Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 17

Happy New Year and welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 17 ahead of today’s 16:00 GMT deadline.

As Fantasy managers, 2020 certainly kept us on our toes and its 366th day was no exception with the announcement of additional fixtures for Gameweeks 18 and 19.

Those with assets from both Manchester clubs, Aston Villa and Burnley now have more players available for the upcoming blank and double.

But are you leaping for joy or simply scratching your head wondering what to do?

As Pro Pundit Andy was at pains to point out when talking through the implications of the fixture changes yesterday, the ideal solution will depend on your team and chip situation.

Step forward the innovative FPL Community with two tailor-made graphics.

The first, by Legomané, helps us plan transfers by using a traffic-light colour code to highlight the rest periods between matches:

(click on graphic to enlarge)

And the second, by FPL Zh0u, is a handy flowchart on strategy, which can steer our teams in the right direction.

(click on graphic to enlarge)

Andy wondered if it was time to abandon our plans for Double Gameweek 19, especially with Manchester City now having arguably the most attractive fixtures, at home to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

The Pro Pundit, who leads the Mods & Cons mini-league, originally wanted to play his Bench Boost chip but is debating whether targeting his transfers to bring back Kevin De Bruyne (£11.7m) is perhaps the better course of action.

Liverpool also enjoy two home fixtures in the upcoming Double Gameweek and Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) had been the default captain choice for many, however two frustrating blanks has dampened our enthusiasm.

But reporting on the match against his beloved Newcastle United, Neale emphasised that it could have been very different for those who backed the Egyptian:

This was one of those games when the margins between double-digit haul and a three-pointer were slim …  But Salah has historically had a profligate side to his game and occasional frustrating afternoons come with the territory.

– Neale

Something our Captain Sensible writer Jan Sienkiewicz does when making his recommendations for the armband, is to consider how the games will unfold.

Often Fantasy managers like to target teams thought of as ‘whipping boys’, but sides frequently adapt their approach based on the opposition – and Newcastle are no exception:

The Magpies resemble a solid outfit in a backs-to-the-wall 5-4-1 but look less so in a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1, conceding goals against the likes of Burnley, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and Brighton and Hove Albion – all at home – this season when playing without a third centre-half.

– Neale

Leeds United, however, take a different approach: employing the same style of play no matter who they are facing.

The open end-to-end nature of their games means that no team has conceded more big chances than the Whites this season and, at the same time, no team has taken more shots in the box. 

On the Scoutcast, Joe and Az both identified the trip to a rested Tottenham Hotspur as the standout fixture for captaincy. And Jan agreed, making Harry Kane (£11.0m) and Son Heung-min (£9.7m) his top candidates for the armband, despite their recent poor attacking form.

But it was the attacking displays of Marcelo Bielsa’s side that caught the attention of Pro Pundit Zophar. Considering their budget options, the seven-time top 10,000 manager noted:

Raphinha’s numbers, in particular, are excellent as he is second for shots in the box (nine) and joint-top for chances created (10).

– Zophar

And like Zophar in his column piece, David picked out a cheap midfielder whose displays have impressed recently for Aston Villa:

His total of 24 attempts on goal is the highest in the league between Gameweeks 12 and 16, at least 10 more than any other midfielder at the time of writing. El Ghazi is also top of the league for big chances (six) and shots on target (15)

– David

However, it remains to be seen if Ross Barkley (£5.9m), returned to fitness and available for selection, will dislodge El Ghazi from the starting XI.

Moving up in price, the recent performances of Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) have been encouraging. In his Scout Notes on the match at Stamford Bridge, David observed:

It was noteworthy to see Christian Pulisic start a second game in two days and manage to last 90 minutes each time – perhaps suggesting he can offer a robust route into Chelsea’s attack for matches against Fulham (away) and Leicester (away) in Double Gameweek 19.

– David

Finally, Harry Maguire (£5.4m) is the headline differential pick for the New Year. Pro Pundit Tom is impressed by his attacking threat with no defender having taken more shots in the box, and Manchester United sitting top of the ticker from a defensive perspective until Gameweek 25.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning rounded-up the Community mini-leagues and competitions in a hot topic yesterday.

As mentioned, the Manager of the Month in the Community Members mini-league is Josh Paulin. Josh wins a £50 Amazon voucher. Josh, please contact Geoff (geoff@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk) to claim your prize.

The Manager of the Month winners in 2020 were:

SeptemberHamdy Sameeh
OctoberEmmanuel Oloche
NovemberJames Frimpong
DecemberJosh Paulin

And for those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 17 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

2,511 Comments Post a Comment
  1. sergioaguero67
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If Ross Barkley returns, whose spot is lost?
    Traore or El Ghazi?
    Please help

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The guy who hasn't scored 5 in 5

      1. Lev Yashin
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Grealish?

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yep Grealish likely to drop to the bench and the great trio of Barkley El Ghazi and Traore will terrorise the PL

  2. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo's wife had no new years pic and her insta status was a memory with Cancelo from 01.01.2017.

    Add to this that Cancelo's insta pic on new years eve was just hit on his own...i think he is isolating tbh

    https://www.instagram.com/danielalexmachado/

    1. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      hahahahahaua sorry this post has cracked me up. This place is hilarious sometimes

      1. MattysFantasyFooty
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        nearing arsenal fan levels of flight tracking haha

    2. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks Columbo.

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

    best 3 defenders for DGW19?

    already have robbo, kwp, coufal and dallas with doubles...
    and want a city defender..
    cant stretch to a BB team...

  4. Lexi2014
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    McCarthy or Martinez this week?

    1. cutch
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm asking the same 😀

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

      martinez

    3. Return of the FF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If you have KWP, go Martinez. If not, Mccarthy

  5. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to bench?
    A Stones (che)
    B Balbuena (eve)
    C Dier (LEE)

    Thinking B

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

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

      b

  6. Uns95
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need to burn a transfer, best goalkeeper for next few weeks?

    Have had McCarthy all season, but thinking of changing for either Patricio, De Gea or Schmeichel ?

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Leno has nice fixtures

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

      Fabianski?

  7. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo's comment on Jesus' IG post:

    Meu irmão tamos juntos ❤️ saudades do meu miúdo
    translated to
    My brother we are together ❤️ miss my kid

    Looks like he might be isolating.

  8. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just a reminder that the deadline is in 21 minutes!!!!

  9. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play one of
    a) Stones vs Chelsea
    b) Coufal vs Eve

    Think Stones better CS odds and Coufal more attacking threat...

  10. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    G2G? Bench?

    Martinez
    Robbo, Dias, Coufal
    Salah, Son (C), Bruno (v), Raphinha
    Kane, Bamford, Adams
    (Forster) (Soucek, Dallas, KWP)

    Cheers!

  11. The Alli Way
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How does this WC team look for GW19?

    Fabianski McCarthy
    Roberston Chilwell Dias Dallas Coufal
    Salah Bruno Son El Ghazi Soucek
    DCL Bamford Rodrigo

    Son > Maddison and DCL > Vardy for GW19

  12. lifes a pitch
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I have 2FT...all chips available. But really at a loss what to do here...maybe bring in a united def?

    . Martinez
    . Zouma Taa Justin
    Salah Son Grelaish Bruno Zaha
    . Bamford DCL
    Subs: Steer . Ogbonna Mitchell Decordova
    2Ft, £0.1 itb

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

    Is it too risky to bring in Cancelo this week using my 1 FT?

    Would mean taking a hit in 19 due to playing FH in 18.

  14. C_G
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    thoughts on these transfers after FH week??

    Lamptey + DCL ----> Antonio + Pieters (-4)

  15. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play McCarthy or Martinez?

  16. MartialMatas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start which?
    A) Martinez
    B) Johnstone

    1. G Banger
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A for me

  17. G Banger
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Afternoon team, which one to bench? 🙂

    a) Coufal
    b) Kilman
    c) Dallas

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dallas

  18. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DCL and -4 or keep Firmino

  19. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which 2 to start?

    A) Alioski
    B) Balbuena
    C) Coufal

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Double up

  20. Return of the FF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any news on Taylor for Burnley?

  21. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start

    A) Adams
    B) Raphina

  22. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Helpppp im so torn

    A. Keep mane this gw
    B. Mane to bruno

  23. james 101
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best 4.3 defender

    Killman
    One of the cheap pool defenders?
    Leeds?

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks gents!

  24. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who should I start:

    A) Dallas
    B) Coufal

    1. LSK
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  25. LSK
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Coufal or Bowen first on bench? Taylor starting so likely to come in.

  26. The VAR Team
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to get in for GW17 and BGW18?

    A) Fernandez
    B) Holding

  27. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Quick captain poll:

    A - Bruno
    B - Son
    C - Kane

    1. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      BCA

    2. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

  28. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    4.5 for a Charlie Taylor replacement. Would you rather:

    Alioski 4.5
    Lowton 4.4
    Pieters 4.3

  29. Qubit
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mane to Son for -4? Concerned about lack of Spurs this week.

  30. Akshatjazz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Taylor's replacement stones, then my Def

    Dias, Dallas, stones, coufal & Kwp