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. Sanchit
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stones Brewster to Antonio Lowton?

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

      Yes

    2. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely

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

      Yeah

  2. mwa1t
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can anyone else see a Southampton CS incoming? Vesteergard might be back.

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

      Na

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

    Narrowing captaincy choices this week

    Is Son don’t buy don’t sell? Prefer to roll a transfer
    Own Salah Bruno Sterling...but really leaning towards Antonio captain this week

    Thoughts here?

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

      I wouldn’t buy Son

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

      Same dilemma went for bruno

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

    Bruno, Raph, Dallas or Son for capt?

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

      Bruno of those

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

      Tempted by Dallas

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

      Got a feeling on Raph if fancy punting

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

        I like this too.

        Just can't fit him in yet.

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

      Bruno for you I guess or Son for differential..

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

      Raph

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

      Son

      Need a differential in my ML

    7. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son

    8. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son. Trust me 😀

  5. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg? 1FT 4.5itb

    Martinez
    Stones coufal rudiger
    Salah sterling Bruno(c) son soucek
    Antonio bamford

    Forster Mitchell holding davis

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

      Would consider Salah to Raphinha. I did that

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

        Yeah. Considering that move. Scary tho. Talk me onto it

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

          I've got £8.5 million in the bank for DCL to Vardy or Kane on their return!

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

        I was but I went to Soucek on the next 2 fixtures.

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

    Already hav Coufal in my team who to play:

    A Fabianski
    B McCarthy

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

      Fab, SOU are not reliable at the moment

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

    where do you guys find CS odds?

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

      Bookies

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

        thanks

  8. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Watkins to Antonio or save?

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

      Do it

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

      Save

    3. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Villa double double coming

    4. pitstop1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Keep, you’ll be wanting Watkins over Antonio in two GW time.

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

    Is Bruno the safer captain pick for high ranks with EO% pretty high in the top 10k? Have a feeling a higher split in that category might go with Antonio or Son instead... :/

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

    DDG -> Pope worth doing if WCing 25?

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

      Yes

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

      YEs

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

      Felt sideways, fine if WC25 but I would target higher upside potential

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

        Looking at these - whatcha reckon?

        A) DDG -> Pope
        B) Mitchell -> Mee
        C) Watkins -> Antonio
        D) Salah -> Son
        E) Save FT

        DDG
        Bellerin, Cancelo, Coufal
        Salah, Sterling, Bruno, Gundogan
        Bamford, DCL, Watkins

        Forster, Targett, Martinelli, Mitchell
        Bank 2.5m, 1FT, ALL CHIPS

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

          B bench DCL or save FT

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

      I am thinking of doing it, and I have no WC left

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

    Johnstone and chilwell to pope and holgate ?

    1. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes to Johnstone out for Pope.

      I would start Chiwell this week

  12. DB_00
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Mee, Dias or Coufal

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

      Dias easily

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

      Mee

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

      Don’t want to play all of them?

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

      I’ll back Brighton to score so Mee bench

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

      Dias

  13. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to captain?
    A) Bruno
    B) Son
    C) Bamford
    D) Antonio

    This is really giving me a headache

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D all day

    2. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D

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

      A Bruno

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

      B

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

    Bench one:
    A) Gundo
    B) DCL
    C) Salah
    D) Barnes

    Captain:
    A) Son
    B) Bruno
    C) Bamford

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

      Bench dcl

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

      B
      A

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

      B A

  15. Gowiththeflow
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one of those:

    Robo
    Stones
    Holding

    (Dias / Coufal / ?)

    1. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Probably Robbo just because of the potential for attacking returns.

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

        Currently on him just for that reason. Thanks

  16. Kay317
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play:
    A) Cancelo
    B) Shaw

    First to 5 wins.

    Last decision to make so appreciate the help. Good luck everyone.

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

      Play shaw

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

      Cancelo

  17. Wayne Enterprises
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2/3 to start

    Pogba
    Gundo
    Barnes

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes and Gundo.

  18. What am I doing?
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play

    Mee
    or
    Cancelo
    ?

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

      Cancelo 100%

      1. What am I doing?
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        thanks bro

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

      Canceko

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

      Cs odds are similar, so cancelo for attacking potential

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

    Taylor going to be back for DGW?

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

      Ask Dyche

  20. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1FT 4.5m ITB

    McCarthy
    Coufal Cancelo Justin
    Soucek Salah Son (VC) Gundogan Bruno (C)
    Bamford Antonio

    Johnstone - Adams Lowton Stones

    GTG and step away from the keyboard time or any changes to be made?

  21. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    G2G Save free transfer not holding out much hope for clean sheets

    Martinez
    Konsa Stones Cancelo
    Salah Son(c) Bruno Soucek
    Bamford DCL Antonio

    Steele Mahrez Holding Mitchell

    Or start holding over konsa?

    Cheers

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

    Look like people forgot that Gundo is City penalty taker

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

      Are you sure? Might be Sterling also...

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

        Did you see Sterlings last penalty?

  23. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez to Pope? WC25 incoming

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

    Captain
    A) Antonio
    B) Bruno

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

      I’m chasing and leader doesn’t have Antonio, so leaning to Antonio

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

    Captain Son or Antonio?

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

    The hype for Pope and Mee is unreal here 😆

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Trap

  27. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gone bruno (c) Antonio (vc)

    Tiny bit anxious Antonio may be rested ahead on Tuesday united cup match

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

    Start which one??

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

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

      B

  29. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    this is the gwk of bench whinging ,mine is ederson,saka,dcl,trent just wow was,martinez,salah,cancelo,trent

  30. Pickle juice
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start cancelo or justin

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

      Cancelo for me

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

      Cancelo

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

      I’ve started both

    4. Pickle juice
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ok differ question which 2 out of this three ...

      A.justin
      B.coufal
      C.dallas