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. De Gea is GOAT
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who to captain guys? Thanks a lot.

    A) Vardy
    B) Sterling
    C) KDB
    D) Ings

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

      Sterling

    2. kraftwerker
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      b

    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy or KDB

      My issue is which one between those 2 myself lol

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

      C

    5. De Gea is GOAT
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I also think Sterling (c) will kill it. Thanks guys

  2. kraftwerker
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What would you do to enable Salah for the double?

    a) Downgrade Martial (to Trossard most likely) now, hold on to Rashford in the hope he's fit for Burnley (h)
    b) Downgrade Rashford (to Maupay most likely) now, keep Martial for Burnley (h)

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      b

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

      B

  3. Openboxman
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed

    Zaha > Villa Mid next week for a 1 week punt on DbGW

    Henderson
    TAA - Sidibe - Soy - Lord Lund
    Mane - Salah (c) - Doucoure
    Ings - Abraham - Vardy

    Button - Rico - Zaha - Richarlson

    G2G

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Just do now and play over Lund

      1. Openboxman
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        cost me a -4 though

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Oh don't bother then

  4. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Do you think is it worth having both Mane and Salah in a long term? 12.3 or 12.4 is quite a lot for a player you're not going to captain...

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

      Probably depends on the look of the rest of the team but on the plus side you can enjoy Pool games in more peace

      1. FPL Emu
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I never enjoy pool games in peace

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

      Yes. Fixtures are amazing and double GW upcoming.

    3. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes for the DGW

      No for the following weeks

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    When we will know about the blanks? Before which GW deadline?

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

      hopefully before GW25 (GW28 blanks)

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks mate

  6. Squeakybum99
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Maupay (C) let's Go

  7. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Start which 1?

    A) Kiko (Tot H)

    B) Lunds (Ars A)

    C) Taylor (Lei H)

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

      1. FPL Emu
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Agreed

    2. Pique and De Bruyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah B

  8. Pique and De Bruyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Morning all, team selection, captain and bench order look about right for this week?

    Ryan
    TAA / Sidibe / Dunk
    Mane / KDB (vc) / Mahrez / Cantwell
    Aguero (c) / Vardy / Ings

    Foster / Traore / Lund / Williams

  9. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is this worth a hit, y'all?

    Kolasinac -》 TAA

    If Kola plays, it's grand. If not, I'll have Lundstram. If he is benched, I will play with 2 defs.

    Will get TAA next week anyway

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah I would

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No, just wait and pray

      1. FPL Emu
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, leaning towards that. The tipping point being I'm a United fan. Have tried to avoid players playing us, but impossible now with all the injuries

  10. fridge
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    GTG here? 1FT & 2.7m ITB
    Was planning Aurier > Robbo but think will wait for next week

    Ryan
    TAA. Soyuncu. Aurier
    Salah. KDB. Maddison. Martial. Traore
    Vardy (c) Ings
    Button. Lundstram. Greenwood. Kelly

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Do now

      1. fridge
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I'm tempted to save to take stock of whether Robbo or Mane is best for DGW?

        1. Fitzy.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          What are you going to learn from one game that you don't already know?

          1. Dont give a fuchs
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Maybe injury to anyone only

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

      Yeah do it now or downgrade Traore to Cantwell

  11. Tubayyeb
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Help... Start Lunsdtram or Aurier???

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

      Id prob go Aurier

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Same here

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

      Lord

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

    Is Trossard worth a punt in his price range?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

    2. Pique and De Bruyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely imo.

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

      Prefer El Ghazi

  13. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Captain...

    A - Vardy
    B - Mane
    C - KDB

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

      C

    3. Pique and De Bruyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

  14. YouReds
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which do you prefer?

    A) Aguero, Maddison, Grealish, Gomez
    B) Ings, Mane, Mahrez, Williams

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      A

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

      B

  15. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    G2G?

    Ryan
    TAA, Soy, Lund
    Salah, KDB, Son, Grealish
    Vardy, Abraham, Jimenez
    Button l Dendoncker, Kelly, Simpson

    -4 next week to get a third Liverpool in and I still don’t know which one to get!

  16. mucka
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench 1

    A) Cantwell
    B) Maupay
    C) Grealish

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

    2. aborg
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maupay is a sure starter these two weeks. Don’t know why you even considering benching today !

  17. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Henderson Button
    TAA Chilwell Lundstram Lowton Kelly
    Mane KDB Maddison Traore Cantwell
    Vardy Rashford Abraham

    Chilwell + Traore + Rashford --> VVD + Mahrez + Maupay for - 8pts

    YAY or NAY?

    1. boroie
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No, that team does not need a -8! Rashford for Firmino if you’ve 0.4 in the bank and then leave

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

    A. Grealish or b. lucas moura for next few games? TIA

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

      Moura for fun

      Grealish will probably get more points

      1. aborg
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        This

  19. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Whom to captain?

    A) KDB
    B) Vardy
    C) Mane
    D) Salah

    Currently on A. Thanks in advance

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

      I keep swapping between A & B myself....

      all great C options really!

    2. Pique and De Bruyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I’d go with A but it’s a tough choice.

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

    Which 1 of them to play?
    A) Söy BUR(A)
    B) Holgate WHU(A)
    C) Martial LIV(A)
    D) Cantwell BOU(H)

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      D surely

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

      *facepalm*

      Cantwell

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      D. Then ACB sub order

  21. Crunchie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    My current WC team

    McCarthy
    Taa, Digne, Lunds, Tanganga, Williams
    Salah, KDB, Son, Trossard, Fleck
    Vardy, DCL, Pukki (to Firmino (Free next week)

    Any good.

    The old team had Fabs, Zaha, Alli, Rico Kelly, (Grealish and Jimi) not too bad, but was dropping like a stone to 500k

    Don't, like doing it this early needs much, and being 500k, wanted something different.

    Any good?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Very good and I love the Pukki idea.

      I'd possibly downgrade Digne and upgrade Tanganga so you defo have playing defence each week.

      1. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks, Trossard and Digne are 3-4 week punts too, will go back to Roberson and Ings after GW 25, worried he might be dropped today or GW24.

  22. Benditlike
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who to play?

    A) Cantwell:
    - Better fixture
    - Gut feeling

    B) DCL:
    - Better team
    - Better underlying stats

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

      B, could be on pens?

  23. Riggs
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who to benched?
    A) DCL
    B) Cantwell
    C) Maddison

    1. boroie
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      DCL

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

  24. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    When does AFCON start?

    Anyone know?

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

      Next year

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

      In the summer Usually isn’t it but there isn’t one in 2020, next in 2021 and they are moving it back to January which will be a disaster for Liverpool.

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Ah ok

        Thanks for info

  25. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Will rash start? I am benching him though

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

      doubt it myself

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

    Assuming Trossard is a must play who to bench?

    A Grealish
    B Cantwell

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

  27. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench 2 (1 has to be a midfielder)...

    A - Lundstram
    B - Aurier
    C - Soyuncu
    D - Gomez
    E - Martial
    F - Cantwell

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      EB

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

      EB

      I would even transfer Martial out if you think Rashford is out for the week. Think they will go for the FA Cup this year

  28. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ffs, cant decide whether to do Martial > Mahrez for only 1 gw.

    A: Martial + save FT and do Martial > Mane in gw24
    B: Martial > Mahrez and do Mahrez > Mane in gw24

    Will 2FTs be more helpful? Will Mahrez even start for sure?

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If he starts he may get a goal or two. Trust your gut on that one.

  29. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    So Rashford -> Maupay with a view for Alli .-> Mane next week looks good? Don't really want to get rid of Rashford but looks like a have no choice hah

  30. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Start DCL or Grealish guys ?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      GREA

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

      I like DCL this week