Scout Notes

Phil Foden hauls again as City defence shines in win over Brighton

Manchester City 1-0 Brighton

  • Goal: Phil Foden (£6.2m)
  • Assist: Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m)
  • Bonus: 3x Foden, 2x Zinchenko, 1x Dias

Phil Foden (£6.2m) picked up his second maximum bonus-point haul in a row as City were made to battle to beat Brighton in Blank Gameweek 18.

The defence of City shone again as their attackers missed a glut of chances in their win.

With many Fantasy Premier League players lumping on their defence, this display will have given them a renewed sense of confidence ahead of the Double Gameweek.

With upcoming games against Crystal Palace and a COVID stricken Aston Villa, their defence looks set to carry on bringing in the points.

Curse of KDB

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) looks likely to go down as one of the most frustrating player of the season.

Lining up as a false nine in a team scoring goals, FPL players captaining KDB were licking their lips at the thought of a monster haul.

But their was a sense of inevitability after a first half where De Bruyne had two good chances in the box saved by Robert Sanchez (£4.4m).

During the second half, De Bruyne started dropping deeper and deeper as City came under pressure from a spirited Brighton side.

Even when he earned a penalty in injury time, KDB owners must have thought their luck had turned.

However, the sight of substitute Raheem Sterling (£11.4m) stepping up and missing the spot kick quickly brought them back down to earth.

The City captain did finish the game with a clean sheet bonus and an assist for the Foden goal, but yet again owners will be ruing what could have easily been a double-digit haul.

This is by far from the first time De Bruyne and the City attack has failed to convince against a team in the lower reaches of the table.

Once known for their free-flowing attacking football, City have now failed to put more than two goals past West Brom, Newcastle, Brighton and Fulham.

In their last six Gameweeks, they have been outscored by Arsenal and Aston Villa, and have scored the same amount of goals as Wolves and Everton.

Usually such a cool customer, Pep Guardiola cut a frustrated figure in the second half.

His post match interview even suggested more narrow wins could be on the horizon for City.

“We knew how tough it would be. Brighton had a good mentality to play. We had a really good first half and had chances. After we missed a really clear chance in the second half they were better. We need to win these sorts of games. It is a good lesson for us. Every game will be like this.”

Pep Guardiola

City’s win over Chelsea now looks like an anomaly, rather than their other results, and questions still remain over City’s premium attacking assets.

Boy Wonder

If City’s premium attackers are coming under scrutiny, then Foden looks like a great solution.

The “Stockport Iniesta” began the game on the left side of City’s attack, where he cut inside to score a goal on his weaker right foot.

An all-action display saw the England international switch with KDB, Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.1m), to pop up on both wings and as a false-nine.

Pep was quick to praise the goalscorer’s versatility, and hinted he may be more assured of a place in the team going forward.

Phil Foden is 20-years-old, look at the starts. The amount of games, the assists compared to the bigger stars in football. Can play both sides, in the middle as a false nine. He is so clever in front of goal. That’s why he deserves to play

Pep Guardiola

Speaking after the match, Foden spoke of wanting to add more goals to his game.

“I don’t score a lot of goals with my right, when I do score them it’s always nice. It was a good goal. I always like to be in the area. I want to score more goals and enjoy the moment.”

Phil Foden

FPL players are going to take a lot more convincing before Foden is rotation proof, but if he can nail down a place in the team then City’s young attacking star will become a must-have.

Paying the Penalty

Raheem Sterling became the latest in a long line of penalty takers to miss a spot kick for Man City.

The substitute, who had only been brought on for the last 10 minutes, surprised many when he stepped up instead of their usual penalty taker, KDB.

And their surprise turned to horror when Sterling skied the penalty in injury time, depriving KDB of another assist and surely three bonus points.

Pep explained the change in taker was down to De Bruyne’s effort throughout the game.

“Kevin is the taker but he made an incredible effort – not just the action to press the keeper and create the penalty but for the rest of the actions before. He was struggling in the last 15 minutes because he was exhausted. I like the guys who take the responsibility for the penalty. It was Raz (Sterling) and next time it will be better.”

Pep Guardiola

This will cause further confusion as to just who is going to take penalties for Man City.

Sterling and KDB have both missed spot kicks this season, and Ilkay Gundogan (£5.5m) spurned a key penalty against Spurs last season.

All this points to frontman Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) being given the responsibility when he returns from injury.

Big at the Back

Another clean sheet for City saw two of their defenders picking up bonus points in a solid display.

Ruben Dias (£5.8m) picked up one of them, and his influence on the back line cannot be understated.

Since arriving from Benfica in the summer for a club record of £65million, Dias has slotted seemlessly into the City defence, marshalling them and barking out orders.

City now have the best defensive record in the league, and before the game, Pep singled out Dias for praise.

“When you buy players always you have this quality but you never know what is going to happen. He is a guy that can play every three days. He recovers immediately and his ability is incredible, as is his understanding of the game. He wants to learn and all of us were impressed how he takes care of his body and mind, every day. We were surprised a lot. The day after [a game] – 8.30 in the morning in the gym. He makes his routine, he eats perfectly. He lives 24 hours for his profession. I can assure you that we signed one incredible player for the next five, six, seven years. That is not easy to find.”

Pep Guardiola

The arrival of Dias has also seen the resurgence of John Stones (£5.0m), whose form was keeping Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) out of the side even before his injury.

And another option appears to have emerged in their defence, in the shape of Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m).

Retaining his place at left-back even with Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) fit again, Zinchenko looked assured at both ends of the pitch, and bagged two bonus points.

Pep explained before the game how he sees Zinchenko in the same mould as Joao Cancelo (£5.8m), as a full-back who can move into central areas to support the midfield.

As Cancelo has shown this season, that style of play can attract huge bonus points, so it could be worth keeping an eye on Zinchenko for the next few games.

Fresh Faces

Graham Potter yet again tore up his previous team sheet and introduced a number of different players to his line-up.

Bernardo (£3.9m) showed a good range of passing from wing-back and Reda Khadra, not yet priced on the game, looked dangerous with his pace.

But a special mention is reserved for Percy Tau (£5.5m), the South African striker recalled from loan at Anderlecht.

The striker, classed as a midfielder on the game, looked dangerous with threatening runs in behind.

Yet again Brighton displayed a lack of cutting edge against City, but there are hopes the pacey South African striker could provide this.

With Neal Maupay (£6.1m) failing to show the form he hit last year, and injuries to Danny Welbeck (£5.5m) and Aaron Connolly (£5.5m), Tau could be due a long run in the side.

His out of position bonus also makes him an exciting proposition for FPL players.

“We’re excited of course. He’s only been with us for a few days but I think you can see his quality. You can see his ability and what he brings. We’re looking forward to getting to know him better and him getting to know us better.”

Graham Potter

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Zinchenko, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Foden (Sterling 82′), B Silva, Mahrez (Jesus 67′).

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-2-1): Sanchez; Burn, Dunk, Webster; Bernardo, White, Propper (March 68′), Veltman; Tau (Maupay 68′), Trossard (Khadra 86′); Mac Allister.

1,812 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Feels like my bench boost is out of the window now that McCarthy, Ayling, Raphinha and Bamford are SGW players.

    Also have Brewster and Kilman who initially I planned to replace with cheap DGW players. Now I think the best move is to get out the best XI and hold the chip until my second WC.

    1. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes thinking along same lines. I had 12 DGWs and Son Kane and Dier, but now have Meslier, Alioski and Bamford reduced to SGW and a doubtful anyway Adams. I'd intended to swap Son and Kane for KDB and Jesus, and may still do something similar, but bench of the two Leeds defs, Dier and Adams then not convincing me will be best use of BB.

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

    Anyone using TC this week?
    If so on who?

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

      Yes tempted, and most likely Salah

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

        A good case could equally be made for Kane too

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

        Salah

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Salah

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

      KDB

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

    Would u BB this?

    Mendy(gk)
    Bamford
    Holding

    Didn't FH and have 9 dgwers with Son/Kane

    All chips intact

    1. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If you still have a wild card, I'd save BB for now.

    2. Pinturicchio10
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No

    3. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bottomed!
      Morning all,

      How many actually will be TCing KDB this DGW? Slightly concerned with Peps comment after the game about him been exhausted last 15mins. Do we think he’ll actually start both???

      1. Grealish
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        he'll start, but not captaincy choice imo

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

      McCarthy,Forster
      Cancelo, Robertson, Maguire,Dallas, Coufal
      Fernandes, Soucek,Salah,Grealish,Raphina
      Bamford, Kane, Adams

      I am not using a chip and thinking Robertson and Grealish to KDB and Dawson. Can anyone improve on that please?
      Much appreciated.

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No looks good, agree you should save BB chip

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

          Thanks

    5. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Play one from this?

      A. Adams (lei)
      B. Raphinha(BHA)
      C. Anguissa (CHE,MUN)

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

        B

      2. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        B

      3. Cojones of Destiny
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        B

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

      Guys leeds saints Oly one game this gw? Is that confirmed?

      1. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That's what FPL site says atm

    7. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      TAA, Brewster > Cancelo, Antonio? (-4)

      Martinez
      Cancelo, Coufal, Justin
      KDB, Bruno, Salah, Soucek
      Vardy, Antonio, Bamford

      McC; Raphinha, Ayling, Kilman

      Probably won’t bench boost for 5 SGW players, including Kilman.

      1. Cojones of Destiny
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        would keep TAA nice differential

    8. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      appreciate thoughts on DGWFHT

      Mendy
      Stones, Coufal, Robinson
      Salah, KDB, Foden, Bruno, Soucek
      Kane, Vardy

      0itb

      thx

      1. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Is this the Fulham Robinson?

        1. Cojones of Destiny
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          yes can be lowton for 4,4

          1. Tambling5
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Team looks very good! Could do Fabianski for Mendy.

            1. Cojones of Destiny
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              thx mate GL to you

      2. Ranger3
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Don't think you need Kane.. Buy Antonio, and upgrade that defence

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

        Lose Kane
        Upgrade everywhere

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

      Took -12 hit for BGW18 since FH was already used. Good idea to go for 2nd wild card and BB in GGW19 ?

      1. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It's a long old season with 19 more weeks and no chips left?!

      2. Pinturicchio10
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Can't use two chips simultaneously.

      3. Ziko7
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        What would you do?
        A: Raphinha + Kane + Robertson -> KDB + Cancelo + Antonio
        B: Grealish + Kane -> KDB + Antonio