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. El-Kloppico
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A. KdB + Saka >> Pulisic + Dilva
    B. KdB + Jimmy >> Pulisic + Jesus
    C. KdB + Vardy >> Sterling + Giroud

    Which on for -4? Othr suggestions welcome

    1. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

    2. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

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

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd lose KdB instead of Salah

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

        off by 0.1mil

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

      Mahrez yes
      Salah no.... the potential for him to punish is too high for me

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

    Captaincy polls are so funny this Gw. Although it shows Pulisic leading, every good top 10k manager has it on Sterling lol

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

      those 'good top 10k managers' will not be in top10k at the end of this GW...

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Who are you captaining?

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

          Willian or pulisic, waiting for team news

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

        Yeah, they’ll be in the top 1k

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

          lool... 😛

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

          Hoping to. Actually possible from 6k although unlikely lol

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

        Thats rich coming from someone never finshed a season in top 10k

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

          you are again assuming things,in fact, I have finished inside the top 10k and team is linked for you to check 😀

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

            Lol almost a decade ago, my eyes missed in the midst of those enormous 6 digit numbers :p

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

      Sterling has a far higher chance of being benched than people realise. If Pep planned to start him 3 days before the FA Cup surely he would of subbed him off early last game

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

      You could say what good manager takes a needless risk captaining a player who may not even start. Joke could be on them

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

    Keep or sell KDB?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sell

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

      Sold

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

      Keep if you have strong bench and FH for GW 38 Norwich.
      I have Jim as first sub so keepin

  5. ankj70
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH

    Eder
    Azpi digne AWB
    Sterling (C) Bruno (vc) Willian Antonio Martial
    Jesus Giroud

    1) stick
    2) Giroud -> ings

  6. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anybody finds any standout punts for GW37+?

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

    Play two:

    A) AWB
    B) Digne
    C) Doherty
    D) TAA

  8. Origal73
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Just for this week

    1) Pulisic, Jesus
    2) Bilva, Giroud

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1

    2. Martial Matas
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Uno

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

    1 FT and 0.8 ITB, was thinking either
    Vardy > jesus
    Or Jimenez > ings or should i just FH

    Martinez Martin
    TAA Doherty Aurier Kiko Lascelles
    Salah Martial KDB Fernandes Guendouzi
    Greenwood Vardy Jimenez

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

      I'm in the exact same boat, I can't afford Jimi to Jesus so I'm thinking Vardy to jesus and Jimi to Ings next week.

      Considering son > Willian and Ings > jesus with the cash it frees up but it's a -4 I'm reluctant to take.

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

      I just got a feeling vardy will do well for some reason, think im just gonna get Ings this week.

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

    Is Dilva or Sterling more likely to start?

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

      My question too:(

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      d

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

      Dilva

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

    Got 9.3 ITB to improve this lot lol, GTG or do I need Sterling or Kdb?

    Pope, 3.9
    Azpi,Digne,AWB,3.9,3.9
    Dilva,Foden,Antonio,Bruno,Pulisic
    Giroud,Jesus,Greenwood

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

    If no team news, is it safer to go Willian or Pulisic?

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

      Pulisic I think

    2. CC22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think both are fairly certain, and should likely get confirmation from Rockstar. Just a case of which is the better pick now I think.

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

        Top 4 is more important than FA Cup for Chelsea

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

    Any team news about Alonso?

  14. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Contemplating Dawson-> Alonso for -4.

    Yay or Nay?

  15. CC22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Willian or Pulisic? Stats suggest Willian, eye test suggests Pulisic?!

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

      Both

      1. CC22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Probably right with that, but not on a Free Hit unfortunately.

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

    GTG?

    Pope
    TAA - Doherty - Digne
    Mané - KDB - Fernandes(c) - Foden
    Rashford(vc) - Ings - Greenwood

    Martin - Mahrez - Saiss - Lascelles

  17. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling or Jesus Captain?

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

      Sterling I think, more chance to explode and extra points for goals

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

      Jesus, more likely to start, was subbed on 60 last game

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

    for (C): Bruno or Martial?

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

      B if leading M if chasing

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

      ;

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

      Bruno. Utd are due a pen or 2

    4. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruno 100%, Martial not as prolific away from home

  19. Cak Juris
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Why Hause (AVL def, injury) get place for scout picks?

    1. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Has loads of headers on goal, in the box, but no idea why he was picked after pulling up injured in warm up before last game!

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

    Dilemmas guys. Any advice appreciated.

    A) Vardy > Jesus
    B) Son > Willian (have Pulisic)
    C) Son & Jimenez > Willian & Jesus for -4

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If you're chasing a certain rank, then C, otherwise B

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

        25k and crucially 34 behind my ML leader.

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

      A

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

        Do you think Willian will struggle to do 4 more than son? Spurs are useless but Newcastle ain't a bad fixture.

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

    On FH, if you have funds to spare would you:

    A) Keep Salah
    B) Go with a second Chelsea/ManU mid? (Willian/Martial

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

      I'm on a free hit and keeping Salah. Going without a united midfielder for now

  22. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Are we likely to get team news before deadline?

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

      FPL Rockstar twitter about 7.05pm i read somewhere

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers

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

      I hope so!

      Otherwise I have wasted the last ten minutes opening browsers and setting up 3 different transfer scenarios depending on news. 😆

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Good luck 😀

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

    Guys final stuffs..

    A) Digne ddg
    B) awb pope

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      Kepa sadly. Christensen place at risk.

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

    START 1

    ALLISON
    ALEX MCCARTHY
    .

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      McCarthy

  26. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    TC Options:
    A) Willian (NOR this GW)
    B) Jesus (BOU this GW or NOR GW 38+)
    C) KDB (BOU this GW or NOR GW 38+)
    D) Fernandes (Palace this GW or WHU in GW 37+)
    E) Auba (WAT in GW 38+)

  27. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Captain
    A) Foden or
    B) Bruno?

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

      C) Pulisic

      1. The Head-Ake
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Pu

  28. The Head-Ake
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Looking for more inputs:\

    1) Martial and Ings
    2) Bruno and Giroud

    For GW 36and37

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

    I think I have a rough idea about the minutes the following players will play in the next GW.

    Player Likely/Unlikely
    KdB 30/60
    Sterling 60/30
    Mahrez 30/0
    Jesus 60/90
    Silva 90/60
    Bernardo 60/90
    Foden 90/60

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

    Nobody replied 🙁
    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.