Scout Notes

Mahrez and Jesus emerging as Man City’s key form assets

Man City 4-1 Wolves

  • Goals: Riyad Mahrez (£8.1m), Gabriel Jesus x2 (£9.2m) | Conor Coady (£4.8m)
  • Own goals: Leander Dendoncker (£4.6m)
  • Assists: Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan (£6.2m) | Joao Moutinho (£5.2m)
  • Bonus points: Jesus x3, Mahrez x2, Coady x1, Moutinho x1

MAHVELLOUS

Riyad Mahrez (£8.1m) is quietly emerging as a form Manchester City asset after his involvement in their Double Gameweek 26 meeting with Wolves.

In a game that Pep Guardiola rotated several key players once again, it was the Algerian who extended his recent run of scoring Fantasy Premier League points.

He provided the assist for a first-half Leander Dendoncker (£4.6m) own goal, adding his fourth attacking return in as many matches.

And in the closing stages, he pounced on a Nelson Semedo (£5.2m) tackle to fire beyond Rui Patrício (£5.3m) into the bottom corner – his fifth attacking return during the aforementioned timeframe.

Unsurprisingly, that is more than any other Manchester City asset over the same period, which has seen Mahrez put together four successive starts.

GIFT OF THE GAB

Gabriel Jesus‘ (£9.2m) late show ensured Fantasy managers could not afford to overlook him ahead of Double Gameweek 27.

After snatching at most of his chances against Wolves, the Brazilian added two goals after the 80th minute to cement his status as another key form asset for Manchester City.

Ilkay Gundogan (£6.2m) is now the only member of Guardiola’s squad to register more attacking returns than the Brazilian since Gameweek 21.

Jesus has contributed four goals and two assists during that time.

Crucially, the forward was rested in both the Arsenal game in Gameweek 25 and the West Ham trip in Double Gameweek 26, his two substitute appearances in those matches suggesting he could be in line for two starts and significant pitch-time during Double Gameweek 27.

STERLING EFFORT

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) was an unfortunate man in Double Gameweek 26.

After missing the first of Manchester City’s two matches in the round, he was agonisingly close to a big haul in the second.

Guardiola’s formation helped the England international get in some dangerous areas with João Cancelo‘s (£6.2m) left-back role allowing him to peel away from his left-hand station in the front-three and drift into central areas.

In the 73rd minute, Sterling got on the end of a Mahrez cross and backheeled a decent effort just wide of the left-hand post.

And three minutes later, he cut inside from the left and curled a shot just around the right-hand post, shaving it on the way past.

And late-on, he was tackled by Semedo before Mahrez thundered City’s third goal past Patrício.

Sterling owners may also have experienced some frustration with Jesus, who had several opportunities to square to him during the match, often opting to shoot from wide angles instead.

CRACKING THE COAD

While there will be plenty of focus on Manchester City’s defensive assets for Double Gameweek 27, it is worth noting they failed to keep a clean sheet in either Double Gameweek 26 outing.

Conceding to West Ham and Wolves, it was the first time Guardiola’s men had been breached in back-to-back games since November.

There was, of course, a random element to Wolves’ Tuesday-night strike, Conor Coady (£4.8m) finding the net for the first time since April 2018.

Meanwhile, Manchester City restricted Nuno Espirito Santo’s men to one shot on target the entire game.

Those looking to invest at this end of the pitch in Double Gameweek 27 can also take some comfort in Guardiola’s team selection on Tuesday.

John Stones (£5.2m) earned a second benching in his last four matches, perhaps suggesting he stands a good chance of featuring from the beginning against Manchester United and Southampton.

Ruben Dias (£6.1m) has started each of the last four while Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) has now played 90 minutes in three of the last five.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Laporte, Dias, Walker; B Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez.

Wolves XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Hoever; Jonny (F Silva 55′), Neves (Otasowie 90′), Moutinho, Dendoncker, Semedo; Neto, A Traoré.

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513 Comments Post a Comment
  1. No Kane No Gain
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Gundo to start both games in the double?!

    Seriously considering TC on him...

    1. vova
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      same position but not sure I can trust him to play 2 games, maybe better options in the future.

    2. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      You can't be 100% certain. But since he got his rest, there is a greater chance than some other City assets maybe.

    3. The Hunt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Personally, I think he'll still tick over nicely for the rest of the season and is great value for his price but those four double digit hauls between GWs 19 & 25 are unlikely to be repeated. I've also taken the view that you've got to expect DGW Manchester City players to be SGW players so burning your TC on him might be a waste.

    4. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      yeah dont think its the best time esp as one of his games is against utd.

      you will def have better opps down the line

    5. Neevesy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Literally no one knows.

      I'm tempted as well though.

  2. vova
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well, I'm about 50 points behind the mini league leader and this is my team (played WC last week)

    Ederson Sanchez
    Digne Dias Reguilon Konsa Aina
    Fernandes Son Barnes Gundogan Raphinha
    Kane DCL Watkins

    0.5 ITB
    1 FT

    Obviously, Barnes is the next to go but not sure for who. Thinking of keeping him one more week and then getting rid with a double transfer.

    Any thoughts?

    Thanks!

    1. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Yeah. Looks good. Most people are going to save this GW I'm guessing. You can make a better informed decision for GW28 and GW29 with 2 FTs in GW28.

      1. vova
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Thanks! My thoughts too, gives me a bit more space to play around with transfers.

    2. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      yeah save. Grealish might be fit next gw so you can make a dbl transfer to make the move

      1. DavvaMC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Thanks, yeah I was thinking that I have two Villa players already, would 8 BGW players be OK to run with do you think?

  3. DavvaMC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Hi Guys

    Thinking of doing no transfers this week and putting Barnes on Bench.

    What defenders would you start for GW27 out of the below? I have Cancelo and Stones starting to form a back 3.

    A. Digne
    B. Dallas
    C. Shaw

    Really struggling as to who to bring in for Barnes, possibly Lingard/Soucek

    Thanks

    1. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      If you need the replacement to play in 28, Soucek. Otherwise, Lingard

      I'd start Dallas of those

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      B

    3. The Hunt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I'm doing the same with Barnes this GW and then putting his money to better use by way of a double transfer after that.

      1. DavvaMC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Thanks

  4. niloh1
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    best barnes replacement? will grealish come back this gw?

    1. vova
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      not this week I think, maybe next. Should be back for Spurs. That's what my Villa friend told me.

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Tempted to bring Jota if he starts on the bench Thursday. What are your thoughts?

      1. vova
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Pass, blank in GW 29 and not nailed on.

  5. kobewan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    any other GWs good for TC? City's DGW26 rotation is too risky unless I TC up on Ederson, Dias or KBD(not in my team)

    1. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Everton, Villa and Spurs still have fixtures yet to be rearranged. You can target them when those get announced.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      maybe GW34 or 37

    3. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Seems like best thing to do with TC chip is just go wild with it
      Seek out a true differential. Seems to have worked for others!

  6. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Not sure if McCarthy has been dropped but should i just play Pope ahead of him ignoring the double he has next week.

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      It's not a DGW it's a SGW with a good fixture

    2. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      he has imo

  7. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Morning dzzz, planning to WC31/FH33 and build towards bgw29. Currently have 6 bgw29 players. Don't mind taking a hit to get to 10. 1ft and 0.1m itb

    Martinez --- Areola
    Stones • Cancelo • Konsa --- Dallas • Digne
    Salah • Bruno • Gundog • Barnes --- Raphinha
    Dcl • Kane • Bamford

    A: Bruno >> Son but bruno a good cpt shout in gw28 and gw30
    B: Barnes >> Lingard but takes up a mdifield spot. I was initially planning to convert Salah + Barnes >> Son + Auba/Grealish
    C: Save FT and reassess next gw. can play raphinha intead of barnes

    1. Pops15
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I'm making the Bruno to Son move this week. Don't see Bruno hurting me over the next few gameweeks with City and a defensively solid WestHam side. Definitely risking with his ownership but I think it's a calculated risk

  8. mdm
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Choose one to play from each option below:

    A. Digne (che)
    B. Dallas (whm)

    1. Fernandes (mci)
    2. Raphinha (whm)

    Thanks.

  9. Gemma817
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Play 3 (1 def mandatory)
    a) Dier
    b) Digne
    c) Konsa
    d) Raphinha
    e) DCL
    f) Bamford

  10. AlpoShearer
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    A. Barnes to Raphinha
    B. Barnes and Sterling to Raphinha and Salah/Bale/KDB -4

    Martinez
    Lowton-Cancelo-Dallas
    Sterling-Barnes-Fernandes-Gundogan
    Kane-Watkins-DCL

    Pope Rodriguez-Shaw-Aina

  11. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 25 days ago

    Morning friends!

  12. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 25 days ago

    I was actually expecting a cs tonight with differentials Konsa and Pereira in action and looking forward to the games. Just turned on and realised that both have conceded. All interest lost in those games now :p