Scout Notes

Bamford’s colleagues on Fantasy radar as Southampton blank again

West Brom 0-5 Leeds

  • Goals: Ezgjan Alioski (£4.5m), Jack Harrison (£5.4m), Rodrigo (£5.7m), Raphinha (£5.4m)
  • Own goals: Romaine Sawyers (£4.8m)
  • Assists: Patrick Bamford x2 (£6.5m), Mateusz Klich (£5.5m), Stuart Dallas (£4.8m)
  • Bonus points: Dallas x3, Rodrigo x2, Alioski x1

Leeds United’s attack is starting to look very appealing from a Fantasy Premier League perspective as they put five goals past West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night.

Fashionable striker Patrick Bamford (£6.5m) continues to tick along, registering an eight-point score in Gameweek 16, but his colleagues are increasingly playing their part.

In the last four Gameweeks, matches involving Leeds have featured an average of 5.3 goals, their own tally for the season already at 30. In fact, in netting five at West Bromwich Albion, the Whites became only the second newly-promoted Premier League side to score 30 times over their first 16 games, after Newcastle netted 31 in 1993/94.

Could such statistics suggest a double-up on Leeds’ attack is something Fantasy managers should consider in the coming weeks?

“It was a game where we defended well and we were efficient up-front. From eight chances we scored five and that helped the result. We played a serious game throughout and we managed the ball well.” – Marcelo Bielsa

Raphinha (£5.4m) was a constant threat at the Hawthorns on Tuesday night, his well-deserved 71st-minute effort his third attacking return since Gameweek 13.

Likewise, Rodrigo (£5.7m) and Jack Harrison‘s (£5.4m) first-half strikes were their third goal-involvements during the same period, each of them scoring and assisting in the 5-2 win over Newcastle.

But the exciting options are not limited to the midfield and forward positions as Stuart Dallas (£4.8m) demonstrated his Fantasy appeal once again in Gameweek 16.

Operating on the right-hand side of Leeds’ defence, the Northern Ireland international got forward often, making the most of Lee Peltier (£4.0m) having to cover for Kieran Gibbs (£4.3m) at left-back at short-notice.

As a result, Dallas added his second assist of the campaign and, like Raphinha, Harrison and Rodrigo, it was his third attacking return since Gameweek 13.

Crucially, Dallas benefitted from a second clean sheet in as many Premier League outings for the Whites – as did Ezgjan Alioski (£4.5m), whose first-half goal was his second in the last four Gameweeks

The question is, of course, can Leeds sustain this impressive run of form? After all, their last four matches have taken them through one of the easiest runs of games they have faced this season.

Their wins in that period came against Newcastle, Burnley and West Bromwich Albion but Gameweeks 17 and 18 hand Marcelo Bielsa’s men a trip to Spurs and a Blank.

Perhaps Double Gameweek 19 is the best time to consider making a move for more Leeds players considering they play two home fixtures against Brighton and Southampton that round.

With festive rotation especially rife in Gameweek 16, it is noteworthy from a Fantasy perspective that Bielsa named an unchanged side between Sunday’s win over Burnley and Tuesday’s trip to the Hawthorns – suggesting that Leeds assets will be more nailed-on to play twice in Double Gameweek 19 than those from other clubs.

West Bromwich Albion XI (4-1-4-1): Johnstone; Peltier, O’Shea, Ajayi, Furlong; Sawyers; Diangana (Krovinović 73′), Gallagher, M Phillips (Ivanović 46′), C Robinson; Grant (M Pereira 61′).

Leeds United XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Alioski, Struijk, Ayling, Dallas; K Phillips; Harrison, Klich (Shackleton 58′), Rodrigo (Hernández 70′), Raphinha (Costa 81′); Bamford.

Southampton 0-0 West Ham

  • Goals: None
  • Assists: None
  • Bonus points: Jack Stephens x3 (£4.6m), Alex McCarthy x2 (£4.7m), Jan Bednarek x1 (£4.8m), Ryan Fredericks (£4.2m)

It was a mixed Fantasy night for owners of Southampton and West Ham assets, especially considering the level of rotation on offer for the Tuesday’s visitors to St Mary’s Stadium.

Two days after Sunday’s draw at Brighton, David Moyes took Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m), Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m), Issa Diop (£4.3m) and Ben Johnson (£3.9m) out of his defence for Gameweek 16, ensuring none of them could benefit from the Hammers’ first clean sheet since Gameweek 9.

The silver lining to that frustrating development was a surprise return for Michail Antonio (£6.2m), named on the bench and featuring for the last 13 minutes ahead of West Ham’s encouraging Double Gameweek 19 fixtures (home matches against Burnley and West Brom).

Thankfully, he came through his first minutes since Gameweek 10 without further damage and is certainly one to watch if he can get back into the starting XI in time for January’s chip season.

“Yes he has (come through the match unscathed), that’s a big boost. We’ve missed him, we’ve been muddling through a bit without him, trying to find ways of getting goals from other sources. We have to tread carefully with him, be patient with him.” – David Moyes

Similarly, Danny Ings (£8.3m) was a surprise injury-returnee, starting for Southampton and lasting 90 minutes.

However, there was nothing the striker could do to stop Southampton going goalless for a third successive Premier League match.

Ings did not register a single shot or touch in West Ham’s box on Tuesday, the first time he failed to do either in any of his 54 90-minute Premier League outings.

VAR played a cruel part in that particular statistic, considering he had a first-half goal ruled out for an offside against Che Adams (£6.1m), who went off in the 57th minute – but Southampton have generally struggled to offer much going forward recently.

They are winless in their last four league games, their longest run since going eight without a Premier League victory from September to November 2019.

Still, silver linings remain for Fantasy managers, not least those invested in either Alex McCarthy (£4.7m) or Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.8m) as Southampton registered a seventh clean sheet of the campaign, playing out back-to-back Premier League goalless draws for the first time since October 2018, when Mark Hughes was in charge.

The fact that both of those shutouts have occurred without first-choice centre-back Jannik Vestergaard (£4.9m) is to the Saints’ credit, although McCarthy was called into action a few times to keep them in the game as Jack Stephens (£4.6m) strives to get back up to speed having started just twice between Gameweeks 8 and 15 before Tuesday night.

Fredericks got up for a header at the near post in the first half, calling Southampton’s goalkeeper into action.

And a poor Stephens clearance in the closing stages, which sent the ball on an unhelpful vertical trajectory, was nearly pounced upon by substitute Saïd Benrahma (£6.0m) before McCarthy smothered the close-range effort.

Such incidents indicate the defensive returns might not last for Southampton, especially knowing that Vestergaard could be out until the end of January.

And, of course, the Saints’ fixtures hardly look encouraging from a clean sheet perspective, Liverpool (away), Blank, Leicester (away) and Leeds (away) their fixtures for the next three Gameweeks.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, J Stephens, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Djenepo (Armstrong 78′), Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Walcott; Adams (S Long 58′), Ings.

West Ham United XI (4-1-4-1): Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Dawson, Fredericks; Rice; Fornals, Souček, Lanzini (Benrahma 60′), Yarmolenko (Bowen 72′); Haller (Antonio 77′).

1,763 Comments Post a Comment
  1. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    can we do some mass reporting?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      More appealing than mass debating.

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

    Really really disappointing as a Kane/Son owner. Feel like crying, was looking forward to this match.

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Source?

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

      Fpl aside, just miss the football generally 🙁

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

        Yeah really disappointed, was going to be a good game

    3. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Crying? Really?

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

        My life is in shambles rn

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Dear......

    4. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Crying lol

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

      Crying?

    6. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      let us hope no real problems come your way

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

        Oh they have

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

      Real shame

    8. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That’s embarrassing

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

    Salah (C) is going to repay those who put faith in him.

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      So everyone?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Not everyone, plenty haven’t in my ML

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

      That will be me too now as a Kane (C)

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

      Salah a lot of peoples VC in my MLS at least

  4. Brehmeren
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stones, DCL, Reguilon, Son, Kane and Taylor.
    I really need Lewis to score a hatty againt Liverpool!

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

    Last 2 transfers i have made. Robbo and son. Season just gets better. Literally every transfer backfires. Unbelievable jeff.

  6. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GAME ON

    Liverpool v Newcastle. Can’t wait.

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

    Was looking forward to 15 pointer from Dier

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

    Game is officially off. Athletic are reporting it.

  9. Spurs vs Fulham Postponed
    Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Now being reported by multiple sources so will call it as official (and HT for inevitable latecomers)

    The second game of the week to be postponed - Spurs vs Fulham has been called off following a COVID outbreak in the Fulham camp.

    Again, no word on when the game would be rescheduled and if further games will be impacted.

    https://twitter.com/TheAthleticUK/status/1344291264448126976
    https://twitter.com/AlasdairGold/status/1344290373745709056
    https://twitter.com/Dan_KP/status/1344291855454892032
    https://twitter.com/danroan/status/1344294318698336256

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      great work RAE..

    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Awesome

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

      Yesssssssssssss

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

      Good.

    5. French Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      All those who brought in Kane and Son - that’s awful

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

      Could have been a lot worse. Down to 10 players but Bamford VC points and Cresswell off the bench for 49 feels pretty good under the circumstances

  10. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lookman coming off the bench for kane 8)

  11. dansmusen
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FPL is not luck...they say. I have 6 players this week and at the same time ML rival gets 20 points from bench

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He’s good then

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

      that's a good bench tbf

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

        Loaded with Leeds and West Ham

  12. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    BREAKING NEWS

    After a VAR check, Spurs v Fulham is back on!!!

  13. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Getting DCL off the bench 😎

  14. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Absolutely gutted as Son and Kane owners, especially with rivals lol-ing all over the place 🙁

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

      this

  15. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If Spurs game is actually off and Liverpool game is on, I could really benefit from Salah (C) if he hauls.

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Me too!

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

      Nearly everybody has captained him,m?

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

      Yea silver linings

      The fact that both big hitter games were cancelled has almost everyone in the same category. Salah c could really be the silver lining cap or vice

      Nbd

  16. Mweene
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hmmm...

    My rival has Dier and Son (c) with Fernandes VC

    I have Son and Kane with Salah (c)

    No idea who this is better/worse for...

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

      You I would say because you lost 2 premiums.

      1. Mweene
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Takes away the possibility of a Son captain haul though I suppose.

  17. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dan Kilpatrick
    @Dan_KP
    ·
    1m
    #thfc Understand Spurs-Fulham is off following meeting of the Premier League board.

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

    Must be a few Kane (c) kdb (vc) around?

  19. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Spurs vs Fulham U21 wouldnt have been pretty

  20. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Why are they so slow to release an official statement? So unprofessional from the PL.

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

      Need to keep the rumour mill in business

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

      They informed the clubs, no fans are allowed anyway so the fans just need to find something else to watch on TV for 2 hours, not much notice needed really.

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Muppet

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

          🙂

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

    More DGW carnage and there aren't enough chips to deal with it all!!

  22. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Got people in tears on here that the game is being postponed. Wow people are such babies, either that or they take this game way too seriously

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed lol

    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’LL KILL YOU !!!!
      😉

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Many a true word said in jest 😯

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks Son's crying

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

      Many look forward to watching football in these tough times, it’s a welcome distraction.

      It is disappointing to have a match called off you were looking forward to watching, especially 2.5 hours before kick off

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

        3.5*

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

      Everyone’s goosed

      Nbd

  23. Neves say Neves
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I was certain that I was going to bench boost in DGW19 but after some benchings, injuries and obviously the possibility of more games being cancelled I am not so sure. Here is my squad

    McCarthy Johnstone
    Robbo Dias** Dallas Taylor** Coufal*
    Salah Fernandes Rashford Raphinha Soucek
    Vardy Bamford Adams
    0FT 0.1 ITB

    I only have 1 FT between now and DGW19 as I will play my free hit in BGW18. My main concerns are that Taylor will not play, Coufal is likely to be rotated and Dias does not have a dgw and may not play regardless due to the pandemic situation. Thoughts?

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You will still have a decent 11 in 19 after the FT.

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

    Just call off the season

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I hear you brother....

      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        lol

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          😉

  25. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane Son Coufal DCL Matip James Taylor.

    1 pt from these 7 😀

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

    -8 to get Son and Kane in this week... At this rate the BGW/DGW wont go ahead as we expected. All of us planning completely screwed over here

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

      Well no need to plan, just react to news last min and wait for another week ... what else you can do, not so much fun

  27. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I have had enough off this bs game.

    Dcl, Kdb, Son, Regulion, Taylor, Coufal and Robbo benched.

    1. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Spurs match would have probably been a red for you

  28. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I feel it for those with C and VC on players between these 2 cancelled games

    1. Jensen Luiz Coleman
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Leader of my ML has Kane (C) Son(VC).

  29. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I need Wilson points from the bench now, hope he plays

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      And me