Dugout Discussion
28 October 2018 1605 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Fears over Eden Hazard‘s (£11.3m) fitness were realised this afternoon as the Chelsea winger, who is currently the most-owned midfielder in Fantasy Premier League, was not named either in Maurizio Sarri’s starting XI or on the substitutes’ bench for the trip to Turf Moor.

Hazard was the most-sold FPL player ahead of the Gameweek 10 deadline yesterday afternoon but was also the third-most-popular captaincy choice of this weekend, having been handed the armband by over 785,000 Fantasy managers.

Pedro (£6.4m) and Willian (£7.4m) line up either side of Alvaro Morata (£8.7m), with Ross Barkley (£5.7m) replacing Mateo Kovacic (£5.9m) in central midfield.

Chelsea are otherwise unchanged from the side that drew 2-2 with Manchester United, with Thursday night’s hat-trick hero Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.2m) among the substitutes for the visitors.

Their hosts make one change from the side that lost 5-0 to Manchester City, with the fit-again Robbie Brady (£5.4m) replacing the ill Aaron Lennon (£5.0m) on the flank.

Brady hasn’t started a league match since December 2017 but up until his season-ending injury last year had delivered more crosses than any other FPL midfielder in 2017/18.

Arsenal have made two changes to their starting XI from the side that beat Leicester City 3-1 last Monday night, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) getting his first league start in three matches in place of Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£6.8m).

Aubameyang, who scored on four occasions in his previous two substitute appearances, will likely come into the side on his usual left flank, meaning Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) will switch over to the right wing.

Nacho Monreal (£5.5m) and Sead Kolasinac (£4.9m) have once again failed to recover from hamstring injuries, so Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) is preferred to Stephan Lichtsteiner (£4.6m) at left-back. Matteo Guendouzi (£4.5m) thus fills Xhaka’s vacated space in midfield, with Aaron Ramsey (£7.4m) once again among the substitutes.

Petr Cech (£5.0m) is also back on the bench for the Gunners.

Crystal Palace have made one change from the side that lost to Everton a week ago, with Jordan Ayew (£5.8m) replacing Jeffrey Schlupp (£4.5m).

That would likely mean a return to a 4-3-3 with Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m) and Andros Townsend (£5.7m) lining up either side of Ayew in a three-man attack, although Roy Hodgson could stick with a 4-4-2 and use James McArthur (£4.8m) and one of Zaha or Townsend as the two wide midfielders.

Max Meyer (£5.6m) and Alexander Sorloth (£4.8m) return from illness and are back among the substitutes.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.3m), the most-benched player of Gameweek 10, might well be needed as an auto-sub by many Fantasy managers given the no-shows of Marko Arnautovic (£7.0m) and Andrew Robertson (£6.4m) yesterday and Hazard today.

Burnley XI (4-4-1-1): Hart; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Cork, Defour, Brady; Hendrick; Vokes.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, David Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Barkley; Pedro, Morata, Willian.

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Hennessey; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyate; Townsend, Ayew, Zaha.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Xhaka; Torreira, Guendouzi; Iwobi, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette.

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  1. HD7
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Success in for Robbo
    Kenedy in for Arnie
    WanB (please give me a cleanie) in for Hazard

    1. Black Knights
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Not bad.

    2. Amsterhammer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Wan b, Bennet and Guendouzi here. Well pleased with guendouzi.

  2. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Why is Xhaka playing at LB? Wouldn't Guendouzi with his pace and energy be a better option?

    1. Rash
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Andros licking his lips

    2. My Name Is Pepu
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      He's not left footed, is he?

      A right footed LB is a disaster more or less.

      1. Rash
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Not against Townsend it isn't

      2. SADIO SANÉ
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        he is, best left foot in the league 😀

        1. My Name Is Pepu
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Ik. Was explaining why that Guendouzi kid is not playing LB.

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            oh right yeah, soz

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      he's left-footed I guess - 35-yarder coming up

  3. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    All eyes on Marcos.

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Pretty much with Hazard out. Though there will be some glances at Laca and AWB.

  4. My Name Is Pepu
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Players wearing the black band as a mark of respect for LCFC.

  5. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    I logged on to see the reaction to no Hazard. All 3 of my bench players coming on this week. AWB!!

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      It is a bit of a war of attrition I have King and Hazard gone awol.

  6. #FPLBhuna
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Henny awb and alonso today

    Squeaky bumtime

  7. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Any details on what type of back injury Hazard is suffering from i.e. muscle,disc,where on his back is the injury?

    1. Fred54
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Lower back. Think he got kneed in back in the Man Utd game.

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Hmmmmm,bruising and nerve pain should mean that he will be ok soon enough.Tricky area the lower back.

  8. Rash
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Damn cold weather meaning the cheerleaders are covered up.

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Pornhub time 😎

  9. tristanabc
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Struggling to know what to do with King, please talk me out of this:

    Hazard, Vardy, King -> KDB, Aguero, Depoitre (-8)

    Patricio Fabianski
    Alonso Mendy TAA Trippier AWB
    Salah Hazard Richarlison Maddison Hughes
    Vardy Arnie King

    1. Sideways Backwards
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      No

      1. tristanabc
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        No as in NO HELL DON'T DO THIS, or no as in NO I WON'T TALK YOU OUT, IT'S A GREAT IDEA

    2. TAArt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Terrible

  10. LewanGOALski
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Patricio
    Alonso - Robertson - Doherty
    Hazard - Mane - Richarlison - Schurrle
    Aguero - Lacazette - Wilson

    Hamer - Billing - AWB - Rico

    2 FTs
    bank: 1.5 mln

    Transfer suggestions?

    Thinking I could drop Rico & Schurrle and get Mendy & Kenedy / Deulofeu in their place.

    Any other ideas / suggestions?

  11. My Name Is Pepu
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso 21-pointer. This is the time you deliver, Marcos.

    1. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I hope so

    2. Positive vibes
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      This

  12. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Time to move Mitro to Wilson? He's on a blanking spree

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      No need to swear

    2. SPorting
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I’m giving Mitro one more week. Huddersfield innit.

    3. Unliklinho
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Giving Mitro one more chance then looking at him out for Murray...

    4. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      one more week v hudd
      then plan to bring arnie in for their good run of fixtures coming up

  13. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Groan. No captain. Ten players.

    1. Fred54
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Luiz isn't that bad for Chelsea.

      Oh you mean your fantasy team..

    2. SPorting
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Oh you get 9 Balbuena points with triple MCI to go.

    3. Carlton_Goal
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      10 players here too, no Haz, Holebas, Arnie or Robbo

    4. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      same here

      Holberg
      Hazard
      Robby
      Pereira

  14. Glasner Ball
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Come on Palace!

  15. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    cant wait for stephens 3 pts off the bench 🙄

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Be thankful. I'm getting a juicy 1-pointer from Kamara.

      1. Rusty71
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        You're lucky it's not a minus, he should have gone!

        1. My Name Is Pepu
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          That's why I said he should be thankful he's getting 3.

  16. Fred54
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A Palace made out of Crystal.

    How decadent.

    1. Unliklinho
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Then it burnt down. Somehow.

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Possibly the fact that it was effectually a big magnifying glass for the sun and made it one giant tinderbox.

  17. sunzip14
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Hoping for Luiz+Alonso to cover Hazard's points as well. Had Hazard but not getting any from him and he's got no substitute left in my team !

  18. Fresh_From_Desh
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Rob holding nailed?

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Dunno. Kosc back in training now

  19. BON
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Stop asking transfer questions and just watch the damn football.

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      FFS posters: "We don't do dat hiyar."

      1. Fred54
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Are we Swedish?

        1. Stoic
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          More like Wakanda

          1. My Name Is Pepu
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Thank you.

    2. Sánchez
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Don't have sky.

      Mitro to Arnie?

    3. Rage Against The Raheem
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yes Sir!

  20. My Name Is Pepu
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Zaha looking lively

  21. Mic
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Burnley will take pts off Chelsea today

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Don't mind if it's a 0-0 borefest with Alonso max BAPS.

  22. My Name Is Pepu
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Guendouzi slows down the attack ffs. All I see are backward and sideway passes.

  23. IRBOX ⚽
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Guendouzi to Højbjerg didn’t work out so well. Would have been my 2nd auto sub. Now relying on AWB!

  24. TAArt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Interested to see how Iwobi gets on, might consider bringing him in if he keeps playing every week

  25. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Thank the lord, I went with a strong bench thinking one of Shaquiri, B. Silva and Hazard might not play. Probably benched the wrong player in the first place but nice to have the strong first sub pay off. Fraser in for Haz, just need the mighty Wan Bissaka to pull something out of the bag in place of Robertson and this could turn out to be a great GW 🙂

    Anyone else had lady luck on their side this week?

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      You benched Fraser against Fulham? Not so smart.

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        yes, as I have been reminded plenty 🙂

        Still, smart enough to cover Hazards injury so I'll take the positive 😉

      2. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        As a wise man once said, "The lesson is that you can still make mistakes and be forgiven"

    2. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Nope just rough... went against swapping Hazard for Salah, Thought id played Foster over Patricio only to find i didnt save the team, just a nightmare gw tbh. Think the wildcard may be activated for next week

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        ouch - i've had a few of those - remember once being at the pub with a United fan watching them play Arsenal. Sanchez was having a stormer and I was rubbing it in bragging about having him ©. Realised when I loaded my team at the end of the game that I hadn't saved the changes and my captain had a 2 pointer 🙂

    3. Rusty71
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I've got AWB to come on for Robbo, and Guendouzi, coming on for Haz. Guendouzi doesn't usually start, so that's a bit of a bonus I guess!

  26. The Enlightener
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Four players out this GW. Sometimes I wonder why I play this stupid game.

    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      swings and roundabouts bud, i'm sure you'll catch a break in another GW.

      1. The Enlightener
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah. I'm right in the thick of "This Sucks!" at the moment. Hate being penalized, if you will, for something I have zero control over. Is what it is, though, I guess.

        1. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          yeah, this is why i never got on with the Sun version of the game. At least auto subs can save your bacon on the odd gameweek.

          4 out is harsh though mate, won't be like that every week. Hope you bounce back soon!

    2. Zigmondo
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Four of my eleven so far haven't played and two on my bench with zero. I need 3 x Man City to rescue my GW. Could end up my worst ever week.

    3. Toby Lerone
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Nothing but frustration this season so far for me. 120k rank doesn't feel too good

    4. Carlton_Goal
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Exact same here, first time it's ever happened to me

  27. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Chances of Alonso covering Hazard's attacking points today?

    1. fclackless [Brazil Nuts]
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      easy ... he's already done so

  28. Zebrahimović
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    I’m thinking maybe Patricio out for another keeper this week? I’ve already got Duffy from Brighton so I don’t want to double up with Ryan. Is Fabianski the obvious choice?

    1. MMN
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I’m tempted to do Hamer > Fab and bench Pat for the next two. Wouldn’t sell with Cardiff and Huddersfield coming up.

      1. Zebrahimović
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Wish I could do that. 0.1 off. I guess Patricio could surprise us against Spuds though

    2. Rusty71
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Gotta be Fabs really!

  29. Toby Lerone
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Come on AWB

    1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Would he like that?

    2. Toby Lerone
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      If he gets double points he won't have a choice

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        🙂

  30. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Hopefully panic ensues and we get another price drop on Haz. Missed all his points but better paying 11.2m for him than 11.4m.