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. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mount or Foden to bring in. Have no Chelsea but have KDB

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

      Mount this week, Foden going forward

  2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    C Salah or Bruno?

    1. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah

    2. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah if chasing.

    3. Dele
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah

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

      Mo

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

      both

  3. Releasebreaks
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A - Doherty (ars) Saiss (ars)
    B - Doherty (ars) Egan (bur)

    Which one to go? double 'wolves defence ? or Doherty Egan ?

    1. Ninjaa
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd go A

    2. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A. Saiss good set piece threat v Arsenal

    3. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Wolves better form.

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

    1.Get Mahrez in for Son
    2. Start Foden instead of Saiss

    1. Ninjaa
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes
      Yes

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

    Guys. WC week. Can 't decide on with Salah or Without. A or B?

    (A) (B)
    Pope BUR Pope BUR
    Martínez ARS Martínez ARS

    Lascelles NEW Ritchie NEW
    Wan-Bissaka MUN Wan-Bissaka MUN
    Williams LIV Alexander-Arnold LIV
    Digne EVE Digne EVE
    Saïss WOL Jonny WOL

    Foden MCI Foden MCI
    Salah LIV Willian CHE
    De Bruyne MCI De Bruyne MCI
    Martial MUN Martial MUN
    Fernandes MUN Fernandes MUN

    Connolly BHA Nketiah ARS
    Kane TOT Kane TOT
    Jiménez WOL Jiménez WOL

  6. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ok, I’m going to say this now and then run and hide under the stairs

    His last 5 games included vs:

    United
    Leicester
    Liverpool
    Chelsea

    Despite this, for that period he was still
    joint 2nd striker for shots on target
    joint 1st striker for shots inside the box

    His final 5 games are to include:

    Bournemouth
    Sheffield
    Villa
    Southampton

    And he’s now available for the cut price of 6.4!

    Go on...do it...dee sea elle

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks for this. Still have him but benching him for Greenwood this week. Not confident on it though

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

      I have him and he ain't shown any signs of improving. Last chance then out,

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It's the good stats that are making me hold. Let's hope he converts on them.

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

      Yeh but he also had Norwich when I captained him and he blanked so I’m fuming at him.. last chance saloon

    5. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ahhh, my namesake...On my radar, no doubt.

  7. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Current team, pool heavy..hoping they go all I on villa:

    Martinez
    Taa, Lascellas*, Doherty
    Mane, Salah(c), kdb, martial, Bruno
    Greenwood, Jimi

    Button, holgate, nketia, kiko

    Should I be overly concerned about rotation? It's my main worry this week.

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd be a tad worried with KDB as well but I think all 3 will see some minutes (KDB the least of the 3) but Holgate and Nketiah decent bench cover

  8. TAT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Get Rahford or Greenwood?

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Rashy

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

        That's probably the safe move, but if chasing, could Greenwood be worth it?

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

      Rash

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

        I'm chasing though, so could Greenwood be worth considering instead?

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

    2ft 0.0m itb

    Pope
    Taa, Doherty, Saiss, Lascales
    Kdb, Salah, Son, Fernandes
    Vardy, Jimenez

    Martin, Holgate, Guendouzi, Connolly

    A. Keep Vardy one more week burn ft
    B. Vardy, Guendouzi to Greenwood, Martial
    C. Vardy, Guendouzi to Greenwood, Mahrez

  10. Judders
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Auba and ASM > Greenwood and Mahrez?

    1. Judders
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      For a -4. Will give me power 5 mid of KDB, Martial (c), Fernandes, Son & Mahrez

  11. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    3 questions:
    (A) is the Bruno rumour as much tabloid bullsheet as it seems?
    (B) good to bank FT? (0.4ITB)
    (C) Bench correct?

    Ederson
    Doherty AWB Egan
    Sterling KDB Bruno Mount
    Rash Jimi Ings
    (McCarthy - Donck Aurier Stephens)

    1. Judders
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      nice team mate. I'd bank the FT

    2. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bank and swap aurier and donk bench slots

  12. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane(c) anyone??

    1. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Possible, him or Salah for me, Liverpool to bounce back by giving Villa a proper thrashing, any points from Bruno a bonus

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

      Massive differential captain, he's been sold by alot and most seem to be calling Salah here.

    3. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Here

    4. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Great choice!

  13. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What to go with on a FH?

    A) Double City mids - Sterling/Mahrez

    B) Double ‘pool mids - Salah/Mane

    1. Visionaries
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm also on FH and have Salah, Mahrez & KDB.
      Reckon KDB is rested?

      1. The Yorkshire Pirlo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hmm yeah everyone’s put me off him 🙁 could massively backfire if he plays though...

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

    Start Taylor (SHU) or lascelles (WHU)?

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Taylor

  15. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    ML rival is 40 points ahead and using his TC on Bruno (I think).

    We both have Bruno and Salah.

    Do I risk it and captain Salah, or reduce the damage and captain Bruno?

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

      Go for salah - it's a risk worth taking

    2. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I’d go Salah regardless if I had both

    3. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Gamble!

    4. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It's unlikely for a player to have massive scores two weeks in a row, that's how it is if you check history of any of them, I would go for Salah.

  16. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Martinez
    TAA, Doherty, Lascelles
    Salah (c), KDB, Martial, Bruno
    Rash, Jimi, DCL

    Martin, Guendouzi, Kiko, Simpson

    1 FT, 1.5m itb

    G2g and save transfer or replace DCL with someone up to 8M?

  17. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1ft 1.3m itb and BB remaining
    G2G
    Henderson
    TAA Saiss Egan
    Salah KDB Martial Bruno Traore
    Jota Rashford

    Martin Aurier Connolly Lundstarm

    Captain dilemma and debating Traore to foden

  18. Alli
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start 1
    A. Foden
    B. Saiss
    C. Lascelles
    D. Ayew

    1. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      Foden/Lascelles, with Saiss first bench in case Lascelles isn't fit?

  19. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Lascelles to C Taylor
    B) Son to Mahrez
    C) Both
    D) Son & Guendouzi > Mahrez & ASM
    E) Other

    2FT 0.1ITB
    De Gea
    TAA Doherty Justin Lascelles*
    Salah (c) KdB Bruno (vc) Son
    Rashford Jimenez

    (Martin / Nketiah Holgate Guendouzi)

    Thanks!

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

    Greenwood (blocks AWB move later) or Nketiah?

  21. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Correct order for bench right?

    Saka Saiss Nketiah

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

      Saiss first imo, more chance of a clean sheet then saka has of attacking returns

    2. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  22. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Last minute checks.. Am I G2G?

    DDG

    Trent - Doherty - Aurier

    Fernandes - Salah (c) - Pulisic - KDB

    Ings - Jimmy - Rashford

    Bench: Hendo, Saiss, Fernanez, Hayden

  23. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kinda late to the party here.. Any advise?

    Still have all my chips..
    1FT/0.9 ITB

    DDG, Button
    TAA, Doherty, Soyuncu, Aurier, Kiko
    Salah, KdB, Grealish, Fernandes, Hayden
    Ings, Jimi, Rashford

  24. ChuckN
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    32 pts clear in my cash league and itching to take a hit and spend the 3.6 ITB. Hold fire or sell Aurier/DCL???

    DDG
    TAA Doc Aurier
    Salah Mahrez Bruno Martial Pulisic
    Jimi DCL

    Martin Nketiah Lascelles Kiki

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

      I would hold on to DCL, have a feeling he will come back with a bang soon. Don't see a point to take hits with that team, it's perfectly fine.

  25. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Play DCL or Aurier?

    1. ChuckN
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm currently on both but leaning DCL with Spurs rubbish performance last GW.

    2. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think you have to play DCL really

  26. Aladdin Sané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Son to Mahrez
    B) Son + Saka to Pulisic + Antonio/Foden
    C) Son, Saka + DCL to Mahrez, Pulisic + Greenwood (-4)

    1. ChuckN
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      C! Would you play Mason?

  27. jblakes
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What would ppl do with Lloris aurier and son? All three in my side and spurs look terrible

  28. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is it worth benching DCL (tot) for Foden (sou) and Taylor (SHU) ?

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

      I've got all 3 and currently benching Foden - but now having doubts

  29. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    4m defender bench fodder:

    A) Jack Robinson
    B) Lamptey
    C) Neco Williams

  30. Ejaaz11
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any changes to this team?
    playing my FH 0.9 ITB

    Pope
    VVD, Azpli, Mee
    Martial, (S)alah, Mahrez, Bruno, Pulisic
    Kane Greenwood

    the rest is bench fodder