Scout Notes

Latest on Man City penalty takers and Gündogan’s injury

Man City 3-0 Spurs

  • Goals: Rodri (£5.3m), Ilkay Gündogan x2 (£6.0m)
  • Assists: Gündogan, Raheem Sterling (£11.6m), Ederson (£6.1m)
  • Bonus points: Gündogan x3, Ederson x2, Rodri x1

ON THE SPOT

Manchester City’s penalty-taking saga of 2020/21 took another intriguing turn in their 3-0 win over Spurs.

After the first match of Double Gameweek 24, the club’s designated spot-kick taker remains unknown even though they scored a penalty on Saturday.

Fresh from his Gameweek 23 miss at Anfield, Ilkay Gündogan (£6.0m) did not step up this time, even though it was him who won the latest penalty.

Despite Ederson (£6.1m) waltzing to the half-way line, figurative cap in hand and sporting puppy-dog eyes, Pep Guardiola would not let his goalkeeper anywhere near the penalty.

Instead, Rodri (£5.3m) was the man who grabbed the ball and took it. 

His effort was not exactly convincing, squeezing just under Hugo Lloris‘ (£ outstretched palm in what could have been a save for the Spurs goalkeeper.

Incredibly, that was the midfielder’s first-ever penalty in club football, the fact he took it simply coming down to his attitude, based on his post-match quotes.

“No (I’ve never taken a penalty in my club career before). I was a bit angry the last weeks because we’ve been missing many penalties, more than we expect. You have to score big penalties. I grabbed the ball and nobody take it away from me. We were laughing in the locker room. Next penalty, I’m going to take.” – Rodri

However, Guardiola was keen to nip Rodri’s enthusiasm in the bud, citing the fortune associate with the Spaniard’s penalty and ruling out any chance of him establishing himself as the first-choice taker.

“No (Rodri has not done enough to convince me he is Manchester City’s penalty taker). The taker was no good. We were lucky. So I love and admire the courage to take it but he was not a good taker. We were lucky.” – Pep Guardiola

Naturally, journalists put the question of Ederson taking a penalty to the Manchester City manager, which perhaps carried more weight considering his 70-yard pass to assist Gündogan’s second goal of the night.

“If he can play that pass from 70 yards he can shoot from 12. His quality of the shot is good. I know him. Penalties are different. I need to think.” – Pep Guardiola

GROIN-DOGAN

For all Gündogan’s brilliance in Man City’s 3-0 win, his burgeoning ownership will still have one eye on Guardiola’s next press conference.

After racking up his fourth double-figure haul since Gameweek 19, the German international asked to be brought off in the 68th minute, clutching his groin.

Guardiola revealed after the game that they would not know enough to assess the damage and provide a return date until he had been looked at tomorrow.

“We will see (how he is) tomorrow. He told me (his groin) was tight. He is intelligent to say it but we will see tomorrow.” – Pep Guardiola

Aside from the injury latest, Gündogan owners will be pleased with one development in Double Gameweek 24: how he combines with Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m).

We recently reported that the midfielder was struggling to occupy advanced pockets of space when Guardiola deployed a centre-forward instead of a false-nine.

But it appears that Gündogan is rapidly learning to overcome that stumbling block.

Against Spurs, he pressed into dangerous areas with ominous regularity, popping up to get on the end of passes from Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) and Ederson in the second half after winning a penalty for a similar run in the first.

DIAS ANOTHER DAY

Cancelo finally delivers big haul as Gündogan shines in KDB's absence 17

Even though Manchester City recording a 14th clean sheet of the season, the somewhat surprising absentee was Rúben Dias (£6.1m).

It was the first time Guardiola’s men had taken to the field in the Premier League without him since Gameweek 3.

Judging by the manager’s pre-match quotes, his midweek illness likely played a part in that benching though.

“He had the fever and didn’t feel good. Aymeric played so we went with him.” – Pep Guardiola

Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) enjoyed a largely uneventful evening alongside John Stones (£5.2m) and, considering he has now started three of the last four matches for City, it is clear the competition for centre-back places is continually on the rise.

As a result, João Cancelo (£6.1m) is now the most popular defender among Guardiola’s men, boasting 23.0% ownership worldwide.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Zinchenko, Laporte, Stones, Cancelo; Gündogan, Rodri, B Silva; Sterling, Jesus, Foden.

Tottenham Hotspur XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; B Davies, Dier, D Sánchez, Tanganga; Højbjerg, Ndombèlé; Son, Moura, Lamela; Kane.

Elsewhere in Double Gameweek 24

James Maddison (£7.4m), Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) and Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) got the goals for Leicester as they executed an impressive second-half comeback to beat Liverpool 3-1 on Saturday lunch-time.

The latter looks set to emerge from the King Power Stadium with the most impressive tally as he recorded a goal and an assist, putting him in the running for two bonus points.

It was bad news for owners of Liverpool defenders as Ozan Kabak‘s (£5.0m) debut ended in disaster. Goalkeeper Alisson (£5.9m) collided with him in the 81st minute, allowing Vardy to convert into an open net.

With goals for Maddison (15.2%-owned) and Vardy (14.8%), the fact that Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) also found the net means the Fantasy masses are likely to be content with the way Double Gameweek 24 has begun.

The Egyptian is owned by 42.7% of managers worldwide, although was not considered a big part of the captaincy by the highest-performing managers.

Just 0.5% of the top 10k handed him the armband this week, a total of nine players receiving more attention in that department, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m)

Burnley got their Double Gameweek off to a relatively positive start, although it came at some cost.

As expected, they secured a clean sheet against a Crystal Palace attack still yet to score a Premier League goal without Wilfried Zaha (£7.1m) in the team this season.

Nick Pope (£5.5m) secured an eight-point score thanks to three saves and a one bonus while Matt Lowton (£4.5m) score his first-ever goal for Burnley.

While it was a rare attacking return for the right-back, he capitalised on Crystal Palace’s well-documented problems defending their left flank of late, recently discussed in our Double Gameweek 24 preview article.

However, the second half produced two concerning injuries for Sean Dyche’s men.

Ben Mee (£5.0m) was taken off with a potentially serious head injury, receiving extensive treatment on the pitch and coming off wearing a brace.

And minutes later, Erik Pieters (£4.3m) felt a groin problem develop and was replaced by Phil Bardsley (£4.4m)

Fantasy managers invested in the Burnley defence will know the impact Mee has had this season and with Charlie Taylor (£4.4m) still sidelined, their left-back position could also be a problem against Fulham…

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1,225 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez bench pain. Areola you have work to do.

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      So much this 🙁

  2. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captained Sterlo ahead of Gundo

    Season over ?

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

      Same. Over for me.

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

      Sterling will get another chance. Not sure about Gundo

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

        Sterling won’t play again I don’t think

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Ever?

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

      Been wrestling with this myself as someone who had Gundo all week then switched to Sterling based on wanting a differetial and all the scouts tipping him.

      If it makes you feel any better, I have convinced myself that if someone had said Gundo will play 70 mins, get back injured, not be on pens and Jesus was playing I wouldn't have thought twice about captaining Sterling

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

    Getting Nick Pope was absolutely pointless.

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why?

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

        Because Martínez since last week - 21

        Pope since last week - 10.

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

      Half time and the home game to come.

      Ffs

      1. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        2 pointer incoming

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

        Hope so, as he’s my captain but would have just been better off playing Martínez

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

      And I’ve had Martínez since GW1. 21 Keeper points in the bench these last 2 weeks.

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

      Didn't work out as expected

    5. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Good old hindsight.

      But to be fair it isn’t a secret that Martinez is the ‘GOAT’

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

        A lesson more so. Double gameweeks are a scam.

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

          To a degree, I remember one a few years ago where we all ditched Alli and Eriksen because they only had a single game and they both got ~15pts.

          But Pope could have definitely worked out (still could) so don’t beat yourself up.

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

    Martinez you absolute legend!

    1. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Unreal. Im in love

  5. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Benching Sanchez hurts. Martinez getting yet another haul also hurts. As someone who went for and stuck with Mccarthy I feel like Ive been punished hard

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

    Martinez still beats Pope, if Pope doesn't keep a CS again.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pope has 8, Martinez has 12. So really Pope can concede once and make 6 saves and match it

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I’ll take that, almost got Pope for a -4

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Absolutely Nowhere To Hide For Martinez Non Owners

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

        What about benchers?

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

        Ederson is ok:)

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

      87 pts with 13 players to go. Feels so good! Also would like to congratulate Fudgy giving me the inspiration to BB.

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

        np 🙂

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

        We understand you Are happy boy

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

      Fab over Martinez again this week. Oh well.

    5. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Going to bed in 763rd position. Someone stop the count please.

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

        Why?
        Don't you wanna win this thing?

      2. milanista10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        That’s great. Keep it up maybe you’ll win it all 😀

      3. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Aim for the top 100

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

        Nice!!! Jeep it going

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

          Keep

      5. Casual Player
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well done mate. Cracked the top 1k too, waiting for FPL to update so I can screenshot in case it never happens again 🙂

    6. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Freaking Martinez benched because I had Areola with a DGW already in my team.

      So, so annoying, even though pre-GW I’d probably make the same decision every time 🙁 ffs man. Areola better deliver

      1. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Mee goal please

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

      My highest scoring player rooted firmly to my bench.

    8. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez. What a legend.

    9. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      61 points with 6 left:

      Bruno (C)
      Soucek
      Antonio OR Coufal
      Bamford
      Stones
      Dias OR KWP

      Didn't cap Gundo and Dias bench but otherwise magic

    10. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      After selling salah for Sterling and captaining him over gundo I'm so glad Martinez did the biz!!

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

        Yup, me too.

        Savoir....again!

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

      FFS Martinez on the bench.. what about next week?

      A. Areola Vs Sheffield
      B. Martinez Vs Leicester

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        stop it and just permalinks pick Martinez

        I tried the rotation and it's painful

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Only have it post-BB because havent had the frees to ditch Areola yet

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

        Was thinking of areola to mcCarthy too for the double.. not gonna bother now. Martinez every week he's on fire

      3. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Martinez, those that own him and be benched him deserve all they get, you don’t Bench Martinez

        1. MikeS
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Whatever

    12. milanista10
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Into the top 500 & leading my country league. Thanks Martinez!

      Something good after the horrible display from Milan tonight :/

      1. Hybrid.power
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nice one!

        1. milanista10
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks 😀

      2. Mweene
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Forza!

        1. milanista10
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Forza!
          You are doing absolutely great as well 😀

    13. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I just know that I’ll now play Martinez(LEI) next week and he’ll get 1pt while Areola on my bench gets 12 v Sheffield. Relentless

      1. MikeS
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yep, same

    14. Rash
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      62 points from 4 is a great start.. dias no show with mee and gundo probs crocked tarnish it a bit.

    15. GoonerGirl
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Oh how I wish Arsenal hadn't sold Martinez, loved him at Arsenal. I also wish I hadn't benched him the past two GWs!
      Should have known better.

    16. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      How to shave 0.1m off this wc team?

      Martinez, Fabri
      Dallas, cancelo, Dias, Dallas,
      dunne,
      Salah, son, Bruno, grealish, Gundo
      Kane, Ings, bamford

      1. KUN+10
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Start by dropping one of the Dallas twins

        1. MikeS
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Lol

      2. KUN+10
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Are you going off of Ben's probabilities?

        1. George Agdgdgwngo
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah

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

            Just a friendly warning- Crellin has been very very wrong before.

            1. KUN+10
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              He has come though for me before. I have activated the WC and hoping to get more news before GW25 deadline

        2. Saka Rice
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          What probability ?

    17. KUN+10
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lets see those WC drafts....need some inspiration. Currently on this:

      Martinez Fabri
      Lowton Cancelo Dallas Digne Stone
      Bruno Gundo Raphina Salah Rodriguez
      Ings Cavani Bamford

    18. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Selling martinez for that Blank Gameweek haunts me every week it feels like

      Sickening . He wasnt even that good before the blank too

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

        no where to hide for martinez doubters

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        know how you feel

        I did similar with Justin..seeing him rack up double figures was killing me

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

          Also justin too. Sold him before he had a run of tough games. Him and martinez have neutralized my jammy cap picks

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

        He was tbf. They got 4 clean sheets before that. I have the honour of having him since GW2 in their first match. But these last 2 weeks benched him and it’s been sickening.

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

          Pretty sure he wasnt but id have to recheck. He start off very well when i gor him in week 2 but rememer him blanking non stop right before i sold him

        2. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah 11 points from 5 games before the blank. He got more points hust today!

      4. KUN+10
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Two words....season keeper

    19. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hey Areola wanna get an illness that causes you to miss both these DGW games?

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

        Wow

      2. KUN+10
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This game brings out the best of us, doesn't it?

      3. Oi! Shadders!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Classy

        1. seanie3
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          This, such a stupid comment

      4. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nice, wishing illness on someone to gain some points in a fantasy football game, that’s low

      5. Indpush
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Slippery how this was written as a question but can't get around it really looking like a wish. Seen you do this several times. FPL really means a great deal to you.

        Wonder if you would change your ways if he got sick and then either died or was permanently not quite the same and couldn't play again. What do you think? Cure you or shrug your shoulders and carry on as usual?

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

      Thanks Martinez. 80 points from 6. 8 more to go.

    21. Nerdlinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Here with Werner with a surprising 11% ownership. Not gonna lie I've not seen him in any squad I've clicked on in about... forever! Anyone else got him and feeling those Newcastle points tomorrow?!

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

        I’m pretty sure that 11% are dead teams that have given up.

        What will it take for you to sell him?

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

          Well I got him a few weeks ago... going well so far...

          1. seanie3
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Hopefully he comes good, surely most get good points against Newcastle on Monday

    22. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I've lost count of the amount of times good weeks have been ruined by Martinez effectively cancelling out points.

    23. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What a keeper Martinez is! One of the best shot stoppers this season

      1. KUN+10
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Being from Argentina, I hope he gets the No1 spot really

    24. Toonmad
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      91 points with 9 left, 11 if mee and gundogan play midweek which is not going to happen.

      Finally a good gw and I'm due to jump 800k places tonight

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

        Very nice

    25. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez haul on my bench (for Areola) shrinking the green arrow by 10-15k, ouch...

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Already 5 posts with Martinez and Areola on this page 😛

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

          Bet I'm the only one who mentioned Werner!