Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 25

Welcome to a slightly earlier than normal Fantasy Football Scout Gameweek Guide ahead of Saturday’s 11:30 GMT deadline

After a divisive Double Gameweek in which many suffered from Triple Captaining Sadio Mane, we’ve had wise words from several of our Pro Pundits. In his Meet the Manager interview with Joe, Utkarsh Dalmia (aka Pro Pundit Zophar) reminded us:

Evaluate the decision, not the outcome.

– Pro Pundit Zophar

Clearly Mane was an excellent choice and it’s extremely unlucky he went off injured after just 33 minutes against Wolves.

Referencing Poker in his latest piece Lateriser cautioned that it would be very easy to go ‘on tilt’ after facing a bad beat. He echoed the words of fellow Pro Pundit Simon March, who has spoken in the past about the “What the heck? Effect” – where we are more likely to take risks following a loss:

Keeping your temperament in control is incredibly important.

– Pro Pundit Lateriser

This week, in his article discussing the ‘sunk cost fallacy’, former FPL winner Simon brought us more thoughtful advice:

Literally, the only thing that matters in this game are the points you score going forward so we’d do well to ensure that we make our decisions on that basis, no matter how loudly our past decisions might continue to echo in our ears.

– Simon March

So what moves should we be considering ahead of Gameweek 25?

The Scoutcast trio of Joe, Az, and Lee were unanimous in their recommendation of switching Mane to Salah, if you don’t already own the Egyptian.

Joe and Lee both feel that with a crunch Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid following hot on the heels of their Gameweek 26 trip to Norwich, Mane is unlikely to get many minutes even if he is fit to play.

However, for managers who already own Salah, the options to replace the Senegal international in our squads – in the words of Pro Pundit Ash – look bleak.

Raheem Sterling is similarly priced but is lacking in form. While Son Heung-min has had the second-highest number of goal attempts (14) this calendar year among midfielders but embarks on a poor run of upcoming fixtures, with the exception of Aston Villa in Gameweek 26.

Shifting funds to our front lines may be the way to go.

Pro Pundit Holly Shand points out that Aguero is making a compelling case to be included in our Fantasy squads when she cast her eye over the goal threat, creativity and clean sheets for January. While Aubameyang is tempting Pro Pundit Andy. The Arsenal forward faces Burnley (away), Newcastle (home), and Everton (home) in his next three matches.

And a cut-price striker has caught the attention of several managers. Pro Pundit Tom Freeman highlights Chris Wood in his differentials article:

With Arsenal, level with Burnley on 30 points, due at Turf Moor on Sunday, Wood’s aerial ability could be key. His five goals from set plays are more than any other player this season, whilst only Newcastle United have conceded more attempts from dead ball situations than the Gunners.

– Pro Pundit Tom Freeman

Community member Luv4rotties agrees, as he told us when he considered Mane replacements earlier this week. While Top Gun Luke is hoping the New Zealander will kick start his surge up the ranks.

And Pro Pundit Zophar also talked up the Kiwi when disclosing his plans for his FPL team.

Finally keep an eye on the moves of The Great and The Good. Greyhead was in pun-tastic form as he brought us a light-hearted look back on the Double Gameweek. Many of these managers boast excellent track records, and it’s somewhat reassuring to know that they suffered like millions of others.

Armband Candidates

Mohamed Salah is the runaway leader in our captain poll following his Double Gameweek heroics with over 56% of the vote.

But as David reported in his usual in-depth Captain Sensible article, Liverpool’s upcoming opponents could provide a stiff examination of their attacking credentials:

Southampton have been in fantastic shape, which may cause some slight concern for those hoping to trust Salah with the armband. Over the last four matches, when the Saints have faced Spurs, Leicester, Wolves and Crystal Palace, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men have conceded just 22 shots in the box, just 5.5 per game. Considering that Southampton will be away from home against Liverpool, this data suggests that if they, as suspected, park the proverbial bus, it could limit Liverpool’s attack.

– David

He offers up Aguero as a viable alternative for our armband affections:

Aguero comes into this weekend in better statistical shape than the Egyptian (as far as goal threat is concerned) with superior figures for shots in the box, big chances and shots on target. Furthermore, the defensive data of recent matches suggests that Spurs could actually be easier to penetrate than Southampton at Anfield.

– David

However if the threat of Pep Roulette makes you feel uneasy, Salah is undeniably a good option. He comfortably tops this site’s Rate My Team and his prowess can be explained by his home form. Neale’s analysis of the key underlying stats revealed:

45 attempts on goal, 38 shots in the box, 22 efforts on target, 13 big chances and ten goals recorded by Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) at Anfield this season. No FPL midfielder can surpass any of those totals in home fixtures. Liverpool face Southampton on Merseyside this weekend.

– Neale

Salah is also one of the three ‘players to watch’ in Pep Pig’s Gameweek 25 preview and Liverpool are miles ahead in the latest DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds provided by G-Whizz.

Looking ahead

The FA Cup and League Cup results are beginning to shape the landscape for FPL managers. 

David reviewed the current permutations for Blank Gameweek 31: two matches will definitely be postponed while the FA Cup replays due to take place on February 4th and 5th will lead to further fixture disruption. 

The League Cup final will be contested by Aston Villa and Manchester City, meaning their fixtures against Sheffield United and Arsenal will be rearranged. Therefore highly-owned players such as Kevin De Bruyne, John Lundstram, Dean Henderson and Jack Grealish will all blank in Gameweek 28.

Of course these same players will also benefit from a yet-to-be-announced Double Gameweek.

Team News

Among this week’s press conferences was the news that Willy Boly is ready to return to action. 

The Scoutcast trio found his price of £4.7m enticing. The Wolves defender could be a good replacement for Soyuncu or possibly Lundstram, should the Sheffield United star find his starting role under threat.

To add to his appeal the Frenchman scored three goals from headers last season. Tom Freeman highlighted the importance of set-piece threat in his latest article. Newcastle United offer a few budget options ahead of fixtures against Norwich and Arsenal.

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.

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 25 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

3,434 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mr. Mystic
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kelly -> Lascelles or
    Cantwell -> Traore?

    1. milanista10
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Both are good transfers, only one will start or both? If both, I’d do the 2nd and start Kelly & Traore

  2. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    For those on wildcard, are you planning to bench boost on GW26 (given favorable fixtures for Sheffield, Soton, Brighton) or wait till later in the season?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Wait for a DGW

    2. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      The way my teams set up can be either 27 or 29, will probs play it sooner.

  3. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A) Stevens+VVD
    B) O'Connell+Robbo

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

      A

  4. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Defence is:

    TAA, Soy, Lund, Kelly, Simpson

    Will I get 3 starters this week?

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

      TAA Soy will play I guess ... I suspect Lund to start ...

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Really hope he does - I can sort it next week so just need 1 more
        Week from him

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

          The same here, tempted by Soy > New defender but will hold tight

  5. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg all?? 0ft 1.7itb

    Guiata
    Taa Lund soy Cathcart
    Salah(c) kdb Traoré
    Vardy ings dcl

    Button kelly dendo mane*

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’m in a similar boat, considering bringing in Traore. G2g

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks 🙂 good luck!

        1. PascalCygan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          You too!

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      GTG

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks zico

  6. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would really appreciate some advice here please.

    1. Sell or bench Mane? If benching, downgrade Soy to Lascelles?

    2. If I sell Mane (11.9), who shall I buy? Grealish, Traore, someone else?

    Currently 1FT 0.2ITB
    Ryan
    TAA Lundstram Williams
    Mane* Salah KdB Martial
    Vardy Ings DCL

    McGovern Kelly Soyuncu Dendoncker

    Thanks!

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      1, bench mane and do soy to lascelles

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers mate

  7. Fishy
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    1. Pepe
    2. Kdb
    3. Sterling
    Pick a replacement for mane?

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      2

    2. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      2

  8. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which one oh wise ones? 1FT & 0m ITB. Cheers.

    Foster
    Soy - TAA - Lund - Cathcart
    Salah - KDB - Martial - Cantwell
    Vardy - Ings

    (McGovern) Greenwood - Mane - Kelly

    A) Soy > Lascelles
    B) Mane > Grealish
    C) Mane + Greenwood > Traore + Auba (-4)
    D) Anything else

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’m considering similar. Short term says Mane to Grealish, long term says A.

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Tempted by C but know Auba will need to come out for the blank

  9. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Why are people so confident that Lundstram starts?

    Has he not been dropped?

    1. lugs
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      i'm not confident at all, luckily my bench is crap too so i'm not risking much by starting him 😆

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'm benching in anticipation of:
      - No cs probably
      - No attacking return
      - Might get a cameo

      If he doesnt start might take him out next week

  10. bored by december
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    Trent Robbo Lascelles // Stevens Stephens
    KDB Mo Perez Traore Fleck
    Auba Jimmy // Ings

    WC team, 1.3 ITB.

    Any pointers? Will be bringing in Vardy at some point I would've thought

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

      Nice one, not sure by Pope ... I guess you navigate against BGW

  11. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lost on last page

    Help is needed please on what is the best 10m DF combo on WC for this back 7

    McGovern Ryan

    VVD Dunk Stephens xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

    Any ideas would be welcomed and appreciated

  12. Lav
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Soy —> Lascelles
    Lund —> Stevens/Baldock

    Look good for free? Keeping Mane.

  13. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Wow Mané down to 29% ownership

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      That is free fall

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He should be back for nor, WHU, wat, BOU, and he surely plays in GW 28. It's madness!

  14. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A. Gomes + Jiménez
    B. VVD + Wood (Wood to Ings gw26)

    Already have TAA.

  15. MartialMatas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Not sure what to do here. Already on a - 4
    I'd like to leave it but my bench is so weak with Mane and Femenia out and Lundstram a risk

    Just leave it? Get in lascelles to help with my bench? Something else?

    McCarthy
    TAA Soyuncu Lundstram
    Salah Mane KDB Grealish Cantwell
    Kun DCL

    McGovern Greenwood Femenia Stephens

    £0.0m itb

    1. TeddiPonza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Leave it. Not many options this week worth -4

  16. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Solskjaer has a plan...

    1: Sign Ighalo from China
    2: Sparks an outbreak of the coronavirus
    3: Football is suspended in the UK
    4: Liverpool don’t win the Premier League

    https://t.co/uMf3n62pCi - original tweet

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      😆

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Oh dear!

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Perfect conspiracy theory

  17. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Play two:

    A) Rico (AVL)
    B) Dunk (whm)
    C) Lundstram (cry)
    D) Kolasinac (bur)

  18. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Decided to save transfer (1 FT) with this team and will mini WC next week:

    Ryan
    TAA Soyuncu Lundstram
    Salah [C] KDB [VC] Martial Grealish Traore
    Vardy Firmino

    Gazza Ings Rico Aurier

    Any worthy transfer this week folks?

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nah. Great team btw.

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

        Cheers!

  19. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Best keepers to go with for the rest of the season?

    Defence is
    TAA,Gomez,Egan,Lascelles,Lamptey

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Henderson or McCarthy

  20. andres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A mane, dcl, soy => vvd, mooy, auba/kun
    B mane, dcl, vardy => son, jiminez, auba

    1. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A because I wouldn't want to lose Vardy.

  21. VardysParty
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Soy or Holgate to Lascelles?

  22. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed. I would apreciate any help.

    GtG fellas ?
    McCarthy Soy-TAA-Lund
    Salah(C)-Madd-Grealish-Son
    Auba-Firmino-Wilson
    Button-Kelly-Tomori-Nakamba

    Thinking to sell Tomori for a hit and bench Soy

    Anyone ??

  23. konrad.sygula95
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would you wildcard this team ?
    Yes/no ?

    Pope/Krul
    Lundstram/Kelly/Rico/Soy/Robbo
    Salah/Kdb/Lucas/Martial/Cantwell
    Vardy/Abraham/DCL
    1ft 0.1 itb

    1. Esalman
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      You'll probably keep many players on wildcard, right? Actually only Abraham looks doubtful.. No?

  24. rBar17
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Play one:
    A) Maddison (CHE)
    B) Fleck (cry)

  25. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A) Dubravka and Stephens
    B) McCarthy and Lascelles

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  26. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan (buton)
    Lund taa sidibe(simpson soy)
    Tarore kdb mane salah (martial)
    Maupay dcl vardy

    Which ?!
    A) WC
    B) mane simpson -4 to robo grelish/fleck
    C) martial simpson -4 to grealish/fleck 5.4/7.1 def.
    D) simpson to 4.3 def.
    E) martial to fleck/grelish

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. Nightf0x
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Grelish or fleck or someone else

  27. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you play this gw?

    Rico (AVL)
    or
    Hayden (NOR)

    Thanks

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hayden

  28. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A. Maddy>Grealish
    B. Kelly>Lascelles
    C. Save FT and assess new signings

    1FTs & 0.1

    McCarthy
    Robbo, TAA, Rico
    Salah, Martial, KDB, Maddy
    Vardy, Ings, DCL
    Gazza, Lundy, Dendo, Kelly

  29. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Perez or Traore?

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      T

  30. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    VVD worth the extra money than Gomes...?

    Already have TAA btw

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      If Gomez is considered a regular starter I would say no. Money could be invested elsewhere.