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

    Pogba captain anyone ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Captain Sensible.

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

      Yes. On penos and at home...

    3. Ryan_P27
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I have currently but going to chicken out and go with son

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

        Why ?

        1. Ryan_P27
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Liverpool and United doing well defensively compared with Burnley.

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

            Burnley have tightened up of late

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

      Consecutive two top Page post for Pogba © !!
      Is this a sign 😛

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

        It is a sign. It is Pogba captain. It is Pogba hatty incoming.

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

        Good enough for me

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

        Sod it im going for it then !

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

          It's Burnley's form that are making me question Son. Plus Son's points/stats comparison suggest a bit of luck rather than just form.

  2. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Firmino -> Auba (-4) and captain him over Son?

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

      Yep

    2. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I mulled over a similar move but decided against it.

    3. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      yes

  3. Atters
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Harvey Barnes?

  4. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    WC team this week. GTG?

    Boruc
    Kola Lascelles Pereira
    Son Pogba Salah Anderson
    Arnie(vc) Jimi Laca(c)

    Bench
    Ederson Bennett TAA Kanté

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

    Evening all, anyone know the story with Zabaletta?

    Been bench fodder for me but has a nice fixture. Seems to have been in and out of the team.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Old man who needs rest.

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

        Who are you capping TM???

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Same as you.

        2. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Who are you capping btw?

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

            It's on Son...vice Anderson

      2. SuperMario
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Hey TM, long time.

        Yeah, think ill go bench1 and play Robertson, Periera, Doherty!

  6. Plymouth
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Arnie or Son for captain?

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

      Son just because of the form good luck

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

      Son as Arnie on for a cameo

  7. Aladdin Sané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed.

    Aguero to Auba for free?

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

      Yep

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

      Yeah

  8. Tingate
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Lost on last page...

    Alisson
    Robertson - Kolasinac - Doherty - Wan-Bissaka
    Jota - Pogba - Son - Salah
    Rashford - Jiménez

    Hamer - Bednarek - Sterling - Kamara

    1FT - 1.4M ITB

    With AWB being injured, is it worth the future bench headaches doing AWB > Perieira or should I save transfer and play Bednarek?

    Any help much appreciated.

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

    A) Lascalles & Anderson
    B) Pereira & Maddison

    Think I prefer B, but not sure who to captain from the usual lot: Son/Pogba/Salah/Jimenez?

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

      With Tielemans looking decent last game I think has potential to increase Leicester attacking returns, I would do B.

      I'm on Son at the minute and I have all them four.

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

        Thanks Tin! I may join you. Maddison a doubt, but if it goes pear-shaped, hey-ho.

  10. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Please pick one combo -

    A. Bednarek (ARS) + Arnautovic (FUL) + 4 points
    B. Lascelles (HUD) + Rashford (LIV) + 4 points
    C. Lascelles (HUD) + Arnautovic (FUL)

    1. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      * Bednarek is away

    2. Tingate
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B out of them

  11. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    AWB out?? Glad I haven’t used my FT yet... who should I get?

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

      Most going pereira

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

      Leister Defender

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Chucky not eyeing down a Leicester defender?

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

      Have 4.8 only....

  12. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone trust the RMT tool? It's telling me to captain Son over Salah. I'm uncertain. I also have Pogba too

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

      I am on Salah over son (c)

  13. arndff_
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Auba or Son capt?

    1. Super Nashwan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Auba no question!

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

      I prefer auba out the twi

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

      Auba

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

    Capt. Auba or son???

  15. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hi all, repost as comments moving so fast!

    Two questions, advice much appreciated!;

    Captain;
    A) Son
    B) Anderson

    Play one (AWB injured)
    A) Bednarek
    B) Puncheon

    Thanks in advance

  16. BananaMan
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Arnie starting??

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      looks possible

  17. YEAH PITCH!
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Schar or Lascelles??

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

      Lascelles more nailed schar near ban

      1. YEAH PITCH!
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Isn't it only 3 more gws for the Schar to avoid 2 yellows though?

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

          Used to be 2nd Sunday in April

  18. Super Nashwan
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Transfers made hazard and wan bissaka out. Perrera and mane in hope it will work out long term hazard has been terrible and Chelsea look awful.

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

      Yeah. I'm so content after getting Hazard out of my team.

      1. Super Nashwan
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'm not! I'm worried. i always think as soon as I sell a player he will score a brace. That's why I leave my transfers to last minute as I'm just building courage to make the move.

  19. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Would like a "lunch" just before the deadline!!!

  20. Pkellz1985
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Captain choice guys?

    A) Pierre
    B) Fanderson
    C) Son

    Thanks

  21. zon
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one of: Robbo, TAA, Shaw?

  22. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Arnie will start... lanzini featuring

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Source?

    2. Super Nashwan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Snodgrass?

      1. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        my mates at the game....

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ban

      1. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        don't ban me lol... Im just telling you the info thats coming in from there.

        1. gaurava1216
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          1 change in the 11 from last week.

          1. gaurava1216
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            nasri also will feature

  23. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Btw ExWHUEmployee on Twitter HASN'T bought Arnie into his FPL Team for this GW. (He has brought in Anderson, however.)

    Would seem to indicate Arnie is on the bench tonight.

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

      Or it indicates he knows Arnie wont stay fit for, as does every man and his dog.

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      he says he has got in a striker for west ham too

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Indicates very little tbh.

    4. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Doesn't indicate anything.

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

      Well done Sherlock

    6. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Lanzini on bench is very likely.

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

    Captain?

    A) Lacazette
    B) Arnautovic
    C) Son

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

      Son

  25. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Arnie or Anderson? Going Arnie gives me more flexibility with 5th mid (would be Paterson). Going Anderson will mean Kamara burning a whole on my bench.

    No WC

  26. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Son or Laca?

  27. Wheyyyy
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one -

    A) Pereria - CRY(H)
    B) Doherty - BOU(A)
    C) Kolasinac - SOU(H)
    D) Robertson - MUN(A)

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Uff... luxury that is... play em all

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

        I can't! Pog, Salah, Son, Mane, Auba, Jim, Rash up front!! AHH

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    nasri and lanzini on the bench tonight

  29. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Ville Ronka.

    No playing GK and 6 outfield players who won't be playing.

    Made 2 FTs. Is it going to be another red arrow for Ville?

  30. Manani
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Richarlison > FAnderson
    or
    Kamara > Arnie

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

      First one, Arnie possibly on bench