Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 36+

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 36+. Today’s deadline is at 19:15 BST – still time to consider those all important transfer and captaincy decisions.

Following a Gameweek in which many differential options scored well, managers are on the lookout for the next opportunity to help them climb the ranks.

The two outstanding bets appear to be a flutter on the Pep Roulette or a fired-up Chelsea against an already-relegated Norwich City.

A total of six players from these teams feature in the Scout Picks.

Pep Roulette

Since the restart, Manchester City have been creating by far the best chances of any Premier League side. Their expected goals total of 19.21 is way ahead of the second-best team for this statistic, Chelsea, on 12.73.

But we don’t need stats to tell us City are a good bet – the problem is picking the right player.

Joe stunned Az and Andy on the Scoutcast this week when the typically safe and unadventurous manager revealed he is looking to sign and captain David Silva.

And Joe is not alone in coveting El Mago.

Gran Canaria’s most successful footballing export is picked out by Pro Pundit Tom Freeman in his regular differentials piece. 

After being omitted from the starting line-up against Brighton, he is fancied to start against a Bournemouth side missing influential centre-back Nathan Aké

Since the restart, and bearing in mind he’s been limited to just four starts, Silva has had more opposition half touches than any other teammate. He also sits top for successful passes in the final third, and second for chances created and big chances created.

– Pro Pundit Tom Freeman

At under five per cent ownership, the Spanish playmaker looks to be this week’s standout differential.

However, in David’s Captain Sensible article, it’s the Brazilian Jesus who tops a number of key stats.

Over his last four matches, Az’s favourite player has taken 16 shots inside the box, including six big chances.

And while opponents Bournemouth have been better at the back in recent games than one might expect, that really shouldn’t put us off:

The four teams who have most recently faced Manchester City are all in the bottom half for this statistic, especially Brighton and Newcastle, whose xGC scores took a battering during a battle with Guardiola’s relentless attackers.

– David

Of course the big question is who will start for City?

As mentioned, David Silva is widely expected to be named in the starting XI but nothing is certain with Señor Guardiola.

To help us, site moderator Legomané has put together a useful colour-coded matrix:

Detailing the minutes played by each key asset, it gives us a clue about what we might expect against Bournemouth.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that following their outing against the Cherries on Wednesday, Pep’s troops have just two days rest before their important cup semi-final against Arsenal. A match in which the rotating Catalan is sure to name his strongest line-up.

Chelsea to bounce back?

Frank Lampard was fuming after his side’s defeat at Sheffield United.

They were better than us physically, in the mind and with the ball, so you lose the game. They were stronger than us. We don’t have crowds at the minute so you hear every voice and all I could hear was Sheffield United voices, so they were stronger in that sense.

– Frank Lampard

Fair to say we can expect a reaction against Norwich City.

And following Daniel Farke’s side’s capitulation at the hands of West Ham – and a delighted Michail Antonio in particular – the Blues are expected to profit.

Willian and Christian Pulisic would appear to offer the best routes into the Chelsea attack. David notes: 

If Willian is going to play, he seems the most complete Chelsea asset when weighed up across all the categories. He is the most creative, competes reasonably with Pulisic and the two forwards for shots in the box but gets bigger chances and is more accurate than the American.

– David

Managers could benefit from early team news ahead of today’s deadline, and that could bring Olivier Giroud or Tammy Abraham into the equation.

The pair have shared minutes since the restart. But a place in the first XI for either would surely mark them out as an enticing differential, albeit not one that would be a reliable starter for the remainder of the season.

And let’s not forget West Ham and Antonio. The out-of-position midfielder is thriving in the centre-forward’s role, and his promising underlying stats ahead of the Canaries clash persuaded well-known Scoutcasters to invest.

Greyhead was his usual puntastic-self in the latest installment of The Great and the Good. The chronicler of the FPL Rat Pack reported on the positive rank swings for Az and Andy, who both benefited from Antonio’s incredible haul. The Hammers’ talisman remains a differential at just 3.4 per cent ownership.

Scintillating Saints

Southampton scored the last goal of Gameweek 35+ to level the scores at Old Trafford. The Saints started strongly with Stuart Armstrong scoring the opening goal of the evening. 

But while the Scot has been putting in some excellent performances of late – producing attacking returns in four of his last six matches – the focus for many is on Danny Ings.

Still in the race for the Golden Boot – four goals behind Jamie Vardy – he has the backing of his manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. Speaking after the win over Watford in Gameweek 32+, the Saints boss enthused: 

I think anything is possible [with regards to the race for the Golden Boot]. We will play with him the last six games and then he will have six chances to score. If he gets the chance you can see how fantastic his finishing is at the moment. He seems fitter than ever. He was very hard working in the shutdown and that gives him now fantastic physical options.

– Ralph Hasenhuttl (speaking after victory over Watford in Gameweek 32+)

However, the demands of the fixture schedule is giving FPL managers pause for thought.

Pro Pundit Zophar updated us on the varying rest periods for Premier League teams in this latest offering. Southampton’s “harsh schedule” could make the six-time top 5,000 boss reconsider his planned move:

I was originally thinking of doing the Jamie Vardy to Ings move but the Saints’ congested schedule has me a bit worried. Ings has been a machine of late but his fitness issues in the past are well documented and will they possibly flare up again with matches so close? The Saints’ pressing style could suffer too with low recovery periods. Something to ponder.

– Pro Pundit Zophar

Vardy Party, Manchester Six and Misfiring Salah

Selling Jamie Vardy is a dilemma for many in the community.

Maximus Bonimus Pointimus sought opinion in a hot topic – Leicester’s fixtures and a number of first-team absentees could potentially see the Golden Boot leader shown the door.

Compared to Pep’s squad spinning, Ole Gunnar Solskjær is wonderfully reliable. The Norwegian named an unchanged side for the fifth game running against Southampton.

Although selecting the right three to own still requires some thought, with a number of options vying for a place in our squads. Pro Pundit Sam invited opinion on the ideal trio in the comments section.

Meanwhile, TheFantasyFreÆK shared his insights in his regular Gameweek review. Top of the agenda was just how unlucky Mohamed Salah-owners had been:

Salah recorded as many big chances as Sterling (two each) and in fact, fared better for shots in the box (four vs three) and minutes per expected goal involvement (66 vs 74).

– TheFantasyFreÆK

With impressive underlying stats – the Egyptian tallied eight shots in his previous outing against Brighton – Salah remains a contender for the captaincy.

Final checks

FPL relaunches with/without unlimited transfers for all managers

Don’t forget to check out the latest Team News and Predicted Line-ups brought to us by Neale and, as usual, G-Whizz has been kind enough to supply the best odds of a clean sheet.

Lastly, a heads up that the penultimate FPL deadline of the season is this coming Saturday at 16:30 BST.

Community Competitions

A full round-up of community competitions will follow this article.

The Head-to-Head leagues have been updated for Gameweek 35+, results and tables are currently showing on the main Head-to-Head page.

The fixtures for Gameweek 36+ are below:

May your arrows be green!

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

2,186 Comments Post a Comment
  1. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which combo on FH would you have?

    A) Salah/Giroud

    B) Willian/Ings

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

      A

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

      Tough one. Probably A, just.

    3. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      B

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

    Anything worth a hit? 0.4 in the bank.

    Ederson
    Doherty, Alexander-Arnold, Digne
    Bruno (c), Salah, KDB (v), Foden
    Greenwood, Ings, Vardy

    Pope, Saka, Kiko, Cathcart

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

    TC Pusilic?

    Not convinced myself

    Probably regret it later

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

    For the remainder of the season....

    A. Antonio
    B. Pulisic

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

      A

    2. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Antonio

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

    Ddg (Martin)
    Trent Doherty Saiss (lascelles holgate)
    Salah kdb mahrez Fernandes (guendouzi)
    Vardy ings Greenwood

    2ft, 1.3itb

    Not really sure what to do here...do I risk it and sell kdb and mahrez for sterling and Pulisic?

  6. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Nobody is talking about Liverpool assets which is odd given the bunch of clowns Arsenal have at the back.

    Could see a 3-1 Liverpool with a Salah or Mane brace.

    Mark my words.

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

      I agree, salah could have easily hauled against Burnley were it not for pope so there is no reason he can’t against arsenal

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

      Better fixtures elsewhere for players with cheaper prices

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        What do the player’s prices have to do with captain selection?

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

          Where did he mention captain selection?

          1. Cilly Bonnolly
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Hahaha. I’m a fanny. Thought you were replying to another post. Apologies.

    3. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep, ended up having Salah on my FH

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

    Anyone thinking Ings rested?

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

      Nope. Ralph (I can't be bothered to spell his last name) has shown full support for Ings and his Golden Boot quest.

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

        Tempted to punt Giroud this week and get Ings next but you make a good point. And would save a transfer

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

    Is McNeil a nice differential for the last 2 games or am I crazy? Need an escape route from Willian Puli double.

    1. Mr Arsenal
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      McNeil or Ward Prowse

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

        Prowse also on my mind. The scorer/assister combo could be nice.

  9. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KdB + Vardy > Sterling(C) + Jesus (-4)?

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

    Giroud is mostly playing correct? Which one to select along with jeses
    Ings
    Giroud

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

      We'll find out with the team leaks

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

        Sorry didn't get u

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

      Injured it seems

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Who is?

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

          Nevermind, i got trolled

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

    Jesus or Bruno for the armband? At 25k

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm going with Bruno, have both

  12. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Too risky without MUN attack? (FH)

    DDG
    Digne, Alonso/Azpi, Doherty
    Dilva, Sterling, Willian, Pulisic, Antonio
    Jesus, Ings

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pretty much the same team as me. Who are you captaining?

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Don’t know, chasing, so probably wait for chelsea team news and pick one of them. Tempted by Willian.

      2. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        How about you?

        1. Hybrid.power
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          On Sterling atm. Captaining a Chelsea player seems wrong....but I dont know!

          1. The Tinkerman
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Yeah, common sense says Sterling or Jesus. I need to make up a lot of points, causes some wild thinking 😀 at least I will know Willian will start if rockstar leaks again, can’t say the same for city boys

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

    On Freehit and only have 1 attacking United asset (bruno). Play safe and captain him in attempt to 'cover', or go all out on Sterling (C)

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Go with the one you think will get the most points.

  14. Gabriel Agbonlahor
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Play Pope (WOL) or Henderson (lei)?

    I’m also have Vardy & Doherty in starting lineup

  15. Heiro
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling and Silva or move one to Son and out ederson in goal?

  16. FPL FAN
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hendo
    Doherty, Saiss, TAA
    Tony Bruno Sterling Foden Mane
    Jimmy DCL

    Martin, Greenwood, Aurier, Kiko

    Chasing 10 pts in ML, rival has Willian, Azpi and KDB.
    Both of us have FH as the only one chip left,

    FH now or in GW38?

    I can't decide

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

    G2g?

    DDG
    TAA Doherty Azpilicueta
    Mane Bruno Foden Pulisic Sterling (tc)
    Ings Rashford

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

    Best choice on FH?

    a) Digne
    b) Doherty
    c) Egan

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

    Who is more nailed to start the next GW?

    Sterling or Dilva?

  20. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    thinking to switch C from Sterling to Pulisic. Thoughts ?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      live a little

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Why not?

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

    Sell KDB or keep FT??

  22. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Let me see your FH teams! I'm close to pulling the trigger.

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mine is a few posts above 🙂

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        nice! now that I'm effectively on a wildcard, I don't know who to punt for 😀

  23. lugalooch
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pickford

    TAA, Mendy, Boly
    KDB, B.Ferndedes, Martial, Foden
    Ings, Vardy, Greenwood

    Am I mad benching Antonio after 4 goals over Foden who I think can score big v BOU? Also transfers

    A) Vardy > Giroud (chase Norwich)
    B) Foden > Pullisic
    C) Vardy + Foden > Jesus + Saka (allows me to play Antionio) -4

    11 points ahead in my mini league and I’m bricking so thanks for any advice!

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

    I’m currently on Azpilicueta and Alonso double up for Chelsea. Waiting to try and get early team news but it’ll inevitably lead to an early Norwich goal haha

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

    A. Mahrez to Silva
    B. Mahrez to Pulisic
    C. Mahrez, Connolly to Foden, Ings (bench Greenwood)-4

    Pope
    Taa, Dohert, Holgate
    Salah, Mahrez, Kdb, Bruno, Martial
    Greenwood, Vardy

    Martin, Saiss, Lascales, Connoly

    1. JamieC180
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Definitely not C imo

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

        How come?, I rly thing Ings is important to own this week, Foden should start and Greenwood can get rest, can benc Foden next week and play Greenwood...

  26. theroadrunner
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I don't think Sterling starts. Moving him on to Pulisic. Pray for me!

  27. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on KDB (c)?

  28. JamieC180
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best defender under 5.6?

    Currently thinking K.Walker / Alderweireld.

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

    Everyone going absolutely crazy for Chelsea players... Personally i'd prefer it more if Norwich still had something to play for. I've been sucked into chasing 'potential' hauls to many times and more often than not left disappointed. Not saying Chelsea cant spank Norwich tonight but just think that we may miss potential points else where. Thats my pennies worth... good luck all!

    1. JamieC180
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Agree - think those going with minimal United coverage in FHs will pay price, perhaps

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

        This. Yes there is lots of rotation but getting rid of the likes of Greenwood, Martial, Salah etc is dangerous as they can punish you big time. Especially united against a very average Palace side thats already on the beach.

  30. caddy118
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH Team - Thoughts?
    Ederson
    Wan bis, digne, azpil
    Son, sterling, fernan, pulisic
    Rash, jesus, giroud

    Gomez dendonk 3.9 3.9

    Taking a stab on Son and goiNg Ederson as I feel three city attackers is consenting to a cameo or at least one 60min appearance.