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. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    So Antonio might be benched?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Always

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

      *rolls eyes*

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

      Always possibility, prob mins managed

    4. FPL_Hazards
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What?

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

      Say what?

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

      Oooh. Juicy predeadline rumours.

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

        Conveniently popping up 19 mins before deadline. Nowhere to be seen all week 🙂

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

          Haha. No but pre deadline rumours are not cool. Won’t shut up once 11am passes.

    7. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes please

    8. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stupid twitter accounts.

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

        😆

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

      Unlikely but definitely a chance.

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

      I could post that Jorginho is going to get a hat-trick and you'd believe it.

      You're constantly recycling random posts on here, so gullible!

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

      don't say things like that

    12. Chill, we'll call you
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely. Everyone with Bruno (C) says so, so it must be true.

  2. Ojpsan1
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one

    A) Wilson
    B) Gundo
    C) Shaw

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

    Repost, final decision:
    A. Play Chilwell, Coufal 1st bench
    B. Play Coufal (alongside Creswell

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. The Chief
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A

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

      A

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

    Hi all, bit of help pls!

    1. Start one pls
    A) McCarthy
    B) Pope

    2. Start one pls (have Dias already in)
    A) Coufal
    B) Stones
    C) Lowton

    3. Start two pls
    A) Soucek
    B) Gundo
    C) DCL

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1B
      2A
      3AC

  5. FPL_Hazards
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is this crazy——-

    Forster - Robbo - Alzate

    to

    Pope - Mee - Son

    4 pt hit

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

      Just the last two for free

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not crazy, good moves on papaer

  6. Saosin
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    F it. BAMford - grab the C

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

      I’m on the same

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

  7. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do you see Vardy starting?

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

    Start Hames or Lookman?

  9. hazza44
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one?
    A. Coufal
    B. Cancelo
    C. Justin

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

      Difficult C

  10. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Please help with last minute decision. Play one of:

    A) Cancelo
    B) Richarlison
    C) Digne
    D) Decordova Reid

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

      A

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks. This is what I’ve been on all week.

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Still 16 more minutes left 😉 A

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

      A, I’m just thinking about him as a city midfielder

  11. The Chief
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Benching headache:

    Martinez
    Coufal Dier Dallas
    Sterling Salah Fernandes (C) Soucek
    DCL Bamford Wilson

    McCarthy, Saka, Dias, Stones

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

    Mendy to Pope this or wait until next week?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wait

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

    Pope
    Cancelo Mee Coufal
    Bruno Salah Raphinha Gundogan Sterling
    Antonio(c) Bamford

    [Johnstone DCL Alioski Justin]

    g2g?

    1. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      G2g

  14. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play DCL or Lowton?

  15. Pukki Pies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Stones for Digne?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I did

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

        I wouldn’t - Man City more likely to shut out liverpool

  16. Miniboss
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go or change the bench?

    McCarthy
    Shaw Cancelo Dallas
    Gundogan Salah Bruno(c) Soucek Sterling
    Bamford Antonio

    Button DCL Justin Targett

  17. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dallas>Coufal for FT
    Yay or Nay?

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

      I did Robertson to Dallas. Want Dallas for DGW25 and BGW29.

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

      go for Burnley defender lowton may be

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

    Chances of Antonio being rested?

    He’s had 180 minutes of top flight football within 6 days. Surely a rest today isn’t out of the question with his fragile hammy?

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

      nahh he needs more mins

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

    Barnes Bruno Rashford Grealish
    Jesus Ings Wilson

    Who to put the armband on?

  20. Weilong7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    double city def or targett?

    targett coufal cancelo dias 3.8

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

    GTG? Can’t decide on Son, Bruno or Antonio as Captain!?

    De Gea
    Cresswell, AWB, Cancelo
    Gundogan, Salah, Bruno, Son, Maddison
    Antonio, Wilson

    (Martinez, Dias, DCL, Justin)

  22. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start one: Chilwell, Soucek or DCL?

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

    Start one::
    a) Alioski
    b) Stones
    c) Taylor (Bur)

  24. RyanMK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play DCL or Gundo?

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

      Gund

  25. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I'd rather start Dias over Cancelo for safety, the former is nailed to start, compared to Cancelo, who could be benched.

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

      Start Cancelo, and Dias first on the bench?

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        no, concerned Cancelo comes off the bench.

      2. The Chief
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would you play Dias over Coufal, Dier or Dallas?

    2. Sean
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No way Cancelo doesn’t play this game, too important

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

      I’m assuming he will start based on him coming off early against Burnley

  26. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Shocker. (n)
    It is when Salah scores a hat trick for a 3-0 win when you either benched or sold him.

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

    Gundo or Watkins?

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

    Bench one

    A Justin (Wol)
    B Cresswell (Ful)
    C Cancelo (Liv)
    D Dier (WBA)

    Thanks

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  29. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just did Burke to Son, Spurs against worse defence in the league...gotta be a Son haul!

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      what about bringing in a west brom defender, playing against one of the worst attacks recent weeks

      1. Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Interesting way to look at it, isn't it!

  30. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bruno or Antonio is doing my head in 🙂