Tips

The Complete Guide to FPL Blank Gameweek 27 tips and advice

Drowning in mayonnaise? Swimming in ketchup? Floating in salt and vinegar?

Chip planning can leave you feeling engulfed in a sea of condiments. Thankfully, like David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson striding down the beach ready to dive in and save us, we have our own David (aka DavidMunday815) and Neale (aka Skonto Rigga) to keep our heads above the vinegar.

And if that doesn’t cut the mustard, the Fantasy Football Scout guide to Gameweek 27 features a healthy dollop of fixture planning with a generous serving of discussion, strategising, and debate.

First a warning – don’t miss the deadline: remember this week we have a 18:45 UK Time deadline as two matches are taking place this evening.

The main topic of discussion in the lead up to the deadline has been the fixture developments following the draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals. The ensuing Blank and Double Gameweeks present opportunities for Fantasy managers. Neale, in his article last Tuesday, outlined the three popular strategies for navigating these crucial Gameweeks. However he pointed out that:

“There is no right or wrong way to deploy chips in FPL … Last season, Yusuf Shiekh Wildcarded in Gameweek 25, Bench Boosted in Gameweek 37 and used his Triple Captain chip in Gameweek 38 – and finished first in the world.”

This sentiment was echoed by the FPL General in his opinion piece on why you should tailor your chip strategy to your squad:

“The most important thing is to do what is right for your team. We are all going into this period from a different starting point.”

Discussion continued on the Scoutcast this week as David, Luke, and Az answered questions about chip strategies and outlined their thinking. Plans have also been debated on site with Flapjack looking at deploying his Free Hit chip in Gameweek 31 and Deulofail highlighting which players could do well.

Meanwhile, in his community article, Pep Pig put forward an alternative view focusing on which teams and players to target for those not using their Free Hit or Wildcard chips in Gameweek 31.

Elsewhere, Geoff started a Hot Topic on the three main chip strategies.

Although at this stage the picture is not entirely clear – we know about the Blank fixtures for Gameweek 31 and we have a good idea about the Gameweek 33 Blanks, but we don’t yet know when the rearranged fixtures will take place.

We could find out today when the broadcasters announce which matches they have chosen to show live in April, but there’s a chance we may not find out until after Gameweek 31.

For the moment, many FPL managers have assumed that the fixtures will simply move along to closest available Gameweek but others, such as Jarvish, have had a stab at predicting what would suit the TV companies. A Double Gameweek for Manchester City with fixtures against Fulham and Cardiff anyone?

No I’m not trying to give you nightmares but yes, that was Leroy ‘one-point-in-a-Double-Gameweek’ Sané scoring a belter of free-kick in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. City players continue to be the subject of debate – they Blank this Gameweek and in Gameweek 31, but they have three appealing fixtures in between and are in scintillating form. David gave his thoughts on what to do with their players in FPL Question Time.

Someone who never wants to give you nightmares is Greyhead, who this week enlisted the help of Britney Spears for his regular look at The Great and The Good. One manager who must feel like screaming and shouting after no doubt being driven crazy by his recent run of form is Ville Rönkä – it’s now 10 (ten!) red arrows in a row for the Career Top Ten Hall of Fame Manager.

Elsewhere in ‘The Great and The Good’, Torres Magic continues to stockpile his reserves – he’s made one transfer already this week with his money in the bank increasing from £7.7m to £8.9m. FPL Transfer Spy suggests he’s sold Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso for Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira.

The Portuguese international was the subject of a recent Members’ article, comparing him with his Leicester colleagues Chilwell and Maguire. The Foxes are the only club to avoid any of the “big six” in the next nine Gameweeks, with all five of their home matches during that time against teams currently in the bottom half of the table.

Attacking defenders were the focus of a community article by Chris Kish this week, who lamented the unreliability of clean sheets. While another Leicester City player, James Maddison features in the differentials article, spotlighting players with under 5% ownership.

However both Maddison and Chilwell were mentioned as injury doubts in Claude Puel’s press conference, as reported by Neale in his first team news bulletin. Neale will round up all the team news later on today after the remaining press conferences, and there should be a summary from Rotation’s Alter Ego.

With City and Chelsea Blanking this week, and Manchester United hosting Liverpool, attention in the short term turns to Arsenal. David has delved into the numbers to uncover who are the best Arsenal players to sign for Blank Gameweek 27. While on this week’s Captaincy video David and Neale discussed Aubameyang’s armband credentials.

With Gabonese international playing the full ninety minutes in last night’s Europa League action, perhaps a rested Alexandre Lacazette could prove the better option. David’s Captain Sensible article will no doubt help us to make up our minds, but it is a tricky debate this week.

According to G-Whizz, who serves up the latest DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds, Arsenal are joined by their north London rivals Tottenham as the stand out options ahead of the Gameweek. The inclusion of Spurs is a little surprising given that they travel to a Burnley side who are undefeated in their last seven matches.

Finally, Liverpool players should not be discounted either this week or in the long term: after their trip to Old Trafford they have a favourable fixture run and matches in both Blank Gameweek 31 & 33. David asked whether it might be time to bring in Sadio Mané alongside, or perhaps instead of, Mohamed Salah?

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

Gameweek 26 saw the finals of both FFS cup competitions take place. The free-to-all FFS Cup was won by Man-Chest-Heir F.C, who transferred in Son for Richarlison on his way to a score of 67, while Jay # was victorious in the FFS Members Cup. Jay # took a bold 8 point hit ahead of the final but each of this new signings – Son, Pogba, Lacazette – delivered.

Well done to both managers on their success in the competitions, and commiserations to our losing finalists Jambo17 and Get It Inter Ya.

Happily they don’t have to wait long for another chance at cup glory as the next FFS cup competitions start within a week – FPL managers have from now right up to 18:45 GMT on Tuesday February 26 to enter their teams. For details on how to enter please follow this link.

In TorresMagic’s Last Man Standing competition the safety score in Gameweek 26 was 57, this saw 82 managers eliminated. 534 teams are through to Gameweek 27, when the threshold for elimination moves up to 14%, a minimum of 75 managers will depart. The final will take place in Gameweek 37.

Jay Lovejoy is the new leader of our main FFS League, with Sean Tobin second on the same number of points. They are both 3 points ahead of Omer Weisberg, the previous leader, who drops to fourth. Jay and Sean move up to sixth and seventh overall, only 19 points behind the new world number one Joel Tesfai.

Jay is in his thirteenth FPL season with one previous top 10,000 finish – 9,256 in 2013/14. Sean has had five top 5,000 finishes in eight seasons, the best of which was 923 in 2014/15. He is number one in our Live Hall of Fame and recently appeared in one of J0E‘s Meet the Manager videos.

For insights into the Hall of Fame managers, last week Neale put together an analysis of the current top ten in the Live Hall of Fame, including player ownership and chip usage.

Adam Levy has increased his lead over Tore Bjørheim to 18 points at the head of our FFS Members League. He’s up to eighth overall, only one point behind Jay and Sean. It’s getting very tight at the top! This is Adam’s sixth season, his best finish of 10,847 came last year.

Mark maintained his 39-point lead over David in the FFS Mods & Cons. He is number two in our Live Hall of Fame and recently appeared in another of J0E‘s Meet the Manager videos. Rumour has it that he’s brought in Newcastle’s Salomón Rondón as one of his two transfers this week.

James Wells strengthened his grip on first place in RedLightning’s Top 10k Any Season mini-league. He holds a 32-point lead over Callum Croal (aka Jambo17) the runner-up in our FFS Members Cup.

Jonathan Horrocks is the new leader in RedLightning’s January to May League following an impressive Gameweek score of 96, as previous leader JOZ V drops to tenth. Jonathan has had five previous top 10,000 finishes in twelve seasons, the best being 1,673 in 2010/11.

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

1,640 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DAVESAVES
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    G2g or anthing worth a hit?
    3.2 itb

    Fabianski
    Shaw / Doherty / Pereira / Kola
    Salah / Pogba / Son(C)
    Jimenez / Lacazette / Rashford

    Steele Westwood AWB Sane

    1. TRE2
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Gtg id say

      1. DAVESAVES
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

  2. Hargo
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Lejeune instead of Schär/Lascelles to save 0.2?

  3. Amey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Any changes in 11 guys ??

    Fabs
    Doherty, Robbo, Pereira
    Salah,jota,pogba,mane,son
    Auba ©,rash

    Clyne (bench)

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nailed on for 22 pointer GW

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        🙂

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Looks good tbh.

          Good luck dawg

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Thank you mate 🙂
            GL to you too

    2. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you !

    3. Miniboss
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you !

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Great team GL !!

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        GL to you too mate 🙂

  4. Union_Jacks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Will auba play?

    1. Gianluca Busio's Hair …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      My plutonium should be here any minute. I'll hop in the DeLorean and let you know.

    2. dr.No88
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      maybe

  5. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone changing their FH plans from 32 to 31 in light of the potential City DGW 32 of (ful, CAR) and looking to TC then instead?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      FH32 - I want 11x hand picked DGW'ers

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure who you TC though. Those are Jesus type games with the CL QF right after.

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Aguero or Sterling

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I really like the look of Salah TC GW36

      3. Snevitz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Sane?

    4. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I can't bring myself to TC a City player with Pep rotating for fun

    5. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Not changing plans but yes it's my plan.

    6. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Probably see how likely Pep roulette is for that Cardiff game. Sounds like it has Jesus’ name on it.

    7. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Some will argue it makes FH 31 better some will argue it makes FH 32 better.

      I'd like to TC in that week, but the team I would want to have wouldn't feasibly work with 33, plus it would mean dropping Liverpool quick. I'm happy to just sit back and see what happens now 🙂

  6. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who to take out for Pereira

    1) Bennett
    2) Laporte
    3) VVD

    1. Marty McFly
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Laporte

    2. coriswrasse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Bennett. Keep VVD. Pool have no blanks.

  7. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which would you get if you needed a player for GW27 & 33?

    A) Rice (FUL | che)
    B) Clyne (WOL | BUR)
    C) Schindler (new | LEI)*

    *slightly more likely to be able to afford Azpilicueta instead of Rudiger down the line (FHing in GW31)

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Not C.... it's very tight between A & B

      I'd give a bit more weight to Rice's immediately good fixture and say he just shades it from Clyne, but Clyne is possibly the safer pick

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers Maximumus

    2. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      None, A if you push harder

    3. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        C if Azpi's who you want

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers MTPpocjets. Yeah it would make sense if the others would possibly block me, but itdepends who I sell around GW29 time for Kante or CHO (if I follow that plan) out of Sane, Sterling, Pogba, Martial or Son. Only if I sell Martial am I priced out of Azpi, but I do think him or Son are most likely. Lol Complicated

      • Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        B
        Yes I'm biased 😉

    4. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Who to get ?
      A - Rondon
      B- King

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        A

      2. FeverPitch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        B

    5. coriswrasse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Worth -4 to dump Sane for Fraser (vs. Wolves) to start in place of Camarasa (may not start vs. Watford)? Gives me another starter for GW 31 and 33.

    6. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Cap laca or fandy?

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        FAnd

    7. Catsandhats
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Who should I play?

      A) shaw
      B) Bennett (alson have Doherty)

      I have to play Alison so don’t really like shaw vs Allison when either team are capable of scoring

    8. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Elgin City sign Callum Wilson until the end of the season

      1. Snevitz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Are you deliberately trying to mislead people?
        Just to clarify this is a 19year old from Patrick Thistle, not the Bournemouth forward.

        1. Poseidon.
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          How’s it misleading? You even just elaborated. Wtf

    9. klavan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Play Fabianski or Foster?

    10. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Based on Hodgson comments, how long do you think AWB will be out for ?

      1. MTPockets
          5 years, 1 month ago

          No idea based on his comments

        • Fantasy Premington
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          He's definitely missing tomorrow and 31. Hard to see him making it back for Wednesday v United if he's out for tomorrow. Missing 3 of the next 5 if that's the case

      2. Fantasy Premington
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        At the rate AWB is selling, could he drop tonight or tomorrow? Had around 80k sales in a couple of hours

        1. Patch
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Why is he dropping...would have tort Bednarek would go first....

        2. MTPockets
            5 years, 1 month ago

            red flag so will drop more slowly than otherwise

          • Gianluca Busio's Hair …
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            you mean the guy who has been sitting on my bench all year for a day...just like today...to jump into the starting 11? Damn you Wan!

        3. ALegendJ
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Sorry if it has been discussed to death, but have been out of the loop for about 3 weeks due to you know, life!

          what is the most common strategy for someone still holding all chips?

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            FH 32
            WC 34
            BB 35
            TC 31/36 salah

            1. ALegendJ
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Thank you

            2. Stevie B
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              I think FH in GW 31.

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

          That AWB injury is so fecking annoying!

          1. MTPockets
              5 years, 1 month ago

              yep -8

            • Royal5
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Terrible timing. You taking a hit?

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

                Think Im just going to let Bednarek come in for him, even though he probably wont score much at all

                1. Royal5
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  At least you have 11 starting. I'm down to 10. Considering getting Lascelles for a hit.

            • Tasty Jerk
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Yep, tell me about it (both as a FPL and supported team perspective) 🙁

          2. Mattymo23
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Aguero likely to play against West Ham?

            1. OptimusBlack
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              +1

            2. Sir Edo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Depends on Jesus I think. Aguero will not start 4 games in 12 days.

              1. Sir Edo
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Best for Aguero users if Jesus starts in final but hamstring injury most likely rule him out.

          3. Royal5
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            How long until deadline?

            1. Patch
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Just over hr

              1. Royal5
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Thanks

          4. Beans on Toast
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Richarlison to Maddison for -4?

            Whoever I have would be in my starting 11 every week until WC in 34 (and except FH in 32).

            1. Royal5
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Is Maddison fit?

          5. FeverPitch
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Any advice on Ings -> Arnie (-4) to then bench Bennett and avoid playing triple wolves defence? Thanks

            1. Fantasy Premington
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Do

          6. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Have had to fh this week....

            Salah and pogba essential?

            Differentials of Kane, vertongen, arni or stick with the members projected points?

            1. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              No Doherty or jiminez a mistake?

            2. Miguel Sanchez
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Almiron

              1. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Guaranteed start tho? Also ozil.

          7. 1justlookin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Do i need to change plans from preparing for gw 31 and 33 now that some of the DGW's have been scheduled? Was planning on FH in GW 32.

            Currently got no Mam Utd cover!

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Nope

            2. Miniboss
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              I’m planning to build towards 31&33, FH on 32 and WC on 34. Latest news haven’t changed that plan.

          8. WE GO FOR IT
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Captain?

            A. Salah
            B. Son
            C. Felipe
            D. Arnie

            1. Gudjohnsen
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              I went with C

            2. WE GO FOR IT
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Cheers!

          9. Marquis-Cha-Cha
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            AWB to

            a. Kola
            b. Lascelles
            c. Yedlin
            d. Keep & bench
            e. anyone else?

            (Robertson, TAA, Pereira, Doherty)

          10. valderramasbarber
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Mundane dilemma alert - Yedlin, Chilwell or Schar for the next 8-10 games. Own R Pereira already and something doesn't feel right about double Leicester cover. Ta

          11. Transferred Out
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Play Foster (car) or Guatia (lei) ?

          12. Oggle22
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Rashford or Jota?

            Cheers

          13. n-doggg
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Son or Auba for captain?

            1. how now brown cow
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Auba

          14. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Fab
            Robbo chilwell* doherty* schindler
            Salah fanderson pogba son
            Rashford Jimenez

            Hamer hojberg awb** aguero**

            A - stick
            B - play hojberg over schindler
            C - awb to lascelles -4. Only plan to play awb gw30 I think.