The Scout explains how the results of this weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals could impact the final Gameweeks of 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League.
Managers in Fantasy should be aware that the results of this weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals may yet create more Blank and Double Gameweeks this season.
A Blank Gameweek contains fewer than the normal 10 matches, with at least one club having no Premier League fixture, and players from such a club having no chance of scoring Fantasy points.
A Double Gameweek contains more than the normal 10 fixtures, with at least one club playing two Premier League fixtures in one Gameweek, and players from that club getting two chances to score Fantasy points.
How will the FA Cup affect the schedule in FPL?
On Saturday evening in the FA Cup semi-finals, Crystal Palace face Aston Villa. Then on Sunday, Nottingham Forest play Manchester City in the other tie.
The FA Cup final takes place on Saturday 17 May, which is the same weekend as Gameweek 37 in Fantasy.
This means that the two FA Cup finalists cannot play their Premier League fixture on that weekend, and their current Gameweek 37 matches will need to be allocated new dates.
At present, there are FOUR matches in Gameweek 37 that are under threat because the four clubs in bold below are in the FA Cup semi-finals, and two of them will reach the final.
GW37 matches under threat of postponement
Aston Villa v Spurs
West Ham v Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace v Wolves
Man City v AFC Bournemouth
Why there could be more Blank and Double Gameweeks
A win for Aston Villa over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals would increase the chance of more Blank and Double Gameweeks.
There are two reasons for this.
Firstly, if Villa defeat the Eagles, their Gameweek 37 match against Spurs would need to be allocated a new date.
Secondly, Spurs have reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, facing a two-legged tie against Bodo/Glimt, with the first leg taking place on Thursday 1 May and the return leg coming a week later.
If Spurs overcome their Norwegian opponents, their match against Villa would NOT be able to be scheduled for the midweek of Gameweek 37, because this is when the Europa League final takes place, on Wednesday 21 May.
In such a situation, Villa and Spurs would therefore have a Blank Gameweek 37 - being unable to play at the weekend OR in midweek. So, their fixture would have to move to another Gameweek, creating a Double Gameweek which would be announced some time after the FA Cup semi-finals.
Why matches could stay in Gameweek 37
There is, however, a possibility that there could be NO more Blank or Double Gameweeks this season.
Depending on the outcomes of the semi-finals, the two postponed weekend matches could take place in the midweek slot of Gameweek 37.
That same scenario is happening in the next week, in Blank Gameweek 34 (BGW34).
Nottingham Forest’s Gameweek 34 fixture against Brentford cannot be played this weekend because Forest are in FA Cup action.
But instead of that match being moved into Double Gameweek 33 - which is what happened for the other three FA Cup semi-finalists - it has just been moved back a few days to Thursday 1 May, staying in Gameweek 34.
With so many scenarios still to consider, then, being patient and keeping your transfer plans flexible looks even more vital in order to help you successfully navigate the run-in.