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. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is the FFS Fixture Ticker broken? Can't seem to see the DGW24 and DGW25 games. 🙂

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

      Maybe there's a contractual issue?

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

        Contractual issue? Explain.

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

      Always very delayed if they even update it. Shame.

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

        You were right. Appalling.

  2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go?

    Martinez
    Cresswell Justin Mee
    Salah Bruno Son Maddi Gundo
    Ings Bamford(C)

    (McCarthy DCL Dias Stones)

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

      Gtg

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

    Who would you bench?

    A) Watkins (have Grealish)
    B) Gundogan

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

      A

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

      A

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

    Any late benching rumours or injury news?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No chance to react 😆

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

      That comes at 10.45 🙂

  5. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If you were around 400k OR, with a small ML lead would you stay ‘safe’ and captain Bruno or go for Bamford/Antonio?

    Context: I have captained big hitters all through the season and they’ve let me down about 85% of the time.

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

      Antonio all the live long day

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think I've picked the correct captain 3 times this season.
      Around 400k myself but 4th in my ML.

      Going Sin (c) myself.

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Go Antonio

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

      You've answered your own question then 🙂
      This GW is the time to be different as the captaincy is gonna be quite spread. I am going Son for example but tempted to go Antonio.

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

        I think Son for the punt.

        Bruno for the safer option.

    4. Plagued by indecision
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all. I don’t have Son so going Antonio(c). Best of luck to all.

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

    McCarthy
    Cancelo Chilwell Dallas
    Salah Bruno Son (c) Barnes
    Antonio DCL Bamford

    Steer, Gundo, Coufal, Lewis

    1 FT 2.8 itb

    Bench look okay ?

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

      That's tough, but i think you got it right. I'd be tempted to play Gundo over DCL.

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

      I’m benching DCL over Gundo and Coufal over Dallas

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

    Martinez
    Robbo Cancelo Taylor
    Salah Son Bruno Soucek
    DCL Richarlison Bamford

    Ramsdale Stones Holding Anguissa

    2ft 0.0itb
    Will do Richarlison to Antonio with 1ft, best option with other ft?

    A) Robbo to Tarkowski
    B) Ramsdale to Pope (BRI) and play over Martinez (ARS)
    C) Save 1ft

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

      B. Popes next 4 fixtures are just too good, I’d also be inclined to start him ahead of martinez today. Keep Robbo for GW26

  8. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you play Adams or Cancelo this GW?

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

      I'd play Cancelo. Thoughts above?

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

      Cancelo

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

      Cancelo

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

    Would it be crazy or genius to play Bednarek over Dias after that historically bad showing against United?

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

      Bit of both lol

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

      Yes.

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

      Play Dias

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

    How am I looking? Want to try and stay around 5k rank!

    McCarthy
    Cancelo Lowton Coufal
    Fernandes (c) Rashford Salah Gundo Soucek
    Antonio Bamford

    Johnstone DCL Justin Stones

    Gonna hold transfer. Look okay? Good luck everyone!

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

      Bar McCarthy looks perfect

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

        Yeah, this ^
        Do you have cash to do McC>Pope?

  11. dsefton
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1ft, 5.0itb
    DDG
    Cancelo Justin Coufal Lowton
    Salah Soucek Bruno Rashford
    Wilson Antonio
    (Areola, DCL, Gundo, Stones)

    A) Salah --> Son
    B) Gundo --> Son (play Son instead of Lowton)
    C) Save FT

  12. chrismoo75
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gundo or Dallas for the last spot in my team?

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

      Gundo

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

      The one that rhymes with fun

    3. chrismoo75
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      THanks

    4. DavidHopkin
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Leeds will concede. I’d play gundo

    5. mrelpea
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo

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

    Correct set up, bench order etc?

    Pope
    Cancelo, Dallas, coufal
    Son(c), Bruno (VC), Barnes, soucek, gundo
    Antonio, bamford

    Martinez - dcl, stones, robbo

    Just doesn't feel good potentially benching 6 pointers for defenders likely to get bonus in a 0-0

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

      that is some 15

      looks good. not set on Son capt after Thurs night

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

        That’s what no Mo allows you!
        Tempting eh

  14. kennethrhcp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    start 1

    A: Gundo (liv)
    B: Soucek (ful)

    *kane starts so 1st bench will prob come on

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

      B

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

      B

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

      cheers lads

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

    Ah read a rumour here that Antonio might be rested for the cup (runours from Wham forum). This made me change c to Bruno. Damn this forum, I would have liked C Antonio 😀

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

      Link cos I don’t believe you

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

        I also would like a link to this.

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

      i'm ignoring this comment & sticking with Ant C

    3. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Rubbish

  16. jimmyharte
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench which of the following?:

    A) DCL
    B) Gundogan

    1. adey70
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Such a conundrum. Leaning towards Gundo. Maybe United will be sloppy after big win...

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

        Yeah it's wrecking my head lol

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same problem .,.. DCL on bench at moment but still can’t decide whether to swap him with Gundo or Sterling.

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

      I’ve benched DCL out of the two

  17. adey70
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Please help with my benchings 2: leave out one from:

    A) DCL
    B) Gundogan
    C) Soucek
    D) Wilson

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

      Wilson

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

      A

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

      A

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

      Dcl

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

    Bench 1

    Raphina
    Bamford
    DCL
    GUNDO

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

      DCL

      ... Easy

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

      Dcl

    3. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo

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

      Dcl

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Has to be DCL

  19. brixtonBob
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Grealish or Soucek ?

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

      Soucek

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

      Grealish

    3. adey70
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Grealish

    4. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Grealish. Can’t believe this is a question

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

        Soucek has been doing well and plays Fulham. Seems a reasonable dilemma to me.

    5. mrelpea
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Toughy, but Grealish just edges it for me

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

    Pick one to play
    A- James SHU (A)
    B- Dias LIV (A)
    C- James > Burnley Defender

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

      A bank the FT til we know more

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

        Great Thanks

  21. Henning
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hmmm captain?

    1 Antonio
    2 Bamford
    3 Fernandes

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

      1

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

      Ive gone for son but Antonio is massively appealing I have to say

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

    Pick one

    A Salah(C) Wilson + FT
    B Ings (C) Pulisic

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

      A

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

    Gundo is the city pen taker...

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think so

  24. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I have two defenders from City, Robertson and Salah all playing in one game, don't think it will be a good gameweek for me...

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Enjoy the red arrow

  25. LJJH1984
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How’s this looking? Right starting 11 and bench order? Thinking Cancelo over DCL maybe.

    Pope
    Justin Dallas Cresswell
    Salah Fernandes(c) Soucek Maddison
    Antonio DCL Bamford

    Cancelo Lookman Stones
    Martinez

  26. joeymanuel
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which 2 to bring in (no hit)?
    A) Holding --> Alonso
    B) McCarthy --> Pope
    C) Soucek --> Grealish

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

    Start which one?

    A) Lowton (BHA)
    B) Maguire (EVE)

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

      A

  28. YEAH PITCH!
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play

    a) Justin
    b) Dallas

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

      Justin of course

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

      I'm also stuck on this, I've got Dallas starting currently

  29. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I'm fully prepared for another disappointing gameweek but will go with this team. Good luck to you all!

    Martínez
    Cancelo, Digne, Alonso
    Son(VC), Salah, Fernandes(C), Grealish
    Antonio, Bamford, Ings

    Button, Coufal, Lowton, Burke

  30. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A)Taylor to Lowton and roll second FT?
    OR
    B)Martinez to Pope?

    Don't really want to sell Martinez but can't afford Pope any other way.

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

      B