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. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Giroud in for a -4 and captaining him.

    Good luck all!!

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Top post too - Hattie incoming

    2. Party time
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Giroud in as part of a minus 8 🙂

        1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I bought alonso too -8 🙂

      • Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Same ! Let’s goooo

      • HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        My final transfer to bring me to -16 ... and my 100th transfer of the season (excluding the 24 made in restart week)

    3. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Alonso Triple Captain

      Here we gooooo

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Brave, gone for Willian myself, GL

      2. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Best of luck!

    4. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think I should have captained Foden and not Sterling... Argghh

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

        I went with Foden in the end, but good luck to you!

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

          Same to you mate - let’s hope to get equal points

    5. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      How are you celebrating Alonso's 21 point haul?

      1. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Wanted him badly but no balls for another hit

        1. Pep Roulette
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          This. Wanted to do Stevens to Alonso for a hit! But just didn't feel like it!

      2. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        With 63 points

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

        With a joint and couple beers hopefully lol

    6. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruno captain anybody?

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

        Yes I stuck with him

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

      Was it stupid to play TAA over Digne this week?

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

        Not in the slightest. Repeat of his Leicester haul incoming v that arsenal defence

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

        u benched Digne? Why would u not play both?

    8. thes7s
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      65 mins Wigan 8-0 Hull
      They put 7 in the first half.

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

        Bloody Hull!

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

      If there is an FPL god, Sterling will be rested

      1. Blue&White85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        This. And if KDB is rested just leave him on the bench, no cameos.

      2. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        if there is one, he'll score a hattie

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

        I think he will pound Bournemouth into oblivion.

    10. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      This server crash doesn't bode at all well for the last day of the season. It will be chaos on here.

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

        Twitter wont crash, which is all that matters.

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

          Scenes if it does.

        2. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          No fpl rock early news on final day

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

            That tweet suggests sarcasm, he'll love the hype for it.

            His FH is gone now too so wont be as busy.

      2. Ragabolly
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Speaking from my LiveFPL experience, somehow the number of users/traffic increased a lot after the restart!

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

          We're so happy it's back mate.
          Love football
          Love fpl
          Love livefpl too 😉

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

        There are other places too to find information Sir.
        Like Twitter,.......... can't fill next blank 😉

        Did your TRANSFERS went through ??

    11. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      So much fuss here for one gw. It was almost like first gw of the season.

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

        Been nutso since the restart

    12. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sterling (C) ahead of Pulisic at the end. I made mistake probably

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

        Same bro

        1. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          🙁

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

        Another 6 pointer ... 🙁 .... see below

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

        Same

    13. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I have done the unthinkable.. TC RLC. Pray for me pls.

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

        urmm

      2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Joking?

        1. Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Nope

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

        sending thoughts and prayers

      4. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Is RLC Ruben Loftus Cheek?

        1. Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Yeah

          1. Stormbringer22
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            GL

      5. SuperMane Returns
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Unbelievable Jeff. Magic Bean crazy!

    14. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      65th min and Wigan are 8 up against Hull

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

        We want ten! We want ten!

      2. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Gone off the boil second half then

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

        their goal difference is positive finally - they should now stop

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

        Seems like if Wigan stay up, then some South East Asian betting syndicates are going to be well out of pocket

        1. Bielsa's Bucket
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Hopefully. They can get phuketed

      5. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I don't think they took very kindly to their own Chairman betting on their relegation.

    15. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Anyone went both Azpi and Alonso?.

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

        I said yes already and you ignore me??

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

        Luxury for FHitters only ... don't want to go into next week with double CHE defense

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

      Sterling (c) ... just checked my history with him, captained 4 times for 24 points ... an average, before doubling, of 3 points per game 🙁

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

        The nation thanks for your sacrifice

    17. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Come one Norwich and Krul!!!

    18. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      As I am currently leading my ML with over 100 points, I decided to take a punt on Salah (C) as an expected differential captain. I am 35 points from top10k. Should I have played it safe and captained Bruno or Jesus? Or was it the right move?

      1. Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah why not

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

      Already looking at Giroud -> Jay Rodriguez next week.

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

        Could be a good call!

        Chris Wood maybe? He's on pens isn't he?

        Not that Burnley ever get any mind you...

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

          We'll get the team news hopefully. Jay Rod form is tremendous of late.

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

        Good Call

        Maybe another Rockstar magic 😉

        Nketiah In my team can leave

    20. The Left Duke #3
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sitting at the 200k mark with not much to play for....ended up FH the following team

      DDG (Pope)
      Wan-Bissaka Digne Alonso (Diop Tarkowski)
      Pulisic (c) Willian Dilva Sterling Antonio
      Ings Jesus (Greenwood)

      No doubt it will all go pear shaped but gotta try have some fun when things aren't going your way like last week's Son --> Salah (C) 🙁

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

      Last minute change after rockstar tweet:
      Azpi and Willian -> Alonso and Giroud.
      Good moves?

      1. Manani
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        yes i think so

        Alonso and Jorginho playing will mean less dead ball duty for willian

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

          Yep, that was my thougt

      2. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Azpi -> Alonso here

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

      The scenes on here when it's still 0-0 after 60 minutes

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

        *FT

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

        As long as Alonso is still on then he can go job done

    23. Bilbao Baggins
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Did the site go down just before deadline ? Needed to remind myself of something in members area

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

        Yes, loads of traffic

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

        Members doesn't go down.

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

        I got on at 02:14 my time and tried to do hit enter on my transfers after seeing fpl rockstars lineups and it didnt go through.
        BB active : soyunco, aurier, garcia.
        I thought my comp must have been out by a minute or two, but wasn't just me

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

        Ah okay. Yeah I meant fantasy scout including members area. Was getting an error for about ten mins before deadline.

        1. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Same here.....problem cleared up once deadline had passed.....makes one wonder.

    24. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Last time I took a hit to bring Gru in he got me -2 points for head butting opponent

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

        I captained him for -4 points.

        1. S.Kuqi
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Me too. #neverforget

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

        Grusome.

    25. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Rockstar has created a game within a game.

    26. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      KDB first on bench, Foden starting. Crazy? 3:15 in the morning 🙂

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Bonkers

    27. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I really believe to FPL rockstar that i didnt check Chelsea official line up

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hahaha same

    28. JonSnow
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Missed deadline with soyunco, aurier and garcia on my bench and BB active. kill me now

      1. Red Devil Swede
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Damn!

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

          Thought i got on in time i had the transfers ready to go just had to hit confirm but it wouldn't go through

    29. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      David Silva captain, anyone else?

      Good luck to all!

      1. Red Devil Swede
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Had him as captain punt until I chickened out and went Willian for safety.

      2. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Alonso (c) here

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

      If Norwich don't show up at the ground then the default score is set to 10-0 by the premier League. 5 each for Pulisic and Willian

    31. TyroneGAA
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sorry to say this but why the big appeal in captaining Chelsea players? I own Pulisic but even though they playing Norwich surely a city player is the one this week?

      1. Red Devil Swede
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        City rotation and nothing to play for.

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

          Chelsea had everything to play for the last game and got pumped

      2. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Which City player though?