Team News
6 December 2016 872 comments
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Chris Brunt bags a goal and assist from his role on the flank in West Brom’s win over Watford. The fit-again Andy Carroll emerges from the bench to net West Ham’s consolation in a home drubbing against Arsenal, while Joe Allen fails to win a starting role on his return from suspension as Mark Hughes keeps faith in a 3-5-2 formation.

After rolling out Part One yesterday, here’s the second wave of our analysis of the Gameweek 14 teamsheets and tactics, together with early thoughts on next weekend’s likely line-ups.

Hull City

Starting XI: Marshall; Robertson, Davies, Elmohamady, Dawson; Mason (Bowen 62), Clucas, Snodgrass, Livermore (Huddlestone 62); Diomande; Henriksen (Meyler 81).

  • Mike Phelan made just one alteration for the trip to the Riverside, with Andrew Robertson coming in for Josh Tymon.
  • Robertson returned in his usual position at left-back for the Tigers, while Ryan Mason played on the left of midfield in the 4-4-1-1 system favoured by Phelan of late.
  • Phelan has been preparing to bring on Tom Huddlestone and Jarrod Bowen just before ‘Boro opened the scoring, but the pair did enter the fray moments later in place of Jake Livermore and Mason in straight swaps. With nine minutes remaining, Phelan brought on David Meyler in place of Markus Henriksen, with the Hull boss having few other attacking options to utilise off the bench.
  • With Abel Hernandez ruled out for another three weeks ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Crystal Palace, Phelan looks to have few options to freshen up his attack. Henriksen’s starting spot is perhaps the most at risk should the likes of Shaun Maloney be passed fit, while Huddlestone, Meyler and Bowen provide further alternatives if Phelan look to change things up in midfield.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Forwards

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Valdes; Fabio, Gibson, Chambers, Barragan; Forshaw, de Roon, Clayton; Fischer (Stuani 80), Ramirez (Downing 86), Negredo.

  • ’Boro head coach Aitor Karanka only made one change for the home encounter against Hull City, with Viktor Fischer starting at the expense of Adama Traore.
  • Karanka set up with more of a 4-1-4-1 formation last night, with Gaston Ramirez (right) and Fischer (left) stationed out wide, leaving Marten de Roon and Adam Forshaw playing in advance of holding midfielder Adam Clayton.
  • With 10 minutes remaining, Karanka looked to Cristhian Stuani to provide some fresh legs, with the Uruguayan replacing Fisher. Stuani played on the right wing, with Ramirez moving over to the left flank. But shortly after, Ramirez suffered a slight knock to his foot and had to be replaced by Stewart Downing.
  • It was a surprise to see Traore dropped to the bench last night, but with ‘Boro travelling to face Southampton on Sunday, his pace on the break could see the winger recalled to the starting XI. Ramirez is expected to shrug off his minor knock, so it’s Fischer who may drop back down to the bench. Otherwise, Karanka may keep faith in the rest of the side who impressed on Monday night.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster; Cedric, van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Hojbjerg (Sims 59); Redmond, Austin (McQueen 76), Boufal (Long 76).

  • Southampton manager Claude Puel made one adjustment from the side that beat Everton 1-0 for the trip to Selhurst Park, with Sofiane Boufal recalled in place of Josh Sims.
  • Boufal was stationed on the left of the front three, with Nathan Redmond on the right and Charlie Austin operating as the central striker. James Ward-Prowse and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg kept their places in central midfield alongside Oriol Romeu.
  • But with his side trailing 2-0, Puel made a change just before the hour mark, with Sims introduced in place of Hojbjerg. That saw Saints switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Sims on the right of the attacking midfield trio, allowing Redmond to move into the No 10 role. With 14 minutes remaining, Puel brought on Sam McQueen and Shane Long in place of Austin and Boufal. McQueen played on the left wing, with Long operating as the lone striker.
  • After losing 3-0 to Crystal Palace, Puel may look to tweak his midfield, with Jordy Clasie and Steven Davis likely to be in contention to earn recalls in place of Hojbjerg and Ward-Prowse. Changes could also be possible in the wide positions, with Sims, Long and McQueen all viable options.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks

Stoke City

Starting XI: Grant; Johnson, Martins Indi, Muniesa, Pieters; Imbula, Adam (Whelan 86), Diouf, Shaqiri (Allen 60), Arnautovic (Crouch 70); Walters.

  • Mark Hughes named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat Watford 1-0 for the home encounter with Burnley.
  • Hughes continued with a 3-5-2 formation on Saturday, with Mame Biram Diouf and Erik Pieters operating in the wing-back positions. Xherdan Shaqiri was the most advanced central attacking midfielder, with Marko Arnautovic partnering Jon Walters in attack.
  • Hughes’s first change saw Joe Allen, who was back after serving a one-match ban, replace Shaqiri. Stoke’s second substitution was an enforced one, with Arnautovic having to be taken off after picking up a knock. The Austrian was replaced by Peter Crouch who joined Walters in attack, while Allen slotted in alongside Giannelli Imbula and Charlie Adam in midfield. Glenn Whelan returned from injury to get a few minutes late on in place of Adam in the middle of the park.
  • With the Potters heading to the Emirates on Saturday, Hughes seems set to continue with the same formation. Bruno Martins Indi did suffer a facial injury against the Clarets, though, and will need to be assessed. Ryan Shawcross also remains a serious doubt due to a calf injury, so Hughes could have to consider switching back to a four-man defence were both players to be unavailable. Allen and Whelan may come into contention to start in midfield but, after back-to-back victories, he is likely to name the same starting XI providing Arnautovic is passed fit.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks

Sunderland

Starting XI: Pickford; Jones, Kone, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Pienaar (Larsson 46), Ndong, Denayer (Kirchhoff 46); Watmore (Manquillo 85), Defoe, Anichebe.

  • David Moyes made one adjustment from the side that lost 2-0 at Liverpool, with Papy Djilobodji returning from a one-match suspension to replace John O’Shea.
  • Djilobodji partnered Lamine Kone in central defence for the Black Cats, who again lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Victor Anichebe (left) and Duncan Watmore (right) flanking central striker Jermain Defoe.
  • Moyes was forced into making two changes at half-time, with Jason Denayer (illness) and Steven Pienaar (concussion) being replaced by Sebastian Larsson and Jan Kirchhoff respectively. Watmore then suffered a knee injury and was subsequently stretchered off, with Javier Manquillo offering a more defensive option down the right in front of Billy Jones as Sunderland looked to hang on for the 2-1 win.
  • Watmore looks to have been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, so Moyes may look to either Wahbi Khazri or Adnan Januzaj to take his place on the right wing against Swansea on Saturday. He could also consider switching to a 4-4-2, with Larsson capable of playing on the right side of midfield, leaving Anichebe and Defoe up front. Denayer and Pienaar appear to have more chance of being fit to keep their starting berths, with Larsson and Kirchhoff the obvious alternatives for Moyes.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Right Wing

Swansea City

Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Van der Hoorn, Amat, Taylor; Fulton (Llorente 46), Cork, Fer; Barrow (Routledge 71), Sigurdsson, Montero (Borja Baston 63)

  • Bob Bradley made two alterations for the trip to White Hart Lane, with Mike van der Hoorn recalled in place of the injured Federico Fernandez, while Jefferson Montero replaced Wayne Routledge.
  • Van der Hoorn joined Jordi Amat in central defence for the Swans, while Montero started on the left of the front three, with Gylfi Sigurdsson continuing in the “false nine” role.
  • But after heading into half-time 2-0 down, Bradley decided to introduce Fernando Llorente in place of Jay Fulton, seeing the Welsh outfit switch to a 4-2-3-1. Llorente operated as the lone striker, with Sigurdsson dropping into the No 10 role. Then, shortly after the hour mark, Borja Baston entered the fray in place of Montero, helping form a 4-4-2, with Borja joining Llorente up front. Sigurdsson moved to the position on the left of midfield, although he drifted inside for most of the final 27 minutes. Bradley’s final substitution saw Routledge replace Modou Barrow on the right side of midfield for the final 19 minutes.
  • Fernandez suffered a broken toe during training last week, so Van der Hoorn appears likely to keep his starting berth for Saturday’s home clash against Sunderland, with Alfie Mawson the other alternative at centre-back. Bradley may well start with a 4-2-3-1 against the Black Cats, so one of Llorente or Borja may lead the line, with Sigurdsson moving back into the No 10 role. Montero could keep his place on the left ahead of Routledge, while Fulton could one the one to drop out of the starting XI.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Centre-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Dembele (Winks 83), Wanyama; Eriksen, Alli, Son Heung-min (Sissoko 71); Kane (Onomah 87).

  • Mauricio Pochettino made one adjustment from the side that lost 2-1 to Chelsea for the home clash against Swansea City, with Danny Rose returning from his one-match ban to replace Kevin Wimmer.
  • Rose slotted into his usual position at left-back, while Christian Eriksen (right), Dele Alli (No 10) and Son Heung-min (left) once again formed the attacking midfield trio in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
  • Pochettino’s first substitution saw Moussa Sissoko replace Son for the final 19 minutes. Sissoko played on the right, with Eriksen switching over to the left of the attacking midfield trio. Harry Winks and Joshua Onamah were handed brief run-outs late on in place of Mousa Dembele and Harry Kane, with Alli ending the match as the lone striker.
  • Following such a strong performance, there may only be one change Pochettino considers making for Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford, with Toby Alderweireld a possible replacement for Eric Dier in central defence. The Belgian returned to the squad to face CSKA Moscow tomorrow, though Pochettino has admitted he is still uncertain whether he will start against United.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes; Zuniga (Ighalo 77), Kabasele, Prodl, Holebas; Pereyra, Guedioura, Capoue, Amrabat; Okaka (Sinclair 90), Deeney.

  • Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri made four alterations for the trip to the Hawthorns, with Juan Zuniga and Christian Kabasele coming in for the injured Younes Kaboul and Daryl Janmaat, while Adlene Guedioura and Stefano Okaka came in for the suspended Miguel Britos and Valon Behrami.
  • Those changes saw the Hornets switch from a 3-4-3 to a 4-4-2 formation, with Okaka joining Troy Deeney in attack. Roberto Pereyra (right) and Nordin Amrabat (left) started on the flanks, with Guedioura and Etienne Capoue in central midfield. Zuniga came in at right-back, while Kabasele partnered Sebastian Prodl at the heart of the defence.
  • With his side trailing 2-1 heading into the final 15 minutes, Mazzarri decided to bring on Odion Ighalo in place of Zuniga, seeing Watford switch back to the 3-4-3. Jerome Sinclair was handed a few minutes at the death, replacing Okaka.
  • Mazzarri will have Britos and Behrami back from suspension for Saturday’s home clash against Everton, but he will be without Pereyra, who will now serve a three-match ban following his sending off on Saturday. The Italian may well revert back to the 3-4-3, with Britos perhaps joining Prodl and Kabasele in central defence. Zuniga could play at right wing-back if Janmaat remains out with a head injury, while Behrami may replace Guedioura in central midfield. After Okaka struggled to make an impact on his first league start for the Hornets, Ighalo or even Sinclair could push for a starting berth alongside Amrabat and Deeney against the Toffees.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Full-Backs/Wing-Backs, Central Midfield, Flanks

West Bromwich Albion

Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Yacob; Brunt (McClean 80), Morrison (Chadli 75), Fletcher, Phillips; Rondon (Robson-Kanu 88).

  • Tony Pulis once again named an unchanged side for home clash against Watford.
  • There was no place in the starting XI once again for Nacer Chadli then, with Chris Brunt, James Morrison and Matt Phillips again starting in the advanced midfield positions in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
  • Chadli was the first player summoned off the bench, taking over from Morrison in the No 10 role for the final 15 minutes. James McClean then replaced Brunt five minutes later, with McClean playing on the left wing, seeing Phillips switch over to the right. Hal Robson-Kanu provided fresh legs in place of lone striker Salomon Rondon for the final few minutes.
  • After registering another victory, Pulis could well consider naming the same starting XI once again for Sunday’s trip to leaders Chelsea. The only obvious change to make would be to recall Chadli in place of Morrison in the No 10 role, but the Scot is probably doing enough to keep hold of his starting spot for the time being.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Attacking Midfield

West Ham United

Starting XI: Randolph; Collins (Arbeloa 7), Reid, Ogbonna; Fernandes (Ayew 63), Noble (Carroll 72), Obiang, Masuaku; Lanzini, Fletcher, Payet.

  • Slaven Bilic was forced into making four changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Man United for the home encounter against Arsenal, with Edimilson Fernandes, Arthur Masuaku, Ashley Fletcher and Winston Reid, who was back from suspension, coming in for the injured quartet Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio and Diafra Sakho.
  • Bilic stuck with the 3-4-3 formation despite those changes, with Fernandes and Masuaku occupying the wing-back roles, while Fletcher started as the central striker.
  • The Croatian had to alter his plans after just seven minutes, though, after James Collins suffered a hamstring injury. The Welshman was replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa, seeing the Hammers switch to a 4-3-3 system. The Spaniard slotted in at right-back, with Fernandes moving forward into a midfield role. Fernandes was the next player to make way though, with Andre Ayew introduced in his place, seeing the Irons move to a 4-2-3-1. Ayew played on the right of the attacking midfield trio, with Manuel Lanzini in the No 10 role and Dimitri Payet on the left. As a final roll of the dice, Bilic threw on the fit-again Andy Carroll in place of Mark Noble, seeing West Ham finish the match in a very attacking 4-1-3-2.
  • Bilic will desperately hope to have Kouyate (knock) back for Sunday’s trip to Anfield, with Collins a doubt due to the hamstring problem he picked up against the Gunners. Arbeloa or Havard Nordtveit may have to fill in should both players be unavailable. The groin problems that ruled Cresswell and Antonio out of Saturday’s match weren’t thought to be serious, so the pair may have a decent chance of being able to return in place of Fernandes and Masuaku in the wing-back positions. Carroll may not be ready to start against his former side, but Ayew does offer another alternative to Fletcher up front.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Wing-Backs, Central Striker

872 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Gundogan unlikely to start at the weekend?

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      He might come in for Ferdenaninho

    2. Pazdannavaro
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Guardiola will likely to play Fernando and Toure. He may start alonside Fernando but its 50/50 with Toure imo.

  2. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    City making hard work of Celtic

  3. sindz
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    is KDB rested?

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I think so

    2. Deano
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yep, ready to play up front on the weekend.

  4. Somalion
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Gundogan -> Gundowan -> Gundowa -> Gunowa -> Gunwa -> Gwa -> G

  5. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Besiktas unbeaten all season and then I put their keeper in my fantasy team 😎

    1. La Roja
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Phew

  6. Cocky Spaniel Alves
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Evening.

    A) Chillax
    B) Cech & Pedro => Heaton* & Hazard -8

    *could become Foster if Heaton is still out

    Current team:
    Cech Pickford
    Lovren Holebas Pieters Chambers Amat
    Alexis Firmino Siggy Pedro Carrick
    Kane Costa Austin

    0 FT 2.4 ITB

  7. DF
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso on 90%.
    Likely to rise today? Or tomorrow?

    1. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Tomorrow or thursday

    2. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I was tired of this trolling and got him yesterday for a hit

  8. Gooner97
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Sanè close

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      He looks impressive

  9. Gooner97
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Digne looks like a younger Fernando Torres

    1. That Was Easy!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Torres the single player who got me into Football/Soccer. As an American I always played, but never followed EPL. I was 11 or so and have been a Pool fan since, loved the way he played before he started missing the net.

  10. New Post
  11. WDT
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    As a Sanchez non-owner fearing that my buttocks might fuse from remaining permanently clenched over the coming weeks, I take heart from tonight's display. This reminds me he doesn't score a hatrick every game 🙂

  12. Jigger & Pony
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    PSG 2-2

  13. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Wonder what Sanchez will do with his weekend off

  14. Duffo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Midfield of

    Sanchez, Siggy, Firmino, Allen, Capoue

    A. Allen > Alli
    B. Firmino + Allen > Hazard + Phillips/

  15. Dasher0303
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Repost

    Already taken a hit, should I take another to get rid of Allen for Can, so it would be -8 overall??

    Can has the better fixtures and Allen might not even start, also if I don't play Allen, I would have to play either Evans or Barragan or Hojbjerg, which I don't want to do. Can also set to rise this week.

  16. Cookie Kid
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Need to make a call before Hazard rises again

    A) Alli and Siggy
    B) Hazard and Can/Fer

    🙂

    1. Canary_Kid
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      B with Can defo

    2. French Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      b all the way

    3. Pazdannavaro
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      B with Can

      1. Cookie Kid
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Comprehensive, thanks guys

  17. Smoky Johnson
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    love this game, we are so damn lucky to have it. Who created the FPL?

    1. French Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Some Say Mark did...

  18. Sol
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    who should i start

    A) Amat (Sunderland)

    B) Holebas (Everton)

    Cheers

    1. French Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      tough one, probably Holebas for attacking returns as Swansea are in shambles

      1. Sol
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  19. Going Home
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Current team after Stones - Cedric this week is:

    Boruc | Karius
    Soares | Koscielny | Williams | Pieters | McAuley
    Sanchez | Hazard | Eriksen | Allen | Siggy
    Defoe | Costa | Deeney

    0.4 ITB and 1 FT

    Thinking about the following:

    A) Deeney - Austin, with Can and Jones/Valencia in for Allen and Williams next week
    B) Williams - Amat, with Carroll and Antonio in for Allen and Deeney next week

    Either of those better or have I missed something else? Can't see myself bringing Kane in as Hazard, Sanchez and Costa are a must in my book

  20. brett
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    The latest video of my new FPL concept, the 'Point Predictor' is out. Would appreciate any feedback! Many thanks.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHDz0_SDzaI