Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 38+

It’s here: the final day of the season! Soon all the tinkering will stop and the rollercoaster ride will begin. Strap yourselves in! 

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 38+. Today’s deadline is at 15:00 BST, one hour before all ten matches kick-off.

The basics first: check the team news. Neale watches all the press conferences throughout the season and will have a sense for how each Premier League manager might approach their last game.

His predicted line-ups and notes contain the most up-to-date information about each team. Make sure your picks or potential transfer targets are included in his best-guess starting XIs. We might get some early team news but it helps to be prepared as much as possible beforehand.

There are a number of different ways to approach Gameweek 38+ and what you choose to do may depend on your overall rank and mini-league situation.

Mark Sutherns, for instance, hasn’t enjoyed his best campaign despite climbing the ranks since the resumption. And he revealed on the FPL show that Christian Pulisic will be his captain because he needs something different to break into the top 100k.

But this isn’t a recommendation that all FPL managers do the same, as Mark himself admitted a safe pick would be a Manchester City player such as Raheem Sterling or, perhaps, Kevin De Bruyne. In the conclusion to his Captain Sensible article, David wrote:

Sterling is clearly the most promising asset from Guardiola’s squad based on his last four performances. No Citizen can match him for big chances or shots on target during that period as he has rediscovered his clinical edge and an impassioned desire to hit 20 or more goals in the Premier League this season.

– David, Captain Sensible

Not only is Sterling in good form but he faces a team in bad shape. Norwich City have conceded 54 shots in the box over their last four matches; only Brighton have been worse. 

It’s easy to understand why so many are considering Pep Guardiola’s troops. To add fuel to the fire, Pep himself revealed that scoring goals will be a motivation for his players:

Every game there has to be a target, a focus, a desire to win the game, and maybe, scoring 100 goals is one of the reasons why.

– Pep Guardiola

The Citizens are currently on 97 goals for the season. So, is everyone tripling up on the former champions?

We’ve had five articles from our Pro Pundits this week: Zophar, Sam, Az, Holly, and Lateriser12 and they all have three City players in their teams.

Likewise Neale, who is preparing his Free Hit team, and Andy, who isn’t on a Free Hit but will have three City attackers.

using-the-top-10000-ownership-to-increase-your-fpl-rank-andys-article 9

On the Scoutcast, Az unveiled an alternative Free Hit team, one without Aubameyang, while both Joe and guest Aleksander will have two City attackers. Aleksander is currently third in the world and is debating whether he goes all out to win FPL – which means picking some differentials – or playing safe and trying to hold onto the bronze medal.

And in his regular review, TheFantasyFreÆK explained how he favours the City front three

It seems only Mark will have one City player as he considers swapping Willian for David Silva

Who knows where the points are going to go, it’s a bit of a lottery isn’t it?

– Mark Sutherns, FPL Show

But there are plenty of opportunities this week for captain and transfer options with a number of enticing match-ups. 

Newcastle, as Neale outlined on the Team News video, are down five of their recognised six centre-halfs, while David described them as being “among the most obliging defences of the last four matches”.

Good news for Liverpool and perhaps Mohamed Salah, who has, according to expected goals, been “the ‘unluckiest’ player in the Premier League from Gameweek 30+ onwards when we factor in both the quality of his chances and the execution of his shots”.

As Pro Pundit Holly notes:

[Salah’s] top for shots (21), shots on target (12) and shots inside the box (19), so ignore him at your peril.

– Pro Pundit Holly
 1

On the Breakfast Club, Neale explained that Mané’s aerial ability could lead to points against the Magpies. Steve Bruce’s side have conceded the most headed chances since the restart, which is consistent with their performance all season. 

There could be a lot of joy in the air for Liverpool.

– Neale, Breakfast Club

Crystal Palace are another side who are expected to struggle, with injuries across their backline. Good news for Harry Kane:

Not only are the Eagles giving up a host of high-quality chances, Spurs’ centre-forward has been steadily improving his total of big chances and shots on target over the last four.

– David, Captain Sensible

Kane’s teammate Son Heung-min was mentioned by Aleksander on the Scoutcast, and Johnny Orphan, currently 53rd in the world, has an interesting theory that the Eagles’ current right-back Joel Ward is a weak link in their defence.

Meanwhile, Watford’s recent poor form will give encouragement to those backing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. The latter was selected by Pro Pundit Tom Freeman as one of his three differentials this week.

[The Hornets’] 13 big chances conceded over the last four matches is the same number as Palace and Norwich but means giving up one every 2.7 shots in the box.

– David, Captain Sensible

Seven of those big chances conceded were against Manchester City, it has to be said. 

Tricky Calls

We might feel reasonably confident in predicting wins for City, Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal but a number of matches are much harder to call.

Take Chelsea v Wolves, for example. Both teams need to get a result to fulfil their European ambitions. The boldness of Mark’s decision to hand Pulisic the armband is highlighted when we consider the strength of the opposition defence: 

Five big chances conceded by Wolverhampton Wanderers since the restart, which is the lowest total in the division. No club has conceded fewer goals (four), shots in the box (16) or efforts in the box (41) than Wolves from Gameweek 30+ onwards.

– Neale, Big Numbers

And Manchester United’s trip to Leicester City is another game with a lot potentially riding on the result – a place in the Champions League could be at stake.

Their recent schedule afforded Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s men very little time to recover between matches, which may well have contributed to some tired-looking performances. However, as Az warned on the Scoutcast, taking out United players could hurt given their huge ownership levels. 

But, equally, this could be a very cagey match as a draw will be good enough for both teams should Wolves beat Chelsea.

Go cheap at the back?

With many managers looking to invest in appealing attacking assets, identifying cut-price defenders with clean sheet potential could be key to Gameweek 38+ success.

So Chris Wood’s comments ahead of Burnley’s match against Brighton were music to our ears:

As a team, we’ll be fighting like hell for [Nick Pope]. He’s an outstanding goalkeeper. Hopefully, we can get him one more so he can get his hands on the Golden Glove.

– Chris Wood

Not only do Burnley offer several cheap defensive options but there’s also the chance they could produce some attacking returns too:

36 chances conceded by Brighton and Hove Albion from their right flank since the restart. Only relegated Norwich City have allowed more opportunities to be created from that zone than the Seagulls… Erik Pieters could potentially exploit that weakness when the two sides meet on Sunday, then.

– Neale, Big Numbers

Since replacing Bernd Leno in goal in Gameweek 30+, Emiliano Martinez has saved 83.3% of the shots on target he’s faced. At £4.4m, he could help enable more expensive options further forward.

And Southampton have the fifth-best chance of recording a clean sheet according to the latest odds supplied, as ever, by G-Whizz. Alex McCarthy, Jack Stephens and Kyle Walker-Peters are all sub-£4.5m options for our squads.

Enjoy the final day

Lateriser12 reminded us that we should try to have fun, and one way of doing that is by playing the game our way:

… you still need to make well informed decisions that are based on stats and the eye-test and on the correct side of probability. The point is that you have to be happy you made the right choice for your playing style, regardless of the outcome.

– Lateriser12

In his article this week, he quoted former community member Eunuch Jelly, who defined what made playing FPL so enjoyable for him:

If you keep your eye on the ball, you can set yourself up for hours of enjoyment at the expense of your rivals. I urge you to transcend points and find the true heart of the game, where those who take a different path can mock others for a few minutes on the weekend and be the real champions of the game.

– Eunuch Jelly

Whether it’s getting one over on a rival or reaching a certain rank, FPL is a game which unites us all.

And speaking of the Fantasy community, here’s your chance to get more involved with the site by joining the Scout Network.

Be it a cool tool, a video channel, amazing tech skills or anything else in between, we want to hear from you.

Community Competitions

For an update on all FFS Mini-Leagues and Community Competitions – including the winners of both the Head-to-Head league and Last Man Standing – please click here to read the latest round-up.

The Head-to-Head fixtures for Gameweek 38+ can be found below:

Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in (although you probably know by now!), follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

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

3,847 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Big Al Stankovic
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Will still be waiting for some news, but in case there won’t be any:

    Debruyne & Ings?
    Or
    Martial & Jesus?

    Will captain Sterling.

    1. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Where do you expect to get news other than here? if you don't mind me asking

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      KDB + Ings

    3. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      both options very close, if you have other man utd players, go for KDB+ ings

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

    Best 4,3 defender apart from Burnley?

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

      Diop
      Johnson

  3. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Tempted to swerve the Liverpool fullbacks on FH now.

    God only knows whether Salah or Mane will play but with Klopp talking about "fresh legs" it would be a surprise if Williams didn't feature again for either TAA or Robertson.

    Plus it's not like they've been super solid recently anyway.

  4. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pulisic to Dilva for free?

    1. That Fantasy Guy
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think keep pulisic

    2. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes

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

    Captain Dilva or Mahrez?

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

      Mahrez

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

      Easily Dilva

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

    Foden to Sterling and captained plus Salah to Keita worth a hit?

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

      To fund it!

    2. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Depends on rest of your team. Not sure playing keita

  7. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Done Salah > Sterling (c) and Vardy > Lacazette (-4)

  8. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Play Enda Stevens or Doherty

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

    Ok its Dilva last game but why you all think they will only find him to score? Isnt Mahrez better for eg. He is an attacker after all.

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

      You’re right actually - I never thought of that

      *Transfers Dilva > Mahrez for a hit*

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

        Sheep !!
        😉

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

      Because his home record is outstanding, last game, plus.....he’s a rather good player.

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Think most are going for him as they expect him to be nailed and others may be rotated. I've got Dilva and Mahrez and think the latter scores more, if he starts.

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

      Cheapest Man City attacking asset basically, I think most having him +2 more expensive ones

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

      7.4 vs 8.6

  10. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1) rashford + kdb to Ings + Sterling (-4)
    2) vardy + kdb to Ings + Sterling (-4)
    3) salah to Sterling
    4) rashford + vardy to kane + Ings (-4)

    Will tc Sterling or kane

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

      4

  11. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    worth a -4 ?

    Pulisic, Vardy >> Sterling (c) Ings

    Tnks

  12. The Pep Revolution
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Chasing a 24 point gap, what players would you deem essential to help make up this gap?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Different ones to your rival. Take a punt on mane, son, richarlison or someone

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

    Any Liverpool news
    Even 5 mins early would help

  14. marquinhos
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Alonso starting?

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

    Who to go for in my FH team?

    1) Son + Aurier
    or
    2) Long(BUR) + Auba

  16. Oldie99
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Please help and bench one:

    Foden
    Greenwood
    Vardy
    Jimi

    1. FPL FAN
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Foden probably

    2. Party time
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Foden

      • Jebiga
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        You want to bench Vardy ? 🙂

      • FIRMINOLOOKGOAL
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Foden

      • Mongreloid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Fodder

      • Jebiga
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Bench Greenwod bdw, i think united will not score

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

        probably Foden

    3. rowdog24
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Start Nketiah or Saka?

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

        Saka

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

        Nketiah

      3. rowdog24
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Well that clears things up

    4. FPL FAN
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Guys, pls help!
      Henderson(Button)
      TAA Doherty Aurier(Saiss, Kiko)
      Martial Bruno Sterling Mane Foden
      Jimmy Greenwood(DCL)

      10pts ahead of ML Rival, he has FH left, i have 2 FT.
      Any advices? Is it stupid to go with 3 transfers maybe?

    5. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Do any real life PL managers have FPL teams? Would be great fun.

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

        Read somewhere that sean dyche does

      2. Stef rocks
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Even if they do I don’t think they have so much time to spend like us, so assuming they won’t be very good

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          You cant tell me today he'd be putting more time into finalising the upcoming 0-0 draw than tinkering with his FH.

      3. Party time
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Lampard

        • Party time
            3 years, 8 months ago

            & probably Pep

        • Slitherene
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          What's the Top 10k FH template like?

          1. Sasquatch Slayer
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Decent

        • Mooster©️
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Digne or Aurier or Gomez?

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

            Aurier

          2. Sasquatch Slayer
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Aurier

        • Mongreloid
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Who scores more:
          A) Martial, Bardsley
          B) Pulisic, Aurier

          1. Sasquatch Slayer
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            B

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

            B, just about.

        • Stef rocks
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Last decision on FH, please vote:

          A) Mahrez & Aurier
          B) KDB & Pieters (already have Bardsley so means double Bur defense)

          Assuming both KDB and Mahrez start ofcourse

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

            Mahrez might not, so start there

        • Lignja
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          A. Taa, Greenwood
          B. Bardsly/Webster, Martial.

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

          Choose TC:

          A) KdB
          B) Dilva
          C) Kane
          D) Salah

          1. Sid07
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            A

        • Mr_Barbs
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Any below worth -4?

          A) Vardy > Kane
          B) Lascelles > Robbo/Aurier/Tark

          Pope
          TAA, Saiss, Egan
          Sterling, Silva, Martial, Pulisic
          Vardy, Wood, Rashford

          Martinez, Foden, Lascelles, Holgate

        • LikeItLoveIt
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Anyone heard any team news rumours they are tempted to believe?

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

            Only klopp mentioning fresh legs And llalana in a video

        • Swills
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Pulisic & Fernandes or Son & Martial

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

            Son & Martial

        • Bishopool
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          WOULD YOU

          Jimi, Bruno -> Kane, DSilva (-4pts)

          I have KDB and Foden

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

            Sterling the priority

        • newuser123
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Any links on twitter for early team news leaks? Cheers folks

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

            No Barnes. Vardy and Nacho start

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

              Choudhury also starts, I’m sure many are interested!

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

              really?

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

              What?