Tips

The Complete Guide to our FPL Gameweek 29 tips and advice

Ten Gameweeks to go. In a week in which we asked “why are so many top managers struggling?” Gameweek 29 could present a season-defining opportunity to make up lost ground.

FPL’s most expensive player, Mohamed Salah (£13.5m), has polled only 7.92% of the captain vote. Opinion is split on who to transfer and who to captain, and this means there is an opportunity to climb the ranks if you get your differential picks and your captain choice right.

A principal reason opinion is split is due to Salah’s disappointing return at home to Watford in Gameweek 28. Last year, in the same fixture, he returned 29 points after scoring four goals in a 5-0 win for Liverpool. The same result for Liverpool this year delivered a measly 3-point return for Salah.

An ankle injury to Roberto Firmino meant a reshuffle up front that lead to Sadio Mané playing in the centre-forward role. Many are now tempted to switch from Salah to Mané after the Senegalese continued his impressive recent form with a brace. As the FPL General noted:

“Salah out, Mane in, could be a popular move this week. The cash saved can go a long way…”

However former Career Hall of Fame number 1 Peter Kouwenberg cautioned:

“personally, I wouldn’t advocate downgrading the Egyptian unless you too need some spare cash.”

In this week’s captaincy video, David echoed views voiced by Kenneth Tang, one of the most successful FPL managers of all-time and a guest on one of J0E’s Meet the Manager videos, that: “if Firmino [does] not play … I may down-value Salah … [and I’m] a lot less likely to captain him.”

The latest team-news is inconclusive for Salah owners, Klopp gave the following update :

“He was out there running yesterday but we will have to see how he reacts. He is very positive. It looks really good but if he will be ready for tomorrow, I don’t know.”

If you are minded to sell the Egyptian, where could you spend the extra cash?

Chelsea have a plum fixture away to local rivals Fulham, after reduced minutes in the recent League Cup final and two goals against another struggling side in the shape of Huddersfield – is this the time to invest in Gonzalo Higuaín?

In his community article entitled ‘My Chelsea U-Turn’, Pep Pig revealed that his thinking has now switched from Higuaín to Hazard after the Belgian was withdrawn on 59 minutes in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Spurs. His research showed that Hazard has scored three of his double digit hauls in away matches against easy opposition (Southampton, Brighton, Watford). Chelsea have matches in both Gameweeks 31 and 33 for those considering playing their Free Hit or Wildcard chips in Gameweek 32.

Although Manchester City don’t have a fixture in Gameweek 31 and, depending on their FA Cup result, may not have a fixture in Gameweek 33, they have enticing matches against Bournemouth and Watford before. Sergio Agüero scored the only goal against West Ham as he continued his fine scoring form. However Pep’s post match quotes give cause for concern:

“We cannot live, for example, with just Sergio. The last 10-15 minutes he was exhausted. We need Gabriel as quick as possible to come back.”

Then yesterday in his pre-match press conference Pep revealed that:

“Gabriel is back. John [Stones] is coming back too, like Gabriel.”

Raheem Sterling started the match against West Ham on the bench before coming on as a second half substitute, this rest helps him to secures a place in the Scout Picks this week. The midfielder has scored in every Premier League match he has ever played against Bournemouth.

Leading the captain poll this week is Manchester United’s Paul Pogba with 23.56%. He’s another to secure himself a place in the Scout Picks – no player has more shots in the last four home matches as Pogba, who has blanked just once at Old Trafford since Solskjær took over.

David’s Captain Sensible article examines the armband credentials of each candidate. It’s a crucial read in a week when opinion is divided amongst Fantasy Football Scout users, and veteran managers are all making different moves.

G-Whizz, in his regular DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds, adds weight to the captain poll and tips Manchester United to have a good weekend, closely followed by Manchester City. Wolves are favourites for a clean sheet this week.

However, the three team news items on Fantasy Football Scout: Neale’s round up, the video from him and J0E, and the summary from Rotation’s Alter Ego – all report that Wolves are set to switch their goalkeeper with John Ruddy replacing Rui Patrício between the sticks. Several managers, including Live Hall of Fame number two Mark Sutherns have replaced Patrício with West Ham ‘keeper Fabianski (according to FPL Transfer Spy).

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

The draw for the first round of the FFS Cup has been made. Just under 1,200 managers applied for the 512 places available in the first round draw, with the Gameweek 28 qualifying score set at 56 (after hits). Good luck to those taking part.

In TorresMagic’s Last Man Standing competition the safety score in Gameweek 28 was 46, this saw 78 managers eliminated. 378 teams are through to Gameweek 29, when the threshold for elimination moves up to 18%, a minimum 69 managers will depart. The final will take place in Gameweek 37.

Adam Levy still leads both our main FFS League and our FFS Members League. Although he has dropped one place to third overall, he is now level on points with world number two Hassam CheLSawy and only one point behind Toni Haapanen, who has been number one in the world for 15 of the last 18 Gameweeks.

Mark has increased his lead over David to 51 points in the FFS Mods & Cons. Mark should continue his fine form with Sterling, Pogba, Hazard, Salah, and Rashford all in his team for Gameweek 29. Although he faces a tricky captaincy dilemma.

James Wells remains top in RedLightning’s Top 10k Any Season mini-league despite slipping from 40th to 48th overall. This is partly down to his team being unchanged from Gameweek 27, with the armband still on Felipe Anderson – who was away at Manchester City in Gameweek 28!

Mick Barker is the new leader in RedLightning’s January to May League after an 85 point Gameweek, 40 of those points coming from his triple Liverpool defence. He played his Second Wildcard in Gameweek 23, and eight green arrows in the last nine Gameweeks have seen him rise from 287k to 29k since Gameweek 19.

Finally, with ten Gameweeks of the season to go, RedLightningLast Ten’ mini-league will start scoring this week: 194 teams are already waiting for its first points update. The code to join is 1637-1351886.

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

1,325 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Richarlison scoring and the existence of alien life are kind of the same.

    You know they can prove it mathematically but you just don't feel you'll ever live to see it.

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Comment of the century

    2. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      he's followed the trolling pattern of last season, started off brilliantly at Watford then faded away. Looks good for a season starter

    3. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      🙂

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      10 goals not bad for a 6.5mid imo

  2. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Pick 3 to play?

    A. Robertson (have Alisson)
    B. Bennett
    C. Shaw
    D. Pereira
    E. AWB

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      ABc

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        ABC

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      ABC

    3. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      All 5 lol

  3. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Pat and Laca to Fab and Higuian -4? Cap Pog or Higgy?

  4. AubameBLOODCLAATyang
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Who to bench out of these two pairings??

    Chillwell (wat A) or AWB (bur A)

    &

    F.Anderson (new H) or Rondon ( new A)

  5. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Son, Auba, Salah all to score goals

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Son blank
      Auba benched
      Salah blank

  6. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Awb or yedlin to start?

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      AWB back so should start. Not sure if Yedlin stays on bench

  7. Waynoo
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    wow Salah gonna drop tonight

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      After a hatty? Doubt it.....

      1. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        plays tomorrow, so drop could happen yes 🙁

      2. Whats the Mata?
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        His hatty will be Tomo

      3. threeputt
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        he'd still drop

    2. GUSFRING
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Think its a swap job for Mane?

  8. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    What does your bench look like?

    You’ll need it:

    Guaita (bur) - Bennett (CAR) - Fraser (MCI) - Digne (LIV) here.....

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Hayden Lascelles Rice

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        WHU 0-0 NEW

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Hamer, Anderson, Kolasinac, Bednerak

      1. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        who u starting instead of anderson ?

    3. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Boruc AWB Pereira Lolberg

    4. mookie
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Boruc, Anderson, AWB, Pereira

      1. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        who you starting over anderson ?

    5. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      lossl, billing,kola, wan bissu

    6. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      A lot of AWB on the bench 😮

    7. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Hamer Almirón Anderson Pereira

    8. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Boruc Digne MGW S.Cook (injured)

    9. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Button(HUD) king (MCI) awb(bur) Hayden (whu)

  9. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Does any of you think Sane will start today?

    Yeah, I still have him and think he's gonna finally deliver.

    1. mookie
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      I think he will

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      based on last match/performance...don't think he will start. I'm thinking Sterling - Aguero - Bernardo again. Aguero subbed off early for Jesus

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Only if Bernardo plays in midfield 3.

  10. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    A or B ?

    A AWB (bur)
    B Pereira (wat)

  11. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Anyone know why Adam Smith was taken off early against Arsenal? Tactical or injury?

  12. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Any obvious moves that you am missing?

    Ryan (Flapyanski)
    Robbo Pereira Doherty
    Salah (c) Pogba (vc) Mane Snodgrass
    Kun Auba Jimmy
    Bench:AWB Odoi Bednarek
    0.4 itb

    I've saved a transfer for now
    Thanks

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Juuuhhhhuuuuu > uuuuuuuhhhhhhuuuuuJ for a hit

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        Damn it Jaffo

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 28 days ago

          😛

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Odoi (TC)

  13. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Anyone benching Doherty?

    Surely he comes on for a 1 pointer if he gets benched.

    Pereira being my replacement

    1. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Why what’s the news on Doherty?

    2. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Wolves forum have him benched.

  14. Gangster’s Allardyce
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Start Ederson (bou) or Fabianski (NEW)?

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Edi

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Not sure if serious

  15. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Play

    a) Almiron (whu)
    b) Anderson (NEW)

  16. Rash
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    No easy way to get sterling in this week so think I may just do nothing and hope for the best.

    Fab
    Doherty Robbo dunk
    Salah son Pogba Anderson
    Auba vardy Jimenez

    Etheridge Schar Pereira punch

    1ft .9itb

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Save

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Aubemeyang and Son to Vardy and Sterling

      1. Rash
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        I have vardy already

  17. Dele
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Sell Doherty after those comments of Nuno resting 5 players?

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Who to bring in though? My first thought was David Luiz but he may be rested too given Sarri’s comments

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Be serious

    3. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      sure you have a bench player who's decent enough to fill in?

      1. Dele
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        Doherty 1pter will be frustrating.

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 28 days ago

          Won’t happen

  18. jasistheman86
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    A) Hazard & Vardy (-4)
    B) Son & Higuain

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      A

  19. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Awb (or) yedlin to start ?

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      You already asked this same page

  20. KINGVIZO
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Hi All

    Just wondered for those who are FH gameweek 32. what FH team are you going with?

    Is there a 'template' developing for this?

    Thoughts?

  21. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Torn between Salah and Higuain for C.
    Any though guys? Ta.

    1. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Slaah

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Salah

  22. Blanka
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Late tinkering!

    Son to Hazard

    &

    Robbo to TAA???

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      No from me

  23. ignis88
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    A) Salah -> Sterling (-4)
    B) Salah -> Hazard (-4)
    C) Keep

    Have mane

    1. Latch86
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      A

    2. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      C

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      C

    4. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      C

    5. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      C

  24. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    GTG? Or bring Pereira or Kola on for somebody?

    Fab
    Alonso/Schar/Doherty
    FA/Pogba(C)/Hazard/Mane/Salah(v)
    Jiminez/Barnes

    Hamer/Pereira/Kola/Kamara

    1. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Would be worried for Doch minutes after Nuno comments but don’t want to scaremonger. Looks good.

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 28 days ago

        What has he said?

  25. ☻ Jon Snow ☻
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Feel like playing Kola and benching Aguero.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Crazy

  26. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Do we know if Mendy is available to play this GW?

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      hes fit but dunno if pep trusts him yet

    2. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      probably not based on Peps comments

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Read team news section on here, sounded like a no imo

  27. boroie
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Who to captain?

    A - Salah (eve)
    B - Aguero (bou)
    C - Pogba (SOU)
    D - Jiménez (CAR)

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      POG

    2. Latch86
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      Currently on C, but also debating

  28. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Gtg or bamba to luiz ?

    Fab
    Robbo, Doherty, Bamba
    Salah, Pogba(c), Son, Anderson
    Aguero, Rondon, Jimi

    Hamer, Snoddy, WB, Bed

  29. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    If as expected Jack Stephens starts for Southampton today Pogba is absolutely nailed on for a penalty.

    Easiest Captain choice of the season for me.

  30. threeputt
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 28 days ago

    Talk of Pogba playing deep without Matic or Herreira, will not McTominay take up that mantle ?

    1. ☻ Jon Snow ☻
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 28 days ago

      McTominay more attacking than Pogba... lol not