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. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Does any one on here make up their own mind and make their own a decisions or just rely on random strangers that may even be their HTH opponent ?
    A yes
    B no

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

      c

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Nope. I'm captaining Aguero and he's barely mentioned as an option. I own haz Kane pog fanderson but trusting my gut on this one

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

        Good call

    3. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Already out of all the cups, I hate H2H

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        😉 now you know why 🙂

    4. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Just looking for confirmation I think.

      And then there are the rank snobs.

    5. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I never even look at what team my h2h opponent has.
      I make my own decisions but look for thoughts when I have a dilemma

    6. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Dont based on HTH

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

    Any one care to run their eyesnof this lot ... starting 11 and bench order correct for this gameweek?? Any thought welcomed!! Cheers chaps!!
    Fabianski
    Robertson Digne Balbuena
    Salah(C) Hazard Pogba Richarlison Fanderson
    Kane(vc) Kamara
    Bench... Jiménez Doherty Bednarek

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

      people will tell you jimi instead of kamara but i will tell you they are wrong

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

        Haha thanks mate I’ve been chopping and changing that all week just cannot resist Huddersfield at him haha

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

          *home

    1. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Tottenham Hotspur stadium

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

      Still can't get used to that! MBE! 😀

  3. Aussie Rules
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    How confident are people that Sane starts? Captain option?

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not at all

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      no not very confident he will start at all

  4. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling or Kane Captain? 🙂 and why?

    1. aborg
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling might be benched or Subbed early. I will go for Kane

  5. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Does Balbuena start?

  6. aborg
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Which two to bench from these please and in what order ?

    A) WB
    B) Jiminez
    C) Calvert - Lewin
    D) Davies

  7. hajinski
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    What about Aguero? I am seriously considering him for the armband.

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

      definitely a good option

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Kun way too expensive with all the popular mids ( apart from City ones ) registering 10+ hauls

    3. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Ssshhhh. I've given it to him (and own kane haz Anderson pog so other options are there)

  8. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Have to play 1:

    Doherty (tot)
    AWB (CHE)
    Kolasinac (liv)

    AWB has the best clean sheet odds out of the 3, but still slim.

    However Doherty and Kolasinac more attacking although I definitely expect goals conceded against them.

    Really struggling with this one so opinions appreciated!’

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

      play doherty

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

      Its between Doherty and Kolasinac for me..

  9. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Will Kamara start for Fulham? Ta.

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

      i'm risking it. he has been starting at home recently then benched away.

  10. Dead Lift
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Will Martial play tomorrow?

    1. Visionaries
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He was back in training yesterday and it wasn't an injury so I'd say quite likely.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    3. aborg
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He should yes

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

      Forget tomorrow. I'm thinking of the midweek fixture.

      1. Dead Lift
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Why?

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

          It's him or Pogba I'm bringing in.

          1. Dead Lift
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Me too mate. I prefer Martial and probably I am taking the risk.

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

    Who to start?

    Ings, Doherty or Kamara

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

      Ings.

    2. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I’m on Ings in case of a pen but Kamara could be good

    3. MARVELLUS
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Kamara

    4. Benditlike
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Ings

    5. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      kammy

  12. HD7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    AWB or Doherty

    Who to start?

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

      Doherty

  13. FootieFan77
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Torreira or Fraser

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Neither, torreira is suspended today isn't he

  14. CAPTAIN CRESPO
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Best Kola replacement?

    Worth taking out Auba? Don’t want to start him this week but worried with Fulham the week after

  15. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    TV seeming to be more important this year than recent years.

    Agree?

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      This starts getting said around this time every year! 😉

    2. MTPockets
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Maybe, but only because the price changes are mental this year. So it's self-perpetuating logic

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

        I agree.

        My 4K Samsung TV in ultra HD has served me very well

      • Jam0sh
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Nah

      • Holmes
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        if you want to fit as many premium assets as possible

        there are options in every price bracket, so not much of an issue

      • Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Absolutely.
        Huge funds needed for midfield.

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

        yep, I have 5 tv's in my house.

        1. Lord.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          So that’s why you’re always first with the ‘OMG goal’ posts.

      • Champ
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Up to a point. More about timing. Eg TAA may be there or there about VS Alonso come the end of the season despite the price difference. Then you would like to have had Alonso for his early season hauls.

    3. MARVELLUS
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Pogba in worth a 4pt hit? Would end up benching Jiminez.....

    4. Benditlike
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Start Kolasinac or Doherty?

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

        Doherty

    5. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Will Kamara start?

    6. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Would you play Kamara (HUD) over Wilson (mun)?

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

        No

      2. MARVELLUS
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        No. Play Wilson

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

      Ryan and replacement to set and forget until double gw WC. Will be for a hit as no playing goalkeeper otherwise this week. Own no defenders from the teams of the goalkeepers below.

      A) Lloris
      B) Fabiankski
      C) Foster

    8. wildnothing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Who to captain?

      A Kane
      B Son
      C Hazard
      D Pogba

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

        E Aguero?

      2. Jafoole_88
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I'm captaining Aguero. Expecting a massive jizzing response from Man City this GW

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

        Safest bet is Kane....Son could pay off though....but rotation is a worry for both. I think Kane maybe prone to rest more as Son will be played every game I think before he departs to Asia

    9. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Do you see Mane playing from the start against Arsenal ?

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

        Yes

      2. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        yeah, pool gotta play their best XI

      3. Lionel Ronaldo
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I'm looking right now but can't see him.

    10. cheeky_ash
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Guys....

      Who to start this gameweek....2 out of 5?

      A. Kamara
      B. Aubameyang
      C. Digne
      D. D.Luiz
      E. Wan-Bissaka

      1. Paulinho14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        C and B. But I can hardly imagine how your team looks with this guys on the bench

    11. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      What to do?

      A) Hamer -> Button
      B) Fab -> Foster
      C) Billing -> Hojbjerg

      1. Paulinho14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        A or roll

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

          Can't roll only burn, 2FT's

          1. Paulinho14
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            then a, Button most likely to take Ryans spot

      2. Jimmy Boy
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Save your FT. If you've got two then A if you must

    12. Paulinho14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      play 2 out of these 4:

      a) Doherty (Tot A)
      b) Camarasa (Lei A)
      c) Kongolo (Ful A)
      d) Success (New H)

    13. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Pogba or Anderson for captain?

      1. Paulinho14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Pogba

    14. Gentle_Turks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No breakfast club today then?

    15. Mr_Barbs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Captain Kane captain Salah captain Kane captain Salah....

      1. Jam0sh
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Sounds ok

      2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Salah

    16. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      RM WC please

      Lloris - Speroni
      Robertson - Digne - Lindelof - Jonny - Bennett
      Salah - Hazard - Pogba - Felipe - Richarlison
      Kane - Deeney - Ings

      Planning to play 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 occasionally depending on fixtures.

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

        I'd want Doherty.

      2. Pereina
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Looks g2g, might face some benching headaches later on though.