Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice to Double Gameweek 24

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Double Gameweek 24 ahead of today’s 11:00 GMT deadline. A small double in which only four sides – Everton, Manchester City, Burnley and Fulham – are playing twice.

Following the FA Cup results and quarter-final draw in midweek, the Fantasy landscape has shifted once more. 

We now have a better idea of how the upcoming Gameweeks will shape up and, unfortunately, those cup ties have handed us a few injury blows to contend with.

Team News

The Double Gameweek 24 announcement at the start of February thrust Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) high up on our list of targets – he was even spoken about as a potential captaincy candidate by Hall of Fame No 1 Fábio Borges and five-time top 1,000 manager Tom Freeman.

However, such plans have since been shelved with Carlo Ancelotti confirming that his main striker is set to miss Sunday’s encounter against Fulham, along with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (£4.8m):

Both (Calvert-Lewin and Pickford) will not be available for the game on Sunday. We are looking for the next game on Wednesday where we think both of them will be available. I think (Calvert-Lewin) stopped [playing] before the problem [developed]. He only had a sensation, a feeling that something was not good and he stopped. He has a little problem, he can play on Wednesday.

– Carlo Ancelotti

One match against Manchester City is much less appealing than a double that includes Fulham.

And there was worse news for owners of James Justin (£5.2m), the most-popular defender in FPL, with the Leicester City full-back ruled with a long-term injury:

Elsewhere, Callum Wilson (£6.7m) faces at least six weeks on the sidelines, while Michail Antonio (£6.7m) isn’t certain to be available when West Ham United host Sheffield United on Monday. Although David Moyes did say his striker is “doing well” and would “hopefully be close” to being involved against the Blades.

On a more positive note, fears that Nick Pope (£5.5m) and Rúben Dias (£6.1m) were set to miss the Double Gameweek have been allayed. Both were reported to have trained ahead of the weekend after missing out in the FA Cup. 

For a full recap on the latest press conferences, read David’s round-up and check out Neale’s Predicted Line-Ups

Fixture Fun

Neale looked at the possible implications on the fixture schedule resulting from the FA Cup. 

At the moment, just three Premier League matches are confirmed for Gameweek 29, when the quarter-final ties are due to take place:

  • Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United
  • Fulham v Leeds United
  • West Ham United v Arsenal

The other seven matches from that round of fixtures will therefore have to be rescheduled – the option of moving them to midweek isn’t possible as Gameweek 29 is followed by an international break. 

The most likely destination appears to be Gameweek 26, which would make it the biggest Double Gameweek of the season. But with four other matches also needing to be rearranged, a fair amount of juggling is expected. 

Legomané updated his ticker, which includes non-Premier League matches.

(click on image above to enlarge)

As Neale explained in his article, there’s a balancing act for Fantasy managers when it comes to planning for Blank Gameweek 29 as the six teams with a confirmed fixture are unlikely to play twice in Gameweek 26.

Managers with their second Wildcard and Free Hits chips still at their disposal will be at an advantage. But if you are trying to navigate the fixtures without them, all is not lost.

Every FPL boss will receive three free transfers between the Blank and Double Gameweeks and, combined with a judicious use of bench players, this should help us field a respectable side.

And the FPL Gods may spring a surprise with additional fixtures in Gameweek 29, a possibility for teams already knocked out of the FA Cup.

Pro Pundit Plans

Tom, who has a full set of chips to choose from, is considering the following strategy:

  • Gameweek 25 – Wildcard
  • Gameweek 26 – Bench Boost
  • Gameweek 29 – Free Hit

The only downside, he noted, is that because Gameweek 25 is a Double for Leeds and Southampton, his Gameweek 26 Bench Boost would include players who play once. Not ideal.

The alternative he is considering is to use his Bench Boost now, followed by a Wildcard in Gameweek 26. Although with the injury to Calvert-Lewin, he might be reconsidering. 

Az was having similar thoughts before the news of Calvert-Lewin’s injury. Faced with a benching dilemma between West Ham duo Tomas Soucek (£5.4m) and Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m), who enjoy a home game against Sheffield United, playing his Bench Boost now seemed a good solution.

But speaking on the latest episode of FPL Black Box, Az mentioned the possibility of switching Calvert-Lewin to Richarlison (£7.9m) and saving his Bench Boost.

Although fellow Pro Pundit Seb isn’t convinced: “Richarlison doesn’t particularly interest me, I wouldn’t have considered him before DCL was out, the latter’s absence doesn’t change that.

Instead, he’s potentially joining Pro Pundit Lateriser in moving to Danny Ings (£8.4m) as his Calvert-Lewin replacement. 

When Seb shared his thoughts 12 hours before the deadline, the Saints striker had found a place in his XV. Although with his Wildcard active, that is subject to change:

I’m not sold on Ings but the Calvert-Lewin injury has forced a front-line rethink. He is the best suited to my plans due to his upcoming doubles and ability to be converted easily to a number of other strikers in due course. He has missed a lot of big chances recently (four in two matches), which can be read in two ways: he’s been poor or he’s been unlucky. My reading will probably be decided by if I pick him or not!

– Seb

Lateriser was slightly more upbeat:

It might even be a good idea to jump on Danny Ings, who has a decent looking fixture against Wolves in Gameweek 24 before his Double Gameweek in 25 … I particularly mention Ings here because, to me, he looked really sharp against Newcastle and got a lot of shots off which hasn’t been the case with him normally.

Seb’s Wildcard

This week’s Scoutcast used Seb’s Wildcard plans to structure debate around a number of key talking points ahead of Gameweek 24. But, given that it was recorded before Everton’s thrilling 5-4 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup, it included the now stricken Calvert-Lewin.

To bring us up-to-date, Seb has kindly revealed his revamped Wildcard squad as it stood on the eve of the new Gameweek:

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that nothing has changed, aside from the introduction of Ings for Calvert-Lewin.

As Joe was quick to observe last Tuesday, Seb has answered the “Which Man City trio?” question by doubling-up in attack.

The Raheem Sterling pick allows Kevin De Bruyne back in the future with ease. Or a simpler return to Mohamed Salah (whose absence does concern me; we’re all casting him off very easily, especially with Fulham in Gameweek 27). I’ll miss the extra City defender, but there are plenty of other options in that department over the coming weeks.

– Seb

It’s a move that was first mooted on site by Camzy ahead of Gameweek 23 – and which proved to be correct with Ilkay Gündogan (£6.0m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) combining for 21 points against Liverpool. And last week’s Scoutcast also promoted the England international as an option for our midfields.

This week, David and Jan have put their weight behind the switch to double attack.

Part of their reasoning has to do with how poor Man City’s upcoming opponents, Spurs and Everton, have been of late. Especially at the back. Over the last four Premier League matches they feature among the worst defences in terms of expected goals conceded (xGC):

On balance, it looks as if Spurs and Everton are both much more likely to concede, maybe even heavily, against Manchester City – than struggle to ask questions of their own going forward.

– David

Gündogan and Sterling top the expected goal involvement (xGI) for Pep Guardiola’s troops in the last six matches. And Sterling’s position on the left of Man City’s attack could be crucial given a weakness down the right flank for both Everton and Spurs.

Over the last six matches, only Southampton (27) have given up more chances down their right-hand side than Jose Mourinho’s men (25). Everton have conceded 22 chances there, the seven-worst in the Premier League, and more than they have given up through the middle or the left.

– Jan

This vulnerability sees Sterling favoured narrowly ahead of his team-mate in Jan’s Captain Sensible article. 

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

You can now enter the Fantasy Football Scout Cup competitions, qualifying will get underway in Gameweek 25.

A total of £300 in prizes is available across the two tournaments, entry is free for the open-to-all Fantasy Football Scout Cup but only Premium Members may sign up for the Members Cup.

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

For those participating in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. There’s been a small tweak this week by Mat (aka matzi11a) to the fixtures and results displayed on that page.

From now on, the main page automatically shows the current Gameweek rather than requiring a manual intervention each time. The final scores will therefore be available quicker at the end of the Gameweek.

The fixtures for Gameweek 24 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

3,176 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Heisenberg W. W.
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    BENCH ONE:

    1.Konsa
    2. Dallas
    3. Coufal
    4. Soucek
    5. Bamford
    6. Antonio

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

      Konsa

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

      2

    3. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dallas

  2. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Quick question lads

    Start Son or Raphina.

    Or take a -4 for James Rodriguez

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

      Raphinha is interesting as he tends to play on the right I believe and Tierney is out, so likely will be Cedric filling in as LB unless he puts Saka there instead.

      He struggled against Adama Trarore and Raphinha may get a lot of joy there. So I'd lean towards him, but I'm a H-M Son lover

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

        Everyone struggles against Traore..

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

      no hit

      son

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

    Hi.....good to go here? 1ft. Thanks

    Plan...24 Antonio and soucek to bamf raphinha

    25...bamf to kane

    Thanks

    Pope (martinez)
    Cancelo dias Lowton (dallas coufal)
    Salah Bruno grealish gundog soucek
    Antonio Watkins (dcl

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

    I think I have a plan. What say ye?

    GW25 - TAA > Dallas
    GW26 - Antonio > Kane (TC), Pope > 4.0 (-4)

    DGW26 team

    Martinez
    Cancelo / Stones / Shaw / Bednarek
    Bruno / Salah / Grealish / Gundogan
    Kane / DCL

    Subs: Saka, Dallas, Bamford

    Other chips remain in place (WC, BB, FH). Any gaps here that could be problematic?

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

    Start 1
    A: R.James (NEW)
    B: Bamford (ars)

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

      Tricky...in that case will always go for the attacker !

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

        thanks, currently james in. its tight

        1. super zlatan
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I’d say bam given he is on pens etc. I fancy Leeds to score.

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

            cheers SZ

  6. as33
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it worth to do a hit for Stones>Keane and Bissouma>Gundogan?
    Martinez
    Cancelo, Stones(Keane), Holding,
    Salah, Bruno, Sterling,
    Grealish(Gundogan)
    Antonio, Bamford
    sub:DCL,Kilman,Mitchell

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

      i wouldnt... unless capt gund over sterling? doubt it

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

    Pope
    Lowton Digne Cancelo Dias
    Bruno Salah Gundo(c) Soucek
    Antonio Bamford

    Martinez Son Coufal DCL

    G2g? Bench okay?

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

      GTG similar to mine, see below

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

    Since I'm worried that Antonio will just make a cameo, shall I...

    A) Play Dallas and put Antonio first Sub
    B) Play Antonio and put Dallas first Sub

    Rest of my bench are Barnes and Adams.

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

      B

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

      B

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

    Anything worth a hit this week folks? Otherwise GL!

    DDG
    Stones Cancelo Cresswell Lowton
    Gundo [C] Salah Bruno Raphinha
    Bamford Antonio

    Martinez Son Coufal DCL

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

      You're fine. Just take out DCL next week

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

        He's Kane placeholder in DGW26

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

          perfect !

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

      Son over Cresswell

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

        Got ya there, thx

        1. super zlatan
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Similar to mine except I have started son over raphina.

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

    Play 2:
    1)coufal
    2) grealish
    3)dcl
    4)Bamford

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

      14

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

    Son to James Rod worth -4?

    If wcing next gw

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

      No

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

      No

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

      no

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

      If certain to wildcard next week, why not, bit of a punt but shouldn't backfire too badly

  12. Paddy Gooner
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Already on a -4. Should I trade Salah > Sterling for another -4 ???

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

      doing it for Salah is risky but otherwise it's worth it, particularly if you're captaining Raz

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

    Play one

    A Son
    B Antonio

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

      B

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

    Bench 1

    A Bamford
    B Raphina
    C Antonio
    D Rashford

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

      B

  15. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 1:

    A) Coufal
    B) Antonio
    C) Son

    1. Heisenberg W. W.
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

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

      C

  16. Mooster©️
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Grealish or Son??

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

      Jack

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

    Bench one:

    A) Bamford (ars)
    B) Son (mci)
    C) Watkins (bha)

    1. Heisenberg W. W.
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

      B

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

      C

  18. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play

    A) Coufal
    B) Dallas

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

      A

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

      I'd play Dallas surely

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

      Oh wait...he plays Arsenal..hmmm. In that case it's close but might go for Coufal then.

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

      Coufal

    5. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers!

    6. Jersey Boy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  19. deshawn7
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one
    A) Bamford
    B) Son
    C) Cresswell

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

    Right time to start Twitter deadline rumours

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

    Bench 1:
    Firmino
    Bamford
    Soucek

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

      Find a way to play all of them

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

        Would need to bench either:
        Salah
        Bruno
        Gundo
        Grealish
        Watkins

        to make way

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

      Firmino probably

  22. xandu
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I have 1 FT and still having DCL and Justin. Should I:

    A: DCL to Ings/Cavani
    B: Justin to Tarkowski/Shaw/AWB
    O: Play Targett over Anguissa
    K: Play Son over Anguissa
    Team

    Ederson
    Mee, Cresswell, Stones
    Salah, Bruno, Gundo, Anguissa
    Bamford, DCL, Antonio

    McCarthy, Targett, Son, Justin

  23. Me Spurs
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Really fancy cavani this week who would u ditch for him?
    A: Antonio (injury doubt no double)
    B: dcl(tasty double 26)

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

      B

  24. ajk1211
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A or B

    A) Coufal
    B Cavani/Ings - 4

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

    Captain:

    A Ings
    B Salah

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

      B

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

      B

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

      B. Liverpool will be hungry for revenge you'd imagine

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

    So we reached the game week of 24 somewhere in the future on the weekend of Saint Valentine in 2021, on an Isle on the edge of the Atlantic ocean.

    And the question is, to TC or not to TC

    ... for in gw24 on Man City this is the question for everyone holding the big chips?

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

      Consensus here is to hold for Kane

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

        Great, i love a contra flow approach in life and FPL.

        You can take the template and...

        Rip it up!

    2. Mooster©️
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo?

  27. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play
    A) soucek
    B) Antonio

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

      B

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

    Morning everyone!

    Play 2 of :
    1) son
    2) Bamford
    3) DCL
    4) antonio

    Captain
    A) pope
    B) gundogan
    C) Bruno
    D) salah

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

      24
      D

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

        Salah?!

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

      24
      B

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

      24-B

  29. cescpistols111
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you recommend any changes to this team? 1FT, 1.7 ITB.

    Ederson Button
    Coufal Rudiger Holding Lowton Kilman
    Sterling Fernandes Son Grealish Bissouma
    Werner Ings Bamford

    1. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundogan

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

    Bench 2 of those?

    1. Son
    2. Coufal
    3. Barnes
    4. Dallas