GW23 Preview: The Week of Second Guessing

📅 Gameweek 23 Deadline:
Saturday, 24 January — 11:00 GMT
Set your alarms, reminders, sticky notes, and whatever else prevents you from waking up at 13:33 holding back tears.

🌍 AFCON: IT’S A WRAP
AFCON is officially done ✔️
The lads are back.

🔴 Arsenal Secure Top-8
This gives them a free midweek in GW26. If Arsenal reach the EFL Cup final, their GW31 fixture is likely to be moved to GW26.

🚑 INJURY ROUND-UP (AKA: THE PAIN LIST)
Emi Martínez: Missed Villa’s UEL match (calf). Monitor closely 👀
McGinn: Knee injury, lasted 18 mins vs Everton. Emery - “It could be some weeks.”
Tavernier: Hamstring, subbed off at 71’. Iraola - “He will be out for some time.” 😬
Palmer: Missed Chelsea’s UCL match vs Pafos, but Rosenior suggests he should be available vs CRY (A).
Tosin: Hamstring injury. Out for a few weeks ❌
Jørgensen: Hooked at HT in UCL. Rosenior: “He picked something up.” (Very reassuring…)
Grealish: According to Fabrizio Romano, out for ~3 months with a stress fracture in his foot ❌
Stach & Bijol: Stach could be back vs Everton ✅
Bijol won’t recover in time (hamstring) ❌
Gudmundsson: Abductor injury, missed training. Doubtful ❓
Konaté: Personal reasons (father passed away). Likely unavailable vs Bournemouth 🖤
Chiesa: Slot says 50/50 to feature vs Bournemouth 🎲
Zirkzee: Out with a knock, told a fan he may miss ~2 weeks.
Bruno G.: Ankle injury. Howe: “We hope it’s not serious.” (Classic)
Bergvall: Ankle injury, could be out for months 😵

If that didn’t scare you… good 😈
Because next up, we turn this chaos into clear transfer plans, captaincy calls, and double and blank gameweek update that you must know. 🚀

Keep scrolling — it only gets better 😉🔥

Keep, Buy, Sell 👇

🔵 Palmer
Didn’t feature vs Pafos, and Rosenior says he’s ready for CRY (A). Sounds tempting… but pause ⛔
Here’s the problem: Chelsea are fighting for a top-8 UCL finish, which means Palmer almost certainly starts vs Napoli (A). Less than 72 hours later, it’s WHU (H) in GW24.
Then comes WOL (A) right after an EFL Cup semi vs Arsenal 😵‍💫
That’s multiple rotation red flags 🚩 for a £10m+ asset.
👉 Verdict: Don’t buy (yet). Keep him on speed dial, not in your XI.

🟣 Rogers
Only one assist in five, so no fireworks 🎆
But zoom out: his fixtures after GW23 are solid.
Only 4 difficult fixtures left all season, and one of them is United (A).
👉 Verdict: Easy hold

🔵 Cherki
The irony? Apart from Semenyo, every City attacker is a rotation nightmare 🎡
If you own Cherki and have other issues, fine. If not? This is your exit ramp.
👉 Replacement ideas: Enzo, Garner, Ndiaye

🔵 Semenyo
Last week: observe.
This week: clarity 🧠
He’s not available for City’s UCL games, which weirdly makes him one of the safer City picks till GW24.
Would I buy him? ❌
Would I sell him? Also ❌

🔴 Wirtz
Three attacking returns in five. xGI of 3.85 📈
Up next: BOU (A) - a defense currently held together by hope and tape.
Fixtures wobble slightly after that, but then smooth out again.
👉 Verdict: Hold

⚪ Wilson
Fulham want Oscar Bobb.
Wilson’s contract expires in 6 months.
That’s all you need to know 👀
👉 Verdict: No panic yet but watch the transfer window closely

🔵 Foden
Six blanks.
No returns since GW16.
And vibes? Completely gone 🫠
Yes, WOL (H) looks tasty. But he’s no longer nailed like before.
👉 Verdict: Sell (keeping for one more week = brave, maybe not smart)

🟢 Ndiaye
AFCON winner 🏆
Likely back for GW23 unless celebrations go too hard 🕺
Great minutes, likely penalties, and Grealish is out for months.
👉 Verdict: Buy. Very highly recommended
👀 Wilson owners - keep him in your watchlist

🟡 Tavernier
Iraola says “out for some time”… but even if he’s out till GW26, from GW27–30 he plays WHU (A), SUN (H), BUR (A) 😍
👉 Verdict: Hold for now

⚫ Bruno G.
Howe gave us mixed signals about his injury.
Probably doubtful for GW23, and fixtures after aren’t ideal.
If he’s your only issue, then hold.
If you want out, here are your options - Rice, Enzo, Rogers, Ndiaye, Garner are strong replacements.
👉 Verdict: Not a must-sell (yet)

🟤 Watkins
Rumours of Mateta to Villa 👀
If that happens, minutes could be affected.
👉 Verdict: Monitor closely if he’s on your Ekitike replacement shortlist

🔵 Chalobah
Chelsea assets will explode in ownership soon 📈
Chalobah is the most sensible entry point (Enzo too).
👉 Verdict: Buy but can wait till GW24


⚠️ That’s the transfer minefield cleared.
Next up: Captaincy chaos 🧢, DGW & BGW chaos 🎮, Differentials 🧠, and finally… the Team Reveal 👀
Don’t blink - this is where ranks are won (or absolutely destroyed) 😅🔥

🤖 Haaland vs WOL (H)

Yeah… him. Again.

One goal in the last five.
And that goal? A penalty.
Peak Haaland content lately 💀

There’s even whispers of him being benched for a rest because Pep once said he’d “like to give him a break.” Cool. Love that. Thanks Pep 🙃

BUT… context matters.
City are 7 points behind Arsenal, winless in the league this year, and vibes are officially shaky. Pep doesn’t really have the luxury to get cute right now.

Do I trust Pep? ❌
Do I still think he starts? Yes… probably 🤷‍♂️

👉 Verdict: Default captain
⚠️ But please, for your own sanity — choose a strong VC. This is Pep roulette.

🔴 Wirtz vs BOU (A)

Here’s your sensible-but-fun option 😌

Wirtz is in form, ticking along nicely, and now faces the worst defence across the last 5 GWs.
This isn’t bravery.
This is logic 🧠

👉 Verdict: Very strong alternative captain

🔴 Ekitike vs BOU (A)

Quietly entering the chat 👀

If you want to go a little off-script without going full galaxy-brain, Ekitike is right there. Same fixture, attacking upside, lower ownership.

👉 Verdict: High-risk, high-reward punt
Not for the faint-hearted but delicious if it lands 😮‍💨

Captaincy summary?
Haaland is safety with anxiety.
Wirtz is comfort with upside.
Ekitike is chaos with intent.

Choose wisely… or don’t. We’re all guessing anyway 😭🧢

This section exists so you:

🧠 Plan ahead instead of panic-selling.
🔁 Know who to HOLD and who to bin.
🎯 Shape your chip strategy like a pro.
🃏 Avoid Wildcard regret at 2am.

Deep breath. Let’s cook 🔥

👀 Who could be affected?

Depending on EFL Cup + FA Cup results, these teams might end up with 2 Double GWs AND 2 Blank GWs:

➡️ MCI
➡️ ARS
➡️ CHE
➡️ NEW
➡️ CRY
➡️ WOL
➡️ EVE
➡️ SUN

But plot twist 🎬
Once the EFL Cup finalists are confirmed, only 4 of these 8 may still have 2 DGWs & 2 BGWs.

So… who are they? 👇

🏆 Possible EFL Cup Final Scenarios

⚔️ MCI 🆚 ARS

MCI, ARS, CRY & WOL
➡️ Confirmed BGW31
➡️ Possible BGW34
➡️ 1 confirmed + 1 possible DGW

⚔️ MCI 🆚 CHE

MCI, CHE, CRY & EVE
➡️ Confirmed BGW31
➡️ Possible BGW34
➡️ 1 confirmed + 1 possible DGW

⚔️ NEW 🆚 ARS

NEW, ARS, SUN & WOL
➡️ Confirmed BGW31
➡️ Possible BGW34
➡️ 1 confirmed + 1 possible DGW

⚔️ NEW 🆚 CHE

NEW, CHE, SUN & EVE
➡️ Confirmed BGW31
➡️ Possible BGW34
➡️ 1 confirmed + 1 possible DGW

🔮 Most Likely Scenario (after SF 1st leg)

An ARS vs MCI final looks very likely 👀

If that happens, MCI, ARS, CRY & WOL could be staring at:

Yep. Absolute FPL mayhem 😅

Let’s break them down 👇

Possible doubles:

🔁 DGW33: ARS (H), CRY (A)
🔁 DGW36: BRE (H), BUR (A)
🔁 BURNLEY DGW36: AVL (H), MCI (H)

Possible doubles:

🔁 DGW33: WHU (H), MCI (A)
🔁 DGW36: EVE (H), LIV (A)
🔁 LIVERPOOL DGW36: CHE (H), CRY (H)

📌 Note:
MCI vs CRY cannot move to DGW26 because Palace have UECL playoffs. Sad, but rules are rules.

Possible doubles:

🔁 DGW26: BRE (A), WOL (A)
🔁 DGW33: MCI (A), NEW (H)
🔁 NEWCASTLE DGW33: BOU (H), ARS (A)

Possible doubles:

🔁 DGW26: NFO (A), ARS (H)
🔁 DGW33: LEE (A), TOT (H)
🔁 SPURS DGW33: BHA (H), WOL (A)

🗓️ Important Dates Alert 🚨

📌 So Here’s The DGW/BGW Summary

If this section melted your brain a little… READ AGAIN!! Because this is important.

GW22?
A bit of joy. A bit of pain. Classic FPL 🤝

📉 –500 places overall, but still sitting comfortably inside the Top 25K.
Not a green arrow… but not a disaster either. We move 😌

Here’s how the squad is shaping up right now 👇

And yes… I have thoughts. Lots of them. Mostly stressful ones 😅

I’ve got 2 free transfers.
Rolling and going into GW24 with 3 FTs is VERY tempting 👀💸

The issue?
❌ I don’t have the cash for Bruno ➡️ Cunha
But I can do Cunha ➡️ Enzo and this is how it would look 👇

Have I locked it in?
👉 Nope.
Will I change my mind 6 times before deadline?
👉 Absolutely.

Whatever happens, you’ll see the final call — and the fallout — in the GW24 Preview 👀🔥