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. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Targett and Mitchell to Mee and Tarkowski -4?

    1. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just Mitchell to Tark.

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

    Guys, would you WC next week or 26 or do you think I'm better WC GW30 with this team?

    Pope Martinez
    Digne Dias Stones AWB Dallas
    Salah Bruno Son Gundo Soucek
    Antonio Bamford DCL

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

      Similar team to mine and I’m holding the WC until 30 as things stand

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

        That's what I'm swaying towards as well. Appreciate the help.

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

      Likewise, similarish to mine and I’m keeping WC until GW30. Don’t mind using the odd hit here and there, but I’d rather keep it until then

  3. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rash or cavani.. for 1 week punt

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

      Cavani

    2. JohannaAdams10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cavani

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

      Cav

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

    Play Ings or Bamford??

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

      Both

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

      Both ideally.

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

      Both but of not an option, play Ings

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

    Captain?

    A, Foden
    B, Gundo

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

      B, Foden might be rotated

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

      B

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

      B

  6. Fc Fosse
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it time to triple captain Iker gundogan???

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

      Too late to start thinking of that...

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

      Just c

      1. Fc Fosse
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I have Rahim as well

    3. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think it might. I'm pondering this myself but will probably not do it otherwise I would have no chip left to play in 26

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

    GTG? correct bench? Adams on the pitch instead of Antonio?

    pope
    dias cancelo coufal taylor
    bruno salah gundo soucek
    antonio bamford

    martinez adams son dallas

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

      I’m really umming and aahing whether to start Antonio over soucek/grealish

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

        I can see coufal keeping a CS, Antonio hauling and Villa enjoying themselves against arsenal

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

    Start Digne or Soucek?

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Digne

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

      Digne

  9. MoSalalalalalalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 2 for the draft

    A) Saka
    B) Bamford
    C) Raphinha
    D) Vardy

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

      C d

  10. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chillwell > Lowtown (double Burnley defence) and bench Son!?? I Antonio starting too.

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

      Yes

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

    Bench order:
    A son coufal calvert-lewin
    B coufal son calvert-lewin
    C calvert-lewin son coufal

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

      B

  12. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Bamford or Son you legends?

    1. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Benched Son and playing Bamford

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

      Bam

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

      Bamford

  13. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg?

    Pope
    Cancelo, Mee, Digne, Coufal
    Salah, Bruno, Gundogan(c), Foden(vc)
    Antonio, Bamford

    McCarthy, Son, Dallas, DCL

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

    Hi all,

    First sub issues:

    Dallas (Arsenal away)
    Barnes (Liverpool home)

    Which one would you pick as first sub?

  15. Chief Break-Everything
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Bobby D Reid or Son?

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

      Son

  16. GoonerSteve
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any advice folks?
    I've got 1ft and 0.9itb.

    Squad:

    Pope (McCarthy)
    Stones, Cancelo, Coufal (Justin, Mitchell)
    Gundogan (c), Fernandes, Salah, Son, Grealish
    Antonio, Bamford (DCL)

    Roll the transfer?

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

    sholud I bench boosting these team?

    Martinez, Soucek, Son, Holding

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

    DCL to:

    A. Cavani
    B. Richarlison
    C. Ings

    2ft need to use 1

    1. AD2110
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I did Ings

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

      C

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

    Which more easier..?
    A. Scoring against Arsenal
    B. Keeping a cleansheet against Sheffield

    To decide between WHU def or LEE Attacker

  20. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Souček or Son?

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

    Captain
    a) Sterling
    b) Gundogan
    c) Pope

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      Sterling

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

      Ive done Sterling

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

    Planning on WC next week so which one out of these options. Planning on Triple Captaining.
    A) Salah and DCL to Sterling and Cavani -4
    B) Souceck and DCL to Gundo and adams -4
    C) son and DCL to Sterling Brewster -4
    D)Salah to Sterling

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn’t take a hit if you are going to WC next week

  23. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Get Lowton in for a hit or play Coufal?

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

      Coufal

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

      Coufal

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

      Coufal

  24. Denis Tueart on the wing
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Help required
    Play on of the following and bench the rest, I have Dallas starting at the moment with the others in bench order !
    Dallas ARS (A)
    Bamford ARS (A)
    Watkins BHA (A)
    Son MCI (A)

  25. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Help me choose which ones scores more points this gameweek.

    DIGNE
    MARTINEZ
    POPE

  26. nothingbutgreen
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    siggy or j rod??

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

      FH.. money no object

    2. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Siggy on form and on pens.

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

      JRod - Siggy might not start the easier game

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

        even with no DCL? thinking they’d have to start him

  27. Rbyrne95
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Adams or Raphinha, Dallas or Targett? I already have Bamford starting up top

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

    Pope
    Cancelo | Coufal | Mee
    Bruno | Salah | Sterling | Gundogan | Raphinha
    Antonio* | DCL*

    [Johnstone Alioski Bamford Justin*]

    2 ft., 1.3m in the bank

    a) DCL to Cavani/maybe Richarlison
    b) DCL to Cavani, Justin to Shaw/AWB
    c) another option

  29. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start DCL or Bamford?

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

      Bamford

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

        Cheers

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

      Bamford for sure, it's basically bamford Vs ars or DCL Vs mci

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

      bam

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

    Gtg or change bench?

    Pope
    Tarkowski, cancelo, coufal
    Sterling, gundo, Bruno, soucek, Son
    Bamford, Antonio

    Martinez, Dallas, robbo, DCL