Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice to FPL Gameweek 22

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 22 ahead of today’s 16:30 GMT deadline.

The January transfer window has now closed and Neale rounded-up the deadline-day deals including two new centre-halves joining Liverpool, and Takumi Minamino’s (£6.0m) switch to Southampton.

David examined how Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) impacted Ilkay Gündogan (£5.8m) as the German didn’t manage a single shot on target against Sheffield United:

The return of Gabriel Jesus to the Manchester City team appeared to be a negative influence on Gündogan’s goal threat against Sheffield United … with a recognised centre-forward leading the line there were fewer opportunities for the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder to make dangerous runs into exposed pockets of space.

And Pep’s infamous roulette wheel struck again with John Stones (£5.2m) and João Cancelo (£6.0m) left out of the starting XI. David suspects this is just rotation and both players are in Neale’s predicted line-ups for the match against Burnley.

Are Newcastle not the pushovers we hoped they would be?

Last week Pro Pundit Tom thought the writing was on the wall for Newcastle United and suggested we target them when considering which players to buy. But the Magpies took everyone by surprise, including a lacklustre Everton, with a change of tactics.

In his Scout Notes, Colm Hayes included a revealing quote from manager Steve Bruce:

We’ve played a certain way for a long, long time – play a bit deeper, play on the counter attack. That’s something we’ve tried to work on and change. You hope you get a few results from it but that’s the way we want to go about our work. Over the last few weeks in particular we’ve tried to work on getting after the ball, pressing higher up the pitch and being more forward-thinking.

None were more disappointed than Ted, who had talked up the Toffees on the Scoutcast and tripled on Carlo Ancelotti’s side with a minus eight:

[Everton] showed signs of brilliance but the overwhelming thought was they struggled to create clear cut opportunities to score. I am hoping it’s just a matter of time before the key players start gelling again. Everton will need to get their mojo back fast ahead of the midweek clash with Leeds.

New Pro Pundit Seb Wassell will doubtless experience conflicting emotions tomorrow when his favourite football team comes up against his new centre-forward. A 4-3 Leeds win with a Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.6m) hat-trick the perfect result?

The actor and Leeds fan discussed his attempts at “dispassionate objectivity in his first Pro Pundit article. His decision to sell Patrick Bamford (£6.6m) for Calvert-Lewin had an element of overcompensating for a bias towards his own team:

Realistically, I do not believe my error was in interpreting the stats this way or that – plenty of people will have seen those and made their own, well-reasoned decisions – but rather in the fact that I am seemingly still looking for reasons to avoid Leeds, even now.

And Scout Network member El Statto isn’t quite ready to take the plunge on Everton players just yet:

The Toffees’ upcoming games are mixed so I’m not sure I would be rushing to bring in any of their assets. Lucas Digne could be a possible option due to the attacking threat he offers, but with everyone else averaging less than 4.0 points per game I feel there is much better value elsewhere.

Wasting Your Wildcard

David Wardale, the author of Wasting Your Wildcard, provided a typically informative and entertaining FPL round-up of the weekend’s matches. A formation switch for Crystal Palace and another blank for Bruno Fernandes (£11.4m) were discussed, and there was a game of contrasting 45 minutes for West Brom.

Matheus Pereira (£5.6m) was the star but could Mbaye Diagne (£6.0m), who emerged as a second-half sub, kickstart an unlikely revival?

David also reported on a resurgent Mohamed Salah (£12.6m), confirmed that Patrick Bamford might not be this season’s Teemu Pukki afterall, and found that Son Heung-min (£9.7m) struggles without Harry Kane (£11.1m). 

Salah is Jan‘s top pick for the captaincy this week:

With Liverpool’s Egyptian king ramping up back to his best, it is difficult to look past him, especially with increased goal-scoring responsibility if Mané is confirmed out for the visit of Brighton.

The Egyptian is included as part of a strong midfield three alongside Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) and Fernandes in the Scout Picks, with the selection panel hopeful the Portuguese can return to form:

Fernandes has still had the most shots, the most shots on target and has the highest expected goal involvement (xGI) of any midfielder over the last six Gameweeks, suggesting his good form should return soon.

Meanwhile, Marc Jobling reflected on Chelsea’s second match under new head coach Thomas Tuchel. The German is known to dislike his players crossing from wide positions and it was noticeable that the wing-backs, Marcos Alonso (£5.6m) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m), both drove inside towards the penalty area. A role Alonso is well suited to:

It’s the Alonso we remember from the past. His touches were in extraordinarily attacking positions and his 42 in the final third were ahead of everyone on the pitch, except for Mount.

One of Tom’s differentials this week, the Pro Pundit acknowledged the FPL legend comes with a health warning:

A move for Alonso this week does carry risk, knowing that Ben Chilwell is also pushing for a start, but there is a lot of upside too, given the Spaniard’s potential for big hauls. Will he now become first-choice? It’s impossible to say, but if Tuchel does opt to regularly use a back-three system, he’s certainly put forward a strong case.

Considering the competition for left wing-back berth, Antonio Rüdiger (£4.5m) could be a safer – and cheaper – route into the Chelsea backline. Picked out by Tom as one of his three differentials last week, as Marc noted, “the German has taken Zouma’s place in five of the last six matches and seems to be a Tuchel favourite”.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

The latest Community mini-leagues and competitions round-up from RedLightning will be published shortly after the deadline. It will include the winner of the January Manager of the Month award for the Community Members mini-league.

In the Head-to-Head Leagues, the fixtures have been generated for the second half of the season. The main page includes links to each Gameweek and can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 22 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

1,174 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play:

    a) Pope (MCI)
    b) Sanchez (liv)

    Would love to see Pope save a Sterling penalty 😉

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough...gotta be Pope probably cos of home fixture and save points but both will concede

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

        I have a FT but can't see a reasonably priced keeper this GW, on whom I would want to use a transfer

    2. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He’d have to get a penalty on target first mate... 😆

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

        True

  2. All about the galacticos
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one
    A) Cresswell
    B) Digne

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

    Left it a little late, but GTG?

    Martinez
    Cancelo (vc) Stones Justin
    Salah (c) Bruno Son Gundogan
    DCL Bamford Antonio

    Button Raphinha Mitchell Coufal

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

  4. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one:
    A AWB
    B Cresswell
    C Souček

    Play one
    1 DDG
    2 Johnstone

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      AWB

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B1

    3. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C2

    4. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DDG

    5. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B1

  5. Futureform
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any thoughts on Jesus long term game time?

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Only pep knows

    2. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Do not expect top much

    3. Futureform
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pity he's not on here!!

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

    Martinez
    Holding Stones Cancelo
    Salah Son Bruno Foden
    DCL Bamford Antonio

    Steele Soucek Konsa Mitchell

    Foden to Mahrez
    Bench Konsa or holding?

    Cheers

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would definitely do the 1st one if I could afford to

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

        It's either mahrez or gundo was debating Grealish or Zaha but Burnley looked tired last match and City are rested

  7. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain
    Salh or Cancelo

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      (C)ancelo it’s in the name

  8. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    RIP Captain Tom Moore, best side of his nation.

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      RIP Captain Sir Tom Moore

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

      RIP.

  9. h3nh3n
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez (same as 2nd in my ML)
    or
    Johnstone

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Marti

  10. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start one:
    A) Justin
    B) Digne
    C) Coufal

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Digne

    2. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  11. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to play?

    1. Dallas
    2. Stones

    1. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones surely

    2. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones

    3. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones

    4. Pulp Minion
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones

  12. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    QUICK ONE

    DCL to Bamford, yes or no? (for free)

    1. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

  13. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son out Rash in?

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

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

      No because you'll want to do the opposite move next week, surely.

    3. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No, Spurs have multiple doubles coming soon. Keep Son.

  14. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Adams>Bamford for free? (will be starting Adams otherwise)

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Adams to Wilson/Antonio/Watkins since Bamford is a very slight doubt

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

      Yes.
      Bamford should play.

  15. myteamissheeeeeeeet
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chilwell OUT to who please??

    A. Maguire
    B. Dias own Cancelo
    C. TAA
    D. Digne
    E. Cresswell

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones or Dias

    2. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why he has good fixtures

      1. myteamissheeeeeeeet
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He's useless and lost his place!

        1. Maeki2
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You clearly dont watch football XD

          1. myteamissheeeeeeeet
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            You dreaming! Deluded Chelsea fan or what?

      2. OneTreeTwoStars
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Did you not see the Alonso goal??

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

    Fabianski,

    Cancelo, Dias, Shaw

    Sterling, Bruno, Son, Raphina,

    Bamford, Werner, Adams

    (Soucek, Justin, Coufal)

    2FT's

    A) Werner & Adams > DCL, Wilson
    B) Werner > DCL , Roll FT

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B, but with Antonio instead of DCL

  17. FPL Alaska
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start one:

    A) Soucek
    B) Dallas

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas

    2. RubeRx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A easy

      see my comment history

  18. DRAXLER1105
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench between Watkins, Barnes , DCL, Bamford this week

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Watkkns

  19. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Justin or Holding? Start one

    1. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Justin

  20. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is there a 4.3m defender worth owning?

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Owning maybe, playing no

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

    I hope all the players are wearing black armbands tonight. RIP Sir Captain Tom Moore.

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

      Absolutely. Legend is often overused. But he certainly is one.

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

    Foden owners play, bench or get rid?

    1. CC22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The question I’m asking myself! I can easily see him being rested, but I can’t bring myself to sell because he could play and explode - same issue with him every gameweek. Barnes is tempting though!

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

      Took Zaha for Foden...Next season Foden will be better asset, this one no...

    3. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Was debating selling him for Zaha, Grealish or Rashford, went for the safer shield option at the end. He's not starting this GW

  23. DavidSilva
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2 FT

    Watkins Kilman IN
    Rodrigo Coufal OUT

    Johnstone
    TAA Dias Stones
    Son Grealish Salah(C) Bruno
    Watkins Antonio Bamford

    McCarthy Soucek Justin Kilman

    Yes or No

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No - just the Watkins move if you can afford

      1. DavidSilva
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I can't :'(

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You need 2 playing keepers? Presumably you have your WC so ditch one of them for now

          1. DavidSilva
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            oooo good point

  24. gomez123
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A)Dallas or B)Justin

  25. nadman89
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    decided to bench son. crazy season . GOOD LUCK TO ALL

  26. Tomas_brolin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Need to upgrade Kilman

    Do we know who else has a double in 24 besides City and Everton?

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

      Leicster?

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why? Kilman is playing with Saiss and Marcal out

  27. swil1008
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo, Robertson, Justin
    Salah(C), Bruno, Foden, Soucek
    Watkins, Antonio, Bamford

    McCarthy
    Son
    Coufal
    Mitchell

    Any changes here? or GTG?

    Foden to Grealish?
    Foden to Gundo?
    Foden to Barnes?

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      gtg

  28. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start ?

    A Watkins
    B Bamford

    1. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. RubeRx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        thanks

  29. R Whites
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bencing headache. Who to bench?

    Watkins, Son, Antonio, Gundogan

    1. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wat

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

    RIP Captain Sir Tom Moore.

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Oh no , but yes RIP Soldier