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. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Now all we need it someone to leak Rockstars’ leak 15 minutes before he leaks it

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

      Sounds leaky

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

      Better not be like Chinese whispers and end up completely wrong

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

    Who to bench and captain from this bunch?

    Pulisic Salah KDB Bruno Foden
    Greenwood Rashford Ings

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

      Anyone at all please

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

    2FT & £0.1

    Pope
    TAA Robertson Saiss Kiko
    KDB(C) Salah Martial(vc)
    Rashford Ings Jimenez

    Button Ward Fleck Cantwell

    Any advice? Help!

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

      Needs Pulisic/Willian and another City player. Foden/Dilva/Jesus. Might take a hit.

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

        Fleck Robertson to Foden Azpi doable

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

          Like it for this week. Hold for any early leaks from Rockstar first.

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

            Cheers mate

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

    How does Rockstar actually get all these leaks? It’s not even team related is it, just gets all early fixture team sheets?

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      The press get the teamsheets 90 mins before the matches

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

      Prem portal login.

    3. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Knows someone who knows sh*t...

    4. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      The mystery makes it better. Rumours of access to people high up in FPL.

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

        Maybe for next season FPL Towers will make the deadlines 90mins before first kickoffs.

  5. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH to make:

    Martinez TAA Doherty Saiss Mahrez Vardy DCL

    >>>>

    Pope Azpi Alonso Maguire Pulisic Jesus Ings

    Or do Mahrez >> Puli and keep FH til GW38?

  6. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Having decided to keep FH for 38+ ... I’ve suddenly realised I’ll be short of cash for the team I need in 38+

    So better off doing it this week... FH team on 20 mins....

    Panic

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

      keep calm. loads of time

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

    scenes if Willian, Pulisic and Giroud are all benched in readiness for FA cup

  8. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Aurier news?

    Holgate playing?

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

      No chance Aurier is playing after that news

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

    How about Dilva, Jesus & Foden combo? Chasing and everyone in ML have Kdb or Sterling

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

      Like it. Least likely to be benched imo

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

        Thx

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

    Get rid of Jimmy or Vardy for Jesus?

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

      Yes

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

    Choosing between these two for FH.

    Is not being able to stomach a Salah haul valid enough reason to choose #2?

    1) TAA, Willian, Dilva, Ings

    2) AWB, Salah, Foden, Giroud

  12. Lucas8406
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which one is best for this gw?
    A) D Silva
    B) Sterling
    C) KDB

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

      B

  13. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Teams get locked in 1hr15m before KO.

    Only then will Rockstar have the reliable info.

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

      Still the usual hour. deadline at 7.15 and ko at 8.15

  14. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling or Pulisic captain folks?

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

      Pulis atm

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

      I went Sterling

    3. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm going Sterling, both good options, go with your gut

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

        My gut says don’t captain a player from a team you support

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

      Sterling

  15. Felix Navidad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Only got two playing deff, TAA + Doherty, worth taking -4 to bring in Digne?

    1. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Im thinking the same, might do Alonso (if he starts) for just this GW and go Digne next week

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

        Thank you!

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

    Captain choice out of these Portuguese speaking players:
    A) Willian
    B) Jesus
    C) Fernandes

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

      Be tempted with Fernandes. Willian will be very popular so fernandes offers a more differential captain this week still with a solid fixture (also making it a higher risk to not captain Willian!) question is whether you think Willian or fernandes will score higher. I'd go safe with Willian

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

    Soyuncu to Azpilicueta -4?

    Also own Aurier so would have to play Masina otherwise

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

    Need to reshuffle my FH team to fit in Willian?

    DDG
    Azpi, Digne, TAA
    Sterling (c), Foden, Salah, Pulisic, Bruno
    Jesus, Giroud

    Subs: Martinez, Greenwood, Saiss, O’Connel

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

      Giroud and Bruno to Willian and Rash?

  19. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane or Silva one week

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

      Silva

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

        Antonio or Silva

  20. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What is the best move here guys?
    1.1 itb, 1ft

    1) Leno Sarr-> McCarthy Willian/Puli for-4
    2) Vardy Sarr-> Ings Willian/Puli for -4
    3) Mahrez -> Willian/Puli, bench Sarr
    4) Mahrez Sarr -> Dilva Willian/Puli for -4 (benching headache)
    5) Mahrez Vardy ->Sterling Ings for -4, bench Sarr

    Krul
    TAA - Doherty - Baldock
    KdB - Fernandes - Martial-Mahrez
    Greenwood - Jimenez -Vardy

    Subs: sarr Lascelles Lund. Leno

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

    Foden or Martial for captain and why?

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

      Me

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

      toss a coin. Nothing in it.

      Giun to head - Martial as he plays after city

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

    Wigan 7-0 up against Hull at HT. Wtf...

    1. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Was just gunna say that hop Chelsea do that to Norwich ha

    2. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I've not seen anything like it! I really want them to stay up esp. after going into admin

  23. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Meanwhile Wigan are 7-0 up v Hull at HT in the Championship...

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

      should of captained wigan player

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

    Just seen Rockstar has said no early team news for 38???

    That changes everything!!

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

      Was saving my best week for the last. Tragic

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

      I think we're all hoping he's gunna do it anyway

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

      Hopefully he comes with Chelsea team news for this week fast

    4. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      lOoK aT hOw hE's tYpEd iT

  25. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Boly or Egan?

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

    Play one each

    Allison
    McCarthy

    Greenwood
    Vardy

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

      I'm on Vardy over Greenwood ... have Martial and Bruno

  27. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hey guys. Not been too involved this season
    Rashford or Jesus?

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

      Jesus

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks.

    2. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jesus.

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

      Wow hey Rupe. How you keeping?

      Jesus of the two imo

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

      Hi Rupert! Jesus for me pal

  28. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone captaining Salah?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I just sold him.

  29. Greyling
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which moves to make? Captain?

    1. Vardy to Ings
    2. KDB/Mane, Vardy to Sterling, Ings -4

    Pope
    TAA, Boly, Dawson
    Mane, Martial, Pulisic, Fernandes, KDB
    Vardy, Greenwood

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

    Alonso not starting

    William, Pulisic, Giroud start

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

      source?

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

        Livescore.com

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

      Recce James playing?