Scout Notes

Mount and Rodriguez injury updates as Watkins hits good form ahead of Gameweek 35

Everton 1-2 Aston Villa

  • Goals: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.5m) | Ollie Watkins (£6.5m), Anwar El Ghazi (£5.2m)
  • Assists: Lucas Digne (£6.1m) | Bertrand Traore (£5.8m)
  • Bonus Points: Digne x3 Watkins x2 Calvert-Lewin x2

Some key Fantasy assets warmed up for Double Gameweek 35 with a Goodison Park audition involving one of the more breathless first halves of the season.

The score was 1-1 at the interval, with the goals coming from FPL favourites Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.5m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.5m).

But it needed a stellar Jordan Pickford (£4.8m) performance and the frame of his goal (twice) to deny Aston Villa going in at half-time with a deserved lead before a late Anwar El Ghazi (£5.2m) strike secured the points for the visitors.

Ollie Jolly, Emi Less So

Both teams have two Gameweek 35 fixtures as they’ll face each other again once Everton have travelled to West Ham and Villa entertained Manchester United next Sunday.

Crucially, the sides also have a Gameweek 36 match, with Dean Smith’s men going to Crystal Palace and the Toffees at home to Sheffield United.

All of that ramps up the appeal of their main players, which only serves to highlight the curious case of Watkins in recent weeks.

The Villa striker is found in 25.6% of FPL squads, but his net ownership has dropped in four of the last five Gameweeks even though he’s produced attacking returns in every single one of them.

He was sharp and hungry at Goodison, forcing Mason Holgate (£4.8m) into the error that led to the first goal and only being denied further joy by the excellence of Pickford.

Watkins is comfortably in the top four for points among FPL strikers and is in far better form than the two players – Jamie Vardy (£10.3m) and Patrick Bamford (£6.4m) – directly above him.

His relative lack of appeal is odd, therefore, although Saturday night’s star turn has meant an early, if modest, upturn in owners for the Double Gameweek to come.

FPL’s most popular goalkeeper, Emi Martinez (£5.4m and 40%), has also experienced a slight drop in owners while bringing in 13 points to Watkins’ 33 over the same time frame.

Villa have kept just one clean sheet in eight matches now, with managers relying on save points and the odd bonus morsel to justify their investment in a keeper who doesn’t even offer a cheap price tag these days – only four stoppers cost more.

Dignety At All Times

Ownership levels on Merseyside have been a bit more explicable, with Calvert-Lewin way down on his 4.7 million peak when averaging a goal a game across the first 11 Gameweeks.

His strike against Villa was only his second since Gameweek 23, but he’s actually scored twice in his last four starts – relatively promising form for the pair of fixtures to come.

Midfielder James Rodriguez (£7.7m) had also been showing some potential following his latest return from injury, with a goal and an assist across the previous four matches, but he picked up a calf issue during the warm-up on Saturday to frustrate his 8.9% ownership.

Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti seemed unconcerned about the issue post-match, however:

I think he had a little problem. He was not comfortable to play. I think he is going to play in the next game. It was a really small problem.

At the back, Lucas Digne (£6.1m) was the stand-out option on display, if only because of his attacking threat.

The full-back’s corner, which led to Calvert-Lewin’s goal, produced the Frenchman’s first assist since Gameweek 24, although he has brought in five sets of clean sheet points since then to pay some of his Fantasy way.

Shutting down West Ham or a not yet beach-ready Villa might be beyond Digne in Gameweek 35, but his attacking threat remains – only Aaron Cresswell (£5.6m) can better him for assists (10 v 9) this season.

Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Godfrey, Holgate, Digne; Allan, Andre Gomes (Delph 70); Richarlison, Iwobi (Bernard 76), Sigurdsson (King 82); Calvert-Lewin.

Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Douglas Luiz, McGinn; Traore (Ramsey 88), Barkley, El Ghazi (Davis 90+2); Watkins. 

Chelsea 2-0 Fulham

  • Goals: Kai Havertz (£8.2m) x2
  • Assists: Mason Mount (£7.3m), Timo Werner (£9.2m)
  • Bonus Points: Havertz x3 Andreas Christensen (£4.7m) x2 Thiago Silva (£5.6m) x1

Kai Havertz (£8.2m) made a belated pitch for Fantasy relevance with a clinical display against nearly-relegated Fulham.

The Germany international scored twice from two shots to double his goals tally for the season and continue his impressive form as a false nine in coach Thomas Tuchel’s current tactical set-up.

Kai Fidelity

Keeping faith in Havertz has certainly proved fruitful for his 3.3% ownership, with a second double-digit haul in three Gameweeks, although a net 3,244 managers chose to sell him on this week to miss out on 16 points.

Their logic, while ill-timed, was sound enough. 

Tuchel’s liking for rotation has meant the midfielder being in and out of the starting line-up despite his recent uptick in form (he has five attacking returns from as many starts).

And although Chelsea do have two fixtures in Gameweek 35, they’re against Manchester City and Arsenal, with the schedule that follows – a blank, Leicester and then Aston Villa – barely ramping up the allure.

That will likely stifle interest in Blues assets across the board. Not that there was a great deal of that to begin with.

The side’s most popular player, Mason Mount (£7.3m), set up the first goal to bring in a second assist in four Gameweeks for his 20.2% ownership before leaving the fray in the 75th minute with what looked like an injury.

Tuchel played down the extent of that after the game:

It was my decision to take him off. There was not any doctor or physio who told me to take him off. I saw him landing hard, but it was the moment anyway when we wanted to take him off if we had the chance, at around 70 minutes. So there was a bit of playing it safe with him, but I haven’t been given any new information about a problem for him, so he should be fine for Wednesday.

Wednesday refers, of course, to the Champions League tie against Real Madrid that is tipped, slightly, in Chelsea’s favour.

Tuchel made five changes to the team with that in mind, the most hurtful probably being the rest for Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m), whose 8% ownership missed out on a third straight clean sheet and a league-leading 18th (equal with Manchester City) for the season.

At least both Chelsea’s Double Gameweek opponents will also be in continental action, so current owners of Blues stars are unlikely to ditch their men until the blank that follows, while new investors might just steer clear altogether.

As for Fulham, the end gets ever nigher and although their first-half display on Saturday probably warranted a goal or two, the lack of a cutting edge and a six-match run without a clean sheet keeps their players way off the Fantasy radar.

Chelsea XI (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Zouma; Chilwell (Alonso 81), James, Gilmour, Mount (Abraham 76); Havertz, Ziyech (Kante 66); Werner.

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson; Lemina (Carvalho 78), Anguissa; Decordova-Reid, Lookman, Cavaleiro (Onomah 78); Maja (Mitrovic 81).

PREVIOUSLY IN GAMEWEEK 34…

688 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I’m working so can’t read back...
    Utd Pool definitely off?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lol, top post!
      Watkins and Veltman coming on

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

      Yes it's off.

  2. gedda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Were there starting line-ups for the UTD-Pool game yesterday? Looking for an update on my 4.0m star Phillips 😀

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, Phillips started even though Klopp said he wasn't going to be ready so he's back I guess.

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

      Yes,
      Phillips starting, JOta benched

      Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Henderson - Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw - McTominay, Fred - Greenwood, Fernandes, Pogba - Rashford
      Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson - Alexander Arnold, Kabak, Phillips, Robertson - Fabinho, Thiago, Milner - Firmino, Salah, Mané

    3. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, and Phillips was set to start 🙂

    4. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Jota was to be benched, nothing else special that I remember, sorry.

    5. Muscout
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He was in the starting line up

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

    Who would you have for dgw?

    A) Zaha

    B) Digne (play 4 defs)

    1. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A if declared fit

    2. Cheeto__Bandito
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A.

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

  4. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mark Selby v Stephen Hendry in his prime would have been some final

    1. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Very true. His long pot on the red was amazing.

      1. Jet5605
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Hendry had phenomenal mental strength and thrived under pressure. Would have been some match up

  5. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Start Konsa (MUN,EVE) or Rudiger (mci,ARS), assuming both fit?

    Konsa more xMINS, but Rudiger probably more xP in the fixtures if he starts both. Depends how highly Tuchel rates Arsenal if he needs to play Rudi that game.

  6. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Hey if nothing else, at least I win this week's Rough with the Smooth at a canter!

    My defense is: Dias Shaw Rudiger Holding Phillips. A grand total of 0.

    I also had 6 players in the Utd-Pool game - Shaw, Phillips, Salah, Jota, Greenwood, Fernandes

    1. Cheeto__Bandito
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Take a break from fpl, seems like you need it.

      1. Rojo's Modern Life
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yep time to step away and calm down Cammy

  7. Best Defenders to Prioritise
    Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lots of defender chat going on today before the double gameweek so will try to gather some of it together. Interestingly there doesn’t seem to be that many popular options going around, especially at the cheaper end of things - who would you be considering and are there any decent differential shouts?

    Everton have some good fixtures and a nice double but could you be confident in any of their cheaper defenders starting with potentially 6 fighting over 4 spots? I’d be scared of making a call on any of them bar Digne, who I suspect a fair few will find too expensive for their taste.



    Chelsea also have some nicely priced defenders, but struggle with some rough fixtures. Rudiger should be back now but with European commitments the risk of occasional rests may put managers off.

    Liverpool may be about to have an absolutely lovely double (obviously a lot pending on that) but would Phillips be a waste of a Liverpool slot?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      TAA Shaw Digne/Coleman Dallas Coufal towards end of the season

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Will Coleman play? Genuinely don't know enough about their situation, looks good if he will

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I will gamble if money restricted but trying to get Digne as much

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sami Hypia, nailed, on pens, good fixtures for run in

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Sami Hyypiä has been spotted as tv commentator, but why not 😉

    3. Forgetmeknot
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Assuming liv do get that double I’m on TAA, shaw, digne, holding (should be okay with Luiz out) and coady (wolves crap but good fixtures) which should cover the doubles/blanks well without breaking the bank

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        50/50 on selling Holding, you think he starts both games of double?

        1. Forgetmeknot
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I know chambers came on for luiz but I think holding has a decent chance of starting the next 3 (EL then the PL double).

          Not an Arsenal expert though so happy to be corrected

          1. Rotation's Alter Ego
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Has seemed like the first choice when Luiz was out, assume he missed out last weekend to give him a rest before EL? Own as well, had been thinking I needed to sell (planning BB) before that Luiz injury. Think he just about offers enough to stay now, assuming Luiz is out

            1. Forgetmeknot
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Yeh that’s my thinking too and agree the big caveat is that he was left out for a rest rather than exclusion for any other reason

      2. sandman58
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        What double us this now for Liverpool?

    4. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nice hot topic 🙂 On WC I am planning to get Trent, Digne and Dallas who will be benched during sour fixtures. Finding good cheap assets is being extremely difficult. Another defense issue to discuss is goalkeepers. Martinez not keeping clean sheets or even getting save pts and Kepa may start some matches. I am considering Areola and Meslier rotation at the moment, but not certain it's the best choice.

      1. Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        You keep Martinez for the double and then maybe move to Meslier or Leno for the last few if you have a spare transfer. That's my pencilled-in plan.

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          On WC, can't afford to have booked gk transfer. All transfers needed for attacking players. But for those without WC your plan sounds sound 🙂

          1. Hart-ake
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            On WC, I would be leaning towards Leno who has a double and then good fixtures 37 + 38. But would need a second keeper for 36 of course, which might be annoying.

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              He is also 5.0 which is .3 more than Guaita and Arsenal defense hasn't been water tight. CP has been very poor tbh, but Shu and Sou are about as good fixtures as we can hope.

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Correction: Guaita / Meslier rotation.

    5. Osfezt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Going with Digne, Shaw, James, Dias and Dallas for the rest of the season. Not owning TAA is a concern, but I think if you're in a similiar situation I would prioritize mids and and forwards for now.

      The battle for top 4,EL and relegation may suggest that defenders won't have as much of an upside as attackers now, at least its harder to rely on that IMO.

    6. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I think Shaw is a great option for the doubles and beyond. Can see United getting at least one clean sheet in 35, plus his attacking threat and his ability to get bonus. Then two strong fixtures in 37 + 38.

      Others I am looking at are Digne and Castagne.

    7. The Rumour Mill
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Shaw, castagne, digne are the top 3 for the double as it stands. If Liverpool get a double then taa comes in for one of them.

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Shaw TAA easy top 2 for me, dreading not owning TAA if they get that double. Castagne? Less keen. Lot to pay for someone who has a blank + 3/4 games against teams in the top 6 and isn't in a ridiculously good defence

        1. The Rumour Mill
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Sorry I was thinking just for the double, I have a FH available if I need it.

    8. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I don't think it's hard. Most of us already have the pieces.

      TAA, Shaw and Digne looks like the best 3 to get and also sets you up for the run-in. Just those 3 and maybe Dallas as backup and you're good for the season.

      At this point, using transfers on defenders is probably a waste. Unless you somehow can't field 3 I'd focus on improving other areas.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        In sync, see above

    9. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      There were ongoing discussions before deadline on which cheap Everton defender to get, and there seemed to be to many question marks on expected # starts for the budget ones - Godfrey/Holgate/Coleman/Keane. So Digne the only option, if not punting on Coleman who would be the most unlikely to start both. Unfortunately I was 0.1 off Digne 🙁

      But of the other usual suspects, the ones mentioned here should mainly cover it. And I think there's a case for Phillips over Jota

    10. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I seriously doubt Shaw does not get a rest. Maguire seems a safer pick and has an attack return threat

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yeah United fans will be able to make a better guess than me, but I'd hope he'd at least play both DGW games with Telles playing EL, especially as they look safe? Stats are very good in terms of creativity for Shaw, but I like the slightly different shout with Maguire. Might be too short a time frame to get a return, but something different to consider 🙂

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Good point re EL and that 6-2 lead. Thats the rest time.

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

        I really hope so, as I guess I'm the only FPL player with AWB and not Shaw at this point.

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Same feeling. I transferred AWB in quite early when Telles was considered as rotation risk to Shaw.

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

      With the lack of attacking options this week, considering a Shaw, TAA, Robbo, Digne, Castagne back 5 on a FH. Then back to TAA, Shaw, Fofana, Konsa, Dunk. Likely sell Fofana for the last 3 for Dallas.

    12. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sadly there aren't any cheap defenders. Maybe Phillips if you don't have 3 Liverpool and that's it

    13. scubasmithy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      TAA, Shaw.......
      Digne, Creswell/Coufal/Dallas

      Then everyone else.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        TAA, Shaw, Digne + Coufal (and cheapie fodder, Alioski or Mitchell) looks actually pretty optimal. I don't know if I want to pay extra to have Creswell/Dallas over Coufal. But those four could be enough and quite optimal to rotate till the end of the season.

  8. jia you
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Start Holding or Konsa in DGW?
    (own Martinez)

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Konsa. Nailed on and probably similar chances of a clean sheet.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        true, cheers

  9. jia you
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Forster Holding Cancelo Lingard
    Bench is a bit on the strong side next GW (especially if Forster and Holding play twice) and knowing my luck will it will score highly lol

  10. DavvaMC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Morning All

    Not sure what keeper to start for the DGW?

    A. Mendy
    B. Forster

    For both teams they have 'on paper' one difficult one from the two games.