Feature

Merry Christmas from Fantasy Football Scout

Christmas Day is finally upon us, although perhaps not in the form many of us expected.

In years gone by, I have written these Christmas messages with references to Fantasy Premier League managers pulling themselves away from FPL content to spend more time with their family and friends.

But it would be naive of me to assume all of you have the opportunity to do so today.

2020 has been a generation-defining year for the people of the United Kingdom and the wider world. The global pandemic has affected all of us in different ways with subtle, often unquantifiable, nuances.

The one feeling that unites us this Christmas is heartache, as we all strive to adapt to life in an ever-changing world.

Football has not gone unscathed, as we all know. Fantasy managers can consider themselves lucky to have the sport in our lives still, but it has been forced to endure most of the year without the presence of its most important component: the fans.

And, of course, due to recent changes, many of us are now unable to see our nearest and dearest on the most important day of the year.

So, to anyone who has not been able to enjoy a sorely-needed Christmas celebration with family and friends, I say this: We feel your pain. You are not alone in this fight.

I know these crumbs of comfort cannot replace the things many of you have lost this year, especially on Christmas Day. There is only so much Fantasy Football Scout can do to battle the ongoing crisis but, if providing a healthy distraction from all the doom and gloom makes a difference in your lives, then I will be very proud.

To business, then.

As you know, the Gameweek 15 deadline looms large on Boxing Day morning, which is why the full array of Fantasy content is already up on the site.

Make sure you head to the Complete Guide to Gameweek 15 tab at the top of the page to find everything you need.

It is not long until the first Wildcard deadline passes – and don’t forget to set your plans in place for Blank Gameweek 18, Double Gameweek 19 and your chip strategy.

That just leaves me to pass on my gratitude to some key individuals.

Once again, deputy editor Neale Rigg has been an invaluable resource. You are all probably tired of my comparing him to N’Golo Kanté, but until we get another Premier League player renowned for doing the dirty work and mopping up in midfield as well as the Chelsea man, you will all have to make do!

Commercial director Chris James and community manager Geoff Dance continue to help the site develop behind the scenes and push forward to bright new things in 2021.

Head of content, Paul McKinnon, Will Timbers (or TopMarx) and Ted (Rotation) are also key members of fulfilling a number of key Fantasy Football Scout responsibilities – who all have my thanks too.

We have also enjoyed the help of Sam Bonfield and Ian Archer in developing our presence on social media. The pair have taken our Twitter and Instagram accounts to new heights with their vision and execution in 2020.

Video manager Andy Mears has had the same effect on our YouTube content during his first full campaign at Fantasy Football Scout.

We should also thank Gianni Butticè for spearheading our Matchday Live content, with the help of Seb, Toby and Lee. And we cannot forget host of the Scoutcast and captaincy videos: the long-serving Joe Lepper.

The editorial output has grown this season too. Andy, Az, Holly, Luke, Sam, Simon, Tom, Pranil and Utkarsh have all continued to provide excellent Pro Pundits articles – and we are delighted to have added Fábio Borges, Darren Wiles and the great Mark Sutherns to that list in 2020/21.

David Wardale, Jan Sienkiewicz, Colm Hayes and Marc Jobling all deserve praise for ticking key editorial boxes while Karam Tayser has done a great job in helping us reach new audiences this year with his translation of our content into Arabic.

And, of course, I would like to express gratitude to the moderators, who all perform the thankless task of managing our community at ground level every day.

The list of people contributing to the site behind the scenes continues to grow. To these individuals, you know who are you and you have my thanks.

I hope you all have as Merry a Christmas as the current restrictions allow. Good luck in Gameweek 15!

1,786 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Give him two nights with his newborn and he cant wait to be on the pitch this sunday.

  2. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Who would be your captain this gameweek in case you don't own Salah?

    1. ceerus
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      KDB

  3. ceerus
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    gw 16-20
    Bruno in team
    A) Rashford
    B) Son

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

    Coufal is playing I was joking. His wife had the baby not him he isn't the one breastfeeding it why the heck would he not play lol

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

      Family > football

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

        He can spare a few hours to do his job like everyone else in the world would have too

        1. Black Knights
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Like when everyone else gets 2 weeks paternity leave?

    2. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      What, he might not play?

    3. PepTalk
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Could be a host of reasons why he decides to stay with his family. Support for his wife emotionally perhaps, nobody knows the details surrounding the birth.

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

        It's also total speculation lol

  5. jammie26
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Not sure why anyone would be selling grealish at the moment. Yes the villa fixtures have got a bit trickier but his biggest haul came against Liverpool?

    1. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Freak game. Almost never happens.

      1. Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Spot on.

    2. AnfieldLad
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You really can’t let a crazy, shock result in gameweek 4 effect your decisions now

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I think he (and Villa) will do better in the tougher games where they have more chances on the counter

    3. Gashead9
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I'm keeping, think he'll do well in those tougher fixtures too. Will def be selling Watkins though!

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

    Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all! 😀

    P. S. Don't spend too much time overthinking about FPL.

    1. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You better focus on saving your job.

      Merry Christmas

  7. Kryptonite666
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Should I get Dias instead of Chillwell for a hit

    Will need to play Wilson otherwise

    Anyone else you recommend ?

    Stones Dier KWP (Chilwell) (3.9)

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

    Would you do this for a -4?

    Vardy, Mahrez, Chilwell > Adams, KDB, Matip

    1. MMN
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If you think Matip is nailed yes but if not then there's better options e.g. Stones, Coufal, Taylor, Dier

      1. Maddamotha
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I own Taylor and Coufal. Matip is much more nailed than Stones tho?

  9. MMN
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Would you start Wilson or Taylor this week?

    1. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Wilson

    2. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      One who's on Pen

  10. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    is it safe to make transfers now? i.e. are all the pressers done?

    happy holidays

  11. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Literally did James to coufal last night and I own lamptey, walker and Mitchell. This feels personal.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Is Coufal out?

      1. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Speculation due to wife giving birth

  12. enourouz
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Most of what I’ve read shows bench boost for gw19.

    Just curious why no one is talking about salah triple captain. Seems like two great fixtures and it’s also rare that you get a fixture spacing like that. Seems like salah would start both matches and play majority of the match.

    Anyone else considering the triple captain chip? Trying to compare this to bench boost to see which would maximize more points.

    1. sirmorbach
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I am and with Salah precisely.

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I can’t get more than 10/11 without a hit so TC works better for me
      I’ll use bench boost for a future DGW after my second WC

    3. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Too complicated to get to a proper BB team (without a WC). TC the better option. And maybe BB in GW 26.

    4. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Need to track united's defence these few weeks, I always feel their defence will turn up in the big games.

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

      Salah never does well against Man Utd tho. No attacking returns if Im correct. Expect that to be a tight game.

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Scored at Anfield last season vs them

        1. Maddamotha
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          True. His only attacking return tho. I googled and before that game he had no returns in 253min against ManUtd.

    6. lugs
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      2 home games is a big plus, games against Utd and Burnley don't scream goals for him though

    7. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      TC salah 19

  13. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    McCarthy / Steer
    Robertson / Dias / Cresswell / Lamptey* / Kilman*
    Salah / Bruno / Son / Grealish / Soucek
    DCL / Watkins / Bamford

    Is Lamptey (or Kilman) -> Dallas/Taylor  worth a hit?

    P.S. Merry Christmas all, and thanks for everything!

    1. The White Pele
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No

    2. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No just bench Lamptey and switch him next week.

  14. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bench 2 please

    A) Zouma
    B) Stones
    C) Taylor
    D) Dallas
    E) Coufal

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      CD

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

    Opening some presents and spending time with loved ones to take my mind off fpl

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      enjoy x

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yet here you are 🙂

    3. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      "Spending time with loved ones"

    4. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Still you are posting here..

  16. fantasywizard
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one:
    Coufal, Dallas, Soucek

  17. The White Pele
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Start:

    A) Coufal
    B) Dallas

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A

  18. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Jesus, Walker and maybe coufal,vestergard out

    DCL rotation

    This is what I like lots of people missing and randomness makes people think more on transfers and not be on template

  19. Party time
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers Coufal. Just spend time with the baby & enjoy the holiday

      1. NABIL - FPL otai
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This one gets my vote

    • Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Any Palace fans around?
      Is PVA going to start the next games? Getting some stick for errors lately.

    • Wicked Weapon
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Folks with their first WC intact, what's the move in terms strategy and chips ?

      1. BeWater
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Currently thinking attack DGW19 with the BB and FH18. Only thing that would change my thinking is Burnley v United being dropped into GW18.

    • The SK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      For those not Free Hitting in GW18, how do you plan your transfers from now onwards?

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        People loading for GW18 have rubbish fixtures on GW20

        1. NABIL - FPL otai
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Not necessarily. City look good for 20

      2. All For One
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Most probably fh gw 19

    • Manani
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Taylor or Balbuena? Will have to play now till DGW (since i got James+Chiwell who are injured)

      I already got Coufal, but WHU fixture looks better so leaning on double up

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Taylor better until the double apart from this week but Balbuena better in 19.

    • bautasten
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bench one:
      A) KWP (ful)
      B) Dallas (BUR)
      C) Coufal (BHA)
      D) Soucek (BHA)

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        A

      2. All For One
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        D

      3. NABIL - FPL otai
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        B

      4. bautasten
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks, three different answers 🙂 I'm currently on A btw, but it's so close.

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

        D

    • La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I see some posts here about DCL rotation.

      Richarlison out. Highly doubt Carlo would trust Tosun

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          And?

          1. Party time
              3 years, 3 months ago

              Ancelotti: "I think, not for the first game [v Sheffield United in GW15] but for the second game [v Manchester City in GW16], we are going to rotate the players."

              I’m considering selling after this gw

              1. La Roja
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 3 months ago

                Selling him after this GW perhaps would make sense due to fixtures

                But I reckon he starts this GW

      1. Offside Trapattoni
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Same conundrum as many here: which 2 to start out of Coufal, Dallas or KWP?

        Thinking Southampton likely stifles Fulham but Burnley only have 8 goals thus far. Not sure what to make of these Coufal rumours also. Thoughts appreciated.

        Buon Natale tutti!

        1. NABIL - FPL otai
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Coufal Dallas

        2. bautasten
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah if Coufal is out that would actually make life easier.. 🙂

      2. NABIL - FPL otai
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Current defence is Dias Dallas Taylor (Lamptey* Neco*)

        Worth doing Lamptey to Dier -4, or wait a week?

        1. All For One
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Wait a week

      3. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Save FT here chaps?

        Martinez
        Stones Zouma Coufal
        Son Salah(c) Mahrez Bruno
        DCL Kane Bamford

        Forster Dallas Taylor Burke

        1FT & 0.2 ITB

        1. NABIL - FPL otai
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I'm playing Dallas and Taylor while you're benching them lol

          Yes gtg

          1. La Roja
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Well I have to chose for couple of players to bench lol

        2. All For One
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Save

      4. mlm
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Martinez (Martin)
        Robertson Walker* Zouma (KWP Mitchell)
        Salah(c) Bruno Grealish Raphinha (Burke)
        Kane DLC Bamford

        2.0ITB, 0FT

        Walker to...
        A) Matip
        B) Dias
        C) Dallas

        1. NABIL - FPL otai
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          C

        2. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Cancelo

      5. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Merry Christmas all. I’m on WC so wondering my best move here?

        A. Dias+Dallas (KDB >> Son next week)

        B. Stones+Balbuena (MITB for KDB+DCL >> Son+Kane next week)

        McCarthy, Johnstone
        Robbo, Coufal, C.Taylor, XXX, XXX
        Salah, KDB, Bruno, Raphinha, Soucek
        DCL, Bamford, Adams

        Best wishes all 🙂

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          A

        2. Begbie.
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          A.

        3. Lazaretti
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          A

        4. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers lads! That’s sorted.

          Wish you all a great day and evening with your families