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. FPL-(VAR)dy
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    will jota start ??

    1. Queens of the South Age
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Pretty sure he will.

  2. Queens of the South Age
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Would you

    A. Play Nasri?
    B. Take a hit for a 5.5m mid punt like Harvey Barnes?

    1. mash
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd take a chance on Nasri, but it's a roll of the dice!

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

      If it helps, from what I think is a West Ham ITK:

      "There is 1 change from the side that played palace
      Nasri and lanzini on bench"

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

        What is itk?

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

          An 'In the know' source

      2. Queens of the South Age
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks guys. Think I'll stick with Nasri and hope for a good sub appearance.

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

    What to do with this lot?

    Lloris (Speroni)
    Doherty, Wan-Bissaka, Bednarek (Laporte) (Digne)
    Salah, Pogba, Hayden (Sterling) (Richarlison)
    Aubameyang, Rashford, Jimenez

    1 free transfer and 0.0 in the bank.

    Thanks!

    1. mash
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If you're using FTs to build towards the blank/double gameweeks, I would save the transfer. If not, Digne to Yedlin/Schar could be an option? Or more of a punt, Richarlison to Almiron?

  4. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Trying to decide if I should do a -8 to put out 10 or -4 to put out 9.

  5. mash
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    (Bottomed on last article)
    DGW fixture confirmations still leave me in two minds whether to build towards GW31/33 or GW32 with FTs, so want to keep my options open. Current squad (6 of which play in GW31):

    Fabianski
    Robertson, Trippier, Doherty
    Salah, Son, Pogba, Hojberg
    Firmino, Rashford, Jiminez

    Patricio, Luiz*, AWB*, Richarlison*

    2FT, 2.7 in the bank

    A) Just Richarlison to Anderson
    B) Richarlison and Firmino to Anderson and Aubameyang/Lacazette
    C) Something else

    What do you think would be best? I'm tending towards A at the moment - even though it doesn't increase my GW31 player count, it keeps options open with 5FT left before then. B decreases the count, but may be better in short term (Arsenal fixtures), and frees up a Liverpool slot to get Mane in. Any comments appreciated - good luck to all!

    1. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I wouldn't sell any 31/33 players until decided on chip approach (even Rich)

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

        B) Am selling Firmino for Laca this week and I like that it free's up a Liverpool spot to get Mane in

    2. Jive Turkey
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Best 5th mid 5.1 or under?

      May need him to sub in for Maddison if out this week (as well as playing in 31).

      A) Mcniel
      B) Camarassa (injury doubt?)
      C) Snodgrass (benched when Nasri and Lanzini back?)
      D) Anyone else

      Appreciate any response, thanks.

    3. Lignja
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Clayne or Lejuene as Awb replacement gw32fh

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

      New articles appearing faster than posters comments!

    5. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Lacazette 100% nailed to start, yes?

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No Auba?

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

      Barnes or Rondon to replace Kamara?

      1. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Barnes

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

          Only concern is Spurs and Liverpool in between

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

        Barnes smashes Rondon stat wise
        I think Rondon rests on Almiron starting and making a real difference in terms of chances

    7. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Captain Anderson let's do it.

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

        Or Son

    8. paza12
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hazard and Firmino to Mane and Auba for -4? Cheers!

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

        Nop

    9. Scotty B
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      De Gea
      Doherty VVD AWB 
      Salah Son Anderson Mane 
      Jimenez Rashford Rondon

      Speroni Bednarek Laporte Richarlison

      2.5m ITB & on -4 already

      Should I do AWB > Pereira for another hit? (-8)

    10. MFC Lad
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A - maguire, Rondón
      B - s cook, arnie

      Please help...

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

        I'd go for A.
        Leicester and Newcastle got nice fixtures and should score a few goals, both Maguire and Rondon will be a threat from set-pieces.

        1. nico05
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          A

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

            A

    11. GianniBanani
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Etheridge
      Doherty, Robertson, Bednarek
      Salah, Son, Pogba
      Firmino, Jimenez, Rashford

      Hamer - Hazard, AWB, Luiz, Stephens

      Hazard to:
      1) Anderson
      2) Eriksen

      AWB to:
      A) Kolasinac
      B) Pereira

      ALSO: Firmino > Auba for a hit?

    12. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      So there is chance that GW 32 will be small DGW with just United and Wolves playing?... then FH in gw 32 is waste.

      1. Pasqualinho
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I suppose so. But there is a much, much, much, much bigger chance that the fixture rescheduling for GW32 isn’t done yet.

    13. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Pereria or Maguire ?

      1. The Count of Monte Cristo
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Pereira

    14. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Play foster or Fabianski

      1. Ohh1454
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Fab

    15. joinho
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      When are the dgw's likely to be?

    16. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hazard —> Anderson (FT) the obvious move? Keep AWB and let Bednarek start? Or move him out for Pereira?

      Fabianski
      Robertson - Doherty - Kolasinac - AWB**
      Salah - Son - Pogba - Hazard
      Firmino - Rashford

      Button - Camarasa - Bednarek - Kamara [1FT + 2.2m ITB]

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

        Oh, almost my squad, exactly my questions

        1. The Count of Monte Cristo
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          2 birds...? What are you leaning towards yourself?

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

            Have no idea tbf. Hazard>Anderson is obv.

            Wondering is any second move worth a hit:

            AWB> Pereira/Kolasinac
            Firmino>Auba

            1. The Count of Monte Cristo
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              What’s your plan in terms of getting City assets in?

    17. gelisiguzel
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      captain Son or Fanderson??

      1. The Count of Monte Cristo
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Always feel more assured with Son. Anderson is somewhat of a differential in himself.

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

        i have same problem. But Son for me

    18. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Which?

      A) ederson to etheridge, bednarek start 11 players
      B) lovren to periera, bednarek benched 10 players

    19. -GK22-
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Is son a better captain choice than Pogba or salah?

      1. Mika-eel
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'm stil debating that pal. Currently on Salah.

    20. Claudio555
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      AWB to Schar or Kola?

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

      Omg I am so excited, I have nothing else useful to contribute

      Been planning moves atleast 5 hours in the last two days.

      After spending over 10 years in London and rarely going up north, I was gobsmacked with the lack of diversity in Worksop where I spent the last 5 days.

    22. goneill79
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Went for Josh King instead of Rondon.Making him captain too.Surprised he’s so far down the captain poll

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

        Might be because Newcastle can’t hit a barn door

        1. Surfeit of Lampteys
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Lucky he plays got Bournemouth then I guess.

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

            Great English there

            1. Surfeit of Lampteys
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Quite clearly a predictive mistake though isn't it? Use your English to work it out.

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

                Touché

              2. Mo Mané No Problems
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                r/murderedbywords

      2. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I like that nice choice i think

      3. Surfeit of Lampteys
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        It's a great shout tbh. Him or laca for me.

    23. Kingtekkerz
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Who to get? already got Anderson
      A) Arnie
      B) Jimenez

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

        B

    24. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Recent influx in people pronouncing it Au-bem-a-yang. What are you people on?

    25. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Does Yedlin pose much of an attacking threat?

      Haven't watched them play, just aware on the team sheets he's reasonably far forward.

      Lascelles has been recommended to me and is only 0.1m more - likely to go with him just wondered if anyone thought Yedlin would be a better pick before pulling the trigger

    26. Disco Stu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Does this sound like a solid plan?

      Looking at having 10 or 11 players in Game Week 31, Use Free Hit in DGW 32, Wild Card in GW 33 with an eye towards bringing in as many DGW 35 players as I can get and then using the Triple Captain in GW 35

      Thoughts?

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        33 is all 31 players. Won't work

      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Do you mean WC in 34?

        1. Disco Stu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yes, should have been Wild Card in GW 34. Fingers were typing faster than brain was thinking