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. Chrisitis
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1. Holding 2. Dier
    Correct bench order?

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

      Sorry top post

    2. Rog.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Difficult one to call. I’d say probably yes.

  2. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Read a couple of articles that say Charlie Taylor is still a major doubt. Worth a hit to replace if you're planning on bench boosting? Who d'you reckon up to 5.1? Already have Mendy and Chilwell so not sure I want to go Reece James. Already got Stones too.

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

      I moved Taylor out to coufal for -4

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sorry, should have said I've already got three West Ham.

    2. Heisenberg W. W.
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Coufal

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Already tripled up with West Ham. Should have mentioned that.

        1. Heisenberg W. W.
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Justin, Konsa, Targett

          1. Cilly Bonnolly
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Cheers mate.

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

      I've just taken a hit to swap for stones. Taylor will get one game max and it'll be away to Liverpool

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

        So maybe coufal or someone. Defo worth it

        1. Cilly Bonnolly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Haha. He seems to be the popular choice. Unfortunately I'm at my limit for West Ham players.

    4. real ale madrid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones

  3. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    TC kdb? Have all chips left
    BB in 26

    1. mcsteely
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m in exactly the same position. I’m leaning towards TC.

      What other good TC chances will there be?

      1. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Exactly, there'll be more rotation latter on in the season

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

    Bench boost team looking like this. Haven’t done the second keeper transfer yet.
    Which one?

    A) Johnstone
    B) Areola

    Martinez - Forster
    Stones - Cancelo - Justin - Coufal - Dallas
    KDB (c) - Salah - Bruno - Grealish - Barnes
    Antonio - Watkins - Bamford

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

      A

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

      Better to stick your bench at the bottom so people can assess if it's worth the chip or not

      1. ball c
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Bench:

        Areola - Stones - Dallas - Bamford

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

          Yeah I'd BB but probably with Johnstone as Areola has MANU and Chelsea.

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

    Worth -8 this?

    Kane McCarthy Dier OUT

    Vardy Cresswell Mendy IN..

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No. Kane and Dier have a great fixture.

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

      Yea, have some fun, it’s a dgw!

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

    Take a -12 and BB ? Y or N
    Leno dier dalas saka bamford son only single gw

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

      I’m in the same boat and thinking yes

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

        Im leaning to no actually

      2. ball c
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’ve done just that.
        I have only 2 players (Dallas and Bamford) who have a single game week

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

          Exactly the same for me too, same players as well.

    2. real ale madrid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      12 points hard to make up, it requires all 3 players performing, would you want the 3 replacements after the DGW?
      For me its a no

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

    So tempted to KDB (TC) but didn't Palace get a 1-0 win at the Etihad last season?

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m so so tempted too!

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

      Yes, or the season before that. People overlooking this and the Villa game, which has many variables

      1) still possibility of getting cancelled
      2) Villa are playing well this season, have had a rest and could come out flying at City
      3) the flip side of 2 is that they are feeling sh1t post covid and get hammered

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

        Yeah the risk of cancellation is there and would be a blow. Maybe better to save TC until after this lockdown is over and less chance of cancellations.

  8. Rog.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Shaw nailed for the two fixtures?

  9. Riders of Yohan
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed:

    TC KDB?

    A) Yes
    B) No

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

      YOLO

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

    Anii you one got an Apple Watch .... wondering best app for footy score update

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

    Soucek or Foden? Thanks

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

      Foden if budget allows

  12. AandyzZ
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thinking of TC Sterling, am I mad?

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      Not mad

    3. abdulbagirov
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      yes

    4. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think he will play palace, not many others would

    5. Indio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not mad at all, but it's very high risk. I always prefer a more solid candidate for that chip, not that it's always worked out!

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

        I’m catching big time so I’m thinking why not haha

        1. Indio
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          ha ha yep - good luck mate, whatever you decide on

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

      Risky but could be a great differential

    7. mcsteely
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn’t do this. Sterling isn’t first choice atm it seems

    8. Rog.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’d play it safe, Sterling is a differential anyway.

  13. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best GK for the double up to 5.1?

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

      Other than Martinez

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I've gone Mendy.

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Johnstone or Fab

    3. Rog.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mendy for me

  14. Indio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GTG, and am I right to hold the BB?

    Martinez
    Chilwell, Robbo, Cancelo, Coufal,
    Salah (c), Bruno, Soucek, KDB (v),
    Bamford, Antonio

    Bench: Forster, Raphinha, Adams, KWP

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Lot of money on your bench. If you still have a WC then hold

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

      Yes. I’m holding with Shaw Bamford and Mitchell on the bench

      1. Indio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks for feedback.

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

      Got budget to upgrade Forster? I would be tempted to bb, will take weeks to downgrade

      1. Indio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        thanks, good point - have budget but already on -4; annoying it feels so 50/50!

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

    Is Robo a good pick on wild card?

    Seems a bit pricey.

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hmm Liverpool aren’t keeping the clean sheets at the moment for his price tag personally

  16. Kabayan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1. Would you BB this : Martinez + Wood + Saka + Holding?
    2. Saka to Lookman worth -4? (If i can get Salah instead of Mane)

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

    BB active. Team set up:

    Fabianski
    Stones Cancelo Maguire AWB Cresswell
    KDB(c) Bruno Son Soucek
    Kane

    Areola Bamford Rodrigo Saka

    Going without Salah could end in tears but I’m going to stick with my plan. GL all!

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

    Thought long and hard but I’m gonna take the plunge. -12 hit to use my bench boost.

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

      Who’s on your bench.

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

        Johnstone Dallas Wood bamford.

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

          I’ve transferred, 4.0 gk for Johnstone, Dias to stones, Bissouma to Soucek, and Adams to Antonio.

  19. giroudsgirlfriend
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Worth transferring Tierney out?

    My backline: Cancelo, Dias, Dallas, TIERNEY, Kilman..

    Considering:

    A: Coufal

    B: Castagne

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

      A

  20. Hitthewall
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    McCarthy -> Fabianski for -4?

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not worth the hit, didn’t fabianski have an injury not long ago?

  21. Vpan
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you transfer

    Tierney -> City Def for a hit

    if you had Targett for cover?

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

      yes

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

    Raphinha to Foden worth it for -4?

  23. fpl_austria
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Final decision:

    Cancelo or TAA (C)?

    KDB/Salah too boring at 1.4m OR 😀

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

      Cancelo out of those! And GL it’s not an outrageous punt lol he could do very well

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

        thx!

  24. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    really tempted to take Bruno out for Sterling , latter very much overlooked.
    Bruno 4 YC is making me nervous and i believe Sterling can match him over the next 4 games.

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

      Then go for it. High risk, but potentially a very high reward.

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

      If Bruno gets a yello in the pool game I’m going to be pissed haha but again if he doesn’t he’s a much better option against Fulham than Sterling against anyone so far this season

  25. Arctic monkeys
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Alioski or Dier to Coufal ?

  26. McPollolocco
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If I set the bench boost and if I have someone in the starting eleven who is not playing, will he be put on the bench?

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If you're playing benchboost why does it matter?

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

      What?

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

      Maybe once all the scores have been calculated, but no difference obviously for the final score

  27. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you bench boost this?

    Steer, Som, Bamford, Mitchell

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

    Coufal likely to start both games?

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very

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

      Yup

  29. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Worth bench boosting with:
    Darlow, Bamford, Dallas, Smith-Rowe

    ?

  30. Bishopool
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Saka to Soucek?

    No Liverpool players..

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes