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. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Getting BB out the way so I can pull all the funds out into main 11, covid not going away this year!

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

      It’ll get miles better by March April though

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

        What with new variants they have not considered?

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

          Let’s wait and see shall we. It’ll certainly be better than at the moment - air travel pretty much banned for next 2 months

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

      I just might keep it until 38. Maybe it could be a nice dgw with leftovers rearranged.

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

      Why would you not have a bench if you think postponements will continue?

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

      Yes, good call if it works out this dgw

  2. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start as you mean to go on, same as last week...Bednarek & Steer > Stones & JOHNSTONE -4 as wanted a BB keeper...nice!!

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

    F5 F5 F5....

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      F5 will only refresh the updating page. . .

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

        Untrue. Things have changed Grandad

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

      you'll be there all day doing that

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

        Oh Ron. How Ron you are.

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

      F5 reduces the brightness of my screen. Kind of like taking a -4 hit for a player who wasn't gping to get to 4 points even in a double game week. Automatically reducing the brightness of your GW before it starts. Hitting F5 is a lot more painless.

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

    Anyone else without Liverpool? Going to be a long game week of behind the couch

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

      No salah, no couch. I'm hiding behind Robbo

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

    https://twitter.com/SteveMadeley78/status/1350409156440670208

    Feel hope Johnstone owners

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

      At least one game would be a relief

    2. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I thought big Sam said Johnston tested positive no?

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

    Hahah, I've had Button as my backup keeper all season and put him in goal for favourable GWs just in case he plays. Was thinking doing that again this GW but for some reason didn't. Hope Villa keep a clean sheet against Newcastle. First world problems judging by the salty comments here.

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

      Bad luck mate! Although do we even know for sure Martinez is available? Could be another twist in the tale yet.

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

        Ah yeah, some covid doing rounds in the Villa squad too?

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

      Surely you'd play Martinez over Button anyway.

      Villa play Newcastle and Martinez makes a fair few saves.

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

        That was probably my reasoning behind it

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

    updated

  8. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Johnstone owners, it's unlucky but don't worry, this will only be the first surprise this gameweek. There will be many more to come! People laughing now need to remember that this could very easily happen to you

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

      True! Long way to go in this gameweek.

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

    https://twitter.com/SteveMadeley78/status/1350409156440670208?s=19

    Contrary to what I saw others deny earlier, Johnstone could be back for the next match.

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rubbish

  10. dubtom
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    11 DGW, Sterling TC

    BRING IT ON

    1. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes mate

  11. Leonard hatred
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Want to sit on the sofa with a beer, eat crisps and watch football like a lockdown scumbag... but it's wolves west brom which obviously is going to be dire, and i don't even have any players in this match.

    unsure how to proceed.

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

      I’m going to go shopping, no interest in this. Maybe walk the doggo

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

      Beer & crisps mate - give the dog a few - they luv em!

  12. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    It's up!

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

      Pfizer thanks you for your custom.

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

    Clearly Johnstone owners didn't check the XC19 (expected Covid) stats before bringing him in. Rookie mistake, better luck next time

    1. Leonard hatred
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      only casuals catch covid.

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

      lol

    3. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nice!

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

    So - length of time it takes FPL to update is strongly positively correlated to number of chips in play...

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

      Didn’t play any, do mine should show up sooner 🙂

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

        Yep, like popcorn 🙂

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

    Its up!

  16. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Not hindsight as said it so many times on here this week but always risky BB in current climate. Expect Johnstone won’t be the only well owned player to miss out

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

    updooted

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

    Is Son getting another drop wtf?

  19. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I feel like an FPL FFS Superhero with WC, FH, BB, and TC left.

    What is your chip status?

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

      Have em all yeh missed the deadline last week to fh, thought it was Wednesday for some reason

  20. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Alas, got Johnstone in on my GW16 wildcard with this particular gameweek in mind.

  21. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lovely, cup opponent took a - 8 and captained Bam Bam. Confident with my BB!

  22. TyroneGAA
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Discussing chips in a fpl group and one of the guys said he didn’t use triple captain as there was a rumor about a triple game week? Surely not?

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

      Liverpool and City have potential triple plus Villa have missed a few games that still needs to be rescheduled

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

    Rival brought in Robo... I got rid of Robo... atleast 20 for Robo then? Hehe

  24. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hmm Johnstone tested positive for covid...I wonder whether that puts the Liverpool game at risk if others test positive over the coming days?

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

      yes, but no

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

    I really feel for Johnstone owners with bench boost. I think we should consider ourselves very fortunate if all our dgw players start both games let alone getting points. As a KDB capper, I know this is the week Pep feels KDB deserves a rest and will probably be started for the tougher villa game where City will scrape a 1-0 win with rodrigo goal unassisted. Sorry for being pessimistic but this season is just something else. And for those with their bench boost intact you have to worry about when to deploy it without fixtures getting canceled post-deadline. It's going to be a minefield!

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

    Salah³

  27. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I dreamt I caught covid from my sister-in-law. Am I Johstone? Does anyone know if Johnstone's had relations with his sister-in-law? Thanks

  28. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I am so frustrated...

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

      I know what helps with that... Johnstone 3 points in this game anyways. Not the end of the world 🙂

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

        cheers mate.Is just so annoying and also is the first game of the gw.

  29. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wow! No Zouma. I wasted my BB