Scout Notes

FPL pre-season: Chilwell left out of first XI as Mount excels

The pre-season friendlies wind to a close this weekend, with 18 Premier League teams contesting warm-up games and last season’s top two squaring off in the Community Shield.

We’ll be bringing you goal, assist and line-up information from all of these matches in our Scout Notes articles, which could help shape your Fantasy Premier League (FPL) squad ahead of Gameweek 1.

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

We begin with Chelsea and Everton, the Gameweek 1 opponents who were both in action on Friday. A second-string Blues XI were actually involved in another match against Udinese on Saturday morning, which is also covered below.

FRIDAY: UDINESE 1-3 CHELSEA
SATURDAY: UDINESE 0-2 CHELSEA

Match highlights (Friday)

  • Goals: Kante, Sterling, Mount | Loftus-Cheek, Ziyech pen
  • Assists: Hudson-Odoi | Kovacic, Loftus Cheek

Thomas Tuchel split his squad in half for two friendlies against Udinese on Friday night and Saturday morning.

The starting XI in the first of those games looks set to be near enough the side that takes on Everton in Gameweek 1, with Kai Havertz (£8.0m), Mason Mount (£8.0m) and Raheem Sterling (£10.0m) dovetailing very nicely up top.

It was a fluid set-up in the front three but Sterling was in the nominal central role, and the Manchester City man showed some promising early signs of a fruitful relationship with Mount in particular.

“He had chances, was heavily involved in other chances. It was a good performance.” – Thomas Tuchel on Raheem Sterling

Mount was arguably the pick of the attacking trident, creating opportunities aplenty for his two aforementioned teammates but crucially also seeing clear sights of goal himself: his late tap-in and an earlier saved effort came from inside the six-yard box, while he had fired at Udinese goalkeeper Marco Silvestri’s legs when jinking his way into the hosts’ area.

Criticism of profligacy seems to have dogged Sterling for a while, and indeed he has finished with a negative xG delta (the difference between his expected goals and actual goals scored) in each of the last two seasons.

He was wasteful against Udinese, too, with even his goal a fortuitous one as the rebound from a spurned chance bobbled in off his torso.

Still, to be repeatedly getting into such dangerous positions is a positive, with 78 goals in his last five seasons evidence that shot volume can be as important as a clinical streak.

Question marks remain at the back for Chelsea, with two of their starters – Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.0m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.5m) – still reportedly keen on a move to Barcelona and Ben Chilwell (£6.0m) not only omitted from Friday’s first-choice XI but clearly still needing to recapture some match fitness after a rusty-looking display with the second string on Saturday morning.

Edouard Mendy (£5.0m) won’t want to rewatch Udinese’s only goal of the weekend either but Kalidou Kouilbaly (£5.5m) was a positive, deployed again in the left-sided centre-half spot vacated by Antonio Rudiger.

Saturday’s game saw Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.0m) used at right wing-back and play a part in both goals, first finishing well from a Mateo Kovacic (£5.0m) pass and then winning the penalty that Hakim Ziyech (£6.0m) converted.

Armando Broja (£5.5m) was spotted for the first time this pre-season, lasting 45 minutes as the spearhead of the Chelsea attack and seeing plenty of chances of his own.

Chelsea XI on Friday (3-4-3): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly (Emerson 72); James (Hudson-Odoi 72), Kante, Jorginho (Gilmour 84), Alonso; Havertz (Vale 72), Sterling (Kenedy 84), Mount

Chelsea XI on Saturday (3-4-3): Kepa (Bettinelli 67); Chalobah, Ampadu, Sarr (Emerson 67); Loftus-Cheek (Vale 77), Kovacic, Gallagher (Gilmour 77), Chilwell (Kenedy 67); Ziyech, Broja (Hudson-Odoi h/t), Pulisic.

FPL points predictions for Gameweek 3 and beyond 3

EVERTON 3-0 DYNAMO KYIV

  • Goals: Calvert-Lewin, McNeil x2
  • Assists: Tarkowski, Iwobi, Vinagre

Match highlights

Dwight McNeil (£5.5m) bettered his entire 2021/22 attacking output for Burnley in a 28-minute showing on his Everton debut.

The newly signed winger emerged from the bench to first lash home an effort from distance and then nod in fellow debutant Ruben Vinagre‘s (£4.5m) cross.

 “I’m really delighted for him because there is pressure coming in and it’s all happened very quickly for him. To play at Goodison, coming on and impacting the game in the way in which he did – he showed the qualities why we brought him here. 

“I’m a big believer in him. It’s a fresh start at a new club for him and if he carries on like that the fans are going to love him.” – Frank Lampard on Dwight McNeil

McNeil has never hit double figures for FPL attacking returns in a season before so the jury remains well and truly out, particularly as a start is far from assured in Gameweek 1. Washed-up wingers Demarai Gray (£5.5m) and Andros Townsend (£5.5m) did have short-lived renaissances of their own after a move to Merseyside a year ago, of course, so we can’t write the England under-21 international off completely.

Frank Lampard seems set to go into the 2022/23 season in the same 3-4-3 shape that he ended the last campaign with, despite his stated desire to move to a 4-3-3.

That’s good news for FPL defenders Vitalli Mykolenko (£4.5m) and Nathan Patterson (£4.0m), who were pushed high and wide as wing-backs against Dynamo Kyiv.

Patterson is obviously an interesting case given his starting price and current injury to positional rival Seamus Coleman (£4.5m), although we did see Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) used at right wing-back in the win over Gameweek 1 opponents Chelsea in May.

Iwobi was here part of a midfield two alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.5m) on Friday but injuries rather forced Lampard’s hand, so the Nigeria international could still be deployed elsewhere on the opening weekend.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£8.0m) nodded in Everton’s opener, with summer recruit James Tarkowski (£4.5m) claiming the assist with a raking ball over the top.

Everton XI (3-4-3): Pickford; Tarkowski (Welch 83′), Keane (Holgate 62′), Godfrey (Nkounkou 83′); Patterson (Mills 83′), Iwobi (Warrington 83′), Doucoure (Allan 72′), Mykolenko (Vinagre 72′); Gray (McNeil 62′), Calvert-Lewin (Alli 62′), Gordon (Rondon 72′)

PRE-SEASON MINUTES TRACKER

Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

1,507 Comments Post a Comment
  1. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Foden a good pick?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Pep roulette in the mid

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      No City mids are other than KDB. Would much sooner take Rodri over any of the wide players.

  2. Oscar Slater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I realise that his ownership will absolutely nosedive after that shocking performance today but there's still going to be between 30% and 40% of teams starting out with Haaland next week. That's excellent news!

    1. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Wouldn’t call it shocking…

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

      He hasn't suddenly become a bad player

    3. The Cloud Watcher
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      On another day he gets a brace. Plus, it's only his 3rd (?) appearance in preseason. In a couple more weeks he'll be fully up to speed.

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        2nd. Scored in his first one. Had one disallowed in this.

        People love an over-reaction eh!

  3. mikeyboss33
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Grealish looked well

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      He is on the watchlist

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      All three times he touched the ball?

    3. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Really? I look at players from a FPL perspective and saw little

      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        +42

      2. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        +1

    4. I Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Mahrez and then Foden were much more threatening from an FPL perspective.

  4. jackruet
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Best mid under 6.5?

    Saka or martinelli?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka on pens?

    2. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka is 8 m8

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Sneaky shortcut to get in first

        1. Simon69
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Concise and friendly

    3. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka is 8m mate

    4. The Cloud Watcher
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka is 8.0

    5. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka on pens blows all mids out of the water.

  5. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Here is a good question who scores more in the PL Nunez or Haaland and why?

    1. The Cloud Watcher
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland, because Man C will create more and better chances to score over the course of the season.

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Nunez because he has more pace, problem is he won't start every game...

    3. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      My prediction is that it'll be right close

    4. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland. Main man for City. Salah, for LFC

    5. jackruet
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Go for Both. Nunez is a steal at this price

    6. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Who? Don’t know

      Why? He puts the ball in the net more than the other

  6. BROOKLYN GOONER
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Does this mean the quintuple is on?
    And any chance that Haaland gets sent out on loan?
    🙂

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Nuneaton are putting together a proposal for Haaland as we speak

    2. RICICLE
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Who would you choose here guys?

      A) Cancelo + 6m Mid (Bruno G etc)
      B) 5.5m DEF (Perisic perhaps) + Maddison

      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        A easy

      2. The Cloud Watcher
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        A until I get to see how Perisic fits in at Tottenham.

      3. RICICLE
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Cheers guys, could even go Walker instead of Cancelo and upgrade the 6m mid to an 8m mid

      4. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        A

    3. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I checked fpl there. I was amazed Alverz Is priced at 6.5. Not very enticing. Should have been 5.5 then leaves question mark if people would use up a city spot for a sub.

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

        May not be popular now, but I can see him scoring more than the 6m forwards.

        1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Interesting because there will surely be times Alvarez starts. It would take a brave person to pick him lots of 1 points then maybe an 8 every so often.

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Neco Williams looks cracking at 4m

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

        Really? How was Jesse?

        1. Bram
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Very involved - came off about 77 to a standing ovation.

    5. artvandelay316
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Better to have Robertson and Mount or Cancelo and L. Diaz?

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

        Cancelo & Diaz I’d say to start with

      2. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Robbo
        Cancelo
        Mount
        Diaz
        (order of priority)

        1. Saka Rice
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Why not Diaz over Robbo? He's nailed so far and can use defender spot on other players

          1. DARE TO BISCAN
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Robbo is guaranteed to get lots of points and cheaper. Using your own logic, there's plenty of other 8.0 mids to get instead.

      3. I Member
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Robbo and Mount

        1. artvandelay316
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Cheers all.

    6. sentz05
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      How does this look?

      Sanchez Steele
      TAA Robbo Cancelo James N Williams
      Salah Saka Neto Bailey Andreas
      Halland Jesus Greenwood

    7. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      City look undercooked & lack of preseason games is showing I think.

      Given they have two tough away games in first 3 would you go Robbo over Cancelo?

      1. artvandelay316
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Thinking the same thing. Just swapped Cancelo and Diaz out for Robertson and Mount, but still not sure on this.

    8. jackruet
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Best mid under 6.5?
      Saka or martinelli?

      Those two are separate questions. Thanks

      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Answers:

        A) Martinelli

        B) Saka

    9. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      So Haaland and Cancelo are now poop? Nunes and Foden in? Right?

      1. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Ake and Milner in lad

    10. Alan Watts
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      OK big at the back is back...

      Premium forwards not worth it, Son a better option than Kane/Halland and allows easy swith to KDB ...

      No cheapo mids

      8m slot in midfield

      No City defence for first few weeks

      Sanchez
      TAA Robbo James Perisic Doherty
      Salah Son Maddison Martinelli
      Jesus

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Are Perisic & Doh definite starters?

      2. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Perisic and Doherty - big gamble having both.

        Otherwise very nice.

        1. Alan Watts
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Both starting tonight...should be first choice...can always change one to Trippier/City/Gabriel etc

    11. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Now need to decide between:

      A) 532 with Cancelo
      B) 442 with Mount

      Rest of the XI:
      Ramsdale
      TAA, Robbo, James, Walker, ____
      Salah, Neto, Odegaard, _____
      Kane, Jesus

      1. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        B

    12. King Dong
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Changed my team every day this week but fairly confident I'm set now. What we thinking fellas?

      EDERSON (4.0)
      TRENT, CANCELO, GABRIEL, TRIPPIER (Patterson)
      SALAH, SON, MARTINELLI, BAILEY (Periera)
      JESUS, NUNEZ (Archer)

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Every hour on average here

      2. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Like it

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

      Ederson
      TAA Robbo James Gabriel
      Salah Mount Martinelli Neto
      Kane Jesus

      4.0... Andreas Neco 4.5

      What we saying, decent?

    14. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      What do you think of Grealish? Probably lot of 58 minutes 1 pointer frustration, had him in but lot of doubt

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Same. Looking for alternatives.

    15. Avery
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      https://twitter.com/mozofootball/status/1553446899084152832?s=21&t=TvDamASS_x4eoEB03ie9Kg

      Jack Grealish against Liverpool inside 58 minutes:

      1. Avery
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        27 Touches
        2 Dribbles
        12 Passes
        70% Pass Accuracy
        0 Chances Created
        0 Shots
        0 Crosses
        0 Long Balls
        0 Tackles
        0 Interceptions

    16. I Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Mount or Saka? Have Jesus and Martinelli so Saka would be triple Arsenal attack.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Triple ARS attack is something that I would not entertain at this point ...

    17. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Too many eggs in the same baskets?

      Meslier
      TAA Cancello Gabriel AltNouri 4.0
      Diaz Saka Grealish Sancho 4.5
      Haaland Jesus Darwin

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I would opt starting with Salah rather than Haaland for GW1

      2. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Not enough LFC eggs

    18. C0YS
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Best mid/forward 7m and under?

      A) Grealish
      B) Zaha
      C) Martial
      D) Mitrovic
      E) Other (who?)

      Currently on Martial but getting worried about his minutes now that Ronaldo is staying.

      Any help appreciated!

    19. jackruet
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I think its one of the Most balanced team.

      Sanchez
      Trent dias white
      Salah sancho martinelli neto
      Darwin haaland jesus

      Forster neco Batman colback

    20. Avery
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Forests goal in their draw tonight.
      83' - Awoniyi is released down the left channel and plays the ball across goal for Brennan to fire home

      https://twitter.com/nffcwazza/status/1553450942430863363?s=21&t=PMv2oTEyQbn986InGRpnbw

    21. Bevan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Martinelli (3/5/2)
      OR
      James (4/4/2)

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        James

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

      Too risky to go Perisic and Doherty?

    23. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Anyone see the Spurs game? No goal, but who looked good?

      1. WHUFCSmith23
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Nobody stood out, Doherty was playing very high. It felt like he was in the box a lot.

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

          Thanks mate