Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 33+

You’ve got to think for yourselves. You’re all individuals. You’re all different.

– Brian, The Life of Brian

The concept of the template has come under the microscope ahead of Gameweek 33+. But with managers agonising over differential transfers, Pro Pundits Simon and Andy reminded us that our teams – however template they may appear – are wonderfully unique.

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 33+.

An 11:30am BST deadline begins a sequence of Saturday-Tuesday cutoffs in FPL, as the season-end draws ever closer. 

Indeed with six Gameweeks to go, transfer decisions assume a greater importance for many:

Anyone I buy now will have to be justified as someone I am happy to have in my team until the end of the season.

— Pro Pundit Ash

No pressure then.

Conscious that home advantage was largely nullified in the Bundesliga, Pro Pundit Ash is treating the fixture ticker with caution. Although a reduction in home victories from 44.8 per cent to 41.7 suggests that Premier League teams still benefit from familiar surroundings.

Perhaps of greater significance will be the quickfire turnaround times between games, as rest periods between matches vary significantly. Pro Pundit Zophar was on the case this week, revisiting the findings he shared over the busy festive period.

Recent research has shown that muscle injury risk increases by almost 20% when recovery time is reduced from six to three days.

– The British Journal of Sports Medicine

So who are the winners and losers in the scheduling lottery?

Manchester United have the most favourable timetable, with Wolves the other victors.

Man City and Liverpool, in contrast, have particularly compressed schedules, while Everton and Spurs fare worst of all.

Bournemouth were absolutely terrible, they made Jonjo Shelvey look like Iniesta.

– Lee Bonfield, Scoutcast

Things are looking good for Man United. Not only the best rest periods between fixtures but an enticing encounter against Bournemouth to start things off. The question recently has not been whether to triple up on Man United assets, but rather which three should we buy?

Anthony Martial is the best pick according to United-fan Andy. The Frenchman has averaged 5.7 points per match this season, and David even selected him as his captain in the Scout Picks.

Writing in his regular Captain Sensible article, David revealed that Martial’s underlying numbers mark him out as the best candidate from the quintet of United attacking options (Fernandes, Rashford, Greenwood, and Pogba the other four).

The out-of-position midfielder averages a shot every 31.4 minutes and a big chance every 62.8 minutes, putting him ahead of his teammates.

However, there’s a split in the Fantasy Football Scout boardroom.

Still reeling from his last minute decision to switch the armband from Bruno Fernandes to Marcus Rashford before the Gameweek 32+ deadline, Neale is adamant he will select the Portuguese on this occasion.

His mind was made up when Fernandes was withdrawn early against Brighton, ensuring he is rested for this weekend’s encounter.

But TheFantasyFreÆK fears Neale could be setting himself up for further disappointment:

Will Fernandes continue to outscore Rashford and Martial? I would think the Brighton game was the exception rather than a new norm – past trends show that Rashford and Martial will be involved more regularly which is why I’m hesitant on putting the armband on a Man United asset this week fearing that points might be spread.

– TheFantasyFreÆK 

All three main attacking assets are included in the Gameweek 33+ Scout Picks

An alternative for the armband, if you find choosing between the Red Devils too dicey, would be Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mané.

Comments on Friday from Jurgen Klopp suggest Liverpool will be fielding a strong side against Aston Villa, who have tightened up defensively since the restart. But as David pointed out, that might count for little at Anfield on Sunday:

Facing a stiff defence is not always an issue for the Liverpool pair, Salah’s 11-point haul against a supposedly resolute Crystal Palace side in Gameweek 31+ proves that point perfectly.

– David

The Egyptian has seven goals and one assist across his last six home league matches.

Despite their compressed schedule, Manchester City have an appealing fixture run. Although picking the right players to take advantage of it is unlikely to be straightforward.

Kevin De Bruyne, following his recent exertions, is not included in Neale’s predicted line-up for the trip to Southampton. Whereas a midweek rest sees Riyad Mahrez handed a place in the Scout Picks XI. The Algerian has attacking returns in every match he has started since Gameweek 30+.

Another City player who is again being talked up is Phil Foden. Pro Pundit Tom Freeman was ahead of the curve when he picked out the Man City youngster as a differential back in Gameweek 29 and he is considering him now as a fifth midfielder.

Whilst many see Foden as a no 8 and David Silva’s long-term replacement, his versatility is appealing. We’ve seen him through the middle, coming in off the right against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup final, and now on the left against Burnley.

– Tom Freeman

Among his three differential picks this Gameweek, Tom selects Allan Saint-Maximin. The elite FPL manager notes that the upturn in the Frenchman’s form has coincided with Steve Bruce’s decision to switch from a defensive 5-4-1 system to a more attacking 4-2-3-1 in Gameweek 28. 

Although when it comes to making transfers, Pro Pundit Simon March challenges the idea of template and differential. He argues that if you consider the specific combination of players in your team you’ll discover that it’s essentially unique, no matter how highly-owned the individuals are. 

However complicated we make FPL, it ultimately still comes down to picking the players who will score the most points. There is a potential benefit to a good differential, but it’s important to ask yourself; are they ‘good’, and not just ‘different’. Will they really outscore the more popular alternatives?

– Simon March

A player who is both good and different is 8.0%-owned Christian Pulisic. The American has impressed since the restart and did so again at the London Stadium on Wednesday night.

While the Chelsea winger is challenging for a precious midfield slot in our FPL squads, one player who has failed to live up to recent expectations is forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin. 

Three successive blanks is testing the patience of his loyal ownership – the Everton striker still features in 10 of the 12 squads among The Great and The Good –  but David suggests that their patience could be a virtue: 

The recent obliging nature of Spurs’ defence, which has conceded 31 shots in the box over the last four matches, could offer some last hope for Dominic Calvert-Lewin owners.

– David
Eliteserien

ReindeerHotdog set the scene for the next round of fixtures in Norway. He delved into goal and shot statistics to highlight the over and under performing teams in the league.

Community Competitions

A full round-up of Community Competitions will follow this article.

The Head-to-Head leagues have been updated for Gameweek 32+, results and tables are currently showing on the main Head-to-Head page.

The fixtures for Gameweek 33+ are below:

Best of luck in Gameweek 33+

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 32+

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

2,361 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I've suddenly ended up with Antonio and Alonso in my team 🙂 (Aurier and Alli OUT). Differential ally

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      GL! 🙂

  2. The SK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    To buy SALAH or not to buy?
    What’s the general concensus on his prospect until end of season?

    1. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      3 days rest a bit concerning

      1. Hitmonlee
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He’s an elite athlete that doesn’t drink.
        3 days rest is fine and he will have a point to prove.
        Great underlying stats too

    2. Hitmonlee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Hold if you have him. Not sure I’d look to buy.
      He’s my captain this week though

    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Going for Golden Boot so he will want as much game time as possible I'd say. 🙂

  3. KANTEnders
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start :
    1) greenwood
    2) Foden

    Captain :
    A) Bruno
    B) mane
    C) mahrez

    Cheers!

    1. Baron Penguin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1A

      I think Foden is more likely to be benched, and can’t ignore Utd for captaincy IMO.

      1. Baron Penguin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Can’t decide between Martial or Bruno though. Or Salah!

    2. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1B

    3. DannyD
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1A!

  4. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    VVD, Saiss, AWB
    KDB, Bruno, Pulisic, Salah
    DCL, Vardy, Jimenez

    McCarthy, Cantwell, Lascelles, Williams (Man U)

    0FT, 1.6ITB.

    G2G or is there a Hit that I need to do?

    Cheers

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

    Worth getting rid of Bruno with the training injury news? No value tied up

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sounds fake to me

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      fake news mate.

      1. Hitmonlee
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Might be fake news but Ole did say he had some players with a knock. That certainly isn’t fake. Just a case of speculation as to who that is.

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

      Cheers guys

  6. Mikha In A Tutu
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    If you could get one player in for this gameweek who would it be?

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Maybe Rashford or Stirling?

    2. Hitmonlee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Toss up between Pulisic and Mahrez.

      I’ve gone for captain America

  7. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane or Bruno captain?

    Currently on Mane

  8. gers23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How my looking?

    Ederson

    TAA Maguire Seiss

    Kdb Mount Traore Bruno(c)

    Auba Jiminez Rashford

    Leno Cantwell Lascelles Lund

  9. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Okay here?

    Pope
    TAA Doherty AWB
    Salah(c) KDB Son Bruno
    Jimenez Ings Greenwood

    Martin Fernandez Davis Simpson

    1. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Great team

  10. wonkeydonkey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On WC this week so who is the best cheap def for GW34+ BB. Will sit 3rd on my bench so unlikely to play again:
    A) Diop (Burnley)
    B) Kiko F (Norwich)
    C) Holgate (Southampton) - I'll be playing Ings

    Any other alternatives??? Have £4.3m to spend

  11. RohanVaswani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Willain or Pulisic?

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Puli

  12. hawkeyes
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Vardy + Willian
    B) Kane + Foden
    C) Greenwood + Sterling

    1. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A this week imo

  13. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On Freehit.

    Correct bench order?

    1st - Connolly (nor)
    2nd - Taylor (SHU)
    3rd - Diop (new)

    1. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah I'd say so

  14. Hotdogs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Choose one to play on a FH (4-5-1 except for E)

    A) Doherty (ARS)
    B) Laporte (sou)
    C) Mee (SHU)
    D) Azpilicueta (WAT)
    E) Nketiah (wol)

    1. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  15. King Kun Ta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pick Fernandez of C. Taylor on WC? Or other 4.6 defender?

    Ta and GL lads!

    1. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Taylor

  16. ddfc
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Got a horrible selection dilemma... I wanna play Foden but who do I drop??

    Pope

    AWB / VVD / Doherty

    Salah / Bruno / Mahrez / Pulisic

    Greenwood / Kane / Jimenez

    Bench: Button / Foden / Lamptey / Holgate

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Greenwood only option

      1. ddfc
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Is it mad to drop Jim?

        1. gers23
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I wouldn't drop Jimi. Arsenal defence will struggle tonight imo

  17. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start Foden or DCL?

    1. Puzzle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd be ery tempted by Foden.

    2. ddfc
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Defo Foden

    3. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Foden

    4. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers, punting on Foden then!

  18. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A)Son to Mahrez
    B) DCL to Gayle

    *one week punt

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  19. Puzzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    DCL -> Connoly (4,2) and Son -> Salah for -4?

  20. Raging wildcard
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Traore + Ings > Mahrez + Greenwood (-4)

    Is it worth it? I'm expecting Mahrez to get a fair few starts and City to have a strong finish but reluctant to take a hit

  21. fantasydan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    My mini-league leader and myself have Fernandes, and I believe they will captain him this week.

    They don't have Salah. Should I bring in Salah and captain him or play safe and captain Fernandes?

    Cheers

    1. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Many points is in it?

      1. fantasydan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        About 80

  22. Pickle juice
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    dcl to ASM for a hit

    Yah or nay

  23. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    lads pls , play :
    a. jota
    b. f. fernandez

    thx

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jota explosive but gets tugged off

  24. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is there a better week to use TC now or later?

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

      City Bournemouth

  25. The Mighty I
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On a WC, anything need addressing?

    Pope Button
    VVD Doherty Taylor Holgate Diop
    Salah Sterling Mahrez Bruno Foden
    Kane Greenwood Nketiah

  26. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Help neded here

    A Pope Taylor

    B Henderson Robinson

    Burnley are without in form forward against the third best defense in PL

    But Pope looks like a no brainer..

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      probably A cos they play at home but wouldn't be surprised by a 0-0

  27. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Son, Guendouzi, DCL -> Mahrez, Pulisic, Greenwood (-4)? Or Nketiah instead?

  28. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I'm on a WC and with all these Rumours about UTD players, would I be safer with
    Martial and Greenwood instead of Rash and Bruno?

  29. DAVESAVES
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    DDG
    TAA Saiss Robinson
    Salah Bruno(C) KDB Mahrez
    Rashford Jimenez DCL

    3.9 Aurier Hayden Lascelles

    1FT 1.3itb

    A. Save
    B. Hayden > Foden and bench DCL

  30. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Martial or Bruno captain?