Scout Notes

Latest on Neto as injury forces Wolves into back-three at Fulham

Fulham 0-1 Wolves

  • Goals: Adama Traoré (£6.0m)
  • Assists: Fábio Silva (£5.2m)
  • Bonus points: Nélson Semedo x3 (£5.2m), Rui Patrício x2 (£5.3m), Rayan Aït-Nouri x1 (£5.0m)

FEED THE PACK

Fantasy Premier League managers prepared to back Wolves’ appealing run of fixtures were rewarded by Friday night’s 1-0 win at Fulham.

A switch to a three-man defence played an important role in the clean sheet although it took an injury to Pedro Neto (£5.7m) to bring it about.

So, yet again, Fantasy managers may need to pay attention to Nuno Espirito Santo’s next press conference if they want to predict Wolves’ defensive shape for Double Gameweek 32.

“Let’s see how he is. Let’s assess. It’s been tough moments not able to settle down the team. Always players with knocks going out. Let’s see how he is then let’s try to recover him.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

The Molineux side has been at the heart of transfer and Wildcard squads for some time with Monday’s 3-2 defeat against West Ham causing potential suitors for Conor Coady (£4.8m) to look elsewhere.

Without Jonny (£5.4m) and Willy Boly (£5.4m), the Hammers created serious problems for Wolves’ back-four but even before an enforced formational change, they went largely untested at Craven Cottage.

Such an outcome will certainly chalk one up for the fixture-over-form school of thought and is one that suggests Wolves defenders can still offer some value between now and the end of the season, possibly even regardless of shape.

THREE’S A CROWD

Despite Monday’s poor defensive showing, Nuno opted to go with the exact same back-four against Fulham, rather than revert to his side’s tried-and-tested three-man defence.

That meant back-to-back starts for Rayan Aït-Nouri (£5.0m) at left-back, while Nélson Semedo (£5.2m) operated on the other side of Romain Saïss (£4.9m) and Coady.

However, when Wolves gained greater control of their defensive third came in the 32nd minute when Neto, operating on the right-hand side of attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation, was forced off with an injury.

Central midfielder João Moutinho (£5.2m) replaced his compatriot, triggering a reshuffling of Nuno’s pack. 

Leander Dendoncker (£4.6m) dropped out of midfield to join Coady and Saïss in a back-three, pushing Aït-Nouri and Semedo forward as wing-backs.

“Fulham were very organised and intense. Both teams were very compact.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

Further up the pitch, Daniel Podence (£5.3m) held onto his number 10 role while Adama Traoré (£6.0m) tucked in from his left-winger role to join Willian José (£6.8m) in a two-man front-line.

As mentioned above, whether or not Nuno deploys a similar set-up against Sheffield United, could be dependent on what happens with Neto.

Meanwhile, Boly is expected back in training on Tuesday following his positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test and period of self-isolation. He has operated both in a two-man centre-back pairing and three-man defence this season.

CRY WOLF

Despite coming away from Fulham with all three points, Wolves’ Friday-night win did little to inspire investment in their attacking assets.

Neto is comfortably their best performer in that department this season with five goals and eight assists in the Premier League, so losing him for any length of time is sure to damage their goal-scoring potential, regardless of how appealing their fixtures look.

After Neto left the Craven Cottage field, Saïss’ league tally for the season (three) was equal to that of Wolves’ front-three (Podence, Traoré and José) and he even came close to finding an opener in the 68th minute when he shrugged off competition from Ruben Neves (£5.1m) for a wayward direct free-kick.

That rather damning statistic admittedly nearly changed in the first half when José nodded home a Podence cross, the effort ruled out only after the latest token contentious VAR call.

And Traoré finally dispelled the aforementioned statistical nugget with his impressive stoppage-time strike, assisted by Fábio Silva (£5.2m).

Still, despite appealing upcoming fixtures, the fact that it was his first goal since December 2019 shows just how unreliable an asset Traoré remains.

“I’ve been working hard on aspects with the manager, working on my feet and my runs in behind. If I can grow like a player it will help the team. I know the moment will come. I had one chance with my left in the first half and another chance in the second half. The final chance come and I take it.” – Adama Traoré

“Very pleased, very pleased. Adama is unique. He played in different positions. He started on the left and he go to striker. He worked very hard and with his speed and his talent he can really punish teams.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

Fulham XI (3-4-2-1): Areola; Kongolo, Andersen, Aina (Cavaleiro 84′); A Robinson, Lemina, Reed (Maja 74′), Tete; Loftus-Cheek (Zambo Anguissa 63′), De Cordova-Reid; Mitrovic.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (4-2-3-1): Patrício; Aït-Nouri, Saïss, Coady, Semedo; Neves, Dendoncker; Neto (Moutinho 32′), Podence (Gibbs-White 74′), A Traoré; Willian J (F Silva 78′).

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602 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Neves say Neves
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ferran Torres (c) let’s gooooooo!

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      what?

      1. Neves say Neves
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        You heard me!

    2. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      brave

  2. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That is a hideous team.

    1. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      still better than most other PL teams IMO

  3. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hope City get battered. Pish team.

    1. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Me too, but it's not gonna happen is it

  4. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1-1

    Roberts and Torres. No assists.

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Phew, my 16 pt hit included selling Dias and Gundo and keeping Cancelo. I played the Pep roulette the hard way. Let's see what will be the end of it.

  6. dark91
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Got no City players starting. Let's go Raphinha

  7. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Zinchenko in midfield? Cheers Pep.

  8. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Leeds masterclass incoming!!

  9. lewis274
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    ffs whys he benched ruben dias

  10. DeadStarComing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Finally Dias owners know how it feels.

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Only for once though. No comparison to us Cancelo owners 😀

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nah not really.

  11. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Luckily I don't have any City phew

  12. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That’s about a bad of a team they can put out

    Potential goal fest this

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Maybe he's doing Bielsa a favour

    2. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      come on Steve, City are gonna win comfortably lets face it

  13. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Dias my only City player not playing. Hope Shaw is fit.

  14. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Got rid of them in time. Gotta be glad for the small things in life!

  15. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Starts Zinchenko in central midfield instead of Gundo who has now 0 minutes in last 3 league games (excluding any cameo today)

    That’s extracting huge quantities of the urine, even for Pep

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yep. Exactly that. I'm concerned about him. Being subbed on now. Real crap cereal!

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hopefully it’s before the 60 minute mark if it’s happening - could still end up profitable

        Fair chance of it too with Zinchenko running around like a headless chasing Leeds shadows

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That's what I'm saying! Absolute joke. Gundo owners way more hard done by moreso than Dias (who I do also own) or KDB.

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

        This has completely broken you.

  16. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Let’s get Bielsa at City, predictable stable XI every week 🙂

  17. TAT
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Why the hell did I keep Dias on wildcard…

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I brought him in. For Stones.

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Dias was one of the few players I kept in the WC, but I did consider replacing him with Stones. Not for the likelihood of starts obviously, but for the money saved.

    2. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      misplaced loyalty?

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Probably. Fancy City to keep some clean sheets in the remaining games though. Annoying that I could have spent the funds on Azpi or an Alonso punt instead…

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          it's not that bad a move really I have Stones. As long as you have half decent bench

          1. TAT
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Bench is Holding, Shaw and Davis. Not particularly optimistic about an Arsenal CS or if Holding starts though.

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I did the same.

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Didn't fancy going completely City-less. Can only hope Leeds score now…

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Are you serious? Why?

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        City should still be good for clean sheets. But it's annoying that those funds could have been spent elsewhere…

  18. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Come on the Leeds. Let's go for it.

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I hope Leeds smash them.

  19. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What is that, Zinchenko in midfield? Vomit-inducing.

    Gotta think it's likely at least one of Gundo/KDB make an appearance... no Vydra for me if it's Gundo

  20. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    KDB captain. Don’t know what to hope for now. VC Bruno.

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You need to hope City are winning so he doesn’t come on

  21. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    FPL_Rockstar
    @FPL_Rockstar
    ·
    11m
    Dias, KDB, Gundogan, Mahrez & Foden all have 1 thing in common Thinking face

  22. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    KdB and Gundo to come off the bench and haul

  23. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    At least Boulders starts. Headed goal will do.

  24. Says
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who could have possibly foreseen that pep would rotate out his best players who played midweek for a meaningless league game when he'll need them for champs league leg 2 lol

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Tbf no one could have suspected he would bench BOTH Gundo and KBD. But they were only getting 90mins between them, max.

      1. JabbaWookiee
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Tbf plenty of people did. Watch Neil’s team news video...

      2. Says
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        he can bench any combination of people

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yeah but those are his 2 playmakers - struggle to see who will be able to play that killer pass today.

          But let's face it, I'm not a world class manager like Pep so what the hell do I know?

  25. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone else who got Gundo only for this week before going Son :/

  26. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    At least Guardiola didn't lie about fresh legs.

    1. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yup. No longer a bald fraud.

  27. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bamford to score today!

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Only if Shaw is crocked please

      Stones and Ederson with Ake for Dias feels as if I've lost Pep roulette

  28. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A couple of weeks ago I would have had 6 players involved in the City-Leeds game, now I have none!

  29. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo captain here.... any chance he stays on bench? Got Bruno vice

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I think he and KdB come on and get at least one return each, you’re good!

      1. CheesyZoot
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I like your optimism

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      depends on the score. it's a risky business.

    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Zero chance

      1. CheesyZoot
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Interesting, would have thought it was more than a 0% chance but we shall see

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Stupid question
          Stupid answer
          🙂

    4. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You always knew captain was risky.
      Rarely gets subbed on, though not often in that position
      Hopefully he’s not needed

    5. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      yes, especially if, or probably when, they have scored a couple early on

  30. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who’s gonna make the first 1 point cameo?
    Got Gundo myself starting and yes should have known better!