Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 22

You’ve got to hunt for opportunities” declared Pro Pundit Lateriser in his Meet The Manager interview with Joe.

The Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 22 is here to help you do exactly that. But first a reminder that we have a Friday 19:00 GMT deadline in FPL, so don’t forget to make those crucial transfers and captain decisions.

Starting with the team news headlines courtesy of Neale and Rotation’s Alter Ego: Pulisic is out for a few weeks, De Bruyne and Maddison are both declared fit following knocks in their League Cup matches, and Pukki will miss the trip to Old Trafford.

Spurs confirmed that Harry Kane will undergo an operation to repair a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring. The striker is expected to return to training in April. Is there an opportunity here?

Pro Pundits Lateriser and Sam both examined the options. Lateriser analysed which Spurs players profited when Kane missed the end of last season, while Sam – currently the highest-ranked Pro Pundit – gave her thoughts in a Community Q&A video

Her feeling is that Aubameyang might be the better option to the potentially explosive Aguero. In one of several members-only articles over the last ten days, Neale delved into Arsenal’s improvement under new manager Mikel Arteta. Encouragingly for those considering Aubameyang he discovered that the Gabon international is one of the chief beneficiaries: 

Aubameyang has registered more penalty box touches, attempts on goal, shots in the box, efforts on target and big chances than any of his teammates.

– Neale

However Lateriser is finding himself seduced by Aguero with an enticing encounter against Aston Villa up next. 

The three-time top 5,000 manager opened his interview with Joe explaining that you need to find your identity as an FPL manager. He sees himself as someone who isn’t afraid to go against the crowd, citing his recent decision to captain Martial in Gameweek 19 as an example of this. 

And there may be another opportunity this week. David notes that the captaincy debate for Gameweek 22 is not as simple as Fantasy Premier League managers are hoping.

Jamie Vardy once again leads the captain poll and given that the Leicester City forward registered a season-high 20 points against Southampton in Gameweek 10 it is easy to understand why. 

However Southampton’s defence has been considerably better in recent weeks. Lateriser revealed that “only Liverpool have conceded fewer big chances than Southampton in the last four Gameweeks,” and the Reds only played three times. David agrees with the Pro Pundit that Aston Villa present a good opportunity for owners of Manchester City players:

Any side bottom of the league for shots conceded in the box heading into a meeting with Manchester City are always going to be in for a tough time. However, the issue comes from trying to pinpoint which of Guardiola’s men can do the most damage, primarily because of rotation.

– David

If the risk of “Pep-tation” is too much for you, Chelsea and Manchester United offer exciting alternatives. The two teams are second and third behind Manchester City in the latest DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds provided by G-Whizz.

And both sides are tipped for 3-0 wins by Pep Pig in his Preview and Predictions article. Strikers Tammy Abraham and Marcus Rashford are his players to watch. The latter is also selected in this week’s Scout Picks:

Marcus Rashford (£9.2m) has scored five goals and registered one assist in his last six league matches at Old Trafford and we expect such a run to continue against Norwich. The Canaries last kept a clean sheet away from home in Gameweek 13.

– Scout Picks

Let’s not forget Liverpool, who face a Spurs side unable to keep a clean sheet – just one since Mourinho took charge in Gameweek 13. 

Much of the talk surrounding their players is about which three to own for Double Gameweek 24. Upside-chasing Lateriser is very much in the Salah, Mane, Alexander-Arnold camp, whereas Az feels that owning both premium-priced midfielders is a step too far, given the structure of his team:

Overall, I’m just not convinced that major surgery is needed. I know Salah is an incredible player, and looks to be getting back to his best… but the damage it may do to my team if I did go for him may be irreparable. Would I captain him anyway, with Mané being in such good form alongside him? I doubt it.

– Az

Along with Joe and Karam, Az debated Liverpool’s upcoming Double Gameweek on the Scoutcast. They pointed out that with the two matches just under a week apart it could well be a good time to use the Triple Captain chip. They also highlighted which players perform better in away matches, given that neither game is at Anfield.

Firmino stands out as a differential to the costlier Mane and Salah for those who prefer to go with two Liverpool attackers. Indeed Reds-fan Lee backed his potential in a guest appearance in Sam’s Q&A.

The Scoutcast also debated players from Watford and Everton, given their recent managerial changes. The Hornets in particular have improved their attack, as David highlighted in his members-only piece.

[Watford] only scored nine goals in the first 16 matches of the 2019/20 campaign, a period which saw them managed by three different men, Javi Gracia, Flores and Hayden Mullins. By contrast, in the last five matches, Pearson’s men have found the net eight times, a drastic improvement.

– David

Midfielder Ismaïla Sarr was given a ringing endorsement by both Az and Karam, while goalkeeper Ben Foster currently finds himself in Joe’s team.

In fact, goalkeeper moves were all the rage this week with McGovern joining Joe’s team as a back-up in a typical dullard move, and Brighton’s Mat Ryan snapped up by Az. In an act of generosity, the Australian announced on Twitter that he was raising money for the Wildfire Rescue Emergency Fund:

I’ll be donating $500 for every registered save by all @premierleague goalkeepers this weekend.

– Mat Ryan

Let’s hope all our shot-stoppers put in great performances in Gameweek 22.

Pro Pundit and former FPL winner Simon March brought us another enjoyable and thought-provoking read, drawing analogies between FPL and the investment strategies of Warren Buffett. It includes ideas such as contextual value and explains why diversification, or spreading the risk in your FPL team, isn’t always a good idea. 

Finally thank you to luketownsend1997 who looked at which players have been providing value in different positions. Part One reviewed defenders and goalkeepers with part two looking at forwards and midfielders.

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.

Fantasy Football Scout Memberships are now available for a reduced price of £9.99 for the remainder of the season. Rolling monthly subscriptions are also available for £2.99 per month. Click here to sign up or upgrade your account.

Last Chance to enter Last Man Standing

This season’s competition has proved extremely popular with over 5,000 taking part and 1,000 managers still standing.

You just have time to join them – the deadline for final entries is 8pm today (Friday 10 January). However you must pass all previous safety scores to qualify – read TorresMagic’s recent article for more information.

The winner will receive a free Fantasy Football Scout Membership for the 2020/21 season.

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 22 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.

May your arrows be green!

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. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    no love for salah captain?

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

      Been tempted but only 1 goal away in PL.

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Im capping him. Liverpool are simply a level above the entire league bar City.

      1. yosim
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        same here

    3. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Have Salah and mane....gone mane.

    4. twoplustwo
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      All over it

    5. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      His away performance is dire

  2. mcginnntonic
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    for gw24 - which combo is better?

    madds + saiss -> cantwell + robbo
    Abraham+ saiss -> greenwood + robbo?

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

    Start Holgate or Soy??

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

      Soy

    2. Ziyech on the Bench
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Holg

  4. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What's worth more?

    A) Rico (WAT)
    B) Kolasinac (cpl) -4

    No doubt what's more fun, but that's a different story

  5. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Otamendi -> Holgate the best move here?

    Ryan
    TAA, Soy, Otamendi
    Salah, KDB, Martial, Moura
    Vardy, Ings, Maupay

    Button, Aurier, Dendoncker, Kiko
    Bank 0.0m, 2FT

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yep

    2. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Aurier out first

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

    Kdb only played deep 2nd half vs everton because of preservation/ managing game reasons and he will be in a more advanced role vs aston villa. Am i right?

    1. toerag
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      think so

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 2 months ago

        He played deep the whole match

    3. Ziyech on the Bench
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy or Rash Capitano?

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

        Rash

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

        I'd Rash it if I had him

      3. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Going with my gut this week and it's on Rash. Sure to backfire but oh well

      4. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Vardy

    4. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Have Southampton actually improved defensively...or have they just played teams who weren't so good at attacking?

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Improved.

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

        Improved.

        They beat Chelsea 0-2 away.

      3. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Soton are no pushovers of late. In fact soton have conceded only 1 goal or fewer in 7 of the last 8 pl games. (conceded only 6 goals in total in that period)

        They are currently the most inform team in the league after Liverpool.

        1. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          They beat tough oppositions like chelsea and spurs lately as well

    5. Riggs
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Who to captain?
      A) KDB
      B) Vardy
      C) Mane
      D) Sterling

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

        Sterling

    6. Super Nashwan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      How much of a better option is Sidibe over Holgate?

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

        Worth extra investment imo

      2. NilSatisNisiOptimum78
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Go Sidibe maaaate, he's playing in midfield

    7. jorgenoj
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What to do here? 2 FTs and 1.0 ITB.

      Ramsdale - Button
      TAA - Soy - Lundstram - Holgate - Rico
      Salah - KdB - Martial - Maddison - Dendoncker
      Vardy - Rashford - Ings

    8. TimetoplaytheKane
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Pick a cap

      Vardy
      Salah
      Kdb

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

        Kdb

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

        KDB

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

        salah

    9. Tmel
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Best sub 5.0 third striker? (mainly bench fodder)

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Greenwood

      2. Dthinger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Parrot could be a fun punt til Spurs get their new striker, but any of Greenwood, Connolly, or Martinelli are good options

    10. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Bench one:

      Grealish (MCI)
      Holgate (BRI)

      Thanks!

      1. Arse Craic
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Grealish

      2. Esalman
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Holgate

      3. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Holgate

    11. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      DSilva or Anderson?

    12. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Wildcard is sorted. Need to move up from 480K.

      Fabianski
      TAA Lundstram Holgate
      Salah(VC) Mane Richarlison Neto
      Aguero(C) Vardy DCL

      McCarthy Cantwell Webster Hanley

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Some nice differentials so like it. I have got Aguero in as captain also to try and catch up ML leaders.

    13. Totti
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      need your help guys

      last decision
      first five will go with them

      1. Totti
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        post failed 🙂

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

      Rash or kdb captain 🙂

    15. thewhitepele
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      G2G?

      Fabs
      TAA Soy Lunds
      KDB(c) Salah Maddison Grealish
      Vardy Rash Ings

      Button Cantwell Rico Lascelles

      1FT 1.3m ITB

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

        Looks good

        1. thewhitepele
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers

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

        Think kdb will be in attacking mid role?

        1. thewhitepele
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          hope so 😀

    16. Clarity
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No other issues in team.

      A) Alli > Richarlison
      B) Save

      Thanks!

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

        A

      2. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        A

    17. vandebeek
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Given Spurs weak form and Mahrez's quite consistent returns, what do you think of Alli - Mahrez transfer for free?

    18. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A: KDB
      B: Vardy
      C: Rashford

      Who's the captain here?

      1. UnitednationsXI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        already have martial if that makes a diff

    19. toerag
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      anyone fancy tammy (c)???

      1. HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yes

    20. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      GTG? Bench ok?

      Ryan
      Lundy Soy TAA
      Salah KDB Grealish Martial(vc) Traore
      Deeney Vardy(c)

      Button Kelly Rico Greenwood

      I have 1FT and 4.9itb how does it look??
      Planning to save my transfer and upgrade Martial > Mane next week

      Cheers!

    21. Totti
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      need your help guys
      last decision

      first five will go with them 🙂

      play:

      A) wood
      B) rico

    22. snowman
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Save FT?

      Pope
      Soyunc Lundstram TAA
      Maddison KDB Salah Traore
      Jiminez Vardy(c) Ings

      Subs: Mount, Rico, Kelly

      1. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yes

    23. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Alli out for Martial or Rich ft?

      1. HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Rich

      2. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        R

    24. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Start ryan or ramsdale
      Bench maupay or madison
      Start soy or sidibe

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

        Maup, sidibe

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

          Rams

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yikes

        Bench boost!

        Ryan
        Maupay
        Sidibe

        Maddison is too good to bench but like Maupay. Think Everton are just better cs call and possible attacking returns. Allergic to Bournemouth defence

    25. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A: Stick to this plan?

      Gazza/Button
      Robbo/Soy/Lund/Kelly/Rico
      Mane/KDB/Maddi/Grealish/Cantwell
      Vardy/Rashford/Jimi

      1FT 2.2ITB

      GW22: Save FT
      GW23: Rashford/Jimi > Ings/DCL
      GW24: Grealish > Salah

      B: or swap Gazza > Ryan now and rethink the plan later?

    26. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hmm, toying with KDB captain over Vardy then... will I regret it? 🙂

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

        Im doing same thing i think but over vardy, rash, martial, salah and mane eeek