Scout Notes

Penalty-taking El Ghazi outperforming Grealish as goal-scoring run continues

Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa

  • Goals: Olivier Giroud (£6.7m) | Anwar El Ghazi (£5.8m)
  • Assists: Ben Chilwell (£6.1m) | Matty Cash (£5.0m)
  • Bonus points: Giroud x3, Cash x2, El Ghazi x1

A GREAL G

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.8m) is making a strong case to replace Jack Grealish (£7.8m) in Fantasy Premier League teams after scoring for Aston Villa in their 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

The Dutch winger now has five goals in as many appearances since Gameweek 12, the most of any colleague during that time.

Crucially, the penalty-taking El Ghazi has vastly outscored Grealish over the last five matches – an impressive feat for a man who can offer a £2.0m saving on top of his points potential.

In that time, the cheaper of the two has scored 42 points, averaging 8.4 points per game.

Meanwhile, Grealish has contributed just two attacking returns since Gameweek 12, both of them assists, for a total of 19 points (3.8 per game).

ROTATION PROOF?

Anyone considering El Ghazi can take additional comfort from Dean Smith’s comments after the draw at Chelsea.

Despite a gap of just two days between Villa’s Gameweek 15 and 16 matches, he made just one change to his team – and even that was enforced. Tyrone Mings (£5.4m) missed out due to suspension so Ezri Konsa (£4.7m) and Kortney Hause (£4.4m) were paired together at centre-back for the first time this season.

That meant El Ghazi, Grealish, Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) comprised the front-four once again and, it must be said, none of them looked as if they were suffering from the busy schedule, each putting in a gut-busting shift.

“I’m a big believer that you want to play every game. That’s what footballers want. If they doing well, keep playing them. I didn’t name the team until today but I wanted to check they were alright but I’m still yet to see a player carried off the pitch due to exhaustion.” – Dean Smith

Smith may not be entirely accurate with the second half of that quote (I’ve seen plenty of players forced off with exhaustion and/or cramp and I’m close to half his age) – but his commitment to keeping the same team is encouraging for Fantasy managers.

His squad was possibly helped by the postponement of a Gameweek 11 hosting of Newcastle, as that afforded them 12 days of rest at the start of December – a luxury few other clubs have enjoyed this Christmas.

Either way, looking ahead, it will arguably be much easier to predict the Villa line-up and invest with confidence compared to many other teams – perhaps until they suffer another bad patch of form.

Villa’s short-term fixtures could play a part in that as they face Manchester United (away) and Spurs (home) in the next two Gameweeks – perhaps warranting pause before jumping straight into signing El Ghazi.

LAMPARD LOTTERY

By contrast, Frank Lampard wreaked havoc with Fantasy teams on a day where Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£8.0m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.7m) were handed an unexpected Blank Gameweek.

Three of Chelsea’s four most-popular assets, Kurt Zouma (27.0%), Timo Werner (14.0%) and Reece James (12.8%), missed out on a place in the starting XI against Aston Villa as Lampard managed the minutes of his squad.

Zouma and Thiago Silva‘s (£5.6m) absences was simply down to the volume of games played recently but in the case of James, he was left out of the squad because of a “minor” hamstring problem suffered after recent issues with his knee.

Despite playing the full 90 minutes, Ben Chilwell (£6.1m) still caused some Fantasy anguish. After losing over 855,000 owners over the last four Gameweeks, the left-back now has the same number of assists in that time (two) than he did during the first 12 league matches of the campaign – and he nearly scored a wonder-volley in the closing stages.

Meanwhile, it was noteworthy to see Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) start a second game in two days and manage to last 90 minutes each time – perhaps suggesting he can offer a robust route into Chelsea’s attack for matches against Fulham (away) and Leicester (away) in Double Gameweek 19.

“Christian was really bright which is great when he’s played two games close together, fitness-wise.” – Frank Lampard

That said, Fantasy managers should keep an eye on any breaking news coming out of the Manchester City camp in the next few days.

Their trip to Everton, originally scheduled for Monday, was postponed due to an outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, putting their Gameweek 17 trip to Stamford Bridge in jeopardy too.

“It’s something we’ll discuss considering we’ve got them at the weekend. It’s something I’ll have to pick up with the medical team and the Premier League.” – Frank Lampard

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): E Mendy; Chilwell, Rüdiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Mount, Jorginho (Havertz 72′), Kanté; Pulisic, Giroud (Werner 72′), Hudson-Odoi.

Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Targett, Hause, Konsa, Cash; McGinn, D Luiz; El Ghazi (J Ramsey 81′), Grealish, B Traoré (Davis 87′); Watkins.

2,089 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Please not the spurs game. Please no

  2. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Charlie Taylor cross to Chris Wood's noggin for a goal today please

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

      Desperately need that one

    2. Blzbobuk
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      This

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

    If triple Leeds can haul tonight it could be a big rank jumps if spurs are off tomorrow

  4. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Ings fit and Antonio on the bench interestingggg. Blank gw could become a lot blanker... really is a crazy season, wouldn’t complain at a null and void hahaha

  5. The Hunt
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If West Ham don't score I'm going to self flagellate. I'm absolutely surrounded by teams with double Southampton defenders.

  6. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Spurs game in doubt - athletic

  7. Party time
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Covid gotta stop hauling. Most in form player in the league since March

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Almost rivals Vardy

    • DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Spurs going to be postponed 🙂 Mo captain for everyone!!

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

        hopfully liverpools game doesnt get cancelled

    • Mr. Funny Name
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Us DGW19 bench boosters getting lucky with our benches this week 🙂

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

        yeah Balbuana pick was inspired

        1. Mr. Funny Name
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Bar that one

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

      Sold Antonio for a hit

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

        4 gws ago?

    • RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Manu-Wolves absolute rumour fre?

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

        *Free

        1. Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Yes

      2. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yup can't have the title winners match be postponed

    • tommo123
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Triple spurs, sums up my season

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

      Please spurs game to be on. Kane is my ultimate differential

      1. Party time
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Bruno(C) is the special weapon

      2. Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Brewster, this is your moment.

      3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Spurs game now in doubt

        No smoke without fire

        My guess is the 2 week break will come in but can see the season being put on hold for a few months once again possibly till March or April

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

          Yep

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

          Not a chance

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

        Don't have captain and vice from the same team is good advice

        1. Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Unless your cpt is kdb and vice son maybe...

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

        UK covid cases:

        COVID-19: Cases surge to fresh high as another 53,135 infections recorded

        https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1343961540899299328

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

        I have 6 maybe 7 players ...

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Smashing it then

      7. Well you know, Triffic
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This could be the last football we see for a while. Enjoy it whatever happens.

        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          knew I should have captained Mitchell

        2. teneighty
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Best advice in a while.

        3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Yep, was just going to follow most of the football tonight and tomorrow but think I might sit down and watch what's there now and try and enjoy.

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

        Kane my vice Bruno vice in fanteam. Carnage

      9. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Balbuana is injured again I assume or just chucked out the squad? He has had plenty of rest...

        1. Well you know, Triffic
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Chucked out

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

            Must of been blamed for the last result.

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

        Have a feeling it's Brewster time. He might be better playing off the left

      11. 1984 TC
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        and this is the week to qualify for the Cup.

      12. RWB_1991
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Is Stuijk nailed for Leeds now?

      13. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Fair play to Sheffield United. Say they've returned their record number of positive cases but still put a team out anyway. Obviously that's beyond teams like City and their giant squad...

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

          ^ This

        2. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Sheff Utd put out their first team. City have multiple cases in their first team.

          Big difference

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

        Done Brewster to Kane and thought. That move can't backfire.. lol

        1. TheOneAndOnly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          same boat here

      15. KnightSlayer
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Veltman playing may need my 3rd sub

      16. TKC07
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Chaos isn't a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some, are given a chance to climb.

      17. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Dias Belloli starting for Leeds today.

        Classic FFS pick.

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

          how to lol @ belloli?

      18. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Absolute madness Merry 2020 🙂

        1. Party time
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Do we think 2021 will be any better?

            Me: NO

            1. OverTinker
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 3 months ago

              this. Calendars are man made.