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. aardvark22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which 3 to play?

    A) Rudiger
    B) Coufal
    C) Son
    D) Soucek
    E) Bamford
    F) DCL

    Leaning to ADE but leaving Son on bench giving me twinges.

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

    Any chanr for DCL to play. I include him for -4 (early transfer) or better to move out for racharlison for -8

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

      Sounds like he’ll play against City not Fulham.

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

        Hmm then better to save amother -4 as i am planning to moveout hom for Bamford next gw

      2. Ross Geller
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He’ll get some game time vs City according to Ancelotti press conference

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

      He is playing City game but not Fulham, Carlo was clear on this

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

      Don’t think he’s worth removing for -4. I think there’s a chance he might get something against city, Everton will go for it

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

    Devil on my Shoulder saying Sterling (C), common Sense says Gundy (C)...

    A) Sterling
    B) Gundy

    First to 5 is who I pick.

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

      A if you have him, differential!

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

        This

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

      A) - live a little

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

      Sterling if you have him

    4. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    5. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    6. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    7. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks Lads, A is locked in. This post will be a big help or a big fail if he benched haha.

      Either way I am 850k and having a shocker so who cares haha

    8. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      7-0 sterling!! Back it up with a Hatrick now!

  4. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rolled ft, good to go?

    Areola*
    Stones* Dias* Shaw*
    Bruno Salah Son Gundo(C)* Lookman*
    Bamford Antonio

    martinez, awb dcl dallas

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

    Play Saka (LEE) or Soucek (SHU)?

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

      Same dilemma for me.

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

      Saka

    3. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek just edges for me

    4. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Saka

    5. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Saka 100%

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

      Saka. Sheffield are on a bit of a run.

  6. tom2224
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Am I G2G?

    Pope

    Dias Stones R.James
    Salah Fernandes Gundogan (C) Grealish
    Bamford Cavani Antonio

    McCarthy Raphinha Coufal Dallas

    1FT - 4.0 ITB

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

      Just the doubt about RJames start, I would think Coufal for guaranteed mins

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

    Start:
    A) Dallas
    B) Coufal

    1. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal

    2. Pompey5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coufal

    3. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B easily

  8. GCM0803
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ederson
    Cancelo, rudiger, coufal
    Gundo, salah, Bruno, grealish, son
    Antonio, bamford
    (McCarthy, konsa, Justin, dcl)

    1ft, 0.1itb
    1) g2g, save transfer
    2) Justin to Dallas to prepare for dgw25
    3) Justin to Lowton
    4) something else, suggestion?

  9. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one
    A. Soucek
    B. Creswell
    C. Bamford

    1. Pompey5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough.
      Soucek for me. Others are more consistent.

    2. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek

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

    Start 2:

    1. Coufal (SHU)
    2. Grealish (wba)
    3. Soucek (SHU)
    4. Bamford (ars)

    1. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2

    2. Ranger Mann
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ive gone Couf + Grealish
      What you leaning towards?

    3. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1+4

  11. Pompey5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Morning all. Was pretty happy for this gw until DCL was ruled out. Still G2G?

    Sanchez
    Stones Cancelo Dallas
    Salah Bruno Son Grealish Gundo(c)
    Bamford Antonio

    Button DCL Targett Mitchell

    2FT so should probably use one.
    Mitchell to shaw?

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe and play Shaw ahead of Dallas

      1. Pompey5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks.
        Yep. Can see Dallas doing well though as Arsenal are struggling ATM

  12. Stormbringer22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    For those looking to BB26, are you keeping the TC chip to play on Kane in a different Spurs DGW?

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

      Yes hopefully, would’ve used TC on Kane in 26 if I wasn’t BB though

      1. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks mate. Same here, BB26 means I can't TC Kane in 26. Considering doing TC Sterling this week.

        Good luck buddy!

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

          I considered it too but going to hope for another decent option later in the season. Can’t decide whether to start coufal or rudiger

          1. Stormbringer22
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Coufal out of those 2 mate

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

              That’s what I was thinking too cheers mate! Good luck

  13. ChuckN
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Boost this or not?

    Martinez
    Son
    Holding
    Cresswell

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Could work, yeah

    2. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not

    3. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son and Holding probably 2 pointers

  14. simong1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain cancelo or pope?

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

      Pope out of those 2

  15. Steadzz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play two of;

    A- Coufal
    B- Maddison
    C- Anguissa
    D- Grealish

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

    Bench 1?

    A. Soucek (SHU)
    B. Bamford (ARS)
    C. Antonio (SHU)
    D. Rudiger (NEW)
    E. Son (MCI)

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

      Son or Soucek

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

        D

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

      A

  17. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I want to play Dallas against Arsenal. So would you bench Maddison (Liverpool) or Son (Man City)?

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

      I'd bench Dallas

    2. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maddi

    3. Pompey5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I agree re Dallas
      Bench Maddison. Can see Spurs getting a goal on a break and Son normally delivers.

  18. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Maguire to Tarkowski worth -4?

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

      No...

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

    play one
    1. AWB
    2. Coufal

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

      1

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

    Play souek or bamford ????

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

      Very close here.. Maybe Soucek if chasing margins..

  21. SharkyT
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A)Son to Sterling and (C)

    B) Start Son Gundo (c)

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

      B

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

      A if you don’t already have three city players.

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

      B

  22. Enes_Sahini1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Repost...

    What to do lads??

    Martinez
    Robbo Dallas Cancelo Cresswell
    Salah Grealish Son Fernandes
    Bamford Antonio

    McCarthy Adams Stephens Justin

    0.3 in the bank 2 free transfers

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

      Adams to Barnes?

  23. 1zverGGadeM
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    So, with DCL very likely to appear just on City game, it is worthy to get rid and get Ashley Barnes for - 4?
    Already have Gundo, Foden(FT), Cancelo, Mee for their doubles this gw.

  24. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Mee worth the extra compared to Lowton?

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

    Play 1 of:
    A)Dallas
    B) son
    C) Robbo

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

      B

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

      I’d say B

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

      B

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

    Anybody captaining or TC Pope over Gundo or Fernandes?

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

      TC just doesn't turn me on.

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

      Seen a few pope C around or twitter
      Potential to get a genius move & mega haul if Burnley keep 2 CS

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

    I'd feel confident in C sterling or gundo if they both didn't start in FA Cup
    Will gundo start 6 matches in a row?
    If sterling starts v spurs (the harder match) likely to get rest v Everton

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

    Capt ?

    A, Foden or play safe with Gundo?

    B, Play Coufal or Son?

    Martinez,
    Dias, Mee, Maguire, Coufal
    Salah, Foden, Bruno, Gundo
    Bamford, Watkins

    Johnson, Son, Mitchell, DCL

    5.8.

  29. teknicolourfox
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    TC Gundo?

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

      Don’t see many goals in the City double myself so no for me.

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

        Thanks, very tempted to TC Brunomas an alternative this week...

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

      Currently on him but Foden is good options here too :/

  30. The SK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which City asset to lose for Foden? (Planning to WC next week)

    A) Dias
    B) Cancelo

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

      Neither.