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. estheblessed
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I was gonna make one last change but ended up with this for -8pts

    Martinez
    Cancelo, Dier, Alioski
    KDB(c), Grealish, Bruno, Salah, Anguissa
    Kane, Bamford

    Forster, Balbuena, Kilman, Brewster

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

    After persisting with Kev over and over this season I now find myself without him for two great looking games in a double.

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

      City fixtures look great for the next 5-6 gameweeks, I got him in

    2. Boyd to Sven
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same. Foden me up!

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

    Swapped Fernandes for Mané (C) for a -4, as he's on 4 yellow cards. Good punt??

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

      Good luck mate.

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

      Bruno will get points but probably a wise move

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

      Good move as bruno could miss one of fulham or sheffield games.

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

      didn't;t cap Bruno for that reason but I'd rather him than Mane personally. Not a terrible decision though and could work

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

    Thank his that’s over

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

      *God

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

      Welcome

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

    GAME IS UPDATING. Good luck everyone!

    KDB (TC) unite!

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

      Risky!

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

      i think the only way to play tc this week would have been with salah
      kdb won't play more than 90 minutes imo.

      good luck!

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

        I bet KDB starts both games. So they would have to be 3.0 up at half time to be subbed.

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

      Let's go

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

      Salah TC

    5. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Me too, fare well thee

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

    Flinched last minute and went from TC Soucek to TC Kdb

    Incoming 3 pointers

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      good decision.

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

      Ahaha

  7. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Imagine the scenes when Leeds v Southampton is added back into this GW

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

      So many tears!

      1. A girl has no name
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I would be so happy with 3 Leeds!
        Did Bednarek to Stones though for free

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

      Is this a possibility?

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It is - unlikely though imo.
        I'd be gutted as I have 2 Saints and a Bam on the bench, sold Raphinha and desisted using my BB due to that cancellation.

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

      Benched dallas but played bam and raph so wouldnt be too bad

    4. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Can this happen after deadline? I doubt not...

      1. Charlie&TheLads
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Of course it can.

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

        If a game can be cancelled after deadline then why not

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

        All speculation based on Bielsa saying he'd keep his team ready in case. Only Shrewsbury manager self isolating - rest is back after coming back from isolation. Seems unlikely to have a recurrance but who knows in these roller coaster times. Just got to keep zen

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

      I’d love that

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

      It’s alright played my bb with bam and Dallas so hopefully it is back on

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

        Yes I would get Bam and Alioski double if that's the case!

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

      Played Bamford and Ayling, please let this happen

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

      Mark would be pleased. 3 Leedsplayers on BB.

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

      I'd love it, I own Bamby

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

    Last minute madness, vardy cap. Dias VC, brought in gundogan for neto

  9. The Ilfordian
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Right half an hour to check on the cricket before teams announced. Whose winning?

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

      Bugger. Thanks.

  10. A girl has no name
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Good luck all, off FPL for a week for my own sanity
    BB activated with just Stones from City - refrained from any hits
    Salah (C)

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

    Looking forward to seeing how my rivals have prepared for the DGW

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

      If they didn’t, then they aren’t rivals

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

      thought the same last week, logged into fpl and realised they didn't prepare at all.
      I then ended up with just 10 points more despite having twice as many players.

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

    Vote now what you did......

    A. TC
    B. Bench Boost
    C. Free Hit
    D. Wildcard
    E. Nothing

    B for me

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

      E

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

      E) Saving my chips

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

      B - had 12 DGWers so thought it was worthwhile

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

      B

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

      B

    6. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      E

    7. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      E

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

      E) but I have Dallas, ramsdale, Saka, Lowton on the bench. Close to doing B.

    9. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        D

      • Matjes_taet
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        A

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

        E

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

          Surprising amount of E 😯

    10. Maarrrr17
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      OMG i set an alarm 90 mins before kickoff to look at my team and realised 2 mins before deadline that my alarm was the deadline.

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

        oh damn

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

        Did u make changes u wanted in time?

        1. Maarrrr17
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I made the changes i had been thinking of most recently lol, so now i have antonio up front. Confirmed at 9:59pm est.

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

      Kevin gona do wreck!

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

      Fabs
      Stones, Dias, AWB
      (S)alah, KdB, Soucek, Bruno
      Vardy, Antonio, Bamford

      BB: Areola, Alioski, Dallas, ESR

      good luck all

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

      Cancelled KDB TC at the last moment. The idea of a triple game week down the line excited me.

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

        Smart move.

      2. Bielsa Murderball
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This

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

        Good move I think, until he gets a hatrick.

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

      Bench boost time baby!

      Hope i can break the 100 point barrier!

    15. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rashford (c), Werner, no Cancelo or KdB, triple Leeds & WHU, bench boost.... should be fun!

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

        Wow. Good luck mate

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers, very tough season so far!

    16. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Deadline over. Now we just wait for the rumours about benchings and postponements.

    17. aborg
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would you take out Mings for Stones for a hit if you think Mings has potentially one game due or covid worries and having to play one game against Man City?

      1. A girl has no name
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Too late amigo

    18. Bielsa Murderball
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Followed my guts 🙂
      Cancelo captain anyone?

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

        No way!

        1. Bielsa Murderball
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Was too tempted because he played as a ST sometimes against Brighton...thats why

      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Good luck !

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

      Imagine Che Adams bangs in a hatty

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

        Not in this lifetime

    20. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A Live in hope
      B Regret everything

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

      TC chip is a lottery as we know from Mane last season. Just hope all that play it get the two games out of their man.

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

        The Aguero TC haul of a few seasons back has set the benchmark. Think I hauled around 50 points off him that GW

    22. estheblessed
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I was gonna make one last change but ended up with this for -8pts

      Martinez
      Cancelo, Dier, Alioski
      KDB(c), Grealish, Bruno, Salah, Anguissa
      Kane, Bamford

      Forster, Balbuena, Kilman, Brewstes

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

      Damn KDB (C) already a fail with the amount of TCers this GW. Going to have to cross fingers for a one pointer...

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Lies

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

      let's see if i regret not removing Bruno for Sterling.

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

        doubt it

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

      Got Effectively 26 players out this GW - a floor of at least 52 points with a little luck

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Hopefully 🙂

      2. Cruyff's Eleven
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Gotta manage your expectations man....

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

      What has my rival done? That matters the most to us

    27. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mate of mine captained Cresswell, could be genius...

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He's my vice. Was tempted.

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

        could work that actually