Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 5

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 5.

The international break is over – don’t worry, only 23 days to go until the next one – and it promises to be a crucial four-Gameweek period between now and then. The action gets underway this weekend with the Merseyside derby.

This guide aims to pick out all the crucial bits of information to help you ready your FPL team ahead of the 11:00 BST deadline.

The headline news from yesterday’s press conferences was undoubtedly the confirmed absence of Kevin De Bruyne (£11.6m). 

The 34.6%-owned Belgian had been a captaincy contender ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal, having totalled 33 points across two matches against the Gunners last season. 

But attention now turns away from Pep Guardiola’s troops leaving Fantasy managers faced with a tricky decision. Jan Sienkiewicz summed up the situation in Captain Sensible:

It’s a far from straightforward week concerning the captaincy, with fixtures that would have looked good on paper before the season started suddenly not appearing as favourable.

– Jan

Tottenham Hotspur take on a much-improved West Ham: over the last three Gameweeks, no team has allowed fewer shots from inside their box than the Hammers. And Everton, who face Liverpool, have the next-meanest defence.

But as Legomané humorously observed, it’s nigh-on impossible to tell what constitutes an easy fixture these days.

Az talked up Chelsea’s chances on the Scoutcast, and even revealed that he is planning to captain Kai Havertz (£8.4m) – although that was before he pushed the Wildcard button:

Southampton is the perfect game for the new look Chelsea… I know [Southampton’s] defensive numbers have been better, but I’m looking at them thinking if they play their high line, and you’ve got players like Werner and Pulisic, and Havertz pulling the strings and Ziyech doing all these creative bits in behind, then I think they’re going to really get at them. So I really like this fixture for Chelsea.

– Az

Although caution is perhaps advised for those considering the returning Christian Pulisic (£8.3m), Matt Henley neatly encapsulating the dilemma facing Fantasy managers:

Pulisic is quality but his legs are made of Weetabix.

– Matt Henley 

And in a Gameweek of divided opinions, Joe took a different view on Chelsea:

According to the expected goals stat, it looks like [Chelsea] may have got slightly lucky… the expected goals is 6.87, so very high, but the goals they’ve scored is 10, so they are overperforming.

– Joe speaking in the Captaincy Video

Spurs players appeal most to Joe. And with the news that De Bruyne has been ruled out, the veteran Scoutcaster is considering swapping out the Belgian for Son Heung-min (£9.2m). Could Son even be handed the captain’s armband?

I think Son is a very good captain pick in a week where I don’t think there are many good captains.

– Joe

West Ham have just a 15 per cent chance of a clean sheet, according to the odds supplied by G-Whizz, adding weight to the idea of backing a Spurs player. Harry Kane (£10.6m) gets the nod from BigManBakar:

Kane has created the highest amount of big chances in the league which add to his value. He has the best expected goal involvement (xGI) since the season started of all players in the league, so with great fixtures to come I believe he’s the main asset to own.

– BigManBakar

Schadenfreude and exciting new differentials

Schadenfreude is not the name of a former Spurs midfielder but one of the few German words adopted directly into the English language. If you want to know exactly what it means, take a look at Pro Pundit Sam Bonfield and husband Lee in their Top Five Wildcard Picks video from last week.

Spurs-fan Sam reveled in reminding Liverpool-fan Lee how many goals the Reds conceded to Aston Villa, leading fellow Pro Pundit Zophar to accuse her of “spousal abuse” on the FPL Wire. If that’s not enjoying the misfortune of others, I don’t know what is. By the way, it was seven goals in case anyone had forgotten. 

But all seemed well on Friday with the Bonfields in daring mood, braving the heights at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Following their adrenaline rush, will either of them feel emboldened to add Gareth Bale (£9.5m) to their squads?

The video footage released by both Bale and Spurs over the International break shows a player back in full training, looking happy and sharp. He has personally commented on the quality of the care and the facilities at Spurs and, after being overlooked for a few seasons in Spain, may feel he has something to prove (see Rodriguez at Everton for an indicator of what’s possible)… but, for me right now, the form of both Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min are just impossible to ignore, so you should make one or both your first picks from Tottenham’s assets.

– Sam

However, Jose Mourinho was noncommittal about whether Bale would start on Sunday:

He’s there, he’s there. Probably he plays Sunday, if he doesn’t he will on Thursday, but he’s there, he’s very, very close.

– Jose Mourinho

Bale isn’t the only enticing differential ahead of Gameweek 5. Pro Pundits Lateriser and Tom Freeman have both talked up Aston Villa assets during the international break. 

Ross Barkley (£5.9m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.0m) appeal to Lateriser along with Brighton’s Leandro Trossard (£6.0m). The Seagulls midfielder is taking up a very advanced position and producing some impressive underlying stats: only four midfielders have taken more shots.

Meanwhile Zophar pointed out that Ross Barkley was practically a support striker against Liverpool, judging by his shot map. And Tom even suggested he could be on penalties.

The Villa fan also singled out Watkins as his top differential pick, writing in glowing terms of his all-round potential and striking ability. The former Brentford star could benefit from an injury-hit Leicester City on Sunday, with Cağlar Söyüncü (£5.5m) set to miss out and his central defensive partner, Jonny Evans (£5.5m), a doubt with abdominal pain. 

Tom concluded his Pro Pundit piece:

I’m not totally convinced Villa will be good week in, week out, but if the connection between Grealish, Barkley and Watkins continues, they could offer FPL managers some serious value, and the fixtures between Gameweeks 6-15 will certainly give them the platform to impress.

– Tom

Elsewhere, Under-17 World Cup winner, Rhian Brewster (£4.5m), has piqued the interest of many in the FPL Community following his move to Sheffield United. Neale ran the rule over the former Liverpool youngster highlighting his finishing strength during a successful loan period at Swansea. The new recruit also picked up the Golden Boot at the Under-17 World Cup in India back in 2017.

Described as “a gift from the FPL gods” by Zophar, Brewster’s budget price tag enables us to upgrade our squad in other positions. Which could be handy for owners of Tyrick Mitchell (£4.1m) with the news that Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) is “back”.

Ahead of an enticing run, Van Aanholt was Joe’s differential pick on the Scoutcast – six of Crystal Palace’s next seven fixtures are rated at just two on the FPL website. 

And on FPL Black Box, Mark gave the Dutchman a ringing endorsement, pointing out that Palace perform very well against weaker opposition – they kept eight clean sheets against teams outside the ‘Big Seven’ (the ‘Big Six’ plus Leicester) – and Van Aanholt averaged five points per match in those games. What’s more, Mark thinks that he could be on penalties and free-kicks.

However, not everyone was so enthusiastic. Granville gave a withering reply when asked if he was a fan of PVA: “yeah, when I’m putting up wallpaper.”

Meanwhile Pro Pundit Holly found it useful to delve into the stats in an attempt to find some clarity during what’s been an unpredictable start to the season. 

The first name highlighted using her sanguine approach was Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.6m):

Calvert-Lewin leads the goal-scoring charts with six goals from six big chances, as well as dominating the shots (15) and shots on target (nine) behind just Harry Kane (£10.6m).

– Holy

Sometimes the obvious picks are the best.

Finally, Pro Pundit Andy revealed a stat that few expected to hear at the start of the season:

At 7.72 xGC [Manchester United] are the second worst defence statistically and are only kept off the bottom spot by West Brom, a stat that looks even worse when you consider United have only played three matches.

– Andy

It’s not a pretty picture for followers of the Red Devils: they are one of only four teams in the whole of English professional football to have conceded more goals than they’ve managed shots on target in 2020/21.

Community latest

Site moderator Gregor (real name Graeme Sumner) was invited to join Joe on his popular Meet the Manager series. 

Graeme has managed an outstanding three top 1,000 finishes during his FPL career, the best of which was 29th overall in 2016/17. An advocate of the eye test over stats, Graeme talked about his style of play and plans for the upcoming Gameweeks – he has it all mapped out with Antonio set to be his captain in Gameweek 8 for an enticing home encounter against Fulham. 

Make time to watch the interview if you haven’t seen it already. 

Earlier this week, the Best of the Community feature covered a range of topics from Chelsea’s defence to innovative ideas on how to handle the topsy-turvy start to the season. It also rounded-up all FFScout Mini-Leagues and Community Competitions.

And finally, for those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 5 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, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

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

1,310 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Creedey
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is it absolutely bonkers to go without Liverpool defenders?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No but I wouldn't.

    2. Kitman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I think it’s fine for the short term but look to bring them in once Alison is back

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Should come good eventually

    4. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Don't view them as defenders.

    5. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The reason I have one rn is out of pure fear of not being able to fill that 7 - 7.5m if they start delivering. Wouldn't say its madness to go without based on what has happened so far.

    6. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No, but I’m too scared not to!

      1. Creedey
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks for all the replies! I'm tempted to go without, to add Kane to an already expensive attack, but the fear of things going back to normal and taa and robbo to start firing again is holding me back!

  2. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Reckon it’s worth a -4 to shift one of the Arsenal defenders? Guessing Mitchell won’t be starting anymore.

    McCarthy
    Trent, Virgil, Mitchell
    Salah, Son, Foden, Barkley
    Kane, Jimenez, Antonio

    Steer, Bissouma, Bellerin, Holding
    Bank 0.3m

    1. 2OLEgend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No need for a hit imo

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nah, they could do ok against a weakened City, bellerin especially

      1. Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah was thinking that. Reckon it’s worth starting him over Mitchell?

    3. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Never hit for a def. don’t start Mitchell

  3. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Does anyone vaguely remember Mark rejoining the team? Was that just for video content?

  4. GE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Saiss or PVA on WC?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Saiss

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Saiss

    3. 2OLEgend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Saiss

    4. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Saiss

  5. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Ever feel like Fantasy has diminishing returns the more you tinker? I'm actively sabotaging myself right now looking at a Spurs triple up and trying to squeeze in Pulisic. I knew what I needed after the last GW... Might give myself less time in future.

    1. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Defo. Biggest thing is to know when to stop tinkering!

  6. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Do I need to change Vardy or Lamptey?

    Martinez
    Robbo Justin Lamptey
    Salah Son Zaha Pereira
    Vardy Jimi DCL
    Steer Mitchell KWP Stephens

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No

  7. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Salah captainers playing with fire

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DlctqbJXcAEyn9J?format=jpg&name=medium

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

      Lmao ghandi and football

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      3 goals in last 6 Goodison derbies

    3. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Reckon I had RVP score 3 or 4 in an early kick off way back in the day.

    4. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Has anyone ever produced stats to back this superstition up? Genuinely interested.

  8. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Right, here we go. (-4), but now with 3.4m ITB. Any changes? Or convincing arguments for Salah v Son captain? Thanks all in advance x

    Martinez
    Robbo Saiss Lamptey
    Salah Son(c) Havertz JRodriguez Podence
    Jimenez DCL

    Steer - Taylor Mitchell Davis

  9. 2OLEgend
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bottomed:

    Vardy to Kane for free?
    Already have Son.

  10. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A) best def under 5.7? Have Chilwell already
    B) best def under 4.4?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      PVA
      Cooper

    2. corderz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A) Reguilon?

  11. disarrays11
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A) Watkins & Robbo
    B) Wilson & Sais

    (already have TAA)

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A by far

    2. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. disarrays11
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks, also already have Grealish, don't know if that changes anything

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

    Salah early kick off captain?

    Son rested international break captain?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Son for me

  13. Riggs
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Will Zaha play? With Lamptey, Burke uncertainty and Ferguson injury, I don't have playing bench. Already made KDB > Son, but is it worth it -4 Zaha > Grealish. Thinking Podence > James Rodr. too.

  14. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I'm now considering Grealish (c). So many injuries for Leicester. It's very tempting...

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Me too. Do u think we should switch?

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Debating Havertz, Grealish, Son.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Prefer Havertz of your options

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      But Leicester still have a decent squad and can easily out do Villa.

      Unless they are a truly transformed team this season?

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I think they are a truly transformed team. Leicester also missing 2 of their CBs.

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Don't they have a £32 million replacement coming in?

  15. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Everton have only one clean sheet this season.

    Surely Salah scores.

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Or mane

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Logic doesn’t apply this year

  16. Assist me a river
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Play Justin or Konsa?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Konsa

  17. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Worth paying 4.7 for Lamptey to have him on bench?
    Or go some 4.5?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Dallas

    2. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah be worth the extra 4.5 when you start him, looks very attacking

      1. Prison Mike
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        0.2 sorry

  18. Peekay
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any chance of Ben Davis Starting?

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Doubt it

  19. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    James Rodriguez or Pulisic on wildcard?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Rod

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

    Is Ashley Barnes nailed?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ashley? No

  21. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Will Brewster start?

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      yes.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes but limited minutes

  22. Enes_Sahini1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What the wilcard template at the moment?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      So lazy

      1. Enes_Sahini1
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        havent been keeping up to date over the international mate, just asking if someone could guide me.

  23. PURPLE-RONNIE
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Guys on a WC is it better to have bissouma or dale Stephens as he is 0.1 cheaper?
    Is Stephens nailed?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Go Stephens, 0.1 always useful

      1. PURPLE-RONNIE
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        That’s what I’d prefer to do, just wasn’t sure if he was nailed on week in week out?

  24. wolves_simmo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is this worth a Wildcard?

    Out: McCarthy / James / TAA / Podence / KWP / Lascelles

    In: Martinez / Regulion / Dallas / Grealish / Lamptey / Ait-Nouri (Plus WC cancels out current -8)

  25. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Mane (C)

  26. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    TAA & Trossard or 5.7 defender (who) & J.Rodriguez ?

  27. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any Leicester fans any views on Vardy and chances of playing on Sunday?

  28. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Worth shipping KDB for a hit with Bissouma, Taylor and Mitchell on the bench?

  29. xRedArrow
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Urgent WC advice:
    Is it crazy to think Richarlison is a decent differential to DCL. Similar stats unlikely not to score more and on penalties. ( I only have 0.2 value gained in DCL).

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not crazy. Richa is a good option

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      But does most of his work from deeper and wider.

      DCL in the box

  30. NIGHTHIKER - I Kane, I Shaw…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wildcard team pretty much finalised, let's have some thoughts!

    Ryan // McCarthy

    Chilwell // Bellerin // Saiss // Lamptey // Bednarek

    Salah // Fernandes // Rodriguez // Grealish // Zaha

    Kane // Wilson // Brewster