Dugout Discussion
26 August 2018 4533 comments
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Eden Hazard (£10.5m) and Mateo Kovacic (£6.0m) make their first starts of the season as Chelsea attempt to win on Tyneside for the first time in the league since 2011/12.

Willian (£7.5m) and Ross Barkley (£6.0m), as would perhaps be expected, are the two men to make way as Maurizio Sarri otherwise rolls out the same team that beat Arsenal last weekend.

Marcos Alonso (£6.6m), who comes into this match on the back of successive double-digit hauls, is now the second-most popular defender in Fantasy Premier League after being bought by 470,266 new managers ahead of Gameweek 3.

Chelsea assets are popular in the Fantasy community after their 100% start to the season: five of their front six (the exception being Kovacic) have been bought by more than 100,000 FPL bosses since the Gameweek 2 deadline passed.

It’s all change in the Newcastle United starting XI, with six alterations to the team that drew 0-0 with Cardiff City. The injured Jamaal Lascelles (£5.0m) and Jonjo Shelvey (£5.5m) are among the players to drop out, while there are starts for new signings Fabian Schar (£4.9m), Federico Fernandez (£4.5m), Ki Sung-yeung (£4.9m) and Salomon Rondon (£5.9m).

Rafael Benitez seems to be rolling out a five-man defence, too, switching from his regular 4-4-1-1 system.

Slavisa Jokanovic has also rung the changes at Craven Cottage, with Ryan Sessegnon (£6.4m) and Fabri (£4.5m) among five players to drop to the bench. Denis Odoi (£4.5m) returns from suspension, while Marcus Bettinelli (£4.5m) is a surprise inclusion between the sticks. Andre Schurrle (£5.9m) also returns.

The Burnley team news is much more straightforward: Sean Dyche has named an unchanged starting XI for the third league match in a row.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic; Pedro, Morata, Hazard

Newcastle United XI (5-4-1): Dubravka; Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Ki, Diame, Murphy; Rondon

Fulham XI (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Fosu-Mensah, Le Marchand, Odoi, Bryan; Seri, McDonald, Cairney; Vietto, Schurrle, Mitrovic

Burnley XI (4-5-1): Hart; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Westwood, Cork, Gudmundsson, Lennon, Hendrick; Wood

4,533 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. CloudSky
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Hows Chelsea playing?

    1. Neevesy
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Ok ish. Newcastle parked the bus.

    2. Gazpilicueta
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      lots of posession, no end product. Personally I think Pedro looks weak today, was thinking of getting him in but he doesnt look strong. you can tell we are playing 3 defensive mids.

      1. Four Hit Wonder
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 22 days ago

        He's better when there's space

    3. Mic
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Okay

    4. KingZamalek
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Alonso goal incoming.

      1. Gazpilicueta
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 22 days ago

        please. 1 alonso goal, 0 newcastle goals, 3 baps. happy days.

    5. CloudSky
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Cheers lads.

  2. Stokelona
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Hazard looking very good!

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      His last appearance in a Chelsea shirt, has to be at least decent.

    2. Jack Sparrow
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      *injured

  3. Ruinenlust
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Best Richarlison replacement for 5.5m or less?

    1. Neevesy
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Search through the 1000's of similar comments over the last free days. I've just gone Walcott.

    2. Gazpilicueta
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      why 5.5 or less?

    3. jomikijiq
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Knockaert or Gray

  4. Ask Yourself
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Is Kante playing CF again?

    1. Bubz
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Nah Alonso is

      1. KingZamalek
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 22 days ago

        This.

  5. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Why is Zaha still on BAPs!

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Hope he gets them

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Did he get a late boost for making a certain number of successful passes?

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Hasn't updated.

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 22 days ago

        Thanks TM

    4. Duffy Dunk
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Fpl rewarded him for receiving so much hatred by Watford's fans and players.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 22 days ago

        *mascot

  6. Texas Pete
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Evening.

    Can't get a feed for Chelski. Really hoping Alonso can pull this gameweek out of the fire for me and at least get me over 50.

    big ask though.

    1. Mic
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Yawn

  7. Neevesy
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Newcastle parked a huge bus

  8. OPTA FPL
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    184 passes in just 17 min for Chelsea under Seri .............

    1. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Where do you see this stats

    2. Rainer
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Seri plays for Fulham.

      1. Fred54
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 22 days ago

        Sarri, not Seri.

    3. Duffy Dunk
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      A good day for him.
      Scoring vs Burnley while dominating passes vs Newcastle.

    4. Four Hit Wonder
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      I'm sorry but it's Sarri not Seri.

  9. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    FPL intentions aside, love the movement in this Chelsea side. Didn't expect Sarri to implement his ideas so quickly.

    Kante, Kovavic, Haz and Pedro can pop up literally anywhere. Jorginho is a talent and Alonso is Alonso.

  10. Fingerspitzengefühl
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Tomkins owner here..heard he got injured in warm up? Any word on what kind of injury?

    1. Super John McGinn-
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Calf

  11. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Pedro the best replacement for Rich if he lasts longer than 60mins today?

  12. Rainer
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Hazard back down

    1. doublyG
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      FML

  13. 420king
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Hazard down again.

  14. Arctic monkeys
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Hazard strugling

  15. Jimmy Boy
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    A) Pedro and David Silva
    B) Gundogan and Hazard

    1. Ha.
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      A

    2. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Haha I’m thinking of A exactly. Gundogan nailed currently at 5.5 is attractive tho. Only B if hazard is fine

  16. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Hazard bandwagon about to be derailed?

  17. rivercityransom
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    gudmundsson off

  18. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Ooooof Haz

  19. #FPLBhuna
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Gudmonsson fail injured off

  20. Rainer
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Gudmundsson off with a knock. Taylor on.

    LB playing LM.

  21. grumpyman
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Is it me or does Hazard look a bit heavier than usual?

    1. KingZamalek
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Shawesque

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      he just has a big fat arse. always has had.

      similar to jimmy floyd hasselbaink.

      helps him hit absolute pile driver shots

    3. Sam
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Aye was thinking the same thing. Torso definitely seems thicker.

  22. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Sarri ball is class to watch

    1. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Is it? All very pretty but not a sniff of an attempt on goal

      1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 22 days ago

        Yeah but to be fair "pretty" and "class to watch" are pretty similar, no?

  23. Limbo
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    I like the NFC team, on paper. Going to make interesting options in what, erm GW16? just terrible set of fixtures. Could cost them dearly.

  24. tm245
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Ouch.

  25. Costa Nostra
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Newcastle looking like willing to defend for 90 straight. Hazard limping off to get attention.

  26. 420king
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Hazard should be fine, was just a knock.

    1. kalmoffit
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      I don't have Haz though as a fan I want to see him playing and scoring

  27. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Fake news

    2. Gazpilicueta
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      please, dont.

    3. Gazpilicueta
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      stahhp

  28. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Guy earlier who said Hazard was 200% fit has a lot to answer for.

    1. Magpies4ever
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Hazard said it himself pre game

      1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 22 days ago

        I know, just a joke

  29. Mic
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    According to ffs user bobbyv Hazard has gone off is that true?

  30. freddie
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 22 days ago

    Does anyone know how to find links to the teams of some of the top fpl hall of famers? Be great to see what their teams are looking like

    1. freddie
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 22 days ago

      Bottom of page pump