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. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Seems like there are a lot more reliable sources claiming the Spurs game is in doubt compared to Newcastle V. Liverpool so lets pray that's a good sign...

  2. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Are we (Brits) responsible for spreading this news strain across the world? It's being detected all over by the day

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No, it apparently came from South Africa. But then when it came to the UK, we helped spread it.

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

        Two different variants

        1. FPL price manipulators are …
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          This

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

      Nope. We discovered it through testing. Very few others were testing.

      If you really want to know where it started look at Paris' rising cases under lockdown a few months ago.

    3. Steve Chance
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, but imagine if we'd told everyone when we'd first found out about it. We would have been isolated from the rest of the world. We wouldn't have been able to spread it. Then where would we be? Cut adrift, that's where. 😉

    4. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      There is lot more research done in the UK compared to other countries so very likely that it was already in many other parts of the world but just unknown at that point when UK announced it.

      1. Klaren
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Compared to a lot of other countries*

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

      Corona-type viruses are known for mutating and this was expected. There is a new strain in the UK, and also a new strain in South Africa (different strains) that behave similarly in the sense that they are more successful at propagating. There are likely new strains in other countries, just not well documented yet. The Brits have spread their variant somewhat, particularly to some Europe countries.

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

      Whilst most countries test most don't do much in tracking the variants. The UK, Denmark and South Africa all do a significant amount of testing not just positive/negative test but which variant so it is no surprise these countries have identified new strains.

      For context Public Health Wales sequenced about 4,000 genomes in the past week, more than the whole of France since the beginning of the pandemic.

    7. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You could probably just as easily blame it on the many clowns here in the US. We may not have been fully exposed to the new strain, but so many here pretend the original strain doesn't exist, sooooo...

  3. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ok three apples pies for me

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Apple crumble > apple strudel > apple pie.

  4. Turbo Timo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need a 'Hindsight' chip in FPL now... choose your captain at the end of the week 🙂

  5. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ffs don’t tell me Spurs vs Fulham is off !?

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's not off

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

      Not yet but reports suggest in doubt

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Makes good click bait

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

    Given the amount of people that will now be playing him, a Brewster goal would be epic.

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hope.

      1. GOTHAM City F.C.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        "Being able to see light despite of all darkness"

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A haul would make him an instant FPL legend.

    3. Leonard hatred
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed - Brewster scoring at any point this season would be remarkable

  7. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Only casuals has C and VC from same game

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I did it and i finished 4th in the world a few years ago. Am i a casual?

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Which world?

        1. brianutd-why always we? 20
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Not hard to check if your still dreaming

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I performed the check. Turns out you're dreaming.

            1. Luton_Fan
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Am i?

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                No. This shitt is reality for you, sorry 🙁

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

              Fail fails again

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Fail

            3. brianutd-why always we? 20
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Knobsack 4th is correct

      2. Sloane426
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes. It was 10 years ago when hardly anyone played this game.

        1. ducksfly2gether
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Lol "a few years ago" = 10. Living in the past. I suddenly don't feel so dumb for often recalling when I WON the Euro game in 2016.

          1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Probably still higher than most of us will ever be ranked.

            1. ducksfly2gether
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              I don't actually care I was just doing what Luton Fan did

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

          It was when no one was spoon fed like today.
          4th OR still counts as a big achievement.

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

          No only 2.5 million

          1. Sloane426
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            This will be 7 years in a row you’ve finished outside the top 10k. That’s an even bigger achievement.

            1. Luton_Fan
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Lol what have u evet achieved? Idiot

              1. Sloane426
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                4 years playing. Never finished outside top 100k. Finished inside top 1k, 2 years ago.

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

          You need to get rid of that chip on your shoulder. You aint a watford fan are you?

      3. brianutd-why always we? 20
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Brilliant response

      4. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Pics or didnt happen

        1. Luton_Fan
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Follow my link.

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

        You finished fourth? What was that like? Each week every decision coming off. Did you walk down the street a few inches off the ground? Respect.

      6. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Awesome!

      7. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ah 10/11, back when rotation wasn’t a factor and United were smashing it.

        Amazing rank, out of interest can you recall who were your C/VC for most of that season?

  8. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I will be watching 2 games at 6. West brom v leeds and southampton v west ham. Have 5 fantasy assets between the 2 games.

    What about u guys?

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

      Triple Leeds so I’ll watch that, can’t afford 2 tv’s

      1. Luton_Fan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Laptop, ipad?

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

          Doing alright for yourself aren’t you

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

      3 Leeds players so watching that- flicking over to catch Brewster goals

    3. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I said this earlier, but whichever game Ally McCoist is commentating on, I’ll be watching.

      Hopefully it’s the Leeds game as I have triple.

  9. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Loving all of this carnage!!

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bring it on.

    2. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      #Metoo

  10. Dthinger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bowen benched?! I think I’m down to 8 players!

  11. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Bissouma!

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

    Potter benching both his strikers, what could go wrong

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

    So is Balbuena just not gonna start now or just rested or something?

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

      Rested.

  14. Michelle Davin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Brewster hatrick incoming to save the day!!

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      🙂

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

    Absolutely zero clue what to do with my transfer now

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

      No point thinking about it tbh. Until we know more.

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

      Same! But I have two so I have to use at least one!

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

      Wait

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

    Time for Brewster to haul for points off bench!

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It’s written the way this GW goings.

  17. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ings will score and haunt me in my dreams tonight 🙁

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sticky sheets?

  18. yalala
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Going for a Greggs run

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Need to be a marathon to work it off

    2. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Had half a vegan steak bake and sausage roll earlier

  19. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just to confirm I have 2FT?

    GW 17 - 1 Sub
    GW18 - Free Hit
    GW19 - Do I still have my 2ft I carried from 17?

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

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

      No. If you use free hit you will only have one FT available for the following week, regardless of how many you had going into it.

    3. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You’re been playing long enough now to know that one

      1. McSauce
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        ye I have tbf I just needed to be 100% sure.

        Basically I have to burn my 2FT this week if I am 100% doing FH in 18

    4. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No. 1 FT.

    5. Davros
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

    6. Sloane426
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      11 years? Wtf have you been doing

      1. McSauce
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        haha I know I know, sorry! not sure why I even asked but I had something telling me to double check

  20. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would be down to 9 if spurs game is called off

    Even those 9 dont look that promising

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The Spurs game? Who is suggesting that one might get called off?

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

        Oh honey.

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

        Official Fulham news is they've got a covid outbreak. No news on game off (yet).

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

      That's more than I will have. And my last hope is Jamal Lewis vs Liv.

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Lol he is in my 9 too

        Scrapping the barrel here arent we

    3. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’d be down to 6 but don’t even care after being down to 9.

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

    Has Coufal been dropped?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      rested

    2. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If WHU win tonight he will be

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rested

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

      Had a baby just...

      1. GOTHAM City F.C.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        In the lineup just ain't starting.

    5. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      just popped out a chavvy

  22. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which game to watch? Or Jurassic park 3?

  23. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So instead of the best captain, this week is down to picking a playing captain.

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bruno(vc) it will be

  24. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Imagine taking -8 this gw, and not breaking even. Its possible.

  25. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    8 men if Spurs game is called off. Lets hear it if you have fewer than 8.

  26. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Che Adams assist robbed.

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

    Taylor injury

  28. 1984 TC
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Let's goooo Rashford!!! (along w/ Bruno obviously).

    First goal from Marcus. "Heard it hear first" (hehehe).

    If that happens, i'll be back; if it doesn't, then well... you know...

    1. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yawn... My stream is a bit slow. Did Rashy score yet?

  29. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lamptey to Saïss good move ?

  30. RWB_1991
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone know if Strujik is nailed atm?