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Can FPL managers trust Crystal Palace defenders with appealing fixtures?

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have long been able to turn to Crystal Palace’s defensive assets for cheap returns.

The Eagles, marshalled by veteran Roy Hodgson, have hit double-figures for clean sheets in the last two seasons, and also carried set piece potential.

But this season, the well appeared to have run dry, with Palace only recording three clean sheets thus far.

More worryingly, the Selhurst Park outfit were also on the end of two Christmas stuffings, losing 7-0 to Liverpool and being outplayed by 10 men in their 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

But since the Villa defeat, Palace’s defence has shown signs of recovery, with encouraging performances against Leicester and Arsenal.

We are taking a deep dive into the stats to see if Palace can once again be relied upon for cheap defensive returns.

As this article uses extensive data from the Fantasy Football Scout Premium Members Area, only those with a valid subscription can access it in full.

THE FIXTURES

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1,028 Comments Post a Comment
  1. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    For next gw.

    Wood -> Watkins looks like okayish move but that would mean benching Soucek.

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

      Should I do it?

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I have started Soucek every week and not unhappy.
        Watkins in contrast can cause severe misery.

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

          Yup. Soucek has 10 more points than Watkins

          It's a downgrade for more funds

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

      Do you want to stick to 3-4-3?

      If not, you can take Wood all the way down to fodder and start prepping for the possible DGW23 and beyond with more funds and a cheaper bench post-BB

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

          Great post. Have a +1

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

            Thanks

        2. BC1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Great stuff, cheers.

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

        Really unsure if I should go 343 or 352 rest of the season. Probably 352 cos there isn't much striker options I want

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

          IMO there are currently only 4 strikers worth owning in FPL: Kane, Vardy, Antonio (subject to fitness) and Bamford. 4-5-1, 4-4-2 the way to go.

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

            Hear! Hear!

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

          Exactly: Kane, Vardy, Antonio, Bamford, maybe Adams. Definitely not Watkins if you wouldn't buy Werner, Maupay or Firmino right now (they're around the same points)

          Meanwhile, we have Villa mids (El Ghazi and/or whoever is nailed when Barkley starts), Gundogan, Saka and Lord Soucek as cheaper fifth mids than any third striker... With more points

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

            I dont even go as far as the fringe strikers because when you compare them to the budget midfielders (Saka, Smith Rowe, Soucek) or even some of the mid-range defenders (Shaw, AWB, Stones) - these options are yielding more points than the strikers. So its a no brainer. 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 or even 5-4-1 depending on the fixtures and if you own double city defence.

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Agree. 3-5-2 pretty much all season and 4-4-2 this week.

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

          Rotation between 352 and 442 is also a solid option.

          Antonio > Bamford > Watkins > Wood currently IMO.

          After we get DCL/Ings/Jimenez back to fitness, 3 forwards will start to look attractive again. Main emphasis on DCL just because he's cheaper than the other two, although Ings will also help Adams to get more points as well.

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

      I'm benching both Watkins and Soucek - Hoping Wilson and Bamford get me the points

  2. Bennyboy1907
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez
    Chillwell Stones Cancelo Coufal
    KDB Salah Bruno Grealish
    Bamford Antonio

    Johnstone Raphinia Dallas Adams

    Save ft??

    Think I’ll keep the Leeds and Southampton boys till their DGW?

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

      Yeah but would play Raphinha ahead of Coufal

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Easy save

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

      Yes, I would save

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

      Save FT. Why bench Adams?

  3. NejiHyuuga01
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Chilwell CS and goal please!

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Down with this sort of thing

  4. norab
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Does that last tweet seem weird to anyone else. 30 hours and a premier league team still doesn't have their results of the covid tests? And in the interim they all train together? You can easily see how if one or two of them have it and then train with everyone else, they all get it.

    I get tested and have my results in 30 minutes.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      My mum's result came over night. Fishy.

  5. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Richarlison anyone? LEI NEW lee next 3 and should play ST with DCL out.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I won't. Always gets injured or sent-off when I get him.
      But by all means, please enjoy responsibly.

    2. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      DCL could be back for the next game

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

      No thanks. Doent ever go a run of 8-10 gamers with consistent FPL scoring. Tends to do it in bursts. Then gets injured.

    4. Mr Wolf
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I am thinking about him or DCL if back from Gw 21. Very good differential and on pens.

  6. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bit confused on what to do here guys.
    Team for next gw
    Martinez
    Robbo cancelo coufal
    Salah kdb Bruno soucek
    Antonio bamford
    (johnstone dallas Wood ctaylor)
    0.5itb
    Thinking Taylor and wood should be the first to transfer out.
    Taylor to stones might be a possibility. Or downgrade wood and upgrade raphina?
    Also considering chilwell, barnes, maddison, grealish, watkins.
    A bundle of thoughts there, any suggestions ?!

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Taylor to Stones for sure.

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

        Cheers

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Too much thinking. Obvious move is best.

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

        Sums me up really 🙂

    3. Crouch Potato
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Playing a full team would be a good start 😉

  7. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is there a helpline I can call for Soucek and Antonio non owners?

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

      No problems 😉

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

      No need. Sam will play 5-5

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

    Unless the United boys go YC crazy, I am hoping to roll a FT for next game week. Would you agree?

    Martinez
    Dallas Maguire Stones
    KDB Bruno (c) Rash Saka Son
    Kane Bamford

    Save and ready to go?

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes easy Save

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That'll do Roy, that'll do.

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

        Cheers lads. Wait til I see you on the pitch... See you out there...

    3. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      rash (c) yes roll the FT

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

      Save

  9. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martínez
    Cresswell Cancelo Stones Robertson
    Fernandes Neto Salah De Bruyne
    Bamford Kane

    Forster Mitchell Davis Stephens

    Views on next moves: Robbo >> AWB/Shaw/Maguire and Neto >> Madds

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably.
      I have Shaw and happy so far, but would go for one of the others if I could have afford it.

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

    Could really do with an Antonio brace tonight. Preferably with no Soucek involvement but I'd benefit in FanTeam so wouldn't be a huge loss either way.

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

      literally the last thing I want, was actually surprised how many in my ML jumped on him

      but if he hauls I remember that you are happy and not be to fuming about it 🙂

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

      I've captained Antonio in Fanteam so hoping for some good points

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

        In FanTeam I'd never captain a forward except maybe Kane and even then if I had Son I'd cap him instead. The scoring is so tilted in favor of mids. The fact that you don't get bonus is killer.

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

          I didn't have KDB and didn't fancy bruno or salah so just took a punt

    3. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm up sh1t creek on 42 points so far so badly need this but with Soucek and preferably Coufal involvement.

  11. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lol some prat on twitter timeline complaining that he got his team deleted because of an offensive team name. Here's a word of advice, stop trying to be clever and set a normal team name. You don't get a better rank based on name

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

      think you said it all mate

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

      Is there a guideline on non-offensive team names?

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

      Saw the same and agree, so much support for him but come on man, just don't pick a non family-friendly team name... twice especially after being warned.

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

    Is Johnstone available for tonight?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hope not. Would block Sanchez 7 pointer.

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

      Apparently he is, was back training.

  13. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1 goal in last 5 fixtures for Newcastle...what has Bruce done to them?

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

      They've hit a wall big time

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Made them frigging hopeless and absolutely s***e

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

      Made me want to keep my leeds boys 1 more week

      1. Kryptonite666
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        While watching the game, they were so bad that I set Bamford as the captain on my bus team.

        Until I saw De Bruyne had WBA.

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      They have gone back to how they ought to be performing.

      Crap players = crap results. You only have the 'surprise factor' for one season max (see Sheff Utd). Then you either have to be the real deal or hope you don't get relegated.

      Newcastle fans have unrealistic expectations. If they want to compete for Europe then they need at least £600m of investment on players.

    5. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Apparently they're very understength because St Maximin is out, according to Bruce. He's good but he's not great for me. Surely they need to have the finger out by now without him. Joelinton has nothing to offer. Wilson had no service.

    6. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      0 in 3 for Pool, but we not talking about that, right.

  14. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Scout Picks going to bounce back to form? All the blankers (Johnstone, Zouma, Soucek, Vardy) going to haul tonight?

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

      only one of those I can see hauling tonight is vardy and to be honest even that is a long shot

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Scout Picks = Kiss of Death

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Think Vardy will haul tonight

  15. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Looking ahead to gw20, need to bench 2 plays from these.....

    A. Coufal (cry)
    B. Holding (sou)
    C. Mitchel (WHU)
    D. Adams (ARS)

    1. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B C

    2. RogDog_jimmy
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      bench C and D imo.

    3. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      BC

    4. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers all

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

    Contradicting feeling having Chilwell and Vardy tonight! Few in Mini league have Vardy (C)

  17. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    When will Kevin Ze Bruyne get his debut in the national team?

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

      When josh King gets his England call up

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        or the anti-King Lord Lund plays for Sweden, or JLingz gets recalled to u-21s

  18. FPL Bond @ Twitter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Had Bellerin lost his place in the team?

    1. FPL Bond @ Twitter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Has**

    2. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe yes. Maybe no.

    3. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

    4. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Was probably just rested but Cedric took his chance with both hands. Newcastle were poor though.

  19. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Only 1 change tonight apparently for West Ham

    https://twitter.com/FPL_DeVisser/status/1351570658002665479?s=19

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

      Lanzini for Benrahma?

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

      Yup. Fornals benched.

  20. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Off-topic.

    Anyone here knows a good voting poll website? Have an event coming up where the audience are to vote on the spot for new committee members for the next term through their mobile phones.

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

      Survey Monkey always seems to work quite well.

      MS Forms I have heard good things about and imagine it can handle a simple voting poll.

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

        Also, a really simply method is Voting Buttons within an Outlook Email

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

          Thanks. We’re holding it offsite formally, so there will be loads of folks. Dining in as well. Heard of Survey Monkey but not sure how it can handle the crowd.

          We’re expecting 200+ crowd.

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

            Do you need live results fairly instantly or can you allow a period of time (a day or two) for votes to come in?

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

              Doodle is another good one

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

                Nice, let me check on that. Thanks again.

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

              Instant live results, if possible. The results to announce shortly after the poll.

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

                MS Forms looks pretty good. Just had a little go with it and you can see a pie chart of instant responses. You just need to open MS Forms within Office 365 and then select New Form and then from the drop down select New Quiz. Then you can customise questions and responses and add the email addresses of recipients. Responses should feed live straight into a segment only you can see.

                Best of luck.

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

                  But how do the public vote this then?

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

                    They receive an email with a link to a form with the questions you wrote and answer buttons you have configured.

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

      strawpoll

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

        Let me check on that.

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

      Surveymonkey?

  21. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    McCarthy | Forster
    TAA | Dias | Coufal | Alioski | 3.9m
    Salah | KdB | Bruno | Son | Soucek
    Bamford | Antonio | Brewster

    1FT and 0.2 itb

    Thinking of TAA to Cancelo. Unless any injury/covid/suspensions, go forward with it, right?

    Also, Bench Coufal or Alioski? Think Alioski might lose his place now that players are back?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Right
      Couf - even if he keeps his spot, Leeds can't defend

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        True, Just felt Newcastle are low on confidence and he might sneak with a goal. They scored 5 last time they played. Alioski bagged one as well

    2. RogDog_jimmy
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm starting to think that Saka or Smith-Rowe should be the default replacement for Soucek (or having 2 and upgrading a fwd to Kane).

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Soucek has been good for me. Arsenal have a dicey run of fixtures. If I do decide to go 3-4-3, I would consider Smith-Rowe for sure.

  22. 1895Reds
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Johnstone starts

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

      massive news. source?

      1. 1895Reds
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Rockstar

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

          cheers

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

      Pasta with no sauce?

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Double figure return and I'll forgive him

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

      Bloody hell. 2 points from Button wasted.

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

      I'll settle with anything more than the 1 pt autosub from McCarthy. Not asking for much.

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

    Team lineups to be posted shortly

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      In the new post.

  24. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lanzini in for Fornals is the only change for West Ham

  25. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sniff sniff sniff. Got that new article whiff.

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

      ffs don't post team lineup articles until about 2 minutes before the game. sleeping on the job normally

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah that’s a good point actually

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Play up Pompey

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Skate

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

      I should be better at sniffing!

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

    Right I need Johnstone in and Antonio on bench tonight

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

      you will have the former but not the latter.

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

        What OR are you Ben? How is it going last cople of gws?

  27. Kryptonite666
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can we start a Yo Mama thread on Newcastle.

    Newcastle are so bad that

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

      Oh come on now. We know we're bad, even Steve Bruce knows we're bad. We don't need this.

      1. Kryptonite666
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Oops. Didn't mean to offend 🙂

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

    JOHNSTONE STARTS. OWNERS REJOICE.

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

      get in there

  29. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio & Coufal - check

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio, that is what I wanted to hear/see
      Thanks