Scout Notes

Bamford injury latest ahead of Leeds’ approaching fixture-swing

Fulham 1-2 Leeds

  • Goals: Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) | Patrick Bamford (£6.7m), Raphinha (£5.6m)
  • Assists: Ademola Lookman (£5.1m) | Jack Harrison (£5.4m), Bamford
  • Bonus points: Bamford x3, Harrison x2, Raphinha x1

PAT ON THE BACK

Owners of Patrick Bamford (£6.7m) are waiting for another injury update after his forced withdrawal against Fulham on Friday.

A hip problem sustained the previous week meant the Leeds forward was a doubt during the build-up to Blank Gameweek 29, although he still managed to earn his 29th start of the campaign.

However, Bamford’s Craven Cottage outing was far from uneventful in terms of his fitness as he twice required extensive treatment.

It was on the second occasion that his race was run, perhaps a result of carrying the after-effects of Gameweek 28’s knock to the hip.

Marcelo Bielsa did not give a specific update at full-time although Bamford himself gave a more informal explanation of what happened.

“He made a very big effort. And I saw him play a very valiant game. I saw him play well, generous apart from that. He also helped facilitate his team-mates having chances and I saw him play in a very valiant manner.” – Marcelo Bielsa

“I was struggling a bit. My team-mates had to put more in than they’re used to. It was just a matter of time as to how long I could last. Fortunately, I got 76 minutes before my legs packed in.” – Patrick Bamford

HOME AND AWAY

Bamford continues to save some of his best performances for away matches.

His goal and assist at Fulham took him to 14 attacking returns on the road in 2020/21, the joint-second-most in Fantasy Premier League at the time of writing.

Jamie Vardy (£10.2m) currently ranks level with Bamford in this area while Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m) is this season’s top-performing away-day asset (15 attacking returns).

Bamford’s road-trip returns account for 60.9% of his goal involvements this season which might have some Fantasy managers examining Leeds’ remaining fixtures.

There is an even more drastic favour for road trips with Raphinha (£5.6m), who has three attacking returns at Elland Road this season and nine away from it.

Just four of their matches between now and Gameweek 38 take place on the road, the Whites’ next away trip taking them to Manchester City.

With Sheffield United visiting Elland Road in Gameweek 30, Bamford is a clear hold, providing he can stay fit, but with Manchester City (away), Liverpool (home) and Manchester United (home) their following three opponents, some opportunistic-minded Fantasy managers might begin looking elsewhere, especially those with a Wildcard in their back pocket.

CUTTING CORNERS

It was set pieces that denied Leeds defensive assets a tenth clean sheet of the campaign in Blank Gameweek 29.

Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) became the latest player to score from a corner against the Whites.

Knowing they are still vulnerable in this area arguably increases the appeal of John Stones (£5.3m), Ruben Dias (£6.1m), Harry Maguire (£5.5m) and Lewis Dunk (£5.0m) who are all set to face Leeds between now and Gameweek 33.

While soon-to-Wildcard managers might be considering what to do with Stuart Dallas (£5.1m), he remains one of just three defenders with more than one double-digit match score since Gameweek 23.

Furthermore, he played in central midfield against Fulham as Mateusz Klich (£5.2m) remains out of the starting line-up. As a result, Dallas came close to adding his sixth Premier League goal of the season in the 80th minute after he was played through by Raphinha.

Meanwhile, Illan Meslier (£4.6m) continues to put in the hard graft for his 6.8% ownership.

He made five saves in Blank Gameweek 29 which means he has earned at least one additional point for stops in each of his last six appearances.

At the time of writing, Meslier now tops the Premier League for total saves (115) and is behind only Emiliano Martínez (£5.4m) for value among goalkeepers, having produced 27.2 points per million spent.

FUL OF IT

Fulham’s recent defensive improvements appear to have hit something of a snag over their last two matches.

Between Gameweeks 20 and 27, Alphonse Areola (£4.6m) was joint-top of the Premier League for clean sheets alongside Edouard Mendy (£5.1m). 

However, since then, the Cottagers have conceded five times and face Aston Villa (away), Wolves (home) and Arsenal (away) in their next three.

Meanwhile, any differential interest in Josh Maja (£5.5m) took a hit on Friday night. He was substituted for tactical reasons at half time and is yet to replicate the goal-scoring display of Fulham’s 2-0 win at Everton in Gameweek 24.

“(Asked why Mitrovic replaced Maja at half-time): Set plays were (a likely avenue). We caused them problems. The goal came from that. In terms of the first half, I didn’t feel we got control in the way I wanted us to. I felt Mitrovic was that guy who could give us that platform up-top and get runners off him.” – Scott Parker

Fulham XI (4-3-3): Areola; A Robinson, Adarabioyo, Andersen, Aina (Tete 72′); Lemina, Reed (Loftus-Cheek 63′); Lookman, Anguissa, Cavaleiro; Maja (Mitrović 46′).

Leeds United XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Alioski, Struijk, Llorente, Ayling; K Phillips; Harrison, Dallas, Roberts (Koch 90+3′), Raphinha; Bamford (Klich 77′).

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632 Comments Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    That City team looks attacking?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Prepping for the semi final against Sheffield United

    2. Fintroy
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      No interest in Man City anymore, the price of their players vs chances of playing entail there are better picks from other teams - totally sick of spending 25% of my budget, only to find 1 of 3 the City picks play.

      And, it's only going to get worse, with Pep now focusing on the Champs League

      1. fusen
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        There is still some sense to own stones and Gundo, they are both cheap enough you can have a benched good player to come in for either of them if they were benched themselves.

        1. Fintroy
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Will keep Gundo in fairness, due to price and he does seem to play most games. Stones will be shipped out, as he will only play every other game for the remainder of the season.

          1. Pep bites Kun
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 days ago

            Are you going without city def? I'm going with Gundo & will bench 2 City for gw33. Cpl are next up in 34

            1. Fintroy
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 8 days ago

              Ederson is the only clean sheet option, no guarantee the others at the back will play.

              1. Pep bites Kun
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 days ago

                They'll play 2/3 out of 3/4 usually, although Stones has been every 2nd game recently. Ederson is a good sole GK call I agree

      2. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Maybe have 1 City player from now on.

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Reckon I'll keep Gundo & Stones with decent bench cover. I've got BB to play so there's good value in it (unless Stones is benched the week I BB .. hmmm)

  2. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    a) Steer to Forster
    b) Stones to Azpi
    c) Save

    1. Fintroy
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      b - Chelsea manager is besotted with Azpi and unless injured will play him.

  3. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Trossard(c)

    Dunk

    Veltman

    Lacelles

    Big score needed tonight

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      3-1

      Shelvey
      Wellbeck x2
      Maupay

      An assist is possible

  4. Evil Greg
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Pretty sure Son hasn't travelled :/

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Don’t play till 7.30pm tomorrow?

    2. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Jammy autosubs.

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Doubt that'll help much this week

  5. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Which MID should I be aiming for from GW30 onwards?

    Excelt Bruno, Gundo and Bale whom I already have.
    Money no object.

    1. Pascal
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      I am doing Lindgard to Havertz or Mount next GW, attempting to improve my OR.

  6. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Imaging DCL's shooting stats for Richarlison actually passed once in a while.

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Well said.

  7. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    I don’t care what the score is tonight as long Newcastle score.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Imagine Dunk & Veltman score.

      1. HollywoodXI
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        I own Dunk. That’s fine. But all my ML rivals who FH have triple Brighton defence.

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          CS is basically guaranteed tonight.

          1. HollywoodXI
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 days ago

            I thought that as a double Villa defender owner last week....

            1. fedolefan
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 8 days ago

              Your luck has turned already.

          2. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 days ago

            Really?

            Brighton have conceded in 5 of the last 6. Newcastle have scored in 5 of the last 6.

            1. pingissimus
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 days ago

              Whoops have Newcastle scored in 4 of last 6, 5 of last 7 and 7 of last 9.

              cs guaranteed as you say.

              Suspect only City have scored in more of last 9 🙂

            2. F_Ivanovic
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 8 days ago

              Newcasle had Wilson and/or st-Maximum for most of those games though. They're significantly weaker without - that's why the CS odds are highly favourable for Brighton. Nothing is guaranteed in football though especially CS where it's rare for it to be more than 50% chance of a CS.

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 8 days ago

                  Brighton are crap though, almiron and Fraser is enough

                • pingissimus
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 8 days ago

                  Agreed really - I was really just raising eyebrows at "basically guaranteed".

                  The 48% cs chance feels slightly strong to me but not by a distance. The part that would worry me is that Brighton don't specialise in cs against bottom 10/12 type teams a la Burnley. They don't go 1-0 up and settle for it. I'm also suspicious of the 6 pointer dynamic in the tie which can alter outlooks.

                  1. fedolefan
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 8 days ago

                    It's probably easier and less time consuming to understand sarcasm.

            3. Pep bites Kun
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 days ago

              Easier said than done - I hope you're right, but nothing is guaranteed in footie

            4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 8 days ago

              You haven't seen Brighton play at home this season?

              1. Pep bites Kun
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 days ago

                You're right I haven't 🙂

        2. Botman and Robben
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Ben White will get his 1st goal.

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Dias must be like the fittest player at Man City, literally starts every single game

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        I think pep sees him as the most reliable of his cb. The CB position really shouldn't be a position which is rotated heavily as there isn't generally too much energy exerted. I think the likes of stones who is ball playing and makes runs out of the defence uses more energy hence more rotation whilst dias does tend to hold his position

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Thing is Laporte was his predecessor as the anchor of the defence and still missed a few. From memory he - like KdB -was essentially nailed last season but still got rests despite there being a shortage at the back last season. This season has a completely bonkers schedule and Dias only missed once when he was sick. Unprecedented.

        2. The Train Driver
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Wow, Bemba just said something sensible!!!

      2. OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        also the safest player to bring in of all city players.

        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Ederson

      3. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        "Literally" doesn't start every single game.

      4. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        City have like 80 % possession, their CBs don't need to work that much...

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      anyone watch Bundesliga much? Are Bundesliga defenders sub-Championship level?

      1. Nice to Finally Michu
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        I watch very closely. Answer is no the teams are just far more attacking

    4. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Is this BB team G2G? (2.5itb, 0FT)

      Martinez Mendy
      Dias Cancelo Digne Cresswell Dallas
      Bale Son Grealish Gundagon Rafinha
      Kane (c) DCL Watkins

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Too soon to say. Long way til the deadline.

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Looks great in theory

        There are 15 you would fancy starting. One wrinkle is the City three but I'm guessing Pep will start his strongest line up including them v Leicester despite CL.

      3. Tinkermania
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Too much out off former Spurs in there.

    5. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Gundogan has been on some free kicks and corners today.

      A different story when some others are on the pitch, but another bonus for him.

    6. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Kun vs Leeds is gonna be fun.

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Will be injured again before long

      2. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Leeds' have been conceding fewer goals of late.

    7. Isca Extremadura
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      As long as he says OMG Dunk later, I don’t care !

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        OMG White is better.

    8. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Mahrez coming on. Pep going to his most in-form player

    9. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      All shots go wide. So boring

    10. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Looks like Veltman at CB, Burn on bench

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        White and dunk

    11. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Shelvey starts!

      Get in!

    12. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Dunk & Maupay, lets goooooooooooo

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Veltman and Trossard (c). Think I'll be feeling pretty foolish in around 3 hours time truth be told.

        1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Maybe but I admire it

          This is what makes fpl crazy and frankly enjoyable

        2. DannyDrinkVodka
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Bold, I like the Trossard captain pick

        3. Botman and Robben
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          I almost got Trossard for a hit. Means he will score since I did not get him.

    13. Baron Penguin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      I hate this game. Decided three GWs ago To use my FTs to bring in Brighton defenders - Burn and Veltman. One was going to be sitting on the bench last week and one was coming in this week. Of course I toss a coin and bring Burn in first so can’t react to his injury. Balls.

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Burn is too tall

    14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Kdb time

    15. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      I need a Bright cleanie.

    16. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Oh great.. Burn on the bench, what a waste of player he has been since I brought him in on WC.

    17. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      SCENES

    18. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Gundogoal goal

    19. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      OMG Gundogan!

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        (FFS Digne)

    20. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Kdb,'s impact

    21. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Looks like a lot of people got Burned by transferring in a Brighton defender.

    22. Isca Extremadura
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Player of the season, glad I didn’t sell

      1. Tinkermania
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        You talking like you are getting points from that goal!

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 8 days ago

            Is he?

            1. Tinkermania
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 8 days ago

              Yes. He score a goal. ''glad i didn't sell''

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 8 days ago

                  There are gameweeks left, so he's happy his player is in form and that he didn't sell

                  1. Tinkermania
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 8 days ago

                    I didn't sell either but not getting carried away with FA cup goal.

          • 3 A
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 days ago

            Most of his goals come from rebounce.

            Kdb goal here.

            Quality

        2. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 8 days ago

            How do premier League level defenders all switch off like that, I get angry at defenders in powerleague if they don't react to a bounce back like that

          • Says
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 8 days ago

            Burn victims