Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 19

Welcome to the Christmas edition of the Fantasy Football Scout Gameweek Guide.

If festive distractions are keeping you from your beloved FPL, I’m delighted to point you in the direction of Simon March’s Guide to the Christmas Period. Simon is a Pro Pundit and former FPL winner and, in his article, he gives away the secret of his success. It’s a gift to us all. 

The pressing question this week for many FPL managers has been what to do with Son?

Replacements were debated on site with many looking at an upgrade to Salah. As Joe revealed on the Scoutcast that is exactly his plan, and David provided some comforting statistics to back up his decision.

Over the last four matches Salah is top for Shots in the Box (16), Shots on Target (9), and has an expected goals of 2.4 – again the best for any player.

Other options were discussed with Antonio, Martial, Willian, Grealish, and Alli all mentioned. Indeed, Meet the Manager guest Phil Ampleford (aka Philman) advised in the chat to keep it simple and get Alli. Although other FFS managers were less convinced

Captain candidates were also debated and following the success of Danny Ings against an injury-hit Aston Villa side, Teemu Pukki was highlighted as a potential armband pick.

In Gameweek 18 Danny Ings made up for his misfortune in Gameweek 17 with a 13-point haul. Az began a festive-themed hot-topic on the in-form forward, “Jingsle Bells” (brilliant or dreadful, make your own mind up) – with the fixtures stiffening for the Saints, should we keep or sell?

Teemu Pukki is the next talismanic forward to face the Villains. Their abysmal backline was highlighted by David in his Captain Sensible article: 

Aston Villa’s defence continues to be the worst by a considerable margin over the last four matches. They are bottom of the league for shots conceded in the box (55) by a total of 15, bottom for big chances conceded (14) by a total of three and also the worst for expected goals conceded (xGC). Their total of 11.17 is 4.97 greater than any other side in the last four Gameweeks.

– David Munday

Not pretty readying for Villa fans.

Conversely very pretty reading for owners of our favourite Finn. To bolster his case, the Norwich City forward was twice denied by Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patrício in their 2-1 defeat last week and boasts two goals in his last four matches. 

Although there was a word of warning from Neale in his Predicted Line-Up notes:

 The absence of Tyrone Mings (hamstring) and John McGinn (ankle fracture), both of whom have made big contributions to defensive efforts this season, may force Dean Smith into a more conservative shape when a slightly resurgent Norwich attack come to Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

– Neale Rigg

Harry Kane tops the Captain Poll, and a timely analysis from shniklas added to research by Pro Pundit Lateriser last month.

Over the past five seasons Kane has played 13 games during this Christmas period. He has scored 19 goals and been awarded 7 assists.

– shniklas

Brighton-fan Joe was fairly pessimistic about his team’s chances at White Hart Lane. 

Gameweek 17 hero Kevin De Bruyne put in another impressive performance, as Colm Hayes (aka CHayes) reported in his take on the key stats from last weekend:

Kevin De Bruyne managed four attempts against the Foxes, 75% of those coming from inside the penalty area. That goal threat complements De Bruyne’s creative genius – only Norwich’s £6.0m midfielder Emi Buendia (9) fashioned more opportunities for his team-mates than the Belgian (7) across the Saturday games.

– Colm Hayes

In his new advanced role he certainly presents an easy captain pick.

There are also reasons for picking Marcus Rashford at home to Newcastle. Aside from the expected return of Paul Pogba to the starting XI, Rashford tops the points predictions on this site’s Rate My Team.

And if you are looking for a reason to hand the armband to Tammy Abraham, G-Whizz provides you with ammunition in the latest DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds with Chelsea top of the ratings for Boxing Day. 

Everton appointed their new manager in the shape of Carlo Ancelotti, what will this mean for their fortunes? 

Gregor began a hot-topic on the subject, while the Scoutcast trio of Joe, David, and Andy debated the potential impact. 

The eyebrow-raising Italian favoured a 4-4-2 formation at Napoli which could mean good news for Richarlison according to David, while Joe enthused about Calvert-Lewin, who has notched 12 goal attempts in four matches. There were also positive quotes from Ancelotti about Moise Kean, who he tried to buy while he was at Napoli:

Moise Kean did really well last year. When I was at Napoli we tried to buy him. A really good player with a lot of talent. You have to consider that he’s 19 years old, for every player that change countries and teams, you need sometimes adaptation.

– Carlo Ancelotti

Finally, Greyhead was in reflective mood in the latest installment of The Great and The Good. Using the What If Machine he reported that Neale has been the transfer king so far this season, gaining an impressive 165 points with his wheeler-dealing. 

He also revealed that the famously patient Ville Ronka finally played his Wildcard. The Finn sold Jamie Vardy and tripled up on Man United players. Interestingly, World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen also bought Harry Maguire. If their success is anything to go by, perhaps that’s a move we will all be copying very soon.

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.

Rolling monthly subscriptions are now available, with the first month costing only £1.99 for a limited time only. Click here to sign up or upgrade your account.

Community Competitions

For an update on all FFS Mini-Leagues and Community Competitions, please click here to read the latest round-up.

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 19 can be found below:


Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

Enjoy your Christmas and best of luck for Gameweek 19!

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

1,845 Comments Post a Comment
  1. myteamissheeeeeeeet
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hey, on a WC which one please?

    A) Rash Robbo
    B) Kane, Any 5.0 def maybe Ota

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B for short term if you will captain kane

  2. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    GTG?

    Schmeichel
    TAA Aurier Lundy Kelly
    Mane KDB Martial
    Kane(C) Vardy Tammy

    Button D.Luiz Dendo Rico

    1. Stoler6
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gtg

  3. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On wc

    A - kelly & robbo
    B - kiko & taa

    1. Thiga
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

    Who to play. Martial or Cantwell?

    1. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial

    2. SirT83
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial all day

    3. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial

    4. Stoler6
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not sure, Manu looked out of ideas last week and that was against a poor Watford defence. Aston Villa have injuries galore

  5. simong1
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captain Abraham or KDB?! Really struggling to decide. Any insight/opinions?

    1. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Abraham imo

    2. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy

    3. Legohair
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Im going Tammy. There's little risk that lampard will rest him but im taking risk

  6. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Ings or Maddison?

    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'm on ings. It's a tight call

  7. Rover
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If you had to pick one player from each of the following sets (each set in isolation) who would it be:

    1) Grealish or Mount or Tielemans
    2) Antonio or Zaha or Fraser
    3) Moura or Pulisic or Sigurdsson
    4) Maddison or Richarlison or Pogba
    5) Rashford or Abraham or C.Wilson

    Personally I am tempted to go with
    Grealish, Antonio, Pulisic, Richarlison and Wilson

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish
      Meh
      Meh
      Rich/madd
      Tammy

    2. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mount Antonio Moura Richa Tammy

  8. Firefoxed
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Start Cantwell or Mr madisson?

    1. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cantwell

    2. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cantwell

    3. Stoler6
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No doubt Cantwell. No McGinn for Villa and their defence have injuries galore

  9. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is KDB expected to continue in the advanced role this week?

  10. mdm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to captain:

    A. KDB
    B. Tammy

    Thanks!

    1. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      See 1 up mate. If he is advanced I'll captain 100%

    3. Dele
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  11. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I wanna see a rockstar. Yep. FPL Rockstar.

    Shame he doesn't do FPL team news anymore.

    1. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What do you wanna know?

  12. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to bench :
    A: Kelly
    B: Tomori
    C: Maddison
    D: Jimenez

    Curenlty on A

    1. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

  13. Kay317
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to captain??
    A) KDB
    B) Salah
    C) Vardy
    D) Richarlison

    Choice is killing me!

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B or D

    2. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kdb out of those

  14. YEAH PITCH!
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Mount or Mousset?

  15. Ghost86
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On WC

    A) Dunk Rico

    B) Kelly Targett (own guita)

    Could get any other 4.4 instead of Targett but don’t know who

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Holgate instead of targett

  16. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captaincy

    Put it down to 3..

    KDB - due a rest ?

    Salah- Tired after Qatar?

    Pukki- just extremely unreliable?

    I also have..Mane,Ali,Richarlison,Vardy.Lundstran

  17. Emp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any team news leaks ?

  18. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    First to 3 please, Tammy or Alli for captain?

    1. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy

    2. BobbyV
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli

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

      Alli

    4. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy

    5. Dele
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli

    6. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy

  19. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    a) Son & Dendonker > Mount & Mahrez?
    b) Son > Alli?

    Thanks

    1. Big Al Stankovic
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B)

    2. Uncle Gamst
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks

  20. Eirern
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pogba or Grealish?

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pog

  21. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Selling Jimmy for a hit. Fight me.

    1. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You must be crazy so no way

  22. BobbyV
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play:
    A - Cantwell
    B - Mousset

    1. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  23. Borran
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play
    A) Zaha
    B) Cantwell
    C) Jimenez

    1. Big Al Stankovic
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ACB

  24. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Planning a 1 week punt on Norwich players before WC next GW.
    Which option is best (more points!)?
    Moussett ---> Pukki
    Dendoncker ---> Cantwell or Buendia

  25. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    RMWCT

    Guaita 4m
    Lundstram Soyuncu Holgate Rico Kiko
    KDB Salah Alli Grealish Cantwell
    Kane Vardy Abraham

    0.4 ITB

    Opinions appreciated. Cheers

    1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Lovely man, Kane captain!

  26. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kane is owned by 20%

    A hatty as a captain and job done

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Lets go !

    2. Dele
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wow

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        zers.

  27. SirT83
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Last minute captain...
    A: Salah
    B: Sterling
    C: Tammy
    D: KDB

    1. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. Dele
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    4. Thunder Warrior
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    5. Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      d

  28. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Too risky to go with Richarlison as captain?

    I have Alli, Mane, KdB, Abraham, Vardy

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good punt that can pay off very well

    2. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good a choice as any

    3. Dele
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Love it

  29. mdm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Have to bench one:

    A. Grealish (NOR)
    B. Richarlison (BUR)

    Thanks!

    1. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No u really dont.play both. Must be some1 else u can bench. Whats rest of team?

      1. mdm
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Kdb, Alli, Salah, Rashford, Vardy and Tammy

        1. Luton_Fan
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Wow. Hmm bench richarlison or dare i say vardy imo

  30. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gazzaniga
    TAA Lundstram Soyuncu
    Mane Maddison Alli KDB
    Vardy Abraham Ings
    (4.0 Traore Rico Janmaat)

    2FT 0ITB

    Really can’t think of anything to do...

    A) Maddison -> Moura
    B) Janmaat -> Kiko
    C) Other ?

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeh prob b