Scout Notes

Bruno’s blank, Iheanacho v Vardy, the Chesterfield Cafu and other FPL talking points

A fairly dismal evening on the Fantasy Premier League front saw only five players deliver attacking returns, all of whom were owned by fewer than 2% of managers.

The cherry on the excrement was a second successive blank for Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m), the most-captained and most-owned FPL asset of Double Gameweek 26.

BRUNO MARS

A truly grim spectacle at Selhurst Park saw Manchester United grind out a goalless draw for the third time in a week.

We highlighted the Red Devils’ ongoing cautiousness in games against ‘big six’ opposition after Sunday’s game at Chelsea but perhaps one other factor we overlooked is fatigue.

United have played twice a week, every week from the beginning of 2021 up until now.

There has been relatively little rotation from Ole Gunnar Solksjaer throughout that run and there was a jaded quality to their display against Palace, with Fernandes looking particularly flat – this was his 16th appearance in little more than two months, with 14 of those coming from the start.

The Portuguese playmaker didn’t register a single shot at Selhurst Park, although did top the pile for chances created.

Back-to-back clean sheets was good news for owners of United’s defensive assets, at least, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.6m) and Luke Shaw (£5.1m) now first and third among FPL defenders for ‘form’ (average score over the last 30 days).

RIGHT BACK AT YOU

A rare miscalculation from Nick Pope (£5.6m) was a contributing factor in Burnley losing their clean sheet on Wednesday, although in fairness, not many right-thinking individuals would have anticipated Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.6m) meeting Wilfred Ndidi’s (£4.8m) chipped through-ball with a Van Persie-esque volley.

For a team renowned for their reputation as a defence-first side, the clean sheets have been in fairly short supply of late – only four have arrived in the Clarets’ last 15 matches.

Burnley’s backline aren’t famed for compensating with attacking returns at the other end of the pitch but Matthew Lowton (£4.5m) – dubbed the ‘Chesterfield Cafu’ by internet wags for his recent displays – has suddenly burst into life in the last month.

The budget right-back has supplied 10 chances in the last three Gameweeks (two of which were admittedly ‘doubles’), with four of those key passes arriving in the Leicester game.

Shaw is the only FPL defender who has supplied more opportunities than Lowton in that time, while no-one in the Burnley man’s Fantasy position has carved out as many ‘big chances’.

As for Leicester’s own marauding right-back, Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) began the game at wing-back and ended it as a winger – but all of that hyped ‘out of position’ potential amounted to nought as he ended Double Gameweek 26 with a meagre two points.

KELECHI CRASHES THE PARTY

Iheanacho has been a benefactor of injury-enforced absences to James Maddison (£7.3m) and Harvey Barnes (£6.9m), if only in that first-team starts are now easier to come by.

Those two midfielders being sidelined has not exactly helped Jamie Vardy (£10.2m), whose record now stands at one goal in his last ten Premier League appearances.

The Foxes were short on inspiration at Turf Moor, as they had been against Arsenal on Sunday, with Vardy mustering just one shot on goal in another showing that hinted at his underlying fitness issues catching up with him.

It might not just be the absence of Barnes and Maddison that is damaging Vardy’s output, however.

The veteran striker isn’t used to sharing the limelight with a strike partner and Iheanacho has certainly been hogging the chances, having seven of them across the two Gameweek 26 matches; Vardy had one.

HEROES TO VILLANS

Aston Villa’s yo-yo form in 2021 continued as they once again failed to string together successive wins, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to a Sheffield United side who had Phil Jagielka (£3.9m) sent off in the second half.

So used to performing heroics en route to keeping a clean sheet, Emiliano Martinez (£5.3m) for once had very little to do at Bramall Lane on Wednesday.

But one of just two shots on target the Villans faced, David McGoldrick‘s (£5.2m) opportunistic strike from a mishit George Baldock (£4.9m) effort, beat the Argentine shot-stopper and put paid to hopes of a ninth shut-out on the road.

Villa’s shot count suggested they didn’t miss the injured Jack Grealish (£7.6m) too much, with Ollie Watkins (£6.6m) striking the woodwork, John McGinn (£5.5m) missing a sitter and Ezri Konsa (£4.6m) forcing a fine stop out of Aaron Ramsdale (£4.6m).

But at full-time, visiting boss Dean Smith lamented the lack of a final-third spark that Grealish so often brings:

For all of the possession in the final third we needed better quality, better runs and better balls in but, for me, we tried to get the goal back inside the first five minutes after the sending off instead of being patient, pulling them out and finding holes.

Bertrand Traore (£5.9m) was perhaps the pick of Villa’s FPL assets, with a game-high five attempts including one jinking, Ricky Villa-esque run that ended in an off-target effort.

305 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Party time
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Let the Son shine tonight

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Fingers crossed Son and Kane both shine.

      2. Gemma817
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Ameen

      3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Hope he kane do it

    • Wakanda
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      any updates on Hamez ?

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Did he get injured?

    • Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Play Bruno or DCL?

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Bruno

      2. Gemma817
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Bruno

      3. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        DCL

    • Salan
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      If Kane HT tonight and Spurs keep a CS, I will be much more happy even having loads of players as Barnes, Cancelo, Bruno...

      1. Mile Plankton
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Same, but I need Dier to somehow contribute.

        1. Gemma817
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Stuck with Dier too, eh? How I wish I picked Shaw over him in WC25.

          1. Mile Plankton
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 25 days ago

            I bought Barnes and Dier as a part of en 8 point hit.
            Was between Dier, Keane and Shaw and I have chosen poorly

        2. Salan
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          I also have Reguilon but I can't ask for more.

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Won’t be HT if Vinicius starts will it

        1. StayoutheSpiceZone
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Kane starts

    • Mile Plankton
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Make or break DGW seems to be going in a break direction for me.

    • the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Looking at BGW29. Is 8 -9 players good enough without any hits?

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Yes

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Depends on the players and who you don't have.

        1. Gemma817
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Who would you reckon are the must have players for BGW29?

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 25 days ago

            Guess the scores and you'll know. You'll know the players who could hurt with big ownership.

      3. Boberella
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        8-9 should be enough, but most will have Kane, Son, Leeds attack, Antonio, Martinez etc, so you’ll need an Arsenal differential (or similar) to pay off to go up rank

      4. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Thanks for the replies all. Yep looking at getting maybe Saka for ARS cover.

    • OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Thought on Mount? good pick good fixtures plus on penos?

      1. Boberella
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Good pick. I’m avoiding Chelsea personally but Mount seems as nailed as anyone and decent fixtures incoming. Is he definitely on pens if Jorginho is not on the field?

    • Boberella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      75 (post hits) so far with DCL(c), Son, Maja & Tete to go. Even though that score is fairly high in my ML it feels like a big fail with Martinez and Shaw being the highest scorers!
      Getting to 100 this week seems very unlikely.

      1. Gemma817
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        You'll hit 100

        1. Boberella
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          You think DCL will come good? I’m not so confident. To be honest, I wish I’d have captained Son.

      2. Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        It's a fair good to average score. I don't know why but my several ML rivals having 8x pts now. My 68 is lagging behind so I hope Kane can do me a favour.

    • Boberella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      The punt on Pereira in for a hit this week didn’t work out. Swap for Reguillon now, or give him another week or two?

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Would be completely silly to remove him straight away

      2. De Gea is GOAT
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Give him more time. He could've had a couple of assists last night

    • Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Any ideas here? Thinking it probably makes sense to save, right?

      FORSTER
      CANCELO, STONES, Targett
      GUNDO, Salah, Bruno, Son
      Kane, Bamford, Watkins

      Pope, Raphina, Coufal, Mitchell
      Bank 0.0m, 1FT, WC, BB, FH left

      1. Mile Plankton
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Save for sure.

        But City players are not really DGWers, are they?

        1. the dom 1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          True

    • Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      70 on FH. Kane(C) Bale Reguilon Pereira Salah Digne and DCL to go..

    • Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Where are the Bruno TCers? Still in hiding I suppose

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        matching Kane's score without any attacking return is pretty decent

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          That’s funny. As a DCL TCer I shouldn’t really be talking

    • Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Can Salah score 2 or more vs Che ?
      Ps - TCed him 🙁

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Can’t score 1 let alone 2 or more

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        one assist at best

        1. Totalfootball
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          🙁

          1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 25 days ago

            He can score 2. Even in this shambles of a season with everyone playing badly he gets chances every game.

            And as a fan I have good news for you. This is the first time in months I feel good about our team. Liverpool will finish strong. Feeling good about captaining Salah going into tonight

      3. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Count yourself lucky if he gets any return

    • Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      15 pts on my bench with Aerola still to play.

      Didn’t use my BB... was that a foolish move?

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Probably yes

      2. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        defn

      3. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Yes

      4. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Extremely.

      5. Patson Dabaka
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        I'm on BB and have 17 with areola left. Pleased j used it, if only to get it out of the way.

    • Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Excellent
      Time to sell one of Bruno or Mo.
      We move

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Should have sold Bruno last week

        1. the dom 1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Think he’s due a haul then he can rest. Lol

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        The expensive one

      3. Boberella
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Both!

      4. BERGKOP
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Mo

    • Liberate HK - antichinazi
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Bruno + Shaw --> Vestergaard + Bilva (-4)

      Y or N?

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Absolutely NO

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        In what world is bringing in a Soton defender for a hit acceptable?

        1. Liberate HK - antichinazi
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          He is due a goal

    • SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Any suggestions for this team? 1 ft, 0 itb. WC, BB available. OR 9k. Need to start building for gw29 with no fh left. Thanks.

      martinez
      Stones Dallas coufal
      salah bruno son gundo raphina
      kane bamford

      forster dcl digne mee

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Save FT

        1. SpaceCadet
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Mee to dunk or white maybe?

          1. Holmes
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 25 days ago

            better to delay if incase he gets injured, you have 3 defenders who can play this week

            1. SpaceCadet
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 25 days ago

              What about a third city player for the dgw? Kdb in for bruno?

              1. Holmes
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 25 days ago

                That could be a decent punt

                1. SpaceCadet
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 25 days ago

                  Would need to fund that move with another transfer. Mee > veltman?

                  1. Holmes
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 25 days ago

                    Digne to Dunk?

                  2. Holmes
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 25 days ago

                    This should also give cash for Mee to Regu

                    1. SpaceCadet
                      • 10 Years
                      3 years, 25 days ago

                      Missed this obvious move. Digne out it is. Cheers bud!

                    2. SpaceCadet
                      • 10 Years
                      3 years, 25 days ago

                      Could also do dcl > antonio

      2. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Or get in a 3rd city player for the dgw?

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          No, build for gw29. Roll

      3. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Mee to dunk and BB?

        1. SpaceCadet
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Nah mate. Dcl and digne against che doesn't look that promising. Also, not sure if Forster will play both games.

    • the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      JWP worth a punt for SOU DGW???

      Yes or No.

      1. Liberate HK - antichinazi
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Y

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Definitely not

    • DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Bye bye Martinez. Thanks for sticking around and serving me well since GW3. On to the next one!

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Madness

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Not exactly if you look at the fixtures for the rest of the season. And his past performances against the "reds" on the fixture ticker.

    • Tirean
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Bruno is without a doubt should be downgraded to a B in form after that performance.

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        He’s been average for weeks. Freekicks and penos aside he’s done very little bar score against 9 men.

    • Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Its annoying when your boss is know-it-all *facepalm*

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Just finished a meeting with my team and gave them a lot of education. Do you work here?

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Nah (Even if I did, I would say NO!) 😀

          1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 25 days ago

            Hahaha!

      2. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Especially when you're your own boss!

    • The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      ** tumbleweed **

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Ok-ish band. Nothing to write home about. Unlike the Cosmic Psychos.

    • StayoutheSpiceZone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Bruno out for anyone!! No City.

      Considering

      A) Son
      B) Auba
      C) Bale
      D) Someone else

      No FH 29

      1. Steiger
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        A

      2. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        B

    • The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      When can I use my third WC?

      1. Lukakus Unit
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        I believe you can only unlock the 3rd WC if your team has followed template for 30 straight GWs.

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Wooohooo!

      2. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        GW 39

    • Lukakus Unit
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Is it worth taking a -8 to get Kane in for Crystal Palace and having a FT next week to bring in another BGW29 player?

      Or just wait a week and take a -4 to get him in?

      Already have Son.

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Wait

    • kobewan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Barnes,Bruno > Son,Lingard for -4 punt for gw27?

      planning for gw29

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Why not!

        1. kobewan
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          90% on this, Just need to watch Spurs v Fulham later

      2. Lukakus Unit
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Not really a punt when Barnes is out for a month, Bruno looks tired, Lingard is in form and Son plays Palace.

        Easy yes for me.

        1. kobewan
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          90% on this will wait for tonight's match Spurs v Fulham if Bale starts again and haul could be given a consideration also

    • Salarrivederci
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Areola, Digne, Lookman, Salah (C), DCL and Kane tonight! The first four can go mental! Don't have high hopes though :/

    • Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Well Bruno TC was a waste in the end, I was irritated with it yesterday but ah well, easy to take FPL too seriously sometimes especially when chasing, and while I obviously hoped for more I can't complain really after the Mane 1pt incident a few years ago. Just one of those bad weeks that'll teach me not to take a lump of hits in the future! Been a more fun year for me with FPL, I've never taken it seriously enough which is why I always do dreadful but this year I've tried to make a much better effort at it and while I'm unlikely to take top spot in my minileagues 2nd or thereabouts isn't that bad compared to the midtable obscurity I usually find myself in.

    • Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Time to attack top 10k
      50 pts short with Nipples, Kane(c), Son & Mo to go

      1. Brimble82
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        69 shy with the same but no nipples and DCL instead.

        I guess I’m more realistically ‘attacking the top 50k’ this week!

      2. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Who's Nipples?

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 25 days ago

          Areola

    • SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      Which transfer is better this gw?

      A. Dcl > Antonio
      B. Mee > dunk