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. wonkeydonkey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best £4.4m Def for BB in GW34+ (I'm on WC this week)

    A) Diop (BUR)
    B) Taylor (wh) - already have Pope
    C) Kiko (NOR)
    D) Holgate (SOU) - will be playing Ings

    Would appreciate alternative suggestions, thanks a million

    1. how many hits?!!
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pieters (Bur) - classified as a defender but playing in midfield, passed the eye test v Palace and only 4.2m

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

        Do you think double Burnely defence against WH is a good option though. Think I'm favouring Diop because I can't see Burnley scoring many

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

    Have 1 ft. Chasing in mini league so want to be a bit different.
    Team is;
    Patricia
    Ritchie, Trent, Doherty
    ASM, Son, KDB, Bruno, Martial (c)
    Auba Jimi
    Button Lascelles Nketiah Kiko. F

    Either
    A) Auba and ASM to Mahrez and Greenwood
    B) Auba and ASM to Sterling and Greenwood

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

      Mahrez more likely to get 90

  3. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    TAA - Saiss - Lascelles - Taylor
    Salah (c) - Bruno - KDB - Foden
    Jimi - Vardy
    (3.9 - Traore - DCL - Holgate)

    A) roll transfer
    B) use transfer

    1. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dcl for Foden

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

      Roll - looks a really good squad.

      Traore and DCL good covers for Pep's madness

  4. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start Saka or Nketiah?

    1. Blue Moon Rising
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Surely there's better options.

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Stevens or Egan lol

  5. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah or Bruno captain?

  6. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez C
    Log out

    Good luck everyone!

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

    Game time people,

    What are your captain choices?

    Salah for me

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

      Salah here too.

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

    back for a last minute rush... seen people suggesting FH.. any reason ?

    1. Midlands Saint73
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Liverpool and Man U very favourable fixtures and both scoring freely right now perhaps, am considering it myself.

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

      I FH. Have Rashford Martial Bruno TAA and Salah in my FH team happy now

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

        Also fitted Kane and pusilic in

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

          Solid. Gotta go all out on FH. Working towards something similar now.

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

      Nearly forgot also have Mahrez

  9. EMERGING STAR
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1. Captain Bruno or Mahrez (Currently on Bruno)
    2. Start Doherty vs ARS or DCL vs TOT (Currently on Doherty)

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

    Captaincy on Salah - should I triple captain him?

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

      I’m not even sure he starts. TC seems very risky

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

      yeah

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

      He starts and TC is OK

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

      thanks brothers

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

        Salah is chasing the Golden Boot.
        He'll be starting.

  11. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Azs team looks great

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

    Connolly expected to start today?

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

      not according to the predicted line-ups

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

        There a leak somewhere?

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

      I see the likes of Maupay and Trossard starting. They needs goals to cement their PL status and Norwich is the game to do that.

      Connolly often gets the harder games as he's a workhorse, and quite physical.

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

    Play Foden or Greenwood?

    Pope
    TAA, Doherty, Lascelles*
    Salah(vc), KDB, Bruno(C), Pulisic
    Rashford, Jimenez, Greenwood

    Marinez, Foden, Sais, Holgate

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

    Think I am done tinkering for this GW lol

    Come on (C) Salah don't fail us who stuck with ya lad.

    Good Luck Everyone 🙂

  15. Dont give a fuchs
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Final team set on FH this week. GTG?

    Pope
    TAA gomez stevens
    Martial Fernandes pulisic mahrez Salah
    Rashford Jimenez

    3.9 maupay dunk lascelles

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      G2G - who's captain?

      1. Dont give a fuchs
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Fernandes

        1. Siggy Azalea
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Nice. Help below?

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

      Solid. I like it.

      1. Dont give a fuchs
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks.

  16. Siggy Azalea
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Morning all, who to pick?

    a) Ayew (Leicester,a)
    b) Harvey Barnes (PAL,H)
    or....
    c) Ayew to Greenwood for -4?
    Thanks!!!

    1. Dont give a fuchs
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ayew. Leicester are not up to the mark post lockdown. They will concede atleast one

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

    So went sarr to Antonio hope it works out . Gl all

  18. Borran
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Do you think Foden will start?

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No

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

      I think more likely he does than doesn't.

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

    Auba > Jesus worth it?

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

      nah

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

    Any rotating keepers duo?

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

    Play:
    A) Greenwood
    B) Foden

    Captain
    1) Salah
    2) Bruno
    3) Rashford
    4) Mahrez

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A 1

  22. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    BB or not!
    Concerns over game time/points of players with asterisk.
    Could do Lascelles > Taylor
    Thanks

    Ryan
    TAA, Lascelles*, Dunk,
    Salah, *KdB, Martial, Fernandes
    Rashford, Jiménez, Nketiah
    Pope, *Foden, Saiss, Aurier

    1. Siggy Azalea
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Would be tempted by Foden over Nketiah, even if he does start on bench

  23. FPL_WILDCARD
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who to start out of

    A) DCL (tot)
    B) Lascelles (WHU)
    C) Connolly (nor)

    Thanks

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

    PENS DOWN

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

      30 mins mate 😉

  25. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Guys finally came dwn to this option.Both Ml rivals below me have rash..Carrying 20 points lead

    So what should I do?

    A) dcl and son to rash and puli
    B) son and kiko to puli and awb(i have defenders... taa doh lascelles kiko Simpson)

    Reply needed guys..

  26. tim
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any idea if Saka will start?

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

    Which please

    A) Vardy gundozi son -4 to mahrez puli grenwod
    B) vardy gundozi to mahrez/puli grenwod & leave son for gw34+ then out

  28. TheR2U4
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So... Salah TC?

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

    Hi all!
    Play Nketiah or Saiss, have Doherty already..?

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

    Saka or Lascelles 1st sub if KDB doesn't start?