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. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What would you do?

    A. Vardy -> Jesus
    B. Jimenez -> Ings

    1. Fishy-o
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I did both, for a -4

    3. Garam MOSALAH
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thinking of same with doing both for a -4 hit ?
      What you think ?

  2. Fishy-o
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Zouma likely to start?

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

    martial vs pulisic and wan bissaka on my wildcard

    Button Pope
    Wan-Bissaka van Dijk Gomez Egan Saïss
    Salah Sterling De Bruyne Pulisic Fernandes
    Greenwood Ings Connolly

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

    Drop one for pulisic

    A - Fernandes
    B - de bruyne
    C - mahrez
    D - salah
    E - greenwood
    F - vardy
    G - Ings

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

      C

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

      C

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

      C

    4. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      E

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

    Play two:
    A) AWB
    B) Digne
    C) Doherty
    D) TAA

    And pick one for FH team:
    A) Willian (ave Pulisic)
    B) Salah

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

      A, D.

      B

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

      D and A

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

    Scenes when Sterling, KDB and Jesus are all left at home.

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

      Still better then entering at 70, 80min

  7. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    SOMEBODY HELP ME

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

      Arent you the doctor?

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Run out of drippings?

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

    KDB to foden??

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

    Best option here?

    A) Mane, Vardy, DCL -----> Willian, Jesus, Giroud (c) -8

    B) Mane, Vardy ----> Willian, Jesus -4

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

    START 1

    ALLISON
    ALEX MCCARTHY.

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You're persistant.

      1. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        And persistent!

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

      Mccharty

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

    If we get team news, then Pulisic (c)

    If we don't then Jesus (c)

    Sound like a sensible plan?

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

      Puli most nailed to start in Chelsea team imo

  12. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    final final FH team (unless Alonso or Abraham start)

    Pope
    AWB Digne Azpilicueta(Alonso)
    Martial Pulisic(c) Fernandes Sterling Foden
    Giroud Jesus

    Mccarthy,Ings,Doherty,Cresswell

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

    giro or ings in FH team

  14. Atwood
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who to start on FH

    Greenwood or D Silva?

    1. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      D Silva

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

    KDB + Lascelles + Mahrez to Pulisic + Sterling(C) + Pieters?(-4).

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

      yes

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

    Start Mahrez or Gwood?

  17. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have Dilva Sterling and Jesus. Think captaining Jesus is safer due to risk of Sterling not starting. This wise?

  18. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Why everyone shipping out KDB....

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

      I guess because PL doesn't matter anymore for City so they focus on Arsenal

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

      probably won't start

    3. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Playing the odds he'll be rested ahead of the FA Cup.

    4. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      This

  19. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ings or Gru?

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

    Anyone reckon Greenwood gets rested?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah benching him here I think

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

    A and D

    B

  22. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy to:

    A) Ings
    B) Giroud
    C) Jesus

    Cheers guys

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

    Nathan Dubious:
    "Chelsea front 3 tonight is Pulisic Giroud Willian"

    He also confirmed RLC and Kovacic starting. Lets see if it turns out true.

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

      What about defence?

  24. Salfpilgrimlfc
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Starting Jesus and Foden who with those two?

    A. Dilva
    B. Sterling

    Gogogogogo

    Thanks

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C. Gogogogogo

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

      B

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

    1) Willian and Ings
    2) Antonio and Gironde

    On a fee hit

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

    Sterling captain is going to end in tears isn’t it!

    Dilva instead?! Puli feels too boring

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

      Dilva then. He’s my favorite City option this week

  27. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KdB to Puli for -4?

    Have Sterling and Foden. Jimi 1st sub

    Thanks

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

    Captain Foden or Martial?

  29. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Very nervous about benching Greenwood. Is it the right choice with this front 7?

    Salah KDB Bruno Pulisic Foden
    Vardy ings

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

      Similar position, think its him or Vardy?

      I'm captaining Bruno in the hope it softens any blow.

      1. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I've gone Pulisic

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

    Lads, Dawson-> Alonso for -4.

    Yay or Nay?

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

      Wait for leaked lineup. If starting do it