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. The Mighty Hippo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I'm chasing in my ML, so how does this FH team look? Also, who would you captain?

    McCarthy
    Azpi AWB Digne
    Salah Sterling DSilva Martial Pulisic
    Jesus Ings

    Martin J Rodriguez Saiss Taylor

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Looks 10/10 tbh, Sterling(c)

    2. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic, Dilva or Salah best safe options (in no particular order)

      Jesus is slightly risky, Sterling is moderately risky.

  2. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic and Jesus or Silva and Ings?

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

        Oof, Puli & Jesus

    • Ed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Anyone for Ings captain?

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

        Very Good

    • mash
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pope
      TAA AWB Doherty
      Salah KDB Fernandes Martial Foden
      Vardy DCL

      1FT, 1.0 in the bank

      A) Vardy to Jesus
      B) Salah to Pulisic
      C) A+B (-4)
      D) Salah and DCL to Sterling and Ings

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

        (D is also for -4)

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

      FH now or GW38+? What's everyone saying?

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Gw38 for me, 2ft’s a big factor although it’s tempting to use now

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

          Same

          1. L S P
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Same

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

        Now. I am.

    • Lukakuna
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bench Vardy Greenwood or Ings?

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

        Jamie Vardy

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

          Cheers! Cap Tony?

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

            I’m going for Foden or Bruno!

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

              Foden seems risky! Either Bruno or Pulisic for me

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

        I'm benching greenwood with the same 3

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

          Think he will get rested?

    • BNMC
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Would you upgrade Cantwell to Willian for a -4 and bench Greenwood?

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

      Good to go?

      Pope
      TAA Doherty Azpi
      Salah KDB Fernandes Martial Foden©
      Jesus Vardy

      (Greenwood Holgate Taylor)

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

        Foden captain - chasing?

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

          Not really, I'm in the lead with one point!
          I just think he is a good option for this week.

      2. The Sociologist
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I’m also chasing and thinking similar.

    • HD7
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      FH36:

      Dea Gea
      Azpi(Alonso) Digne TAA
      Sterling - Bruno Foden Pulisic
      Jesus Ings

      Last place for Willian, Antonio, Salah or Martial?

    • Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Gundogan false 9 tomorrow, you heard it here first

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

        very possible!

        Or even Foden.

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

          has Foden played there before?

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

        and last

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

        my thoughts too!

    • Mr_Barbs
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah or Fernandes or FH?

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

        Fernandes

    • Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Silva(tc), hold me.

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

        Foden (c) for me

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

          Nice should do well

    • Tmel
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dilva or Sterling more likely to start?

      1. Genji3lade
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Dilva

    • No Salah
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bottomed

      Mini league leader leading by only 1 point. He will surely captain Sterling.

      Should I also captain Sterling? Or Foden? He doesn’t have Foden.

    • ooooo
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez and Salah to Sterling and Pulisic for free? Have Willian already and KDB

    • Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      We all assume that Bournemouth are going to roll over and die, despite being in a heated relegation battle and coming off an unexpected and storming win at the weekend.

      Are we being complacent?

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

        Noone is doubting that they will try.

        We are just doubting their ability to deliver.

      2. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        City are a different beast

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

        Good sides get smashed by City.

        Bournemouth aren't and their best defenders are out.

        One word: carnage

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

        No it'll be a cricket score against City.

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

        they are garbage and needed a gifted goal from Schmeichel to even get into the game against a very out of form Leicester side

      6. Sam feasts
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Been mulling this too, City will win no doubt but a mauling? Im unsure.

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

        they will attack and get counter ?

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

        Been worrying about this a little bit, but they've lost their best CB (Ake) and the problems in their defence are so long term, not the kind you can fix with just 'trying really hard'. Wizards like City will know how to tear them apart.

        Scoreless draw incoming... 😉

      9. HNI
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Look at Scorelines of last few Mancity matches. Even Liverpool were not spared at Etihad, Bou lost 5-2 to Manutd, against merciless City they have no chance. Before Red card even Lei could have scored 4 goals but bad luck with Lei finish and lot of lucky Vardy blocks helped them

    • akhilrajau
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What about this free hit team any suggestions?

      Schmeichel
      Pulisic, Fernandes, Martial, sterling,Son
      Ings,Jesus

      Bench: Martin, Connolly, Lamptey,j. robinson

    • Oringer7
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is pulisic a lock to start?

      1. Genji3lade
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Check back just after 7pm, team likely to leak prior to deadline

    • Slim25
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Current team
      Pope (3.9)
      Taa, Aurier, Holgate (Ritchie, Robinson)
      Mane, Bruno, Marital, Puli, Mahrez
      Vardy, Jiminez (Greenwood)

      What option would be best, cheers!;
      A: Free hit
      B: Take -4 hit, Mane & Ritchie > Sterling & Digne (keep free hit for 38)
      C: Take -4 hit, Mane & Vardy > Sterling & Jesus (Too much rotation risk?)

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

        A

    • DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      41 points ahead in ML. Rival has TC and FH left. Worried he is going to use FH this week, so should I use it?

      Pope
      Doherty, Saiss, TAA
      KDB, Martial, Fernandes, Foden, Salah
      Vardy, Ings

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        The only thing you should worry about, is getting as high a score as possible

    • Atimis
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Worth keeeping KDB???

    • Gaveller
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Who takes corners for West Ham does anyone know?

      1. mattyb09
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cresswell

      2. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Bowen

        If lanzini or anderson plays they share it. Cresswell if none of them plays.

    • Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Captain!?

      A) Sterling
      B) Dilva
      C) Salah
      D) Pulisic

      Currently on Raheem

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

        A

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

        Mine is on D

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          You think he’s got a high enough ceiling? Def more nailed but...

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

        A

      4. Genji3lade
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I would suggest any of others bar Sterling. Far higher risk of him not starting than people are letting on. I expect only one of Jesus and Sterling to start. Jesus was subbed last game on 60 mins, Sterling played 90. FA cup 3 days after Bmouth

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Ah mate you’re killing me!

          Maybe Dilva then!

      5. L S P
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Mine's on B

    • kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      pArt from Rockstar, could anyone else tell me who puts out accurate Line-ups on twitter? Thanks

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

        Would be useful for me too

      2. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        No one consistently reliable

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

        TheKopHQ for Liverpool lineups

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

          And seanfromenderby for Leicester

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

      (C)
      Bruno Bruno Bruno
      Foden

    • tim
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pope or McCarthy?

    • bombayblues
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Captain Salah Bruno or Jesus

      ML leader doesn't have Bruno

    • Heiro
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A: D Silva/Sterling
      B: D Silva/Foden

    • Kodap
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic (c) safe option if you’re Leading this GW?

    • Doar1986
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Who is most nailed on Chelsea defender after Azpi and Alonso?
      Looking for a cheap option

      1. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        christensen and zouma played most after break, former has a niggle and is rated touch and go by lamps. Alonso is far from nailed, but starts tonight. James also in frame for starts but might be Azpi if he goes for three cb in Rudiger, Christensen and Zouma. Rockstar possibly tweeting the line up before deadline.