Scout Notes

Soucek offering excellent value ahead of Double Gameweek 19

Everton 0-1 West Ham

  • Goals: Tomáš Souček (£5.2m)
  • Assists: Aaron Cresswell (£5.3m)
  • Bonus points: Souček x3, Cresswell x2, Angelo Ogbonna x1 (£5.0m)

TOMAS THE TANK

Tomáš Souček (£5.2m) has all but nailed down his place on the Fantasy Premier League radar for Double Gameweek 19.

The West Ham midfielder scored the only goal and took maximum bonus from a Gameweek 17 win over Everton on Friday night – making for an 11-point score.

Ahead of facing Burnley and West Bromwich Albion at home in the Double Gameweek, Souček is now the joint-top goal-scoring FPL midfielder priced at £7.0m or under this season (five).

The Czech Republic international is timing his form just right too. Of his five strikes in 2020/21, four of them have coming in the last seven Gameweeks, helping him produce 6.4 points per game in that time.

“He’s been very important. If he keeps coming up with the goals I’ll be more than happy.” – David Moyes

Naturally, it is Souček’s price that clinches his appeal for anyone considering another Double Gameweek asset – although he does miss Blank Gameweek 18, of course. Costing £5.2m, the West Ham has offered 14.2 points per million spent this season, the best among all midfielders at the time of writing.

OUT OF LUK

With those favourable Double Gameweek fixtures on the horizon, West Ham now have clean sheets in each of their last two matches.

Angelo Ogbonna (£5.0m) was a key factor in the latest shutout, dominating the skies at Goodison Park with his endless stream of headers won against Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.9m).

The Italian centre-back is unlikely to draw too much Fantasy interest of his own, mostly on account of his price, Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m) still a steady source of points at right-back. No West Ham defender has registered as many key passes as the Czech Republic international over their last four matches. His places in the team looks a little more assured than before considering David Moyes revealed on Friday that Ryan Fredericks (£4.2m) is now self-isolating.

Aaron Cresswell (£5.2m) provided the assist for Souček’s game-winning goal, taking his total for the season to six, the most among all FPL defenders.

However, it is worth pointing out that five of those have come on the road and both of West Ham’s Double Gameweek fixtures take place at the London Stadium – where two of Coufal’s three assists have come in 2020/21. The right-back also has bonus points in three of his six home appearances.

Meanwhile, Fantasy managers should keep an eye the goalkeeper situation at West Ham, which took an interesting turn on Friday night.

Lukasz Fabianski (£5.1m) pulled up with a thigh injury in the pre-match warm-up, replaced in the starting XI by kindly priced Darren Randolph (£4.4m).

Should the Polish international be out long enough to miss Double Gameweek 19, his understudy could provide excellent value – although there is now just over two weeks until West Ham’s next Premier League fixture. Thankfully there will be updates before, during and after an FA Cup third-round tie with Stockport County.

Michail Antonio (£6.1m) will require a similar level of monitoring after another substitute’s appearance in Gameweek 17. Moyes explained he is still not ready to start matches. 

“I’m getting told by the medical team how long I can play him for. I knew the other night I had 15 minutes. I might have a little bit longer tonight if we need him. He’s not ready to start yet. He’s got a history of hamstring injuries, so we’re trying to make sure we don’t lose him for a long period.” – David Moyes

“It was great to get Michail Antonio back tonight for another 30 minutes, too. We’ll keep building him up and there was no reaction in his hamstring which was very good.” – David Moyes

SAME OLD STORY

Gameweek 17 was more of the same for Calvert-Lewin owners, as he went a fifth-straight game without finding the net.

Having produced 7.8 points per match between Gameweeks 1 and 9, the Everton forward is averaging 3.8 since then.

Continually starved of service during that run with James Rodríguez (£7.7m) out of action, Calvert-Lewin was forced to run into the channels and drop deep to try and make things happen for himself against West Ham.

Admirable qualities in a team player but considering Calvert-Lewin has been at his best this season when standing in the six-yard box waiting to convert chances, seeing him occupy deeper and wider positions is, of course, cause for concern.

“The performance was not at the top. Compared to the last game, we had more of the ball but we were not able to manage the ball as we wanted, with speed and with quality in the final third. We didn’t have a lot of opportunities in the game. West Ham defended really well.” – Carlo Ancelotti

However, there may still be crumbs of comfort for his shrinking ownership.

Firstly, Calvert-Lewin has a Blank Gameweek 18 fixture to contest, which he is likely to play alongside Rodríguez, who finally returned from injury against West Ham.

While the Colombian was unable to fashion much in the way of clearcut chances on Friday night, his 26-minute cameo suggests he could be starting in Blank Gameweek 18 later this month.

Nobody has particularly impressed in Rodríguez’s place during his injury lay-off and Alex Iwobi (£5.9m) missed Gameweek 17 anyway.

“A little problem during training. He was a little bit tired. I didn’t want injuries like Michael Keane, who is on the bench. He played a lot of games maybe rest for him could be good.” – Carlo Ancelotti

Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Godfrey, Mina, Holgate, Coleman; Doucouré, T Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson (Gomes 64′), Bernard (Rodríguez 64′); Calvert-Lewin (Tosun 79′).

West Ham United XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Dawson, Coufal; Rice, Soucek; Benrahma, Fornals (Lanzini 73′), Bowen (Yarmolenko 73′); Haller (Antonio 59′).

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1,368 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mark gets Soucek points for Wood

    WOW WOW

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

      On the last Black Box episode, there were some brown envelopes on the table behind Mark...

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

      Hang on, I thought it was only "casuals" getting Soucek's points off the bench?

    3. Warbling Wendy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cry me a river

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

    Seeing a lot of outrage on here. My 2 cents...

    I have Soucek on my bench and if I manage to get his points this week I would most definitely call myself lucky. I benched him because I did not think he would score high this week.

    Totally understand that postponed games are hard to swallow for the people who played him in their XI. FPL should take the points from when the game is played. But unfortunately game isn’t made for that though. Would be simple enough to do.

    But then saying all that... not sure how any of you predicted a haul and started him vs in-form Everton who had conceded once in their last 4 😀 haha

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

      Simply just need to accept that unprecedented events (i.e. luck) play much greater role during these pandemic seasons

    2. im1974
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Everton are crap & West Ham score often from set pieces. Easy prediction he might score

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

        Everton one of the in-form teams in the league

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

    Mitchell for Wood I hate this game

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

      Second bench if Mitchell does not turn up?

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

        Coufal

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

          Congrats and don't hate this game that much

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

            Why congrats? Mitchell will start surely

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

              I said if ...

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

          Then you have nothing to be worried.

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

      Mitchell will be a nice pick if he plays this week.

      Could be in for some nice LUCKY bench points this week 😉

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

        I've never once bad points off the bench more than 2

    3. Bank$y
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Change yer name to Moany.

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

      Mitchell is a much better pick this GW than Coufal anyway. How can you moan at hindsight it’s ridiculous.

  4. smix
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is the city game on or postponed too ?

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

    Would you take -4 hit to get Vardy (SOU CHE) even if you could get Ings (lei lee) for free? DGW19 it is.

    1. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm in same boat. I think I will get Vardy for a -4.

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

    Surprised there's even interest in Burnley's players with Taylor out. Their fixtures turn after the Fulham one anyway.

  7. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Surely a Patrick Swayze Roadhouse to the face isn't enough to get benched the following game.

    Come on Che

  8. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I feel bad for my cup opponent.

      Fabianski injured, ryan autosub, Mee out, Mings autosub

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

        do you feel bad tho

        1. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah. I wanted a fair game for true sportsmanship

        2. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            & of course he has Donkey Calvert-Lewin

          • CONNERS
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I feel bad for my cup opponent.

            I'm getting Soucek's points off the bench.

            Bloody casual I am.

            1. Party time
                3 years, 2 months ago

                🙂

          • CRO KLOPP
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            My last couple of tranfers
            James
            Matip
            Taylor
            Balbuena
            Castagne (didn't play)
            Fabianski
            It is a good thing that my front 7 didn't need to be transfered out.
            My New transfer was Dias in,sorry for all owners 🙂

          • thegaffer82
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Lets just lay our cards on the table...

            To all those moaning about Soucek / WHam DFers coming off peoples benches...

            Have you guys ever complained when YOU got some points off your bench?

            I started Soucek, but I'll be the first to admit that I'm over the moon when I get bench points and no way on earth do I ever feel like I don't 'deserve' those bench points. I bought the bloody player who got the points and have him in my squad. So, any points he brings home are mine and well deserved.

            End of chat 🙂

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

              Never once have I had a haul off the bench that's why I cry and moan

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

                Start a 'defund the bench' movement!

              2. Casual Player
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                You got 8 for Coufal in for Stones GW13 you fraud

            2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Id campaign for half bench points rounded up. Same with vice captains. But it is what it is

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

              I don't moan when I get bench points because they're from 4.5m bench fodder players. Spending more on a player just to bench him is IMO not a very good strat for the most part. Soucek is sort of an exception but sort of not because he's cheap enough to justify a 1 premium bench option but at the same time he's good enough to be a starter so it's still probably better to invest the money you save elsewhere.

          • Bounce
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Good afternoon. How does this look for GW18 FH?

            Martínez
            Dias, Saïss, Holding
            KDB, Bruno, Son, Grealish
            Kane, DCL, Watkins

            4.0, Bissouma, Lowton, Mitchell

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

              Decent team.

              I have 7 of those players without FH though... So I'm not sure it will have the effect you would have hoped for when you played the chip (i.e to get ahead of your rivals).

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

                this

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

              I have same 7 players and 4 different players as below

              Sais, Holding, Grealish, DCL

              vs

              Kilman, Dier, Neto, Cancelo

              With 0 hit

              😉

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

              It's an OK team. Why only 2 players from Manchester City?

          • MSTRKRFTSMN
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            This spurs v leeds game is what FPL is all about for me. Like a champions league semi final for FPL managers. Can’t wait for k.o despite having no affiliation to either team, but with 5 of my players on display.

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

              same here

              feel like Champions league Semi final

              Final is reserved for TC game though 😉

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

              It will be a tough game for me with only Meslier and Bamford

          • Fudgy
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Everyone:

            "Yay soucek haulage off the bench"

            The fudgemeister:

            "Oh get lost Mitchell 1 pointer"

          • Chucky
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Lowton,Keane,Balbu owners rewarded for a strong bench...

          • h3nh3n
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            A) Martial + Grealish

            B) Rashford + Wilson

          • Woy_is_back
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Dallas on for Wood ouuuch 🙁

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

              What score was the Spurs v Leeds game?

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

                Leeds will get hammered. Could be a -1 for Dallas

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

                  He's got plenty of attacking threat. Many started him.

          • GS456
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Is the spurs game online anywhere?

          • IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Are people actually concerned about Che Adams? 0 points better than what that donkey would dish up!

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

              Say something nice for once

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

              50yrs ago today bud. Sad.

          • Oggle22
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Kane captain fail knew I should have captained Bruno!

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

              Eh - haven't they only been playing about 10 minutes?

          • Nanoelektronicar
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Buying Soucek and not playing him week in week out, is enough not to get his points off the bench. Means you're all greedy and want your fourth/fifth mid/third striker to score 10+ points and have nice fixtures every week, so occasional blank in between the points is not good enough for you. That's the kind of people that put Soucek on the bench. The 5.0 central mid is not good enoguh starter for you, "not sexy enoguh", yet again when you need him of the bench, "he's part of your squad".

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

            Please tell me that out of the corner of my eye I just saw bielsa having a cup of tea

          • OLB
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Haven't seen it discussed here - is free hit in DGW 19 viable?

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

              Might be better investment than FH on GW18

              Adding 3 city players is all I get from the FH, got everything else I need.

              But which 3 City? Could be Pepped, could concede a goal, could be canceled

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

            Sorry but if you played Soucek vs in-form Everton your lucky for the haul and if you got him off your bench your lucky. So your lucky either way!

            Stop bitching people!

            He’s my 2nd sub and not coming on but I’m not crying, I didn’t pick him for a reason. Stand by your decisions.

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

              I agree. He's coming on for me as first sub and I am lucky. Last couple of hauls exactly the same thing happened too so I've been experiencing a fair amount of luck in that regard.

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

              If you played him then we got our rewards. It aint luck to start him.

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

                You started him vs in-form Everton. That’s not a good move the rest of your team can’t be great then..?

            3. Nabs Kebabs
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Soucek should hardly ever be on your bench

          • Bounce
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Good luck to anyone who has Son or Kane as their captain.

          • Baines on Toast...
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Have a strong feeling I will be selling all of my Spurs assets in about two hours

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

              The cost is -8...

          • PogChamp
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Got lucky benching Cresswell. Wood!

          • boombaba
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            If I make transfers then play free hit. Will the players I brought in be there the next week ?

          • gooberman
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Imagine not owning Son or Kane.

          • KDB4PREZ
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Does this team look good enuff for the DGW (TC) barring injuries. All players have double and good quality imo.

            Mcc
            Robo Diaz Coufal Dallas
            Mo KDB(TC) Bruno Son Grealish
            Bamford

            1. KDB4PREZ
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Sorry all bar sonny have double

          • dang_wood_chuck
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            i get soucek's points for che adams lol 😀 so happy