Gameweek Guide

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for Triple Gameweek 35

Gameweek 35 of the 2020/21 season will be etched in our memories forevermore – the Fantasy Gods have thrust a mythical Triple Gameweek upon us.

The Premier League’s most successful side, Manchester United, will be playing three times. But the burning question is, with the Red Devils cramming their three fixtures into five days:

Do you let this Treble – which probably will be a Double for most of the players – completely destroy your plans and blinker you to the potential of the Double Gameweek players?

– Mark, FPL BlackBox

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool and Southampton all play twice. 

We have a Friday deadline of 18:30 BST to finalise our teams.

The Fixture Ticker

Here’s how the schedule currently looks

Notice that four teams blank in Gameweek 36, including Man United, while five teams play twice in this round of fixtures and also have a match next Gameweek: Liverpool, Southampton, Everton, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa – could these be the sides to target for those without a Free Hit chip or Wildcard?

Recovery times between matches is likely to have a big say in team selection, and arguably performance too. In the past, Pro Pundit Zophar has noted the impact on injuries:

Recent research has shown that muscle injury risk increases by almost 20% when recovery time is reduced from six to three days. It concluded that fixture congestion and insufficient recovery time between matches are two of the major risk factors associated with injuries and suggested that players should have at least 96 hours between matches in order to recover fully. Beyond the 96-hour period, there were no significant gains observed.

– Zophar

With a day’s rest between each of their three fixtures, caution is advised with Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s troops.

Although, as Neale observed, is the silver-lining of playing three matches in a week that there’s a greater chance of two or more starts for most of United’s key players, even allowing for a benching along the way?

Andy certainly thinks so:

It’s unlikely any of them play three times, the only thing I would say is you kind of guarantee two games for most of the main players whereas … Jota for example or or even Mané potentially – and I know not everyone’s really got him in their team right now but some people might be thinking about it – I don’t think anyone will guarantee two games for them whereas Bruno, Luke Shaw they’ll definitely play twice.

The other question to consider is how good are the fixtures for the 13-time Premier League champions?

And given their current position in the table, when they arguably only need three more points to secure Champions League football, how can we expect them to approach their fixture triplet? 

They have, on the whole, been cautious when facing the ‘big six’ teams and Leicester City. Since the 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford to Tottenham Hotspur in early October, they’ve failed to score in six of their nine matches against this elite opposition (Man United’s score first):

  • 0-0 Gameweek 6 v Chelsea (H)
  • 0-1 Gameweek 7 v Arsenal (H)
  • 0-0 Gameweek 12 v Man City (H)
  • 2-2 Gameweek 15 v Leicester (A)
  • 0-0 Gameweek 19 v Liverpool (A)
  • 0-0 Gameweek 21 v Arsenal (A)
  • 0-0 Gameweek 26 v Chelsea (A)
  • 2-0 Gameweek 27 v Man City (A)
  • 3-1 Gameweek 31 v Spurs (A)

Fantasy Football Scout founder Mark declared yesterday on FPL BlackBox:

I’m quite happy having no Bruno.

– Mark, FPL BlackBox

He outlined his reasons across a couple of videos:

Do you United need to risk it? They don’t need to beat Leicester and Liverpool do they? And they probably think they can get something out of Villa with a weakened team … Both Leicester and Liverpool need to get results, so they’re going to be tough games, I think … Even if physically some of the [Man United] players won’t have played three games in five days mentally, as a team, they’ve got to prepare for three games in five days. That’s going to take its toll.

In recent weeks we’d analysed a slump for Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m), and even questioned if he was a viable premium for our FPL squads.

But his underlying stats have improved, as Jan highlighted in his Captain Sensible article:

The Portuguese international has dominated underlying statistics among midfielders in recent weeks. No midfielder has registered a higher figure for expected Goal Involvement (xGI) over the last six matches.

Tom Freeman picked up on the stat, explaining that his expected goal involvement (xGI) delta stands at -1.73 over the last six Gameweeks – no midfielder has underachieved more in front of goal during that time.

For Jan, there’s only one captain option:

Even in the scenario where Fernandes only starts in two of those three games, he is comfortably the most likely player from Manchester United to provide big returns in Triple Gameweek 34 according to his underlying statistics.

– Jan

And, despite having some reservations, Zophar feels that the first Triple Gameweek since 2005/06 is an opportunity that should not be passed up:

In five years’ time, I don’t want to be saying that I had only two players when Manchester United had a Triple Gameweek, irrespective of the outcome.

– Zophar

Harry Maguire (£5.5m) is widely considered to be the most-nailed of all United players, having failed to miss a single minute of Premier League football since moving to United at the start of 2019/20. 

However, that run is likely to come to an end:

But there have been encouraging quotes from Bruno Fernandes, even if he’s unlikely to play all three, his words give hope to his backers:

Advantage Liverpool and Leicester

Given the rotation we expect for Man United, could the real winners be Liverpool and Leicester?

Unlike many of the teams around them in the Premier League table, Liverpool have neither FA Cup, Europa League or Champions League involvement as a sideshow distraction. The sole focus is on securing a top-four finish in the Premier League, which would likely reduce the risk of rotation from now until Gameweek 38.

– Neale

The risk with Liverpool’s attacking quartet is that, following a very open game against Newcastle, Klopp may be unwilling to start all four again. So we could see Diogo Jota (£7.0m), Mohamed Salah (£12.7m), Roberto Firmimo (£9.0m) and Sadio Mané (£11.7m) eat into each other’s game-time during the run-in.

Perhaps Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.6m) could be a safer option, David even mooted him as an option for the armband on the Captaincy Video:

The assist potential of Alexander-Arnold was very high, so in the last six matches he’s created 16 chances … but also the quality of it as well, so he’s created four big chances.

Finally, Everton were tipped by Lateriser in his latest column piece:

I looked into the numbers and 46% of the big chances that they have created this season have fallen to him. Despite their perceived lack of form, only five teams have created more big chances than Everton in the last six matches (2.33 per game). It is also worth noting that Everton’s next four opponents conceded 2.45 big chances per game on average in their last six matches, which bodes well for Calvert-Lewin. He could have easily had a brace against Aston Villa in Gameweek 34, as well.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

Elsewhere, Neale previewed finals of both the FFS Open Cup and FFS Members Cup, and RedLightning brought us his regular update on the community competitions.

The Head-to-Head fixtures for Gameweek 35 can be found below. 

The scores and tables update every night on the Head-to-Head Leagues main page so you can keep track of the action as the Gameweek unfolds. 

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

1,069 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Hitthewall
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Last Calle

    A) Mendy + Vydra -> Pickford + DCL (-4)
    B) Vydra -> Watkins

    No playing GK in 36 as og now.

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A with Guita?

  2. Viper
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Start Holding or Lingard?

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lingard

    2. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Holding

  3. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    zaha tripe c?

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If you're chasing big or just want to be a maverick yes

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        ok I do it

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

      Yeah if you're ranked 1m+ and don't mind finishing 2m ...

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        1 or 2 million doesnt matter tbh but your a mediocre player

        1. FPL_Motty
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Ooh big boy. But it's not a serious question is it? I get not capping bruno but surely Zaha who's an injury doubt, only 2 games, and palace have no form. Doesnt make alot of sense

    3. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes stripe Captain go with captain poll

  4. Wılly
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    1. Keep Lucas Moura vs Leeds
    2. Bring in JWP vs Liverpool, Crystal Palace (-4)

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

      2 for me - not sure if Moura gets his starting place back.

  5. F_Ivanovic
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    United defenders are a trap other than Shaw. Nobody is going to play all 3 games and the fixtures are tough

  6. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is Mitchell gonna play both games?

    1. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Doubt it

  7. Henning
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Repost

    Gtg or anything worth a hit (on -4 )?

    Mendy
    TAA Azpi Holding
    Salah Fernandes Jota Lingard Greenwood
    Kane Iheanacho

    Forster. Wood Dallas Coady

  8. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sod it.

    Greenwood captain.

    I'm locked in.

    GL ALL

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      GL mate

  9. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is cooper on Leeds nailed? He’s missed a lot of games recently

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He gets injured every week

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        If he doesn’t get injured is he? Just need him for 36. The last 3 were for a red card I just remembered

        1. Thomas Magnum
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I believe so, he's the team C

  10. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who is better pick:

    1. Lindelof
    2. Kabak
    3. Phillips

    ?

    1. # Young Gun SEAMUS #
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      1

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      You've ranked them. All will play 2 games, just hope if you go 1 then he doesn't get rested when they keep a CS

    3. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      3

  11. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Good moves for a minus 4?

    Out: Son + Vydra + Rudiger

    In: Bruno + DCL + Phillips

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not bad

  12. nadman89
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    is mitchell nailed?

    1. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No

  13. dubtom
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Worth -4 to get let's say Zaha for Pereira or DCL for Welbeck?

    My BB team: Martinez Guaita, Coufal TAA Shaw Diaz Phillips, Pereira Greenwood Maddison Jota Lingard, Welbeck Iheanacho Kane

  14. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Shaw or Maguire guys ?

    1. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Shaw all the way, rested last night, often on BPS, assists galore

    2. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Shaw

    3. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maguire doesn’t need to be rested. He’s also more likely to play in 38 if you need him

  15. SalahFingers
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    on WC...

    Castagne or Digne?

    Ignoring that digne plays next week.

    1. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Castagne

      1. SalahFingers
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        thanks

    2. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Cast

      1. SalahFingers
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        thanks

  16. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Repost sorry

    Play one please:
    1)Holding
    2)Coady
    3)Bowen

    1. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bowen

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Holding

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

      Bowen, just...Holding over Coady.

    4. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bowen

  17. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone else with 25 fixtures in their team this week? Feels good.

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Feels good until I see live fpl averages.

    2. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      26

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

        with cap 28

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      30 on BB

  18. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Guys must nailed Everton defender besides Digne?

    1. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Coleman

      1. FPL_Motty
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Nah it really isn't. Keane or godfrey

        1. Balls of Steel
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Ya thought this also

  19. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Don’t just ask questions you f%%kwits, answer other people’s questions too.

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      This, lots of Q's not many A's

  20. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Any further hits required for this bb team?

    Mendy, forster
    Digne, taa, maguire, shaw, cast
    Lingard, madds, salah, bruno, jota
    Dcl, watkins, nacho

    Tia

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Obviously not

      1. Luton_Fan
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Was thinking madds to zaha.

  21. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bench one of Antonio, KDB and Joel Ward (2 fixtures)???

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ward

  22. BurnMyBread
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Martinelli or Zaha?

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha

  23. Mr Bird
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sod it I’m going Salah cap. Chasing in my mini league and can’t see Fernandes playing 4 games in 7 days anyway.

  24. Bruno Commando
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone captaining Salah over Bruno? I'm feeling uneasy but I don't think Bruno will start in all 3 games..

    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      o/

    2. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I’ve gone without Bruno altogether. C Iheanacho

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        You are a brave man, my friend!

    3. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Greenwood C, gotta chase them differential points :s

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Good luck mate!

    4. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Seen quite a few boasting it up on twitter.

      Not sure I believe half of them.

    5. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Agree Salah good shout but THW's are ultra rare and it's a game so why not go with a TGW player.

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        True that, I'm really pulling my hair out here!

    6. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Just made the switch from Mo to Nacho - rate them both above Bruno this week. It's a DGW all round in all likelihood and the other two have one really plum one at home.

      Going with form - both individual and team

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Nice one, my friend! Good luck! I guess I will stick with Mo and hope for the best =)

    7. Mr Bird
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      See above

  25. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    A) Kane & Son
    B) DCL & Son (-4)
    C) Kane & Zaha (-4)
    D) Kane & Maddison (-4)

    Important H2H this GW!

    Cheers.

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      C

  26. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Zaha or Siggy?

    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sig

    2. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha if 100% fit, Siggy if not

    3. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Z

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha

    5. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers all! 🙂

  27. Catalan Rangers
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Henderson (MU keeper) gonna play 3 matches?

    1. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maybe

    2. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      At least 2, maby 3

    4. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Doubtful. No one really knows

  28. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Start forster or mendy ?

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Mendy

  29. Heisenberg W. W.
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Final Team

    Martinez
    TAA - Holding - Rudiger - Shaw
    Salah - Bruno (C) - Lingard - Son
    Kane - Ihenacho

    (Forster- Vydra - Coufal - Gundo )

    Good luck everyone!

  30. revelc
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Triple Captain Bruno?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sure! A triple on a triple GW’er, what’s not to like 🙂