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. TSN
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    AWB to stones for a hit? yes or no?

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

      i have cancelo

    2. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn’t

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

      no

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

      No

    5. HuthTheMagicDragon
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      AWB has good fixtures coming up

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

      No

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

    Should i triple captain salah, or wait for a triple gameweek for tottenham(son or kane)

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

      wait

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

    Antonio too punty at this stage?...

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

      No.

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

    Wilson to ? for a hit.
    Got 3.0 ITB.

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

      Why not keep?

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

        Not doing much, and 3.0 sitting doing nothing as well.

    2. Mike2795647
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No, if he was playing once then yes but double wee, for him so should get at least something. Newcastle are bad but he’s due a goal

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

        Cheers!

  5. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pages flying, trying again.

    On FH, anything to change the MIDs?

    Salah - KDB - Bruno - Ziyech

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

      looks good to me. GTG

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

      Like the Ziyech pick

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

      Solid.

    4. FPL Bond @ Twitter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's perfect.

    5. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks, friends!

  6. FPL Bond @ Twitter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance of Forster playing?

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

    Play Raphina or Kwp > Cancelo or stones for a -4
    Already got dias thanks.

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

      Hold.

  8. Enes_Sahini1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What to do lads?

    Martinez
    Robbo Justin Chilwell Dallas
    Salah Grealish Son Fernandes
    Bamford Adams

    McCarthy Mitchell Stephens DCL

    2 Free Transfers 0.7 in the bank

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

      Son DCL Adams to Foden Vardy and Antonio

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

      DCL and Stephens out

      Antonio and Foden/Soucek in.

      I think having Mitchell and Stephens on the bench is very risk, possibly zero game time some weeks for both and with COVID/fixtures being re-arranged it's very risky.

      Then take Adams out for Antonio and drop Dallas for Foden/Soucek.

    3. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      DCL to Antonio and possibly Stephens to Soucek and BB

  9. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any wolves team leaks? Does Saiss start?

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

      In reddit. Apparently Saiss starts at LB

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

    Chilwell to Cancelo for a hit?

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

      No

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

      No

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

      Why you want to sell Chilwell before the DGW?? He is nailed as well.

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

      Defnitely not. Keep Chilly

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

        Cheers

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

      why?

    6. Mike2795647
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No, can’t seem him starting both

  11. MGD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pages flying!

    Chillwell or Zouma?

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

      That is a tough one.
      Big Zouma just.

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

        Bc goal threat or play time safety?

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

      Either really I prefer zouma.

  12. ragsyboys
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Heard Shrewsbury coach is infected with Covid . Any chance of Southampton Vs Leeds happening this week ? Can we know before deadline ?

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Think if it’s only the coach it should be ok

  13. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any idea what to do.. 1 FT 0 ITB. Bench ok?

    Johnstone
    AwB Coufal Stones Cancelo
    KDB Bruno Soucek Son*
    Kane* Bamford*

    McCarthy* Dier* Raphina *Adams* * Single gameweek players

  14. FPL-Albion
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thinking spending 4 points to do
    Dier to Wan B.

    Yes or no?

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

      No

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

      No better option than wan b

  15. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Vardy getting ignored again before he inevitably smashes three goals past Soton and Chelsea, you love to see it

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

      My TC.

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

      dont do this 😮

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

      3 assists from Madison will do me

    4. Kante Touch This
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      TC?

    5. Mr. Funny Name
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Captain here

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

      Captain for me

  16. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ctaylor to
    A) Justin
    B) stones
    C) r.james
    For a - 4?

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

      Stones of those three. Probably worth the hit as Taylor not likely to play I believe

  17. geoffrolph
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain decision:

    KDB due a rest or reduced minuetes? He played Wednesday last week which he was said to be too tired to take a pen, then this Sunday and following Wednesday. Not much time between specially if he's been tired.

    Salah on the other hand, no game last week, should be well rested and has an extra day rest between double games (Sunday, Thursday)

    I prefer city's games, but worried about cap on KDB if his minuetes will be managed

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes thats pretty much it

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

        Who would you cap out the two?

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I just think it will be hard to put 2nor more past Utd and Burnley

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

        Think KDB will do more then Salah who is definitely starting both?

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

      Should start both games but probably reduced time.

      That should be good enough for him to get a haul given both matches are favorable.

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

        This is why I should captain KDB, just would be terrible if he is on the bench for one as Salah has no doubts about starting both when there seems to be with KDB

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

    Bench boosting. Thoughts appreciated

    A. Keep Raphina
    B. Gundogan (-4)
    C. El Ghazi (-4)

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

      A

  19. alstal
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son or cresswell? Son has a single but could haul, cresswell has the double but could concede in both. A lot of what ifs.

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

      You should not be asking this question. Bench somebody else.

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

        My team is

        Robbo, dias, cancelo
        Soucek, Bruno, Rashford, KDB
        Antonio, Wilson

        Choice of Son or Cresswell

        Bench so far: dallas, Bamford

        So who to you suggest I bench instead?

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

      Cresswell

  20. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dier to Chilwell for a hit
    1. Too Punty
    2. Calculated risk to gain ground

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

      2

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

    Team locked in. Good luck everyone!

  22. imtheboss
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio captain over KDB? Is that mad?

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

      Yes.

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

      Think he'll get 120 minutes?

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

      Ballsy is what it is, good on you!

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

      Don't do that.

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

      Antonio only just coming back

    6. cianoc1999
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The kind of move that could make or break your season, brave but could easily backfire

  23. Thunder Warrior
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1) Son and Raphinha to KDB and Lookman for -4
    or
    2) Son and Foden?

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

      1

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

      1, KDB is essential

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

    Final Decision:
    A) BB on Mccarthy, Adams, Dallas, Targett (will cost me a hit)
    B) Hold BB

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

      I’ve been torn last few days. Probably go for it.

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

    Bench boost active. Might as well, yes?

    McCarthy (lei)
    Justin (SOU, CHE)
    Bamford (BHA)
    Holding (NEW)

    (-4)
    Martinez (McCarthy)
    Stones Zouma Coufal (Justin Holding)
    Salah KdB Bruno Son Soucek
    Watkins Antonio (Bamford)

    Thanks!

  26. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Really not happy only having 6 double players this week. There anything you’d change to this lot? 0ft and 0itb

    McCarthy,
    Robbo, Coufal, Cancelo
    Salah, Grealish, Son, Bruno
    Bamford, Adams, Kane

    Steer, Dallas, Struij, Stephens

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

      Kane to Vardy perhaps?

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

      Kane, Son, Adams > Antonio, Vardy, KDB? Don't know if you can afford that or not

  27. Tozier
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Should I transfer Martial out for a hit? Have 9.5 to spend, options really are Firmino, Watkins or Werner (already have Antonio).

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nah, whose on your bench?

      1. Tozier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I'm bench boosting, full team is:

        Martinez (Johnstone)

        Robertson Dias Coufal Wan-bissaka (Saiss)

        KDB Rashford Soucek Grealish (Son)

        Antonio Martial (Decordova-Reid)

  28. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Right. I’ll keep on giving advice but appreciate some myself - anything you’d change on a free hit?

    Mendy
    Stones Cresswell James
    KDB(c) Salah Bruno Maddison Soucek
    Vardy Antonio

    Forster Strijk 3.8 Brewster

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      James and Brewster.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        And Mendy for Fabianski

        1. @ocprodigy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Hmm I’d contemplated this but triple West Ham so can’t. Who would you replace James with? Think Chelsea could easily produce at least one clean sheet

    2. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would get Mane and double City defence, James out, wouldn’t go with double Leicester.

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

      Keep.

  29. janlu0
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do you think Jorghino will feature at all over the next 2 games?

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

      1 game yes

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

    Worst thing for us going with no Salah and keeping Kane and/or Son is Spurs have finished their game before Pool start their first!

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      this )) if you had both Mo and KDB who d you Captain?

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

        Mo

        1. Cojones of Destiny
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          thx and GL to all of us mate !