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. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Worth getting in Kun or Mahrez?

    1. Orion
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      sure

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

        Which one? Are they both near nailed?

  2. mash
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which one to bench out of:

    A) Soyuncu
    B) Lundstram

    Currently benching A. Good luck all!

    1. Ejaaz11
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I would bench b

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

      play both

  3. Ejaaz11
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any changes to this team?

    Reina
    TAA Dunk Gomez
    Alli sterling Kdb Grealish noble
    Ings aguero(c)

    Williams tanganga greenwood

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

    On a wildcard. Thoughts on Mahrez this week, straight swap to Mane next week? Have Salah and TAA

    1. YuvalFPL
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      looks good.

    2. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      That's what I am planning.

      So good move!

    3. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I would just take Mane this week so I could save a transfer

  5. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A or B please?
    A) Son + Muapay/DCL
    B) Grealish + Rashford

    1. Orion
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A with Maupay

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

      A

  6. Fishy
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go?
    schmeichel 
    Taa sidibe dunk
    Sarr kdb salah grealish 
    Vardy ings dcl
    Bench martial lundstram Kelly.

  7. fantasywizard
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play Lundstram or Holgate?
    Thanks!

  8. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you rather have as a starting FW for GW24 onwards (occasionally rotating with Cantwell)?

    A) Calvert-Lewin
    B) Maupay
    C) Ayew

    1. Andre_The_Giant
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

  9. Andre_The_Giant
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Lads who should I start:

    A) DCL

    B) Cantwell

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

      A

    2. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Cantwell

    3. Better Call Raul
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I've gone Cantwell

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

    Jimmy > Ings?

  11. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    GTG?

    Ryan
    Lundy Soy TAA
    Salah KDB(vc) Grealish Mahrez Traore
    Pukki Vardy(c)

    Button Greenwood Rico Kelly

    I have 3.9itb and planning to upgrade

    Mahrez > Mane
    or
    Rico > Robbo

    next week

    Cheers

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

    Which do you prefer?
    Chasing by 50 points in my 2 MLs...

    A) Aguero (c), Maddison, Grealish, Gomez (2 liv def)
    B) Ings, Mane, Mahrez, Wilson (2 liv mid)

    1. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

    Would you start Grealish or Cantwell?

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

      Toddy boy

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

      I start Cant

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

    Play Cantwell or Traore?

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

      Cantwell

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

    Horrible question but I don't ask many:

    A) O'Connell (ars)
    B) Fernandez (CHE)
    C) Take a -4 for Webster (AVL)

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

      A, no Bameyang

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

      A

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

    Any early team news???

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

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

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

    Foster / Traore / Lund / Williams

    Thoughts please.

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

      Risky. He must be due a benching.

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

        Wrong reply.

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

          Ok never mind, any thoughts on my lot?

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

        Aguero?

  18. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is it okay for me to captain Mahrez over KDB or Vardy? Got a feeling..

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

      Go with your gut

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

      Mahrez must be due a benching.

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

      Yes

  19. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Start Hanley over Lundstram?

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'm not. Neither option looks great.

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        True..but I kinda have too start one with Richarlison being out..

  20. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mahrez or sterling to replace rich??

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

      Im keeping, Newcastle home next and rested

    2. Orion
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez currently

  21. Jinkys Oars
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Captain...
    A. KDB
    B. Salah
    C. Mane
    D. TAA

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

      A as you already have Liverpool covered

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

      A

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

    Start 1...

    A - Cantwell
    B - Lundstram
    C - Martial

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

      Same dilemma for me.

  23. Tronity
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Do I play:

    a) Lundstram or
    B) Hanley

    1) Martial or
    2) Alli

  24. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else benching salah mane?

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

      Not if they know what they are doing

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

        This.

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

        I'm in a phase. I feel bored and reckless

    2. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      wtf

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

      Yes and Aguero

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

      Boom did it

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

        Not without a link you didn't

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

          Why would I lie ._.

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

            It's not like I'm a professional fpl player. I just do it for fun

  25. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    No FT.
    Chose 1 to bench
    A. Rico
    B. Lund
    C. Aurier.

    Or would you take a -4 hit to ditch Rico or Aurier..?

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

    Sidibe or traore starts?

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

    Last roll on the dice

    Bench Lundstram or Martial?

    Captain Salah or KDB?

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

      Martial
      Kdb

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

    Captain of Scout picks or captain poll more reliable?

  29. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one:

    Maddison (bur)
    Grealish (bri)
    Cantwell (BOU)

    Thanks!

    1. northernmuppet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Probably Cantwell but that’s tough

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

      Grealish

  30. northernmuppet
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Start martial or Maupay?

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

      Maupay....