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. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What a sh*tshow!

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

    Mahrez my VC....

    1. Martial Matas
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      -4 to bring him in, and captained...

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

      I got every single City player correct!!! I have never won pep roulette. This is amazing.

      Money where my mouth is too. Sterling, KdB, Foden in my team.

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

    Last minute Sterling to Salah (c) switch - phew!
    Had to switch Foden for someone as I had 4 City, so randomly choose Ward Prowse lol

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

      You captained Salah?

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

        Oops, other way around!

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

      Oops. 🙂

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

    Last minute change TAA to Robbo. Hopefully it works.

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

      Same

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

        Good luck for us!

    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Same, but kept Salah

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

        I kept Salah too. Glad I didn't captain him.

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

      Yeah me too

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

      Same!

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

        did it so quick I wanted Pulisic in as well a feel he will be good today but that is what happens when you panic tfr!

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    that was chaos

  6. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Oh my lord that Liverpool team

  7. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Willian not even in the squad

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

    No Mahrez. Again. I freaking hate this game.

    I have one playing sub (Doherty) for Mane Trent and Mahrez. & no Sterling because I didn’t want to sell one of those 3 to get him

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      At least two of those are going to come on and could easily get returns so I wouldn't worry too much

  9. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Foden plays!

    Damn did Foden > Dilva

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

      Still could be the right move

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

      still good move imo

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

      same

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

      Foden__>Mahrez here

  10. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Let's go KDB TC
    Good luck all and see you next season

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

    Dilva or Mahrez?

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

      Mahrez shagging Ex Kun GF costing hik maybe

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

        Has he been??

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

      Dilva

  12. Trane84
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Just managed to panic change Salah to Son.

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

    Salah and Mahrez benched? Oof.

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

    So, how many non starters do you FH'er have (including bench)?

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

      0
      Sorry

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

      3

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

    Where is O'connell?

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

    PENS DOWN!

    Pick them up 12 September. 😀

  17. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    NORWICH TEAM NEWS
    Starting XI: Krul, Aarons, Godfrey, Zimmermann, Lewis, McLean, Rupp, Stieperman, Hernandez, Cantwell, Pukki.
    Subs: McGovern, Mair, Vrancic, Idah, Thomas, Famewo, Adshead, Martin.

    MAN CITY TEAM NEWS
    Starting XI: Ederson, Walker, Garcia, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne, D. Silva, Sterling, Jesus.
    Subs: Carson, Stones, Otamendi, Mendy, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez, B. Silva. \

    LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Newcastle: Alisson, Williams, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Keita, Milner, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Origi.
    Subs: Adrian, Fabinho, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Shaqiri, Jones, Alexander-Arnold, Elliott.

    NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Liverpool: Dubravka, Fernandez, Rose, Manquillo, Lazaro, Shelvey, Bentaleb, Almiron, Ritchie, Saint-Maximin, Gayle.
    Subs: Darlow, Carroll, Joelinton, Muto, Hayden, Yedlin, S Longstaff, Watts, Young.

    MAN UTD TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Leicester: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams, Pogba, Matic, Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford, Martial
    Subs: Romero, Fosu-Mensah, McTominay, Fred, Lingard, Mata, James, Ighalo, Bailly

    LEICESTER TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Man Utd: Schmeichel, Morgan, Evans, Justin, Thomas, Ndidi, Tielemans, Choudhury, Albrighton, Vardy, Iheanacho
    Subs: Ward, Gray, Barnes, James, Perez, Mendy, Praet, Bennett, Hirst

    CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Wolves: Caballero; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Pulisic, Giroud, Mount.
    Subs: Kepa, Christensen, Emerson, Tomori, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham.

    WOLVES TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Chelsea: Patricio, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Doherty, Neves, Dendoncker, Jonny, Neto, Jimenez, Jota.
    Subs: Ruddy, Kilman, Buur, Vinagre, Jordao, Gibbs-White, Moutinho, Traore, Podence.

    TOTTENHAM TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Crystal Palace: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Moura, Son, Kane.
    Subs: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Lamela, Sessegnon, Alli, Bergwijn, Skipp, Tanganga.

    CRYSTAL PALACE TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Tottenham: Guaita, Ward, Dann, Mitchell, Schlupp, Townsend, Kouyate, McCarthy, McArthur, Zaha, Ayew.
    Subs: Hennessey, Milivojevic, Meyer, Kelly, Woods, Kirby, Pierrick, Gordon, Riedewald.

    WATFORD TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Arsenal: Foster, Femenia, Dawson, Kabasele, Masina, Hughes, Doucoure, Pereyra, Sarr, Welbeck, Deeney
    Subs: Gomes, Mariappa, Cleverley, Chalobah, Cathcart, Joao Pedro, Gray, Quina, Pussetto

    ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Watford: Martinez, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Ceballos, Xhaka, Willock, Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette
    Subs: Macey, Sokratis, Torreira, Cedric, Nelson, Nketiah, Kolasinac, Smith, Saka

    BRIGHTON TEAM NEWS
    Starting XI: Ryan, Lamptey, Dunk ©, Stephens, Maupay, Bissouma, Mac Allister, Webster, March, Burn, Connolly
    Subs: Button, Trossard, Gross, Jahanbakhsh, Murray, Mooy, Montoya, Propper, Bernardo

    BURNLEY TEAM NEWS
    Starting XI: Pope, Tarkowski ©, Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Wood, McNeil, Westwood, Rodriguez, Pieters, Bardsley, Long
    Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Brady, Vydra, Thompson, Dunne, Benson, Goodridge, Driscoll-Glennon, Mumbongo

    BOURNEMOUTH TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Everton: Ramsdale, Kelly, Rico, Steve Cook, Smith, Lerma, Gosling, Brooks, King, Solanke, Wilson.
    Subs: Boruc, Ake, Danjuma, Lewis Cook, Stacey, Stanislas, Wilson, Billing, Surridge.

    EVERTON TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Bournemouth: Pickford, Digne, Coleman, Branthwaite, Keane, Gomes, Davies, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Walcott, Kean.
    Subs: Stekelenburg, Virginia, Baines, Calvert-Lewin, Sidibe, Bernard, Baningime, Gordon, Simms.

    ASTON VILLA TEAM NEWS
    Team to play West Ham: Reina, Guilbert, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Hourihane, McGinn, Luiz, Grealish, Trezeguet, Samatta
    Subs: Nyland, Taylor, Lansbury, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Jota, Hause, Vassilev, Davis

    SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Sheff Utd: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Stephens, Bertrand, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Ings, Adams.
    Subs: Gunn, Valery, Danso, Bednarek, Vokins, Smallbone, N’Lundulu, Long, Obfaemi.

    WEST HAM TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Aston Villa: Fabianski, Johnson, Diop, Ogbonna, Fredericks, Noble, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio
    Subs: Randolph, Balbuena, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Lanzini, Wilshere, Haller, Silva, Coventry

    SHEFF UTD TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Southampton: Henderson, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Baldock, Berge, Lundstram, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, Sharp.
    Subs: Moore, Jagielka, Rodwell, K Freeman, Norwood, Osborn, Clark, Zivkovic.

  18. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    scenes

  19. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    come on Sterling(TC), Jesus & KDB!!

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

      Same

  20. Declan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thanks for the early Pool team news.

  21. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    OMG FODEN

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

    Post your FH teams below. Let's see who got lucky!

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

      Pope
      Bardsley - Pieters - Aurier
      Sterling(c) - KDB - Dilva - Martial
      Kane - Ings - Auba

      literal last minute changes!

      1. Bring the Cavalry
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        That is a quality team, surely will do good today

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

      Pope
      Robbo VVD Aurier
      Martial Pulisc KDB Dilva Raz ©
      Kane Ings

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

      Pope

      Van Dijk,Aurier, Pieters

      Sterling (C), KDB, Dilva, Martial, Antonio

      Kane , Ings

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

    I have no idea what team I have

  24. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Did Salah +Mahrez -> KdB + Martial in th dying seconds

    That should.come back to bite me nicely

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

    williams first on bench so hope taa doesnt come on at all.

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

      Have the same. But now I am thinking that after restart Taa has never stayed on bench. Probably lot of changes happening on second half.

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

    Bougt Mahrez instead Jesus on FH ffs

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

      Same here. Sold Jesus, Foden and Kdb for Sterling, Dilva and Mahrez. Lets see what happens.

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

    Damn why i didnt do Mahrez > KDB.....

  28. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    wtf mahrez

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

    praying I actually clicked save on my team

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

      Lol