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. Ando
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez

    Cancelo - Stones - Dawson

    Salah - Son - Fernandes - Gundogan

    Antonio (C) - Bamford (VC) - DCL

    Bench: Button / Mee / Rodriguez / Digne

    Anything you would change? Or G2G?

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

      Mew over Stones

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

        *Mee

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

          Thanks, but I've got a feeling Liverpool v Man City might be 0-0.

    2. Michelle Davin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son captain

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

        I know West Brom are terrible, but Spurs aren't in good form right now.

  2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Correct XI?

    DDG
    Dias Coufal Lowton
    Salah Bruno Son Maddison Gundogan
    Antonio Bamford

    Bench: DCL, Targett, Mitchell

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

      Looks fine

  3. sklarface
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo, James, Dallas
    Saka, Grealish, Bruno, Salah, Gundo
    Antonio (c), Bamford

    Johnstone, DCL, Maguire, Stones

    Chasing at the mo so have a few decisions:

    1. GTG, roll FT?
    2. Someone on bench that should be playing?
    3. Possibly Salah and Gundo > Son and Lingard -4? With Gundo coming back in next week for the double

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

      1, defo not 3!

  4. MagnetBPS
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lingard or Raphinha?

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raph

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

      Raphinha

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

      I’m captaining Lingard

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

        Love it

    4. istanbul05
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raph

  5. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Salah or Vardy?

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

      Is this a serious question?

      1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Genuinely

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

          Vardy injured, switch to any 1 of Antonio, DCL, Bamford or Wilson.
          Do not take a hit to get rid of Salah

          1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Not any longer he isn't

    2. Blue Moon Rising
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Get rid

      1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        -8 incoming

  6. Blue Moon Rising
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Big variety of captain and benching choices this week, could be interesting

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

    Are we going to get the doubles added to members season ticker before the deadline?!

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

    I am so far behind in my mini league so I am captaining Lingard

  9. waldo666
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any substance to the rumour McCarthy might get dropped?

    1. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I doubt he’ll get dropped. He didn’t really drop any clangers at United as far as I recall.

      1. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I agree, would be harsh if he was.

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

    Play Justin or Shaw?
    I already have Coufal and Dallas starting.

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

      Justin

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Shaw

    3. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough call but hard to ignore Justin

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

    Play one:

    A) Dias
    B) Coufal
    C) Bednarek

    Cheers!

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

      B

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      B

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

      B

  12. LT10
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    IMO, this is the most interesting GW of the season, so far.
    - No obvious captain choice.
    - Most managers have tough benching decisions.
    - And we all now need to consider the upcoming doubles when making transfers / and how we play our remaining chips.

    So much to think about. Love it.

    Shame it will almost certainly end in disappointment.

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

      I hope not, life weeks like this.

  13. istanbul05
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you play Mee ahead of anyone in my current first 11?

    Martinez,
    Cancelo, Coufal, Dallas,
    Salah, Fernandes, Grealish, Gundogan, Soucek,
    Antonio, Bamford.

    Forster, DCL, Mee, Dias.

    Thanks

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

      Over Dallas

      1. ebb2sparky
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Id play Dallas given Zaha is out

    2. ebb2sparky
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe Coufal

  14. 2hotty
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sold Foden for Raphina and feeling good about it might even captain him fancy a roll of the dice this week.Its between him and Antonio

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio then of those two

  15. House Frey Wedding Planner
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez, (4.0)
    Cancelo, Mee, AWB, (Dias, Holding)
    Salah, Soucek, Bruno, Son, Gundogan
    Bamford, Antonio, (DCL)

    1FT, 4.2 itb

    Should I transfer Pope in and play over Martinez?

    GW24 strategy is to go triple Burnley defence before WC in gw25 so I would've brought Pope in next week anyway

  16. RedJive79
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is this GTG? Correct bench and Captain?

    Pope
    Cancelo / Stones / Coufal
    Salah / Son / Soucek / Gundo / Bruno
    Antonio (c) / Bamford

    Martinez / DCL / Holding / Mitchell

    1. Michelle Davin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Captain Son

  17. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain?

    A) Fernandes (EVE)
    B) Son (WBA)
    C) Antonio (ful)

    Bench?

    1) Dias (liv)
    2) Mee (BHA)
    3) Coufal (ful)

    Cheers.

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

      Have another city defender?
      If so then A1

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A2

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

    Mane back. Henderson back in midfield. Must win game at Anfield. Im backing Salah for the armband. Differential indeed.

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

      Why not indeed

  19. mcsteely
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Salah to Son the best use of a free transfer? Kind of want to roll it but WBA defence is not good

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

      Spurs and Son not so good neither

  20. SNKI
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench who:
    1. Holding
    2. Digne
    3. Richarlison
    4. Calvert-Lewin

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

    Sorry for 3rd Repost but completely lost this week and need help!!!
    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???

  22. winchester
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    morning lads! G2G? Captain a) son b) bruno c) antonio d) bamford

    pope
    cancelo dallas coufal
    salah bruno son soucek gundo
    bamford antonio

    martinez adams dias taylor

  23. TVPlugSockets
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What do we think:
    Wood/DCL -> Antonio?

    I don’t want to risk not having Antonio this week, but also not ideal getting rid of one of those two prior to the DGW. What do you think?!

    1. buttsy9
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL > Antonio as Wood has better fixtures long term. Or stick with the DGW coming up.

  24. ZAWAd25
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play TWO:

    A) Justin
    B) Dias
    C) DCL

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      AB

  25. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play two

    A) Coufal (ful)
    B) Gundogan (liv)
    C) Stones (liv, playing Cancelo already)
    D) Dallas (CRY)

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      BD

  26. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain:
    A) Raph
    B) Bruno
    C) son

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. lewis1290
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      dallas and coufal

    3. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  27. Erez Avni
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    would you play chilwell before coufal just for the odd chance he will start?

    1. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I will

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

      Nope

  28. lewis1290
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do i do barkley -> grealish? someone pls answer

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

      Keep it

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

    Play one?

    A. Dias
    B. AWB

    (No other Mcity players)

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

      A

  30. fridge
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I’m so stumped on what to do with my free transfers, any ideas pls? 2FT, 3.6m ITB...

    McCarthy
    Dias. Dallas. Coufal
    Salah. Bruno. Son. Soucek
    Bamford. Antonio. DCL

    4.0. Gundo. Lowton. Stones

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

      If nothing on for this week, use 1 free to bring Pope in for your sub keeper for double game week next week. Play him next week.