Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 5

It’s back to business for FPL managers after the first international break of the season. The Fantasy Football Scout Gameweek Guide returns to round-up all the latest goings-on covering captaincy, team news, stats (yes, even xG), and opinion. And find out exactly what Az meant when he said Joe had:

Taken all the ‘wild’ out of a Wildcard.

Let’s start with the perennial captain dilemma – who should we trust with the armband this week?

The main contenders once again come from Liverpool and Manchester City. Salah currently leads this site’s captain poll with 35%, while opinion is split between City pair Sterling and Aguero on 21% and 14% respectively.

Part of Salah’s appeal is that he is fully rested: the international break was a proper football break for him. Whereas Sterling started both matches for England, playing the full 90 minutes in the second match. FP Elephant kindly summarised the player activity over the international fixtures, while David goes into more detail in his Scout Notes.

To help us decide who we should trust, David dissects the credentials of the leading candidates in his Captain Sensible article. Examining player stats, opposition stats, and the RMT before making his conclusion. Neale also offered his opinion in the Captaincy Video he did with Joe.

Newcastle-fan Neale pointed out that the Magpies are likely to set up defensively with no real attacking ambition. However, discussing Norwich’s ability to contain Manchester City, he noted:

I don’t know whether Daniel Farke’s got it in him to really sit back and defend – he hasn’t really got the personnel to do that anyway – so I think this could be an absolute bloodbath myself.

Speaking of personnel, Neale reported in his team news article on Friday that the Canaries’ fitness issues had reached almost farcical levels: they will be without all four senior centre-halves and first-choice right-back.

So while the potential is there for City to do well, the problem for many is which of their players to get? 

Norwegian fantasy expert, Aleksander Våge Nilsen, currently eighth in the Fantasy Football Scout Career Hall of Fame, did his best to decipher ‘Pep Roulette’ in this week’s Panel Consultation. And it looks like he might be buying himself a big sofa to hide behind because Aleksander would go without Aguero:

I just have to take the unavoidable Aguero hat-tricks on the chin and hope KDB and Sterling can keep up.

His third City player, in addition to Sterling and KDB, would be a defender:

After Laporte’s long-term injury, an opportunity to go for the cheaper Otamendi has opened, and on a Wildcard, I think I would take that chance.

And it was on the subject of Wildcards that Az accused Joe of being a little boring with his picks. Joe is known, perhaps a little unkindly, as a dullard manager. Although with seven ranks in the top 10,000 he’s also a very good one. 

Joe discussed his Wildcard picks which include Nicolas Otamendi, Sterling, Salah, and KDB, and faced criticism for being too template – for turning his team into everyone else’s team. 

In his opinion piece, the FPL General urged managers to think for themselves:

It’s not about following the pack, the goal is to beat the pack… Trust your own judgement/research/instinct/eye test. FPL is a simple game which we overcomplicate. The only ‘Template’ you need to worry about is your own.

Joe, in his defence, pointed out that at this early stage of the season, player ownership numbers haven’t settled so in that sense it’s hard to define the template. One of the ways Joe picks players, we discovered, is through the “ear test”: in addition to watching games – the eye test – Joe also listens to matches on the radio. 

It was a topic that was touched upon by his latest Meet the Manager guest, Josh Landon, who wonderfully described himself as “maverick within a box”. Josh uses the eye test to help break through all of the noise, and as the FPL General counselled – to trust yourself. 

Stats also play a big part in our decision-making process, but one particular statistic that receives a rather mixed response is expected goals. Essentially a measure of chance quality, there are a number of new xG stats that are available to members, and Neale explained how xG can be used

Elsewhere, David provided a members-only article on the best fourth midfielder to own. A fourth midfielder is defined as a player under £6.5m. While Neale examined Burnley’s appealing fixture run – which players should we own? Three of their number make this week’s Scout Picks.

Greyhead brought us two installments of The Great and The Good. The first looked back to how our managers fared in Gameweek 4 and the second, a treat for Adele fans, examined The Great and The Good Alumni.  

A regular hot-topic, G-Whizz collected all the DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds – no surprise that Liverpool and City are predicted to do well. While for fans of Swedish football and true fantasy lovers, Meltens previewed Gameweek 23 in Fantasy Allsvenskan.

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

Last week we decided to turn the Community Tournaments section into its own article. Updates on the latest mini-league and community run competitions can be found here.

And for those who may have missed it, registration is now open for the Pundit’s Play-Off Community Tournament. The deadline for entry is 30 September.

Best of luck for Gameweek 5!

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

2,530 Comments Post a Comment
  1. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ok - think im going to leave my yearning for Kun on the wc, and go with below.

    3-5-2 most weeks
    Pope
    TAA - Digne - Otamendi (Lundstrom - Rico)
    Salah - Sterling - KDB - James - Cebellos
    Haller - Pukki (Greenwood)

    No way to get kun without dropping Salah, and means I cant get Ota in as 3rd city player either

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pope
      TAA VVD Digne Otamendi
      Salah KDB Mount James
      Aguero Pukki

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Champion's League starts next week, and Jesus is back, so this feels like the wrong time for Kun.

    3. CARROW ROAD
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I managed to do it by dropping KDB and TAA, felt wrong but he’s my cpt.

      1. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah - its just that we are greedy and want them all!

        I want Kun, but then I want KDB, Salah, TAA, Sterling as well.

        Have to sacrifice one of them.

    4. Markus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Similar to mine only mount over Ceballos and abraham over pukki. Again wanted some more exciting players but went dullard!

      1. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        You have nice bit of money built up to do those, unless you got on both early!
        I'd be 0.4 of having those 2 in as well

  2. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    % chances of Barnes playing full 90 v Brighton?

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

      Stay on the bench Barnes, I've got Wood

  3. Luca Toni
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Best 4.5 Million Defender for next 5-10 weeks outside burnley..

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Mings?

      1. WWF
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        And Lowton

    2. Dele
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Soy

    3. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Lowton is

  4. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I love the smell of the pre-deadline fear 👿

    1. JonBoy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      That not-having-Kun smell?

    2. Crisnel Ronessi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I love smell of freshly shaven ....

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        In the morning?

        1. Crisnel Ronessi
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          It isn't time dependent

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

    Nobody thinks Pukki will net today?

    1. CARROW ROAD
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yep, 2, one from the spot

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I think he might.
      City haven't been that solid.

      1. Dennis System
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Joint second best defence in the league after Palace. you mad

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

      Norwich play out from the back. Maybe with midfielders in D they will do that better or maybe they’ll be in bits as they’re pinned back

  6. CARROW ROAD
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I don’t have faith in James, any better options? I have mount already.

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tielemans

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Iwobi?

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        nope, you don't wanna go there 🙂

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Cellabos

  7. Bishopool
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Transfer Murray -> Wesley?

    Both home, but maybe give Murray a last chance and save FT for next week..

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

    Ready to go?
    Adrian
    Digne, Pieters, Lundstram
    Sterling, Mane, KDB, Mount, James
    Aguero(TC), Pukki

    1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yep, very nice

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

        Thanks.

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

      TC Aguero? Nice!

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

        Yeah even if gets 60 mins think he can do a lot of damage.

  9. banskt
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Last minute changes to the WC to bring in Sterling:

    Pope
    Alexander-Arnold | Digne | Zinchenko | Mings
    Salah (C) | Sterling | De Bruyne | James
    Pukki | Haller
    (Button | Lundstram | Hayden | Martinelli)

    Left 0.6 in the bank for Zinchenko → Mendy or other unforeseen circumstances.
    Good to go?

    1. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Why not to do Zinch => Otamendi

  10. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Just got home, any new pressing issues arise in the last 5 - 6 hours?

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

      Same question here, did not see anything so far

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks Magic

  11. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Does it matter to captain Salah or Sterling this week if you own both of them?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It will if one gets a Hattie and the other does not.

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

        So obvious, and obviously not my question

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          what was your question then?

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

            Don't bother

            1. jason_ni
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              I'm actually confused!

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

                See below

              2. jason_ni
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                And to answer your question, I've had both Salah and Sterling since GW1, and have picked the wrong choice each week, and its cost be 21 points so far.

                So yes - it does matter which one you pick to be captain, regardless of if you own both!

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Most top players have both so you should be buffered to some extent

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

        I guess just try to gauge the impact of picking the wrong captain between the two if most are having both. Yes, there is Aguero factor there not being factored in ... so do not need to overthink yeah?

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          See above, having both is not "coverage" or whatever you want to put it as, picking the wrong one will make a massive difference, especially if you keep doing so.

          Id be sitting at around 50k OR if i had picked the right one, instead of 400k.

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

            You missed the point. The overthinking was my focus. Nothing could mitigate your wrong choice ... or can you predict which one should be the right one? Obviously not as you chose the wrong one as you said ...

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

              I’m going Salah just in case Sterling doesn’t start and oof Norwich are that bad then any city players can and will be scoring in less structured build up play

            2. jason_ni
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              If you are talking about it philosophically then yes, there is no way to know, or who to pick, but then you can say that about your entire team, who you transfer in or out, you don't know how it will work or if you will pick the right players.

              We can't predict anything, but the whole point of fpl is trying to get your team into a place where you are trying to maximise points, and captain picks will matter a lot towards that.

  12. bring_on _the_fantasy
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Tammy or Haller?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Mount and Haller or Lanzini and Tammy

    2. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I want both!

  13. Ahtikullervo
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    A) Vardy to Agüero (-4)
    B) Dendoncker to David Silva (-4)

    Adrian
    Digne Verthongen Maguire Zinchenko
    Salah De Bruyne Pulisic Moura
    Vardy Pukki

    Button Lundstram Dendocker Wickham

  14. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Already got Pope in goal, who do I bench this GW?

    a) Lowton vs Brighton

    b) Lundstraam vs Southampton

    1. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Lowton

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Play B

  15. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Thought on Ayew? Could prove a bargain?

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

      Magic bean

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      AVOID

  16. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Who to have for upcoming fixtures...

    A) Pukki
    B) Jimenez

    And who scores more this gameweek only...

    1) c Wilson
    2) jimenez

  17. Frank Koscielny
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Would you Get rid of Pukki and other Norwich assets now given their long list of injuries?

    1. Crisnel Ronessi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Hold or bench

    2. CARROW ROAD
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Injuries effect defensive, which was terrible anyway, shouldn’t effect attacking threat.

      1. Frank Koscielny
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers!

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No, would play Pukki with Laporte out, bench any others like Cantwell

      1. Frank Koscielny
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers!

    4. JonBoy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Teams may play tighter expecting chances. This is my thoughts on ditching Pukki with his next 3 looking tough.

      1. Frank Koscielny
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers!

  18. windowview
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Trossard to James a mistake?

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

      Why?

  19. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pope Heaton
    VVD Laporte* Digne Lundstram Dunk
    Salah KDB Sterling Mount Dend
    Wesley Pukki Greenwood

    Transfer out Laporte for Trent or Otamendi?

    Thanks

  20. LC1
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Captain Kane, Salah or Sterling?!!?

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      out of those Salah

    2. Crisnel Ronessi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Kane.

      Go different

    3. Frucke
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Salah for me

  21. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pick a combo
    A- Ryan TAA digne mcginn Kelly
    B- Pope mings schar KdB Rico

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      why does the goalie change?

      1. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        B will be WC

  22. AandyzZ
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pukki, Barnes, Son > Ayew, Aguero, McGinn for -4??

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      hell no imo

    2. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No, absolutely not

    3. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      big no

  23. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Chances of AWB starting? Got Greenwood first sub.

  24. The VAR Team
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play one:

    A) Cantwell
    B) Diop

  25. HNI
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Worth doing Josh King ( EVE sot WHAM) to Haller (avl MUN bou) for -4? I was unsure before as bou matches are easier and King on penalties but then bou has many sharing points whereas Haller looks the point of attack

    1. Crisnel Ronessi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No.

      King has good record against Everton

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

        Is that the week he actually scores from open play?

    2. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Not for a -4

    3. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Keep King

    4. HNI
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks guys! Cemented my decision. Next week I have option of Barnes as well whonhas even better fixtures

  26. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone else on TC Kun - in Gw38 of course 😉

    1. Crisnel Ronessi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tc kun gw5 o/

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

        Why not have him at home to Norwich to round off the season in style?

        1. Crisnel Ronessi
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Because I believe in today, and don't think much about something to happen after 8 months

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I TC him in GW4 of last season and not this one 🙁

  27. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play one:
    1. Rashford
    2. Pukki

    1. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Rash

  28. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I've had 3 captain blanks in a row
    SalahGW2, KaneGW3, SterlingGW4
    Should stick with Sterling this week or go with Aguero?

    1. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      If I had Kun, I would captain him.

  29. abrussel
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    On a WC.

    A) Mount and Haller
    B) Lanzini and Abraham

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Good question. I think A

  30. Wings Fan
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    On WC. Gtg?

    Pope

    VVD - Digne - Otamendi - Lundstram

    Salah - Sterling - Mount - James

    Aguero - Barnes
    --------------------------------------------------
    4.0 - Cantwell - Soyuncu - Greenwood

    I've had KDB in all week but feel a lot less fearful having Aguero in.

    1. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      GTG. Feels so wrong but I had to sacrifice KDB to get aboard the Aguero train. Feel he’s a must like he’s always been due to potential explosiveness