Scout Notes

The FPL Round-Up: Moyes talks Antonio fitness and Hammers’ penalty takers

We round up the Fantasy Premier League headlines of Monday evening as we look back at home wins for West Ham United and Chelsea, both of whom leapfrogged Liverpool in the Premier League table.

GOALS, ASSISTS AND BONUS

Courtesy of LiveFPL.net

RICE AND PENS

With Michail Antonio (£6.6m) injured and Mark Noble (£4.6m) on bench duty for large chunks of the season, the question over who would be next in line for West Ham United from 12 yards remained unanswered for months – until Monday.

It was the unlikely figure of Declan Rice (£4.7m) who grabbed the ball when the Hammers were awarded their first, overturned spot-kick against Sheffield United at the London Stadium and indeed it was the England international who despatched the 40th-minute penalty that put the Hammers in front.

So no luck for owners of Tomas Soucek (£5.4m), taker of 13 spot-kicks at previous club Slavia Prague – although David Moyes’ post-match comments hinted that there might be a different taker stepping up in future:

We want the organisation to be clear. If Mark Noble is on the pitch then he takes the penalty.

Next game we might try somebody different but this game it was certainly Declan [Rice].

TAKING THE MICHAIL

Antonio earns back-to-back start for first time since Gameweek 6

Antonio wasn’t involved in east London on Monday evening, missing out after failing a late fitness test.

“Fatigue” was cited as the reason for the striker’s withdrawal in the goalless draw with Fulham in Gameweek 23 and subsequent absence in the FA Cup fifth round last Tuesday.

But another hamstring problem is widely being attributed to Antonio’s non-involvement against the Blades, with David Moyes admitting after the game that the striker wasn’t even guaranteed to recover for Gameweek 25:

It wasn’t a risk to play him but we knew that he is in a position where something could happen and I don’t want to lose him for a long period. I hope that he’ll be fine for Sunday but I have no guarantee at this moment in time.

It was Jarrod Bowen (£6.0m) who was chosen to lead the line for the Hammers but it was Jesse Lingard (£6.0m) who again posed the greater goal threat, with the on-loan Manchester United midfielder topping the shot count table.

Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m) is the only FPL asset who has had more goal attempts than Lingard since the latter made the move to east London.

CROSS WELL

Aaron Cresswell (£5.8m) consolidated his position as FPL’s highest-scoring defender with a 12-point haul.

Cresswell, deployed as a centre-half in a back three on Monday and denied the chance to venture forward much from open play, supplied his ninth assist of a remarkable campaign when his 57th-minute corner was nodded home by Issa Diop (£4.3m).

The West Ham man is one of just two FPL defenders who has played every single minute of their side’s campaign so far and, continuing on his current rate of goal production, would go close to emulating Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s (£7.4m) total of 15 assists in 2020/21.

It was a case of what might have been for opposite full-back Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m), who missed a one-on-one opportunity in the second half.

Cresswell and Coufal might have to be reliant on their attacking returns in the next nine Gameweeks, however, with the Hammers’ clean sheet prospects mixed at best:

THOMAS THE TINK-ERER

Chelsea kept their fourth clean sheet in five league matches under Thomas Tuchel but relatively few Fantasy managers would have enjoyed the spoils, with not one of the back five – including goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (£5.1m) – that Frank Lampard favoured for much of 2020/21 making their new manager’s starting XI.

The decision to start Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.7m) over Mendy in Monday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United underscored just how difficult it is to pin Tuchel down to a settled starting XI, with centre-halves Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.7m) and Antonio Rudiger (£4.6m) and the two ‘number sixes’ now the only players boasting an ever-present record under their recently appointed head coach.

Marcos Alonso (£5.7m), again preferred over Ben Chilwell (£5.9m) at left wing-back, rolled back the years with another performance full of attacking potential: he had more shots than any other player at Stamford Bridge.

Timo Werner‘s (£9.2m) own mini-renaissance continued under his new manager, meanwhile.

Again deployed in his preferred position as a left-sided number 10, Werner made it 21 points in three Gameweeks under Tuchel with his first goal since Gameweek 8 – but not before he had missed two big chances in typically profligate fashion.

Newcastle’s own performance, which was improved after half-time, mirrored that of Sheffield United’s in the earlier kick-off: no lack of effort but, minus the injured Callum Wilson (£6.6m), no cutting edge in attack when it mattered.

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1,628 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi...does my plan sound reasonable here? Wildcard and tc left.

    2fts this week for Bamford and raphinha. Gives the team below

    26....cash for Bamford to kane (tc) hopefully gives me 11 x dgws

    27 to 29 - use fts for bgw29 players.....should be able to field 11 if villa spurs moved to 29

    30 / 31 - wildcard

    I'll have to ignore kdb I think

    pope (martinez)
    Cancelo dallas Lowton (dias coufal)
    Salah Bruno grealish gundogan raphinha
    Bamford dcl (watkins)

    1. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah that plan would work if you don’t want to wc this week

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

        Cheers....I think my squad is in decent shape and have no intention to wildcard soon.....unless dgw26 is radically different from what is expected

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good mate - not massively different to mine below

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

      Sounds good.

      Play Martinez over Pope tho

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

    Bottomed. Got in ings and raphina with the 2 fts. Does this team need a wc if the plan is to BB in gw 26? Sterling can become son after this gw.

    Martinez
    Stones Mee Dallas
    Salah bruno Sterling gundo raphina
    Ings bamford

    Forster dcl digne coufal

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      plan for kane ?

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

        Kane’s fixture list is worth monitoring

        Wolfsburg, West Ham, Wolfsburg, Burnley, Sou/Ful, Palace

        6 games in 16 days from Thursday 18th - Saturday 6th - has an Antonio-type situation written all over it

        If Mou rests him on Thursday night then great... otherwise he’s likely either missing a league game or two or getting injured

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

        None as of now. Could do ings to Kane for a hit later I guess.

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

    Hi guys, I need some guidance and any advice is well apreciated.
    The question is, whether to WC this bunch or to hold onto it:
    Pope (Forster)
    Cancelo | Stones | Creswell | Lowton (Digne)
    Sterling | Bruno | Rashford | Son | Raphihna
    Bamford (Antonio, Davis)

    If I do WC, I would make it so that I can maximise my potential for GW 26 BB. On the other hand, I like my team and I'm unsure of using a WC.
    What do you think?

    1. Skogen89
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      maybe save wc and bb for later, you can get a strong 11 out in gw 26

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

        I know, and the only reason why I'm considering WC in 25 is to play BB in 26 and potentially score some big points. The fact of the matter is that I'm chasing in ML and that's why I'm thinking about a WC.

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

      Do you have FH for BGW29?

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

        No, I already used it. The only reason why I'm considering a WC is because I'm chasing like hell in my mini league.

        1. Skogen89
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Also worth keeping in mind is that most peole will try to get a good bench, so the pros for not wc now, but instead after could pay off big! People are gonna take a lot of hits to get rid of their strong bench

          1. Skogen89
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            also by saving wc, we are better suited if more games are postponed due to corona or wheter.

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

            You have a fair point. I might just wait with my WC after all.
            Cheers.

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

          14 GW to go. Forget about the monthly prize, it'll undo any chances. I think try keeping that team, a right good one by the way, maybe take a few hits to negotiate some doublers in 25, 26, (Leeds in GW29) , and some for BGW29. Then WC after BGW out of a team that was setup for a very limited GW.

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

            Thank you very much for answering. I like that strategy, I think I'll do somethinkg like that.
            Cheers.

  4. Skogen89
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can I get your thoughts on my team for gw 25

    Martinez Steer
    Tarkowski Stones Cancelo Dallas Coufal
    Son Bruno Salah Gundo Grealish
    Bamford Brewster Ings

    2.8 ITB, will bench boost GW26

    Do i need to wildcard this team?

    3 dgw players for 25, and if i do minus 4 before gw 26 i can field 15 players with dgw witout using wc. I cant get Kane tho if i dont take -8

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

      I have a similar headache. On one hand, using WC you can maximise points potential for GW26 BB, but on the other hand, you'll end up with too much money on the bench and you'll need it sooner than later.

      1. Skogen89
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah absolutley! I want to play BB in gw 26, so of course i might just take a few hitts, and correct my team later with the wc.

        Thank you for answering me

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

          You're welcome. I might just do the same with my team, use a couple of hits for GW 26 and then correct team with WC.
          Cheers

  5. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GW25 trannies:

    Soucek & Antonio > Raphine & Ings for free

    Will give McCarthy, Dallas, Raphine, Bampot & Ings doublers....

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

      Looks good apart from McCarthy

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

        Play Martinez instead?

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

          Now that is close. I’ll leave that one with you but I’d play Mart

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

            But doublers......are doublers....and never deny a doubler 🙁

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

              I know. I just look at their form and scores. I mean just look back at their last 4 weeks for example. Or even 6 weeks. Remarkable disparity.

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

                Yeah McCarthy is garbage pick, but he just needs one fluke game.

                I reckon Leicester scores this GW.

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

                  Then go for it. I think you’d be gutted and feel a bit thick if you benched a DGW keeper and he does well.

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

                    So no change there then 😉

  6. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you play Pope this week rather than McCarthy even though McCarthy has a dgw ??

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

      Yes

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

      Just for fun sake, I would go with McCarthy

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

      Hard to Chelsea and Leeds not scoring against Saints in a slump. Burnley can keep West Brom out.

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

      The safe option is Pope. McCarthy won't keep a CS but will the save points match Pope's SGW? I don't think so

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

        Doesn’t even make save points.

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

          haha valid point! Just stick with Pope CS and BPS magnet

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

      Yes.

      McCarthy is dog chocolate.

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

        😆

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

    Afternoon.

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

      Evening

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ciao

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

    Anyone else sticking to the Gundo and not in any rush to change the setup of your team to fit in KDB? KDB hasn't been hitting the heights of last season from a FPL point of view. The double digit hauls from Gundo is ridiculous especially valued at 6.1.

    https://twitter.com/cityreport_/status/1361641247534952448?s=19

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

      Need more news on Gundo first. Im not in a rush to get KDB though if Gundo is fit.

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

        Hopefully Pep gives us concrete info at today's presser.

        Some info yesterday on Gundo

        "Sounds like not too serious but they don’t want to take any chances. So in practice that will probably mean they’re keeping an eye on him over the next couple of days and if he’s not comfortable then he won’t play"

        https://twitter.com/SamLee/status/1361313487033671681?s=19

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

          Thanks for that!

          I just hope he is fit for this weekend otherwise Ill have a big dilemma.
          I really want to use my BB chip this week.

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

      Depends on how Dé Bruyne does when he returns because, as you say, he wasn't the FPL goldmine of last season before his injury.

    3. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Was thinking the same, if Gundogans fit I think I’ll stick him and two defenders until I feel KDB or somebody else is more necessary

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

      Gundo has shown up how bad KDB is at finishing.

      I am not going near KDB again this season.

    5. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would need to really see KDB be in red hot form from the off to get him back

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

      Gundo's going nowhere

      Will move one of the defs (Dias/Cancelo) for KDB

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

        Yup. Plan to ignore kdb till I wildcard in gw30 or 31

    7. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably won’t bother with KdB. If healthy Gundog is staying in my team.

  9. Malkmus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GTG? 1FT, 4.8 ITB.

    Ederson (4.0)
    Mee - Stones - Shaw
    Son - Salah - Gundo - Raphinha - Bruno
    Bamford (c) - Antonio

    Subs - DCL, Coufal, Targett

    Ta!

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think DCL has a higher ceiling than Antonio (even vs our defence atm 🙁 ) so I would switch them.
      Otherwise G2G

  10. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy has made 62 saves this season with 7 baps

    Martinez has made 84 saves with 19 baps

    50 FPL points between them

    😮

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

      Last 4 weeks points:
      Martinez 35
      McCarthy 5

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

        😮

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      McCarthy is never darkening my team again.

      I don’t care if he has a DGW, I’m playing Pope this weekend.

      Southampton cleanies and McCarthy pen save coming up then....

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

      I sold McCarthy for Martinez back in GW13. One of my few decent decisions.

  11. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Afternoon all

    I’ve done Soucek > Raph with 1FT. Which looks better?

    A) Antonio > Ings with the other and then Ings > Kane in 26
    B) Roll 1FT and get Kane for free next week, ignoring Ings
    C) Antonio > Ings this week; DCL > Kane in 26 (and keep Ings also - would mean extra hits)

    1FT 3.4itb
    Pope
    Dias, Dallas, Shaw
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Gundogan, Raphinha
    Bamford (C), DCL
    (Martinez) (Stones, Antonio*, Coufal)

    Cheers

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      WC and TC remaining - planning TC in 26 and WC in 30

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

      Well I’m doing B.

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

        B.

        If you take a hit for ings you need him to score 2 for it to pay off

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          That's what I was thinking

          A) avoids hits also but jury is out on how worthwhile Ings is despite a DGW imo - also means an even bigger benching headache!

      2. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well that's good enough for me 8)

        Tbh A) could be worthwhile but I just can't tell if Ings for the DGW is THAT necessary....

  12. nkhoughton
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Current WC draft thoughts?5.5mitb

    Meslier
    Maguire White Dias Allioski
    Salah Bruno Madison Gundo
    Watkins Bamford

    Martinez Cresswell Antonio Lingard

    I want Kane but not sure who goes

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

      Antonio.

    2. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio definitely

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

    Hmm...

    Play Ben White or Tarkowski this week?

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

      I honestly don’t know who Ben White is.

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

        He's the star of my FanTeam season and there's a good chance I buy him in FPL as well this week.

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

          I got atleast 5/6 of his CSs on my bench

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

          I’ll look him up then.

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

      Bench attacker?

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

        Nah. Not gonna bench Grealish or Son for either.

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      BW

    4. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      White easily

    5. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If I had 'em, I'd start both.

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

    G2G??

    Martinez
    Cancelo Mee Dallas*
    Salah Bruno Grealish Gundagon Rahinha*(C)
    Wood Watkings
    - Dias DCL Digne

  15. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Without looking, which GK, Def, Mid & Fwd have scored the most baps this season? Pretty simple.

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

      And which Def & Fwd are second - they are both a surprise, especially the defender - nearly fell off my chair 😮

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

        Kiko?

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

          Not that surprising 😀

          Although he deserves baps even when he doesn’t play

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

          It’s actually Bellerin & Wilson

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pope, Cresswell, Bruno, Kane ?

      Martinez and Son should be in there.

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

        75%

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

      Martinez
      Cresswell
      Bruno
      Kane

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

        100%

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

          That was easy to guess haha

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

            Yeah shows baps are just regular point multiplers which is a bit rubbish really

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

      Pope, Cancelo, Bruno, Kane

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

        50%

    5. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Martinez
        Robbo
        Grealish
        Martial?

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

          25%

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

        Martinez Justin Bruno Bamford?

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

          50%

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

        What a stupid question.

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

          This

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

            I wanna be called ‘The Magpie’.

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

          0%

      • JJO
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pope
        Cressell Dunk
        Bruno
        Kane

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

          75%

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

      Would you start DCL vs Liverpool or Watkins vs Lei? (also have Grealish)

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

        DCL.

      2. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Watkins for me. DCL and Digne will be on my bench, but if they're called up I won't be too concerned these days.

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

        What a stupid post

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

          +2.

    7. Who are all Lukakus
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      With WC and BB left, I am 100% going to BB in GW26. Question is whether WC25 is worth it or not... current team:

      Martinez Pope
      Dias Cancelo Dallas Mee Lowton
      Salah Bruno Son Grealish Gundogan
      Ings Bamford Antonio*

      With no FT and 0.0m itb, would you:
      A. save WC and take 1-2 htis to replace Antonio, some of the burnley def and other possible injuries
      B. WC (worth 5 transfers) and sell Antonio + Son to Kane + Raphinha; and sell triple Burnley def to others such as Mc Carthy, Shaw, Targett