Fixtures

Sizeable Double Gameweek a possibility if fans return to Premier League matches

Should it get the green light to go ahead, the planned return of fans to Premier League matches could have major repercussions for Fantasy managers.

Providing the United Kingdom government’s four-step roadmap to easing COVID-19 restrictions remains on course, each top-flight club will enjoy one game in front of a predominantly home crowd before the end of 2020/21.

This won’t happen before May 17th and, as things stand, only Gameweek 38 falls after this date.

And so, in order for all 20 Premier League sides to be able to welcome back supporters through their gates, Gameweek 36 and/or 37 will likely have to move.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

The current schedule is fairly serene-looking.

Gameweek 32 will see Tottenham Hotspur play twice, with Crystal Palace blanking.

Gameweek 33 will see Spurs, Manchester City, Southampton and Fulham all blank, thanks to the clash with the EFL Cup final.

Only two previously postponed matches remain outstanding: Southampton v Crystal Palace and Aston Villa v Everton.

WILL GAMEWEEK 36 OR 37 MOVE?

This is where it starts to get complicated.

As it stands, Gameweek 36 is a midweek round of fixtures, with Gameweek 37 scheduled for a weekend.

Above: Gameweeks 35-38 as it stands (graphic courtesy of Legomané)

Martin Ziegler of The Times initially reported that the 36th round of matches would catapult into the free midweek after Gameweek 37.

The Athletic have since suggested that rounds 36 and 37 would each simply shuffle forward a few days, with Gameweek 36 taking place on the weekend of May 15/16 and Gameweek 37 in the following midweek.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 35?

SouBur Sunday

Whichever of the above scenarios pans out, a free midweek will suddenly appear after Gameweek 35.

That gap could be used to incorporate Southampton v Palace and Villa v Everton, for starters.

Those two matches could theoretically be absorbed after Gameweeks 33 and 34, of course, but UEFA Champions League and Europa League games fall within those weeks and – generally speaking – the respective competitions tend not to clash.

A BIGGER DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 35…?

It doesn’t end there.

The FA Cup final will involve Chelsea and Leicester City and clashes with – as it stands – the Gameweek 37 fixtures.

If things stay as they are, then any affected Premier League games would very likely move back a few days to the free midweek and still fall within Gameweek 37.

But in any of the two scenarios above involving Gameweek 36/37 shifting, then the postponed league matches would seemingly also have to be swallowed up by Gameweek 35.

And so, up to eight teams could potentially have a Double Gameweek 35 and up to four teams could potentially have a blank in Gameweek 36.

Moderator Legomané has represented the two possible scenarios below in ticker form to give an idea of what Gameweek 35 and beyond could look like.

CHIP STRATEGY

The current world number one answers your questions

Much talk has raged this week of the ‘Wildcard in Gameweek 31’ approach but another Double Gameweek would put the cat amongst the pigeons.

An eight-team Double Gameweek is Bench Boost or Triple Captain territory, with a Wildcard potentially used in Gameweek 34 to plan for it.

The problem is: it’s all theoretical at this stage and subject to change.

Confirmation is still awaited not only from the Premier League shareholders but also the UK government, with any setback in the roadmap to lifting restrictions meaning that the notion of fans returning would be shelved.

Then there are the fixtures themselves, with none of the eight double-headers shown in Legomane’s graphic particularly appealing, other than perhaps Crystal Palace’s.

It’s all (educated) conjecture at this point but, with Friday’s FPL deadline approaching, many Fantasy managers will face a chip-related dilemma or two ahead of Gameweek 31 without knowing the full picture beyond it.

798 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ResultatFar
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Semedo + Maddison

    Or

    Castagne + Neto

    What to go for?

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Very tough, coin flip i think

    2. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Semedo & Maddison

  2. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which one to start here?

    A) Digne vs bha
    B) Dunk vs EVE
    C) Start both and bench Coufal (have Vardy in the team, for what its worth)

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      C

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A always

    4. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      C easily

  3. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    No chips left, 2FTS & 2.9ITB

    Martinez
    Shaw Cresswell Stones (Dallas Burn)
    Salah Son Lingard Raphina Gund
    Kane DCL (Bamford)

    Dallas & Gund > Rudiger & Jota the best option?

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’d rather lose Raphinha than Gundo this week

      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It’s a toss of a coin between Raphina and Gund..do you think Gund will start this week?its only that he is uncertain to start and also blanks in two weeks is why I’m swaying towards Keeping Raphina over him

    2. HaveYassineChikhaoui
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd chance my luck at Gundo playing this week and take out Raphina

    3. Sloane426
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why Rudiger over Phillips?

      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Chelsea defence is a lot better than Liverpool’s?

  4. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is this defence good enough?

    Rudiger, Shaw, Dias, Coady, Philips

    1. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Looks good to me. All nailed, bar philips but he's mostly nailed and dirt cheap.

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah wouldn’t really want to spend much more on it

    3. Oh Mane Mane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      My exact defence on WC this week.
      What’s the rest of your side?

  5. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Guys please help on A) vydra and keep 0.6 ib for GW33 or b) wellbeck but no money left?

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A definitely

    2. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers all that has convinced me to go vydra

  6. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Give me 3 reasons why Coady is a better pick than Fofana on WC

    Im really not convinced this Wolves defence is worth investing in, even with their fixtures

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’m not convinced on their defence at all..one reason I will give you for choosing coady is fixtures

      1. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Leicesters arent half bad either, next 5 are pretty similar for both

        1. Feed tha Sheep
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I’d go Fofana then def

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Because he might get you some attacking returns, though slim chance, Wolves fixtures aren't too bad and Leicester aren't so CS friendly.

      1. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not sure I agree with the second bit, Wolves and Leicester defenders are both only good for the next 5 weeks and in that period Leicester's is very good

    3. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wolves defensive stats (ignoring the West Ham game) are v good

      They have just unfortunately conceded 1 goal every game

      1. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I see. But if we're talking about stats, Leicesters are superior

      2. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        True but it's the one goal that kills the CS bonus, even if it's not been the defender or keepers fault that it's conceded they all lose out.

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      WOL fixtures are too good, the Jonny's injury is annoying

    5. WHUFCSmith23
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      1) 4 of Wolves next opponents are weak from set plays. Wolves are up there for corners scored. A Wolves centre back will possibly score a goal or 2 over that run.

      2) the fixtures are good

      3) Leicester don't keep many cleansheets either and Fofana has limited to no goal threat

      1. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        1) Ok fair point, but even then the chance of an attacking return is very slim in the grand scheme of things and the clean sheet is much more important when picking a player

        2) Leicesters are almost as good in the next 5 GWs

        3) Similar to 1 from the goal threat aspect, with regards to Leicester CS potential although they've only kept 2 more CS's than Wolves, their defensive stats have been far superior throughout the season so Id be more confident about them keeping a CS over the easy run of fixtures

    6. HaveYassineChikhaoui
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Leicester haven't been great defensively at home this season, 7th in xGA whilst Wolves are in the top 7 in the same category. The problem with Wolves is they usually just concede the 1 goal, but in recent weeks it's been tougher opposition.

      1. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hmm interesing. Im not too convinced about home/away specific stats this season since there have been no fans and overall Leicester's defensive stats have been better than Wolves'. Its a close one

  7. VTown
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Choose one combination for WC

    A - Vardy and Phillips
    B - TAA and Nacho

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. Jay Jay Okocha
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I just logged in to post the exact same question... leaning B

      1. VTown
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Haha I'm leaning towards A. Vardy could go huge!

  8. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1 FT - 6.6m ITB - Only TC remaining

    Martinez
    Stones Azpi Digne
    Bruno Gundo Lingard ESR Raphinha
    Kane DCL

    Fabri - Cresswell Bamford Targett

    Raph to Jota and leave it at that? Will move Gundo to Son next week most likely.

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Looks good

  9. ScoutHelp
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which 2 should I bench?

    A) Shaw (TOT)
    B) Bamford (MCI)
    C) Raphinha (MCI)
    D) Coufal (LEI)
    E) Phillips (AVL)

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Couf and bamf

  10. Big Hands Barry
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Playing every week
    A) Gundogan & Jota
    B) Maddison & Lingard

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sorry to annoy you but will go Jota Lingard myself

      1. Il Capitano
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Agree

      2. Big Hands Barry
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Lol thanks

    2. WHUFCSmith23
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mix it up B. Always prefer the talisman personally. Everything runs through Maddison and Lingard. If there are goals they are around it.

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B.

  11. WHUFCSmith23
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anybody else considering keeping Martinez?

    1. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Probably worth shifting out on WC and trying to chase better fixtures elsewhere, he's struggled for points v the big teams in the reverse fixtures.

      That said, he's staying put for me as I can't see myself having a FT spare for a keeper transfer too soon and he has a decent GW33 fixture.

  12. The White Pele
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    who is nailed for chelsea attack this week?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not sure who will be nailed but Mount is tempting even jumping out from the bench

  13. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A Raphinha Dallas to Jota Philips (-4)
    B Auba Digne DCL to Salah TAA Ihenacho (-8), would have to play Veltman and Raphinha/Bamford

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm doing A but with TAA instead of Philips.

  14. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best option?

    A. Ayling >> Robbo (free)

    B. Ayling, Gundo >> TAA, Neto (4pt hit)

    C. Ayling/Veltman, Watkins/Antonio >> TAA, Iheanacho (4pt hit)

    D. Stones, Ayling >> TAA, Saiss (4pt hit)

    FH still available

    1. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Anyone please?

    2. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A. No hit and a genuine upgrade for free

  15. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Are most of the people with WC31 planning on getting a City differential for the GW?

    I guess Sterling is the obvious punt as Captain?

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Gundo is my punt captain

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I'm looking at Sterling captain on wildcard and then switching to Bruno for gw32

  16. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pick one to transfer in:
    A. Jota
    B. Maddison
    C. Mount

    Play one:
    1. DDG (tot)
    2. Martinez (liv)

    Currently on A1

    1. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A1 for me mate

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Super!

  17. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which WC plan please:

    1.
    Mendy Forster
    Shaw TAA Rudiger Holding Lascelles
    Salah Fernandes Son Jota Lingard
    Kane Iheanacho Vydra
    0.0 itb

    2. Lascelles Vydra >> Coady Davis (0.0 itb)

    3. Lascelles Vydra >> Veltman Davis (0.4 itb)

    Thanks all

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I would go Coady

  18. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is TAA in most WC teams after yesterday?

    I think I might take him out and upgrade Nacho to Vardy.

    Shaw Dias Rudiger and Coady Philips/ Holding aint so bad?

    1. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Do you expect a return to form from Vardy?

  19. leocarter27
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC draft please? 0 ITB

    Mendy / Fabri

    Coady Dias Phillips / Shaw Dawson

    Lingard Salah Jota Fernandes Son

    Iheanacho Kane / Bamford

    Thanks guys

    1. Oh Mane Mane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Looks good. Very similar to my own.

  20. Totti
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    reposting

    martinez forster
    azpi stones digne coufal taylor
    bruno son lingard bale raphinha
    calvert kane bamford

    1 FT 0.3 ITB

    A) wildcard
    B) son and bale -> jota and sterling
    C) digne and bale -> 4.5 and sterling
    D) save FT and play 5/3/2 and bench bamford raphinha and bale( for the DGW )

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bale to Jota.

      1. Totti
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        And play without city?

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Too hard to predict which City players will play and they have the league won already. Plenty of points to be won from the nailed on players from the other teams.

          1. Totti
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Why not son and bale-> jota and sterling

            1. GreennRed
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Hard to now if Sterling will play, form isn't great, Aguero might threaten his gametime too though his form is worse for me.

    2. Oh Mane Mane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bale to Jota looks good. Can’t be certain which City players will start. Jota (C)

      1. Totti
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Do u think jota will start?

  21. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bench 2 defenders:
    A)Shaw TOT (A)
    B) Rudiger CRY (A)
    C) Phillips AVL (H)
    D) Coady FUL (A)
    E) Fofana WHU (A)

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      C and D

      1. bigdip
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        you serious? bench Phillips before shaw and fofana away?

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Away, home, what's the difference when there's no crowd?

      2. No Kane No Gain
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Agreed

    2. HaveYassineChikhaoui
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A & E for sure.

  22. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Fill in WC team with Option A or B (doing Gundo to Son & BB chip in GW 32)
    _____, Forster
    Shaw, Rudiger, Phillips, Coady, Fofana
    Fernandes, Gundogan, Salah, _____, Lingard
    Kane, ______ Iheanacho

    A) Mendy, Jota, Vydra
    B) Leno, Neto, Wood

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A 100%

  23. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    For GW 31
    A) Gundo
    B) Son

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. EgyptianKing
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  24. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What do you think about this draft?
    No Bruno but I have some differentials.

    Ederson Sanchez
    TAA Alonso Shaw Rudiger Holding
    Salah Son Maddison Greenwood Jota
    Kane Iheanacho Vydra

    1. Oh Mane Mane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not sure on this. Lot of rotation risks in that draft? Alonso, Rudiger, Holding, Jota, Greenwood, Vydra, Iheanacho all could be rotation worries.

  25. Mika-eel
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    The above article really giving me a reason to keep my Wild Card. Getting itchy fingers and just want to do it for the sake of it. But the fear is real that I'm gonna mess up my team.

    Would be great is we get of the double by 33, Still have FH and BB left. Will be a nice boost to end the season.

  26. Lionac
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which two Chelsea players would you get on WC team?

    1. EgyptianKing
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Rudiger and Alonso for me ATM

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mendy and Rudiger.

  27. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Antonio and Auba to Vardy and Jota -4?

    1. EgyptianKing
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If Antonio confirmed out, I would

  28. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lads thoughts on this WC please?

    Leno
    Rudiger Alonso TAA
    Salah Lingard Bruno Son Jota
    Kane Ihenacho

    Forster Vydra Lascelles Mitchell

    Cheers!!

    1. Oh Mane Mane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Looks strong. Bench not great but starting 11 very strong. Maybe question marks over regular starts for Rudiger/Alonso and jota?

    2. bigdip
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I assume you dont have bench boost and Ihenacho and Jota aren't nailed on, so if they dont play, your bench isn't any good

  29. Oh Mane Mane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on current wildcard?

    Mendy Forster
    Dias Shaw Rudiger Coady Phillips
    Son Salah Fernandes Jota Lingard
    Kane Iheanacho Antonio

    Antonio could become Wood if confirmed injured..

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Very good

  30. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A Raphinha Dallas to Jota Philips (-4)
    B Auba Digne DCL to Salah TAA Ihenacho (-8)
    B means would have to play Veltman and Raphinha/Bamford

    1. Oh Mane Mane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A looks good