Scout Notes

Five FPL blanks in seven for Bruno as Greenwood’s fine late-season form continues

Manchester United 3-1 Burnley

  • Goals: Mason Greenwood (£7.0m) x2, Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) | James Tarkowski (£5.3m)
  • Assists: Marcus Rashford (£9.5m), Paul Pogba (£7.6m), Donny van de Beek (£6.6m) | Ashley Westwood (£5.3m)
  • Bonus: Greenwood x3, Rashford x2, Cavani x1

Manchester United’s win over Burnley on Sunday means that the Red Devils need just eight points from their final six games to secure a top-four spot.

The concerns from a Fantasy perspective are that Ole Gunnar Solksjaer may start preserving key individuals around their upcoming Europa League semi-final, particularly as there is little meaningful left to play for on the domestic front – assuming they have given up the ghost of catching their cross-city rivals.

But there was little evidence of minute-management in Gameweek 32, with United pretty much at full strength for the visit of the Clarets.

BLANK BRUNO

Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) may have swerved the kind of rotation that has plagued the popular FPL assets at Manchester City and Chelsea but there was little reward for those Fantasy managers who have kept faith with the Portuguese schemer, as he blanked for the fifth time in seven matches.

He averages just four points per match from Gameweek 26 onwards, a seven-game spell that represents his worst run as a Fantasy asset since his move to England.

In mitigation, there have been meetings with Chelsea, Manchester City, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur in a tricky-ish recent run – but blanks against the likes of Crystal Palace and Burnley have been more of a concern.

We’ll delve more into his recent output in a Members article this week.

RASH’S CHALLENGE

Rashford shrugged off an ongoing foot problem to feature in this encounter, beginning the game up front in a central role. That was a bit of a blow to owners of Edinson Cavani (£7.9m), who would have been expecting the veteran Uruguayan to start more games than not in the absence of Anthony Martial (£8.6m).

In the end, Cavani came off the bench to score; over half of his FPL attacking returns this season have come when he has been a substitute.

As for Rashford, his manager said of his fine display and ongoing fitness battle:

I asked him how he was because he played so well. And I think because he played so well and he felt good out there, he was trying to force a 90-minute out of him. But he said that he was too sore. So it’s just pain that comes after he’s played for 60-70 minutes. He lasted for 80 almost today, so that was progress.

GAMES MASON

Rashford and Fernandes have five attacking returns apiece in the last nine Gameweeks – a total that Greenwood has matched in his last three outings.

Following his 15-point haul against the Clarets, the teenage forward is the fourth-most bought FPL asset of Gameweek 33 at the time of writing.

His benching against Spurs was a prime example of how there’ll always be the threat of rotation hanging over his head, particularly as United reach the latter stages of the Europa League.

But at £7.0m, there’ll still be a few takers.

His second goal was fortuitously deflected in but the goal rush has been no fluke: when FPL assets are filtered by their last four matches, Greenwood is top of the pile for shots in the box.

POPE MOBILE

Fantasy community eyes Burnley clean sheet in first Double Gameweek match

Missing from the Burnley side again was Nick Pope (£5.5m), who is working his way back from a shoulder injury.

Sean Dyche said after full-time:

We had to make a judgement call. We think he’s got every chance to be fit for next week.

Not that Pope’s availability has made much of a difference, as the usually solid Clarets are on the division’s longest run without a clean sheet (seven games) and have kept just four shut-outs in their last 20 fixtures.

James Tarkowski (£5.3m) grabbed Burnley’s goal but the in-form Chris Wood (£6.3m) once again impressed, being denied a goal after 15 seconds by the offside flag and posing a nuisance the United backline.

He himself has had 16 shots in his last four matches, just one behind Greenwood.

Matej Vydra (£4.8m) was benched, meanwhile, with Dyche later confirming that he wanted an extra man in midfield to deal with United’s strength in central areas.

Tarkowski’s goal means that United have conceded to every team ranked 7th or below bar Wolves this season, with half of their 12 clean sheets coming against the top six.


Manchester United XI: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred (Cavani 45), McTominay, Greenwood, Fernandes, Pogba, Rashford (van de Beek 84).

Burnley XI: Peacock-Farrell, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson (Rodriguez 88), Cork, Brownhill (Vydra 88), McNeil, Westwood, Wood.

447 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gazwaz80
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    No Mo 😀

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

    Could do with a Jota and TAA mega haul

    1. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      3-3 Jota and Bam hatties would do for mr

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

        I'd take this as long as Mo comes on. Rival has Bamford first sub

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota hattie, Trent assisting two and scoring one and Salah scoring one and assisting another from the bench is fine.

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

    Carragher spot on

    Never thought I’d ever say that

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

      Oh crap it’s on. I gotta watch this.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Rio on BT last night too, never heard him talk like that before. Great stuff.

  4. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah owners in the mud...

    1. djman102
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Like Crystal Palace? Salah non-owner here, but I'm waiting until the final whistle before exhaling...

      1. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I can always go into hiding by then...

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

    Pogba playing is bad for Bruno. Fact

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

      Bruno is tired though and has a sore back carrying most of them. Pogba is fresh in comparison. Bruno is magic.

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

    Luke Shaw not in my squad 50+ pts and the best defender in the game.

    Shaw in my squad, blank after blank.

    It's official, I broke him.

    Sorry lads.

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

    Salah vs tired legs!

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

      Leeds don’t get tired.

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

        Snap

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes, but even they aren't machines.

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

          About as close to it as it comes.

      3. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Dammit!

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

      Leeds don't tire

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

    Almost feels like they’ll take Neville off the air shortly

    Making way too much sense

    How often do you hear the phrases “ITV”, “BBC” and “BT Sport “ on Sky

    Wow

    1. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hes a great man.

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

        That was epic from him to be fair - this whole thing is surreal

        Klopp on now

        1. gooberman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Its compelling viewing.

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why would they take him off air? Unless Sky are getting the TV rights to this Super League, Sky don't want it to happen either.

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

        Because he’s gone way off the message you would normally hear on Sky (that I can remember for the last 20 years or so anyways)

        When is he last time you had a pundit on Sky mentioning rival stations, talking about player strikes, urging peop0e to write to their local MP’s... they are generally trying to be impartial, or at least A-political

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          They are vocal about BLM. They have been / are vocal about climate change (ran the plastics campaign). The UK arm of Sky has been quite progressive in the last few years. This is just another area / topic they can get behind.

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

            I’ve never heard anyone on MNF say write to your local MP’s mobilise fans, players on strike for climate change... must have missed that episode

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

              Yeah but they did well with making people more aware to issues with plastic.

            2. diesel001
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              I mean I remember Neville calling out Boris Johnson on being a racist. If that isn't a political thing I don't know what is.

              https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/gary-neville-racism-boris-johnson-manchester-city-united-derby-a9237536.html

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

                Johnson is a racist though - that’s not anything anyone would disagree with

                This is different level stuff

                1. diesel001
                  • 7 Years
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  I mean lots of people do disagree that Johnson is a racist. We have a Conservative Government in the UK with a large majority.

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

                    *anyone reasonable

            3. diesel001
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              And it isn't off message. Because Sky, BBC, BT Sport, the Government etc. are all aligned on their view in this. Even Steve Parish right now is saying it is good because you have so many interests all aligned in their view. Possibly the first time it has happened.

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

                I’ve never heard a pundit on Sky advertise three rival stations - that’s incredibly off message from what you’d normally get on Sky

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

    Who else is glued to sky sports now watching Gary and Jamie?

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

      I just turned on as I forgot.

  10. Johnny too hotty
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Phillips out of Liverpool squad ? Trying to understand why

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

      Probably tired

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

    Juergen speaking now guys!!!

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Badly

  12. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    No Phillips

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

      Use a small flat head.

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

        Or pz2

  13. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Klopp looks very very nervous. Never seen him like that

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

      Was the same with Tuchel earlier

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

      Neither have I.

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

    It's a good chance for leeds win, because they were robbed last time at anfield

  15. blauriecon
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I left US sports years ago...tired of meaningless games...no heart...the FA should boot the six and make them start in League Two (or lower) if they ever want to come back to English football.

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

      BBC says they won’t play in English comps

  16. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Where is Philips?

    Salah benching is annoying but he will obv come on

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

      Ah ‘minor hamstring injury’

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Fabinho CB. Better CB than Phillips or Kabak but midfield is lacking without him.

  17. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    So Dallas comes then in for Raphinha.

    Wont be for another 17 pointer I suppose?

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

    Why on earth has he dropped Salah and not Mane when Mane has been rubbish??

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

      Mane didn’t play last weekend. Jota didn’t play midweek. Firmino didn’t play the week before. Salah was next

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

        They’re out of all the cups though? So rotation rest not needed

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

          This was the reason I put 2 of their players in this week! Bloody backfired

          1. Tango74
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Wrong week to bench boost

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

              Maybe but with Pool now out of Europe I thought it was pretty safe tbh

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

          Doesn’t matter. Salah’s played 4 times in the last 2 weeks and there’s another game Saturday

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

            Guarantee had I not put him in he’d have started and hauled. Just sod’s law

      2. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This

    2. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Because my opponent(league leader) has Salah and I have Jota - For once it has happened.

    3. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Salah missed sitters vs Real. There has to be consequences!

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

      To make our decision for the captaincy next GW easy. Salah is assured of a start. I don't mind it that much, to be honest.

      Plus Mark doesn't own Salah so it is not something unexpected.

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

        It’s more the fact I put him in this week for a hit and BB’ed lol

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

    Meslier’s T-Shirt

    Legend

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

    I'm going to have benched another Dallas haul here I suspect!

  21. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jota please deliver today

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

      Brace upcoming

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

        I really hope so

  22. leo_messi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Nat Phillips misses out with a minor hamstring injury

  23. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah saved for ESL

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

    19 required from Forster to make the BB a success:

    Forster | Raphinha (0) | Phillips (0) | Lowton (1)

  25. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    F.C. United of Manchester supporters been right all along. The minute a club gets sold to one of these shills is the minute you should stop supporting it.

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      which club do you support just out of curiosity?

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The team from the city I grew up in: Helsingborgs IF, Swedish team in the second tier, Henrik Larssons parent club.

        Supporting a PL club is like supporting Ferrari or Mercedes at this point.

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

    Didn't watch the game, did Bruno pass the eye test?

  27. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Meslier's shirt is class

    1. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What does it say?

  28. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Really annoyed at myself for getting Salah in this week instead of Greenwood. Those decisions when you go against your gut are the worst mistakes in the game imo.

    Of course, Mo could still score after coming off the bench.

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

      Don’t be silly. Bringing in Greenwood over Salah would’ve been criminal

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

        Lock me up then! Ditched Salah & Bruno on GW32 WC...

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

          Got the Greenwood 15 pointer yesterday. Double up on Chelsea mids (Pulisic & Havertz) tomorrow.

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

    And there was me worrying about Alonso not playing to avoid -3 from Dawson off the bench when I should’ve been worried about Nat Phillips instead. FML.

  30. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah benched? Excuse me what the f**k...