Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for Double Gameweek 19

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Double Gameweek 19 ahead of today’s 11:00 GMT deadline.

The fixture schedule has shifted once again. Like a surreal game of Grandmother’s Footsteps, it’s moved every time you turn to look at it. 

Aston Villa lost and regained their Double Gameweek in a matter of hours, although they now face Newcastle United instead of Everton in addition to Manchester City. But the clever fixture juggling did not extend to Leeds United and Southampton, with their upcoming midweek game postponed to accommodate Southampton’s rescheduled FA Cup tie.

During these testing times, we can expect further changes with little warning.

In a letter sent last week, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters alerted clubs that they should plan for more matches being postponed or rearranged at short notice. And a joint statement from the Premier League, FA and EFL, restated the desire to complete the season in May.

So, who knows what twists and turns await? Could we yet see Leeds vs Southampton rearranged for Gameweek 19?

Shrewsbury, already without their manager Steve Cotterill for Tuesday’s tie, may suffer more ill-effects from coronavirus (COVID-19), or, by some miracle, could the Shrews beat Southampton on Tuesday? However unlikely, Leeds and Southampton would then both have a free weekend slot.

But that might be taking ‘Fantasy’ football a step too far. Sticking with what we know, here’s Legomané’s updated fixture ticker:

‘TBA’ fixtures Possible Gameweek Slots
Aston Villa v Everton24-to-28, 30-to-34, 37
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur 26, 32, 37
Burnley v Fulham24-to-28, 30-to-34, 37
Everton v Manchester City24, 26, 27, 32, 37
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur26, 32, 37
Leeds United v Southampton24-to-28, 30-to-34, 37
Manchester City v Southampton24, 26, 27, 32, 37

Triple Gameweek Scenario

Future Double Gameweeks, and possibly Triple Gameweeks, await Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

The two sides contest the EFL Cup final (coinciding with Gameweek 33), and are both still in the FA Cup and European competitions: should they progress to the latter stages, Spurs will potentially have to squeeze five matches into three available Gameweek slots, and Man City would have to fit five games into five free slots.

So no COVID-19 leeway and additional fixture shenanigans could lie ahead.

To Bench Boost or not to Bench Boost?

After the latest changes, a question facing many managers – and one tackled by our Scoutcast trio of Joe, Seb, and Karam – is now that Leeds and Southampton don’t have two matches in Gameweek 19, is it still worth using the Bench Boost?

The thing is, if you already Wildcarded in Gameweek 16, and you set up your team to Bench Boost, you need something bigger than this to back out from it. Because it’s one of the chips that if you don’t do it now, you will wait for another chance [and] you might have a lot of funds remain on your bench.

– Karam

Leeds-fan Seb added:

Ideally I want to be Bench Boosting all 15 players for double, unless someone crazy has got a great fixture, [but] often they might be more expensive, so typically you’re going to have medium to cheap assets on the bench, that’s the goal … On Leeds, so I think if you’ve been forced into this a little bit and you still want to use that Bench Boost, it’s not terrible. They’re playing Brighton at home … if you’ve got Bamford, Dallas, and Raphina on your bench maybe that is a Bench Boost – Bamford could score three!

However not all managers feel the same. Pro Pundit Az has been reduced to eight Double Gameweek players, scuppering any hopes he had for using the chip.

So, with fixture rescheduling putting any plans I had for a Bench Boost on hold, I am considering which chip I should use if any.

Instead the co-host of FPL BlackBox is contemplating using his Triple Captain. But Manchester United go to Liverpool with Bruno Fernandes (£11.3m) a booking away from a one-match ban, and Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is out of form. Although both sides have favourable second fixtures against Fulham and Burnley respectively.

Buying Manchester City Players

The other challenge facing Az and those like Pro Pundit Darren Wiles, who used their first Wildcard late to set up a Gameweek 19 Bench Boost, is how to accommodate Manchester City players?

The Citizens didn’t feature in Darren’s original plans, given that they had just a single Gameweek before their fixture with Aston Villa was rearranged.

But they’ve since come into form with an eye-catching 3-1 win away to Chelsea, and Pep Guardiola’s side have now kept six clean sheets in their last eight matches, giving them the best defensive record in the league.

Ahead of enticing homes matches against Crystal Palace and West Brom, Jan Sienkiewicz sides with the captain poll in backing De Bruyne with the armband:

De Bruyne is a truly world class player and it should be only a matter of time before he matches his outstanding underlying statistics. With two home games against non-top-six sides, Manchester City should continue their winning run and De Bruyne is expected to be at the heart of the action.

All this leads Darren, in his latest article, to contemplate a minus 12 to bring in Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m), Rúben Dias (£5.8m), John Stones (£5.0m) and Michail Antonio (£6.2m) for Harry Kane (£11.1m), Marcus Rashford (£9.6m), Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.8m) and Fabián Balbuena (£4.4m).

I am not rushing into any decisions but I feel multiple hits could be on the cards in order to get two or three Manchester City players in prior to the Double Gameweek and as part of my long term thinking.

– Darren

But the Live Hall of Fame No 2 remains undecided on whether to use the Bench Boost as it would include players like Che Adams (£6.0m), who is available for selection after recovering from concussion.

Tasty Transfers

In direct contrast to Darren’s multiple hit, Former FPL Champion Simon March used Marshmallows to demonstrate that patience is a virtue.

A graduate in behavioural economics, Simon referred to the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment in which children were given the choice of eating a marshmallow now or instead being given a second marshmallow in 15 minutes.

When they followed up 10 years later, the scientists found that the children who delayed gratification and waited for the second marshmallow, had scored better in their SATs, performed better in school generally and even had healthier BMIs.

Pro Pundit Simon likened this to wise FPL managers who save their chips for later in the season (traditionally the better time to play them), and the benefits of rolling a transfer.

Aside from giving you more flexibility in who you can sign, potentially shifting funds to different areas of your team, it also buys you an extra Gameweek of information and more thinking time.

Fantasy Favourite

A player both Darren and Az are tempted by is Michail Antonio. West Ham enjoy an appealing pair of fixtures in Gameweek 19, at home to Burnley and West Brom, but the question mark, as ever, is over Antonio’s fitness.

Ted Talks FPL offered some encouragement, observing that:

With Haller joining Ajax, West Ham must be confident that 1.9% owned Antonio must be back to full fitness, certainly in the short-term. He looks to be an excellent pick for Double Gameweek 19.

Pro Pundits Tom and Andy agreed, giving the Hammers striker the nod:

Michail Antonio is a bit of a favourite of mine and now he’s fit and got through 90 minutes I can’t leave him out. He’s averaging 0.47xG per 90 minutes so far this season. It’s down on 2019/20, but still excellent given his price. – Andy

I’m also backing Michail Antonio. Though he looks short of match fitness, he needs games, and as West Ham United’s only recognised striker, should see enough minutes across the two fixtures. – Tom

While Big Man Bakar, who was looking dashing in pink on the latest installment of The FPL Wire, reminded us of Antonio’s excellent early season form, despite the tricky start.

But is it too soon to take the plunge?

Team News

Frustratingly, as Colm Hayes noted in his press conference round-up, David Moyes did not provide a specific update on his injury-prone centre-forward, leaving Fantasy bosses wondering what to do.

In other news, Anthony Martial (£8.8m) and Pedro Neto (£6.0m) are doubts after suffering knocks in Gameweek 17. But both may still feature this weekend.

And Joel Matip (£5.4m) could return to Liverpool’s backline depending on how well he does in the next two training sessions.

Finally, new Fantasy Football Scout writer Jamie, ran the rule over Manchester United’s latest signing Amad Diallo and assessed the impact Robert Snodgrass (£5.7m) could make under Sam Allardyce at West Brom.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning rounded-up the latest Community mini-leagues and competitions in a hot topic yesterday.

The January to May League, which started scoring in Gameweek 17, remains open for those who want to track their progress until the end of the season. The code to join is h62bh1. The current leader is Denville Tyrell, who has risen from 29,903rd to 5,121st in the last two Gameweeks.

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 19 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

5,142 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Yuhz89
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    triple captain Mo Salah anyone?

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Tempted but just captaining

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

        Me too wait for spurs DGW to TC Son or Kane ?

        1. Rhodes your boat
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Potentially but hoping salah gets another later in season, paid off last couple of seasons 🙂

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

            So save it and just C HIM for this GW ?

            1. Rhodes your boat
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Yeah I’m just captaining this week

    2. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just cap for me

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

    Any tips fellas? Not sure I trust Mahrez over this gameweek..

    Martinez
    TAA Robbo Cancelo
    Salah KDB Mahrez Soucek Raphina
    Bamford Kane

    Button - Alioski, Kilman, Brewster

    A) Mahrez+Brewster -> Foden Antonio (-4)
    B) Mahrez -> Ziyech
    C) Mahrez+TAA -> Bruno+Mitchell (-4) (play Alioski)
    D) Mahrez+TAA+Brewster -> Vardy+Stones+Burke (-8)
    E) Do nothing

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

      B just

    2. N00B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

    Can’t make it up...

    A) TAA, Sterling, Brewster (will play Dallas then in 4-4-2)
    B) R.James, Soucek, Vardy

    Cheers

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

      B imo

    2. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That’s a different one for sure but I think A

    3. N00B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    4. elwardio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

  4. sentz05
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it worth waiting till 11 to make transfers?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No, not going to get any news before then, wait until half 10 if you like

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

      No, do it now and step away 🙂

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

    Chances of KDB being rested in one of the games this gw?

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      under 5%

    2. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think slim. FA Cup next weekend so should be then

      1. elwardio
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Agree with this, given his importance to team and how tight league table is

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

      Maybe he’ll get less minutes if they are up 2 or more after 60’

  6. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB?

    Martinez
    Robbo Stones Zouma
    Salah Bruno Son Soucek(c)
    Kane Wood Bamford

    Bench: Meslier Dier Raphina Coufal

    1. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      yes

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

      Similar team and I have done

    3. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes BB, nice team

  7. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Gone KDB-less, used FT to do Dallas > Stones. Anything for a hit here? Worth BB that bench or hold on to it for SOU and LEE DGW?

    0FT 0ITB

    Johnstone
    Robertson Justin Coufal Stones
    Bruno Salah Son Soucek
    Vardy Bamford

    McCarthy - Raphinha Lowton Adams

    1. Scooby75
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m KDBless, save BB

      1. Il Capitano
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

  8. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GTG? 50/50 on the TC

    McCarthy
    TAA/Coufal/Targett
    KDB/Salah(c)/Fernandes/Gundogan
    Vardy/Bamford/Wood
    (Forster/Taylor/Riedeweld/Balbuena)

  9. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need to improve BB which one folks?
    A. Son > Mane
    B. Holding > Zouma/Chilwell
    C. ESR > Soucek
    D. B and C (-4)

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

      D with Chilwell could be brilliant

  10. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play holding or strujik

    1. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Holding

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Holding

  11. Mane Mane Mane
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would a -12 be a good idea, swapping Dias to Stones, 4.0gk to Johnstone and Adams to Antonio if I plan on using my bench boost.

    My team would be
    Martinez
    Cancelo Justin Stones Coufal
    Mane Grealish Salah Fernandez Soucek
    Antonio

    BB Johnstone Dallas Bamford Wood

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

      -12 is a lot. Do you think your bench can make up the 12 plus more to make the BB worthwhile?

      1. Mane Mane Mane
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’m undecided I feel as though it will. Dias to stones is a sideways move. However I’m only going to score with having a keeper whos playing as oppose to the 4.0. And I feel Antonio will do better than Adams. What’s your initial thinking worthwhile or not?

  12. AC Me Rollin’
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I can't BB without taking crazy hits so my question is:

    Shall I TC Salah?

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn't.

    2. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, not sure between him and KDB, but it's a great opportunity to TC if you don't BB

      1. AC Me Rollin’
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I didn't hear the press conference, KDB could have limited game time no?

  13. Shaw must go on
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Morning lads

    Can´t make a decision,need some help

    would you change Dcl,Grealish,Lindelof and Son for Antonio,maddison,dias and Kdb,for a -12?? it is a big hit but think can pay off in 2/3 weeks..or i´m just lying to myself??
    or
    Dcl,Lindelof for Antonio and Dias -4??

    thanks you and good luck to everyone!!!

    1. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      Would go for last option but not convinced Antonio plays 2. Probably ends up top scorer of GW lol

    3. Saint Luke
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      This
      Dcl,Lindelof for Antonio and Dias -4??

    4. Shaw must go on
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      cheers for feedback

  14. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez
    Coufal Stones Cancelo
    KDB(c) Bruno Son Soucek
    Bam Vardy Antonio
    Forster Raph Dallas Kilman + 4.1 itb

    Worth a BB with a couple of hits?

    1. Iain Dowies Love Child
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not tempted by Son to Salah or too much invested? I wouldn't BB

      1. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That's a good point. I know I'll want Son back in again. Thanks!

  15. Johnny too hotty
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    After an average FH week last week I was thinking of TC this week as KDB games look spicey. However the thought of ending the ganeweek with 2 chips gone and not having good return scares me

    Sensible maybe to save it ?

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think so, Spurs double.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’m waiting for this tbh. KDB’s explosiveness isn’t consistent enough for mr to TC him.

    2. Iain Dowies Love Child
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I've saved all so far - they'll be plenty of other opportunities imo

  16. Iain Dowies Love Child
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Currently on:
    McCarthy
    Robertson - Stones - Dias
    Salah - KDB - Fernandes - Saka
    Laca - Antonio - Bamford
    (Button - Dier - KWP - Stephens)

    I am 0.1 short of what I want to do but have left it above as an illustration. So one more transfer needed - thinking Dier to Coufal and playing 4-3-3 giving me 8 DGWers
    Or anything else obvious? Don't fancy Watkins.

  17. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will there be a better TC spot?
    I mean if we BB in 26 and FH on 29, what’s left to TC?

    1. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      They'll be loads of little DGWs coming up

    2. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      2 best players in the game with two home games to choose from. Hard to think of a better opportunity if you don't BB

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

    Just realized I sold Dallas instead of Vestergaard for Stones omg looool

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      FH to get him back. Lol.

  19. Austinpowers
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB ???

    My bench Johnstone / zouma / Davis (unlikely to play)/ Justin
    Have Son and Bamford single game weekers in team

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      no. not with Davis.

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

      Quite similar to me, two posts below. I think yes, BB

    3. Carlton P
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

  20. SB007
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GTG? A team of all doubles

    De Gea
    Coufal/TAA/Dias/Stones
    KDB/Mane/Soucek/Fern/
    Vards/Antonio/

  21. Sharkytect
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    This weeks most popular questio must be - should I bench boost? So many of us have planned for this gameweek but now that dgw players only have one match, we're looking at our fairly loaded benches and thinking it's expensive to maintain such a bench for another dgw.

    Here is mine:

    Johnstone, reguilon, Adams, Mitchell.

    I think i will bench boost now just so I can start shifting my funds from my bench into my starting 11. What do you think?

  22. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I’ve heard people say Leicester could have a double in GW21.

    Are they the only team who would?

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Southampton and Leeds fixture may come in somewhere.

  23. Whiskerz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    All set for bb folks?

    Martinez
    Robbo. Stones. Coufal
    Salah(c). Bruno. Son. Soucek. Foden
    Vardy(vc). Antonio

    Mccarthy. Justin. Bamford. Dallas

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm taking hit for McCarthy

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        McCarthy will play so it is only if you want a double...

  24. Carlton P
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to play? Pick two
    Zouma
    Coufal
    Bamford (currently benched but could easily haul)

    1. N00B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      First two because of dgw.

  25. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go?

    McCarthy
    Chilwell Cancelo Coufal
    Salah(vc) KDB(TC) Bruno Foden Soucek
    Vardy Bamford

    Bench: Forster, Dallas, Targett, Davis

    1. FishHead
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  26. h3nh3n
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bamford -> Antonio for -4

    To play Antonio over Maddison?

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

      Nooo

  27. jackoasean
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No city players, madness or genius

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

      Potential to both hurt and benefit.

    2. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah. Definitely not genius so...
      😉

    3. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      madness. x3 city myself.

  28. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Currently on a -4. Do you think it's worth taking a -8 and bench boosting the below?

    Martinez / Wood - Stones - Mitchell

    Thanks

  29. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek or Ogbonna on FH?

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

      Soucek

  30. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any interesting transfer rumours for pl clubs in this January transfer window?

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Villa interested in Brooks from Bournemouth keeps coming up. Not sure how he would fit in

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Josh King another name that pops up.

    2. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Williams to Southampton I am hopeful 😛