Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice to FPL Gameweek 23

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 23 ahead of today’s 11:00 GMT deadline.

The big news is the announcement of more Double Gameweeks in 24 and 25. Legomané updated his ticker, which includes non-Premier League matches.

Manchester City, Everton, Burnley, Fulham, Southampton and Leeds are the six teams to benefit from an extra fixture. 

There will also be a double in Gameweek 26, but which teams play twice depends on the FA Cup results in midweek. The winners will have their Gameweek 29 matches shifted to 26.

The other outstanding fixtures yet to be rescheduled are: 

  • Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur
  • Aston Villa vs Everton
  • Manchester City vs Southampton
  • Fulham vs Tottenham

Six and the City

The Man City backline continues to dish out regular six-point returns thanks to their incredible run of clean sheets. Provided, that is, your selected defenders make the starting XI.

John Stones (£5.2m) returned to the starting XI against Burnley but with Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) fit and available there’s now the risk of a benching, as happened against Sheffield United.

Some on site, such as Camzy, are considering switching to one City defender and two attackers. And, whisper it softly, on the Scoutcast Karam even suggested selling Ilkay Gündogan (£5.9m) for those who want to stick with two at the back.

The reason is Raheem Sterling (£11.6m):

I started to like someone else, he’s not performing at £11.6m just yet, but if I want to move away from defence and I want to stay in attack, then I think I would take a risk on Sterling … his expected goals is 2.31, the most of any City asset over the last four Gameweeks … for me – as someone who is struggling now with the rank – the fixtures are there for scoring goals, I think Sterling is worth a shout. Now I know Gündogan is crazy value, which I agree, but if you need that element of taking a risk – and we know that Sterling is capable of braces, and he looked good against Burnley.

– Karam

Seb added:

The only thing on Gündogan is … he’s created nine chances in the last three but only had three shots – two of those were goals. In the last match he had an xG of 0.03 … I’d just keep an eye on if things are shifting or how City are playing against a deep defence, whether Gündogan is the goalscorer. For me that would just be the difference whether I captain him or not – not whether I have him or not.

– Seb

David noted the impact of Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) over the last two matches, his presence in the City team does stop Gündogan from shooting as often.

But the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder remained a creative force, fashioning two big chances for Sterling and creating five goal scoring opportunities in total – the most of any player at Turf Moor.

Another factor in the German’s favour is that his ‘expected minutes’, something Career Hall of Fame No 1, Fábio Borges, places great importance on, is high:

Gündogan has less competition to worry about and seems to be in the form of his life so I’m hoping he will play both matches [over the Double Gameweek]. The fact that he could be on penalties and is ridiculously priced at £5.9 million makes him a much better pick than Sterling in my opinion … if I didn’t already have Dias and Gündogan in my squad, they would definitely be my main transfer targets from Guardiola’s team.

– Fábio

Fábio talked through his transfer targets for the upcoming small Double Gameweeks in his latest FFScout contribution. Nick Pope (£5.5m) or a Burnley defender were high on his list of priorities given their favourable fixtures.

While fellow Pro Pundit Lateriser touted Luke Shaw (£4.9m) in his recent article:

With Shaw, you are not just dependent on clean sheet points. He’s become incredibly vital to the Red Devils and is a ball progressor and an attacking outlet on that left-hand side. In the last six Gameweeks, Shaw has created 19 chances, which is top amongst all defenders. Shaw is also top for big chances created (five) in the same period and is on some set pieces and corners.

– Lateriser

And the highest ranked of our elite contributors, Andy, who climbed another 200 places to 479th overall after Gameweek 22, reviewed his season so far, reflecting on what has worked well for him

This year I’ve made a conscious decision to always have who I believe is the best captain each week, even if that means transferring out a big hitter. This sounds simple, but often FPL managers will forgo the best captain because they don’t want to sell a big hitter … I’ve sold Salah, Son, and Kane twice already this season and I’ve found not having value wrapped up in them makes my decisions much easier knowing I can just buy them back as there’s no money “lost”.

– Andy

Captaincy Debate

The armband for Andy this week is firmly on Son Heung-min (£9.7m) ahead of an encounter against West Brom’s obliging defence. 

However, Captain Sensible writer, Jan, does not necessarily agree:

Despite receiving plenty of attention in the captaincy debate for Gameweek 22, I do not think Son is necessarily as strong a candidate as some might think.

– Jan

Jan notes the slump in form for Tottenham Hotspur along with the poor underlying statistics for Son in particular – his total of 15 touches in the box over his last four matches is bettered by 33 Premier League players.

So while West Brom have conceded two goals in each of their last seven matches, could a defensive approach from Sam Allardyce frustrate an off-colour Spurs?

Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) are alternatives from a buoyant Manchester United side, and West Ham’s Michail Antonio (£6.7m) could prosper against Fulham. 

Fernandes is my top captaincy pick for Gameweek 23. Given that his underlying statistics are continuously impressive and his Manchester United colleagues are back in their groove, he could easily repeat the haul he achieved the last time Manchester United faced Everton.

– Jan

However for David – who enjoyed a successful 17-Gameweek captain run back in 2018/19 – Antonio is his favoured armband selection from this week’s Scout Picks.

The in-form West Ham striker has hit attacking returns in four of his five last games. With the highest expected goals rating of any forward in the last six Gameweeks, we are backing Antonio to continue his impressive form against a Fulham side whose recent defensive improvements have stuttered.

– Scout Picks

Team News

In the Team News, Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) is set to return following his hernia operation, while Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) could be a useful asset in the absence of Timothy Castagne (£5.7m) over the coming weeks.

And Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

While from Pep Guardiola’s Friday press conference, we received confirmation that Sergio Aguero (£10.3m), Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) and Nathan Aké (£5.4m) are still on the sidelines with their respective issues.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning rounded-up the latest Community mini-leagues and competitions

Pro Pundit Andy’s youtube.com/letstalkfpl mini-league is currently the Best League in FPL based on the average score of the top five teams, taking over from our Community Members League, which slips to third.

For those participating in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 23 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

2,746 Comments Post a Comment
  1. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench :

    A : Soucek
    B : Saka

    1. conorbon
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. ewangri
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Saka

    3. DangerFC
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Saka

  2. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench?

    Stones or Digne

    Saka or Soucek or Calvert Lewin

    Choose two to bench

    1. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Digne
      Saka

    2. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would play Saka over DCL

  3. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench:

    A Bamford
    B Raphina

    1. ewangri
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Oof, neither if you can avoid it!

      1. linkafu
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Other choice is DCL but have a feeling he ll score

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Your choice in the end. Bench whoever you like in that case.

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

      Neither

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Oh god, don't bench either if them for Palace.

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Bench DCL

    4. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL imo

    5. Abaddon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dcl

    6. DangerFC
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd bench DCL. But raph from above.

  4. ewangri
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Last minute advice please!

    Play:
    A) Justin
    B) Shaw

    1. SharkyT
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. ewangri
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you

    2. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  5. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play double city (Dias + Stones) or Dallas + 1 City defender

    1. ewangri
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas and Dias

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This!

      2. Ibralicious
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks!

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas

    3. DangerFC
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas and dias

  6. sp1122
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G? 1FT £2.8ITB

    Martinez
    Dallas, Dias, Bednerak
    Salah, Bruno(c), Gundo, Barnes, Grealish
    Bamford, Antonio

    Steer, Stones, DCL, Robbo

    Considering Robbo to Mee

    1. ewangri
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL first bench but GTG otherwise

    2. Union_Jacks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You’re seriously playing Bednarek over Stones or Robbo...

      1. sp1122
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Was expecting a Southampton bounce back...too optimistic?

  7. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench which ONE??

    A) Lowton (BHA)
    B) Coufal (ful)
    C) Maguire (EVE)

    1. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A. I think Brighton will score

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

      C

    3. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. ewangri
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lowton or Maguire, leaning toward Lowton personally

    5. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

  8. Radzio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start 1:

    a)Gundo
    b)Adams

    1. conorbon
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A easy

  9. h3nh3n
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?

    Martinez
    Cresswell Coufal James
    Lingard Grealish Maddison Bruno (C) Son (VC)
    Bamford Vardy

    (Johnstone Cancelo DCL Stones)

  10. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Antonio on penalties by any chance?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably if Noble not on field

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

      If Noble isn't playing it's him i think

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This!

      2. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers lads!

  11. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stones to Cancelo (have 3 City) for a FT, or keep 2 for next weeks DGW?

    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would keep 2

  12. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cant decide between Bruno and Antonio captain.

    What is the logical choice?

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio

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

      Antonio

    3. DangerFC
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If your top of your league and doing well bruno is the safe choice. I'm third in mine and I know the leader will go with bruno. I'm going with bamford or antonio

      1. Brimble82
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Right.
        But what I you’re top in most MLs but chasing in your most hotly contested one!?!
        My head says I should be sensible. Defend leads and accept that you can’t win them all.

        But my gut says - go for the clean sweep!
        Son (C) and starting Kane!
        Do or die!!!

  13. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My poll on Antonio VS Bruno concluded 8-7 to Antonio.

    Congratulations Guendoozy for being the tie-breaker, I will reach out to you with some unpleasant language if Antonio blanks and Bruno hauls.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's your decision and your fault if you pick the wrong one.

      1. Ibralicious
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        But this is a democracy and 15 people subscribed to influencing my decision :/

      2. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hazz is right we have to stick by our choice.
        I never get my captain right btw

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bruno

    3. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ha ha

      Same boat as me, captain poll winner has blanked recently and that has put me of the obvious choice

    4. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bruno

    5. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Choosing to use a 15 person poll over the main captaincy pool where Bruno clearly leading.. makes sense

      1. Ibralicious
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Gandalf. Compare Antonio’s ownership with Bruno and then get back to me. This poll was for the winners that own both

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          To throw some fun into the mix, both the posters and captain poll winners got it wrong last week.

          And the week before.

          Now what do you do?

        2. Gandalf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Bruno 96% compared to Antonio 70%. Reducing down Bruno's votes by 27% and still well ahead. Bookies have him as more likely to score also if that helps

  14. JenkoJunko
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    *REPOST*
    Morning! Worried about how poorly Im set up for coming DGWs
    1FT 0.2ITB
    Martinez
    TAA Cresswell Cancelo
    Salah Sterling Bruno Soucek
    Antonio Wilson DCL

    Forster / Holding / Bissouma / Neco

    A. Hold and Roll and have 2FTs to sort for the double next GW
    B. Downgrade TAA - Dias, Mee, Lowton, Digne, Dallas????
    C. B+ Upgrade Bissouma - Lookman, Gundo, Foden, Raphina??? -4

    1. Hanz207
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you're happy with the set up this week I would hold your FT for next week and go B (Dias strong but Mee or Dallas good for DGWs) and C > Raph

      1. JenkoJunko
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you! Very helpful.

  15. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which one to bench?
    A) AWB
    B) Coufal
    C) Dallas

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not C
      B Due to being away game only, but very tight

      1. Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

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

      B, but close

      1. Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  16. cm790
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bamford, Bruno or Soucek C?

    Headache this week!

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

      Bruno out of those, but yes - headache

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

      Soucek

    3. DangerFC
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stuck myself between bamford and antonio. So bamford from above.

  17. Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I ll captain Son!

    Now or never 😉

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Have all other captain contenders

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

      Good shout

  18. Radzio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play 1:
    a)Gundo(liv)
    b)Adams(new)

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

      A

  19. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Salah(C)??

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Rather captain Dallas

    3. DangerFC
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Brave move. To be fair he will probably score a brace now

    4. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not for me

  20. The Count of Monte Cristo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you change the starting XI / bench?

    Pope
    Stones -- R.Dias -- Justin
    Salah -- Fernandes (c) -- Son -- Gundogan -- Soucek
    Antonio -- Bamford

    McCarthy -- DCL -- Coufal -- Holding [0FT + 2.0m ITB]

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes i will.

      Coufal MUST play (especialy when you have 2 MC def)

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

        Thanks, both. I think I will go with Coufal over Stones to hedge bets slightly 🙂

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          FWIW: I actually just moved Stones out in favour of Burnley cover.
          Think Burnley have a greater chance of CSs over their next three games than City do!

    2. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’m not sure Coufal ‘must’ play, but that’d be the only switch I’d suggest. Coufal/Stones for me.

      Also - GREAT team.
      What’s your OR?

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

        I think it looks better here than it is, as not many premiums so my low TV (SV of 101m) isn't evident. Around 50k with moving from 350k in past 6-7 GW's or so

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I don’t know.
          Good balance. Coverage for DGWs24&25

          I was around 40k 3 weeks ago - enjoying riding the Son/Kane train. Then Kane’s injury (that did more damage to Son) a lack of decisive action by me (nobody to blame!) has seen me slip to over 90k!

          GL this week.

  21. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 1

    A Gundo
    B Raphina
    C DCL
    D Bamford

    1. DangerFC
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dcl

    2. Ibra
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    3. conorbon
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    4. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    5. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

  22. DangerFC
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain:
    A antonio
    B bamford

    I'm going with a differential.

    1. oi no professionals
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      A

    3. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  23. oi no professionals
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain:
    A. Son
    B. Fernandes

    1. DangerFC
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fernandes

    2. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I am going with Son....fck it 🙂

    3. conorbon
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  24. Ibra
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which one will score more this gw?

    A) Sterling
    B) Gundogan

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

      A but it's a guess

  25. ALegendJ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    When will the doubles be added to members season ticker?!

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Never it seems

  26. GinjaWhinja
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ziyech to:

    A) Rashford
    B) Son
    C) Keep

    Don’t own Fernandes and don’t intend on doing so this week, despite his crazy ownership

  27. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg?
    Martinez
    Stones cancelo coufal
    Salah son(VC) Fernandes(C) soucek
    Wilson Bamford DCL

    Nyland Mahrez Alioski Mitchell

  28. FallingDuck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez (Meslier)
    Cresswell-Coufal-Cancelo (Stones,Mitchell)
    Grealish-Salah-Bruno-Gundo
    DCL-Bamford-Antonio

    Bench two:
    Meslier or Martinez and DCL or Stones

    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Meslier + Stones

  29. El Muñeco
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you play Coufal over Justin or Dias/Laporte?

    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I do, but not sure.

    2. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

  30. Philosopher's Stones
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to put the armband on?

    A: Antonio
    B: Son
    C: Bruno

    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A or C