2021-22 Double and Blank GW Discussion

Benimar

With GW22 looking like the first DGW of the season, it’s probably time to open the discussion around chip strategy etc.

for those that haven’t heard yet, we will have an extra FH chip (2 in total) this season. The 2nd one becomes active from GW20, and the only restriction is that they can’t be used in back to back GWs.

Chesty08

GW27 Blank for Liverpool and Arsenal as either will definitely make the League Cup final

Benimar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118363633#Comment_118363633

Not guaranteed. If both fail to make the FA Cup 5th round, the game could be moved to the midweek, keeping it in GW27.

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118363633#Comment_118363633

The League Cup is just at semi stage with Spurs & Chelsea on the other side of draw, theres no guarantees of any team getting to the final yet. AFAIK the League Cup semis are two legged ties as well, not sure does that mean blanks though as they are usually mid week ties.

Anyway a few strategies based on what chips people have.

Benimar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118366202#Comment_118366202

Arsenal are playing Liverpool in GW27. The Carabao Cup final is that weekend and one of those teams will be in it, hence the league game will need to be moved.

Fitz*

We probably should assume that Leeds will blank in GW20 also.

Benimar

Three fixtures have now been announced.

Jan 11th Southampton v Brentford, Everton v Leicester

Jan 12th West Ham v Norwich.

Brentford, Everton and West Ham double. Southampton, Norwich and Leicester have one game and Newcastle have no game. Everyone else plays once.

eh i dunno

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118396550#Comment_118396550

Nothing too exciting there to justify a free hit for me

AlmightyCushion

Only West ham worth considering at Everton and Brentford are rubbish. One of West ham's games is palace as well which isn't an easy fixture.

titan18

The gap between the games and FA cup being in between makes it tough. Covid and injuries could ruin your team

dr.kenneth noisewater

When do we expect to hear about DGW fixtures for GW22?

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118407646#Comment_118407646

Only guessing but I would say towards the end of this week or very early next week which would then give fans a weeks notice to plan away trips. GW22 itself starts on a Friday night 14th Jan so the second fixtures of the double are likely for Tues/Wed 18/19th Jan. Liverpool have Brentford and need Leeds rescheduling so would imagine most will triple up there.

Dearg81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118407962#Comment_118407962

Yea it will be early next week, they're waiting to see if any matches in the FA cup will need to rearranged because of covid before releasing the dates.

Fitz*

I would doubt that Liverpool have a DGW22 now. They might need to fit in their cup games there.

Possibly Arsenal too.

Darksoul

Confirmation now that 1st leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final has been postponed; EFL have granted Liverpool’s request but Liverpool have now forfeited home advantage for second leg. First game at Anfield on Jan 13, return at The Emirates on Jan 20

Dearg81

I'll be using the free hit with that news as I've 10 players from Pool, City, Arsenal and West Ham. I'd only have Fernandez, Broja, DCL, Son and Rudiger with a potential double game week.

Father Hernandez

Presumably these games now get added to GW22?

Tuesday 18 January

19:30 Burnley v Watford (BT Sport)

20:00 Brighton v Chelsea (BT Sport)

Wednesday 19 January

19:30 Leicester v Spurs (BT Sport)

20:00 Brentford v Man Utd (BT Sport)

https://www.premierleague.com/news/2440691?sf252618556=1

EDIT: Have checked and can confirm they have been added to GW22,

AlmightyCushion

Not exactly great given a lot of those teams aren't really performing lately. I already have Son, Reguilon and Maupay so I'll play them. I have 2 free transfers and need to get rid of Salah so I might bring in Maddison and Dennis. I only got rid of Dennis because I was on a wildcard and he was meant to be heading off to AFCON soon. Once that didn't happen I was gonna look at getting him back in anyway.

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118425978#Comment_118425978

Kinda underwhelming DGW TBH. I've 3 DGWer is all Bachmann, Maupay and Rudiger... At first I was like use the extra FH, did a quick team there and I didn't like some of the DGWer's I put in. You've Liverpool at home to Brentford, who's players could easily outscore many of the DGW players. If Everton got their ass in gear, at home against Norwich likewise.....

At first taught, all you really want is maybe Spurs assets? If even.... Watford strikers then. As you said, many of the teams ain't showing any form, United and Leicester etc. After that you just don't know where to lean.

I will take a good look at it next week, it's still so far away and more covid / injury bullets to dodge.

Fitz*

At first look, there isn't really a team with a DGW that you would be eager to transfer in players for, let alone take hits for.

Dearg81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118426318#Comment_118426318

Everton are away to Norwich, they were decent going forward against Brighton, they're just a mess at the back.

Fitz*

Not many hints around a DGW23 yet

Fitz*

So about that DGW25 & DGW26....

Cartman78

I know.......the two Free Hits are literally starting to melt in my pocket

The Guru 123

Are they both guaranteed to be double gameweeks? Or is that still to be confirmed?

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118534797#Comment_118534797

No guarantees but given the fixture backlog it is more likely than not. Spurs & Burnley now have 4 games to rearrange so I doubt the PL are going to miss opportunities to reschedule them. There is a few teams with 3 to rearrange as well. Re-scheduling is also tied in with what happens teams in the FA cup so I doubt there will be any announcements until the round is over next week.

Fitz*

The next round of TV selections are due today for the PL, so an announcement could be tied in with that.

Muahahaha

Potentially good news for those holding Arsenal players, their blank in GW25 might get filled in and then they would have a DGW in 26. And it would mean Liverpool double in 26 too facing Arsenal and Norwich, sounds like Salah triple captain territory.

https://twitter.com/FPLGunner/status/1486044390103658503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1486044390103658503%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Fscmtlg%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse

Fitz*

Man Utd & Brighton have a DGW 25.

Man Utd - Southampton (h) & Brighton (h)

Brighton - Watford (a) & Man Utd (a)

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118536338#Comment_118536338

hmmm not sure if that is worth using a free hit on though I would like Bruno for it. Would need some other doubles to make it worthwhile using the FH. Wolves are a potential but they have Spurs and Arsenal which isnt very attractive either.

Fitz*

Some talk that Liverpool will have a DGW 26. Norwich & Leeds.

The Leeds game will be the midweek before the League Cup final, so there could be some rotation for this GW, if it does get confirmed.

Cartman78

That has Origi Triple Captain written all over it

Benimar

4 games confirmed for DGW26.

Liverpool v Leeds

Arsenal v Wolves

Watford v Palace

Burnley v Spurs.

Liverpools 2 games are Norwich (H), Leeds (H). Thats Triple Captain sorted!!

AlmightyCushion

Yeah but Dennis also has a DGW. After his first DGW turning into a single and blanking in it and then killing us in the second DGW, surely he is due a massive haul 😂

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118574810#Comment_118574810

Will likely use it on Salah myself but we might only see him for one of the games as Liverpool have the league up final on at the same time.

What are people thinking about when to get Salah back in? Initially I thought straight away but now with him either playing in in the AFCON final or the 3rd place playoff it seems unlikely he will start for the home game a few days later v Leicester in GW24. Were Egypt to win the whole thing he may well be allowed to go to Cairo to bring the trophy back with the squad and celebrate, if that happens he is at risk of catching covid for the third time.

Benimar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118575265#Comment_118575265

I've kept him. Liverpool are still in with a shot at the league (I can't see them pulling back the deficit but they are not so far behind that they can pick and choose games and just 'concede' the league). The Leicester game is the Thursday and I think he plays that. He might be a doubt for Burnley, but likely plays every game after that up to and including the Cup Final. The following midweek is the FA cup so he gets a rest then.

gammygils

So WC in GW25 and Mo TC GW26 is the plan

Chesty08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118577167#Comment_118577167

No I’d be keeping my WC for a few GW’s. Things gonna get messy

Chesty08

The Egypt - Senegal final has big implications for GW24

Klopp confirmed the winner won’t return until Tuesday/Wednesday meaning one will not be featuring

Cartman78

Salah looked wrecked last night....I won't be rushing to get him back unless there's very clear guidance from Klopp

Dearg81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118580316#Comment_118580316

Yea he did look tired, he's had 3 extra time matches in the KO rounds so that's 360 mins played in 8 days which is basically 4 full games rather than 3.

Muahahaha

yeah I cant see him making that Leicester game. Im half thinking of a two game punt on KdB (Brentford, Norwich) and then getting Salah back in. Would have to leave around 0.6-0.8m ITB to do it depending on how quickly Salahs price rises as people buy him back again

Muahahaha

extra gravy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118581899#Comment_118581899

I'd be afraid KDB wouldn't start the Norwich game with the CL the midweek after.

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582132#Comment_118582132

yeah that is a worry and Salah has Burnley that week too. Klopp said something earlier that Salah/Mane would be back on Tuesday or Wednesday so they will be available for the Leicester game. Whether Salah starts or not is another thing though especially given the amount of extra time he has played at Afcon.

Think I'll forget the KdB idea but might not get Salah back in for Leicester and instead wait till the following GW. Especially if Egypt win Afcon as he might be back a day or two later than Mane.

extra gravy

FA Cup Fifth Round draw:

Luton v Chelsea

Crystal Palace v Stoke

Peterborough v Manchester City

Liverpool or Cardiff v Norwich

Southampton v West Ham

Middlesbrough v Tottenham

Nottingham Forest or Leicester v Huddersfield

Everton v AFC Bournemouth or Boreham Wood

Could be a lot of blanks in GW30 now.

Muahahaha

Yeah GW30 a main contender for the free hit, half my team would be missing that week

extra gravy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118589980#Comment_118589980

If there's only two or three fixtures,it might not even be worth playing it that week. If you can muster 6 or 7 from Villa, Arsenal, Leeds, Wolves, it might be good enough.

The Guru 123

Do we know what teams are guaranteed to play that week?

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590279#Comment_118590279

Only have 3 from those teams, possibly 4 if I replace Alonso with Digne though Laporte is who I really want, its money dependent as he rose in price yet again last night and he is now 5.8m with no DGWs on the horizon (unlike Digne). Still not sure though, I remember Digne at Everton was a yellow card magnet but he does get forward a lot and has a great cross on him

Benimar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590310#Comment_118590310

Villa, Arsenal, Leeds and Wolves. There will be at least 2 more (either Newcastle and Palace OR Burnley and Southampton). There could be more too but we won't know until after the 5th round is played.