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. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    chances of Creswell playing both games?

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

      High

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

      Almost certain

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

      Good, had a rest in the cup I believe

    4. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      cheers all

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

    Rodrigo -> Antonio -4

    Would make it a -8 overall

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

      That’s close, I think I just might as if Antonio plays both he should cover that

  3. Pringle
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What do you prefer?

    A. Antonio + Pieters
    B. Watkins + C. Dawson.

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

      A

  4. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB this for a -4?

    Johnstone Bamford Raphinha Alioski

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

      Yes.

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

      50/50, probably would so I can free up money for the weeks ahead

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

      50-50. I might bb that but skip bb on my Mccarthy Dallas Raphinha Adams.

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

    Best backup defender to buy:

    A) Bertrand
    B) Fofana
    C) Bailly

    (FanTeam Wildcard)

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

      What's your WC team in FanTeam Camzy if I may know? What formation are you going with? I qas thinking about 4-5-1 but I still don't know what the optimal team structure is in that game. Seems to me that expensive forwards are not a very good value

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

        3-5-2.

        Forwards are rubbish in FanTeam. But you still need two because having two non-playing players on your bench is a no-go for this season. 4.5-4.0 defenders actually can score points whereas at FWD, there is nobody at all until Rodrigo at 5.8m.

        Mids are where all the points are so you have to play 5 in midfield.

        It has to be a 3-5-2.

        I made my FanTeam squad fairly similar to FPL although I'm currently running some variations of forwards with Rashford, Firmino, Antonio, Cavani, Vardy all making it in. Firmino is slept on in FanTeam because of the 'impact' points. If he's on the winning team (often) he gets 1 extra point. He's also 8.6m which is much more friendly as a price.

  6. Sean
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do we really think Cancelo plays both games!

    1. Sean
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That was meant to be a ?

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

    3. Demba Demba
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Only Pep has the answer but I see rotation with City

    4. Part-time Scout
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias better option

  7. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which ?

    A) neto -4 to gundogan/foden/ghazi/traore/soucek
    (Have antonio but no city or villa cover)
    B) do A) + saka out -8 & bench bamford
    C) do A) + sais -8 to coufal

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

    Dier to Cresswell worth a hit?

    Dont want dias as i already have stones and dont like taking hits for defents with limited attacking threat

    1. Vlekz
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cancelo? If not I guess it's break even. Can't go wrong either way

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

        Nice move imo

    2. Vlekz
        3 years, 2 months ago

        REALLY STUCK

        Already on a -4.
        A)laca to Antonio (-4)
        B)dier to Robertson (-4)
        C)both for a total -12 for the week
        D) none of the above

        1. The-Red-1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          If any, B is a better long term plan

      • Luggy10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Final decision for BB....
        Kane & Brewster to...
        Antonio & A. Firmino or B. Werner.
        ???

        1. Vlekz
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Rather punt on werner than firmino

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

            Not gunna lie I don’t like either of those can you play 4-5-1 or 4-4-2? Use that money in mid?

            1. Luggy10
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Was just wanting to get a sure starter doubler in place of Brewster. Other midfielders have got doubles anyway.

        2. Babit1967
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          You would think I would learn, every time I tc in January it fails, but here we go again KDB Tc, risky but exciting all the same

          Good luck all

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

          Any Salah triple captains out there? If not why not?

          1. Hits from the Bong
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Thinking about it, not sure there will be a better opportunity, on top of a good BB week

          2. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Don’t have and poor recent form

          3. Sean
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            3 blanks in a row I’d guess, likely I’ll still captain him

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

          I don’t really want to lose Son for KDB. Is Foden or Gundo enough cover? Or should I just give in and do Son to KDB?

          1. Here's Tom with the We…
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I got Foden. I really didn’t want to lose Son.

          2. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Cavaleiro

          3. Johan Queef
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I'm considering the same. I want KDB and Foden probably doesn't cover, but is Son out worth it? I'm not sure.

          4. #Swish41
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Same boat, I’m just doing Foden

          5. Vlekz
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Kdb is a hedge against all the captain kdbs out there. You probably can't cover it. If son to kdb is free I would probably do it. If not both are fine

              1. Owenuk
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Would you do the -4 for robo to stone and son to KDB?

                Mcarthy
                Robertson. Justin. Cancelo
                Salah. Bruno. Son. Soucek
                Vardy. Bamford. Adams

                Walker peters. Mitchell. 4.5

                If in doubt don’t probably but KDB missing scares me

            • Owenuk
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Same boat and would have to take a -4 to boot.

          6. Salarrivederci
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Who is on Pens for Fulham?
            Caveleiro or Lookman?

            1. Johan Queef
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Cav

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

              Cav

          7. ZeBestee
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Since I have anyway been doing sh*t so far this season, I think I will use the TC on Cresswell. GL all

            1. Pukki Party
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Good call, hope he gets a few crosses to Soucek goal

          8. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            If i don't expect Watkins to get over 4 points against ManCity, it's not worth it to do Adams to Watkins for a hit right?

            1. Do I Not Like Orange
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Depends how much you expect him to get vs Newcastle.

              1. Pukki Party
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                I guess that's a better fixture than Adams vs Leicester. Too risky? Rarely take hits.

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

            Bench boost ???

            Meslier- Holding - Dier - Bamford

          10. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Morning all, is the DGW in 26 likely to be bigger or smaller than this DGW?

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Yes

            2. Long ago I drew a walrus
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Likely a little bit smaller and also likely to not feature particularly good fixtures from what I've read. There's a very good post on reddit about this

            3. Vlekz
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Nobody knows that. But it will be compareable hopefully

                1. Big boy Bowen
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 2 months ago

                  Thanks all

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

              Salah:
              A) (TC)
              B) just (C)
              ..?

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

                Its on TC at the moment based on Salah rest, pens, hunger v United, ‘due’, Burnley usually poor v bigger boys, rest between matches, no CL distraction and that he is one of the most consistent in the game.

                Could get injured in the first minute and plenty of anti Mo reasons are plausable but its the nature of the chip.

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

                B

            5. Razor425
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Some points predictions please:

              1. C Taylor
              2. Dias
              3. Cancelo
              4. Bamford

              1. Long ago I drew a walrus
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                1
                12
                7
                2

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

                4
                12
                16
                6

              3. Part-time Scout
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                1
                15
                8
                6

              4. Here's Tom with the We…
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                3
                9
                11
                8

              5. Razor425
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Thanks all, confirmed my thoughts of Alioski > Dias/ Cancelo being worth a hit and then benching C Taylor in the process

            6. lordkippe
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Dier > Cresswell worth a hit ?

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

              BB these fellas?

              McCarthy - Lowton Raphinha Adams

              1. kennethrhcp
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Does mccarthy go straight back in?

            8. LanMi
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Should I:

              a) Bowen to Souček, Son to KDB

              b) Bowen to Souček, Salah to KDB

              c) Bowen to Souček, Mitchell to Stones

              d) 1+4

              e) 2+4

            9. lfcserg
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Any other WCers who went Mane ahead of Salah?

            10. #Swish41
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              What does the number next to my username mean lol?

              1. kennethrhcp
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Years here... you musta left and returned on same email?

                1. #Swish41
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 2 months ago

                  Ah right, thank you! Sadly I’ve been a regular, just never noticed before! Cheers

                  1. kennethrhcp
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    3 years, 2 months ago

                    Oops... I dont recognize the name. We might be on a dif times

            11. hazza44
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Soucek or Foden?!

              1. kennethrhcp
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Do you currently own 1?
                Is it a hit?

            12. Pompel
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Dawson (West Ham) likely to play both dgw games? Consider getting him for a hit

              1. kennethrhcp
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Looks like it's his spot now

                Own coufal? Money issue I'd guess

              2. Jet5605
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Yes as Balbuena is self isolating. Only risk is Diop but Moyes doesn't seem to fancy him

              3. Pompel
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Txs, will consider Holding-> Dawson for a hit then. Its DGW after all!

            13. Bobadoba
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Robertson or Stones?

              Have Cancelo

            14. Baines on Toast...
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/16/football-index-clients-money-could-be-trapped-after-drop-in-players-share-price

              A series of share-price crashes and rule changes on the betting site Football Index has led to increasing concerns that its clients now have millions of pounds in stakes trapped in the platform which has no protection if the firm ceases trading.

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

              Is Vardy fully fit? Thanks.

              1. Pukki Party
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Yes