Scout Notes

Guardiola hints at Double Gameweek 26 and 27 for City and offers Gundogan update

Double Gameweek 24 came to a conclusion on Wednesday evening as Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to ten points with a win over Everton.

Elsewhere on a generally underwhelming night for those with Fantasy interest, Burnley and Fulham played out a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.

SEEING DOUBLE

How the top 10k FPL managers set their teams up for Double Gameweek 24

A throwaway line from Pep Guardiola in his pre-match interview on Wednesday evening set tongues wagging in the Fantasy Premier League world.

The City manager lamented a busy month ahead for his side before the clash with Everton, in doing so mentioning that games against Wolves and Southampton – City’s two outstanding fixtures following cup-related postponements – had been added to the calendar in March.

Those two matches could realistically only be added to Gameweeks 26 and 27 if we’re looking at City’s schedule before the March international break:



Premier League fixturesOther fixtures
February 21Gameweek 25: Arsenal (a)
February 24UCL, last 16: Monchengladbach (a)
February 27Gameweek 26: West Ham United (h)
March 2/3*Gameweek 26: Soton (h)/Wolves(h)?
March 6*Gameweek 27: Manchester United (h)
March 9/10*Gameweek 27: Soton (h)/Wolves(h)?
March 13*Gameweek 28: Fulham (a)
March 16UCL, last 16: Monchengladbach (h)
March 20FA Cup, quarter-final: Everton (a)
—————INTERNATIONALBREAK———————-

*Exact March dates are yet to be finalised by the various broadcasters

ARE YOU ILKAY?

Missing his first Premier League game since Gameweek 12, Ilkay Gundogan (£6.1m) sat out City’s win at Goodison Park.

Guardiola had forewarned us that the German would miss out on the trip to Merseyside and he had more to say on the in-form midfielder ahead of kick-off, suggesting that a return to action in Double Gameweek 25 wasn’t yet assured:

Elsewhere on the fitness front, Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) marked his return from injury as a late substitute.

We await news on Joao Cancelo‘s (£6.1m) condition, with the Portuguese defender taking a heavy kick to his knee in second-half injury time and limping through to the game’s conclusion.

As for Everton, the Toffees could have Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) back for the Merseyside derby this weekend:

SILVA LINING

Guardiola hints at Double Gameweek 26 and 27 for City and offers Gundogan update 1

De Bruyne’s return gives Guardiola another option in the centre of midfield, where Gundogan and Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) have started every Premier League match that they have been available for from Gameweek 14 onwards.

It was Phil Foden (£6.1m) who ostensibly filled in for Gundogan as the left-sided ‘number eight’ on Merseyside, with the youngster opening the scoring with a deflected 31st-minute effort and generally posing more of a threat than the shot-less Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) further up the flank.

Bernardo meanwhile made it six attacking returns in his last seven starts, first claiming the assist for Riyad Mahrez’s (£8.1m) superb strike and then taking advantage of some suspect goalkeeping from Jordan Pickford (£4.8m) to round off the scoring himself.

Bernardo has started 12 league matches in a row now and his and Gundogan’s run in the team pre-dated De Bruyne’s injury by some time.

It’ll be interesting to see how Guardiola incorporates the Belgian back into his side, then. Given the form of Bernardo and Gundogan in their respective central midfield positions and Gabriel Jesus‘ (£9.2m) lack of it up front, it’ll be the Brazilian who will be watching more nervously over his shoulder – both Bernardo and De Bruyne have operated as the spearhead of the City attack over the last few months.

Rotation will beckon for most City players during the upcoming period of fixture congestion, it has to be said, with Guardiola telling reporters:

If you see the schedule that we have… we have a game every three or four days, everybody is going to play. Against Arsenal, we are going to play new ones.

ALL ABOUT MEE

It’s now just one clean sheet in seven matches for Burnley without their skipper Ben Mee (£5.1m), who missed Wednesday’s draw with Fulham due to the concussion protocol.

The Clarets’ shut-out record stands at seven in 17 when Mee is fit and the good news for Sean Dyche’s side is that the first-choice stopper will be available for selection for the weekend’s clash with West Bromwich Albion, a fixture that offers Burnley a very good opportunity to add to their clean sheet tally.

Not that stand-in centre-back Kevin Long (£4.3m) was culpable for this clean sheet loss, with first-half substitute Robbie Brady (£5.0m) – on as a replacement for the crocked Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£5.4m) before having to leave the field himself – making a hash of a goalline clearance for Fulham’s opener.

On a disappointing evening for owners of Nick Pope (£5.6m) et al, the four Fantasy assets who emerged from the draw at Turf Moor with any sort of FPL return were all owned by 1.5% of Fantasy managers or fewer.

Ola Aina (£4.5m), the fortuitous scorer of the Cottagers’ goal and assister of one of Josh Maja‘s (£5.5m) strikes in the win over Everton, finished as Gameweek 24’s joint-top scorer on 20 points alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) – two players owned by a combined 10 managers inside the top 10k.

Fulham were worthy of their point and their undefeated run against sides outside of the top four now stretches to ten games.

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1,127 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play up

    1. Gazwaz80
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pompey...

  2. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got rid of Salah for Sterling. What a waste of a transfer.

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

      that was silly lol

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Can't be all as clever as you. For one week only.

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

      Yup same here....... not sure whether to keep (came off at 78 minutes so looks like might start Arsenal game) or take -4 to transfer to De Bruyne Salah or Son

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

        I am thinking to sell him for Raphinha.

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

          Good option - I have already and got captaincy on him at the moment

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

            Wolves it will be a tough game for Leeds.I want to study better this game to have a clear image.

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

          Already do this

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

            Tempting with the double game week but bold to take Salah out for him and not find another way to get in.

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

    SOS! Help Sterling refugee! Tired of this dead weight in my squad.

    1 FT, 0.4 ITB

    De Gea

    Cancelo-Dias-Dallas-Mee-Shaw

    Sterling-Saka-Son-Bruno-Raphinha

    Antonio-DCL-Bamford

    Who do I replace Sterling with?

    A) Foden
    B) Gundogan
    C) KDB
    D) Someone else?

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

    C

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

    TC Kun in 27?

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

      Lol

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

      Why?

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

        Should be back in by then and potential DGW with Southampton - have happy memories of 2 seasons back of TC Kun when he was just back in

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

          From a whole year spell without playing?

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

            This

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

      Rank must be in millions

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

    Wildcard team, am I missing anyone obvious?!

    Martinez (fodder)
    Dias Cancelo AWB Soyuncu Elmo
    Salah Bruno Gundo Neto Soucek
    Kane Vardy Watkins

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

      Shaw over AWB

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

        Hmmm, what’s the logic there? AWB has more total points so far

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

          Cheaper, better underlying stats

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

            Thanks!

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

      KDB

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

        This is a major worry & something I have considered. I think his price is just a little high vs Foden / Gundo & with CL games there is always the risk pep rests him (given the league looks pretty set to be Cities!). Could just be over thinking it & missing the best player in the league...

    3. pablo discobar
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Elmo is a risk. Cash injury not serious at all

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

        Dean Smith said he will be out for a few weeks. Logically Elmo will be the like for like change but I’m now thinking of going for Struijk from Leeds... just not sure if he is nailed

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

    Could cancelo, gundo and sterling all be benched v arsenal?

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

      Absolutely.CL game next week.

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

        Yuck! Holding and lacazette on my bench who are both now dropped

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

      Can definitely see KDB getting a start against his fav opposition Arsenal, whether that's in place for Sterling or Bernado only Pep knows.

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

      Cancelo with a possible knee injury...

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

      Pep is too dangerous. The best option surly is to pick the cheaper players ie Gundo > Sterling so at least when they are benched you have some quality to come in!

      I think KDB will start

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

        Sterling starts against Arsenal and rests match after that. He also starts against UTD. I have seen this pattern on last 2 seasons.

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

    Agh I think I'm going to have to keep Sterling for one more week...

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

      Mee too

      Then he makes way for Gundogan when I get Kane for 26.

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

      Seems a good week to sell him and bring in Raphinha (or Minamino / JWP)

  9. michaelington
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do you think Gundo is still a good option now that KDB is back?

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

      At that price, always.

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

        Totally

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

      Even better

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

      If you can't afford Sterling, definitely!

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      100%

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

      Was firing even with KdB in - it’s not binary

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

    pope (johnstone)
    Cancelo stones Lowton AWB coufal
    Salah Bruno grealish gundogan ESR
    Bamford dcl Antonio

    4.7 itb and 1 FT
    Who I bring in here. Open to one hit.
    1. Antonio + coufal to Ings + Dallas
    2. Antonio + ESR to Ings + Raphina

    1. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2 for me

  11. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best option for the team below ??

    1. WC and BB
    2. FTs and 1/2 hits towards 26, no BB, maybe TC

    Martinez/Martin
    Robo/Cancelo/Stones/Tarko/Coufal
    Salah/Bruno/Grealish/Gundo/Stephens
    DCL/Antonio/Bamford

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

      2

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

        Burnley home and another decent home fixture

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

          Replay fail for below!

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

    Planning to save wildcard till after bgw29.

    Cash for Bamford to Kane (tc) gw26

    Am I good to save wildcard? Thanks

    pope (martinez)
    Cancelo dallas Lowton (dias coufal)
    Salah Bruno grealish gundogan raphinha
    Bamford dcl (watkins)

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

      What fixtures does Kane have in 26,?

      1. Mr.K
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Burnley

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

      Same dilemma and team, may get seats with FTs and hits

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

        Don't think there is enough I'd change to male wildcard necessary.....

        Hope dcl is OK and gundog back soon.

        If cancelo is out can remove for a hit in 26.....

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

      Yup looks good, you'll have 7 GW29 players, can bring in another 3 to field 10 which is more than enough.

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

        Cheers.....that's the plan....

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

    Captain

    A. Bamford
    B. Ings
    C. Raphinha
    D. Salah
    E. Bruno

    1. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      First three.

  14. marcos11
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chances Mitchell plays either of the gw26 fixtures?

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

      See if PVA is dropped for game against BHA game, otherwise most likely not.

  15. MysticMac17
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Could Forster get the GK spot over McCarthy at Southampton now? Or no chance?

    1. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think Hassenhuttl assured that McCarthy was his number one, not certain though

  16. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain:

    A) Bamford
    B) Raphinha

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

      The same dilemma.

      Will go for B or Bruno

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

      B

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A due to ownership and pens, but rap if chasing perhaps

  17. MikeLowrey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can you WC the same week as BB? Only second year playing FPL.

    I've got 2FT so dont want to WC to waste a FT, but my bench is looking terrible for DGW26 (Forster, Brewster, Mitchell, Coufal)

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

      Nope you can’t.

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

      No - only one chip can be played in a Gameweek

  18. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Pope or Martinez?

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

      Same dilemma for me.

      I'm going Pope

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

        I'm going Pope. Mee will be back I think which helps.

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

      It has to be Martinez.He is on fire.

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

      Pope all day. WBA are toothless (famous last words).

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

    DGW25

    Martinez
    Cancelo, Cresswell, Alioski
    Rapha (C), Sterling, Souček, Bruno
    BamBam, Antonio, Ricky Bobby Reid

    Might be in a position to roll the DGW26 FT to 27..

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

      Raphinha bettet captain then Bamford?

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

        Consensus seems to be that scoring might be close, in which case give the armband to the player with greater upside.

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

    1. Antonio + coufal to Ings + Dallas
    2. Antonio + ESR to Ings + Raphina

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

      2

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

      also 2 but would not close the door to an Antonio return.

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

    2ft, 0.9 itb. 0.0 clue what to do at this stage...

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

    Any advice folks?

    1. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on your 26/29 chip plan. Unless you want to BB 26, I'd do Justin --> Dallas and roll the 2nd FT.

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

      Even as a villa fan I think it’s time to get rid of JG. Some serious competition for the midfield spaces / better value based on fixtures. JG to Raphina for the DGW then roll a FT?

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

    A, Do I need Raphinha, if so who goes?
    B, DCL to Ings for the doubles?
    C see anything I am missing?

    Martinez,
    Dias, Mee, Maguire,
    Salah, Foden, Bruno, Gundo, Son,
    Bamford C, DCL,

    Johnson, Watkins, Coufal, Mitchell,

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

      Mee->Dallas?

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

        Good idea, or get rid of Mitchell?

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

          Even better

  23. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any WCers eyeing up KDB over Salah/Sterling?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      All full at the inn I’m afraid

      1. Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What's the inn looking like?

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

      Could be a big differential this weekend........

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

      KDB will be in for me . . . for whom probably depends on how I retool the front line.

    4. KUN+10
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not until i see some form

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

    Dcl back for the weekend?

    Thanks

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

      Hopeful. Ancelotti didn't know.

  25. FPL_WILDCARD
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    On a WC, is it too much of a risk to go no Salah between GW25-29 to invest in Kane and Son for their extra game in 29?

    1. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      There's no answer to this. Could also say it's too much of a risk to get Salah.

    2. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fwiw, I'm holding Salah and moving him to Son in 29. Have Kane.

  26. Mr.K
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL, Antonio, Soucek, Holding -> Ings, Bamford, Minamino (or Raphinha?), Dallas for -12... is this madness?

    DCL and Antonio are questionmarks and West Ham's fixtures get rough, whereas Leeds and Soton have pretty alright fixtures coming up. I still have a free hit available too, though.

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you were planning on playing the first 4 then yes 100%

      1. Mr.K
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would play DCL and Antonio but might get 0 minutes.

        1. Big Hands Barry
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Then switch those to Ings and Bamford?

          1. Mr.K
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            But not the two I wouldn't play anyway? I'm not following 🙂

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

    What to do here? 8.3 ITB and all chips remaining, including WC.

    A. Mitchell > Dallas (-4)
    B. Stephens > Raphinha (-4)
    C. Both the above (-8)
    D. G2G

    Martinez (4.0)
    Dias, Stones, Cresswell, Mee (Mitchell)
    Salah, Bruno, Gundo, Soucek (Stephens)
    Bamford, Ings (DCL)

    1. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B for me, and I'd probably (anxiously) bench Soucek.

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

    Replace Sterling with KDB? (gw 25)

    1. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Im thinking of doing it for a hit.

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

    Right to bench Cancelo and Gundogan here the weekend? Unlikely they play right?

    Martinez
    Tarkowski, Shaw, Strujik
    Salah, Fernandes, Grealish, Minamino
    Ings, Cavani, Bamford

    Mendy, Cancelo, Gundogan, Digne

  30. barcaa7
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    bench 1
    a-Cancelo
    b-Stones
    c-Mee

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

      I'm on B atm and I have all three but I also have Pope so maybe I should bench c

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

      Probably Stones although I reckon Cancelo gets a rest and Stones plays but play Cancelo for the attacking potential in my opinion

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      A

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

      I have feeling Cancelo will be benched but would still play with Stones and bench Mee