Scout Notes

Why Jimenez was benched and Cash’s goal threat: FPL notes from Villa v Wolves

We continue our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 8 write-ups with analysis of Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers.

For a shorter summary of all of Saturday’s action, click here.

ASTON VILLA 2-3 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

  • Goals: Danny Ings (£7.8m), John McGinn (£5.8m) | Romain Saiss (£5.0m), Conor Coady (£4.5m), Ruben Neves (£5.4m)
  • Assists: McGinn, Ollie Watkins (£7.3m) | Daniel Podence (£5.5m), Leander Dendoncker (£4.8m), Adama Traore (£6.0m)
  • Bonus: McGinn x3, Neves x2, Ings x1

HWANG DISAPPOINTS

Wolves came from two goals down to win at Villa Park on Saturday, in a remarkable finish which saw them score in the 80th, 85th and 95th minutes.

Set-up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, Bruno Lage’s side struggled for large parts, especially in the final third, but got the win thanks to goals from an unlikely trio: Romain Saiss (£5.0m), Conor Coady (£4.5m) and Ruben Neves (£5.4m).

With Raul Jimenez (£7.6m) arriving back late after playing three games during the international break with Mexico, in his absence, budget forward Hwang Hee-Chan (£5.6m) was tasked with leading the line in a false nine role. 

However, he was well below par, struggling to link up with his team-mates and ending the match with just a single effort on goal. He was also partly to blame for John McGinn’s (£5.8m) strike, after a poor pass which was intercepted.

“We used a false nine so not to give their strong defenders an easy man to mark. They continued to press at 2-0 and I tried to put men on them. That’s what we did. In corners or free-kicks, those situations can happen and we scored three goals. Every time I believe.

It’s easy for me to say now I made the right choice. It’s easy to say ‘I was right’ when you win. But you have to take decisions. The other players who start or come on, help the team to win three points.

We did three good performances in the first three games but did not get any points. The confidence came with hard work. The players are seeing what we are doing and with victories.” – Bruno Lage

Discussing his team selection, and specifically Jimenez, Lage also said:

“Raul is very important for us and the way we play. But also, the other players are important. I don’t want to take risks with top players.

Maybe I need to protect Saiss more because he played more time than Raul for his national team, but my concern is about the travel. The flight was too much time, he just arrived, he feels tired, he wants to play.

I put him to warm up and every time he was saying ‘I want to go inside (the team), I want to go inside’, but I preferred to go with Daniel.

I don’t want to take risks with him because we don’t have a big squad and I don’t want injuries because we don’t make the best decisions.”

Elsewhere, Adama Traore (£6.0m) bagged his first attacking return of the season via an assist, but again spurned a good opportunity to score, and remains one of the division’s biggest expected goal (xG) underperformers this term.

After losing their first three league games, Wolves are now eighth in the Premier League table, and are suddenly one of the form teams in the division.

Between Gameweeks 9 and 14, they also sit third on our season ticker for ease of attacking fixture difficulty, which suggests that Hwang can still offer value in the coming weeks. However, Jimenez remains the headline pick, and could be a nice replacement for those looking to move away from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.5m) and Michail Antonio (£8.1m).

Above: Wolverhampton Wanderers’ fixtures from Gameweeks 9 to 14

ADVANCED CASH BAGS CLEAN SHEETS POINTS FOLLOWING EARLY WITHDRAWAL

For Aston Villa, it was a disappointing collapse on Saturday afternoon, and questions remain over their new 3-5-2 formation, which has been a bit hit and miss so far.

One glimmer of hope, however, have been the performances of Matty Cash (£5.1m). 

Since switching to a back-three set-up in Gameweek 4, the wing-back ranks top amongst all defenders for penalty area touches and joint-top for goals attempts and shots in the box. 

Having been withdrawn on 79 minutes against Wolves in Gameweek 8, he bagged a clean sheet, and as a result, is now up to 12th in the defender standings for total points.

However, Dean Smith revealed after the game that he picked up a dead leg in the loss.

Above: Matty Cash’s average position map by Gameweek 2021/22

John McGinn, meanwhile, bagged a goal and assist, and was on corner-taking duties for Villa, while Emiliano Martinez (£5.5m) and Douglas Luiz (£4.6m) were both named in the starting XI, despite featuring for Argentina and Brazil respectively in South America in the early hours of Friday morning.

Another Argentinian – Emiliano Buendia (£6.3m) – also put in a good shift. The playmaker was deployed behind Danny Ings (£7.8m) and Ollie Watkins (£7.3m) in an attacking midfield role, and thrived in the half-spaces, creating one big chance and registering a couple of shots on goal.

“I find it difficult to explain because it should have been a victory. We were comfortable and we didn’t see that coming. Three set-pieces have cost us three goals. You have to defend better when balls get put in the box in the last 10 minutes. There were frantic clearances so that was a disappointment today.

In the first half, I thought it was a bit of a chess game. I thought we were better but only had the one big chance and they had one through Adama Traore. In the second half, we spoke about the areas we wanted to play and we did. At 2-0, you can always give them a sniff and we did.

I never felt there was a momentum shift. There were a few second balls that we didn’t pick up. We defended the box quite well in open play but it was the set-pieces.

The actual free-kick for goal I have no complaints. That happens. It’s how they get to that… We had a throw-in which we gave away then Traore comes inside and we give a foul away.

It’s a painful defeat because it’s one we should have had. The performance was better than Tottenham but you have to defend the box better. It hurts because it’s a football match and I’m a football manager.” – Dean Smith


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Tuanzebe, Mings, Cash (Young 79), McGinn, Douglas Luiz (Nakamba 67), Targett, Buendia (Ramsey 74), Ings, Watkins

Wolves XI: Sa, Kilman, Coady, Saiss, Semedo, Neves, Moutinho (Silva 74), Marcal (Podence 74), Dendoncker, Traore, Hwang (Jimenez 88)


360 Comments Post a Comment
  1. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What do you reckon to this wc?
    Raya foster
    TAA cancelo Chilwell White livra
    Salah son raphinha sarr mbuemo
    Lukaku toney Davis

    Tempted to keep sarr, pretty much nailed, on pens, talisman.
    Other options are tielemans, eve mid, saka, gallagher

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      How much in the bank?

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        0.2

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Looks like at least 1m given no Antonio but I guess Son sucks the money.
          Don't expect much out of Sarr myself.

          1. waltzingmatildas
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah without son the money could be spread around. Could consider having lukaku then moving to son or Kane in 12

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Id shift Sarr honestly

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Who would you go for?

        1. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          your options are good honestly, Tielemans, Saka, Gallagher

          1. waltzingmatildas
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            Cheers

  2. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Last Man Standing Update (2253 teams)

    Safety score currently 45 with autosubs.
    Top score = 81
    LMS average pre autosubs = 52.34 (-1.02) = 51.32

    EO left not including autosubs - Ramsdale 32, White 24, Saka 22, ESR 13, Tierney 11

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      46 with Guaita left. Arsenal CS will bury me I guess

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Might finish 0-0

  3. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    If you could have any Chelsea defender outside of Azpi, who would it be?

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Chilwell

  4. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Need a CS and penalty save from Ramsdale to save my WC team.

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Need the same from Guaita to save my week

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Need 6 goals from Tierney

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I’m asking for 4 penalty saves. Wish big.

  5. evilfish
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    My back line is:

    TAA, Cancelo, Alonso, (White), (Manquillo)

    If you were in this position would you just Alonso > Chilwell now or wait and let White sub in if need be?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      yeah probably

  6. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Rudiger back in training apparently

    1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Beautiful!!!!

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Sellers in tears...

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Any source for this?

      1. Captain Vantastic™
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Chelsea official tweeted a picture and read on another source but will be confirmed tomorrow in press conference anyway

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

          Ok - that looks like good news.

          Half thinking of switching him to Chilwell to pair with Alonso!!! It'd just be a temporary measure but it's amusing and would save me a hit this week if Rudiger is out.

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

            Here

            Adam Newson
            @AdamNewson
            ·
            8m
            Antonio Rudiger returned to Chelsea training today following his back injury.

            Hallelujah!

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

              Hallelujah indeed

              Still stuck with Alonso though but I can ride that one out another week I guess so my big reshuffle is likely off and onto straight swap out of Ron to Rom which I don't trust but is simple and logical.

              Are you on Rom this week as C?

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

                Ah, well I thought I would be all season so far, but Salah is asking me a question and right now I have no answer!

  7. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Obviously will wait until after Europa League, but already pretty settled on Ronaldo + Shaw --> Toney + Chilwell for free. Wanting to take hit to take out Sarr/Traore. With money no object, which midfielder would you go for the next while? Already have Gallagher

    KDB
    Son
    Raphinha
    Any mid tier City mids?

    Planning to get Mbeumo next week for free

  8. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I know psychology in fpl is a bit of a hot topic atm

    one thing I'm grappling with atm, being a bit of an OCD person is being extremely reluctant to take a -4 purely for the reason that so far I haven't taken one hit this season

    I get stuck in this mindset of trying to do everything possible to avoid It

    this is in relation to Ronaldo > Lukaku -4 this week having already made an early move, I think it's logical because I want him next 3, it free's funds and I also own TAA so any Ronaldo return lowers the ceiling for my team this week anyway. logically I know it's probably a wise hit to take all factors considered but the OCD part of my brain wants to resist a hit as much as possible, maybe to the determent of my team

    I think I see people do similar things when it comes to holding WC as long as possible because they planned it a certain way, even if it's to the determent of their team overall

    I guess in fpl you truly have to stay flexible

    anyway back to work

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I just think of it as odds right? Chances are Lukaku is more likely to score 4 points more than Ronaldo this week. Even if it doesnt come off, its still the same logic

    2. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I do a lot of things because of ocd, in fpl too

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      In same boat in terms of decision and attitude this season (though did take a couple of minus 4s post WC in 3).

      For me it is about justification. Right now I'm justifying lack of hits because of CL schedule and IBs and difficulty in knowing when random benchings will occur. Wondering about going more aggressive from weeks 12 -18 when things should be more settled and there is an active template to work against.

      Dividing the season into distinct sections was part of my preseason plan and allows me to not get stuck in a rut. Reset in week 12 and another reset in AFCON makes it a season of 3/4 sections - easier to handle?

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

      Didn't know this has something to do with OCD, went 35 GWs without hits due to same reason! Took a rage -16 in GW36 😀

  9. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Have a back 3 of Azpilicueta, Cancelo and Rudiger to play this week assuming Rudiger is fit. How do I get in Trent? Can do Marcal to TAA but whom to bench then? Or wait a week for TAA?

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

      He can wait a week with that backline and on fixtures no?

      I'd be tempted to lose a Chelsea for him myself but this isn't the week to do that.

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      For me the bench has been in play lately

  10. The Alli Way
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ronaldo, Jota and Antonio to Lukaku, Mbeumo and Vardy for a -4?

    Would leave me with

    Sa (Steer)
    Dias Azpi Rudiger (Semedo (Livra))
    Salah Raphinia Gray Mbuemo (Sissoko)
    Lukaku Vardy Jimenez

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

    Which option?

    A) Maupay -> Toney
    B) Duffy -> Chilwell

    1ft, 3.8itb

    Ramsdale Foster
    TAA Cancelo Azpi Duffy Livramento
    Salah Raphinha ESR Townsend Brownhill
    Antonio Lukaku Maupay

    1. Deer-in-headlights
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A. Duffy rotates well with Livramento. Toney > Maupay for Brentford fixture run.

  12. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Any Firmino love at all??

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Only for last GW

  13. MountainBeach
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Rudiger back in training

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Cue Rocky music and montage