Scout Notes

Wolves restrict heavily-backed Bamford as Meslier suffers freak own goal

Wolves 1-0 Leeds

  • Goals: None
  • Own goals: Illan Meslier (£4.7m)
  • Assists: Adama Traoré (£6.0m)
  • Bonus points: Rui Patrício x3 (£5.3m), Raphinha x2 (£5.4m), Nelson Semedo (£5.2m)

MESS-LIER

Owners of Illan Meslier (£4.7m) endured a cruel evening as Leeds opened Double Gameweek 25 with a trip to Wolves.

In a relatively cagey encounter, the Whites’ goalkeeper was slowly building an impressive score, registering five saves in the opening period.

However, a dreadful piece of bad luck robbed him of what could have been a solid start to Double Gameweek 25 in the 64th minute.

Adama Traoré (£6.0m) who had mostly been kept quiet by Leeds’ full-backs, found some space in the middle for a speculative shot that struck the crossbar and went into the net off Meslier.

Before the own goal, the shot-stopper was projected a 10-point haul courtesy of a clean sheet, one save point and three bonus. After it, Meslier was down to just one point.

While there could be more joy against Southampton, it is certainly a hard start to the round for his 5.8% ownership.

WHAM BAM

It was a similar narrative for Patrick Bamford (£6.9m) who did not enjoy the best of starts to Double Gameweek 25 either.

The striker may have been backed by 80% of the top 10k for the captaincy but he endured a quiet evening at Molineux.

Wolves three-man defence smothered him while the hosts’ wing-backs and central midfielders did a solid job of cutting off his supply lines too.

As a result, Bamford only had two real moments where he looked even close to scoring.

In the middle of the second half, he was left with the scraps of a Liam Cooper (£4.3m) rebound but could not get enough power on his header to trouble Rui Patrício (£5.3m).

And then in the final 10 minutes, after Tyler Roberts (£4.6m) had played him through, Bamford unleashed a rising finish across goal and beyond Patrício, only to see it ruled out for a tight offside.

RAPH WITH THE SMOOTH

Raphinha (£5.4m) owners were also subjected to a teasing performance, the mid-priced midfielder very unlucky not to come away with a clutch of attacking returns.

In the 19th minute, he found Cooper with a free-kick delivery from the right, the centre-back unable to get adequate purchase on the ball.

Just after the interval, Luke Ayling (£4.4m) crossed into Raphinha at the near-post only for Conor Coady (£4.8m) to make a timely block.

Then between the 62nd and 70th minute, the Brazilian midfielder watched Cooper spurn three separate opportunities from corners. 

Had they fallen to Pascal Struijk (£3.9m) or Bamford, perhaps it would have been a different story.

In the closing stages of stoppage time, Raphinha’s speculative ball forward was seized upon by substitute Hélder Costa (£5.0m) who snatched at the finish despite the space in front of him.

And seconds later, Raphinha’s near-post header was turned around the post by Patrício, ensuring a match that could have produced a big haul turned out to be his first blank (in terms of attacking returns) since Gameweek 19.

Still, his high number of key passes, compared with a swathe of off-target shots opened the door for Raphinha to claim two bonus points in his first Double Gameweek 25 outing.

LINE-UP LESSONS

With Wolves lining up as an unchanged team for the first time in the league since Gameweek 8, the more interesting formation at Molineux was Leeds’.

Having tried and largely failed to ask other members of his squad to fill in for Phillips this season, Bielsa went for a different approach entirely by not directly replacing him.

“It’s not the first time (Phillips) has been absent. We have played well without him. Of course, he’s a big player but we have to adapt.” – Marcelo Bielsa

Instead, the Leeds manager moved away from the usual 4-1-4-1 shape and opted for 4-4-1-1 instead.

Mateusz Klich (£5.2m) and Jamie Shackleton (£4.8m) played as traditional central midfielders on Friday night with the extra man not behind them, but in front of them instead.

Bielsa handed that role to Roberts who sat just behind Bamford and would have come away with an assist were it not for a VAR call.

With Klich and Shackleton in the middle, Stuart Dallas (£5.0m) was returned to the left-back position after a prolonged spell in midfield. Ezgjan Alioski (£4.4m) was the man to make way, appearing only as a second-half substitute.

Struijk’s pairing with Cooper at centre-back ensured Luke Ayling (£4.4m) returned to right-back.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-4-3): Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Dendoncker; Jonny, Moutinho, Neves, Semedo; A Traoré, W José, Neto.

Leeds United XI (4-4-1-1): Meslier; Dallas, Cooper, Struijk, Ayling; Harrison, Klich, Shackleton (Hernández), Raphinha; Roberts; Bamford.

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1,404 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play up Pumpy.

  2. Gazwaz80
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play up

    1. Gazwaz80
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Goddamn it Fred 🙂

  3. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Illan Meslier will be a world class keeper one day, hopefully

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nah, not enough of a presence

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He is 20

        1. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Do people keep growing after 20?

          1. Bruce Lee
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He is 6ft 4in

            It is not hard to pack muscle on, especially for an athlete

            You probably thought the same about de Gea when he was at Atleti

            1. No Professionals
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              And he still has no presence

          2. Third Eye Vision
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Sometimes, yes.

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      World class no.. serviceable yeah

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

    As a Leeds double def and Raphinha (C) owner that result was extremely unlucky lol

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

      At least Raph has some BPS. Slight gain vs Bamf cappers

  5. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Worth taking a -8 to get rid of Rashford, Bamford and Martinez to get in Barnes and Kane (tc)? Have Pope as well

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

    Any news on Kane?

  7. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on the new 6ix9ine song?

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

      Get in the bin

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

      Lyrical masterpiece

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

      Who?!

  8. DÏLKS
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    That wasn’t a 1-0 game in a million years.

    I did also back BTTS.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      btts?

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

        Both teams to Score!

  9. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Leeds will have a massive struggle on their hands next year, teams are working them out and they’re running out of ideas. No chance raphinha stays.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      True, Palace and Leicester in particular have really worked them out

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Palace couldn’t work their way out of a paper bag. Fulham beat Leicester, those results happen.

        Half of Leeds’ team isn’t up to it.

      2. The Mighty Whites
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You do realise we just beat these two teams?

        1. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yes he was being sarcastic

          1. Bruce Lee
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Thanks

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

      Their aim is to stay in the league each season for now. You are acting as if they’re a team battling to get into Europe or something.

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Donkey business

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Don't agree. Today they could've easily won and were very unlucky to lose.

      They just don't have enough quality.

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Your second sentence seems to agree with me

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

          That’s not saying teams are working them out tho is it

          1. No Professionals
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            They don’t have the quality to win on an off day. Completely rely on teams going at them.

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

              Love bielsa as he creates a team and it’s more than individual player ability. If you look at each squad ability on paper they probably be worst squad in the league

              1. Groot the Leveller
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Looking forward to Leeds 2.0

  10. ajk1211
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If planning to activate WC, worth doing it now to catch any price rises?

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, if you're definitely set on playing it then play it now.

    2. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Obviously

    3. ajk1211
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks

  11. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Willing to take a hit. Suggest a transfer?

    Martinez ¦ Forster
    Maguire Cancelo Lowton
    Bruno Rashford Grealish Gundogan
    Jesus Ings Bamford
    ¦ Saka Holding Coufal

    2 FT, 5.0 ITB

    No BB 26 or FH 29

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

      I would want Jesus out, maybe Jesus & Grealish for Son & ???

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Get de bruyne somehow

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

      Bamford to Kane

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

    Even with 3 leeds players I love watching them lose

  13. tom_p77
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best midfielder for DGW26 < 7m to bring in who doesn’t play for Man City?

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes

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

    Dias or Cancelo on a WC?

  15. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I can't believe I'm going to BB with triple Leeds next week

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

    Wasted my WC for sure

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Say the thing though

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        lmaooooo, it is like a famous person saying a phrase

        love u fudge x

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

      Great book

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

      Season over??

  17. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    https://fplreview.com/season-review/#points_table

    What's everyone luck on here?

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

      I don’t care, fpl is a skill game

        1. Bruce Lee
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I feel he was being very sarcastic above, but still funny

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

      94.8% in luck hahaha

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lol 12% here

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

      75%...how is this even worked out lol.

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Odds of players doing well pre-match and delta xGI in the game

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

          Lol.. this reminds me im much more of an eye test player than a stats one!

    4. Athletico Underachieving
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A week or two ago when I did it I was -14%. My main rival in my ML last year who is having a shocker this year was -55% ha

  18. RamboRN
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dcl Bamford ings
    Who makes way for kane? Have money itb to do any of them.

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ings

  19. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rap cappers the winners so far then!

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

      4 pts hardly a haul.

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

        Any sort of return in saints game and it’s a massive score

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

        2 points more than Bamford.. hence the winners so far!

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

      I dont think they feel like that though, 4 points from that display is atleast 10 points less what they should have got

  20. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any news on Kane injury?

    1. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What injury?

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

    Need a very cheap defender for the DGW at 4.1 or less - is Mitchell the best bet or any others to consider?

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

      A chance Mitchell gets his spot back I guess
      They always seem much worse defensively when he doesn't play

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

    Nice to see at least McManaman is taking the "no hairdressers" rule seriously

  23. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Think I’m gonna BB this week, would mean a -8 to do these moves, what you think?

    Holding Coufal Antonio to Dier Targett Maja

    WC in 27 most likely

  24. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I have 2 FT for GW26 but want to play my WC. What happens to those 2 FT if press the button?

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You lose 1

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

        Cheers

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      One of them goes to the big fantasy game in the sky

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

        Haha

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

    Team:

    Martinez
    Dias Stones Tark Digne
    Bruno Salah Son Gundo
    DCL Bamford
    (Raphinha Coufal Antonio)
    Best move?

    A. Antonio to Watkins, TC Salah, Son or Bruno
    B. Son and Bamford for Kane (TC) and Barnes -4
    C. Kane (TC) and 3.8m def for Digne and Bamford

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

    On a WC... which would you prefer?

    A) Cancelo + Konsa
    B) Dias + Targett

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dias & Konsa

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  27. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A regular reminder that

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      the mid-priced midfielder was
      not very unlucky not to come away with a clutch of attacking returns.

      The mid-priced midfielder very unlucky not to come away with an attacking return despite a clutch of chances.

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

        Also not a fan of 'a handbag of chances'.

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          That's my main complaint to be fair.

  28. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Does anyone listen to the football cliches podcast with Adam Hurrey? There's definitely scope for a fantasy football offshoot with the same premise.

  29. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If grealish out does this make sense bam & grealish to Barnes & kane (Tc)?

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

    No need to wildcard this lot right ?

    Johnstone*
    Cancelo* Dias* Lowton*
    Salah* Grealish* Bruno* Gundogan*
    DCL* Kane(TC)* Bamford

    mccarthy raphinha cresswell coufal

    1. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No way. Looks great