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. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ill say it again, imagine bringing in and maybe even capping the glorified Landon Donovan...

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

      This

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

      Lol. Worried about not owning Puli much?

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

      You're such a putz

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

      Isnt he in USA? which epl team?

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is this reverse psychology?

      Have you gone & triple captained him or something?

  2. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Why is there so much Sterling captain love? Surely a high chance of being benched?

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

      It is. But if he starts he can go mental

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

        This!

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

    30 mins until pens down. When will we hear from Rockstar?

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

      20 mins

  4. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Patricio
    Azpi TAA Doherty
    Salah(vc) Sterling(c) Martial Fernandes Pulisic
    Jesus Greenwood

    GTG?

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

      100pts incoming

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Here is hoping lol

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

    Had a good nostalgia of finishing last season with exact rank of 1111, had aimed for 999 if not top 100 this season but KDB-Salah swaps wrong timings did me in. 48 pts to 999 looks a long shot. A super punty FH GW 38 may give a small chance

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

    If we get early news he starts, is Azpi > Alonso sensible on FH?

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

      I'm waiting on the same news. If he starts, yes.

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

      I'll be doing it

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

      on FH I would have triple Chelsea if Willian alonso start along with Pulsiic

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

        This

    4. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Defo.

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

      I'm going Alonso on FH if he starts

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

      Think I will

  7. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So to egan or James for a hit
    Playing BB

    mcarthy/ederson
    TAA digne soy saiss aurier
    antonio kdb willian bruno,martial
    ings, green, Jesus

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

    KDB => D.Silva FT?

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

      Yeah

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

      yep

    3. Ciarant20
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah why not, he'll start GW 36 and 38

  9. Ciarant20
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I have Jimi, DCL and Greenwood 1.4itb 0FT

    ML leader has Jesus and Ings, however I feel I could Be screwed if I don’t know one.

    Worth a punt on Giroud (not FH) Or -4 to get Jesus or Ings?

    1. Reggie Nainggolan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      DCL out for jesus if possible is worth the hit

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

    Fill in the blanks, please:

    1) TAA, Willian, Dilva, Ings

    2) AWB, Salah, Foden, Giroud

    Pope
    Azpi, Digne, -----
    Sterling, Bruno, Pulisic, -----, -----
    Jesus, -----
    (martin; greenwood, saiss, lamptey)

  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?

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

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

      Take a risk with Sterling

  12. Dazzrb
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Captain Jesus or Pulisic?

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

      I own both, chose Puli...Norwich are THAT bad and he is THAT hot.

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

    Which one is best?
    A. Mahrez Vardy > Dilva Jesus(c) -4
    B. Mahrez > Dilva
    C. Vardy > Jesus(c)

    Patricio
    TAA Aurier Doherty
    Mane KDB Mahrez Bruno Martial
    Vardy Greenwood

    Martin Justin Kiko Connolly
    1 ft. 0,6 itb

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

      B

  14. Klopp For The Kopps 😆
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    HELP
    A) Jimi to Giroud
    B) Jimi to Ings
    C) Vardy to Jesus

  15. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start Jimenez or Greenwood?

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

      Greenwood

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

      Greenwood

    3. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Im in the same boat and going greenwood

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

      I did Greenwood as Manutd will be looking for blood after that unlucky draw

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

    Anyone triple captaining? If so, who with?

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

      Ima do puli

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

    Dilva or Foden on FH?

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

      Foden

    2. Chief Break-Everything
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I went Dilva

  18. JURGENAUT
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy ready to be benched in my team? Ings, GW to play this week instead?

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

      Think i'd play Vardy ahead of gw. He's a Shef Wed fan and will be right up for it.

  19. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Captain choice
    Willian
    Kdb
    Jeaus

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

      I have the same conundrum. im on Willian atm but thinking of switching to Jesus.

  20. 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

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

    Wigan 6-0 up before HT. Hope they stay up even if docked points.

  22. Mighty Banana
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Never been so nervously waiting for early news...

    Just hope I have enough time to use my free hit and set my team up!

  23. Mr Wizard
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have I missed something? Why are folk getting rid of KDB?

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Desperate

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

      Worried about rotation because of fa cup

    3. Mr Wizard
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Only played 60 odd minutes last match and he is at home. Surely he starts.

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

        Nothing is sure with Pep

  24. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    Azpi AWB Doherty
    KDB Sterling Bruno (C) Martial
    Vardy Ings Deeney

    Button / Robinson / Lascelles / Guendouzi

    We good to go?

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

      Gtg. Good luck mate

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

    Captain Foden or Martial and why?

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

      Foden, will start, great at home. Martial not great away from home FPL wise

    2. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Martial as he's likely to get more minutes if they both start, and a higher chance of actually starting.

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

        huh?

  26. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Have already swapped Davis for Foden. Any other changes require a hit. G2G?

    Pope
    TAA, Doherty, Holgate
    Salah, KDB, Bruno(vc), Pulisic(c), Foden
    Vardy, Rashford
    Subs: Martin, Greenwood, Lascelles, Femenia

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

      I benched vardy for GW

  27. JURGENAUT
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Wolves & burnley to both concede?

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

      Im praying for 0-0

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

        Same

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

    On FH, any suggestion for change? 0.9itb

    McCarthy
    AWB Azpi Boly
    Salah Sterling(c) Bruno Pulisic Foden
    Ings Jesus

    Button Greenwood Saiss Egan

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

      Same team, except I have Digne instead of Boly

  29. Winston.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What so you think?
    A. Salah (ars) or
    B. Sterling (BOU)

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

      *do

  30. swil1008
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Good to go? Kinda want Antonio...

    Pope
    Digne Azpi Doherty
    Sterling Dilva Pulisic Willian Fernandes
    Ings Jesus

    Subs: Martinez Greenwood AWB Saiss

    1. swil1008
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      also who to captain ??? Real headache

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

      Dilva for antonio

    3. Hits Central
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Similar to mine. Who you Captaining?