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. Paulo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi guys,

    Play Dallas or El Ghazi?

    Know El G has the DGW but lack of training could be a factor.

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

      El ghazi

    2. jernej93
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      El ghazi

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

      El Ghazi

    4. Shipstontrev
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      El Ghazi

    5. azamn013
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      EG

  2. jernej93
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play 1:

    Son, Dier or Lowton :)?

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

      Son

    2. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son

    3. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Easy son

  3. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Guys, TC now or wait for TGW if any?

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

      would do now....City or West Ham options most likely for returns...

    2. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Personally I'm waiting

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

    Bought my way to a BB!
    In Leeds we trust
    Gone Salah c Kdb vc
    Fwiw I’m really tempted by Robbo c - think he could end up highest scoring player for the gameweek.
    Good luck all, pants down early for me

    Martinez
    Robbo Dias Coufal
    Salah Kdb Bruno Grealish Soucek
    Bamford Rodrigo
    Areola Stones Antonio Dallas

  5. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Salah wont blank 5 games in a row right?

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

      Gambles fallacy

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

        *gambler’s

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

          ok haha

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

      At least 4 pts this GW

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

      His previous blanks in a row have no correlation with his performance this week

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

        This

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

      Didn't blank against Villa in the cup.

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

        i mean in premier league yes

    5. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      There's a reason why he's blanked in the last four.

      1. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        And a reason why he won't blank this week

    6. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Like the old "it can't land on Red again, I'll put it all on Black".

      1. The Count of Monte Cristo
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That's when it hits green.

        1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Ha yes!

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

    So if Liverpool get a pen and Milner is on the pitch, who takes the pen, Milner or Salah? This could hinge on wether I TC Salah or not.

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

      It used to be Milner but suspect it’s Salah now

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

        I don't think Salah has ever taken one with Milner on the pitch though and it looks like Milner will be starting.

    2. jernej93
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Salah

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

      Sterling

      1. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        🙂

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

      milner

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

      Must be Salah first choice now

    6. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Salah won't let Milner take them now - he's looking for goals

    7. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well salah hasnt missed a penalty so no reason to take it off him.

    8. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boring Mo Salah will take it. James still sorting out his caravan insurance.

    9. Chill, we'll call you
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      One minute before deadline tends to be a poor timeframe for metaphysical debates.

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

    Def for the BB:

    a/ Furlong
    b/ Mee
    c/ Holding
    d/ Baily
    e/ Shaw

    Cheers & good luck chaps.

  8. jernej93
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play 1:

    Bamford, Dier or Lowton :)?

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bam

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

      Bambam

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

    Start Dallas, Rafinha or Adams?

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dallas

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

      Raphinha

  10. In a Rush
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain?

    Salah or Vardy

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

      Salah for me

      1. In a Rush
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

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

      I'm on Vardy

      1. In a Rush
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ooh I am tempted have been in salah all week

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

      Salah

  11. Heiro
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Dallas or Holding?

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Toss a coin

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

    Is Dier to Cresswell or Chilwell worth a hit ?

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

      Cresswell for fixtures

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

      Not for me. Dier as good as GTD a clean sheet. As much of a clean sheet shoe in he will have all season IMO

  13. Better luck next year
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    To TC KDB or not to TC KDB? Regards, former Kane, Sane and Mane owner...

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

    Very tempted to TC KDB

    Yay or Nay?

    TC is by far the scariest chip!!

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

      Nay

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

      Soucek, Cresswell are good options also i believe....
      Bring in Foden for a -4?

  15. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KdB is the only player I have no clue how to handle. Everytime I sell he hauls, when I own him no points. Brought him in for Mane just to keep him from hauling.

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

      GL with that!

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

      Should we sell then?

  16. dsefton
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bench: Areola, Bamford Lowton Tierney
    A) Save BB
    B) Tierney --> Justin/r.James (-4), play BB
    C) Play BB (no hits)

  17. King Henrik
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain Cresswell ....Here We Go !!

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

      Serious? I'm thinking this.

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

      I’m so close to this or Cancelo

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

    Went ahead with Kane, Holding -> Vardy Cresswell for -8

    BB active.

    1. Men in green tights
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Similar went Kane,Rowe to carry and Barnes for -8 .
      Good luck

      1. Men in green tights
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Should be vardy,typo

  19. The VAR Team
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    People obsess so much over TC when it's just one of 39 captaincy shouts over a season...

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

      Cheers

    2. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      it can be more than 39 if TGW happen

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

      That is a very good point.

    4. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I've been stung trying to be too clever with it in prior season. It's a blocking chip for me now - make sure you play it when the most people are to block missing that mega haul. Free hit and WC more valuable and important in my opinion

      1. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Free hit/WC more important for upside. TC blocks negative downside in my view

  20. Gaffa914
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    mane --> de Bruyne for a -4? (have Salah)

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

      No way

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

      I did, so KdB blank is 100%.

    3. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  21. HanS14
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Robbo, son or dias, kdb (-4)

    1. azamn013
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias KDB

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

    Zambian Witch Doctor is furious

  23. Atters
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My ranks over 2mil so feel like nothing to lose at this point, so triple captain
    A) Vardy
    B) Mane
    C) Cancelo

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

      A

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

    Grealish or Foden?!

  25. OBAMA
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Choose a pairing,

    A) Dias and stones
    B) Cancelo and stones

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

      Worried about Cancelo's minutes

  26. ya no fair
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    BB on -> inactive steer, holding, decordova reid, dier?
    play or no play?

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

      No play

    2. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Most you're getting is 14.

      1. ya no fair
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        ok i no play cheers lads

  27. Mufc202020
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any of these worth a hit? Already spent 4 points?

    A) Neto to Barnes
    B) Kane to Vardy
    C) None

  28. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Dallas or Holding?

  29. Paddy Gooner
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play A: Alioski in a 5-3-2
    Or B: Anguissa in a 4-4-2

    ???

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

      `B

  30. jammie26
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bamford 1st on bench for me, you just know a hattrick is incoming.