Scout Notes

Vestergaard injury latest as Antonio and Benrahma haul again

WEST HAM UNITED 4-1 LEICESTER CITY

  • Goals: Pablo Fornals (£6.0m), Said Benrahma (£6.2m), Michail Antonio x2 (£7.7m)
  • Assists: Benrahma, Antonio, Declan Rice (£5.0m), Vladimir Coufal (£5.0m)
  • Red cards: Ayoze Perez (£6.0m)
  • Bonus: Antonio x3, Benrahma x2, Fornals x1, Rice x1

BENRAHMA AND ANTONIO EXCEL

In a dominant victory for West Ham United over 10-man Leicester City, Michail Antonio (£7.7m) scored two late goals and made another in a stellar solo performance.

Said Benrahma (£6.2m) also impressed, as he scored for the second game in a row and added an assist on his way to another 12-point Fantasy Premier League (FPL) haul.

The Algerian lacked consistency in his debut top-flight campaign, but seems to have gained the trust of manager David Moyes in recent weeks.

“I think Said needed to take stock and settle in and realise he had to be a team player as much as an individual. I think that he had not realised that he is part of a team and we have to do all the right things together and because of that he’s actually getting these goals, he’s making goals, which is what we brought him for.” – David Moyes

Meanwhile, Antonio led the line superbly as he became the Hammers record Premier League goalscorer, and after last nights showing, has now attempted more shots than any other player over the opening two rounds:

A possible Gameweek 3 captaincy shout, then, which we’ll explore in more detail in our Captain Sensible article later this week.

Vladimir Coufal (£5.0m) also deserves a mention, as he picked up his first assist of the season and ended the match with more opposition-half touches (47) than any other player on the pitch.

There is no doubt West Ham benefitted from Leicester being reduced to 10-men last night, but performances so far have been hugely encouraging and their prospects look good ahead of Crystal Palace (h) in Gameweek 3.

ANOTHER BLANK FOR BARNES

Only Manchester City and Manchester United won more points away from home than Leicester City in the Premier League last season, but the Foxes were outplayed in their first game on the road in 2021/22.

Now, Brendan Rodgers will be without Ayoze Perez (£6.0m) as well for three games as a result of his straight red card.

It was a night to forget for Harvey Barnes (£7.0m) too, as the winger failed to register an attempt on goal and was hauled off for Patson Daka (£7.4m) on 64 minutes. However, owners may be content to hold for one more week, given their Gameweek 3 fixture against Norwich City and the fact Perez is suspended. 

City were without Jannik Vestergaard (£5.0m) for the clash after the Denmark international picked up a knee injury in training ahead of Monday’s match. Assessing his fitness, Rodgers said:

“Hopefully, he can get back onto the field this week. He was playing in a game in training and just hurt his knee and felt some pain in it. He’s had a couple of scans and it doesn’t show anything too serious. We’re hoping we can get him onto the pitch in the midweek.”

Speaking at full-time, Rodgers also discussed his team’s performance at the London Stadium:

“We’re obviously disappointed with the result. The spirit of the team was really good. We kept fighting. The mentality of the team was really good. With 20 to 25 minutes to go, we were 2-1 [down], and then just as we were about to make the changes to try and make a go for it in the last 20 minutes, we obviously conceded the third.”

We had good possession [early on]. We worked the ball, I just felt that technically, we were too slow on it. We needed to be cleaner in our possession but smoother in our passing, and that would have got us through quicker. It’s something to take forward into the next game.

The first two goals [we conceded] were mistakes. We were in good possession of the ball, but we gave it away. That’s obviously not so good. Then, the other goals, of course, we didn’t defend so well, but it’s also really good play by Michail Antonio. He finishes them really well.”

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma (Noble 88), Antonio (Yarmolenko 89)

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Pereira, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas, Ndidi, Tielemans, Perez, Maddison (Soumare 81), Barnes (Daka 64), Vardy (Iheanacho 81)

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM GAMEWEEK 2

FPL Gameweek 2 round-up: Sunday goals, assists, bonus and injuries 4
1,033 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    AnfieldWatch (via TimesSport):

    "NEW: The Premier League has called a crisis meeting of clubs for today to form a united front to refuse to release players for international duty in countries on the UK’s red list.

    FIFA declined to comment but is understood to be hoping that the British government will offer exemptions to players, as it did for Euro 2020. However, Whitehall insiders believe that such a step is unlikely"

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

      Gonna be carnage. Technically, the players could be prevented from playing those club games. Not sure who enforces it though.

      1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Not doing Veltman -> Livramento, I want 2 FT for week 4 because it has the potential to be one of the messiest gameweeks in FPL history.

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      would a player want to risk their future international selection just to play a PL game?

      1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah Egypt are going to say to Salah, you know what mate, we're going to explore other options, thanks but no thanks

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah, because Salah is the only Premier League player that plays international football

          1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            I'm using him as an extreme example obviously, the same applies to any EPL player/country combination bar maybe Buendia/Raphinha and even then all is forgotten when the actual tournament comes around.

            1. SADIO SANÉ
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              pretty obvious I wasn't talking about Salah ya melon

              1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 3 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Well care to name an EPL player that would be at risk then? Who WERE you talking about?

                1. Coolbean
                  • 4 Years
                  2 years, 7 months ago

                  Raphinha - First international call-up

                  Antonio - Requested for a fast track of his Jamaican passport application to ensure he can play in the qualifiers

                  Just to name a few off the top of my head. No need to be sarcastic over a subject you seem to know nothing about

                  1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 3 Years
                    2 years, 7 months ago

                    I literally gave Raphinha as one of only two possible examples, if you knew how to read.

                    And Antonio - lol - you just said they fast tracked his application and jumped through hoops to get him to play, so on what planet would Jamaica reject him in the future?

                    1. Coolbean
                      • 4 Years
                      2 years, 7 months ago

                      If he rejected the call-up after all that…?

                      Wot 😆

                      1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 3 Years
                        2 years, 7 months ago

                        So the question was: can you name a player (other than Raphinha/Buendia) whose future international career could be jeopardised if they stayed in England to play EPL football instead of playing an international qualifier?

                        And your response is: well ... Antonio could reject the call-up??? Yeah that's a really astute point, thank you.

                      2. Coolbean
                        • 4 Years
                        2 years, 7 months ago

                        You do realise choosing to play club football over international football is the synonym of rejecting the international call-up

                        Keep up

                      3. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 3 Years
                        2 years, 7 months ago

                        What are you even babbling on about? I even retyped the whole question so that even you could understand it, but it looks like you can't.
                        I tried.

                      4. Coolbean
                        • 4 Years
                        2 years, 7 months ago

                        😆 did you not ask a second question about why Jamaica would reject him in the future

                        Good lord follow your own convo

      2. I Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        That's the thing. Surely the clubs are risking upsetting their players by doing this? I'm sure some of the players won't mind missing international duty but Raphinha for example has been called up to the Brazil squad for the first time. I'd imagine his itching to win his first cap.

        1. Gomolon
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          It's one of those things that might really sting with players, even years down the road when contracts are up for renewal. Never know how many call ups to play for your country you're going to get after all

        2. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          yeah I'd much rather play for England than a PL game

        3. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          I think the players will be sympathetic to their clubs at the moment even if they don't like it. The clubs do pay these guys tens of thousands a week after all.

          The problems will come though if internationals are postponed and this issue rolls into the next international break.

    3. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Could mean an early FH if its complete chaos

  2. AlpoShearer
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    A. Mahrez and Toney to Behrama and DCL
    B. Mahrez and Gilmour to Behrama an Raphinha
    C. Toney and Tsimikas to DCL and Livramento
    2 FT

    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A looks great if your defence is okay.

      1. AlpoShearer
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Defence Shaw-TAA-Coufal (Tsimikas-Amartey)

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A but not sure about getting rid of Mahrez before the Arsenal game

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

      A

    4. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      C

  3. Tin-Tin76
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    So I had 0 patience left with Buendia, and with White Looking to drop the other night I did premature transfers

    1. Tin-Tin76
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Where did the rest Of my post go?
      I did White, Buendia, Toney —> Livramenro, Behnrama, Richarlison (could not afford DCL). Will it backfire, Ye probably

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

        Agree with the spud.

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Worse things to have done mate

  4. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Trying to decide between Livramento vs Duffy

    Any other arguments missed and which one are you going for?

    Livramento:
    Better long term pick
    potentially play OOP in RM
    Attacking in open play

    Duffy:
    Better short term pick before WC in GW7/8
    Higher CS potential
    Set piece target
    4.1m could be the deciding factor to go against

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Depends on your team a bit. Leaning Duffy because I'll most likely need bench cover in GW4 following IB and Brighton play Brentford vs Southampton away at City.

      They'll mostly be sitting so you gotta try and find which weeks you might actually play them in.

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Valid point. Current defence is TAA, Shaw, Ayling, Tsimikas and Veltman. Ayling vs Liverpool in GW4 isn't ideal. This may swing it towards Duffy.

        Veltman is a strange one. Supposed to be isolating for being a close contact but now isn't back until after the IB.

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah I have Ayling too so that's why I'm leaning Duffy.

          1. Tonyawesome69
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            I think Duffy should be fine until WC in GW7 then can switch to Livramento. Who would you you prioritisng transfering out Veltman or Tsimikas?

            I don't lose value if I transfer Veltman out and Tsimikas has 0.2 buffer to rot on the bench

            Selling Tsimikas opens the 3rd Liverpool spot.

            1. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              I'm losing Veltman on the off chance that Tsimikas keeps his place or Robbo picks up an injury or smth.

      2. Goonsquad245
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Southampton are at home to West Ham GW4

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Ah yeah misread the ticker. But that's a pretty rough fixture considering how hot West Ham are atm.

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

      was just thinking about this. I rate Hassenhuttl as a manager but the Southampton side has certainly weakened. I may end up with both eventually.

      I feel that Duffy has a point to prove. Solid team defence. Big goal threat. Who's to say he doesn't continue getting games with Potter's knack for rotation? He's the type of 4.0 (4.1) defender that can outscore the premiums on any given day. He's going to be hungry for goals to stay in the side imo

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I think the issue with Duffy is he has to play in the middle of a back 3 and Dunk has to move. I don't think that is preferable for Brighton in future games.

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

      Would pick Duffy easy if he was 4.0. Now deciding between the 2.

  5. OLLY G
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Best replacement for Mahrez?

    Greenwood?

    Thanks.

    1. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Already have Benhrama.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Benrahma, Raphinha and Greenwood are good options

    3. Louis99
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      The fixtures may tip it for Raphina

      1. Maeki2
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Ben, raph, Jota

  6. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Mo Bruno Son Benrahma midfield...

    I want and I need.

    1. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I was keen on Son before, but now he's not on pennos, i'm not so convinced.

      1. FPLShaqiri
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah, it's annoying, but if Kane stays then no reason he can't repeat what he did last season without pens.

      2. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Who said he isn't on pens?

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Well he wasn't at the weekend when Alli took one while Son was still on the pitch. So certainly not getting them all and won't gety any if Kane stays

          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            That is because Alli won it

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I have 🙂

    3. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      My midfield except I don’t have Antonio so it’s a nightmare !

  7. FPLShaqiri
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Barnes possibly dropping tonight. Would like to keep for Norwich, but is he going to start? Is there a high chance Leicester set up with Vardy/Nacho up front, then a midfield diamond (Tielemans, Ndidi, Maddison + Choudhury or Soumare) rather than wingers?

    Any input appreciated, especially Leicester fans!

  8. Louis99
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Sanchez - Steele
    TAA - Coufal - Tsimi - White - Omobamidele
    Salah - Bruno - Benrahma - Raph - 4.5
    Toney - Ings - Antonio

    Interesting one here... so I did Mahrez > Ben last night which leaves me 2.9ITB and 1FT. Tsimi is going to come out to give me 3 playing defenders, but I'm just torn about what price range to even start looking at for his replacement.

    My instinct was to get a 4.5 (Ayling/Dier) and save the cash for when I need it more, but the thing is my plan next week is to do Ings > DCL which means I won't spend the cash then - certainly seems unideal to have 2 GWs (or more) with so much in the bank... So perhaps I should go big and just get whoever I want, but then that seems like something that could be regretted.

    In hindsight that is a bit of a vague query... but nevertheless, any thoughts are greatly appreciated !

  9. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Best way to get Antonio here ? Assuming that he doesn’t miss gw4 which I think will be the case

    Sanchez
    Shaw taa Ayling
    Son bruno salah benrahama raph
    Ings Toney

    4.0 amartey tsimikas 4.5

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Why would he miss GW4?

      1. Louis99
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Quarantining after internation duty - but it looks like most players actually won't be allowed to leave by the clubs anyway

    2. Indpush
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Ings to him

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Ings out

  10. seaside
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    What about Barnes > Alli to free up 0.5 to later do Ings > DCL?

    1. seaside
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      also barnes will probably drop tonight...

    2. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Nope

    3. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Not convinced on Alli personally.

    4. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Alli playing a deeper role, don't let the penalty throw you.

  11. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Does Mahrez, Barnes, Veltman to Son, Raph, Livra for -4 make sense?

    1. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Defo

    2. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Looks good to me

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

      yes

  12. FPL Alaska
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Torn on what to do here. 2 FT, 0.0 ITB

    Sanchez
    TAA - Shaw - Ayling
    Salah - Bruno - Benrahma - Mahrez
    Antonio - Ings - Toney

    (Foster; Amartey, Tsimikas, Brownhill)

    A) Mahrez + Toney > Raphinha + DCL
    B) Tsimikas > Duffy/Livramento, and play Mahrez this week (save 2 FT for international break)
    C) other ideas?

  13. seaside
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Sanchez Forster
    TAA Shaw Cresswell Duffy (White)
    Salah Bruno Benahma Barnes* Raphina
    Ings Antonio (Obafemi)

    I have 0 ITB and 1 FT.

    I have never started so well to a season, sitting comfortably at around rank 50k.

    What do to do about Barnes???

    But Barnes is dropping tonight and I guess I need to ship him eventually. I was thinking to get someone for 6.5 or less to be able to upgrade Ings to DCL for example.

    Thoughts? Other suggestions to replace Barnes?

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

      What am I looking at?

      1. Attaka
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I'm guessing that Son seems OK??

  14. bryant
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    when does romero come back for spurs and who does he replace

  15. FPL Brains
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Ronaldo to join Messi at PSG. You heard it here first.

  16. Das Boot
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    If you have both Kane and Antonio for this weekend who do your give the armband to?

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

      The one who wants it most.

      1. Das Boot
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Either could do well tbh, I suppose less risk with Antonio atm

    2. Attaka
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I'm capping Kane

  17. Attaka
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Which combo looks better in your opinions? Draft league so pickings are slim

    A) Fabianski + Maddison + Dennis (current)
    B) Raya + Gray + Jimmy (prospective)

    1. FPL Emu
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Definitely B

  18. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Which do you like more?

    A) Veltman -> Coufal for free

    B) Greenwood + Toney -> Benrahma + DCL (-4)

    1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I'm going to predict that B gets more votes, but I think I actually prefer A.

  19. OLLY G
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    I am only going to have 2 playing defenders and l have Mahrez who is a minutes concern. Is this madness for -8?

    Tsimikas, Mahrez, Toney --- OUT

    Coufal, Grealish, DCL --- IN

    Thanks.

  20. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Toney to Raphinha worth a -4?

  21. FantasyFooty01
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Schmeichel
    TAA- Dias- Digne
    Fernandes- Salah- Barnes- Raphinha
    Wilson- Toney- Antonio
    Subs- Foster- White- Gilmour- Amartey
    2 FT 0.0 ITB
    Comment suggestions!
    Save Transfer again?
    Start Amartey over TAA or Dias?