Scout Notes

Penalty-taking Jorginho a mainstay of Tuchel’s Chelsea as rotation bites elsewhere

Sheffield United 1-2 Chelsea

  • Goals: Antonio Rudiger (£4.6m) own-goal | Mason Mount (£6.8m), Jorginho (£4.7m)
  • Assists: Oliver Burke (£4.3m) | Timo Werner (£9.2m) x2
  • Bonus: Jorginho x3, Werner x2, Mount x1

Chelsea made it four games unbeaten under their new head coach, grinding out a 2-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United on Sunday.

Midfielders Mason Mount (£6.8m) and Jorginho (£4.7m) were on target for Thomas Tuchel’s troops, with Timo Werner (£9.2m) banking his seventh and eighth assists of the campaign with contributions for both goals.

No opposition player has yet scored against the Blues since the change of manager, although Antonio Rudiger (£4.6m) did ruin a fourth consecutive clean sheet with an own-goal worthy of inclusion on a Danny Baker-fronted gaffe compilation video.

ROTATIONSRISIKO

Pinning Thomas Tuchel down to a regular starting XI may prove to be a tricky task, at least in the attacking positions.

The German has favoured a solid spine since his appointment, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (£5.1m), centre-backs Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.7m) and Rudiger and ‘numbers sixes’ Jorginho (£4.7m) and Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) all ever-presents.

Had veteran stopper Thiago Silva (£5.6m) not missed out in Gameweek 23 because of injury, he too would probably have joined that elite club.

As for the rest, it’s been something of a crapshoot up to now.

No attacking midfielder, forward or wing-back has started all four games, with Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) losing his own ever-present starter status on Sunday.

Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) also dropped to the bench, with Ben Chilwell (£5.9m) recalled.

Speaking ahead of kick-off, Tuchel explained:

For Marcos, it was no need to take the risk to let him play three in a row in 10 days after a long pause in competition for him. So, there was the choice of Chilly. It was the same reason for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The Gameweeks return to their weekly frequency now and Tuchel may be gradually working out what his best XI is but with the Blues still involved the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, the rotation may continue to plague Chelsea assets going forward.

PAYING (VERY LITTLE) FOR THE PENALTY

Having been given the nod to step up from the spot against Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 22, Jorginho was at it again at Bramall Lane at the weekend.

Having missed two of the five penalties he took under Frank Lampard and relinquishing not only spot-kick duties but a regular starting role, the Italian now seems to be back in favour on both fronts.

Werner certainly doesn’t look to be challenging to take penalties for the time being, saying after the game:

Available for £4.7m, Jorginho is perhaps now once again the pick of the sub-£5.0m budget midfield options in FPL.

#10 DREAM

The goals continue to elude Werner and Fantasy managers will likely still give him a wide berth for the time being.

But there is a sign that Tuchel’s system will be a better fit for him than the one he operated in under Frank Lampard, with his role as a ‘left-sided number 10’ suiting his skillset better than centre-forward or out-and-out winger.

The average position map below shows Werner (11) and Mount (19) pushing on well beyond Giroud (18) and it was from two of the German’s runs that both Chelsea goals came about.

Werner said of his new role:

He gives us a lot of ideas. Now I play as a left number 10, not a left winger, so I have more space for my runs in the middle and can play behind a striker, or with a number 10 behind me as a second striker. So it’s very good for me and I think there were also good moves from the manager in the last two wins.

While it remains to be seen how much of a permanent fixture Werner will become in his new manager’s side, Tuchel’s comments last week did seem to suggest that Chelsea would be playing to his strengths:

I would say he prefers to have space, because he’s super-fast and he likes to play in the last line, very, very high up – but a little more to the left, half-open to the goal and to receive balls into open space.

Can we develop movements, patterns, behaviour to use his quality in narrow spaces? That’s my job and I’m absolutely convinced we can – because the guy is open, the guy is friendly and the guy is eager to learn.

WERNER HERZ LEG

FPL Gameweek 9 team news so far: Updates on Pulisic, Chilwell, Havertz and more

Chelsea were without injury victim Thiago and Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) at the weekend, with Tuchel providing an update after full-time:

Christian [Pulisic] has some family issues to solve, and family is always first, so we decided to give him a rest for this game.

[Thiago] will be for sure out for the FA Cup. It will take several days but we set the goal, Southampton is maybe realistic but very ambitious. With a muscle injury you cannot take any risks, so when it’s healed it’s healed.

Werner meanwhile was substituted with a knock to his leg, with Tuchel explaining:

It’s just a dead leg. It’s not serious, it’s very painful in the moment but right now I don’t have any worries.

As for Sheffield United, Chris Wilder offered the following update:

I think Enda [Stevens] will be back for Wednesday, I believe he will be. George [Baldock] will be touch and go for the weekend, I’m not too confident for Wednesday. The [long-term absentees] are nowhere near.

Sheffield United (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Basham, Egan, Bryan (Sharp 68′); Bogle, Lundstram, Norwood (Brewster 87), Fleck, Lowe; Burke (McGoldrick 62), McBurnie.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell (Alonso 62); Giroud (Hudson-Odoi 62), Mount Werner (Kante 75)

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

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

1,191 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any insight into what's happened to Grealish? The conventional wisdom was his attacking output would improve when Barkley came back and he moved further forward, but despite looking sharp still he's not been especially impactful.

    Currently have him starting ahead of both Bamford and Son, because I think Brighton is a good stylistic matchup for Villa, but unsure if I'm overestimating Villa based on early season form.

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      4 returns in his last 5 games - that's 30 returns on a 38 games season, cant really ask for much more from a cheap(ish) mid

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

      You have somewhat unreasonable standards I think.

      Grealish is not Kevin De Bruyne. You shouldn't expect two plus returns every game. He's doing just fine and his consistency for minutes and points is definitely strong enough to be a keep currently.

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Fair points both, reality check needed!

    3. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      There are more good mids and cheaper than him. Grealish dont make many shots right now.

      Still have most chances created in that team. Who to finish all that? Just Watkin.

  2. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    For anyone that is having a benching headache and have Villa players, fully agree with the post by BigManBakar

    https://twitter.com/BigManBakar/status/1359087144099323908?s=19

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

      Im looking at benching Grealish for Bamford

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I reluctantly have Watkins on my bench at the minute for this reason

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      lets see what he says about benching Son and Kane vs Man City

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I would bench Son/Kane I can't see them getting more than 2 points against City. City in great form both in defence and attack compared to the reverse fixture

    4. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would rather bench Son than Watkins. 4 goals in his last 5 earns a start, not sure I’d do the same with Grealish though

    5. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thing is that these ‘pro pundits’ are really correct. This is the same fella who said to bench Bamford against Leicester (lol) and not to invest in Leeds defenders... we know how that panned out. People can speculate all they want but at the end of the day there is a huge element of luck involved for any given outcome

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

        But we have to make decisions before game - its easy to say such things after the match. Plus luck is not in anyone's hand.

      2. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        *rarely correct

      3. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        His opinion is based on stats. It is up to you on how you want to interpret the data and come to a conclusion

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

      Brighton have conceded 2 goals in 6 games including games against Man City, Liverpool, Spurs and Leeds. xG not needed to tell me it's a likely tough game.

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Grealish goal confirmed

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

      Bench Grealish ahead of Coufal and Bamford then?

    8. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He has got loads of predictions wrong this season. Benching Grealish or Watkins vs Brighton is very risky

  3. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got little idea of what move to make. Thinking Grealish to Gundo maybe? 2FT 0.1itb

    Martinez
    Mee Stones Dias
    Salah Son Bruno Greal
    Bamford DCL Antonio
    (Johnstone, Raph, Dallas, Justin)

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

      Yep, you can do Johnstone grealish-> gundo pope

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would do Johnstone to Pope and roll one FT

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Can’t afford that move :/

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

      Stones to AWB which would allow Grealish to Gund
      triple leeds already so well placed for gw25

  4. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hello guys. Any ideas what to do here with 2 FT's?

    Pope
    Cancelo, Dias, Digne
    Fernanders, Salah, Gündogan, Grealish, Son
    DCL, Watkins

    Subs: Meslier --- Bamford, Dallas, Bernardo --- 2 FT, 0.1 ITB

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nice team. Not sure there's much you can do here. Maybe transfer Meslier to another GK to open Leeds 3rd spot for Raphinha

  5. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Tarkowski over Pope seem worth it? Have Mee already

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends who is going out

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        In straight battle, I would prefer to have Pope

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

          Agree with both these points

      2. Aaa
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Johnstone to Pope or Targett to Tark

    2. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pope is the most outstanding player for them.

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pope for me when Pope Vs Tark

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

    Will appreciate your thoughts guys on what to do with 2ft and 2.6itb? Scared of going Gundo-less.
    1) Barnes Dallas/Coufal -> Rash Taylor/lowton. Keep current 3 City assets
    2) #1 and Sterling -> Gundo for -4 for security of starts
    3) Barnes Cancelo/Stones -> Gundo Mee. Double up on City attack and get Bur def
    4) Sterling Barnes Johnstone -> Gundo Rash Pope for -4

    Team is:
    Martinez
    Stones - Coufal - Cancelo
    Son - Bruno - Sterling - Barnes
    Laca - DcL - Antonio

    Johnstone, Justin, Dallas, Raphinha

    1. Oooo Matron
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes to Rashford for me.

  7. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hows this WC team looking??

    sanchez (Steer)
    Dallas, AWB, Rudiger ( Justin, Dunne)
    Salah, Sterling, Gundo, Bruno, (Burke)
    Calvert (C), Watkins, Vardy

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

    Hmm..The current no 1 in Sun Dream Team (£75K for 1) has 8 City players in his team

  9. karsworde
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hello fam,

    How's she looking? What moves would you make here?

    Areola | McCarthy
    Justin | Stones | Coufal | Targett | Dallas
    Salah | Bruno | Sterling | Barnes | Raphinha
    DCL | Bamford | Wilson

    1FT, 0.8 ITB

    Thinking of moving Barnes/Wilson but I'm unsure who for. Not owning any Burnley defense is also giving me a bit of a Fomo.

    A) Barnes -> Gundogan
    B) Barnes -> Foden
    C) Wilson -> ?
    D) Other

  10. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Absolutely discombobulated as to what to do with my team. Target Everton now? Or focus more on Leeds gw 25?

    0.5ITB
    2FTs.

    Ederson
    Cancelo, Coufal, Mee,
    Salah, Bruno, Rash, Son, Gundo
    Bamford, Antonio

    Steer, Chilwell, Struijk, Brewster

    A)Chilwell > Digne
    B) Antonio, Chilwell > DCL, Lowton (double Burnley defence)
    C) Smth else??

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

      B looks good! Not sure if you need to get rid of Antonio, although I do like the DCL pick

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

        Yeah afraid Antonio might punish me... and DCL against City he prolly wont get much

  11. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Morning People, Who do I bench....

    A, Grealish (A) Brighton
    B, Bamford (A) Arse.

    I am already benching both Son and Dallas.

    1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same dilemma here mate!! Been on benching Grealish currently

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  12. Jersey Boy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Played my BB in 23. Aside from what was a successful week, I’m just relieved that it’s over with and no longer forming part of my planning.

    Anyone looking at their ridiculous GW24 bench thinking about maybe playing BB - do it before rotation kicks in!!

    1. Jersey Boy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not to mention we won’t have the luxury of strong benches for much longer

  13. CrouchDown
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling captain anyone?

  14. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Looking for some thoughts on the transfer suggestions below.

    Safe option A - Johnstone to Pope and roll 2nd FT.
    Aggressive move B - Stones and Soucek to Lowton and Sterling (Switch from City 2def 1mid to 1def and 2mid)

    2FT 6.7itb
    Johnstone*
    Cancelo Digne Stones
    Salah Bruno Gundo Soucek*
    Bamford Antonio DCL
    (Martinez Raphinha Cresswell Holding )

  15. Bathman315
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this team? 1ft & 1.3m ITB

    Mendy

    Rudiger, Cancelo, Shaw

    Salah, Bruno, Sterling (c), Barnes, Soucek

    Watkins, Antonio

    Subs: TAA, Struijk, Breswter

    A) Barnes to Foden?
    B) Soucek to Foden?
    C) Roll FT

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Are you a librarian in real life?

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

    How’s it going everyone?

    I know planning transfers in advanced can be risky but how about this as a provisional plan (which could be affected by FA Cup results)...

    I have 2FTs and 5 DGW24 players at the moment.

    This week, considering doing Soucek to Raphinha and benching him ahead of DGW25, or is better to go for J-Rod as a one-week punt?

    Then next week, do DCL to Bamford, giving me more than enough to do Antonio to Kane for DGW26.

    Or maybe FA Cup results mean I’ll want to wildcard in 25?! If so, might as well use my 2FTs this week? So much to consider!

    2FT 4.5ITB
    Martinez McCarthy
    Cancelo* Stones* Mee* Coufal Justin
    Gundo* Salah Bruno Son Soucek
    DCL* Antonio Watkins

    *DGW24

    Thanks!

  17. karsworde
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with Harvey Barnes & Wilson?

    A) Barnes -> Gundogan
    B) Barnes -> Foden
    C) Wilson -> ?

    1. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      A or B both fine.

  18. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1Hows this WC team looking??

    sanchez (Steer)
    Dallas, AWB, Rudiger ( Justin, Dunne)
    Salah, Sterling, Gundo, Bruno, (Burke)
    Calvert (C), Watkins, Vardy

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No Leeds and Sanchez (BRI) has no doubles

    2. flynner25
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Im thinking of Wildcarding in GW24 also.....

      But I'm going for a very different team to yours.............

      Only 2 city?
      Only 1 Everton?
      No Leeds?
      No Southampton?
      No Burnley starters?

      I think you are going to miss out on a lot of Doubles in 24 and 25.

  19. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Using my 3 FTs until the GW26, I could get the following BB team 15 GW players (based on Ben Crellin predictions)

    Would you be happy with this?

    24 - Martin to Areola
    25 - Coufal to Shaw
    26 - Rafinha to Son

    Martinez Areola
    Dias Cancelo Digne Shaw Mee
    Salah Bruno Grealish Gundagon Son (c)
    DCL Watkins Wood

    1. flynner25
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fulham double for Areola is probably more unlikely than likely in GW26. I'd see if there is anyone else I can get here. McCarthy possibly as he will double in GW25 and likely also in GW26.
      You are a bit light on doubles in GW25. McCarthy would give you some cover here, but if you don't have WC, then I guess it's understandable

  20. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 2

    A) Son
    B) Salah
    C) Grealish
    D) Maguire
    E) Coufal

  21. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Seriously how can you plan for a possible GW25 WC until the cup matches have been played.

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

      can't, so best just to let em play and WC when we know when fa cup games are done & dusted, simples.

  22. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who scores more this week?

    A) Hamez

    B) Rashford

    C) Sterling (-4)

  23. Aj Royals
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son to Raphinha &
    Brewster to DCL for a -4 hit, worth it?