Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice to Double Gameweek 25

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Double Gameweek 25 ahead of today’s 18:30 GMT deadline.

Leeds United and Southampton are the two teams with the extra fixture – the Saints travel to Elland Road on Tuesday evening.

The other main talking point as we plot our moves for the current round of fixtures and beyond, is the potential of more Double Gameweeks in the near future. Pep Guardiola hinted that Gameweeks 26 and 27 will be Doubles for his side but at the time of writing, we await confirmation from the Premier League.

Captain Candidates

Patrick Bamford (£6.9), Raphinha (£5.4m) and Danny Ings (£8.5m) are the leading trio in the captain poll, with the highly-owned Bamford the popular choice.

The best-value forward in FPL, returning over 19.1 points per million spent, Bamford has garnered over 50 per cent of the vote. This in itself poses Fantasy managers an intriguing shield/sword dilemma:

[Bamford]’s currently in just over 53 per cent of teams, the bulk of those will captain him so if you don’t captain Bamford you will probably get pretty much no ranking gain from him, [and] you could possibly get a red arrow if there’s a surge of support in people drafting him in. Whereas Raphinha was in under three per cent of teams [so] if you captain him the gains could be absolutely huge.

– Joe, Captaincy Video

The potential for either Leeds player to do well is there, especially in that Tuesday fixture. As Jan pointed out in his Captain Sensible article, Southampton have given up 11 big chances in the last four matches, the joint-most in the Premier League, while only Liverpool have a worse expected goals conceded (xGC) figure.

Encouraging stuff. But two bits of team news could influence our decisions.

Marcelo Bielsa confirmed that Kalvin Phillips (£4.9m) will miss the first match against Wolves and could possibly sit out the Southampton game too. While Ralph Hasenhüttl revealed that Southampton will be without Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.7m) for a few weeks. 

Without Kalvin Phillips they are really not the same team, he is the guy that holds the whole thing together both defensively and going forward … he’s missed five games this year and … Bamford’s blanked in three of those five games so it makes me a bit worried about him.

– David, Captaincy Video

Speaking on the Scoutcast, “professor of LeedsSeb, as he was dubbed by Joe, conceded that Phillips offers more than Pascal Struijk (£3.9m) in an attacking sense. But, nonetheless, his optimal Leeds trio for the Double would be Bamford, Raphinha and Jack Harrison (£5.5m).

The absence of Walker-Peters is good news for Harrison in particular. The Saints have conceded 17 chances down their right flank over their last four matches and with Walker-Peters missing out, it means we could see one of the centre-backs filling in.

Although, Brazilian Raphinha could also benefit:

Harrison and Raphinha have swapped sides a couple of times in the last few matches … Harrison was obviously subbed off last match … but Raphinha actually moved to the left with Hélder Costa coming on the right, so there is a chance you’ll see Raphinha on the left.

And on Harrison himself, his last two goals I believe, certainly his last goal, came straight down the middle. So if he’s up against the weak full-back that might be more for the assist [but] for the actual goals we might see him making those runs through the middle.

So I think realistically, what’s the crux of this conversation, it’s all quite close. Get the three attackers if you can, if you can’t get Bamford and Raphinha.

– Seb

Raphinha and Harrison touch heatmap last four matches

When it comes to deciding who to captain, it’s worth noting that Raphinha takes corners while Bamford is expected to stay on penalty duties.

No Premier League team has conceded more spot-kicks this season than Wolves (seven). And Southampton are not doing particularly well in that department, either, having given up four penalties  in 2020/21.

But Danny Ings should not be discounted, the Saints talisman has recorded six attempts on goal in his last two Premier League fixtures, including three big chances. And Southampton’s high-press could prove effective against Leeds, as Arsenal discovered in Gameweek 24 scoring four goals. 

Speaking on FPL Black Box, Pro Pundit Mark revealed that he is contemplating buying Ings with one of his two free transfers, factoring in that Southampton may have three Double Gameweeks in the next four. Although, as Greyhead noted in the 100th edition of The Great and The Good, how many of us will trust Danny Ings’ fragile hamstring to manage two games in quick succession?

And, as Jamie pointed out in his Members-only analysis of Southampton, if Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side are to get the best out of Ings, then they will need to create more chances, with the Saints creation ranking near the bottom in their last six matches.

Nonetheless, Ings is the only Southampton player included in the Scout Picks starting XI alongside a triple up of Bamford, Raphinha and Stuart Dallas (£5.0m) from Marcelo Bielsa’s troops.

Pro Pundit Plans

Along with Jack Harrison, the other players who could exploit the weakness down Southampton’s right side are Timo Werner (£9.2m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.7m).

I get the feeling that [Alonso] could drop a 15-pointer in any game if he continues in the same attacking vein. It looks like Tuchel is going to persist with the 3-4-3 formation and his comments with regards to Alonso seems particularly encouraging.

– Lateriser

As high-flying Pro Pundit Andy mentioned, the Spaniard offers massive potential at both ends of the pitch if you can cope with him missing the odd game.

Chelsea were picked out by both Andy and Lateriser due to their appealing fixtures, despite a difficult-looking Gameweek 26.

West Brom, Leeds and Palace are all in the bottom three for expected goals conceded this season, with Everton the seventh-worst team in the league. The fixtures from Gameweek 27 look prime for goals.

– Andy

Werner, who has started Chelsea’s last four matches under new boss Thomas Tuchel, has accumulated the joint-highest number of big chances (five) over the last four Gameweeks. 

Lateriser also noted that for those who are not Wildcarding in Gameweeks 25/26, there is a decent fixture swing in Gameweek 31, and it could be a good time to Wildcard. Something fellow Pro Pundit Az is planning to do, his thinking no doubt supported by some colourful spreadsheets!

Meanwhile, Werner was not one of the forward options being considered by Hall of Fame No 1 Fábio Borges.

The consistent top 10,000 manager is looking to replace the injured Michail Antonio (£6.6m) in his side and, after running the rule over several candidates, it boiled down to getting Danny Ings now or benching Antonio before buying Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) for Double Gameweek 26.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

This is your last chance to enter the open-to-all Fantasy Football Scout Cup with qualifying for the first round taking place in Gameweek 25. Qualifying for the Members Cup – entry for Premium Members only – gets underway in Gameweek 26.

A total of £300 in prizes is available across the two tournaments.

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

Impressively, the two main FFScout mini-leagues are the top two Leagues in FPL, followed by Andy’s own mini-league. Well done to the top five managers in each of those mini-leagues.

There’s been another small tweak this week by Mat (aka matzi11a) to the fixtures and results displayed on the Head-to-Head Leagues main page.

From now on the scores and tables will update each night, so managers can see how they are getting on as the Gameweek unfolds.

The fixtures for Gameweek 25 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

2,870 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Neto over Raphinha crazy?

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

      I'm going for both on my WC actually..

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah crazy as hell

    4. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think this is the week to get Raphinha

    5. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Madder than big jack mad McMaddy the mad hatter from mad street.

  2. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dallas (c)

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Condolences

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      4 points incoming

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

      Ballsy

    4. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That is very 2 + 2.

    5. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hahaha great

    6. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Never in a million years ... waaaaay to much of a risk.

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

      I love these risky moves, they are immense when they pay off! (although they don't usually of course)

  3. Super Silva Haze
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you say are 5 must have ayers if you are gonna wildcard ?

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

      Kane, Bruno, Dias, Martinez, Gundogan

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

        Salah. Over Martinez and Dias

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

      Dias
      Martinez
      Kane
      Bruno
      Salah

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

      Bruno
      Kane
      bamford
      Raph
      Ings
      martinez
      Cancelo/Stones/Dias
      Gundo

    4. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kane Bruno Dias Gundo Martinez

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

    Play McCarthy or Pope?

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

      Pope

  5. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who scores more?

    Kane
    or
    Ings -4

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

      Kane

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

      this week*

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kane

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

      Kane

  6. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Have Che Adams. Need one goal involvement atleast. Not expecting much.

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

    Sell cavano or Antonio for bam

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

      Bam

  8. mdm
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to play:

    A. DCL (liv)
    B. Gundo (ars)

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

      B

    2. Rider on the Storm
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

      A. Hauled against Man Utd, Liverpool's defensive issues and Gundo injury.

  9. Sacked in the Morning
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Am I benching the right player? Can see him scoring but.....?

    Martinez
    Dias Alioski Lowton
    Salah Bruno Sterling Gundo Raphinha
    Bamford Ings

    Johnstone, DCL, Coufal, Mitchell

  10. Kno
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    any world where starting ben white over cancelo is correct?

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

      Earth in 2021. Nothing seems to make sense these days.

    2. The bean
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      In Peps world, cancelo could be due a rest.

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

    Is it worth taking a hit for Vardy or Kane this weekend? Already own Ings and Bamford.

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

      No

  12. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hey fam? Everything right? GTG?

    Did Sterling to Salah for free.

    No WC or FH remaining. TC & BB remaining. 0 FT, 1.1 ITB.

    Areola
    Cancelo Maguire Tarkowski
    Salah Bruno Son Gundogan Raphinha
    Bamford(C) DCL

    Martinez Antonio Coufal Targett

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

      Play Martinez but otherwise gtg

  13. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play which GK?

    A - Martinez vs Leicester
    B - Johnstone v Burnley

    Thanks.

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

    DCL/ Antonio > Ings for free or save FT?

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

      Go ahead.

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

      Yes with Antonio

  15. damiang2233
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Poll

    Who comes out on top?

    1. Bamford
    2. Raphina
    3. Salah
    4. Fernandes
    5. DCL

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

      3

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1

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

      Only between A and B for me!

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

        1 and 2*

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

      2

  16. Return of the FF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I've used my FH already, but pondering WC this week...

    Current team

    Martinez / Pope
    Stones, Cancelo, Coufal, Dallas, Bernado
    Salah, Bruno, Grealish, Gundo, Soucek
    Antonio, Bamford, DCL

    Considering changing to:

    Martinez, Mccarthy
    Cancelo, Dallas, Dunk, Targett, Lowton
    Salah, Bruno, Gundog, H Barnes, Raph
    Bamford, Kane, DCL

    Leaves 1m itb and a decent BB next week.

    What do you think?

  17. Tucker
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench two of:

    A) Cancelo
    B) Dias
    C) Mee
    D) Adams

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

      A and B. Screw it and have some fun

  18. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who gets more points?

    A. Mee

    B. Ings -4

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

      Mulling over this too. Hard to know.

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

      B

    3. Rider on the Storm
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      B

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

    Bottommed

    RMWCT
    Martinez/mccarthy
    Cancelo/stones/shaw/vestergaard/konsa
    Salah/bruno/Son/Gundogan/raphinha
    Ings/watkins/Bamford

    Ings->Kane and BB next GW

  20. Bambi
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play 2 from:
    Cancelo
    Soucek
    Lowton

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

      Cancelo and Lowton. Soucek otb and fingers crossed

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

      Cancelo + Lowton

  21. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is this bench boostable?

    Martinez - Cancelo - Antonio - Coufal

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

      Nah. Two of them might not play and Coufal has Spurs.

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

      nah

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

      Not for me.

  22. Puncheon Guly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play
    1. Barnes (avl) or 2.Gundogan (ars)
    A. Rudiger (sou) or B. Cancelo (ars)

    1. The bean
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough one, 1 and B maybe... pep could try rest Gundogan for champions league

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

    Pick 2 out of 3 on a WC:

    a) Aina
    b) El Mohamady
    c) Rudiger

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

      a & c, though thinking of b if I wildcard in 30/31.

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

    Pick 1:

    A) Dier (whu)
    B) Lawton (WBA)
    C) Cresswell (TOT)

    Thanks

    1. The bean
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

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

    Play

    A Gundogan
    B Mee

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B imo

  26. Rider on the Storm
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I finally manage to have a plan (free hit already done) :
    A. Wait until dgws are official
    B. Triple Captain Kane on dgw26
    C. Build a teams for bgw29 with free transfers
    D. Wc after bgw29
    E. Bench boost after wc

  27. Genji3lade
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    WC team with BB planned in 26 - G2G?

    Martinez Areola
    Alonso Shaw Stones
    Raphina Salah Barnes Bruno
    Kane Bamford Ings

    (Gundo, Castagne, Targett)

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

      Just 2x City? Understand the Alonso pick but surely Cancelo out scores him

      1. Genji3lade
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I don't think Cancelo starts this week, so can always get him later.

        Plus leaves spot to get KDB in if necessary.

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

      Wish I could stretch to Alonso, had to go for Rudiger instead!

      1. Genji3lade
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        At least he is more nailed than Alonso - best of luck!

  28. liiusions
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any comments on my WC/BB team would be appreciated. Got all chips in tact...

    McCarthy
    Cancelo Shaw Dallas
    Salah Bruno Barnes Raphina
    Kane Ings Bamford(c)
    (Martinez Gundogan Dias Rudiger)

    Plan to do Ings+Raphina->Watkins+Maddison for the DGW.

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

      Nice team and good plan. Gtg.

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

      no comment
      no fixtures

    3. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Awesome team - maybe only want 2 Leeds if planning to BB next week but obviously no denying Dallas's appeal

  29. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    So this Grealish news, is it true or....

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

      it's true that he wasn't pictured in trianing yes

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

      Que?

  30. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Son and DCL
    Or
    B) Neto and Kane

    ??