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. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DCL blank with no Hammers CS would be nice here.

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Throw in a Soucek blank too

    2. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Can we get a Soucek goal on top of that?

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

    What's all this about the Cup?

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

      Anyone got a sauce(r)?

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Go to your page on fpl. Scroll down to underneath your leagues.

      Look forward to getting knocked out by a dead team within 2 weeks.

  3. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wildcard part 2. Here I come.

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

      What's the plan?

      Drenthe just popped into my head when I saw your name 🙂

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Looking to WC GW18, BB19 saving FH for later.

        Will see how the weekend goes before doing anything though.

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Same here. Building the team is the hard part though

          1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Seems difficult after having a first look at it

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

          I'm still 90% fh 18
          But will look at wc 18 and see what I can come up with

  4. Manani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    good thing I didn't bring in Balbuena last GW, got Taylor instead. 1 more point I guess

  5. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Coufal 2nd bench. CS, assist and bonus incoming

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same

      1. Captain Vantastic™
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Shame

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That would be exquisite but won't happen. More likely 1 point.

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

      Same

  6. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wtf is going on why has the game not updated ???

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It’s run on a 2006 acer laptop

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Running Windows vista I assume

        1. Esalman
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Internet explorer

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

      Vision 2040: new FPL servers

  7. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Coufal haul please..

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      An assist would be nice.

  8. Kudo Warrior
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Balbuena lost his place or something WTH!?

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Moyes checks fpl prices and punishes cheapskates.

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

        Dawson is 4.3

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

    Pokemon gotta catch em all

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I thought u quit

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

        I did

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

    Anyone else not feeling like using a chip in 18 and 19?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      o/
      I will try to navigate with 10 players in BGW18 and 9 DGW players in DGW19. No hits.

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

        Similar strategy here. Salah Soucek Dallas Bamford on bench in 18, Kane and Son to play in 19

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

      I'm definitely not using any chips with the way things are. Will have the below teams with no hits

      18
      Martinez
      Taylor Holding Stones
      KDB Bruno Son Grealish
      DCL Brewster
      Johnstone KWP Dallas Salah Bamford

      19
      Martinez
      Stones Coufal KWP Dallas
      Salah KDB Bruno Son Grealish
      Bamford
      Johnstone Taylor DCL Brewster

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

        Know what, both teams look gorgeous

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I don't think I will.

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

        Good to know

    4. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep no chips being used here.

      It’s a game at the end of the day and I find it more exciting to save the chips till later in the season to hopefully get a late boost.

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

        Similar thinking

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

      WC17

      GW18:
      Martinez | Langley
      Dias Stones Holding Yedlin | Robbo
      C Bruno Sterling Rashford Son | Salah
      Brewster Davis | Bamford

      GW19:
      Martinez | Langley
      Robbo Dias Stones Coufal | Douglas
      C Salah Sterling Bruno Rashford Son
      Bamford | Brewster Davis

      No hits. TC, BB and FH will be used later

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

        Wow some extraordinary picks and differentials there. Good luck with that!

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

          Thanks. Good luck to you too 🙂

    6. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No, definitely FH for me. My team is like 5 players if I don't. So I reckon it's worth it.

  11. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Nice to see Richalison is back.

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

      And Hames back on the bench. Both can finally give great support for Dcl again

      1. Third Eye Vision
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Digne still out though. He’s crucial for the service into the box.

  12. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have two free transfers. What a luxury

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

    Bus captain:

    A) KDB (BHA)
    B) Bruno (bur)

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bruno

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bruno

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bruno

  14. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DCL 2 Goals
    Soucek 2 Goals
    Coufal 2 Assits

    is that too much?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dream bigger

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'll just take C

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

      Why not all four assists for Coufal?

  15. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sky Go & Amazon Prime Video not working outside UK is not ideal. The lads at number 10 ought to have prioritised this for us, especially around the festive football period.

    Any idea how to watch the football in Sweden?

    Any Swedes in this community know of the best subscription services for football?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Viaplay good in Finland and i assume you have it there too?

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

        Cheers, yep. ViaPlay seems to work well.

        A shame though as I was really enjoying Amazon’s service (not the punditry so much). Very much like NFL Redzone.

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sky go is working in Ireland.

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      VPN not working?

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

        Cheers!

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

    Cup opponent is a dead team.. still owns DCL lol, hes guaranteed to score a hatty today

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      How many points did they score in gw 16?

  17. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Everton West Ham... I have 4 players from this game but only 1 of them starts in my team

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

    Updated

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Upvoted

  19. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I want to be the very best,
    Like no one ever was.
    To catch them is my real test,
    To train them is my cause!
    I will travel across the land,
    Searching far and wide.
    Each Pokemon to understand
    The power that's inside!
    Pokemon!
    Gotta catch em' all!
    It's you and me,
    I know it's my destiny!
    Pokemon!
    Oh, you're my best friend,
    In a world we must defend!
    Pokemon!
    Gotta catch em' all!
    A heart so true,
    Our courage will pull us through!
    You teach me and I'll teach you,
    Po-ke-mon!
    Gotta catch em' all!
    Gotta catch em' all!

  20. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DATED

  21. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Look on bright side , we can now start our FH GW18

    Only 5 nailed so it’s forced my hand !

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Don't activate it just yet. You never know what can happen in 10 days.

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

      stooooooop!!!!!

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You right,I will wait .depressing when you look at team and your player has a blank underneath it

  22. Phlajo
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Considering saving FH in 18, but this would make me TC in 19, as I'll use FH in next DGW and maybe WC in another

    1. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Reply fail

  23. Bleh
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cup opponent captained Bruno vs my Son cap. Out I go.

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same haha, i'm enjoying this cup this week as i know i'm out soon

      1. Bleh
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Touché!

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

      Cup opponent played WC... Out I go too...

      1. Bleh
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Haha good luck!

  24. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Nice to see my 9 starters ready for GW18

  25. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cup opponent transfered out Balbuena

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      she knows her stuff

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He knew.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He's not on this forum for sure

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 2 months ago

        They knew

    4. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Right place this time..

      If Twatter is to be believed then...

      Tommy Doyle, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Jesus, and Ferran Torres are the 5 that have COVID19 at City.

      Cancelo not one and reportedly trained.

      This probably isn't news but looks like this question keeps popping up.

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Makes sense.

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

        In fairness Tommy and Cancelo are nearly identical and Canceli's often referred to as the continental Tommy Doyle.

      3. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Makes sense as pep said 3 important which were Ederson, Walker and Jesus.

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          You don't think he considers Torres important?

          1. ivantys
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Well, he didn't even start many games unlike the other 3.

      4. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Transferred out Torres, kept Cancelo, and brought in Aguero, so hope you're right, mate.

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

      Updated

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

      Any updates on Mark's team? Does he know anything this week?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He played Pope

      2. Patio Kev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He posted it on Twitter just after deadline.

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

      DCL points prediction?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        2 (owner)

      2. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        9

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

        11

      4. Bleh
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        5 (another owner)

      5. Patio Kev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        13 for his 2 goals and 3 BAPS

      6. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        17