Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice to FPL Gameweek 21

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 21 ahead of today’s 11:00 GMT deadline.

The headlines in this edition: Everton are discussed as key players return and the fixtures improve, Chelsea’s new manager Thomas Tuchel is put under the spotlight, Manchester City continue to excel, and Raphinha (£5.4m) stars for Leeds United with Patrick Bamford (£6.7m) in a slump.

Elsewhere, Pro Pundit Tom is excited about Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) as he looks to target an easy run for Crystal Palace and a match against Newcastle United in particular. While Az suggests taking more risks with our armband choices – but does Captain Sensible writer Jan agree?

Couldn’t score for Toffees

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.6m) started the season in sensational form bagging 10 goals in the opening nine Gameweeks, but the Everton No 9 has since endured a barren spell, last scoring in Gameweek 11. 

However, with an appealing set of fixtures and key players returning, Joe asked the Scoutcast panel – can good fixtures breed good form?

For Ted the answer is an emphatic yes. The visual stats creator revealed that he has taken a minus eight to triple up on Carlo Ancelotti’s men:

What I really like about Everton is that you‘ve also got Lucas Digne as a ‘world class’ left-back, he’s just a sensational crosser of the ball, and you’ve got James Rodriguez on that other side, a perfect marriage of creativity on either flank. Dominic Calvert-Lewin just needs to get some form going, because he’s without a goal in seven matches, he’s underperforming his stats, and once he starts scoring in the league – he got one in the cup – if he starts scoring in the league I think he could really start firing with the fixtures.

In fact, Lucas Digne (£6.0m) played out-of-position on the left of midfield against Leicester City, further enhancing his prospects of attacking returns. 

Everton average positions vs Leicester City (FFS Match Data)

And with Abdoulaye Doucouré (£5.2m) returning from suspension to add thrust in midfield, could Everton be on the brink of a purple patch?

Ted is not the only one adding a Toffee to his selection with Az eyeing-up Digne and Calvert-Lewin.

Owners of Harry Kane (£11.2m) have an easy route to the Everton target man after the Tottenham Hotspur striker was ruled out by Jose Mourinho.

Bamford’s Pukki Moment

Another way to free up a slot in our forward lines is to sell Patrick Bamford, whose recent downturn in performance makes him a prime candidate for the chop. 

Joe described it as a ‘Pukki Moment’, which is defined as “a highly-owned-once-high-performing player, who you can hop-off for a player that you are assuming will be the next big thing.

Against Newcastle United, the Leeds striker managed just one attempt, an off-target header, and three penalty area touches. Instead it was left to Raphinha to write the headlines, the Brazilian now has three goals and as many assists from a season in which he only started his first match in Gameweek 10.

But questions are being asked about Bielsa’s side, who suffered recent defeats to Spurs and Brighton before the narrow win over the Magpies. 

The convenient narrative is that they are knackered, Bielsa is like this harsh taskmaster and these poor Leeds guys are all sitting in the Victorian orphanage, all like “oh I can’t move any more” – and I just don’t buy that myself because these are fit blokes.

– Joe

But how do we explain the recent performances – have they been found out?

I think these players are at the maximum level of their ability and they are, on average, Championship players.

– Seb

Speaking on the Scoutcast, Leeds fan Seb gave an insightful explanation about the problems his beloved team encountered against Newcastle, before outlining what needs to change:

The solution for us is a new left-back and a new centre-mid but until that happens if teams continue to put pressure on us in the right places, which is the midfield and not centre-back … and force us into pressing high up the field and then out-numbering us with quality one-on-one players … teams can beat us.

Not a particularly optimistic outlook.

Chelsea’s New Tuch 

However, things are decidedly more upbeat in affluent West London with the arrival of head coach Thomas Tuchel. His appointment has got Fantasy managers wondering which Chelsea players will thrive under his stewardship.

Jamie highlighted a possession style of football and a preference for a narrow 4-2-2-2 formation, as well as an impressive number of goals per game achieved at previous clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

It’s worth noting that Tuchel tends to use high possession as a means of defending rather than attacking. And Tom included cut-price centre-back Antonio Rüdiger (£4.5m) in his trio of differentials for Gameweek 21, the 27-year-old could prove to be a budget route into the Blues backline.

Tuchel’s teams also favour shot quality over shot quantity. Consequently they can be a little boring to watch, as the goalless draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers illustrated.

And there will be question marks over several players including Reece James (£5.1m), who may find himself marginalised under a manager whose previous teams have produced a very low number of crosses.

Instead, Kai Havertz (£8.2m) could become a key figure for Chelsea, thanks to his ability to get the ball into the penalty box from central areas. Pro Pundit Lateriser noted the German playing closer to goal in Tuchel’s first match.

Target Teams Playing Newcastle

Tom signed midfielder Wilfried Zaha ahead of Gameweek 20 and is another looking to incorporate Calvert-Lewin. 

Part of his thinking behind those moves is a good run of immediate fixtures for both sides, especially upcoming matches against Newcastle. The Aston Villa fan noted:

Towards the end of Steve Bruce’s reign at Aston Villa, they were lacking any kind of structure with the same approach in every game, and there are a lot of similarities at Newcastle now.

– Tom

Az is even considering handing Calvert-Lewin the armband for Everton’s home encounter with Newcastle. Reflecting on a failed captaincy pick, the co-host of FPL Black Box wondered if we should start taking risks:

The logic of Fernandes was completely sound of course, but there is huge potential to get ahead if you can get the captaincy call right. The captaincy allows us to roll the dice for one week and if we want to elevate our seasons to the next level, getting on the right end of some of these calls could be a great way to rise up the ranks.

However Jan is not ready to trust Calvert-Lewin with the armband just yet:

Over the last six matches, only three teams have registered fewer goal attempts than Carlo Ancelotti’s men. While Everton are expected to win this match, it is probably a step too far to trust any of their attacking assets with an armband, especially as Newcastle and Steve Bruce will be “fighting for their lives”.

Instead, the double-points maestro turns to Pep Guardiola’s troops for his preferred armband picks.

Manchester City’s impressive form continued with lkay Gündogan (£5.8m) and João Cancelo (£6.0m) thriving against West Brom as Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) posted impressive stats and Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) put pressure on John Stones (£5.2m).

And, courtesy of G-Whizz, the clean sheet odds favour returns at both ends of the pitch, with City most likely to record a shutout (61 per cent) and Sheffield United least likely (nine per cent).

Sterling, Gündogan, and Cancelo all have their merits. But if you are struggling to decide between them, or suffering from ‘decision fatigue’, Seb has some advice:

There are too many variables to consider them all, you’ve got to make a decision that you can explain and then be happy with, and move on.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning rounded-up the latest Community mini-leagues and competitions

The FFScout Community Members mini-league remains the Best League in FPL just ahead of Andy‘s youtube channel with the open-to-all league in fifth.

In the Head-to-Head Leagues, the fixtures have been generated for the second half of the season. The main page includes links for each Gameweek, while the fixtures for Gameweek 21 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

3,029 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Final dilemma

    Martinez
    Robertson Stones Cancelo
    Salah Fernandes Gundogan Soucek Raphinha
    DCL Bamford

    Forster Coufal Brewster Ferguson

    0 FT, 8.9 itb

    1. Good to go, hold
    2. Raphinha >> Son (-4)

    Thanks

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

      Hold!

  2. Dosh
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain DCL or Digne?

    1. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ballsy. Go Digne mate.

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

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

      Digne

  3. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Keep James or get Cancelo for a hit? Holding comes in if James doesn't play again

    1. The Frenchie
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cancelo

  4. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one:
    a) Konsa
    b) Alioski

  5. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can we take anything out of the home game that Spurs played against Brighton, they lost 2-1 with Kane playing and Son blanking.

    We think Son will get points now that he is away against them without Kane too ?!?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They won 2-1, Kane scored?

  6. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start

    A) Johnstone
    B) Mccarthy

    Start

    1) Soucek
    2) Bam

    1. Connor's Calling
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A
      1

  7. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one:

    Raphinha
    Soucek
    Bamford

    Thank you!!

    1. Cristi@no R7
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    2. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm currently benching Soucek of the three but don't feel great about it

      1. Goooo Rickie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I have benched him for a few of his hauls. Got rid for Barnes this week, hoping I don't regret it.

  8. Viper
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Raphinha or Justin?.

    1. Connor's Calling
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Prob Justin

  9. Fodderx4
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Digne or Trent? already fot Robbo, Mo and DCL.

  10. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you bring Digne or Chilwell for -4 and then bench Cresswell?

    Cresswell against Liverpool shouldn't do more then 2 points as Chilwell and Digne could have a clean sheet and some offensive points.. Am I Wrong?

    1. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thats what i did

      1. The Frenchie
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Digne or Chilwell?

  11. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which is the best 5 players, if you could only pick 5?

    Salah, Bruno, Gundogan, Son, Sterling , Grealish, Antonio, Barnes, Saka

    1. The Frenchie
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah / Bruno / Son / Grealish / Maddison

    2. ritzyd
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah bruno son sterling grealish

  12. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Bamford or Adams?

    Play McCarthy or Johnstone?

  13. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Play DDG
    B) Play Martinez

  14. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just spotted that the guy with the most valuable team has a really respectable rank under 400k - just 39 transfers made. Well played that man.

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

      Who cares about most valueable team? Go invest in some stocks and make real money.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who cares about fantasy football? Go practice football outside and become a professional

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

          Almost 8million people. Try again.

  15. bitars
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    SOUCEK to Gundogan or Grealish for a hit?

    1. Kingtekkerz
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, gundo

  16. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Right to start Mitchell (WOL) over Coufal (LIV)? Bookies have Palace CS @ 7/4 and West Ham @ 5/1.

    Cheers

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think they'll both concede. I'm playing Cresswell over Mitchell for the attacking potential.

  17. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah C it is. Only player playing tomorrow so it would be a long day without some false hope

    1. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Love it

  18. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed
    Play 1
    A- Klich
    B- Saiss
    C- Mitchell

    1. Cristi@no R7
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mitch

  19. Cristi@no R7
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick 1
    A. Bamford
    B. Maddison

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maddison

  20. the_duke
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one

    A) Raphinia
    B) Bamford

    1. Cristi@no R7
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  21. balint84
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Reid or Mitchell?

    1. Cristi@no R7
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mitch

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Reid

  22. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Soucek to Son -4?

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

      No

    2. bitars
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yes

  23. FourLokoLeipzig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to start, Lowton or Coufal? Thanks!

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal for better assist potential

  24. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Trying to decide between Salah, Gundogan and Son to captain.

    One of the trickiest captaincy calls I’ve had.

    On Gundo (c) Salah (vc) at the moment but had it on Salah for a while before...

    So indecisive!

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stick with Gundogan

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks, think I will!

    2. The Reptile
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I've got all of those AND Sterling so really torn= on Gundo - too late now so leaving it...

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks. I left it on Gundo!

  25. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dallas -> Cancelo worth -4 or play Justin and bench Dallas?

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Decent fixture for Justin, play him

      1. Hansel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  26. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to captain
    Martinez
    Konsa Stones Cancelo
    Salah Son Bruno Foden
    DCL Bamford Antonio

    Steele Soucek Mitchell Holding

  27. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chose 2 to Bench
    A. Justin
    B. Soucek
    C. Bamford
    D. Mitchell

    1. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C. D

  28. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any obvious changes here?

    Martinez
    Justin-Cancelo-Dier
    Maddison-Salah-Bruno-Gundo (C)-Sterling
    DCL-Watkins

    Bench: Forster, Antonio, Coufal, Strujk

  29. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    First to 3

    Play:
    A) Soucek
    B) Bamford

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  30. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Last minute C change to Barnes 🙂

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      From?

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Barnes himself 🙂

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Good move I recon

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Like that

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son or Salah, just fancy a red hot differential in form

    5. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      same

    6. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      STOP!! DONT!!!

    7. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Az hyped him up

    8. Wet Knee Houston
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm on him as well. Even less votes in the captain poll than an injured player lol, this should be fun.