCL if you want.

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Nah not keen on losing DCL. Cheers!

    2. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Don't waste ft. if you have no transfers to make then don't make any. Remember, transfers made are this game's tiebreaker

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

      There’s really nothing to do there

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

    Welbeck to Kane worth -4 this week? Quite worried Kane could be rested since he'll have played 4 games in 10 days.

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

      No way. Welbeck will be hungry to score against his old club. Spurs looked dead against wolves.

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

        Holding the transfer for a week would also help me I guess since I can go for Kane or Vardy next week.

  8. S3
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on Lamptey replacement >> Holding or Ayling or Alioski or Balbuena...got only 4.6 and already have Taylor

  9. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Which one do I bench:

    A) Holding vs BRI
    B) Coufal vs SOU
    C) Ampadu vs BUR

    1. Transfer Window
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Difficult choice. I would bench Coufal tho

  10. Transfer Window
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Which 3 out of 4 would you play this week?
    1. Soucek
    2. Grealish
    3. DCL
    4. Watkins

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

      I’d Bench 3 or 4.

  11. MikeLowrey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Best Lamptey replacement?

    A) Stones
    B) Holding
    C) Coufal
    D) Dallas
    E) Taylor

    Current Defense:

    Robbo Dias KWP Lamptey Mitchell

    1. Transfer Window
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Dallas handsdown

    2. yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      stones

  12. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    None of this will affect my starting lineups till GW19, but I need to start making the correct transfers as of next week. For DGW19 BB, Which of these 3 looks best?

    A) Fabianski + Robbo + Raphinha + Adams -8
    B) McCarthy + Coufal + Raphinha + Adams -4
    C) Meslier + Coufal + KDB + Brewster

    1. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Sorry, no, B is impossible. Balls this is hard

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

      Can you do C with Mane instead of Kev and a diff DGW fwd to Brewster?

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

    Which 1 to bench this week?

    Salah, Son, KDB, Bruno, Martinelli
    Wilson, Bamford, Watkins

    1. Transfer Window
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Wilson maybe rusty

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

      Martinelli

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

      You have Martinelli? Interesting.
      Wilson maybe doubtful, so either of those to bench

  14. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Just noticed that a lot of teams on here that own both Kane and Salah seem to put the armband on Kane. Starting to think (C)alah is a movement for folks who don't own the Englishman

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

      Or the fact that Liverpool are the best attack in the league away to a porous defence. Conversely Spurs are offering extremely little going forwards, as reflected by the abysmal xG and are playing a resurgent Fulham who have put I impressive numbers against some of the Top 6. Go figure

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Kane's a troll I'll go Son over him any time.

    3. Ray Sterling
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      if it Salah vs Son who you think would be better choice for Captaincy.

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

        Me? I would pick Salah, I go for the weakest defence every week and I survived not picking Salah cap vs WBA. Newcastle and Leeds are my whipping boys now.

    4. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      KDB has outscored Kane in 5 out of last 6 gameweeks... yet KDB a sell and Kane a captain.. doesn’t make sense to me.
      If in doubt.. Egyptian King.

  15. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play Wilson OR PVA?

  16. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Morning folks, which combo gives more points for gw16 and gw17

    A: Kdb + Watkins..........+ Sterling for gw18
    B: Soucek + Kane.........+ Kdb for gw18

    1. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B involves a hit

    2. Transfer Window
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      A for gw18 for me

  17. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Australia Collapse. Where is TM today ?

  18. stokkies
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    my team is a mess atm, I stupidly transferred in matip right before the game, obv got injured and now I don't have any free transfers.

    current side

    steer/ mccarthy
    kilman kelly/ dier dallas matip
    grealish mount de bruyne fernandes son
    brewster/ werner calvert lewin

    Seems like matip isn't starting due to injury and werner getting dropped due to form, instead of wasting my second wildcard already do I take an 8 point loss and get shaw for kilman and martial for werner? any other suggestions, got 0 in the bank.

  19. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play DCL or Grealish?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Irbox?

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

        Grealish

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Im toying with playing DCL or Soucek ?

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

      I’m benching DCL and playing Grealish

  20. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    In DGW19, can I do better than Raphinha for 7.2m? (no WHU)

    1. Redranger
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Maddison? I do see them both getting similar points though.

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

        Maddison's a trap he didn't even haul much yet kept rising. 2, 3, 4 in last 3 yet kept rising.

        1. Redranger
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I agree to be honest. Too patchy for a 7 mill mid.

      2. Von Lipwig
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks for the thought. Yeah Barnes and Maddi are possibilities, but I think the Leeds fixtures swings it to Raph. Thanks

  21. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Current WC draft:
    Fabianski McCarthy
    Robbo Cancelo Dier Coufal Taylor
    Grealish Salah Bruno Soucek Raphinha
    Kane Bamford Adams

    With this team, do I BB in 19? I was leaning towards TC Salah, in which case should I downgrade some aspects? Or should I definitely BB? Help :/

  22. Redranger
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Which MCI defender on WC?

    A) Dias
    B) Stones
    C) Cancelo

    1. yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      C

    2. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      C

  23. ScoutHelp
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Start 1

    A) Wilson vs LIV
    B) Balbuena vs SOU
    C) Ward-Prowse vs WHU

    Leaning away from Wilson since I'm starting both TAA and Rhys Williams

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

      C, but could really see Wilson scoring against that pool's CB pairing.

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

        Thanks

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

      C

    3. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      C

  24. tommo123
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    McCarthy
    Reguilon Zouma Taylor
    Salah Neto Son KDB Fernandes
    DCL Bamford

    Nyland Konsa Davis Mitchell

    KDB & Davis -> Kane & Soucek for free???

    Will be WCing in 17

  25. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    morning gents. Preparing for gw18 and FH gw19.

    Lamptey to:
    A. Dier
    B. Stones (already have Cancelo)

    Or alternatively just KDB to Bruno?

  26. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Would you do Grealish > ???

    a. Maddison (Have Vardy but maybe rested?)
    b. JWP
    c. F Torres
    d. Harvey Barnes
    e. Roll FT

    Cheers

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

      e

    2. Pitch Perfect
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      E

    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      thanks for the replies. GL

    4. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Roll

  27. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    McCarthy.
    Robbo, Stones, Dallas, Coufal.
    Salah, Son, KDB, Fernandes.
    Bamford, DCL.
    Forster, Lookman, Brewster, Ferguson.
    1ft, 0.6m ITB. FH 18, TC 19- Have 8 DGW'rs atm and hoping for 9/10.
    Stones, KDB + Son are my single weekers in 19 for now.

    1. Dallas/Coufal-> James. (Think Reece outscores both over the next 4/5).
    2. KDB-> Mane or Rashford. Favouring Mane and this move the most.
    3. Lookman -> Soucek. Sideways but cost me lots of points choosing Look.

  28. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Mahrez to Son this week? Or keep Mahrez for one more ride and do the move next week.

    Already took a 0.2 loss on him. So i guess it makes sense to keep and sell after deadline?

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

      Get Son

    2. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Son

  29. jb1985
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    After which game week are the yellow cards reset? Grealish sitting on 4 currently

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I think it's GW21 for Grealish

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      After 19 matches not GW, so it has to include his 2 games in hand or until he reaches 19 games.

  30. Vlekz
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Matip(5.4) lamptey (4.8) 0.2 ITB.
      Other defenders are Cresswell Robertson Mitchell.
      1 FT. who to sell and who to get in order to field 3 playing defenders.
      I am not using my FH nor BB in gw 18/19