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. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Play 3
    TAA Saiss Aurier Egan

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

      TAA, Saiss, Aurier

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

      First 3

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

    Please help.. I have 2 FTs but no idea what to do with them...

    DDG
    Gomez Lascelles Taylor
    Salah(C) Fernandes Son KDB
    Rashford(VC) Jimenez DCL

    Button; Saka Saiss Holgate

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

      Would start Saiss over Lascelles. Other than that it looks good.. Maybe Son --> Mahrez / Pulisic. Former for this week, latter for whole season.

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Son-> Mahrez

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

    Bench one of these:
    A) Foden (sou)
    B) Taylor (SHU)
    C) DCL (tot)

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      c

  4. Glad He Ate Her
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Just heard the news of Bruno and Pogba doubt. -8 hit taken, let's go

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

      Right...

    2. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      its fake

      1. Glad He Ate Her
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        You're kidding, right?

        1. Fozzyb34r
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          You’re kidding, right?

          1. Glad He Ate Her
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Are we stuck in a time vortex?

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

      F A K E - N E W S

      1. Glad He Ate Her
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        For real? No joke?

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

          Mirrors reputation is shot

          1. Glad He Ate Her
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I'm done

    4. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is your username the title of a p0rn flick I haven't seen?

      1. Glad He Ate Her
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Say it real slow. What does it sound like?

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          A man with a very big sword?

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

        I’ve seen it

      3. Fozzyb34r
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        His avatar is the front cover

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

      The mirror fell for a satirical news page, completely fake.

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

        Did they fall for it or just do it for the clicks? Sad state of affairs either way

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

    GTG? Bench(order) okay?

    Ryan
    Doh Fernandez AWB
    KDB Mahrez Salah (C) Pulisic Bruno
    Rash Jimi

    Martinez Nketiah (aka Marlo Stanfield) Holgate Robinson

    WC and 0.0 itb

    Ta!

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

      Nice, would play Robinson 2nd bench over Holgate though. Good side.

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

        Ta mate!

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

        Would you get Fernandez or C. Talyor on WC? Ta again!

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

          Tough one, hard to say. Just go with your gut imo.

  6. HVT
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ok last call please (2fts)

    A - Son/Mane > Salah(c)/Martial.
    B - Son/Dozi/DCL > Pulsic/Mahrez/NKetiah (-4)
    C - Son/Dozi/DCL > Pulsic/Martial/NKetiah (-4)
    D - Son > Martial or Mahrez? (Save 1ft)
    E - Rashy/Son/Dozi > Greenwood/Martial/Mahrez (-4)

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

      A or D

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

        Thanks both

    2. Pomp and Circumstance
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah and Mahrez probably best for this GW; Martial perhaps too

  7. Pomp and Circumstance
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    can I get a RMWCT with BB for next week...

    Pope
    AWB, Taylor, TAA
    KDB, Bruno (c), Pulisic, Foden, Salah (v)
    Rashford, DCL

    subs.: Martinez; Nketiah, Robinson, Kiko

    thanks!

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

      Excellent!

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

        Any comment above?

    2. Origi-nal
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Lascelles. If he doesn’t play saiss comes on anyway.

      1. Origi-nal
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Reply fail. Bloke below, see above.

  8. ZAWAd25
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Play Saiss or Lascelles?

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      play lascelles , arsenal will score . but if lascelles doesnt play easy sub in

  9. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Given that I am too far back in my ML (top 2 are 1,900 and 3,500 OR!) but am in the semis of the £150 cup, should I use my TC on a United player next week which is the semi final, or TC Salah this week?

    In summary

    a) TC Salah this week
    b) Use it on a United player next week as it is the semi-final of a £150 work cup.

    1. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      why not UTD this week..... its Bournemouth!

    2. uhahpaulmcgrath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      i think that City is the early game in gw36, and you might get early team news

    3. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I had contemplated Martial TC this week but am leaning towards playing it tactically next week to give me a boost in the semi final. (opponent has used TC)

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

    This captaincy thing is doing my nut in! Narrowed it down to Martial, Bruno and Salah. Going to write each name on a bit of paper, get the wife and kids to pick a piece of paper at random, then pick a family member and go with whatever name they have!

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

      Then you can blame them if it goes horribly wrong...perfect!

  11. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else thinking of using the triple captain this week? Fernandes for me

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

      Salah For me

  12. YEAH PITCH!
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bottomed

    DCL & Guendouzi > Greenwood & Foden?

    1. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yea

    2. HVT
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nice

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

    Bottomed:

    Last minute checks.. Am I G2G?

    DDG

    Trent - Doherty - Aurier

    Fernandes - Salah (c) - Pulisic - KDB

    Ings - Jimmy - Rashford

    Bench: Hendo, Saiss, Fernanez, Hayden

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

      Yes

  14. MOZIL
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Play Cantwell or Abraham (chance of not starting)

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

      Abra

    2. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Abraham

    3. Origi-nal
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Prefer Abraham in 20 mins than Cantwell in 90

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

    Hey, help me out please!
    DDG
    TAA Saiss Robinson
    Salah Bruno(C) KDB Mahrez
    Rashford Jimenez DCL

    3.9 Aurier Hayden Lascelles

    1FT 1.3itb

    A. Save, G2G
    B. Hayden > Foden and bench DCL

  16. Sgt. Schultz
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Partial Repost from earlier
    1FT

    A) Auba > Kane
    B) Mount > Martial/ Willian/ Mahrez
    C) Do both for a -4 ?

    or should I be considering a -4 for Salah(C) + 7.0m striker combo?
    Thanks a ton!

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

      B

      1. Sgt. Schultz
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        deja vu 🙂 Thanks bud. Strongly considering Martial.
        Good luck with your GW !

  17. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Convince me I'm not completely mad: I'm dropping an out-of-form Vardy to the bench in favour of a Sheffield United defender.

    1. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not mad at all

  18. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Switch captain to Martial? On Bruno at the moment

    1. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd go Tony out of the two

    2. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      put VC on martial

    3. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Smiling Martial for the win

  19. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Good morning Fantasy Footballers!

    Does my FH team look good to go?

    DDG

    VVD, Laporte, Justin, Christensen

    Willian, Salah (c), Martial, Bruno, Mahrez

    Kane

    Taylor, Nketiah, Connoly

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

      Yes

    2. Eastman
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nice. Like the Willian pick. Maybe AWB and change keeper but risk of a rest I suppose

  20. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Son & DCL -> Mahrez & Abraham/Ings sound decent?

    DDG
    Trent, Doherty, Ritchie, Saiss
    Salah(c), Martial, Fernandes, Son
    Jimenez, DCL

    Martin, Nketiah, Guendouzi, Simpson
    Bank 0.1m, 2FT

    1. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep

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

      Mahrez and Ings very decent

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

    What's the supposed problem with Rashford?

    1. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nothing, playing out wide won't score every week

  22. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pick the best def option out of:

    A) Ritchie
    B) Tarkowski
    C) Gomez

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

      C

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

    Martial or Bruno captain? I’m scared Martial will be rested

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      martial one million percent wont be rested

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

      I’d go Bruno for set piece v Bournemouth

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

      Bruno I think

    4. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Neither rested, could go either way

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

      I'm going Martial.

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

    Start Saiss or Lascelles

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

      Saiss

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

    Jota to Maupay for a hit?

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

    Any last minute suggestions? Could use some feedback

    1FT/0.9 ITB

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

  27. swanseag55
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ok so my transfer this week was going to be KDB to Mahrez as I have no bench and a bit of a differential. However I am thinking Mane to Salah for a -4 and captain Salah. Was going to captain Mane so all Salah needs to do is score 2 more than Mane and I have Salah for the reminder of the season. Thoughts?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not for me

      1. swanseag55
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Can still get KDB back next week for free?

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

    Any changes to captain or bench?

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Maguire
    SalahC Bruno Martial KDB Foden
    Jimi DCL

    Button Connolly Aurier Ngakia

  29. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anything worth a hit in here?

    Foster
    TAA, AWB, Doherty
    Salah, Fernandes, Pulisic, Son, Martial
    DCL, Jimenez

    Subs: Button, Nketiah, Lascelles, 3.9 --- 0 FT, 1.3 ITB

  30. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On FH, Ritchie or Chilwell for one week?