Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 23

The Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 23 begins with a heads-up about Gameweek 24 – the deadline is Tuesday 18:30 GMT – don’t forget to set your team for the first Double Gameweek of the season after this weekend.

However, we have another round of fixtures to consider before then. And plenty of team news, analyses and captaincy decisions to ponder. You’ll even discover why Joe’s transfer plans involve him going “Choudhury deep”. Yes, it does sound very wrong. 

Given Lateriser’s headline success of Vardy to Aguero last week, the Scoutcast trio of Joe, Sam and Lee asked the question: is it time to sell Vardy?

Lee’s concern, as someone who has owned him since early in the season, would be the amount of value lost. Especially if you want to buy him back later on. Joe countered that for him it’s “points not pounds” that count – he doesn’t care about losing value but he does worry about losing points. Leicester face Burnley and West Ham next.

Sam cautioned that given Vardy is likely to be highly captained this week, not owning him could hurt. Indeed, the former England international is currently second in the captain poll. 

Encouragement for handing Vardy the armband was to be found in David’s Captain Sensible article: 

The expected data paints an even more damning picture for Burnley ahead of hosting Vardy, who may feel he has a point to prove after failing to shoot against Southampton. The Clarets’ expected goals conceded (xGC) score from their last four stands at 7.70, the third-worst in the league.

– David

However it’s Kevin De Bruyne who leads the poll and was described as “the safe bet” in the Gameweek 23 Captaincy Video. He is a player who is overperforming – he hasn’t had a big chance since Gameweek 9 but has scored five goals in that time – but as Neale observed

That doesn’t mean [De Bruyne’s] returns are unsustainable, of course. As we have pointed out before, the so-called ‘better’ players tend to … convert a higher proportion of their chances (or have teammates who more reliably convert their key passes).

– Neale

And with so many of his teammates in fine form, assists are perhaps a more likely source of points. Pro Pundit Tom Freeman is leaning towards handing the Belgian the captain’s armband. 

Resurgent Saints

Tom was one of many to talk up Southampton assets this week. David labeled their defence as “FPL-investment-ready” following his in-depth examination of their credentials. Tom agreed, pointing out that their expected goals conceded over the last ten matches is second only to Liverpool. He highlighted goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and defender Jack Stephens as potential bargains.

McCarthy is Andy’s favoured option to replace the stricken Fabianski. The face of Let’s Talk FPL discussed goalkeeper replacements earlier this week. 

And fellow Pro Pundit Zophar drafted in McCarthy as part of a mini-Wildcard (three transfers for the cost of four points). He’s one of two Saints players added to his squad, the other being Danny Ings. Assessing the in-form striker, Zophar enthused:

No forward has scored more goals (five), taken more SiB (19) or landed more shots on target (SoT) (11) than the Englishman over the last five Gameweeks.

– Pro Pundit Zophar

Saints fan Differential (c) brought us his insights into the turnaround in Southampton’s fortunes this season, noting that a settled back four has been a key component of their upturn in form. Once again McCarthy, Stephens, and that man Ings were given special mention. 

For the third transfer of his mini-Wildcard Zophar decided to play “Pep Roulette” in an effort to climb the ranks. 

Riyad Mahrez put pen to paper for the six-time top 5,000 manager. A move Pro Pundit Sam – currently in the top 10,000 – considers fraught with peril. Adding that Man City don’t play Aston Villa every week and a look at this site’s fixture ticker reveals they are bottom over the next ten Gameweeks.

Nonetheless, Zophar feels the Algerian has done enough to become a regular starter and found comfort in the words of Guardiola:

You see his legs it is impossible to be injured because he has no muscles. The final third he has something special, always I have the feeling he can score a goal.

– Pep Guardiola

Mahrez is included in the predicted line-up for the Sky Blues. And the Citizens top the latest DS stats, fixtures and clean sheet odds provided by G-Whizz.

Richarlison and Rashford updates

The surprising news from Friday’s press conferences came from Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti: 

“We are without for this game Richarlison. He had a little problem yesterday in training and will not be available for the game. I hope he will be available on Tuesday. Little problem on his knee, he had a little twist but nothing special. Minor problem but unfortunately will not be available tomorrow. We are without Sigurdsson, he has minor groin issues.”

– Carlo Ancelotti

How their absence will impact Everton’s creativity is anyone’s guess. Of particular interest to fantasy managers is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has taken 14 shots in his last four matches. David wrote of him in Captain Sensible:

Calvert-Lewin is a player who boasts considerably better individual underlying statistics since Gameweek 19 than De Bruyne and Vardy – and faces an opposition whose defence is arguable worse than Crystal Palace or Burnley’s.

– David

Pep Pig backs the 22-year-old to find the back of the net at the London Stadium.

Marcus Rashford was subbed off shortly after coming on in Man United’s FA Cup replay against Wolverhampton Wanderers, giving owners cause for concern. At yesterday’s press conference manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to reassure, stating only that Rashford was receiving “checks and treatment”.

Perhaps the bigger worry for FPL bosses is not the match against leaders Liverpool but rather the midweek game at home to Burnley.

Sam urged us not to ignore teams with only one match in Double Gameweek 24: 

Double Gameweeks are a gift for us FPL managers but my experience of dealing with them is to not let them blindside you into forgetting about the single Gameweek players.

– Sam

In addition to the Clarets trip to Old Trafford, Watford’s fixture against Aston Villa also appeals:

Watford play Aston Villa, who have only won twice in their last nine games. In the reverse fixture, Watford won 3-0.

– Sam

Neale’s Big Numbers article showed us just how good the Hornets have been of late: 

21 chances created by Gerard Deulofeu (£6.1m) and Troy Deeney (£6.2m) combined since Nigel Pearson first took charge of Watford in Gameweek 17. The pair are first and joint-second respectively for key passes among FPL forwards over the last six Gameweeks.

– Neale

Deeney’s leadership since his return from injury an important factor, with Ismaïla Sarr another to thrive under the new manager.

Liverpool and Enablers

Liverpool assets continue to dominate our thoughts ahead of their two fixtures next Gameweek. Reds-fan Lee feels that ignoring the 40%-owned Mané could ruin his season given that many are likely to captain him.

While Joe has devised a plan, which involves switching to a 4-3-3 formation and acquiring the £4.3m-rated Hamza Choudhury, in order to get Mané and play his Triple Captain chip on him. 

We’ve had a couple of articles attempt to map out the Blank and Double Gameweeks later in the season, and devise a chip strategy. Both Neale and Lord – Blaming it on Rio feel that Gameweek 24 could be a good time to use the Triple Captain chip, although it’s difficult to say if a better opportunity won’t present itself further down the line.

Meanwhile, considering her Liverpool trio, Sam feels a more balanced approach is the way to go. For her, the cheaper Firmino and Martial – with his home fixture against Burnley – is a good combination. Against Tottenham last weekend, the Brazillian scored his seventh away league goal of the season (more than Mane and Salah combined) and drew praise from Klopp:

When I went to him and wanted to give him a hug after the game, he wanted to stop and talk first. He said, ‘I know I should have scored more goals’. It was absolutely not what I wanted to say! Yes, a super player, super. I don’t say this for the first time and will hopefully not say it for the last time. Pretty impressive.

– Jurgen Klopp

David added to the growing confidence in Liverpool’s number nine in his members-only assessment: 

Both over the last four matches and his last four away trips especially, the Brazilian has produced some incredibly encouraging underlying statistics.

– David

For those favouring double Liverpool attack, cheap enablers are needed.

Picked out as differential by Joe on the Scoutcast, Tom Freeman in his differentials article, and Andy in the Community Q&A videoLeandro Trossard is tipped to fit the bill. Brighton face Aston Villa next – no team has conceded more goals away than Villa and with Trossard’s next four games all against teams near the bottom of the table, he has the potential to do well. 

Not everyone is set on double attack as Greyhead discovered in his latest look at The Great and The GoodCareer Hall of Fame number one, Sean Tobin, has opted for a defensive double-up in the shape of Robertson and Alexander-Arnold. 

Chelsea’s Big Chance

Two Chelsea players are included in this week’s Scout Picks – Tammy Abraham and Reece James make the cut.

Part of the reason for their inclusion is the strength of the team they are facing:

Newcastle defence that has conceded the second-highest number of big chances over the last four Gameweeks.

– Scout Picks

The importance of looking at Big Chances was highlighted by AK this week, who found them to be the best indicator of goals alongside expected goals.

Good news then for owners of Abraham. Pep Pig felt he was unlucky not to score more than once against Burnley.

To view all our discussions please visit our Hot Topics page, and if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.

If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.

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Community Competitions

For an update on all FFS Mini-Leagues and Community Competitions, please click here to read the latest round-up.

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 23 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

2,577 Comments Post a Comment
  1. YEAH PITCH!
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Chances of these starting

    A) Rico
    B) Aurier

    1. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A)50%
      B)85%

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Team GTG with Traore on the bench?

      1ft 6.6itb
      ryan
      evans TAA dunk lundstram
      maddison KDB(C) mane sarr
      vardy ings

      pope traore connolly rico

  2. MGD
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Vardy a better captaincy option than Kdb now that he plays deep again?

    1. Cruz88
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He didn't play deep last game and got 9 points

      1. Mo Salah No Mane
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        He did play deep last game

        1. MGD
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yup

    2. DontPiqueTooSoon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He played deep and still got 9 points. He is in top form and so are City.

  3. Merlinho
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Pondering a move from Zaha to Doucouré this week to enable Mané move next week, but I’m struggling to see how I’d start Doucouré ahead of Jimenez, Moura or Cantwell.

    Do I go for it and maybe bench him or roll the transfer and do it next week to avoid injury risk?

    1. MGD
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Better to wait

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

      Wait

  4. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Does it look ok?

    Ryan
    Digne Soy Lundstram
    KDB Mane Maddison Grealish
    Rashford Vardy(C)Tammy

    Button Gomez Rico Dendoncker

    1. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Play Gomez

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        For?

  5. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Currently have TAA and Mane, thinking about moves before GW24 to get third Pool, which one sounds best ??

    A) Targett Maddison to Robo Grealish/Doucoure
    B) Targett KDB to Salah Williams
    C) Mahrez Rash to Salah Deeney/DCL
    D) Maddison Rash to Salah DCL
    E) Rash to Firmino

    1. Croaker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

  6. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    3 Blue Wkd

    Vardy Party

  7. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Just seen Brighton's fixtures.

    Greenwood ----> Maupay for free?

    Would mean benching Martial (liv)

  8. SteJ
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    @HOW NOW BROWN COW
    Have you had any visions this week of red cards or the like?

    1. Earn your Spurs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      And who will be the best captain please?

  9. Abaddon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    To mix it up a bit?

    Vardy, jimmy and soy to Kun (c), pukki and Holgate? -4

    Yay or nay

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No

  10. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    For those who use Instagram - mr_fantasyfootball is going live in 20mins on his account- he s pretty good at replying to Fpl questions etc on that. I think he s currently ranked 15K this season and finished 2k last season... so half decent.

  11. Concrete
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Traore to Trossard worth a -4

    Y or N

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No

    2. Croaker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      N

  12. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Done and Dusted I reckon!
    Triple City
    Double City
    Double Soton
    Double Brighton
    ...and a couple of stragglers!
    😉

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      *Triple LIV (whoops)

  13. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A) Start traore (or) sidibe

    B) capt. Vardy mane kdb

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Traore
      KdB

    2. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sidibe Vardy

  14. matiakez
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Worth doing rico to Stephens? Or play lund and save?

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, do it

  15. Steirish
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What's the best brighton defender to get after dunk who's nailed?

    1. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Webster

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

      Webster

  16. liboo
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rashford out and Pukki in for free

    Yay or nay??

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Interesting differential

      I like it

    2. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not bad, but do you have Ings?

    3. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Red arrow incoming....

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

      Good idea he will score

  17. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Team GTG with Traore on the bench?

    1ft 6.6itb
    ryan
    evans TAA dunk lundstram
    maddison KDB(C) mane sarr
    vardy ings

    pope traore connolly rico

    1. Croaker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  18. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Your thoughts on bringing in differential like Lacazette or Pepe?

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Prob too soon for Arsenal

      Laca could work though

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

      Arsenal attack hasn't clicked into gear yet under Arteta. They are good differentials yes but I wouldn't expect more than the odd goal over the next 2 or 3 weeks.

  19. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    G2G
    Pope
    TAA Lundstarm Chilwell
    Salah Grealish Mane KDB(C)
    DCL Ings Jiminez

    Button Dunk Choudhury Kelly

    Cheers

  20. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Start DCL or Cantwell?

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      DCL

    2. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Cant

  21. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would u start sidibe for 1 of those (traore mads dcl) or no?

    1. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes traore

      1. Nightf0x
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Many telling me to bench traore but why?

        1. manu4life99
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I won him but he was a mistake. Scores big vs a big team on odd occasion. Blanks vs smaller teams. I'll be selling next gw

          1. manu4life99
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            *own

  22. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero C ?

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      For sure

    2. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      100%

    3. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      jelaous

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

      Show off 😉

    5. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yaaaaaay

  23. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi guys- little help pls 😉

    Bench 1:
    A)Lundstram (Away to Arsenal)
    B)Soyuncu ( Away to Burnely)
    C) Cantwell ( Home to Bmouth)

    Captain:
    1) Vardy ( Away to Burnely)
    2) KDB ( Home to palace)

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A1

    2. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone pls?

  24. Mo Salah No Mane
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Will Aurier start?

    1. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If he doesn't start does he come off from the bench?

    2. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He will likely start yes

      1. Mo Salah No Mane
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Everything crossed

    3. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Most likely yeah.

    4. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks a lot

  25. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go?

    Ryan (McCarthy)

    TAA Lundy Soyu (Rico Kelly)

    KDB Mane Alli Traore (Dend)

    Abraham Vardy(c) Ings

  26. ChuckN
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    bench 1

    A) Soy
    B) Traore
    C) Lund

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Probably C But I'd be afraid to bench the Lord

    2. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Same issue 🙁 expect Cantwell for Traore...

      Leaning towards Lundy

    3. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B or C. Probably C as they don't score a lot away.

  27. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rashford to Abraham?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Did it last night

      1. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Would be a -4 and leave me with
        Pope
        TAA Lundstarm Gomez
        Salah KDB Martial Moura
        Vardy Ings Abraham

        Cheers

        1. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Wouldn't do it for a hit

    2. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Look at his fixtures after Newcastle. But if you still believe in him, just go for it.

    3. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not sure if I would do for a hit. Depends on your bench.

      1. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        More chance of playing and scoring than Rashford and could easily become Rashford again or help bringing in Mane

  28. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Are we good to go?

    Pope
    TAA Mendy Robbo
    Salah KDB Cantwell Traore
    Vardy(C) Ings Maupay

    Button / Martial / Soyuncu / Lundstram

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yep

  29. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A. Aurier>TAA (1m left)
    B. Rico>TAA (0.4 left)
    C. Save, play Aurier & have 2FTs next week. Plan is to get Robbo, Gomez or Firmino next week.

    McCarthy
    Aurier, Soyu, Lundy
    Salah, Martial, KDB, Maddy
    Vardy, Ings, Jimmy
    Gazza, Rico, Dendo, Kelly

  30. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Cantwell first on bench all primed to come in with a haul after Rashford no show