Scout Notes

FPL pre-season: Budget buys star in Saturday friendlies

There were more pre-season friendlies contested on Saturday, so we’re bringing you the headline Fantasy Premier League (FPL) updates from each one in this article.

We’re also keeping tabs on the minutes played in all of these warm-up fixtures where possible, with Premium Members of Fantasy Football Scout able to access this information at the bottom of this article.

READ MORE: Friday’s friendlies: Jesus over 50% owned after debut brace

WALSALL 0-4 ASTON VILLA

  • Goals: Bailey, Archer, Watkins, Luiz
  • Assists El Ghazi, Bailey, O’Reilly

View match highlights

Leon Bailey (£5.0m) was a name we mentioned in a recent article on biggest FPL price falls and the Jamaica international began pre-season in encouraging fashion, lashing home Villa’s opener in their 4-0 win at Walsall on Saturday.

Starting on the left wing of a 4-2-3-1, Bailey also teed up Anwar El Ghazi (£5.0m) for a near miss before supplying the hopeful pass that budget forward Cameron Archer (£4.5m) made the most of to double Villa’s lead.

Bailey and Archer are at two very attractive prices in their respective positions but they remain long-shots for the time being, with the former’s prospects of sustained first-team involvement dependent not just on his manager and the formation choice but his own fitness. Archer, meanwhile, remains behind Danny Ings (£7.0m) and Ollie Watkins (£7.5m) in the queue up top, with another loan move to the Championship still a possibility.

Watkins and Ings were both thrown on at half-time to play ahead of Emi Buendia (£6.0m) as a strike pairing, with Watkins sweeping Villa 3-0 up in the second half. Douglas Luiz (£5.0m) then scored direct from a corner to put gloss on the scoreline.

The debut of dominant centre-half Diego Carlos (£5.0m) was encouraging, for those FPL managers hoping that his summer arrival can help boost the clean sheet count of Matty Cash (£5.0m) et al when the proper action gets underway. Stiffer tests await, of course, including two meetings with Premier League clubs in Australia over the next fortnight.

Aston Villa first-half XI: Sinisalo, Kesler Hayden, Carlos, Mings, Revan, Azaz, Nakamba, Traoré, El Ghazi, Bailey, Archer

Aston Villa second-half XI: Sinisalo, A. Young, Chambers, Feeney, Chrisene, O’Reilly, Luiz, Sanson, Buendía, Ings, Watkins


BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION 0-0 UNION SAINT-GILLOISE

View match highlights

There aren’t too many FPL forwards below £6.0m who catch the eye at present but Brighton do have two such strikers on their books in the form of Denis Undav (£5.5m) and Julio Enciso (£5.0m).

It was, perhaps contrary to expectations, Enciso who looked the livelier of the two on Saturday, with the teenage Paraguayan a bright spark in his 45-minute showing and going close with a free-kick.

A playing £5.0m forward would be a welcome prospect in FPL but it’s still not even a surety that Enciso stays with Brighton next season, as the Seagulls have previous with sending young, foreign imports – eg Alexis Mac Allister (£5.5m) and Moises Caicedo (£5.0m) – out on loan before they make the step up to Premier League level.

“Physically, yes [he can cope with the Premier League]. He’s a little powerhouse, to be fair to him. He can run, he’s got the capacity, he’s tenacious but he is only young. So it’s about seeing how he adapts to a new continent, a new club, a new league. We have seen it before with Alexis (Mac Allister) and Moises (Caicedo). It’s not straightforward but we like what we see and he has made a really good first impression.

“I don’t think we’ve decided anything [about him going on loan]. The first impression has been really positive. We will make the right decision based on him and what the needs of the group are and the squad. He is an option for us, that’s for sure.” – Graham Potter on Julio Enciso

Undav, one of Europe’s top scorers last season with 25 goals for Saturday’s opponents USG, was, by contrast, disappointing, not that opinions should be set in stone after one half of pre-season football.

“Not good, to be honest. I didn’t get enough balls and sometimes I lost the ball easily. But in my head, the first thing was to see how my teammates are so it wasn’t so important to play now the best game of my life, but to figure out where I can fit and to see if I have the ball, when I have to keep it, play it fast or get in the box when I have the chance to score.” – Denis Undav on his performance

Elsewhere it was business as usual for Brighton: lots of possession, no goals scored and Neal Maupay (£6.5m) losing his cool.

Marc Cucurella (£5.0m), heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, was stationed at left wing-back in the first half as Graham Potter stuck with the 3-5-2 set-up that was so successful at the tail-end of 2021/22.

Brighton first-half XI: Steele, Clarke, Dunk, Offiah, March, Karbownik, Lallana, Weir, Cucurella, Enciso, Welbeck.

Brighton second-half XI: Scherpen, Veltman, Webster, van Hecke, Lamptey, Kozlowski (Jenks 75), Alzate, Gross, Zeqiri, Maupay, Undav.


BOREHAM WOOD 0-2 BRENTFORD

  • Goals: Mbeumo (pen), Dasilva
  • Assists: Wissa, Baptiste

View match highlights

Thomas Frank kept faith with a 4-3-3 shape for Saturday’s win over Boreham Wood.

It’s a system that he used to great effect in more ‘winnable’ matches towards the end of 2021/22, with the 3-5-2 retained for games against sides towards the top of the table.

It meant that Bryan Mbeumo (£6.0m) and Sergi Canos (£5.0m), recently reclassified as a forward and a defender respectively by FPL Towers after mostly playing as a striker and a wing-back in 2021/22, were ironically back in winger roles we typically associate with Fantasy midfielders.

It was Mbeumo who opened the scoring from the spot early in the game, finding the net from 12 yards in substitute Ivan Toney‘s (£7.0m) absence after Yoane Wissa (£5.5m) had been felled.

Wissa, Mbeumo and Toney could have had other attacking returns before and after half-time as chances continued to come and go for the Bees, with the game only put to bed late on.

It was Josh Dasilva (£4.5m) who grabbed the second goal and he’s one to monitor in pre-season for fans of a budget midfielder, as he had been a regular starter in Brentford’s promotion-winning year before a serious hip injury sidelined him for 11 months and reduced his involvement last season to nine appearances.

“I think we created a lot of chances, we should have scored more goals. It was nice to see Josh Dasilva on the scoreboard. It’s nice to see Bryan Mbeumo scoring as well but for Josh, because he has been out for so long, it’s good to see him score. I think a good pre-season for him will put him in a top position. We know he’s a goal threat and we saw him score a nice goal.” – Thomas Frank on Josh Dasilva

Kristoffer Ajer (£4.5m) was among the notable absentees for Brentford and he now looks set to miss the start of 2022/23 as a result of surgery over the summer.

Brentford first-half XI: Cox; Stevens, Jansson, Racic, Henry; Janelt, Peart-Harris, Trevitt; Mbeumo, Dervisoglu, Wissa

Brentford second-half XI: Balcombe; Roerslev, Oyegoke, Bech, Thompson; Maghoma, Dasilva, Baptiste; Young-Coombes, Toney, Canos


CRYSTAL PALACE 5-4 MILLWALL

  • Goals: Eze, Ayew, O’Brien, Benteke, Rak-Sakyi
  • Assists: Zaha, Clyne, Milivojevic, Plange, Edouard

View match highlights

Palace’s starting XI against Millwall was about as strong as Patrick Vieira could name on Saturday, with Michael Olise (£5.5m) still sidelined through injury and new signing Cheick Doucoure not quite through the door.

The defensive performance was decidedly un-Palacelike given that the Eagles boasted one of the better backlines of 2021/22, although fitness and not form is the watchword in early July. Still, two goals conceded from set plays might be a concern for Patrick Vieira after the struggles from dead-ball situations in the first half of last season especially.

There was more promise going forward and from Eberechi Eze (£5.5m) in particular, with the midfielder the stand-out player from the Palace side and looking like he could fill the void left by departed loanee Conor Gallagher (£6.0m). Regularly getting up to support the front three in attack, Eze coolly slotted home the Eagles’ opener after being slipped in by Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m) 10 yards out.

A Jordan Ayew (£5.5m) rebound, a Jake O’Brien header from a Luka Milivojevic (£4.5m) corner and a close-range Christian Benteke (£5.5m) effort put Palace 4-2 up, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (£4.5m) grabbing the winner after Millwall had briefly restored parity.

We were even treated to the sight of the lesser-spotted Nathan Ferguson (£4.0m) in the second half, with the Palace Twitter account at pains to stress that his withdrawal after 30 minutes of pitch-time was pre-planned.

Palace XI: Guaita (Matthews 62), Clyne (Rodney 62), Guéhi (Ferguson 46, Phillips 77), Andersen (O’Brien 46), Mitchell (Adaramola 62) Eze (Rak-Sakyi 62), Schlupp (Plange 62), Hughes (Milivojevic 46), Zaha (Edouard 46), Mateta (Benteke 62), Ayew (Ebiowei 46).


NEWCASTLE UNITED 5-1 GATESHEAD

  • Goals: Ritchie, Joelinton (pen), Almiron x2, S Longstaff
  • Assists: S Longstaff, Krafth, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton

View match highlights

The recently reclassified FPL midfielder Joelinton (£6.0m) scored from the spot in Newcastle United’s 5-1 win over neighbours Gateshead, although neither Callum Wilson (£7.5m) nor Chris Wood (£6.0m) were on the field at the time.

The Brazilian was again operating in the central midfield spot he made his own during 2021/22, later winning another penalty that Sean Longstaff (£4.5m) skied over the bar and setting up the same player for the Magpies’ fifth and final goal.

Budget Fantasy asset Miguel Almiron (£5.0m) notched a brace in the training ground win over the Heed but despite the winger breaking into his manager’s starting XI towards the back-end of last season, rumours persist that Eddie Howe is intent on adding to his options on the right flank.

Forgotten man Matt Ritchie (£4.5m), who will likely struggle to get a look-in this season if he stays on Tyneside, was used ‘out of position’ in a three-man attack in the first half.

Newcastle United first-half XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Lascelles, Watts, Dummett, Shelvey, Anderson, Willock, Ritchie, Fraser, Wilson

Newcastle United second-half XI: Darlow, Krafth, Watts, Burn, Targett, M Longstaff, Joelinton, S Longstaff, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Murphy


LEICESTER CITY 1-2 NOTTS COUNTY

  • Goals: Barnes
  • Assists: Daka

View match highlights

Of limited interest to Fantasy managers was the game involving Leicester City, who used 22 players against National League side Notts County – and only four of them, Ricardo Pereira (£4.5m), Wesley Fofana (£4.5m), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£5.0m) and Harvey Barnes (£7.0m), were what you’d call first-team regulars.

Back-up strikers Kelechi Iheanacho (£6.5m) and Patson Daka (£6.0m) also got 45 minutes, with the former suffering the ignominy of playing with academy products and trialists after the break.

It was Daka who teed up Barnes for the Foxes’ only goal, with the winger having earlier gone within inches of scoring with a shot that trickled wide.

“Moments of poor control and running into trouble…. but his pace is so hard to defend against” was how Leicester Live described the performance of Barnes, which is a neat summation of his career so far.

Brendan Rodgers again opted for a 4-3-3 for Saturday’s friendly, the formation he came to favour for much of last season.

Leicester City first-half XI: Iversen; Ricardo, Fofana, Wilson-Brown, Flynn; Choudhury, Soumare, Dewsbury-Hall; Wright, Daka, Barnes.

Leicester City second-half XI: Stolarczyk, Wormleighton, Appiah (trialist), Hill (trialist), Hughes, Leshabela, Madivadua, Cover, Fitzhugh, Maswanhise, Iheanacho.


WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3-0 BURNLEY

  • Goals: Gibbs-White, Podence, Chiquinho
  • Assists: Unknown

As happened last weekend, Wolverhampton Wanderers played a behind-closed-doors friendly that we don’t have any line-up or assist information for.

All the Wolves Twitter account told us was that budget midfielders Morgan Gibbs-White (£5.5m), Daniel Podence (£5.5m) and Chiquinho (£5.0m) were on the scoresheet against the Championship side.

The main headline from the game however concerned a serious ACL injury to Chiquinho, who is now set for surgery and a lengthy period on the sidelines.

PRE-SEASON MINUTES TRACKER

Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

656 Comments Post a Comment
  1. CoolBeans
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Transfer moves just got updated on the app

    1. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Good news

  2. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this please.
    Sanchez
    TAA,Cancelo,Tomiyasu,Castagne
    Salah,Diaz,Sterling,DaSilva
    Haaland,Jesus

    4.0,Periera,Nico,Greenwood.

    the idea would be to play 2 from Castagne,DaSilva,Nico and Periera every week.
    This allows space for Sterling(10m spot) and able to keep a 8m spot in MF too.

    I just think that rather than play Neto every week, a pick I dont like concentrate the cash into 7 players

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Really solid

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      It's not a bad idea. Sterling and Bruno have high upside.

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Yeh I like the 10 m spot. Can easily be Bruno,Sterling,Vardy,Bowen.

        Plus if any of those cheap players breakout at least their points wont be stuck on the bench.

    3. UnluckyXI
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Murphy rotates well with Andreas so could go him over DaSilva who may not get as many minutes.

      I'd go Lamptey over Castagne but that's just me

      1. Bring back Rafa
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Castagne rotates with Neco

      2. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Is Murphy nailed though?
        Yeh I'm open to changing Castagne for another 4.5m. Id be changing Sanchez if I went with a Brighton defender. Think id go Dunk over Lamptey just for fitness reasons.

        1. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          I wouldn't say Murphy is nailed no

        2. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          As a Newcastle fan, I'd say Murphy's game-time prospects are looking quite bleak this season. Fraser/Almiron ahead of him at present and there are suggestions that Howe may even add to the right-wing options over the summer.

    4. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Looks decent. The only problem for me is no James + Chilly.

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        That's not a problem for me.
        I don't want a Chelsea defender from the start, one can be brought in later if needed.

  3. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I know Rashford has been crap but it feels like you're getting a 9.0 player for 6.5, this is the rest of the team

    Meslier
    TAA - Trippier - Tomiyasu - Aké
    Salah - Diaz - Martinelli - Rashford
    Kane - Haaland

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      He's definitely on my watchlist. See how pre season goes.

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Kane isn't worth cropping your defense like that imo.

      But yeah I can see the argument for keeping that midfield.

      1. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        The dilemma I have is going with Kane + a lighter defence vs Sterling and more money in defence. At the moment I'm just scared to go without any of Kane / Haaland / Salah

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Kane is known to be slow starter. There is something in his August draught. I fear Son more than him.

          1. TheBiffas
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            I'm not worried about that this year. Conte will have him fit and ready

    3. amitmishr
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Ake seems waste of a city space, (and not sure if he will be finally able to get ahead of dias and laporte) even though we may not need it. not sold on meslier, but then all 4.5 keepers are unreliable. Martinelli and rashford may face rotation. Seems too punty, but if thats your gut feeling, go with it. Else this site will force you to have the same literal squad

      1. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Ake is going to Chelsea, will be pretty much nailed on and attacking threat for 5.0

        1. amitmishr
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Still a rumor. They were looking at koulibaly, torres and a few others as well. But enough time to consider depending on the sale happening

          1. TheBiffas
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            I would be surprised if you that move didn't happen but Aké can easily become Doherty or Cash

  4. Original Sin
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Is tierny an option at 5.0 mil?

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Yes, naturally.

    2. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I'd take Gabriel over Tierney

    3. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      never again will I own him

  5. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Thoughts?

    De gea
    Arnold Robbo Laporte James Perisic
    Salah Bowen Barnes Neto
    kane

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      De Gea is a no from me at 5.0. Also unsure about Barnes. the rest is great

      1. Totalfootball
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Donnie Chen
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Tricky first fixtures for Bowen. I love him but not bringing in until later.

  6. LT10
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    RMT:

    Raya (Balcombe)

    Trent, Robbo, Cancelo, Chilwell, James

    Salah(C), Kulu, Neto (JWP, 4.5 fodder)

    Jesus, Wilson (4.5 fodder)

    - IMO, attacking defenders is where the best value is at, so VERY big at the back.
    - Happy to captain Salah for the first 6 GWs, so I think that only one premium is necessary.
    - Plan is to bench one of Neto, Wilson or JWP each GW based on fixtures, meaning one decent sub in case of Covid / unexpected benching etc.
    - 0.5 ITB to potentially move Kulu to Bowen after GW1.

    Any thoughts?

    1. UnluckyXI
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I'd rather downgrade one of James/Chilwell as not sure about their CS prospects right now.

      You could then have an 8.0 instead of JWP and then rotate Neto with the 4.5 def

    2. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I'm seeing this team in my dreams/nightmares now.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I can believe it. However, I prefer Diaz over Robbo as you can see below. Liverpool is training also with 4-2-3-1, so having Robbo has some risk. He is easy to downgrade though. Neto is more than likely to be first big trap and serious tv risk. And to make things worse, he has difficult price point, so selling him may cost 4 pts.

  7. jayzico
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    NETO. WISSA. BAILEY

    LET'S PUT THIS TO BED. PLEASE

    Neto - was he injured last season due to game shortage
    Wissa - More goals. Again, will he be nailed. Played more than just 1000 mins
    Bailey - as in the Vilaa Bailey? Why? Terrible choice compared to other 2 supposedly.
    Or is there a second bench warmer other than Peria at 4.5???

    Please shed your supreme knowledge og FF Gurus you.

    1. UnluckyXI
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Neto, serious injury kept him out for 30 pl games was then eased back in, was a starter towards end of last season

      Wissa, started 9 of the last 14 games performed well, don't know if that was due to others being injured. Also playing more of a fwd according to transfermarkt.

      Bailey, small injury kept him out for 10 games, then was used mainly as a sub and when starting didn't have much output before I believe getting injured again so he's biggest risk.

    2. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I liked Bailey but read on here that he’s unlikely to start too often due to competition for places, at least in the short term.

    3. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Cool. So not really any further forward.

      I gave up to 5.5m to spend on mid. Who do I go for guys? Perria already in. Cheers.

  8. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Raya / Balcombe
    TAA, Cancelo, James, Chilly, Cash
    Salah, Diaz, Martinelli /Andreas, Colback
    Haaland, Jesus / Greenwood

    I have trouble with this 5-3-2 team. I believe it's pretty close to strongest possible XI. However, the formation is an issue. Even downgrading Cancelo to 4.0 won't give me enough cash to upgrade 4.5 mid to 8.0 (Mount/Saka). Whatever I do, I have feeling that I am going to lose at least expected points 🙁 Can anyone see good enough solution for better balance?

  9. discoal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Is anyone considering going without Salah? Thinking I would rather have Son and Diaz. Son killed me the end of last season as I didn’t have him but I guess Salah could do the same!

    1. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Salah. Going without is too much of a gamble so early on. I have Diaz too. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised is Kulu was hot on Son's feet this season (man, remember Kane was some 4.5m unknown at Spurs)

    2. DelPiero10
        1 year, 8 months ago

        My strategy doesn't allow for a premium mid, at least not to begin with.

      • The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Yep there's a few of us. Thread from this morning:
        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/25050844

    3. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      CRYSTAL BALL TIME.

      Reckon Gondo will get more or less gametime than last season? Grealish has been pants

      1. jayzico
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Gundo i mean lol. Or who's better for 7.5????

      2. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Less. Unless long-term injury to KDB / Bernardo. Not in competition with Jack

        1. jayzico
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          You're spot on. Never thought that one through. Couln't really remember Grealish at all last year I suppose. Such a nothing player in that team. Sad really. Good hair though.

    4. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Bailly playing like a premium defender tonight.

    5. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      How nailed on is Greenwood now?

      1. Grande Tubarão
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Not at all I wouldn’t have thought. If anything there’s more competition than last season with them having done a fair bit of business

        1. jayzico
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Thanks Red dude

    6. Keepz_27
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Cancelo/Diaz/Mahrez or Cash/Son/Bruno G

    7. Dale Sartip-Zadeh
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Some great buys here

    8. Damien Sartip-Zadeh
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Like Leon Bailey

    9. Mesa90
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Here is my team, let my know what you think

      1. Mesa90
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Ederson
        Tripier VVD digne
        Neto baily salah rashford
        Jesus Kane Haland