Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 7

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 7.

It’s another Friday deadline and for those of you outside of the UK, note that we’ve switched from BST to GMT – get your team ready before 18:30 GMT.

Also, a quick heads up for next week: the Gameweek 8 deadline is on Friday at the unusual time of 16:00 GMT. 

Gameweek 6 proved to be a “horror show” for many, none more so than Pro Pundit Darren Wiles who emerged with a paltry 27 points. But, as he pointed out in his latest piece for Fantasy Football Scout: “it’s not the Gameweek score that maketh the manager, it is your response to it that really matters.”

Patience and a premium defence have been key to his success in recent years – at the last update Darren sat second in our Live Hall of Fame. So how does he cope when things go disastrously wrong?

I think it is so important for us to remember not all good decisions lead to good results in FPL. Ultimately, we pick our teams but we have absolutely no control over what happens on the pitch.

– Darren

Darren offered three great tips to help Fantasy managers with their FPL decision-making following a bad Gameweek:

  1. Identify the difference between bad decisions and what is bad luck.
  2. Try not to chase points.
  3. Embrace the highs and lows.

For more detail on each of these points have a read of his article.

What Happened to all the Goals?

There were four clean sheets registered in Gameweek 4; this rose to five in Gameweek 5 and to six in Gameweek 6. This trend for increases in clean sheets and decreases in goals scored week on week suggests that potentially now is the time that we as FPL managers should be looking to invest more of our budget in our defensive units.

– Sam

Pro Pundit Sam Bonfield highlighted the trend in increasing clean sheets this week as she considered investing more in defence. And Darren agrees, arguing that football managers are reacting to the early glut of goals:

However, I believe we will soon see a return to normality and Premier League managers will address the defensive issues. Manchester United’s rather dull, stalemate draw with Chelsea is perhaps a good early example of this.

– Darren

So which defences should we target? 

Three defenders featured in the headline Team News that’s emerged over the last couple of days, while the absence of Michail Antonio (£6.3m) could impact West Ham’s ability to hold up the ball and take the pressure off their backline:

Career Hall of Fame No 1 Fabio Borges was among those to be stung by Digne’s dismissal last weekend and he discussed replacements in his latest offering. While highlighting a potential rotation risk, one of the players he picked out was Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell (£5.8m):

With great fixtures ahead, an impressive attacking threat and some set pieces in his arsenal, Chilwell seems to be the best Chelsea defender to have and, simultaneously, the logical replacement for Digne.

– Fabio

Described as a “great option” by Sam, the former Leicester City full-back has attracted attention from most Pundits and observers following his recent performances. Writing in his Scout Notes on Chelsea’s visit to Old Trafford, David Wardale noted:  

Chilwell leads the way, not just among Chelsea defenders but the entire team, for chances created this season, with nine.

– David Wardale

While Pro Pundit Zophar pointed out that Chilwell’s potential reaches beyond the confines of Lampard’s team:

Since Chilwell’s first start for Chelsea in Gameweek four, only Robertson beats him for touches in the final third (99 v 117). No defender has created more chances over this period.

– Zophar

David offered further encouragement: not only is the left-back an attacking threat but there are good reasons for Chelsea’s improved defensive displays, and the fixture ticker looks promising too:

In the last three matches in which Thiago Silva (£5.5m) and Edouard Mendy (£5.0m) have started together, Chelsea haven’t conceded a single goal. The Blues are embarking on a very promising five-match schedule in which a visit from Spurs looks perhaps the toughest test

– David Wardale

The budget options in the West Ham United rearguard have also been attracting attention of late given their impressive performances.

West Ham’s defensive numbers are elite. Having played Manchester City, Spurs, Leicester and Wolves in the last four, the Hammers are still ranked the second-best for Shot in the Box conceded (18) and have allowed just four big chances.

– Zophar

Vladimir Coufal (£4.5m) and Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m) are the two players being considered. Pro Pundit Tom Freeman and Lateriser shared their thoughts on the pair:

At the back, Vladimir Coufal stands out due to his security of his starts.

– Tom

With Lateriser explaining:

I fear that Masuaku will make way, which makes me a little worried about his nailed-on-ness. The reason for this concern is if Moyes changes his set-up to accommodate his new signing Said Benrahma (£6.0m) into the team.

– Lateriser

The Hammers embark on an appealing run of fixtures from Gameweek 8, which could see their full-backs enjoy more attacking opportunities. But that injury to Antonio might hinder their threat going forward. Sam counselled:

Coufal looks like a fantastic option after the Liverpool game in Gameweek 7. His link-up play with Antonio was superb and managers who invest in the Hammers’ new boy will be hoping for a quick return for Antonio following his hamstring strain in Gameweek 6, as the prospect of a nice run of fixtures from Gameweek 8 until Christmas looks great for an in-form £4.5m defender.

– Sam

However, Sam is wary of filling her team with budget options:

Suddenly, owning Alexander-Arnold feels good again on the back of a really positive performance in the Champions League on Tuesday which saw him keep a clean sheet and register an assist. He was unlucky not to register points in Gameweek 6, too. Alongside him, it no longer feels ok to have a series of £4.5m defenders. Whilst the likes of Coufal and Mitchell look like great options if they continue to start, freeing up cash for the likes of Chilwell, Saiss and other £5.0m+ assets seems like a really good FPL strategy.

– Sam

Armband Dilemma

As David Munday reported in his Scout Notes from Liverpool’s encounter with Sheffield United, FPL managers can feel rather hard done by that Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) didn’t score. And the creator of the Transfer Algorithm, Mikkel Tokvam, doesn’t feel unduly concerned: 

A blank like Salah managed in Gameweek 6 has not worried the Algorithm at all. His underlying statistics for the Sheffield United match were amazing, it just wasn’t his day. After all, even the best players blank about half of the time anyway, and long-term data holds substantially more value than the short-term noise.

– Mikkel

The opportunity is there for Salah to redeem himself against West Ham and many, including Tom Freeman, are likely to hand him the armband. But our double-points maestro Jan Sienkiewicz, outlines an enticing case for Son Heung-min (£9.5m) in his Captain Sensible article. Analysing the upcoming fixture, Jan noted that the space left behind Tariq Lamptey (£4.7m) when he bombs forward could be exploited by the South Korean.

Brighton’s style of play suits Spurs, who have already proved this season, against Southampton and Manchester United, that they can be deadly on counter-attack.

– Jan

Opportunities to Consider

A switch to a back four for Arsenal increased Kieran Tierney’s (£5.4m) attacking threat. As Neale mentioned, the Scotsman is worth monitoring should Arteta stick with the formation.

Elsewhere Southampton’s front two are in good form:

In terms of value, the pair are ploughing remarkably similar furrows – the more expensive Ings is producing 4.6 points per million (PPM), the cheaper (but less productive) Adams 4.7 PPM.

– David Wardale

But will their high defensive line be exploited by Aston Villa, and in particular Jack Grealish (£7.3m)?

The average position map from Villa’s defeat to Leeds reinforces the idea that Grealish would stand to benefit most from the Saints high defensive line.

– David Munday

Although Zophar noted the Saints’ improvement at the back:

They have conceded a league-best two big chances over the last four Gameweeks does indicate to me though that this side is capable of producing solid defensive performances.

– Zophar

And could it be another chastening Gameweek for Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m), who was starved of service and managed only two penalty area touches and zero shots against Southampton, with the now-injured James Rodriguez (£8.0m) forced to play a little deeper:

Coleman’s absence also had an impact on Rodriguez, who was forced that much deeper and less central in a vain bid to provide some kind of help for Godfrey.

– David Wardale

Upcoming opponents Newcastle United restricted Wolves last Sunday to shots outside the box.

Wilfried Zaha (£7.3m) is Crystal Palace’s talisman, so should we be considering him for our teams given his recent form?

Admittedly, two penalties taken in the absence of Luka Milivojevic (£5.7m) may have helped slightly inflate Zaha’s long-term credentials and it is certainly worth noting that the Serbian international made his first Premier League start of the season in Gameweek 6. However, Zaha demonstrated that he does not necessarily need spot-kicks to register a double-digit haul, scoring, assisting and taking all three bonus away from Craven Cottage.

– David Munday

And finally, Patrick Bamford’s (£5.9m) “Pat-Trick” mustn’t go without mention, considering it came against a previously excellent Aston Villa defence: 

Aston Villa had kept three clean sheets from a possible four and had the best expected goals conceded (xGC) figure in the Premier League (4.04). Bamford was having none of that, registering a total of nine shots, seven in the box and four on target.

– David Munday

An injury-hit Leicester City side is next up for Bielsa’s men.

Community latest

Yesterday’s Best of the Community feature included a look at some of the under-the-radar players who have performed better than expected and also provided some reassuring stats for those favouring a Salah armband.

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 7 can be found below:

Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

May your arrows be green!

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

1,203 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on the following for a -4:

    James - > Zaha
    Podence -> Foden

    Opinions appreciated!

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Foden transfer not worth a hit IMO

      1. DannyD
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        this

    2. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      My opinion is ‘yikes’

      1. Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Why??

    3. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good

  2. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Lewis
    Salah (c) son jrod Barkley
    Mitro Jimenez maupay

    Steer Podence Taylor Ferguson
    2.8m itb 1ft

    Would anyone do anything with this or just roll the transfer for next week?

    1. DannyD
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      let the good times roll!

  3. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any leaked team news? Interested to know if Saiss will start or not.

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He’s not flagged. What’s the issue?

      1. KGFC
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Many saying he will be benched for Marcal

      2. Seanigula
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        That he isn’t great on the wing and gets replaced at 60 minutes

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Ok thanks.

  4. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    1FT 1.5ITB
    (A) Podence to Barnes
    (B) Podence to Mount
    (C) roll FT

    1. AnfieldLad
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Roll

  5. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So iv a good lot off captain choices and I'm currently edgeing towards Kane, which off these seem the best

    A. Werner
    B. Kane
    C. Sterling
    D. Foden
    E. Salah

  6. DanL18
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rodriguez to Foden or a hit?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Depends on your bench but no.

  7. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah(c) it is

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Boom, 2pts locked and loaded...

      1. DannyD
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        lol

    2. corderz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Son says hi 😉

  8. QUEN
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    KWP or Ayling to start

    Have mccarthy

    1. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ayling

  9. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Plagued with injuries this GW, what to do:

    A) Start Bissouma, Save 1 FT
    B) J-Rod -> Zaha for 1FT and play Zaha over Bissouma
    C) Castagne -> Creswell for 1FT and start Creswell over Bissouma
    D) Castagne + J. Rod -> 4.5 + Rashford (-4)

    Cheers!

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      D Coufal

      1. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        This

    2. korbendallas82
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      i want rashford, but nit for -4 against Arsenal So im Waiting. I am playing ASM. I would be a little more pressured with bissouma though. But Zaha is not a optimal transfer, if you really want Rashford. Maby he can cover a -4 with his form.

  10. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If you have Sterling, Kane and Salah would you captain Sterling?

    1. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah Sterling looks great this GW

    3. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not with City's form

  11. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What do you think about best captain option? Son looks good against Brighton, especially if they play high line and with 3-4-3 formation. On the other hand will they? I feel like Salah is safer choice. Thoughts?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I’ve gone salah, wh have conceded a lot of chances and shots in the last 2 games, but it could go either way

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Son against a naive Brighton high line

    3. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Im going Salah still

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Gales tomorrow no one mentioned this?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Tony Gayle?

  12. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Zaha And Semado playing either a CS for wolves or Zaha is involved what could possibly go wrong

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      This is the reason I went with Zaha

    2. djoker_nole
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Have Saiss, Coady , Jimmy and Zaha here. Can see a 1-1 with Michy and Podence scoring

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah more than likely

  13. phace
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    2FT, 0.5 ITB. Need help guys, don't want to waste an FT.

    (A) TAA > Zouma & Jimenez > Kane
    (B) Maupay > Bamford (rolling 1FT)
    (C) Maupay > Che Adams (rolling 1FT)
    (D) Mendy/Maupay > cheapo/Foden

    Martínez - (Steer)
    Justin - Robertson - Alexander-Arnold - (Dunne) - (Mitchell)
    Pulisic - Zaha - Salah - Son - (Mendy)
    Maupay - Calvert-Lewin - Jiménez

  14. Takedog1
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Gomez for lpool on a wc, is that silly???

    1. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

    2. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah better options, can’t see many clean sheets without VVD and he has no attacking threat

    3. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

  15. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Watkins -> Bamford for free?

    Already have Grealish...

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No Villa fixtures look decent

    2. Frucke
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

  16. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How secure is Cancelo medium term you reckon guys....?

    1. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      *for Pep accepted...

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      2 out of 3 games I would say

      1. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        This

    3. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers guys

  17. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Choose one:
    A) Ziyech
    B) Pulisic

    1. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

  18. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is mitchell gonna start?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes imo

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I hope so

  19. The VAR Team
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Pick one going forward:
    A) Zaha
    B) Bowen

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bowen

  20. Viper
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I'm keeping Rodriguez this week, so would you:

    Play Reed & save FT

    Or

    Ferguson -> Kilman

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Reed

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I’d play Reed. Hope he starts.

  21. The SK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who to start?
    A) Mitchell (wol)
    B) Lamptey (tot)

  22. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    feels nice to remember the deadline this week 🙂

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Evening Alex

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        i m a bit confused why you calling me alex ? i thought it was a typo at first but not so sure now..just wondering 🙂

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I have a WhatsApp group dedicated to #rememberrupert

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        haha excellent

  23. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who would you ditch to bring Chilwell.

    A) Lamptey
    B) KWP
    C) Lewis

    *other defenders are Robbo and Dallas if that matters

    1. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C

  24. A Team Of James McCleans
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Differentials for this week on free hit?

    1. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pereira

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Mane, Ings, Wilson

  25. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Lewis
    Salah (c) son jrod Barkley
    Mitro Jimenez maupay

    Steer Podence Taylor Ferguson

    Last minute idea. Have the exact money to do TAA + Maupay to chilwell + Kane for a -4

    Worth it?

  26. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bench order these?

    Podence
    Mitchell
    Lamptey

    1. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      M L P

  27. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bench one:

    A) KWP
    B) Soucek
    C) Podence

  28. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So maupay saiss to bamford Chilwell for free guyssssss????

  29. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Todays odds to get reply anytime 3/1

  30. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bench 1 of these
    Barkly zaha dcl