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. 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)

    1. Origi-nal
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

    TC MO
    GL all

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

      Best of luck Pete.

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

        You too mate 🙂

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Woooooo

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

        Oh yes blonde King

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

    Captain

    A. KDB or
    B. Salah

    Your pick?

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Origi-nal
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mo

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

      I'm on this too.. On Salah at the mo as KDB might get a rest

    4. JRD
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB don't have salah

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

      A

    6. V-2 Schneiderlin
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

      Mo

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

        3-4...quite even...let’s see how it goes

  4. JRD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    BB active:

    martinez
    chillwel cancelo justin coufal wan bissaka
    de bruyne (C) gundogan grealish fernandes
    vardy

    bench: johnstone son bamford antonio

    good luck all.

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

    If Southampton lose to Shrewsbury on Tuesday, they could play Leeds at the weekend?

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

      Interesting

    2. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Its not impossible.

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

      They wont lose

    4. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very unlikely they lose to Shrewsbury anyway, especially in Shresbury's current situation

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

    TC KDB good luck people

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

    TC SALAH, LETS GOO

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

      Let’s go!!

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

      Cmon

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

    Pants up....

  9. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bam > Antonio yay or nay?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeigh

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

      Nah.

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

    Going to be a lot of "BB failed" posts this week isn't it?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Almost certainly

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

      I did BB, so yes, I think you're right :)) Good luck!

  11. Openboxman
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captained Cancelo for the lols.

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

      This makes a lot of sense. If he plays twice high chance of cleanies and he simply has to return attacking points soon.

      Good luck with it

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

        I'm behind in my ML, might as well have a bit of fun. It is a game after all!

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

    Good luck to everyone! It's going to be a crazy ride

  13. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bb active of Johnstone, Bruno, Dias and stones lol. )”

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

    KDB (c) locked
    Will save TC for a potential Spurs DGW where at least we know Kane would play 90 mins x2

    1. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      This.

  15. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who’s ready for the yearly DGW disappointment ?

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

      One year I got 196 but will be happy with 120 now 🙂

    2. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Me \o/

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

    BB Mendy Coufal Bamford Brewster, lets go!

  17. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Vardy out scores KDB and Mo this week, bookmark this.

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

      I can really see it

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

    aaagh - kdb or salah!?

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

    TC Vardy for the win

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

    Double Pants Down

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

    Good luck all!!

    and.....PANTS DOWN!!!

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Zip

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

      Who's yer captain Kaney? I've gone leftfield with Soucek!

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

        Wow, big balls! Like it.
        Gone KdB

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

          But don’t have Salah

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

          I don't have KDB but have Salah (vc). Why not eh with Soucek? Nothing to lose! Bit of fun too! GL mate

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

    TC SALAHHHHHH

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

      Username checks out 🙂

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

        Who's bisexual Gor and why does he need to go home?

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

          Haha!!

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

          Brilliant

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

    TC Mo. Most consistent player in the game to bring A game to United.

  24. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Good luck people!

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

      Gl loon

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thank you sir! I hope you have an excellent GW/

  25. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    And BREATHE

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

      Hyperventilating is breathing

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

    Time's up! Pens down, keyboard rest!

  27. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ding ding ding. Happy new year!

  28. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pens down 😉 back to bed. Then watch Leeds let me down at 3pm. Goodluck all

  29. WWW.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Does anyone else who uses the chrome extension 'FPL Tools' have problems with it showing the 'expected points' in the points/ranking info box? It shows the expected points on the bench, but the other one always just says 0.0 for me...

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

    updainggggggggggg