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. drughi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Salah (C) it is

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Nah thanks

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

      Same

  2. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Zinchenko Pieters Lundstarm
    Salah Sterling Mount
    Pukki Haller Kun

    Button Cantwell Douglas Kelly

    Or start that attacking player Cantwell over Lundstarm

    Cheers

  3. Tinmen
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Please help Folks, will I ship out Martial for Lanzini?
    Or just hope that Walkers peters starts and save ft?

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

      Save, Great sub

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

    Starting lundstram & benching cantwell
    Capping kun
    That's a recipe for a high score right?
    Don't trust Sterling's minutes, Salah is also an option

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

    Aguero or Salah on WC?

    1. Patrick Bateman
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Have you got Sterling? If yes, Salah

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

    Sterling (C) it is

  7. Alli
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play 2:
    Pukki
    Diop
    Dunk

    And Ryan or Heaton?

    1. Patrick Bateman
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Dunk & Pukki

      Heaton

    2. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pukki Dunk Heaton

    3. Alli
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Thx

  8. Patrick Bateman
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Start:
    a) Coleman
    b) Pukki

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      The man

    2. Partick Bateman
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pukki

  9. Kun Tozser
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    TC Sterling - lets go!

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      55 point haul it is

      1. Kun Tozser
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Hmm

    2. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      that 20 min cameo at the end isnt enough for TC for me

      1. Kun Tozser
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I've never got more than 5 x 3 so expectations are low 🙂

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

        Why cameo if they up 5-0?

    3. MosF94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Good luck, hope it goes well!

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

    Guys! Start Lundstram or Montoya?

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

      Lund

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

      Lunds

    3. Areyouthereyet
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks!

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

    Play Pukki or Dunk

    1. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Go the attacker!
      What about Pukki or King?

    2. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pukki.

    3. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pukki, easy choice

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

    Start Lundstram or Mount ?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Mount.

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

      Lund

  13. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    First to three wins a spot in my wildcard :

    A) Pukki
    B) Barnes

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

      B

    2. The Strokes
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      barnes

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I'd be tempted to go with B for two weeks and then switch to A but A otherwise

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

        That's three! Yes this is also what I'm thinking. Have 0.4 ITB for the move

    4. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

    5. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      B

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

    Nobody.... Nobody... Nobody does it better

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Du Du Du Du :*

    2. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Sterling Captain then

  15. Spacemonkey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play Barnes or Lundstram?

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

      Barnes

      Both if possible

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

        Only if it means leaving Pukki out.

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

    I'm all set, WC completed thank God that's over, lol.

    Best of luck to everyone!!

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

      17 mins left

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

  17. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Got the shakes again

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Protein bar for me

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

      Big night last night?

  18. GE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What would you do?

    (have 1FT)

    1) Martial -> max 7.6 - who?
    2) Play Dendoncker and save 1FT

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

      I'm doing 2. If I was doing 1 it would be Dilva.

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

        Thanks, already have 3 Citys

  19. UnitedFan
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Link to breakfast club?

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

    a) KDB or Dilva?
    b) Cantwell + Barnes to Lanzini + Greenwood?

  21. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    First 3, who to (C)

    A) Salah
    B) Sterling

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

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

      A

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

      B

    4. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

    5. GE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

    6. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

    7. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Salah it is then. Thanks.

  22. Tomerick
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    KDB or Salah for the captaincy?

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

      Ezy Salah

  23. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play one:

    Cantwell
    Dendocnky
    Greenwood

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Dendy guy

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

    Salah or Aguero
    Lundstram or cantwell

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      If no other city Aguero

      Lund

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

        Got Sterling too

  25. DR0GBA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Finally decided on my WC team..

    Pope
    TAA Digne Lundstram
    Sterling KDB Mount James
    Haller Abraham Aguero (c)

    Button Pieters Cantwell Hanley

    Triple City attack lets goooooo

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

      Good team

      1. DR0GBA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        cheers!

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

      No pool attack

  26. drughi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    norwich scored 3 goals against newcastle surely liverpool can score 5 goals

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      yep, newcastle are trash

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      If Klopp brings in one of Ox or in particular Shaq, think it may be a battering.

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

      They also beat Spurs.

    4. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Then spurs scored 0

  27. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    which attacker wud u play from Sheffield united?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No idea who starts tbh

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        what about robinson and norwood?

    2. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Burnie

  28. mash
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ryan
    VVD Digne Zinchenko Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB Mount
    Haller Pukki

    Button AWB* Greenwood Dendonker

    GTG re: bench order? Good luck everyone!

  29. John Colby (Capt)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Sorry -repost:

    Is Vertonghen the nailed-on CB partner to Alderweireld over Sánchez?

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

      Should be

      1. John Colby (Capt)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers man - on a WC and imo Sánchez is not great. Id have Vert ahead of him in the pecking order.

  30. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Feels weird triple captaining this early in the season usually wait for double game weeks! Come on Agueroooooooo

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

      Jesus says hi

      1. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        He says hi after 60mins when Kun has his hat trick