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. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is Aurier's place sure?

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes but Mou's team is not keeping CS

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

    Martinez
    Doherty TAA AWB
    KDB Bruno Son Foden
    Vardy Greenwood Jiminez
    5.5itb 1FT

    A) son > mane/Salah
    B) saka > Mahrez (bench one)
    C) g2g

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

      A

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

    Pls help on this

    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(c)

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

    Boly or Aurier 1st sub if Foden doesn't start?

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Aurier

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

        Aurier

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

          Thanks cheers

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

        Thanks

    2. Surfreak
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Both decent options but Aurier just pips it for me

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

        Thanks

    3. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Boly and that not even worth asking

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

    Best of luck to all of y'all this week.

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

      And to you, hoping for an absolute haul from Bruno and Co this week

  6. C'mon the Fylde
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I'm on my FH, guys. I'm chasing the top 2, in my league.

    Am I gtg?

    Ederson
    TAA Alonso Basham
    Mahrez Pulisic Bruno Martial Salah(C)
    Giroud Rashford

    Leno, Egan Nketiah Mings

    2.1m itb

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

      Giroud to Abraham?

    2. Jumping Jurgen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is Giroud nailed? Ship Leno and use funds to upgrade Basham - maybe Laporte?

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

      I’d downgrade Leno and Mings to a 3.9 to free up funds. Upgrade Giroud to Jimenez. If TAA is benched then it would be good to have backup from your subs. Possibly Nketiah to Gayle and Egan to Chillwell

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

      Giroud to play the majority? Currently on him too

  7. Jumping Jurgen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bottomed.. Got a bit of a lead in my ML, wildcard draft below :

    Ederson
    TAA, Maguire, Saiss,
    Puli, Salah(c), Mahrez, Martial, Foden,
    Rashford, Jimenez

    martinez, DCL, Aurier, Holgate

    Any changes??

    Cheers

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

    Start Lascelles (WHU) or Nketiah (wol)?

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

    Any news on AWB? (I know there was some probably false speculation yesterday that their RWB backup was called up, in light of some knocks and bruises)

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

      crap

      Might get Maguire instead

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

    On a WC, which would you prefer?

    A) Martial + Jimenez
    B) Willian + Rashford

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B but with Pulisic

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

      A

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

      A

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

      Tough. I’ve got B with Jimenez

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

    Who to start
    A) Saka
    B) DCL

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

      B

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

      B

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

    which is better for 2 DFs--
    A) Taylor and Kiko
    or
    B) Saiss and Lamptey

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

        thanks; play Saiss or Lamptey this GW?

  13. Kaptenen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Should I do Guendouzi to Pulisic for -4 and play him ahead of Greenwood ?

    Pope
    TAA - Doherty - Lascelles
    Mane - KDB - Mahrez - Bruno
    Rashford - Jimenez - Greenwood

    Button - Holgate - Guendouzi - Kiko

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes for me

    2. Jumping Jurgen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Probably not for a hit

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

    Barnes & Alli > Pulisic & Mahrez

    Or just 1 move

    ?

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

      Yes

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

      both

    3. Surfreak
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Both

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

    Any reason not to go for this -8?

    Saka + DCL + DDG + Ritchie
    >
    Mahrez + Greenwood + Pope + Robinson

  16. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Captain Bruno and Vice Captain KDB... Worried they both get benched

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

    GTG?

    Pope
    TAA - Doherty - Maguire
    KDB - Mané - Bruno(c) - Mahrez - Foden
    Rashford(vc) - Jimé

    Martin - Saiss - Lascelles - Ayew

  18. Bishopool
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who would you play? Two will be benched..

    a) Saka
    b) Hayden
    c) Baldock

  19. onceuponatyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Still got my free hit...

    last week, best time to use?

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Same here

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

    FH HELP PLEASE. 14.5 ON GK AND TWO DEFS

    TAA
    Salah/Mane/Mahrez/Bruno/Martial
    Rashford/Giroud

    1. C'mon the Fylde
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I've gone with Ederson, Alonso and Basham on my FH

    2. Better Call Raul
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      See my effort below

    3. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Can I take the points if you win?

    4. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ritchie worth a punt at 5.4

  21. JenkoJunko
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Last few decisions.. Thanks all and good luck!
    Start one..
    A. Lascelles
    B. Holgate

    Start one..
    1. Ayew
    2. Nketiah

    Capt..
    A. Bruno
    B. Salah
    C. Mahrez

  22. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any suggestions on my free hit team before I pull the trigger?

    Pope
    TAA-Mee-Dunk
    Salah(c)-Mane-Bruno-Martial-Mahrez
    Rashford-Maupay

    Button-Nketiah-J.Robinson-3.9DEF

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure how you got Maupay in your FH team?

      1. Better Call Raul
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He plays Norwich, who would you suggest?

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

          Id rather play Nketiah off bench than Maups

        2. Gooner Kebab
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Given it's a FH, i might swap Mane for a cheaper mid and get another fwd

    2. SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Maupay bold

      1. n14mul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Good pick

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

      Looks good. I’m thinking of downgrading Mane to Pulisic and upgrade def?

      1. Better Call Raul
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm thinking of downgrading Rashford to Greenwood and doing the same

    4. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Prefer Maupay to 4.2 and then upgrade Robinson to a 5.5 to play 4-5-1

  23. Gunner1290
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pulisic or martial?

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Both

  24. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start Lascelles or Saiss?

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

      I’m in the same boat, went with Saiss

  25. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane, Salah And Bruno versus Martial, Salah and Bruno with VVD over Azpi...

    Which is best?
    POPE
    TAA Azpi Chilwell
    Salah Mane Bruno Mahrez Puli
    Greenwood and Jimmy

    Or

    Pope
    TAA VVD Chilwell
    Martial Salah Bruno Mahrez puli
    Rash and jimmy

  26. Assisting the assister
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start Foden or Jimi?

    Tough call I think.

    Cheers

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

      jimi

    2. Surfreak
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jimmy

    3. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jimi,

    4. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Stop sitting on the fence 🙂

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

    Mahrez for Son now or after Son plays BOU?

    1. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      After

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Have gone for it myself

    3. Surfreak
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Probably now if you don't have another citeh mid and it's not for a hit

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

        Either Mahrez and Greenwood or Mahrez and Foden?

  28. Bees4Lyf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Do I drop the TC on salah now, as I’ll be FHing in gw38?

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

      go for it

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

      Now since Mahrez was rested

  29. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Just got on, any truth in rumours that Bruno/Pogba don't start through injury (clash in training?)

    1. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fake news

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        SSN tweet?

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

      The first 'source' to report it was a parody/satire site, and it seems that the Mirror might have got it from there, then tabloid rags seemed to follow the Mirror. So many are dismissing the story.

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        SSN tweeted it?

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

          Did they? It's not here: https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews

          1. Zenith UK
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Apologies, TalkSport - multi-tasking this morning, another article I have open is SSN

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

      I just tried to read the original
      Mirror article and the link no longer works...

      Same with the Irish Mirror

  30. Pulp Minion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Wan-b or Maguire on WC?