Planning for The Potential Double Gameweek

Wednesday’s announcement of a potential double Gameweek for Manchester City and Stoke City in Gameweek 27 has tossed the cat among the pigeons for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.

The blanks in Gameweeks 26 and 28 were always going to be an inconvenience, though at least we could anticipate them and prepare in advance. However, the strong possibility of a mini double Gameweek sandwiched between the blanks now ensures that FPL managers are likely to face some tough decisions which could prove pivotal in their seasons.

To recap, there will be a total of either seven or eight blank fixtures in the next three Gameweeks; two this weekend for Gameweek 26, which clashes the EFL Cup Final, and a further five or six in Gameweek 28, which is on the same weekend as the FA Cup Quarter-finals.

The potential sixth blank in Gameweek 28, Manchester City vs Stoke City, will be confirmed if Pep Guardiola’s men defeat Huddersfield Town in their FA Cup Fifth Round replay at the Etihad next Wednesday night.

To avoid a potential backlog of fixtures later in the season, Man City have provisionally rescheduled their match against Stoke to March 8th (which is within Gameweek 27).

If they emerge victorious on Wednesday, Guardiola’s side will play twice in Gameweek 27; away at Sunderland and at home to the Potters. Stoke, meanwhile, would entertain Middlesbrough before their trip to the Etihad.

If Huddersfield defy the odds and knock Man City out of the FA Cup, Man City vs Stoke will remain in Gameweek 28.

Here’s how those blanks and potential double Gameweek fixtures have affected the FPL schedule:

After blanking in Gameweek 26, Manchester City are likely to have a very appealing pair of fixtures in Gameweek 27, followed by another blank and then three successive clashes against top-six rivals.

FPL Managers will surely be tempted to bring in at least one City player if they cement the double Gameweek but may look to immediately offload them due to the forthcoming run of opponents.

If the double Gameweek is confirmed, the next three rounds of fixtures will arguably be the most challenging stretch of the FPL schedule to navigate this season. The moves made to bring in Man City or Stoke players will decrease the number of active players available in the following Gameweek, as both clubs are without a fixture.

Retaining regular starters for the eight teams who are guaranteed to play in Gameweek 28 (BOU, BUR, EVE, HUL, LIV, SWA, WBA and WHM) continues to be a wise decision. If you want to transfer in a player with a double Gameweek, the best option is to sacrifice an asset from the ten other teams who will also blank in Gameweek 28.

Excluding FA Cup ties, in which Guardiola has mainly opted to rest his first team players, Man City have averaged three goals per game since their defeat at Everton last month. In those five matches, their front six has remained fairly settled, with the only rotation coming after Gabriel Jesus fractured his metatarsal. If they get a double Gameweek, we should expect Yaya Touré (7.3), David Silva (8.6), Kevin De Bruyne (10.6), Leroy Sané (7.5), Raheem Sterling (7.8) and Sergio Agüero (12.7) to start both matches, with Guardiola likely to ring the changes again in the FA Cup; City’s potential quarter-final against Middlesbrough would come three days before the second leg of their Champions League clash with Monaco.

All of those six players are capable of producing attacking returns and would, therefore, be worthy of consideration for a double Gameweek against Stoke and Sunderland.

Sterling has been City’s most reliable attacking option recently and perhaps represents the best value for money; he’s scored or assisted in 11 of his last 13 starts in all competitions, racking up four goals and nine assists. Since he secured a regular place in the first XI, Sane has also been fairly consistent with three goals and a trio of assists in his last six starts.

Silva hasn’t lived up to his usual high standards from a Fantasy perspective, with just two goals and five assists in the Premier League this season. De Bruyne is the most expensive City midfielder and, while capable of returning big point hauls, a goal or assist in just four of his last 12 league starts underlines the Belgian’s lack of consistency at a time when Sterling is thriving.

Toure benefits from spot-kick duties but has only managed four goals in 12 league starts and is yet to register an assist.

Sane and Sterling appear sensible, reasonably priced midfield options, then, but the big question is whether it’s worth splashing the cash on Sergio Aguero.

In the seven league matches since returning from suspension, he’s only scored once and has been named on the bench three times. But with Gabriel Jesus sidelined through injury and Kelechi Iheanacho seemingly out of favour, the Argentine’s security of start seems stronger. Unlucky not to be awarded a goal in City’s last Premier League outing against Bournemouth, Aguero’s two goals and assist against Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday certainly makes a convincing case for inclusion. If drafted in, he’s an obvious captaincy pick, and there’ll be plenty of managers who’ll justifiably opt to use their Triple Captain chip on him too – this may even be the optimum time to use it – particularly if you’re saving the Bench Boost chip for the big slate of doubles in Gameweek 37.

The easiest way to acquire Aguero will be to sell one of Harry Kane, Diego Costa or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with all three set to miss Gameweek 28.

Ibrahimovic may be the hardest to part with, given that Manchester United host Bournemouth in Gameweek 27, but ignoring Aguero could cause your rank to plummet if City clinch the double.

Surprisingly, City have kept four consecutive clean sheets away from home in all competitions since shipping four goals at Goodison Park, and they’ll be looking to extend that run when they travel to Sunderland.

Guardiola’s side have not kept a home clean sheet in over two months, and with uncertainty surrounding their defensive set-up, there’s little appeal in investing at the back.

Stoke would host Middlesbrough and then travel to the Etihad if they are afforded a double Gameweek. Boro have scored the third fewest goals away from home in the league this season; so if your team is already well set up for Gameweek 28, you may want to consider adding a member of Stoke’s back five. Goalkeeper, Lee Grant (4.4), is the cheapest option and will provide the added bonus of potential save points away to Man City.

In the event of a double Gameweek, the majority of active FPL managers will take hits in Gameweeks 27 and 28; these could pay off immediately given Man City’s recent goalscoring form.

Indeed, weighing up risks with transfer “hits” looks to be vital over the coming Gameweeks, with City’s potential double Gameweek adding a new complex variable into the mix.