Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 31+

A quick turnaround as we head straight into Gameweek 31+ and once again we have a 5pm BST deadline.

While an earlier cut-off may be part of the ‘new normal’, one thing that hasn’t changed is that Pep Guardiola likes to rotate his players. As ever, predictably unpredictable.

Some interesting thoughts on how we could finally use that to our advantage in this Gameweek Guide, as well as enticing differentials and captain options.

To win the Pep Roulette, you need to play the Pep Roulette. It’s one of the biggest pots out there.

– LateRiser

Who else but our favourite upside-chasing manager LateRiser perfectly articulating the dilemma presented to us Fantasy managers by Manchester City. Thankfully, in his latest article, he offered us an intriguing option on how to play our hand. Could Phil Foden offer a less ‘all-in’ approach?

When it comes to Foden, I expect him to get a lot of minutes and I think he’s a really good option for your eighth attacker. What I would do with Foden is that if he is rested for a particular game, I would probably start him in my FPL team in the next game as we expect Pep to rotate and Foden’s upside is very high.

– LateRiser

To give our Pro Pundit some credit he did highlight Phil Foden on yesterday’s Scoutcast ahead of the evening kick-off. Although a bigger round of applause is reserved for Pep Pig, who not only brought him in for Gameweek 30+ but told us about it beforehand – twice! Unsurprisingly he still leads RedLightning’s January to July mini-league.

The big news that could potentially impact how we shuffle our City pack, is the injury to Sergio Aguero. As Neale report in the Scout Notes, Pep did not sound overly optimistic in his post-match interview:

He felt something in his knee. He was struggling the last month, some pain in his knee. It doesn’t look good for this season.

– Pep Guardiola

The two immediate beneficiaries are Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling:

The stock of Gabriel Jesus could be about to rise as we await a proper diagnosis from the City medical department, although it should be said that Raheem Sterling has operated as a ‘false nine’ in Guardiola’s various systems before and the Brazilian will surely not be starting week-in, week-out from now until Gameweek 38+ even if Aguero is sidelined.

– Neale

However with upcoming matches against Chelsea and Liverpool either side of an all-important FA cup tie against a resurgent Newcastle, looking elsewhere could be a viable option in the short term.

Manchester United and Wolves appear to be the golden ticket teams. The Red Devils take on a depleted Sheffield United defence with John Egan suspended and Dean Henderson ineligible to face his parent club – do check out the latest Team News ahead of the deadline. 

If you are considering one of Fernandes or Rashford for the armband, David’s dive into the stats is essential reading. His feeling is that Fernandes has the slight edge:

The fact he is a midfielder also gives him the edge over Rashford who, despite looking like an exciting option for Gameweek 31+, cannot capitalise on clean sheets and scores one fewer point for every goal scored, when compared with Fernandes.

– David

While in the debate between Rashford and Martial, TheFantasyFreÆK is leaning towards the Englishman:

Despite having his minutes curtailed by injury, Rashford has recorded the second highest number big chances at home of all forwards this season. Over the season, Rashford has registered 23 big chances compared to Martial’s 14 with both of them having played a similar amount of minutes.

– TheFantasyFreÆK

Manchester United and Wolves also have the best odds of a clean sheet after Liverpool, according to the bookmakers via G-Whizz.

But there are plenty of options for our teams this Gameweek. Neale highlighted Son’s potential earlier this month: 

Son’s shot accuracy in the Mourinho era has also caught the eye: an average of 1.53 efforts on target per 90 minutes is inferior only to Salah (1.61) when we look at midfield regulars in the top flight.

– Neale

While Pro Pundit Tom Freeman picked out the returning Dele Alli as one to watch in his differentials piece. An opinion backed up by David:

Dele Alli managed a total of 11 shots in the box over his last four, an average of 2.75. Crucially, that was achieved in his number 10 role, which he is likely to be dropped back into for Tuesday’s London clash with West Ham.

– David

There’s an enticing trip to Carrow Road for EvertonRicharlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin appeal:

The Everton pair have managed to record the joint-second-highest total for shots in the box over their last four, against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. That is incredibly ominous as they prepare to face Norwich in Gameweek 31+.

– David

In short, those who fancy an alternative to a Liverpool captain this week have plenty of options.

Community competitions

The Fantasy Football Scout Cup continued in Gameweek 30+ with Round Two taking place. The full results can be seen here

If you want to enter the new The FFScout Charity Shield mini-league, do so now.

We’ll be closing the league to new entries after the Gameweek 31+ deadline passes at 17:00 BST on Tuesday. Head to the FPL site via this link and use the code ‘i3lxye’ to sign up.

The top five places receive a free membership for next season. Fantasy Football Scout will also be making a donation of £300 towards the NHS and has set up a JustGiving page should others wish to make a contribution.

In TorresMagic’s Last Man Standing the safety score in Gameweek 30+ was a whopping 95 points, which saw a total of 72 managers eliminated.

The threshold for elimination increases to 30% for Gameweek 31+ and a minimum of 63 managers will depart. 4,899 managers have exited the competition so far with 207 left to battle.

A full review of the round-up of latest community mini-leagues will appear tomorrow.

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

2,043 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Moose™
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best 4.4 def to rotate with Lasc?

    1. Seamy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Kiko

      1. Top 210 Club
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        does he start anymore?

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Masina/Kiko

    3. chonks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      holgate

    4. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Holgate

    5. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Holgate has best rotation.

      1. chonks
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        wanna see me pull a rabbit out of my hat

  2. mr messi
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is Pope crap now? Foster a better pick?

  3. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pogba or Richa

  4. YuvalFPL
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So much indecision. Bruno (C) lets go.

  5. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pants edging downards

  6. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Start Grealish, Saka or Taylor???

  7. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    BRUNO OR SON CAPTAIN?

    1. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Bruno

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Stfu

    3. That Fantasy Guy
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Bruno

    4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Gone Son

    5. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Bruno - but Salah is the man

    6. Top 210 Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      soooon

  8. That Fantasy Guy
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A. Son + McCarthy
    or
    B. Alli + Pope

    Thanks.

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    burnley are trash, pope to martinez done

    1. QUEN
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ha that’s what I did rather the money itb

    2. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Arsenal are worse defensively

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        true but 2 trash teams I go with the cheap one

  10. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    jim or bruno for captain guys?!!

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I just switched from Jimi to Bruno....argh!

    2. Dont give a fuchs
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Bruno

  11. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Start Saka or Nketiah? aaaargh

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      nketiah

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        thanks very much!

    2. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      thx!

  12. reo19uk
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hope this Team good to go?

    Dubravka
    Maguire, Saïss, VVD, Taylor,
    Fernandes, KDB, Salah, Son
    Jiménez,Rashford

    Pope, Lascelles, Joelinton, Cantwell

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No make some changes quickly!!!

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Only joking, looks decent.

    2. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      needs more work 😉

  13. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    PANIC STATIONS - last minute team choices!!

  14. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Last minute switch to Bruno

  15. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Vardy captain FTW!

  16. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Salah or Jimi captain?

  17. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Start Lascelles or Holgate?

    1. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I had the same question last minute. Went lascelles.

  18. Kvnforthewin
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Aw *bleep* , here we go again.

  19. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    PENS DOWN mother stickers.

    1. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      you missed the i

  20. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    It’s over!

  21. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    And pens down!

  22. Geezer
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pants down

  23. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Ahhhhh I’ve gone without Salah. This is horrific

  24. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Come oooooonnnn Barnes !!!!!

  25. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Last minute got Alli, good luck everyone!

    1. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Same

  26. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Time almost up, check you've pressed the WC button and chose the correct captain. Screenshot the team.

  27. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    No Barnes, is he injured?

  28. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pants off!

  29. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Last minute change. Mané OUT Salah (C) IN. Exciting times!

    1. Orion
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Great pick 🙂

      1. teneighty
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers and good luck!

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Really?! I’ve just brought Mané in for a hit!

      1. teneighty
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Let's just hope they both score a lot. 🙂

  30. Party time
      3 years, 9 months ago

      OMG