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. Calculated Risks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Rmfht
    Martinez
    Aurier - Pieters - Branthwaite
    Salah - KDB - Mahrez - Sterling - Pulisic
    Kane - Ings

    Button, Greenwood, Bardsley, Lamptey

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

      Damn good team

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

      But play bardsley over Branthwaite

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

      Super similar to mine - I have Martial over Pulisic though. Why Pulisic? I'm really undecided!

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

        Oh and Dilva over KDB

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

        Just looked class v Livers

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

    Foden TAA to Peiters Son minus 8pts leaves me 5ptsahead off rival then KDB battle with Sterling and Son battle with his Kane

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

      I'd rather have the 13 PTS advantage with TAA

    2. Pulp Minion
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You'd be better off with the 8 points

  3. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Got to sell one to fund Sterling in for Foden:

    A) Bruno
    B) Rashford

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

      A

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

      B

    3. FIRMINOLOOKGOAL
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  4. tommo123
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who to TC?

    Salah, KDB, Jesus, bruno, martial?

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

      Salah

    2. Darnell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sterling

    3. Heres hoping x 7
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah

  5. LABILLETHEGOAT
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    guys I have to outscore the leader by 12 today to win the league. He hasn't got sterling, he's got salah and son, I'm thinking he'll take one of them out for sterling. Who would you captain? Thanks
    a. sterling
    b. kdb
    c. martial
    d. bruno

  6. tswango
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Vardy, Willian, Doherty > Kane, Silva, Pieters (-8)
    B) Vardy, Willian > Jesus, Silva (-4)

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

      B

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

    Play Pulisic or Wood?

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

      Puli

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      wood

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

      Pulisic

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

    Martinez
    Aurier Pieteres Bardsley
    Salah Sterling Kdb Mahrez Pulisic
    Kane Ings

    GTG?

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

      Nice team

  9. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Mahrez and Son

    or

    B) Jesus and Martial

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

      Think I'd rather have A .

      Please help below, thanks.

    2. Athletic Dildao
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  10. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1FT. 2.0 itb.
    A Bruno to Son / Antonio
    B Doherty to Robertson and bench Aurier
    C Something else

    Pope
    Pieters, TAA, Aurier
    Sterling(c), KDB, Martial, Fernandes, Pulisic
    Jesus, Greenwood
    (Mccarthy, Doherty, Niketiah, Kiko)

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A looks good to cover spurs

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

    Hits are only really a -2 this GW.

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

      Only if you're selling a player who doesn't start...

    2. Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Aren't they always

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

      Not sure I understand

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

      -1 if you © incoming guy

      1. Rojo's Modern Life
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Lolol the maths in here... You have to REMOVE the captaincy from an existing player to give it to the new signing. Zero sum action.

  12. Hardly Athletic
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What is the most reliable twitter account for early Man City team news?

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

      Been mentioned millions of times mate FPL Rockstar and Scarface are the two reliable ones but both unlikely to provide news

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

      Scarface

      Only problem is he deleted it this morning.

  13. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    You better watch out, you better not cry
    You better not pout, I'm telling you why
    GW38 is coming to town

    Check your team and check it twice
    Because we might not find out which managers are naughty or nice
    Pep and Jurgen are coming to town

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

    I hope FFS and FPL have hired a few extra servers for the incoming madness in the next half an hour!!

  15. Yome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is Mahrez likely to start? He didn’t start the last two

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

      ...which makes him more likely to start this one then

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

        Logically but ...

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think so possibly get subbed off for the last 20

  16. BurnMyBread
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pick three:

    A) Jesus
    B) Auba
    C) Pulisic
    D) Ings
    E) Mahrez
    F) Antonio

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

      BEF

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      ABE

    3. FIRMINOLOOKGOAL
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A
      D
      E

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

    How does this look?

    Martinez, 3,9
    TAA, Long, Pieters (Williams, Tanganga)
    Salah, Sterling (c), Silva, Mahrez (Gilmour)
    Aubameyang, Kane, Greenwood

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

      Very good team

    2. bc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Good to go dude

  18. waterboy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is it old news that FPLScarface Twitter account doesn't exist now?

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

      yes

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

        Thanks.

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

      Yes.

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

      Yes old news

  19. I Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    TAA or VvD on FH?

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      TAA with good first sub

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

        gotta be williams first sub

  20. bc82
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy to Kane -4 worth the hit?

    Raheem (c)

    Chasing 22

    1. A Fat Spanish Waiter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You are likely to be break even at best.

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

      Yes

      1. bc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks!!! Other option is to swap greenwood to Chris wood for the -4 keeping Vardy

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

    Choose The One for TC:

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

    1. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      D

  22. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can we have a hot topic with any credibly sourced early team news - source mandatory?

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

      This

    2. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes please - I’m not sure how much we can believe the early team news that we see on here

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      lol no one wants to take responsibility for that, its looking shooting down a 747 because it might fly into a building

      1. Rojo's Modern Life
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Class analogy

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          😀 my typo,
          its like*

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

      :). You're kidding, right?

  23. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Think I'm going Auba over Kane. Could just be fan bias but at least I can try to enjoy the Arsenal game. COYG!

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

      Me too, watford has to attack so shoul be open game so plenty of chances to auba

  24. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which one lads

    A)
    Martinez
    TAA, Pieters, Bardsley
    Salah (c), Sterling, Dilva, MARTIAL
    Kane, Auba, GREENWOOD

    Douglas Luiz, Branthwaite, Rico - 0 itb

    B)
    Martinez
    BRANTHWAITE, Pieters, Bardsley
    Salah (c), Sterling, Dilva, ANTONIO
    Kane, Auba, JESUS

    Williams, Guendouzi, Tanganga - 0 itb
    **no Man Utd, bad bench**

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      B could be worth it though i'd be suprised if Bournemouth couldn't find a way to score today

  25. SallySlayer
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best captain for non sterling owners?
    A) Salah
    B) Dilva

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      50/50

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

    Is it worth bringing in Pieters for a -4 to avoid playing 2 wolves defenders?

    Thanks

  27. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Whatever choice i make seems like the wrong one haha

  28. htfcbrad
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Origi / Minamino good punts for this week?

  29. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Link to Klopp comments? Mane TAA unlikely to start or something?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      just ignore them imo

  30. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Doherty
    B) Robertson(-4)