Scout Notes

Fernandes punishes Saints’ ailing defence as Man United face more appealing fixtures

Man United 9-0 Southampton

  • Goals: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m), Marcus Rashford (£9.5m), Edinson Cavani (£7.9m), Anthony Martial x2 (£8.7m), Scott McTominay (£4.9m), Bruno Fernandes (£11.4m), Daniel James (£6.2m)
  • Own goals: Jan Bednarek (£4.9m)
  • Assists: Luke Shaw x2 (£4.8m), Mason Greenwood (£7.0m), Rashford, Fernandes x2, Martial, Wan-Bissaka
  • Red cards: Alexandre Jankewitz (£4.5m), Bednarek
  • Bonus points: Fernandes x3 Wan-Bissaka x2 Martial x1

Bruno Fernandes (£11.4m) left it late to equal his best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) haul of the season as Manchester United feasted on nine-man Southampton.

The midfielder scored one goal, a penalty, and set up two more – all from the 69th minute onwards – with his 17-point performance making him the highest points scorer in FPL at the time of writing.

He’s now also close to being the game’s most popular asset as Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min (£9.7m) continues to leak owners while Fernandes brings them in.

The match with Southampton effectively ended as soon as Alexandre Jankewitz (£4.5m) marked his first league start with a truly awful challenge on Scott McTominay (£4.9m) that led to his dismissal after a mere 79 seconds.

United were four up by half-time, with notable contributions from left-back Luke Shaw (£4.8m), who provided two assists, and striker Edinson Cavani (£7.9m).

So notable, in fact, that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer subbed them both off during the interval, thus robbing Shaw’s 3.7% ownership of clean sheet points and, probably, bonus.

His switch was purely tactical, whereas Cavani’s was precautionary.

“He got a bad tackle on his ankle, so there was no point taking any risks. Hopefully it won’t swell up too much.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Anthony Martial (£8.7m) replaced Cavani and filled his boots, while another clean sheet for United – five of their eight for the season have come over the last eight Gameweeks – was rather lost among the carnage going on at the other end of the pitch.

Principal among that was the red card for the 11.5%-owned Jan Bednarek (£4.9m) which, when added to nine goals conceded and a first-half own goal, handed him an eye-watering -7 score on the night – the worst ever single-match FPL total as far as can be ascertained.

They also face an in-form Callum Wilson (£6.6m) next time out, which is certainly likely to encourage some investment in the Newcastle man.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was suitably aghast post-match.

“What can I say? It is horrible. But we stood up after the first 9-0 (against Leicester) and we have to do that again.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

As for United, their chances of such a repeat are decidedly slim, but their immediate fixtures (EVE wba NEW che) offer more clean sheet chances ahead of Gameweek 27’s Manchester derby.

Small wonder, then, that Shaw and the equally excellent Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m) are currently the top two transfers-in for Gameweek 23 at the time of writing.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw (van de Beek 45), Maguire, Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka; McTominay, Fred; Rashford (James 60), B Fernandes, Greenwood; Cavani (Martial 45).

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, J Stephens, Bednarek, Ramsay; Djenepo (Tchaptchet 78), Jankewitz, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong; Adams, Ings (Redmond 70).

Newcastle 1-2 Crystal Palace

  • Goals: Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m) | Jairo Riedewald (£4.4m), Gary Cahill (£4.5m)
  • Assists: Callum Wilson (£6.7m) | Eberechi Eze (£5.8m)
  • Bonus points: Riedewald x3 Eze x2 Shelvey x1

Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Newcastle as they found more success since ditching 4-4-2 and finding in a new formation.

The victory was their second in four days, both of those wins coming since experimenting with a 4-2-3-1 system that has seen Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m), Eberechi Eze (£5.8m) and Jordan Ayew (£5.6m) take up attacking-midfield positions behind Michy Batshuayi (£5.7m).

But the win did come at a cost, with their most popular regular starter, the 15.3%-owned Zaha, coming off after 57 minutes with what was reportedly a hamstring issue.

Hodgson was worried enough to talk darkly post-match about his star man not normally getting injured, before adding:

“No news on it. We’ll have to get it assessed first of all. That will take some time and I don’t think I will know the extent of the injury before Thursday.” – Roy Hodgson

Zaha had enjoyed a modest hop in ownership levels ahead of a decent schedule now involving Leeds and Brighton away and home matches with Burnley and Fulham.

Should he miss out, Eze could fill the void on the left-hand side of midfield, with an assist at St James’ Park making it back-to-back returns for the midfielder.

Meanwhile, Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) has started each of the last two matches, keeping Tyrick Mitchell (£3.9m) on the bench in the process, perhaps suggestion Hodgson feels the Dutch international is more suited to 4-2-3-1 than his understudy.

Newcastle out-shot their opponents 21-6 as manager Steve Bruce’s newly-found taste for attacking football, influenced by new coach Graeme Jones, went unrewarded.

But there was at least a third straight match with a return (an assist) for their most-owned asset, Wilson (24.8%), to keep Fantasy managers happyish.

The team’s short-term schedule don’t inspire confidence, however. 

Facing a Southampton side drained of first-team talent could be appealing but after that, Newcastle have trips to Chelsea and Manchester United.

Newcastle United XI (4-5-1): Darlow; Lewis, Clark (Carroll 89’), Schär, Manquillo (Gayle 77’); Fraser, Hendrick (Saint-Maximin 63’), Shelvey, Hayden, Almirón; Wilson.

Crystal Palace XI (4-2-3-1): Guaita; van Aanholt, Dann, Cahill, Clyne; Milivojevic, Riedewald (Kouyaté 90+2’); Zaha (Townsend 58’), Eze, Ayew; Batshuayi (Benteke 73’).

Sheff Utd 2-1 West Brom

  • Goals: Jayden Bogle (£4.3m), Billy Sharp (£5.5m) | Matt Phillips (£5.1m)
  • Assists: Chris Basham (£4.6m), John Egan (£4.7m) | Mbaye Diagne (£6.0m)
  • Bonus points: Sharp x3 Egan x2 Phillips x2

A third win in five matches continued Sheffield United’s painstaking climb back to Premier League relevance in a bottom-of-the-table clash that was predictably lacking in genuine quality.

Key Fantasy points were equally elusive, with the in-form West Brom midfielder Matheus Pereira (£5.7m), who had four goals and an assist to his name from the previous four outings, kept very quiet indeed.

Brought in by 99,376 FPL managers for the match, he had two shots, neither of which were on target, as boss Sam Allardyce went for a deep-lying counter-attacking team that snatched a first-half lead – with new signing Mbaye Diagne (£6.0m) producing a second straight assist – and then frittered it away after the break.

The equaliser came from cut-price defender Jayden Bogle (£4.3m), who managed to be joint-top of the attempts table on the night (with three), before Billy Sharp (£5.5m) scored his third goal of the season to win the game on 73 minutes.

Sheffield United’s most-owned FPL asset, striker Rhian Brewster (£4.5m and 7.4%) had another night to forget – even by his currently sorry standards.

He was about to be introduced for Sharp when the veteran forward scored the winner, prompting Brewster to be returned to his socially-distanced seats in the stands.

The Blades are clearly now moving in the right direction, but unless their defence can finally start keeping clean sheets – they’ve managed just the one to date – there is little to tempt Fantasy managers.

West Brom, meanwhile, are a curious mix of the utterly terrible and the faintly okay, but an immediate schedule involving Spurs away and a visit from Manchester United doesn’t exactly demand investment.

Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Ampadu, Egan, Basham; Bogle, Fleck, Norwood (McBurnie 45’), Lundstram, Baldock (Lowe 44’); Sharp (Burke 86’), McGoldrick. 

West Bromwich Albion XI (4-4-1-1): Johnstone; C Townsend, Ajayi, Bartley, O’Shea; M Pereira, Snodgrass, Livermore, M Phillips (Gallagher 74’); Diagne (Robson-Kanu 68’); C Robinson (Grant 68’).

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

573 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it silly to not have triple City with 3 likely DGWs around the corner for City?

    Who’s the most nailed attacker to bring in? (Already doubled up in defence)

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hope he starts and scores today

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          A rest for Pool sounds good

    2. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ya should have 3 city. Gundo most nailed but I have a feeling today is going to be his one off rest day.

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

      Yeah- that’s solid advice

      Folks like me that did not have Stones and Dias in the last DWG suffered, died, went to hell and are still in hell

      Never to be resurrected

  2. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Here's a curiosity for you. A list of Palace players who are out of contract at the end of the season. There's one or two 😉

    Schlupp
    Townsend
    Benteke
    PvA
    Sakho
    Mitchell
    McCarthy
    Clyne
    MacArthur
    Ward
    Dann
    Kelly
    Cahill
    Hennessey
    Wickham
    Bats
    Henderson

    Believe Guaita has just extended. That's the one position we have covered with Butland there.

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      they have a hole or two to fill

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Blooming heck

    3. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      At least Zaha, Eze and Guaita are signed. That is good:) To be fair if they will be able to replace 50% with new players of this list it should be treated as big success.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Another way of looking at it is there’s lots there who are playing for their future. We pay extortionate wages and any move would mean a pay cut

    4. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kelly and Schlupp (2024) and Mitchell are not out of contract nor are McCarthy and Macarthur all until 2022.

      Sakho, Benteke, Hennessey, Wickham, Henderson will definitely go. Probably Townsend too (lots all of his pace, maybe kept on as backup on reduced wages). Bats hasn't done enough for a permanent transfer.

      Personally, I think Dann or Cahill and one of Ward/Clyne will stay on (again on reduced wahes). So will PVA, unless someone else improves his contract although we are looking at Amavi (ex Villa at Marseille) who is also out of contract so that is more complicated

      We are 8th (84m a year) in the league for wages, so expect the high earners to go

      1. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        *lost his pace

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Must have looked at wrong sources then.

        Pleased that Schlupp and Kelly have already extended if you're right and was surprised to see Mitchell on list. Looked at both Spotrac and Transfermarket which both coincide and appears up to date given they have Guaita's new contract.

        The worry is the defence really especially in the centre. We arguably need 2/3 there but they can't all come at once.

  3. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Okay, Tielemans in for El Ghazi confirmed. For my second transfer I might yet hold another GW to let the schedule settle, although I might pull the trigger if price changes dictate. The Alioski drop was not expected, but still think he's worth holding the amount of time he gets forward on that wing.
    2.3 in the bank and can do Johnstone, Lewis or Son out as needed... Ederson, Rashford, some Villa or Utd defender all available. No panic.

    1. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why Tielemans? You had all those funds and you felt that was the best move? Curious your reasoning

      1. CroatianHammer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I don't need to invest big money in the middle, and want a stable return available. I already have Son, Bruno and Salah, and there's no chance in Hell, Norway, that I'm selling Souček.

        GW1 it was all about the wealth of fringe defenders now playing, but half a season later and you can't survive on those. Team is linked in the bio, what's there is there for all to see.

        I don't want Grealish. I am broadly opposed to sideways moves within a team where avoidable. If I need to convert to KdB or Sterling, I can likely flog Son and voila!

        1. CroatianHammer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          And as I said, no chance in Hell, Norway, that I'm ever selling Souček...

  4. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Jose on @HKane:

    "He's happy with his progress and of course we're happy too. Next week, we play Everton midweek then Man City - I believe for one of these matches he should be back."

    1. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Aka hes fit for West Brom in Jose language

      1. Kryptonite666
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What am I missing - they dont play Everton any time soon/.

        1. aleksaa2
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          FA Cup tie

        2. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          FA Cup

        3. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          FA cup 5th rou d

        4. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          FA Cup

        5. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          FA Cup

        6. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          most likely rescheduled for 25

      2. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        hope so

      3. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Something like that haha

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

      Everton game is FA Cup. So I imagine they'll aim to have Kane back for the City match.

  5. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Robbo Cancelo Cresswell
    Salah Bruno Son Grealish Gündo
    DCL Antonio

    (Steer Dias Mitchell Brewster)
    2 FTs & 1.0m

    A) Robbo ➡️ Shaw
    B) Robbo & Brewster ➡️ Shaw & Bamford (Bench Gundo/DCL)

    Tempted to B as I feel Bamford's next 3 (CRY, ars, wol) look good for attacking returns with a chance of a DGW in 26.
    Thoughts?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B and bench Gundo

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Like B

      Can see a goalfest in the Palace match

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

    I almost lost the faith with Salah and decided to keep for the West Ham game, but didn’t captain him. Could say the same for Bamford when DCL was winking at me and it was an easy free transfer. I almost lost the faith with Bruno, decided to keep for Southampton at home but didn’t captain him. I’m getting confused.

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cap the one you almost lost faith in.

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

        Looking at my team they all look good now, well apart from Watkins...

        1. ivantys
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          It's Watkins vs the Arsenal backline then.

        2. EmreCan Hustle
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          But Watkins plays Arsenal

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Keep the faith Rupert, keep the faith. (Not sure with whom though)

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

        Exactly. Neither am I. Need to not have faith in someone and captain them but happy with the squad.

    3. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I feel this

  7. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Did Mr Bednarek's performance last night create a record as the lowest single FPL game week score ever?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes sir

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you for your polite answer, Mr PB.

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

      Yes. -6 was the record.

  8. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Time to load up on Soton players? Rebound after the 9-0 is imminent plus they will probably have 2 DGWs in both 26 and 27...

    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Go for it

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It worked last time.

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Might consider them closer to GW26 if they show some form and have their players back from injuries.
      McCarthy & Ings the two I'm interested in for BB.

    4. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Forster displacing McCarthy would be ideal for my BB 🙂

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

      Yep, I’ve just doubled up on Bednarek and ings

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

        That's just chasing points from last night.

  9. cruzex
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is mane available to play tonight?

    1. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wondering the same myself. Klopp's "It is as it was" feels very fishy.

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

        Yeah was trying to decipher it but I’m just going to take it as he won’t play.

  10. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GW23
    Martinez
    Allioski Dias Coufal
    Maddison Grealish Bruno Salah Gundo
    DCL Antonio

    Mccarthy Adams Stones Mitchell
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4.3 itb 1ft
    A) Roll- potentially captain Antonio
    B) Maddison > Son
    C) Mitchell > Rudiger
    D) B+C for -4
    E) Other suggestions?

  11. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best option here folks? 1 ft, 0.3m itb.

    A. Robertson > Justin
    B. Sterling > Son/ Grealish
    C. Both for a hit

    Martinez
    Robertson Dallas coufal
    Salah Sterling Bruno saka
    Dcl Antonio bamford

    Forster gundo digne stones

  12. PogChamp
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yikes! One million people still captained Bruno. Thought I dodged a bullet by avoiding Salah but got 84 and only just a green arrow.