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

    Who do you think is more likely to start?
    Stones
    Cancelo

    or

    Both?

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

      Stones for sure

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

      Stones but of the 2 I’d start Cancelo in FF

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

      Stones

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

        Thanks. Think I'll start Stones, and hace Cancelo first sub.
        Also starting Mee.

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

    Current squad...

    Meslier
    Cancelo Maguire Struijik
    Bruno Salah Son Gundogan
    Bamford(C) Antonio DCL

    Pope; Targett Soucek Coufal

    1FT:

    A - Antonio -> Watkins
    B - Antonio -> Ings
    C - Save FT

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

    Bench 3:

    A) Dias (ars)
    B) Targett (LEI)
    C) Rudiger (sou)
    D) Gundo (ars)
    E) Watkins (LEI)

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

      A, B E

  4. Winners900
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    on WC

    A) Rudiger
    B) Lowton

    Cheers

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

      A

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

      Rud

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

      B

  5. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    People who were planning to WC then BB but have chickened out because dgw not confirmed will kick themselves when it is. Won't get a better chance.

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wrong.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        That's me told. Convincing argument.

    2. Atwood
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldn't it have been confirmed by now though? Seems very late in the day.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The games wouldn't actually be played for 11/12 days yet, plenty of time.

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

      Maybe maybe not

    4. Steve McCroskey
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This. I'm just about to pull the trigger screw it

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

      Is what it is , to late to start sorting a wc card now

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I wasn't suggesting anyone does

    6. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Very wrong

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Can't wait for all the crying when it's announced 😀

    7. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’m happy with my WC. It looks pretty clear how the fixtures will end up to me.

      Martinez, Sanchez
      Dias, Cancelo, Shaw, Dallas, El Mo
      Salah, Bruno, Barnes, JWP, Raph
      Kane, Watkins, Bamford

      JWP, Dallas > Gundo, Periera next week.

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

      How confident are you that Southampton have a double in 26? Manager comments make me think otherwise

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I bet not if I had to choose.

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

          Can't decide what other goalkeeper to go with Martinez if BB next week so?

      2. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Unlikely IMO. Spurs probably gonna play Fulham

    9. built_this_city
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      the issue is - the lack of knowing what the fixtures are changes things.....

      In particular - Villa v Spurs, if that moves to GW29 that will influence my wildcard quite a lot

    10. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Best opportunity to BB 15 DGWers, other DGWs will pale in comparison

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

    Rashford to Raphinha?

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

    Glad I didnt wildcard this week, one more week for extra info

  8. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one:

    A) Dias
    B) Cancelo

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

      Dias

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

      A

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

      B

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

    Am i good to go?

    Sanchez (Martinez)
    Dallas - Dunk - Shaw (Dias - Lowton)
    Bruno - Salah - JWP - Raphinha (Gundogan)
    Kane - Ings - Bamford

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

      Looks strong to me. What’s your bench order?

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

        Gundo - Dias - Lowton

  10. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Soucek or Raphinha (-4)

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raphinha

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

      Raphinha

  11. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son > Raphinha? (-4)

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not for Son

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

      Big NO

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

    Start
    Gundogan
    Son

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son

      1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        For Grealish?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Possibly - rumours building he may have an injury

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

    Cancelo or Shaw on WC? If Shaw it leaves money itb and a city slot so I can get KDB if he looks good

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Shaw

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

    PLAY BB OR HOLD?

    McCarthy
    Cancelo, Dallas, Mee
    Salah, Bruno, Sterling, Grealish, Raphinha
    Bamford, Adams

    Pope, Watkins, Stones, Rudiger

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

      Hold
      Suspect Cancelo won't play
      Grealish may be out - if that true, Watkins becomes less attractive

  15. n14mul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone other raphinia captain out there...

    Hands up

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

      o/

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

      Yes... atm (see below) lol

      1. n14mul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Not many out there....small.doubt kicking in now seeing all the Bamford capts

  16. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi ... Gundo & Grealish in my starting XI while DCL & Dias on my bench.

    Martinez (Leno)
    AWB - Stones - Dallas*
    Bruno - Salah - Gundo - Grealish - Raphinha*
    Ings* - Bamford*
    Bench : DCL, Dias, Mitchell

    Any move worth -4 ?

    A: Grealish -> Son
    B: DCL -> Kane .. and bench Grealish

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

    A. Sterling & Neco to KDB & Dallas -4
    B. Sterling & Bissouma to KDB & Raph -4
    C. Sterling & Bissouma to Gundo & Raph - 4 (Allows Antonio to Kane GW26)

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

      C if Gundo starts. Otherwise B.

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

        Thanks... Although unfortunately i have miss placed my crystal ball 😉

  18. Esalman
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez Pope
    Mee Cancelo Stones Coufal Neco
    Son Salah Bruno Grealish Soucek
    Richarlison Watkins Brewster
    2.0 itb, 1FT

    Was planning to BB26 but how to I get Ings? I don't see a way other than losing Son or Grealish.. or using WC.

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

    RMWCT 😉

    Martinez, Sanchez
    Dias, Stones, Shaw, Dunk, Aina
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Foden, Raphinha,
    Ings, Bamford, Watkins

    + cash for any FWD > Kane

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

      Meh

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

      Bit too much Brighton. Front 8 looks perfect

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

      Not enough Brighton 😉

      Not sold on City trio really. I'd leave a slot for KdB.

  20. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you Bench Boost this?

    Martinez Gundogan Cancelo Cresswell

    I have Grealish and Sterling in Starting 11 as well

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. h3nh3n
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      With the double gameweeks coming up, I personally wouldnt

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

      Why not BB next week?

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

        Leaning more towards WC26

    4. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No. But go ahead if you're fine with the risk

    5. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just my guess that Gundo will not be risked.

    6. Kabayan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

  21. h3nh3n
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick two:
    A gundogan
    B Sterling
    C Lookman
    D Cancelo

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

      AB

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

    My Prob City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Dias,Zinchenko, KDB, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, Foden.

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

      I personally dont see Foden and Sterling starting this one.

      Agree on the backline - think Mendy and Walker start in the champs league with Laporte and Stones or Dias

  23. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Antonio or Cavani, who has a better chance to start?
    Need to replace one of them to Ings
    before deadline, mates

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

    Fighting the urge to swap the captaincy from Raphinha to Bamford...

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

    On WC, best backup GK alongside Martinez, assuming Bench Boost next week

    A. Sanchez
    B. Areola
    C. Johnstone
    D. McCarthy

  26. Muchentuchel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Meslier
    TAA-Cancelo-Rüdiger (Holding, Creswell)
    Salah-Bruno-Son-Raphinha (Gündo)
    Barnes-Ings-Bamford

    Play
    A) Barnes
    B) Gündo

    cheers!

  27. Jehstafari
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son & DCL to Raphina & Ings (-4) a no brainer?

    Leaves enough to do Ings to Kane next week

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

    Would you do
    Grealish, Antonio > raphinha, Ings for free?

  29. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Play Cancelo
    B) Get Dallas for -4

  30. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Maddy to Raphinha worth a hit?
    (Have Bamford)

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

      that's a tough one I did it because I couldn't get rid of any other midfielder