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. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    any chance of early team news today?

    1. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      for Brighton - Norwich?

  2. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Goodluck everyone!

    DDG
    TAA AWB Boly Aurier Justin
    Mane Bruno(C) Pulisic
    Jimenez Kane(VC)

    Nyland KDB Nketiah Davis

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

    Foden minutes/points?

    Thanks

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

      minutes 15
      Points 1

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

        .

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

    Anything worth a -4 here?

    DDG
    Trent, Alonso, Doherty, Ritchie
    Salah, Fernandes, Martial, Pulisic
    Jimenez, DCL

    Martin, Saiss, NKetiah, Guendouzi
    Bank 0.4m

  5. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pick one:

    A) Nketiah
    B) Saka

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

      Saka for minutes

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Saka

    3. PL Ball
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers lads

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

    If you were in the top 500 now, what would your approach be?

    Play safe, or combo for a differential captain?

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

      Safe

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

      Don't ask me. I was about 160 OR and TCed Andy Carroll 😆

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

        🙂

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

      Neither. I'd go for points regardless

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

      Go for it. Playing safe will kill you.

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        this

    5. Party time
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Combo

      • Ralph
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm just inside top 500, captaining Martial and hesitating to swap KDB to Mahrez for this gw only, even if it means buying him back for 0,7 more next week!

      • Paul Psychic Octopus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Depends on the height of your ambition...

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

      Best captain out of:

      A) Mane
      B) Mahrez
      C) Bruno
      D) Martial

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

        In the same boat. Currently on Bruno with Mane VC.

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

      It's so goooood. I love my team. I hope there will be no football this weekend to ruin it.

      Martinez
      TAA Doherty Digne
      KDB Mahrez(v) Bruno(c) Pulisic Foden
      Kane Rashford

      McCarthy | Greenwood, Saiss, Holgate

      1.3 ITB in case I need to get Sterling next week or make other changes for a BB.

      Don't act like you're not impressed.

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Phwoar

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

          Tell me about it. I won't be able to stand up for hours.

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

        No Salah is risky, but nice squad

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

        Nicee Kane could be gold

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          He has been awful for 2 seasons and especially unappealing under Mourinho

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

            Ssshhhh

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

        Amazing team

      5. Jekori
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Only one i can't see delivering is Martinez. The others looks great indeed, especially long term. I've got Kane in cause his last 4 matches vs everton in PL were braces and my OR this season is lost anyway. Want some excitement on Monday. Good luck to you

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

          Martinez is a rock! Thanks Jekori. GL to you!

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

      Help

      A Pope Taylor
      B De GEA Robinson
      C Henderson Robinson

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

      Play 1:
      A) Aurier
      B) Holgate
      C) DCL

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

        A

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

          Fancy spurs after Sheffield?

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

        C

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

          He could easy poach one, I suppose it depends how Everton play on the day, defensive or going forward more than against Leicester

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

        C

      4. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        C

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

      Start
      1) Greenwood
      2) Foden

      Captain

      A) mane
      B) Bruno
      C) Mahrez

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

        1A

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

        1 B

      3. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        2A

    11. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mane captain it is, lets go sadioooo

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        This

    12. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Aurier (EVE) or Fernandez (WHU)?

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

        A

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

      Sorry for last min Q. Play one.
      A) Robinson
      B) Aurier

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

        B

    14. Return of the FF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Who to captain?

      A) TAA
      B) Martial
      C) Salah
      D) Bruno

      Bench order

      1st Saiss
      2nd DCL
      3rd Nketiah

      Playing 451 as midfield also includes KdB and Pulisic

    15. royaljoe
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A or B?

      A) Sell Vardy+Sarr got Greenwood/de bruyne?
      B) sell DCL for greenwood?

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

        A or B?

        A) Sell Vardy+Sarr for Greenwood/de bruyne?
        B) sell DCL for greenwood?

    16. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sod it, gonna go mane (c)
      United should win, but their hauls often get spread
      No Salah, other options are Bruno, Martial

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

        I would go Martial over mane

    17. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Who is going to score more points this week-

      A. Jota vs ARS
      B. Taylor vs SHU

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

        Reply fail, please help out guys....

    18. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez captain over Bruno and martial, crazy ?!

    19. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Start Doherty or Aurier?

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

        Yes

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

        Easy doh of cos

      3. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Big D

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

      Any Brighton news

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

        Connolly starts

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

          Source?

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

            And thanks

    21. Greglarrrr
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bench one?

      (A) KDB
      (B) Greenwood
      (C) Rashford
      (D) Bruno
      (E) Mane
      (F) Mahrez

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

      Guys captain
      A) Mane
      B) Bruno
      C) Rash
      D) Puli
      E) Martial

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

        Mané

      2. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Just landed on Mane myself

    23. JabbaWookiee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Play (a) DCL or (b) Aurier?

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

        A

      2. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A

    24. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruno or Rash (c)!?

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Rash

      2. Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm on Rashford

      3. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Was on Rash, switched to Mane

      4. Krafty Werks
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Bruno

    25. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      For this week?

      A) Digne (tot)
      B) Stevens (bur)

      1) Mahrez
      2) Bruno

      X) Cantwell (BHI)
      Y) Mount (WAT)

    26. Moose™
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Richarlison fit?

    27. kempc23
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ings (MCI) or Taylor (SHU)?

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

      Pope, Henderson or De Gea?

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

        Pope

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

          Thanks mate

        2. Right In The Stanchion
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I’ve gone Henderson as half of Burnley’s team is injured

    29. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Should I play Foden or Calvert Lewin and why?

      1. Paul Psychic Octopus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Foden, for risky upside. Spurs are poor but not that awful defensively.