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The Complete Guide to our FPL Gameweek 13 tips and advice

Miraculously, players infected with a contagious dose of “International-itis” are making full recoveries. Is anyone really surprised? Flags have been removed for the likes of Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha. However there are the odd exceptions.

It has been confirmed that Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy is out for 10 to 12 weeks and Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier is also facing a spell on the sidelines. Fantasy managers have sold the pair en masse – the defenders have departed from over 700k FPL teams at the time of writing.

The most popular Black Friday purchases are Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte and Liverpool duo Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Each one has been snapped up by over 150k new managers.

A popular choice on the site, Everton’s Lucas Digne is only the tenth most transferred in defender this week with a little over 50k new owners. This includes Joe and Az. Will they be disappointed? Or will the 2.6% owned defender prove a canny differential?

For a run down of all the latest team news Neale (aka Skonto Rigga) has put together this handy article. To further help us with our transfer decisions Neale has researched player rotation over the festive schedule last year. As we enter this famously hectic period are there any players we can rely upon to start?

The latest ‘Frisking the Fixtures’ article points to a favourable swing for Manchester United. After six goals in the last five gameweeks, the potential of Anthony Martial was discussed on this week’s Scoutcast (see 15 minutes 50 seconds), and was the subject of an excellent Hot Topic by TheFantasyFreÆK. According to the bookies’ odds article posted by circusmonkey, Martial is expected to score 7.5 points this gameweek.

The third most transferred in player this round – after Wolves’s Jiménez and Everton’s Richarlison – the Frenchman has overtaken Paul Pogba as the most owned United outfield player. It will be interesting to see which of the two takes the next penalty. United have been awarded five penalties so far this season; Pogba has taken four of them missing two, while Martial converted their most recent penalty when Pogba missed out through injury.

Bookies odds were also the subject of another community article – Expected Clean Sheets by WesMantooth. An appreciation of odds as a predictive tool, the article highlighted the good work done by G-Whizz each week with his look at clean sheet odds. This week Wolves come out on top with a 58% chance of a shut-out.

Greyhead returned with his weekly look at The Great and The Good, reflecting on the moves made by this select band of managers in Gameweek 12. Mark’s hit spree continued as he took his quota of West Ham players up to three. Fabianski and Balbuena joining Marko Arnautovic in his side.

Unsurprisingly Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was the popular captain choice for his side’s home match against Fulham. However a much trickier choice presents itself this week. The Captain Sensible article weighs up the pros and cons of armband candidates Richarlison, Salah, and Aguero. While Joe and Neale also discuss the captaincy options in this 20 minute video.

Joe continued his excellent ‘Meet the Manager’ series interviewing financial services expert Marc Rubinstein. Discover how Marc applies risk management techniques to FPL management, an approach which has garnered three top five thousand finishes.

David followed up his insightful work from last week on where teams concede the most chances from. Part two examines the defensive weaknesses of the remaining ten teams – Leicester to Wolves – and Part three consolidates and digs deeper into the players most likely to benefit over the next six gameweeks. It’s thrown up a few expected and some unexpected names, and has certainly provided food for thought.

Neale continued David’s comparison articles from last week, examining the performances of Marcos Alonso and Mohamed Salah. Over the International Break, this series of members articles has also taken a look at Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane. The purpose is to compare their current season with their best ever season to gauge how well they are performing and if they are providing value for money.

A selection of players who clearly haven’t provided value for money this season were the subject of an article by Tacalabala. He looked back on the traps many of us have fallen into – promising players who blanked as soon as they entered our teams.

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

While the draw for the first round of the FFS Cup 2018/19 has taken place, fantasy managers have until 10.30am on Monday November 26 to enter their teams for the Members Cup. Details on how to enter can be found here.

Both tournaments have £300 in prizes on offer.

The FFS Manager Melee gets underway this week with the seeding round. When ‘Arry Met Sarri won the best photo competition and have been entered into pot 1.

The second FFS Charity Cup took place last weekend in Watford. A huge thank you to former Career Hall of Fame number one Peter Kouwenberg (aka MyPrettyPony) for organising everything from the venue to the format of the tournament and the post match drinks in the pub.

There were some keenly contested matches and amongst some fairly average finishing (my xG stats were impressive, my total of 0 goals less so) there were moments of sublime teamwork. At least that’s how I like to remember it.

Nearly £700 has been raised for our chosen charity – the Campaign Against Living Miserably. CALM is dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK. It would be great to push total closer to £1,000 – donations can still be made via our JustGiving page.

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

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

1,419 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Duffy or Fraser as first sub??

    1. Stinglikeabee
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Fraser

    2. Deulo10
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Fraser

  2. Hardly Athletic
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Play 1:

    a. Barkley (away to Spurs)
    b. Balbuena (home to Man City)
    c. Wan-Bissaka (away to Man United)

    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. Stinglikeabee
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A and hope he plays

    3. Deulo10
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A

    4. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A

  3. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone taking a punt on Lindelöf for Mendy replacement?

    1. Cheshire Duck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      a friend in my mini league did this

      1. John Colby (Capt)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I have. Like Utd’s forthcoming fixtures and he scored for Sweden during the week.

    2. Jonny HOW SON?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      joking right?

  4. Cheshire Duck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Keep Shaqiri as a differential or play secure and get Martial for free ?

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Both as secure as each other by Christmas

    2. Gentle_Turks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I'd hold Shaquiri for now, but can understand why you'd want Martial. The ideal is to have both.

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

      Go Martial. Big Shaq will always be the first subbed if I look doesn't like what he's seeing.

  5. Red Rock
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Does this sound ok for a -4??

    Lacazette & Kennedy & Mendy > Jimenez & Martial & Robertson (+£1m in bank)

    Patrício
    TAA Alonso Doherty MENDY
    Sterling Hazard Richarlison KENNEDY
    Aguero LACAZETTE

    Arnie Diangana AWB

    1. Gentle_Turks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      You have TAA.
      Lacazette & Kenedy & Mendy > Jimenez & Martial & LAPORTE

      1. Red Rock
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks GT, just not sold on Laporte, a bit boring but i know City will get the most clean sheets

    2. AndyCook
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Would leave the Mendy transfer a week do the other two and play Arnie. I think Watford will score and Robertson might not even play

        1. Red Rock
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks Andy, my thinking was in case TAA gets benched then i wouldnt have a defender (assuming AWB is out)

          I see your logic though, i think Watford will score as well

          1. AndyCook
              5 years, 4 months ago

              On a -4 even if you miss out on a player they are going to have to be getting a clean sheet or assist to pay it back so I’m not sure it is worth it just to make the numbers in case TAA doesn’t start. He didn’t start against Croatia so he should be in decent shape and Klopp might not even want him in the 11 for PSG.

              1. Red Rock
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                I see what you're saying, will probably leave Mendy for next week then. Thanks!

        2. Stinglikeabee
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Im not sure. I would want to hold Laca this week. And Robo might be rested for midweek.

          1. Red Rock
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            I have 2 FT's and unsure what to do otherwise 🙂

            Robertson has a high chance of a rest, just dont know how else i can squeeze anyone relevant into my team, i do quite want Martial with his fixtures

            1. AndyCook
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Arsenal could score 4 or lose by 2 this weekend. It’s hard to call but can see why you don’t want to lose any of the other attackers and Martial and Jiménez both represent great value for money

                1. Red Rock
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Its really just getting rid of Kennedy, the only way i can see if by swapping out Laca, not over the moon about it - as you say Arsenal are in good shape

        3. Rhodes your boat
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Gtg guys?

          Ederson
          Alonso robbo taa Digne Bennett
          salah siggy maddison
          Aguero arnie

          Hamer Fraser success guendouzi

          0ft 4.0 itb

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

          G2g?

          Fabianski
          Alonso, Robbo, Doherty
          Martial, Salah, Hazard, Richarlison
          Kun(c), Ings, Arnie

          Hamer,-Bennett, Billing, AWB

          Not expecting much of this GW

        5. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Is it worth me taking a -4 here?

          Allison
          Doherty, Digne, Robertson*
          Salah, Richarlison, Anderson, Mahrez*
          Aguero, Mitrovic, Arnie

          4.0, Gunnarson, Trippier**, 3.9

          Basically no bench. I don't personally think Robbo or Mahrez will start. Not really sure what to do here. 1.6m in the bank

          1. TheTinman
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Why would Robbo not start?

            1. Gentle_Turks
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              That tweet...

              1. TheTinman
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                What tweet

                1. IRBOX ⚽
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Scout tweets quoting Klopp’s presser

                2. Gentle_Turks
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Klopps comments about him being tired having played two intense games for Scotland.

            2. photek
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              rumours of him being rested

          2. Bojan ye gud ting
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Trippier - TAA, Mahrez - Sterling. If you have funds

            1. Bubz
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Have 3 Pool already

          3. AndyCook
              5 years, 4 months ago

              It’s a bit of a mess but I can’t think of any obvious swaps to keep long term so I would be tempted to risk it. Mahrez can easily come on and score and Robertson could easily play

          4. sacana12
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Hey, 2 FT and 2.7 ITB:

            Ederson
            Trippier* Robertson Bennet
            Salah Hazard Richarlison Gudmundson
            Jimenez Firmino Arnie

            Bench: Button, Zabaleta, Bissaka, Billing

            A: Trip & Firmino --> R. Pereira & Aguero
            B: Trip & Firmino --> Alonso & Auba
            C: Trip & zabaleta -- Alonso & Digbe

            1. Bat Man
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              A or B

          5. Gooner97
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Pick 1:

            A) Maddison to Gudmundsson
            B) Jonny to Vineagre
            C) Wilsonnto Jimenez

            1. Bat Man
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              B

            2. AYLD28
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              3

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

              B

          6. Richd
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Is the mobile site not working anymore ?

            I have desktop mode and I’ve played with settings. iPhone XS

            1. The Overthinker
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              It was showing an error couple of minutes ago.
              Working fine now

            2. Oven Glover
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Subtle phone brag

            3. Flimmy Joyd Basselhaink
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              I’m trying to enter the ffs cup but I’m on my iPhone and can’t get at my team I’d. Doesn’t come up in the url bit on ‘Gameweek history’ page. Please help, I want to kick all your sorry asses in the cup!!

              1. Flimmy Joyd Basselhaink
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Sorted it.

            4. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Working fine for me

          7. Karan14
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Salah or Kun cap?

            Kun the safer option given his ownership?

            1. The Overthinker
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Salah better option

            2. Kalou
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Use your membership ,answer is there.

            3. Duka
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Kun is only good option when city are playing home

              1. fc_skrald
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                He might score a few today to change that general feeling ⚽⚽⚽

            4. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Salah

          8. Deulo10
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Need to transfer out Murphy to a 6.3 midfielder. Gudmundsson? Or are there better options?

            1. Duka
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Paterson and bank the cash

          9. AYLD28
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            These worth a double hit?

            Fraser + Success > Hogg/Kyal + Jimenez (-8)

            Ederson
            Duffy Robertson Alonso Doherty AWB
            Salah Hazard Fraser Richarlison Martial
            Aguero Arnie Success

            1. Bat Man
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              No way

            2. Cheshire Duck
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              no

            3. Ode
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Don't think so

            4. FPL Daniel
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              If Jimenez hit double digits it might work

          10. Ode
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Play one:

            A) Gomez (double up with Robbo)
            B) Kenedy

            1. Cheshire Duck
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              A but both Gomez and Robertson might be rotated this week

          11. jomikijiq
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Start:

            A) Ings
            B) Arnie

            1. Gentle_Turks
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Ings aint gonna play.

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

            4-4-2 w/ Dunk or 3-5-2 w/ Neves?

            Pickford (Hamer)
            Robertson Laporte Doherty Dunk (Peltier)
            Salah Sterling Richarlison Martial (Neves)
            Aguero Jiménez (Kamara)

          13. photek
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Mendy & Barkley > Doherty & Richarlison for -4 worth it?

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

              yep

            2. Eat my goal!
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Kovacic doubt means Barkley likely to start

              Defo Mendy > Doherty

              Rich in for a hit has a good chance of paying off

            3. AndyCook
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Yes

              • photek
                • 11 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Cheers guys

            4. lilmessipran
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Any suggestions for this wc lot

              Flappy 4.0
              Alonso Taa Doherty Bennett Awb
              Salah Haza Sane Richa Camarasa
              Kun Arnie Jiminez

              With Mendy out for 10-11 gws I think Sane is worth a punt

            5. FPL Daniel
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Any latest news since yesterday that we need to know?

              Thanks

              1. Kryten
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                None that I know off

                1. FPL Daniel
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Thanks Man. I am scared Robbo to be benched

            6. The Wizard of Ozil
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Sterling ok for caption? Which would you pick?

              A) Sterling
              B) Aguero
              C) Hazard
              D) Richarlison
              E) Larcazette

              1. FPL Daniel
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                He is risky however might be largely profitable. Remember Mark?

            7. Venom Snake
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Stones or Digne?

              1. Kryten
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Digne

            8. Razor425
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Fab
              Robbo, Alonso, Dinge
              Salah (c), Maddison, Barkley, Fraser
              Jimenez, Aguero, Arnie

              Foster, AWB, Jonny, Bilva

              This team ok for this week or should I do Bilva > Martial -8 to ensure I have a full team?

              Already done Mendy + Ings > Jimenez + Robbo for -4

              1. Kryten
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Not a fan of - 8 your team looks OK would hold

                1. Razor425
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Thanks, was leaning that way myself

            9. Bobby_Baggio
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Captain vote up out of the following only please? Most votes gets the nod.....

              A) Aguero
              B) Salah
              C) Richarlison
              D) Martial

              1. jomikijiq
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                B

              2. Kryten
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Salah

              3. The Overthinker
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                B

              4. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                B

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

                B

              6. Bobby_Baggio
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Thanks all a clear winner!

            10. The Overthinker
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Aguero has 5 goals in 7 away matches this season. Only 1 in premier league out of 5 matches ....

              Captain dilemma

              1. FPL Daniel
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                He will be among the top after the deadline.

                Will he have over 100EO?

                1. The Overthinker
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Dont think so.

              2. Eat my goal!
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                I’d say Salah / Aguero are 50/50 but Salah could also get a CS bonus and the extra goal point

                Rich is inconsistent but it looks like a great game to increase the probability of returns

              3. AuFeld
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                His conversion rate of 6.3% on the road is atrocious. For defenses at home, WHU have conceded the most amount of chances and crosses from their left flank. Captain Sterling if you have him.

            11. The Mighty Hippo
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Who to bench: Arnie or Anderson?

              1. Kryten
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Anderson as Arnie will surly be the goalscorer if City conceded

                1. The Mighty Hippo
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Thanks - that's how I've current got it set up, but I just had a moment of doubt.

            12. Taking one for the team
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Start Fraser or Arnie?

              1. Bojan ye gud ting
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Fraser

            13. Oggle22
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              G2G?
              Hart
              TAA Stones Alonso Bennett’s

              1. Parm
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Yeah that'll do

                1. Oggle22
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  1. Oggle22
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 4 months ago

                    G2G?
                    Hart
                    Alonso Stones Chilwell TAA
                    Salah Mane Rich(c)
                    Jiminez Arnie Aguero

                    Foster Brooks Obiang AWB

                    Play Brooks over Arnie and (c) Salah

            14. ChippyT
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Ederson (Foster)
              Alonso|Robbo|Doherty (Daniels|Wan-B)
              Siggy|Mane|Hazard|Martial (Fraser)
              Jimenez|Wilson|Aguero

              Who should i give the armband to, its currently on Mane but unsure ?

              1. Parm
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Martial for me

              2. Kryten
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Mane would be a captain differential for sure.. Would go kun out of your team but I am a dullard

              3. The Mighty Hippo
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Very nice team Chippyt. I would go with Kun as the captain and one of Martial / Siggy as the VC.

            15. Oggle22
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              G2G?
              Hart
              Alonso Stones Chilwell TAA
              Salah Mane Rich(c)
              Jiminez Arnie Aguero

              Foster Brooks Obiang AWB

              Or Play Brooks over Arnie and (c) Salah