Scout Notes

Assessing Lingard and Iheanacho’s sustainability after latest FPL hauls

West Ham 3-2 Leicester

  • Goals: Jesse Lingard (£6.4m) x2, Jarrod Bowen (£5.9m) | Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.9m) x2
  • Assists: Vladimir Coufal (£4.6m), Bowen, Tomas Soucek (£5.3m) | Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m), Marc Albrighton (£5.2m)
  • Bonus points: Iheanacho x3 Lingard x2 Bowen x2

Two more goals added to the Jesse Lingard (£6.4m) hype train, which even a late Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.9m) double couldn’t derail.

The in-form striker’s brace did, however, deny the England midfielder the maximum bonus point award, although Lingard still produced a third straight double-digit haul for his 22.8% ownership.

Lingardium Leviosa

Lingard continues to fly high since making his loan move to West Ham.

He now has eight goals and four assists in nine starts for David Moyes’ men – that’s just two assists shy of his best season at Manchester United (2017/18), but from about 1,000 minutes less pitch-time.

Unsurprisingly, he’s put on over a million managers in FPL over the past three Gameweeks.

Small wonder that Lingard’s ownership levels are rising yet again following Sunday’s star turn and he currently tops the transfers-in table ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Newcastle.

That starts a generally favourable run-in for West Ham during which they will host Chelsea and Everton, but also travel to Burnley, Brighton and West Brom before a final-day home fixture against Southampton.

With a Champions League place now entirely in their own hands, Moyes is unlikely to tinker with his side any more than necessary, further ramping up the appeal of Lingard and his team-mates.

Bowen For Gold

One enforced change for Moyes was replacing the injured Michail Antonio (£6.6m) up front, with Jarrod Bowen (£5.9m) stepping in and stepping up.

He scored for the third straight match, with an assist taking him to a first double-digit score since Gameweek 10.

Should he continue as a frontman, his low cost and ownership (1.8%) make him a strong differential candidate for those looking to steal a march on mini-league opponents.

It is also worth pointing out that Lingard’s latest haul was largely unaffected by Antonio’s absence, further boosting his long-term Fantasy credentials.

On the downside for West Ham, and owners of their defenders, they made it three straight weeks of either blowing, or nearly blowing, a three-goal lead.

Their most popular asset, (and FPL’s most owned defender), Aaron Cresswell (28.3%), spared his managers that pain by limping off with a hamstring injury after 52 minutes. His owners’ agony was one of a different kind, his substitution occurring eight minutes before he would have claimed a clean sheet and his first-half booking meant he scored zero points in Gameweek 31.

Speaking post-match, Moyes was unsure as to the extent of the issue for Cresswell, and also for Mark Noble (£4.5m), who injured his elbow.

“My biggest concern would be we really can’t afford to lose too many more players through injury because it will affect our performances as we go along.” – David Moyes

The pair will undergo scans this week, with any Cresswell news especially relevant for many Fantasy managers.

At least the 5.5% on Vladimir Coufal (£4.6m) gained assist points for the second straight game to offset the goals conceded, but the Hammers’ backline is looking rather too generous to encourage investment at present.

Not So Cunning Foxes

Leicester were poor in the first half, improved in the second and, in Iheanacho, have a red-hot striker.

His brace took him to seven goals from his last five starts, four of which have come with maximum bonus awards, and he now has an ownership (8.3%) bordering on the respectable.

Like Lingard, he’s attracting more managers for Gameweek 32, and the Foxes’ immediate schedule – West Brom, Crystal Palace and Newcastle at home, Southampton away – certainly warrants that interest.

Crucially, he has outscored Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) by 52 points to 23 since Double Gameweek 26, besting him for 21 attempts on goal to nine during the same period.

Many Fantasy bosses would have been hoping to evaluate the form of James Maddison (£7.2m) ahead of those fixtures.

But a Covid-19 breach by the midfielder led his manager, Brendan Rodgers, to drop him (and two others) from the match-day squad.

“We’ve dealt with that. The players are disappointed. They’re good boys, they’re not going to get thrown away. We’ll draw a line under it. They’ll rejoin us next week and we will prepare for the (FA Cup) semi-final.” – Brendan Rodgers

Defensive options remain limited in a side with just one clean sheet since Gameweek 23, although Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) underlined his attacking credentials with an assist and a match-leading 11 penalty area touches.

West Ham United XI (3-4-1-2): Fabianski; Cresswell (Balbuena 53), Diop, Dawson; Masuaku, Soucek, Noble (Johnson 82), Coufal; Fornals; Bowen (Benrahma 84), Lingard.

Leicester City XI (3-5-2): Schmeichel; Fofana, Evans, Amartey (Thomas 45); Castagne, Praet (Albrighton 59), Ndidi, Tielemans, R Pereira; Vardy, Iheanacho.

SHEFF UTD 0-3 Arsenal

  • Goals: Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m) x2, Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m)
  • Assists: Danny Ceballos (£4.7m), Nicolas Pepe (£7.6m) Thomas Partey (£4.9m)
  • Bonus points: Lacazette x3 Rob Holding (£4.2m) x2 Ceballos x1

Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m) made it four goals in six Gameweeks as Arsenal swept aside an increasingly awful Sheffield United.

So poor were the Blades that the brave souls still invested in the likes of Bernd Leno (£5.0m) or Rob Holding (£4.2m) – and that’s nearly 11% of FPL managers all in – were treated to clean sheet points for the first time in nine matches.

But it was more about the Gunners’ attacking fluency at Bramall Lane, with Lacazette’s opener a fitting finish to a clever flicked assist from the impressive Dani Ceballos (£4.7m).

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has not been afraid to play his younger stars this season and, in the absence of three key attackers, he handed Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) a rare start in what has been an injury-hit campaign.

The striker responded with a goal, but the match was more forgettable for fellow starlet Bukayo Saka (£5.2m), who had only just come back from another issue, only to limp off with a thigh problem after 68 minutes.

Arteta was guarded about the injury after the game.

“He had discomfort in his thigh and it’s the last thing that we need because we’re missing some big players at the moment and we don’t want to lose another one. I don’t know the extent. Hopefully, it’s not that serious.” – Mikel Arteta

Some 7.2% of FPL managers will have to wait and see on their man, who could be a key figure in Arsenal’s good run-in, with tricky matches against Everton and Chelsea offset by encounters with four of the bottom five and 13th-placed Crystal Palace.

The problem for anyone considering Arsenal options is Europe, with the Gunners’ only real chance of securing a Champions League place next season involving winning the Europa League.

Should they progress from Thursday’s quarter-final second leg against Slavia Prague, Arteta is highly likely to rest key men for the semi-final ties which come before Gameweeks 34 and 35.

That’s a problem for another day, and there is at least only one issue involving Sheffield United players – just don’t own them.

Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Baldock, Stevens, Ampadu; Egan, Osborn, Fleck, Lundstram, Norwood; Burke (Brewster 64), McGoldrick (McBurnie 64 ((Mousset 83)). 

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Chambers, Holding, Mari, Xhaka; Ceballos, Partey; Saka (Willian 69), Pepe, Martinelli (Elneny 83); Lacazette (Nketiah 89).

Elsewhere in Gameweek 31

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652 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How long till price changes ??

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bit over an hour away.

  2. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Triple Captain which one

    A) Kane

    B) Son

    1. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Kane

    2. sk24
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      The decision is so much depending on broader strategy that there isn't a right answer, but if you know what you want to do picking should be easier

      1. RogDog_jimmy
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        the decision should be entirely based on who you think will get the most points. if you think they will get equal points then it doesn't matter.

        1. sk24
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          But it's not 100% vs 0% so it comes to do you want to bet on let's say 35% for Son

          1. sk24
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Ok I'm not helping - A) Kane

    3. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Kane

  3. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Post fail, my bad!
    What to do with this sorry bunch?
    Martinez (sanchez)
    Dawson Shaw stones (dallas white)
    Bruno kdb gundog lingard jota
    Dcl kane Watkins 1.7ITB
    A)kdb > son
    B) kdb + dcl > son + iheanacho - 4
    C) kbd + gundog > son + greenwood - 4
    D) DCL + kbd + gundo > vydra + son +Salah - 8

    1. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  4. noahzark22
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Odegaard to Son (gives me three blanks in 33) or Cancelo to TAA/Phillips?

  5. Henryyy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone know why Livefpl isnt showing OR after subs now?

    1. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Glitch in the matrix

  6. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    With who to replace Dcl, have bb to play, could use it this week...

    Mendy
    Rudiger, Coady, Shaw
    Salah, Son, Jota, Gundogan, Bruno
    Kane, Ihenacho

    Forster, Dcl, Holding, Philips

    1. Mika-eel
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I would just save.

  7. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Take a -8 or use WC?

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

      Think I am about to take a -8 too lol

    2. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Use wc

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

        For only 3 transfers?

        1. noahzark22
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Sure. Not much time left in the game.

  8. tc93
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1FT, 0.0 ITB. Two avenues I could go down this week- or take a hit. Pick one:

    1) KDB —> Bruno
    2) Bamford —> Nacho
    3) KDB/Bamford —> Bruno/Nacho (-4)
    4) other?

    Mendy
    Shaw / TAA / Rudiger
    Salah / KDB / Son / Raphinha / Jota
    Kane / Bamford

    Areloa / Dunk / Dawson / 4.2.

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      1

  9. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Nat Philips nailed?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Looks like it

  10. Sloane426
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    (A) Start Watkins.
    (B) Start Bamford.
    (C) Bamford > Iheanacho -4.

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  11. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best option under 4.8m to complete this?

    Martinez Forster
    Azpi digne Dallas coufal xxxx

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Coady might be your man.

      1. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Holding a cheaper option.

        1. SpaceCadet
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers. Coady is my first choice but any price change means I won’t be able to afford him.

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Veltman

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers

  12. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which?

    A) Sterling to salah
    B) sterling wood -4 to laca mount/havertz/greenwood (have bruno)

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  13. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Will Moura start both the games in DGW?

    1. theoldgit
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      How would anyone know?

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hasn’t been rotated much lately, don’t see why not

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers mate

  14. Ragabolly
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Risers: Lingard (6.5)

    Fallers: Maja (5.3) Peltier (3.9)

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers RB

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers Ragabolly.

    3. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ramadan kareem Ragabolly 🙂

      1. Ragabolly
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Allahu akram my friend 🙂

    4. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      JLingz! Cheers RB!

    5. The White Pele
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      thanks Ragabooly. Ramadan kareem!

      1. Ragabolly
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Allahu akram my friend 🙂

  15. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Changes that Forster is dropped next week to ruin my BB?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Chances*

    2. The White Pele
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      he could ruin it more if he plays.

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Good point

  16. davies
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Auba >

    A) Salah (-4)
    B) Lingard
    C) Keep one more week

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  17. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who to replace Neto with? Prepared to take a -4 if it means being able to BB this week... 0.0 itb

    Mendy
    Shaw Fofana Coady
    Salah Bruno Son Jota
    Kane Nacho Wilson

    Forster Neto* Rudiger Phillips

    Thinking that Fofana + Neto —> Holding + Lingard is the way to go... thoughts?
    B.

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Getting in Lingard definitely the way to go imo but I thought you had put a line through him due to poor stats?

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Don’t think I have a choice, my season will be over if he hauls again this week. My hand is being forced I think

  18. waldo666
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Was looking to shift Coufal on WC, perhaps subconsciously to justify enough transfers to myself.

    End of the day, looks a good option to stay in my side, agree?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      WHU are shipping many goals each week, wouldn’t say he’s a good option but at that price there’s not much better

      1. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, fair comment.

  19. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play Bamford or Dallas?

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bam

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      The one that scores goals 😉

      1. lilmessipran
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That's naughty TM

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          6 points goals vs 4 sounds nice.

    3. leeboy104
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bamford

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

    My rival for 32 points, with 35 points off the bench (taking into account VC).

    They should have bought a lottery ticket!

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Link?

  21. ExpressoMySonny
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    50 k rank drop due to not having salah or lingadino. Holding KDB well and truly hurt me as I chose to go Jota for Gundo instead of Salah for KDB. I plan to Triple captain Kane this week will it be okay to hold KDB another week or should I just cut my losses and get Salah or Jlingz.

    A) KDB for Jlingz
    B) KDB and Raphinia for Souceck and Salah
    C) hold and wait for do KDB and Rudiger for Salah and max 4.5 defender thinking masuaku

    1. CapK
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If you think Kevin will play vs Villa hold,

      Otherwise A

  22. marquinhos
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Those with TC chip left, are you using it this week on Kane?

    1. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Be mad not too

  23. Cali
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Missed the deadline to play my WC this Gameweek and was saved by Dallas. Play WC this upcoming week or hold?

    Martinez Forster
    Digne Dias Dallas Coufal Dunk
    Bruno Son Gundo Jota ESR
    Kane Bamford DCL

  24. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Iheanacho's 23 shota vs Vardy's 9.
    Has Vardy gone completely off the boil?

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

      He’s 34

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

      Vardy is known for efficiency rather than number of shots.

  25. JasonG123
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play Holding (FUL) or Dawson (new)?

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

      ASM and Wilson are back. Rice isn't.

    2. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Holdang

  26. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Any info on Saka? Didn’t see the match so have no clue.

  27. subhojit123
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Heys guys whom should I get based on form and fixtures -
    1. Vydra
    2. Welbeck

  28. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Ricardo Perreira nailed on? In the fanteam game he is only 4.6, and worth a punt at that price..just not sure if he is nailed on though?

  29. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What to do here chaps?

    Martinez
    Dallas Digne Cancelo
    Son Salah Gundo Bruno
    Wood Watkins Kane

    Sanchez Veltman Tierney* Raphinha*

    1 FT & 0.8 ITB

    A) Tierney ➡ Semedo
    B) Wood ➡ Iheanacho
    C) Raphinha ➡ Lingard
    D) Wood Raphinha ➡ Lingard Iheanacho -4

  30. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who else had Burns' 3 min cameo blocking Dallas 17 pts? 🙁

    1. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What? You didn’t play and triple C Dallas like the pros did?

    2. CapK
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Gundos 1 pointer blocked me, had all 3 other subs on