Tips

The Complete Guide to our FPL Gameweek 20 tips and advice

Heading into the festive period of fixtures our Scoutcast panel admitted to being “terrified” about the players they don’t own. So far it has proved prophetic as many FPL managers will have found themselves cowering behind their Turkey dinners in fear as Christmas turns into a nightmare.

In Gameweek 18 there wasn’t a single green arrow to be found amongst The Great and The Good and, as Greyhead reports, life didn’t get much better in Gameweek 19 with only four green arrows in total.

It seems they are “arguing amongst themselves as to who are the best big hitters. In Gameweek 18 whilst Ville Rönkä bought Aubameyang (£11.5m) Torres Magic was busy selling him. Even the previous untouchable Salah (£13.2m) has been kicked out of the template but then come back a Gameweek later.

The Cisco Kid attempted to offer some guidance with an article on the 5 FPL Mistakes to Avoid this Christmas. They are worth repeating here:

  1. Avoid Taking Unnecessary Hits
  2. Don’t Remove Heavy Hitters for a Hit
  3. Don’t Try to Read the Tea Leaves
  4. Don’t Miss a Deadline
  5. Avoid Judging Your Decisions with Hindsight

The last point was picked up on by Fusen, calling it “the key to FPL sanity and rationality” remarking that “the game has HUGE amounts of luck.” Whilst it is undeniable that luck plays a huge part, it doesn’t necessarily explain why some managers are consistently more successful than others.

One such manager is Career Hall of Fame number one Jay Egersdorff, who last week neatly encapsulated how to do well at the game:

Simple definition is you use your skill in an attempt to maximise your luck.

So why have managers been so unlucky recently and is it down to a lack of skill?

One reason is benching the wrong defender. However as Adam Hopcroft pointed out – Digne’s (£5.1m) two goals came from two shots for a combined xG of 0.09, “Owners that benched him (me included) don’t be too hard on yourselves 😪”

Another reason is disappointing returns from a reinvigorated Manchester United. Despite the clamour for Manchester United assets following their 5-1 win away at Cardiff, most apart from 10.1% owned Paul Pogba (£8.1m) failed to deliver. Illness was blamed for the absence of Anthony Martial (£7.3m), who was transferred in by 275,247 disappointed managers ahead of the deadline. It seems living close to the Lowry Hotel does not mean he will join up with the squad late.

The pain of Martial’s absence was compounded on Thursday night. West Ham’s Felipe Anderson (£7.3m), sold by 166,386 FPL managers, scored two goals for a 15 -point haul in the final kick-off of the Gameweek.

Finally, City have lost three of their last four matches – a situation that given their scintillating form this season wasn’t anticipated. Many are at a loss to explain it with Guardiola stating that he needs to “change the dynamic”.

However, perhaps it is worth being patient. Hutch_James revealed in his Wisdom of the Crowd article yesterday that City should be the highest scorers of the Gameweek with a predicted 2.69 goals.

Yet the famously patient Ville Rönkä appears to have sold Sterling (£11.4m) after owning him for a mere two Gameweeks. It’s rare for Finland’s most famous FPL manager to perform such an abrupt volte-face, and perhaps offers some comfort to us mortals who also held onto Sterling. According to FPL Transfer Spy, the player he has replaced him with is Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (£11.1m).

Hazard is not a player to make it into our Gameweek 20 Scout Picks. Compiled by the Fantasy Football Scout editorial team due to the short turn-around, the wealth of assets on offer in midfield is reflected with a 3-5-2 formation. Can they match the impressive 85 points delivered by Gameweek 19’s selection?

The important question of captaincy is once again tackled by the excellent Captain Sensible article. Neale (aka Skonto Rigga), who put the article together, appeared alongside Joe in his regular video to discuss the best captaincy option for FPL Gameweek 20.

The pair were also on hand to cover the team news in their round-up of all the press conferences, with Neale adding an article to the site. It’s important to note that Manchester City are holding their press conference today, and that the press embargo on West Ham’s team news is set to be lifted at 1:30pm – half an hour ahead of the deadline. Check the website and FFS twitter account for last-minute updates.

To view all our discussions please visit our Hot Topics page, and if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.

If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.

COMMUNITY TOURNAMENTS

The latest cup results are in, and the draws for the next rounds of both the FFS Cup and FFS Members Cups have taken place. At this stage there are still 32 managers left in each cup, the finals will take place Gameweek 25.

In TorresMagic’s Last Man Standing the safety score in Gameweek 19 was 57, this saw 130 managers depart leaving 1,091 still standing. In addition to TorresMagic’s website, which carries the latest information about the competition, Ragabolly has set up a page on his excellent Live FPL website.  

Miroslav Pujic is the new leader in our main FFS League and is fifth overall. This is his fourth FPL season, and he is improving each year – he came 10,316 overall in 2017/18.

Aleksander Våge Nilsen not only retains his lead in the FFS Live Hall of Fame but is the new leader of our FFS Members League. To make life even better for the Norwegian, his team – Liverpool – are top of the Premier League. He’s no doubt tucking into a hearty portion of Lobscouse!

This is Aleksander’s 11th season, his previous best finishes are 162nd in 2014/15 and 487th in 2016/17.

Rotation’s Alter Ego has regained the lead in the FFS Mods & Cons but Ragabolly is now only 2 points behind after a magnificent score of 117 (-4) in Gameweek 19. This is Ragabolly’s ninth FPL season, he finished an impressive  2,821st last year.

Luke Aiello’s lead at the top of RedLightning’s Top 10k Any Season mini-league is down to 16 points with Steve Cool leading the chasing pack. Luke is 33rd in the overall standings.

RedLightning’s January to May League will start scoring in Gameweek 21. Over 240 teams have already entered, the code to join is 1637-756.

The group stage of the FFS Manager Melee Community Tournament is now complete. Congratulations to the eight quarter-finalists – American Dycho, Claudio With a Chance of Modballs, The Big Bang Thierry, RoboKlopp, The Godfather: Pardew, Howe to Train Your Dragon, When ‘Arry Met Sarri, and Hughes Line is it Emery?

If you are running a community tournament and would like the latest scores included in future Community Round-Ups, please email us a summary of the current leaders and a link to your league, spreadsheet or head-to-head competition at geoff@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk

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3,409 Comments Post a Comment
  1. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Safe to get Martial?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes, but lock the door.

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Pog is safer

    3. ChildishFirmino&Lallana…
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I got him last week. not wasting another transfer. hopefully he will play

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No imo, will rotate with Rashford when Lukaku is back, Lingard or Pogba better options if looking for a safe one

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Martial is safer than Lingard

        1. Rust Cohle
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          This

      2. The Big Fella
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Definitely not Lingard. Competing with Martial and Sanchez for his place

    5. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Cheers all.

      i think I'll take my chances with him.

  2. Critical Observer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    WC active; do I keep Lingard or switch to Sigurdsson/Richarlison? Have Pogba and Digne on board as well.

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      take lingard out in my opinion

    2. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Rich/Siggy

    3. joakimosterberg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      difficult. kind of highlights why lingard isn't bandwagoning, there are so many 7.0-ish options. I have Richa but would potentially go for Siggy atm, great differential. He has more points than Richa (with a few more games yes but still) and only 6.6% ownership compared to Richas 30.

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Richarlison only started to play as false 9 and is cheaper

        1. joakimosterberg
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          to be fair, I chose Richa only 2 gw's ago, so not arguing with picking him

    4. Tempestic
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Rich imo

  3. pressdpm
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kolasinac > Holebas sound good?
    1FT and 0.9 spare.

    Fabianski
    Digne - Robertson - Wan Bissaka
    Salah - Hazard - Richarlison - Pogba
    Ings - Kane - Jiminez

    Stekelenburg - Bennett - Kolasinac - Biling

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Pereira looks good. So does TAA.

  4. ChildishFirmino&Lallana…
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Would you play Auba vs Liv away or Ings vs Leaky city at home?

    1. joakimosterberg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      auba 100 %

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

      Aubameyang all day

    3. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Auba

    4. Sponge-worthy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      You never bench Auba.

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        This

  5. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    If Captian Felipe Anderson Raise Your Hand

    1. Sponge-worthy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I'm tempted to do that.

  6. joakimosterberg
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Fabianski
    Digne - Doherty - Robertson
    Richa - Hazard - Son - Fanderson
    Kane (C) - Auba - Jimenez
    (Hamer - Brooks - Wan-Bis - Bennnett)

    G2G?

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      (S)on

      1. arndff_
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Would you sign Son over Anderson? I'm on WC...

        1. Over Midwicket
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Yup. Then switch in 2 GWs

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

        you mean captaining Son?

  7. tanser11
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Felipe or Pogba long term?

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Felipe

    2. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Pogba but both are overperforming

  8. Federico
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    2FT, who do I sell?

    Ederson
    Alonso Robbo Digne AWB Bennett
    Sterling Anderson Lingard Richa Hojbjerg
    Auba Kane Jimenez

  9. JaydenLFC87
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Should I gamble and start Clyne or just play AWB??

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Play Clyne.

      Very unlikely to get a cameo if he is benched so AWB will auto-sub on

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

      Clyne

    3. Tempestic
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Why the hell do you have clyne in your team unless you’re Klopp asking about pools actual lineup today

  10. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    My captain excel spreadsheet is suggesting the following as captains this GW: (1) FAnderson, (2) Maddison, (3) Sane. The calculations suggested Son last GW. Problem is I don't have any of those!

    1. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      How does your captain Excel spreadsheet come to those conclusions?

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Basically adds up a player score (e.g. shots on target, chances created), an opposition score (e.g. chances conceded), and a home/away factor

  11. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ive got 1 free transfer, get rid of Wilson or get a defender maybe?
    Fab
    Doherty Lovren Schindler
    Hazard Rich Anderson Son
    Auba Wilson Kane

    Balbuena Ward WanB
    1.8 itb.

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah remove Wilson.

      Mitrovic maybe?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah looking at Mitro.

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Wilson you’ll want to play next week?

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Just hold

  12. I Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    AWB ahead of Doherty this week?

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I'm starting Doherty with AWB on the bench

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

    Tough capt choice this wk.

    Think il stick it on Salah.

    Anderson if I had the balls bit I don't and I'm 106pts ahead in my big ML so no need to take risks I guess?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Depends if that particular ML is all you care about. If so then you can consolidate your lead.

    2. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Play it safe if you're only playing for ML

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        You don’t want to do one last RMT Jack?

        1. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          U wot?

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

          Havnt in a while. But you already know how good my team is....

  14. We ain't got no histor…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Bottomed, 2FT, 0.3 ITB lads

    Ederson Hamer
    Alonso Lindelof Benett AWB Lovren
    Salah Fanderson Fraser Sane Richarlison
    Auba Chicha* Jimenez

  15. klipp klopp
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Best defender under 5.7

  16. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pick one:

    A)Snodgrass
    B) Pereyra

    1. klipp klopp
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Pereyra

  17. Caleb's Kitties
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Chances of rondon brace today? Fully rested on boxing day.

  18. Numb
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Martial was obviously just rested! “Stomach bug” is the oldest trick in the book. He was flying back from Paris the night before after a short break. Don’t make OGS spell it out to you.

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He might not start even if fit

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        He should do.

      2. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        He will start. Their best attacker this season by far.

        1. Fantasy Gold
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah it’s easy to say that in theory but remember that Lukaku and Sanchez are also back in the squad.

          No guarantees.

  19. fridge
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hi all, final wildcard choice...

    A) Fanderson, Pogba, Jiminez, Kamara
    B) Fanderson, Pogba, Mitro, Kamara
    C)) Snodgrass, Pogba, Jiminez, Ings
    D) Fanderson, Lingard, Mitro, Ings
    E) Fanderson, Martial, Jiminez, Ings

    1. Goonsquad245
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      A

  20. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Mon the Gers

  21. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Stuck on what to do with this side? Any feedback much appreciated
    0.5 ITB 0 FT

    Fabianski
    Alonso Robbo Doherty
    Haz Richarlison Salah Lingard
    Ings Kane(c) Jimenez

    Subs: Speroni Wan-B Benett Hojbjerg

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Leave it alone. No need for hits.

  22. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Captain today, Kane or Pogba?

    Thinking Pogba this week and Kane next GW against Cardiff.

  23. Bialystrzelec
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Löwe or TAA to start?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Taa

  24. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    How did Alonso look these past few gw?
    Last I assessed, he was a nailed mid and pretty attacking for Chelsea.

    1. Patch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He has taken a liking to wood recently

  25. Wakanda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    a) kolasanic -> Holobeas
    b) Robertson - Alonso

    which is the better transfer over the next 3 weeks

  26. Clarity
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Need to use one of my free transfers, I own Fabianski + Patricio and want to swap Patricio out:

    A) Patricio > Button (4.0)
    B) Patricio > Speroni (3.9)

    Thinking perhaps Speroni as even though Button will play for a while, can't see myself playing him over Fab in any of games?

    Thanks 🙂

  27. Sponge-worthy
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Maddison and Wilson out to Richarlison and Ings. For free.
    yay or nay?

    1. Clarity
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Wouldn't get rid of Madisson for Cardiff (H)

      1. Sponge-worthy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        You're probably right.

  28. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I have Kane, Haz, Rashford and Sane.

    Really tempted to captain Rashford or Sane. Can see City to smash Southampton.

    Do you think that they will start?

  29. Mikha In A Tutu
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sané or Sterling to Pogba?
    Aubameyang to Kane.

  30. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Play 1
    A)Doherty (spurs)
    B) Dunk (EVERTON)

    1. Sponge-worthy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B