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. jaywills
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A Balbuena, Rafinha, Regulon out -> Stones, Lowton, Foden In (-8)
    B) Balbuena, Rafinha, Kane out -> Craig Dawson, KDB, Brewster (-8)

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

      If you son then B

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

      If you have Son then B

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

      I much prefer A out of those.

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

    Right, I'm going Button to Mendy, Taylor to Justin, Walker-Peters to Stones and Calvert-Lewin to Antonio for a minus twelve to give me a bench boost of:

    Mendy, McCarthy
    Justin, Stones, Dias (v), Chilwell, Cresswell
    Salah (c), Son, Bruno, Soucek, Raphinha
    Antonio, Bamford, Firmino

    Any last comments? If not, see you all on the other side!

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

      I actually think it makes a lot of sense. Go for it!

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

        Yeah, I figured two, and possibly three, of them won't even play so it's worth it.

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bol, but don't you think -12 kind of negates the bench boost points? You could save and execute at a better team position.

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

        Got to be aggressive with these gameweeks in my opinion. I'm replacing two players who won't play, possibly three.

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

        Ah sh*t, now I’m looking at it I think you’ve talked me out of it.

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Wasn't my aim. I agree with the aggressive stance, but I'm looking at it as many battles to be fought and won. I dislike the BB chip and am only -4 off, but reckon there's a better opportunity ahead with WC and FH. Your circumstance may be different. Go with your gut I say

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

    No BB for me. Should I pull the trigger on any of these?

    A) TC KDB
    B) TC Salah
    C) Zouma -> Stones (-4)

    Thinking to pass on all.

    Cheers!

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

      That's a hold for me.

    2. random53124
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C is the closest for me, but I’d rather take a hit for an attacking wing back imo. I personally feel Stones as a relatively low point ceiling

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

    Should I take -8 to buy foden in place of grealish as no City attackers ? And triple up On Salah ??

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

      I probably wouldnt on either of those 2

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

    Hey Guys!

    McCarthy Johnstone
    Dallas Justin Robbo Cancelo KWP
    Zaha Salah Bruno Soucek Raphinha
    Bamford Adams Kane

    1 FT & 0.2 ITB

    A) Kane + Zaha —> Antonio + KDB

    B) Kane + Zaha + KWP —> Antonio + KDB + Coufal

    Need to fit KDB in and hoping to have a balanced squad until GW25 WC.

  6. youzef
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Taking out Zaha, Wood, C Taylor

    A) Ziyech, Coufal, Antonio (-8)
    B) Foden, Chillwell, Antonio (-8)
    C) Ziyech and Creswell and play wood (-4)
    D) Foden and Dias (triple city got Cancelo ) and play wood (-4)

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

      Going to leave me as the only Wood owner!

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

        Hahaha I guess I'll go for C and cross my fingers for a wood goal/Assist contribution

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

    Triple captain salah?

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

      I'm not doing it!

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

      I really want to but the prospect of triple gameweek for city and Spurs stopped me from pulling the trigger...just

      1. vityovics
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Triple GW??

        1. mrelpea
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah it’s a possibility because of league cup final. Depends on progress in Europe, but possible:

          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.

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

    martinez

    AWB - cancelo - saiss - cresswell
    salah - bruno - grealish - son
    kane - bamford

    sub: leno - holding - ESR - brewster

    0.2 itb, 1 FT, no bench boost

    A. saiss --> stones
    B. saiss --> coufal
    C. GTG?
    D. any other suggestion? thanks

  9. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martial+Son > Antonio+Salah for -8
    Debruyne (TC)
    yay or nay

  10. Red Red Robins
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bruno or KDB for captain?
    Pep said KDB was exhausted and that to me says he wont play both
    Bruno will youd think

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

      Bruno is on 4 yellows though. Only need a heated derby.. against Liverpool. On away day.

      1. Red Red Robins
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Wow, good shout - thank you!!!

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

      Kind of like when he said Cancelo was exhausted before last game? I have decided to not listen to Pep and captain KDB.

      1. Red Red Robins
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Just changed to KDB - doing BB so over thinking captain

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

    Bench boost this, just realised Forster is playing:

    Forster - Raphina - Dallas - Adams

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

      Are you sure about Foster?

    2. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Who told you Forster is starting?

    3. Johnny 8
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thought Mcarthy was back?

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

      Highly doubt Forster plays

    5. Salah_Fingers
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ah fs didn't realise Mccarthy was back, I'm sure I saw a post saying he wasn't

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

        Thanks guys, will save the BB

  12. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you bench boost the following:

    McCarthy Dallas Raphinha Adams

    Thanks

  13. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thought on Martial & Son ➡ Antonio & Mané?

    I could really try my luck with some differentials. It's pointless season anyway.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just Martial>Cavani?

  14. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Someone talk me out of Bruno cap, I have Salah as well thats the only other option unless I go wild Cavani cap

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

      Got any City defence? I think they're a good solid option.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cancello but im not that wild today 😛

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

          Ah, go on! 😆

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

        Captain Cancelo lol

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

      He's on 4 yellows so if he gets booked v pool misses the next game lol k wouldn't risk it

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

      One YC from a single gameweek

    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The yellow card thing is a solid argument tbh, and the Pool game is first which could be scrappy :/

  15. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) BB on Mccarthy, Adams, Dallas, Targett (-4)
    B) No

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

      A

  16. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dallas -> Chilwell worth a -4

    Yay or Nay?

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

      I'd say no. Fancy Leeds to batter bha

  17. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    TC Salah it is! Let's go 😀

    1. mrelpea
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      GL! Very tempting to do it. I was going to but the prospect of triple GW for city and Spurs just about stopped me

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

        Is that a thing, surely unlikely to materialize

        1. mrelpea
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          It’s a possibility because of league cup final and depends on both progressing in Europe :

          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.

    2. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very tempted by this!

  18. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dier>Stones for a -4 ?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Should pay for itself

  19. Chief Break-Everything
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wasnt planning to.. but would you BB this lot?

    Martinez, Dallas, Adams, Mitchell

    Thx

    1. UpTheCherries
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      mitchell is probably a 1 pointer but rest could score well

      1. Chief Break-Everything
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks fellas. Good luck!

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

    More hits taken than all of Ryan giggs exes this morning.

  21. UpTheCherries
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Grealish+Son -> Salah+Soucek -8
    Grealish -> Soucek -4

    Save

  22. LordEllison
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What should i do thanks
    A) Play Raphinha
    B) KWP > Cancelo/ Stones for a -4
    Thsnks

  23. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son & Maddison > Lookman & KDB (tc) ?

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

      No

  24. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will Martial play?

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

    Ok can I get some last comments on my KDB-less team?

    Martinez
    Coufal / Chilwell / Cancelo
    Salah (c) / Son / Bruno / Foden
    Kane / Bamford

    Bench: Foster, Dier, Bissouma, Douglas

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

      DFS have a sale on

  26. Release The Ox
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Last min advice needed. Start Wood or Bamford??

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

      Bamford

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

      Same dilemma. I’m going to go Wood for the double

    3. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Bamford imo

    4. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez*
      Dias* Coufal* Holding
      KdB* Bruno* Grealish* Son Raphinha
      Kane Antonio*

      Would you add Raph to either -4?

      A) Maddison
      B) Foden

      I’m tempted by B.

    5. zotter
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bench boost is a very overrated chip imo. A good headline score is 15-20 points however firstly you usually directly take a hit to set it up. Secondly you usually make inferior transfers around that time in setting it up too (or After) .... which probably bite into that upside.

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

        I agree. And everyone using it this week with players on single games. Surely you have a bench of single players every week? I will try and use it on another double week

    6. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wood & Son to Werner & Foden for -4? Sounds good?

    7. Laurel and Vardy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Have only 7 doubles, would you do Son+Kane+Laca -> Salah+Vardy+Antonio? Thank you.

      1. Laurel and Vardy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        -8 hit

        1. UpTheCherries
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Can you do just son + laca to Salah + antonio -4