Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 31+

A quick turnaround as we head straight into Gameweek 31+ and once again we have a 5pm BST deadline.

While an earlier cut-off may be part of the ‘new normal’, one thing that hasn’t changed is that Pep Guardiola likes to rotate his players. As ever, predictably unpredictable.

Some interesting thoughts on how we could finally use that to our advantage in this Gameweek Guide, as well as enticing differentials and captain options.

To win the Pep Roulette, you need to play the Pep Roulette. It’s one of the biggest pots out there.

– LateRiser

Who else but our favourite upside-chasing manager LateRiser perfectly articulating the dilemma presented to us Fantasy managers by Manchester City. Thankfully, in his latest article, he offered us an intriguing option on how to play our hand. Could Phil Foden offer a less ‘all-in’ approach?

When it comes to Foden, I expect him to get a lot of minutes and I think he’s a really good option for your eighth attacker. What I would do with Foden is that if he is rested for a particular game, I would probably start him in my FPL team in the next game as we expect Pep to rotate and Foden’s upside is very high.

– LateRiser

To give our Pro Pundit some credit he did highlight Phil Foden on yesterday’s Scoutcast ahead of the evening kick-off. Although a bigger round of applause is reserved for Pep Pig, who not only brought him in for Gameweek 30+ but told us about it beforehand – twice! Unsurprisingly he still leads RedLightning’s January to July mini-league.

The big news that could potentially impact how we shuffle our City pack, is the injury to Sergio Aguero. As Neale report in the Scout Notes, Pep did not sound overly optimistic in his post-match interview:

He felt something in his knee. He was struggling the last month, some pain in his knee. It doesn’t look good for this season.

– Pep Guardiola

The two immediate beneficiaries are Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling:

The stock of Gabriel Jesus could be about to rise as we await a proper diagnosis from the City medical department, although it should be said that Raheem Sterling has operated as a ‘false nine’ in Guardiola’s various systems before and the Brazilian will surely not be starting week-in, week-out from now until Gameweek 38+ even if Aguero is sidelined.

– Neale

However with upcoming matches against Chelsea and Liverpool either side of an all-important FA cup tie against a resurgent Newcastle, looking elsewhere could be a viable option in the short term.

Manchester United and Wolves appear to be the golden ticket teams. The Red Devils take on a depleted Sheffield United defence with John Egan suspended and Dean Henderson ineligible to face his parent club – do check out the latest Team News ahead of the deadline. 

If you are considering one of Fernandes or Rashford for the armband, David’s dive into the stats is essential reading. His feeling is that Fernandes has the slight edge:

The fact he is a midfielder also gives him the edge over Rashford who, despite looking like an exciting option for Gameweek 31+, cannot capitalise on clean sheets and scores one fewer point for every goal scored, when compared with Fernandes.

– David

While in the debate between Rashford and Martial, TheFantasyFreÆK is leaning towards the Englishman:

Despite having his minutes curtailed by injury, Rashford has recorded the second highest number big chances at home of all forwards this season. Over the season, Rashford has registered 23 big chances compared to Martial’s 14 with both of them having played a similar amount of minutes.

– TheFantasyFreÆK

Manchester United and Wolves also have the best odds of a clean sheet after Liverpool, according to the bookmakers via G-Whizz.

But there are plenty of options for our teams this Gameweek. Neale highlighted Son’s potential earlier this month: 

Son’s shot accuracy in the Mourinho era has also caught the eye: an average of 1.53 efforts on target per 90 minutes is inferior only to Salah (1.61) when we look at midfield regulars in the top flight.

– Neale

While Pro Pundit Tom Freeman picked out the returning Dele Alli as one to watch in his differentials piece. An opinion backed up by David:

Dele Alli managed a total of 11 shots in the box over his last four, an average of 2.75. Crucially, that was achieved in his number 10 role, which he is likely to be dropped back into for Tuesday’s London clash with West Ham.

– David

There’s an enticing trip to Carrow Road for EvertonRicharlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin appeal:

The Everton pair have managed to record the joint-second-highest total for shots in the box over their last four, against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. That is incredibly ominous as they prepare to face Norwich in Gameweek 31+.

– David

In short, those who fancy an alternative to a Liverpool captain this week have plenty of options.

Community competitions

The Fantasy Football Scout Cup continued in Gameweek 30+ with Round Two taking place. The full results can be seen here

If you want to enter the new The FFScout Charity Shield mini-league, do so now.

We’ll be closing the league to new entries after the Gameweek 31+ deadline passes at 17:00 BST on Tuesday. Head to the FPL site via this link and use the code ‘i3lxye’ to sign up.

The top five places receive a free membership for next season. Fantasy Football Scout will also be making a donation of £300 towards the NHS and has set up a JustGiving page should others wish to make a contribution.

In TorresMagic’s Last Man Standing the safety score in Gameweek 30+ was a whopping 95 points, which saw a total of 72 managers eliminated.

The threshold for elimination increases to 30% for Gameweek 31+ and a minimum of 63 managers will depart. 4,899 managers have exited the competition so far with 207 left to battle.

A full review of the round-up of latest community mini-leagues will appear tomorrow.

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

2,043 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Foden or Saka on WC? Rotate defender and Foden(when he didnt play the game before). Not playing Foden this week and if Saka he will mostly stay om bench

    1. That Fantasy Guy
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Foden

    2. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Saka

  2. Millie7
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    early team news?

    1. Orion
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nope

  3. That Fantasy Guy
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A. Son + McCarthy
    or
    B. Alli + Pope

    Thanks

  4. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    SHOULD I START LASC OR JUSTIN?.

    1. That Fantasy Guy
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Lasc

  5. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best Leicester mid under 6.2??

    1. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Barnes

    2. UnitedFan
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Barnes or punt on Saint-Maximin.

  6. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Holgate
    Salah KDB Sarr Son Bruno
    Jimi DCL

    Button Nketiah Lascelles Masina

    WC team and bench order GTG?

  7. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    CAPTAIN WHO?

    BRUNO
    SON
    JIMENEZ

  8. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    salah or bruno captain?

    1. Orion
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Salah

    2. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I keep changing. Salah.

  9. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Capt.

    Rash
    Bruno
    Jimi
    Vardy
    Son
    Mane

    1. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Vardy

  10. Barnabus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Doherty Captain

  11. Dont give a fuchs
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pope
    Saiss TAA B. Williams
    KDB salah Richarlison Fernandes
    Jimenez Rashford Ings

    Bruno captain locked.

    B. Williams in defence locked - if he does not play lascelles will come on.

  12. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    McCarthy or Pope? Quick ...

    1. Dont give a fuchs
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pope

    2. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      mcarthy

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I am with you at the mo ... ugh

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      pope

  13. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    FH team

    DDG
    TAA - Doherty - Ritchie
    Mane - Son - Fernandes - Richarlison
    Rashford - Jimenez - DCL

    GOOD LUCK ALL.

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nice team, pretty similar to my wildcard apart from Rashford over Martial. Good luck

  14. JS27
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Auba + Grealish to Bruno + Ings for a -4?

    1. Dont give a fuchs
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes

  15. Gangster’s Allardyce
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) Pope & Barnes
    B) Patricio & Foden

    1. Barnabus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  16. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    The press officers for the teams with the 1st kick offs could do us all a favour, and tweet it out 5 mins earlier!

  17. Wakanda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    son/ali/bruno/pogba captain

  18. eamonhegg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    SON
    SON
    sons
    son
    son
    son

  19. andrinho
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is Rashford in for Aguero worth a 4 point hit?

    Otherwise, I'm playing Saka...

    1. QUEN
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If you can afford a hit

  20. E25
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    saiss or lascelles?

  21. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    GTG? Bench order changes?

    Pope
    TAA, Doherty, Saiss, Lascelles
    Salah(c), Son(v), Bruno, KDB
    DCL, Jimenez
    (Martin; Saka, Holgate, Nketiah)

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Holgate, Nketiah, Saka

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks for the feedback. Just missed the changes, though.

        1. PascalCygan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          No worries, good luck!

  22. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I got cold feet about Son and went Salah captain, Fernandes vice.

    Here goes! Good luck everyone!

  23. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Last minute switch Salah(c) -> Bruno(c)

    bound to backfire.....

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thinking about doing it too. Hmm

  24. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Help?

    A. Martinez, Saka(bench), Rashford

    B. DeGea, Martial, Nketiah(bench)

  25. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Salah or Bruno for the band? So close

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pulling my hair out! Went Salah, just.

  26. mattyb09
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Leicester team news?

  27. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Tick tock - under two mins guys. Soon time for pens down.

  28. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Aguero and Mahrez to Vardy and Salah(C) for a hit?

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    doherty and richarlison or mane and saiss??

    1. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      M&S.

      Not just any pairing.

  30. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Last minute FH Team

    Pope
    TAA/Doh/Lascelles
    Mane(c)/KDB/Son/Fernandez
    Jimenez/DCL/Vardy

    Martin-Ngakia-Guendozi-Simpson

    Gtg....?