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The Technical Area – Final Day Analysis

Over the past several seasons, the final Gameweek has repeatedly thrown up a number of surprising results, alongside more than its fair share of goalfests.

In 2016/17, our final day action included a 7-1 trouncing of Championship-bound Hull City at the hands of Spurs (and more specifically, Harry Kane); meanwhile, Chelsea and Man City each hit five goals past Sunderland and Watford, respectively.

Looking further back, this trend continues: 2015/16 saw a surprise 5-1 drubbing of Tottenham at the hands of Newcastle (who entered the game with their relegation already confirmed), while the 14/15 season finale saw Stoke beat Liverpool 6-1 and Leicester beat QPR 5-1.

Even these high-scoring fixtures pale in comparison, however, to the 10-goal showdown between West Brom and Manchester United in 2012/13, which produced a hat-trick for future United frontman Romelu Lukaku in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match at the helm.

While Gameweek 38 boasts a veritable laundry list of historically memorable fixtures, does the season’s final Gameweek actually result in a greater number of goals than a typical week? And who among this season’s Fantasy crop looks destined for success on the final day?

To explore this question, we dive into the history books to examine final-weekend showdowns over the past handful of seasons.

1,081 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Hairy Potter
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Didn’t see the last Man City match, did Jesus look any good? Was planning Vardy to Firmino this week, but wasn’t impressed with Spurs defence against Newcastle so think Vardy might score.

    1. Drum8888
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Jesus may as well not have been on the pitch

  2. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Is the top 20k the new top 10k? .... seems to be getting harder to get a top 10k finish

    1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      amazing rationalisation

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Well participation has doubled over the last few years and not too many of the Mods & Cons are in the top 10k 🙂

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      No, 10k is still 10k.

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Wasn’t 10k easier in the day ?

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I'm not sure. I get there pretty much every season. 😎

      2. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        But when 3 mill played 10k was the top 3.3%, now it is the top 1.6%, so 10k is really 20k 😉

        1. Monkey Hanger
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          30k is 1% of 3mil.

    3. L S P
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      i feel this way but about the top 50k

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        I will go for that too 🙂

    4. MTPockets
        6 years, 1 month ago

        200k

      • Oven Glover
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        My guess is that the top 155k must be the new 5k...

      • Bubz
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        No

      • CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        10000 people are better still if someone is just outside 10k

      • Coot
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        I finished 167th in 2010/11 with 2,243 points.

        Currently have 10 points less and sit at 13.5k.

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          QED 🙂

      • theroadrunner
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        haha im 92

      • CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Where's Ragabbolly when you need him

    5. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I'm feeling bittersweet my brother got a ticket for the CL final and I missed out on one absolutely delighted one of us is going to Kiev now but i feel wounded as we've both been all the home games in the CL this season and to miss out on a ballot does hurt a lot I guess winning my £200 ML can make me feel better right? #GREEDYUEFA#

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Buy a fought with the money and go and enjoy Kiev. Be loads of fans with no tickets having the craic and celebrating

        1. Lecky Legs FC
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah could do that like the atmosphere outside will be boss between both sets of fans will consider that actually cheers

      2. Norman Conquest
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        The amount of corporate tickets they have for finals is scandalous

        1. Lecky Legs FC
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          70,00 seater stadium but only 16,225 each for both fans disgraceful for UEFA but they've been doing this for years now so I shouldnt be shocked,angry or disappointed anymore.

    6. chelseabrad
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Chasing a 12 point lead in my ML, 1FT 0.3 ITB - he still has triple captain

      My Team:
      DDG (Fabianski)
      Otamendi Monreal Vertonghen (Morgan Naughton)
      Salah (c) Sterling Son Willian (Kenedy)
      Jesus Vardy J.Ayew

      His Team:
      Dubravka Fabianski
      Vertonghen Mawson Smalling Bertrand Long
      Eriksen Sane D.Silva Arnie Zaha
      Auba Jesus J.Ayew

      Any advice? Willian to who, given he has both Arnie & Zaha? Maybe Monreal > PvA? Cheers guys.

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Difficult mate, If he captains Auba he has an 18 point lead minimum.

    7. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Think Robertson will play this GW?

      1. Bissisine
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Yes.

    8. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      DDG gone.

      Almost my only season keeper.

      You kept any player the full 38 GW's?

      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        None..

        Kept the manager for the whole season though which is surprising

        1. Monkey Hanger
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Me too. 🙂

      2. pakornk
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        why gone?

    9. Bissisine
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Get rid of Sane or Son?
      Allready have Sterlig, Jesus, Kane, Bavies.

    10. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      TC candidates, pick one;

      A) Salah
      B) Kane
      C) Sterling

      1. Cojiro
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        A. Ironically likely to get more than Kane in 37

      2. pakornk
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        going with Salah.

    11. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I have smalling, davies and son and chasing big time

      Morgan and dummett on bench to cover

      worth a hit to sort smalling and son out? or just get VVD in for smalling and pray?

      fab
      Smalling davies mustafi
      sterling sane son mahrez
      jayew Jesus Kane

      thinking smalling and son to;
      A - long and salah
      B - vvd and zaha

      1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        C - smalling to VVD only
        D - son to zaha only

        1. pjomara
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Smalling to taa or robertson

    12. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Trailing by 6pts.
      A) Lingard > Zaha(exact fund)
      B) Son, Bavies > Salah, TAA for a hit.

      1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        A - we can’t say for sure about son or davies and 6 points is nothing so you don’t have to take any major risks

        1. JustPark
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Gudmundsson could come in for Son but not so sure on Morgan and Chiwell if Bavies doesn't produce.

        2. JustPark
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          And rival has Salah, Eriksen and Firmino notably.

      2. Cojiro
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Unfortunately the odds are against you. A hit and TAA won't be enough to catch up but going without Salah is risky. If salah blanks, you're laughing with option A. But will he?

        1. JustPark
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Sounds like B. TAA alone won't but TAA anda Salah? 😉

    13. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      For the people wondering about the Son rumors, etc. here is the reddit thread where it's being discussed and a link to the Korean article.

      https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comments/8im0bc/son_has_an_ankle_injury_that_stemmed_from_the/

      Interpret however you'd like. For me, I see Lamela or Lucas Moura getting a start with Top 4 wrapped up. With Mou saying it's Anthony & Marcus' turn this weekend, I think Son > Martial is a great move. However both teams have looked extremely lackluster.

      Arny, Zaha, Martial, Pedro (perhaps, I see him getting a start), Rambo all possible replacements.

      1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        ye see above for me, what do you reckon?

        1. That Was Easy!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Smalling > VVD, you have to consider whether it's realistic to catch whoever you're chasing. Smalling > Luke Shaw could be cheeky.

      2. Bissisine
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Maybe he is better now and start the match.

        1. That Was Easy!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Maybe yes, maybe no. Maybe no injury at all. I think this last week is all about minimizing uncertainty.

      3. MTPockets
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers. Looks like it's Lingard/Son to Zaha/Arnie then. Quite fancied that anyway.

        • SEXY SOLO SAUCE FOR THE LAS…
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I don't buy it. I'm certain he starts

      4. Henning
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Most nailed Liverpool defender?

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Vvd

      5. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Silva to Eriksen or Mane?

        Liverpool players: Robertson
        Spurs players: Son Kane
        City players: Sterling Jesus (silva)

        Or keep silva?

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Keep him if he's playing.

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            And will we know that?

            1. Epic Fail
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              Keep an ear to the ground. We may hear more soon.

        2. Cojiro
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I'm looking at a 4pt hit to get salah in for Silva. Too scared of going without him as I'm too of my ML

          1. Cojiro
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Top*

      6. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Not worth a hit to remove Smalling, might just start Mustafi instead.

        1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          this is what i’d be thinking usually except I have davies as well and dummett/morgan as my replacements. hit might be only a small gamble

      7. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Wow Gudmunsson’s stats are actually really good

        1. That Was Easy!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I don't know what to do with him. Do I start him over J. Ayew, even Son?

          He's first on my bench and I hate having him there.

          1. Bubz
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            I have that exact same decision

            1. That Was Easy!
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 1 month ago

              I'd honestly like to start both. What do Swansea's and Burnley's team attacking statistics look like?

              1. Bubz
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 1 month ago

                Swanseas attacking stats are of course terrible. Hes on pens though

      8. Cocky Spaniel Alves
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Did we get any wiser about the ManCity lineup?

        1. Bissisine
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Where?

          1. Cocky Spaniel Alves
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Presser

        2. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          he said don’t expect major changes or something along those lines. nothing that helpful

          1. Cocky Spaniel Alves
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Ok, ta.

      9. james 101
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        What would you do with these?!

        DDG
        Cresswell. Smalling. Mawson.
        Alli, Son, Sterling, Pogba.
        Vardy, Kane, Jesus.
        (Ryan. Kante. Lowton. Long.)

        20 points clear in my ml

        1. james 101
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I'm considering

          A. Pogba to Zaha
          B. Pogba/Vardy to Salah/Perez -4
          C Alli/Vardy to Zaha/Auba -4

          Or better to leave forwards and try to get both salah and Zaha in?

          1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            hmm, 16 point lead with salah(c) would still be pretty good. so maybe B

        2. CRO KLOPP
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Pogba to Arnie/Zaha

        3. pjomara
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Would Pogba + Smalling -> Salah + enabler work?
          playing lowton

          1. pjomara
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            or Ddg.
            Mourinho has said Smalling and ddg will be rested

      10. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        1FT 0.3ITB

        Ryan DDG
        Robertson vdH Smalling (Dummett Bertrand)
        Sterling Arnie Zaha Silva Son
        Kane Jesus (JAyew)

        Contemplating ddg + Silva/Son —> hennessey + mane/eriksen (-4)

        Do that, or something else?

      11. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Who more likely to start, Son or Willian?

        1. Bluth Banana
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Even steven

        2. Bissisine
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Son

      12. Henning
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Hmmm is it worth a hit to get VVD in for Smalling??

      13. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Son or Dilva more likely to start? One is getting transferred out for eriksen/mane

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Son

      14. Garth Marenghi
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Is Son injured?

        1. That Was Easy!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          See my post above, no one will be able to confirm either way.

          1. Garth Marenghi
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Ah thanks

        2. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          He's on Twitter. Ask him.

        3. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Lies because people know he’s going to haul 🙂

      15. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Any concrete news on David silva

      16. Henryyy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Would you keep or sell Kompany?

        1. pakornk
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          sell but not for a hit.

      17. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Cracking article. Enjoyed reading it and gained some valuable information.

        Well written.

        1. subhojit123
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Hey Berbinho... Any news on TAA starting this week?

          1. goriuanx
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Will do unless something happens tomorrow

        2. Arctic monkeys
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Same here

      18. subhojit123
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Is TAA poised to start? Any news from anfield express?

      19. pakornk
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        what to do with Mustafi?

      20. Dybala10
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Best last week punt?

        A) Son > Zaha
        B) Son > Mkhitaryan
        C) Christensen > PVA
        D) Christensen > Van Dijk
        E) Jesus > Aubameyang

        1. Henryyy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          D

      21. Kingston
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Madness to go for Mane over Salah if money is not an issue?

        1. Henryyy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Yes

        2. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Probably yeah but its the final gameweek and its a lottery, you might win

          1. Kingston
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            Thanks. I just have a feeling

        3. Taff1952
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Think I may just risk it. Last week fun.

      22. Dosh
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Ramsey -> Zaha for a hit?

        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Why?