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

    Pope
    Lundy Kelly TAA
    Mane Kdb Alli Martial
    Vardy Pukki Rash

    Gtg right?! Burning my ft as I see no reason for transfer. Wc after this gw!

    1. DannyD
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      GTG, captain?

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

        Kevin

  2. Lexi2014
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Heaton (Pope)
    VVD / Lund / Aurier (Kelly)
    Mane / KDB (c) / Alli / Cantwell (Traore)
    Vardy / Ings / Jimi

    All locked in despite 2FTs!

  3. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench Ings or Jimi?

    1. DannyD
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ings

  4. Tsssst
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Boxing day last year...

    Everton 5 Burnley 1

    Make of that what you will.

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

      Pope save points?

  5. BrutalLogiC
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sticking with Rashford and not making last minute switch to vardy/kdb/mane, come on manu..last chance for rash

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

    Quick RP.... G2G or any recommended transfers?

    Henderson
    Lund Tomori Aurier
    Mane Alli Grealish Pulisic
    Jim Vardy Rash

    Pope - Willems, Dilva, Soy

    Was thinking Willems to Digne or Jim to Abraham? Recommend either of these or save FT?

  7. Iain Dowies Love Child
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA - Ota - Lindstram
    Mane - KDB - Maddison - Zaha
    Vardy - Jimenez - Jesus
    (Button - Kelly - Dendonker - Rico)
    1 FT, Jesus to:
    A) Rashford
    B) Abraham
    C) Ings
    D) Save

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

      Ings is king

    2. BigPointDipper
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pukki?

    3. DannyD
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Abraham

  8. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Choose one

    A - Kiko
    B - Holgate
    C - Zouma

  9. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Should I stick to my ballsy decision of Lundstram captain or change it to Vardy just to be safe?

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

      stick

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

      If ever there’s a week for it, it’s this one. I’ve gone Alli but without any confidence

  10. YuvalFPL
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    After promising Salah wouldn't go near my team this season, I brought him in for Son and he's my captain.

    Who else is captaining big mo?

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Me

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Herr

      1. YuvalFPL
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        good luck - fully expect Liverpool to turn Leicester over.

    3. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Me. I fancy goals in the Pool v Leicester game. Vardy the other option for me (VC).

      1. YuvalFPL
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        yep, vardy is just too boring for a captain choice this week. Benched Chilwell and TAA as I expect goals.

  11. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling capper here and I'm shitting my pants.

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      rightly so...if kun is back he cud be back on the wings

    3. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rest inc

  12. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tammy rested today? What are the chances

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

      50-50

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Could very well give Bats a run out

  13. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    1) If I can only go up to 4.6m for a Pope replacement probably as well sticking with him no?

    2) Jimenez to Pukki tempts - but Jimenez is so consistent. Do it or no

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gazz

      Keep Jimmy

  14. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Auba (c) we feast.

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

      Could well be with new manager bounce.

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Very good shout, Bournemouth defence pretty weak atm

  15. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rashford, Vardy, KdB, Mané, Lundstram, Alli.. don't think I've ever found choosing a captain harder!

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Oh and Grealish too!

    2. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Go alle those (salah instead of mane). On kdb atm

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same. All good choices.

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

      I'm going Rashford with Lord as VC.

    5. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Add Kane and Tammy there. Mine is harder 😛 Rashford out of those for me.

      1. sunzip14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Kane instead of Rash that is. before anyone comments 4 strikers 😀

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers,was thinking Mané actually.hmmmmm

  16. Deeney-is-a-god
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Stupid playing cantwell over ings?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No

    2. Jonny HOW SON?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      tough call

  17. Garam MOSALAH
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    WC Draft

    Ryan
    Lundstram • TAA • Soyuncu
    Salah • KDB • Grealish • Mount
    Rashford • Vardy • Tammy

    Button • Kelly • Dendoncker • Rico

    Should I do TAA • Mount > Aurier • Alli ? Double up Spurs ?

  18. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Stick with Captain Kane or one of

    A) Rashford
    B) KDB
    C) Alli
    D) Mané

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

      kane

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

      A

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

      Kane

    4. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks amigos

  19. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Want to play Martial as a farewell game ... but bench Grealish. Y or N?

    1. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gotta play martial

      1. YuvalFPL
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        quietly optimistic about tony again. return of pogba should force him nearer to the goal.

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If it's a farewell game you must not have much faith in him.

    3. Obi Wan Elokobi
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No

  20. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captain Salah or KDB?

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

      kdb

  21. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    2 teams most likely to keep a cs? Palace and Sheff U?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah

  22. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Come on Martinelli, A Xmas season miracle required

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

      What a punt, good luck mate!

  23. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli or kdb captain!? Help please!

  24. andre_c
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Son, TAA > Salah, Kelly -4 done. Regrets coming

  25. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play
    Kelly or Maddison?

  26. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Capt.
    A. Alli
    B. Abraham
    C. Rashford

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

      rash

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

      C

  27. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cantwell or Jimenez?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  28. Marco Ni Motet
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Got to chase points. Lundstram or Salah as cap? GL!

  29. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    C'mooooooon Kane (C). You need to remind us whats all about you!

  30. Cto
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tammy to Kane -4 (c) ???