Dugout Discussion
22 December 2019 1997 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The final match of Gameweek 18 takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Chelsea the visitors to north London.

Kick-off is at 16:30 GMT.

The team news is straightforward from a Spurs perspective: Jose Mourinho has named an unchanged side for the third game running.

The Chelsea starting XI requires a bit more explanation, however.

Frank Lampard has benched Christian Pulisic (£7.3m) for the first time in the Premier League since Gameweek 9, with Jorginho (£5.0m) and the injured Emerson Palmieri (£5.5m) also making way from the side that lost to Bournemouth.

Marcus Alonso (£6.0m) gets his first start since Gameweek 10, with Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) and Fikayo Tomori (£4.8m) also recalled.

All of that would seem to suggest that Lampard has switched to a 3-4-3, with Tomori joining Kurt Zouma (£4.7m) and Antonio Rudiger (£6.0m) at centre-half.

Mason Mount (£6.5m) and Willian (£7.0m) appear to be flanking Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) in attack.

Mount, Pulisic and Abraham were three of the four most-sold FPL assets of Gameweek 18.

Lampard’s side have lost four of their last five Premier League games and haven’t kept a clean sheet on the road in 2019/20.

Spurs, by contrast, have won four of their five league games under Jose Mourinho since the ‘Special One’ first took charge a month ago.

Dele Alli (£8.8m), Son Heung-min (£10.1m) and Harry Kane (£10.9m) are averaging 8.0, 7.8 and 5.4 points per game respectively under their new manager.

Kane is the fourth-most-popular captaincy pick of Gameweek 18, while only three FPL assets were bought by more managers than Son in the run-up to this weekend.


Spurs XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Dier, Sissoko, Dele, Son, Lucas, Kane.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Mount, Abraham.



  1. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Who wins alli or kante

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Kante has more to worry about than Alli

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Well that’s his role

  2. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Many thanks to big Ben foster for assuaging the pain of benching Henderson yday. 23 points from me two keepers this week. Insane.

  3. Fudgy
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Wish I could take my captaincy off Son and put it on Vardy now...

    1. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Has he been subbed off already?

      1. Fudgy
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        He's playing very defensively and also doesn't look up for it at all. Seems knackered.

        1. Surfeit of Lampteys
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 25 days ago

          How can he be knackered? Hasn't played for a week.

          1. Fudgy
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 25 days ago

            He sprinted loads last week. He's not a robot.

            1. Scapegoat Salah
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 25 days ago

              Vardy says hi

            2. Surfeit of Lampteys
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 25 days ago

              Lol you just trolling?

    2. Zenith UK
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Already? Why?

      I captained Rashford over Alli/Son/Vardy... Gotta stop trying to catch up with captain decisions

      1. Fudgy
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Just been a really poor start. Feel like Jose doesn't want him too central and far forward. Wants him to be able to get back fast if Chelsea counter.

      2. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Rashford played Watford, Vardy city. Are you captain hindsight or something?

        1. Zenith UK
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 25 days ago

          City haven't had a clean sheet in seven of their last eight... Nothing to do with Captain hindsight and Vardy is the league's top scorer and in best form right now. I just thought he'd only get one and I thought Rashford would get one and an assist or two goals.

    3. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      You have still 88 min of hope. Not like us who capt Rashford.

      1. Fudgy
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        It's always false hope though isn't it.

        1. Jimbo74
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 25 days ago

          Give him a chance. At least he still has his game to play to realise any hope in him.

  4. Ask Yourself
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Will Reece James ever play for Chelsea again please can we make it next game?

  5. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    The only thing that could have encouraged me to watch the match is the faces and manner of greeting between the formerly special one and hiss untouchable. Those watching the game how was it done? What were the looks in their faces?

  6. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Chelsea showing the better game thus far

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      nah 50/50. Chelsea look shaky/scared in defence imo

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        That’s coz their defence sucks

    2. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      'Show the better game' eurgh strike me down if I ever say this.

  7. Zilla
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Hopefully Mount and Abraham YC

    1. Fudgy
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      I own Tammy. Why would you hope I lose points in my team, I don't even know you?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Agree, so many rude people here, having more fun laughing at others than the joy they have when own players do well

        1. Zilla
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 25 days ago

          I want to win in cup how is that rude?

  8. manu4life99
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Appreciate input on final dilemma for GW20 WC:

    A) Maddison Kelly Greenwood(fodder)
    B) Ings Evans Cantwell(fodder)

    Rest of WC:

    Ramsdale 4.0
    Soy Aurier Lund Dunk XXX
    Salah Son Alli KDB XXX
    Vardy Tammy XXX

    1. Zenith UK
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      B

    2. Jolly Good
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Leaning towards A given fixtures

  9. Ser Davos
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    No Winks nor Jorginho are interesting selection choices

  10. camarozz
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    One of the worst gws in yrs.

    Rashford (c)

    BUT.... got rid of Tieleman and Pulisic...

    One of those replacements was Richarlson however..

  11. JIMMY TUGGINS
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Doherty to

    A) Aurier
    B) PvA
    C) Digne

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Not A

  12. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Alli and Son double up massive fail...

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      An Aurier, Alli link up will be so sick

    2. Fudgy
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Pretty much. Disastrous week for me.

    3. TheDragon
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      They’ve not started well

  13. Jullepuu
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    Will Pogba take the pens from Rashford?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      See next GW when they’re gifted one, doubt it though.

    2. sglancelot
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      There's a chance. But I don't think so.

  14. Eleven Hag
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 25 days ago

    This game has 0-0 written all over it

    1. Fudgy
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Aurier owners in Dreamland.

      1. Party time
          6 years, 25 days ago

          Indeed

      2. Sid1891
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        I will take Aurier baps then

      3. Gobigorgohome
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        LOL

      4. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Does it, aye?

    2. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Anyone else asleep yet?

      1. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Timing

    3. Gobigorgohome
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      WILLIANNNNNN

    4. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Willian G

    5. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Willy goal

    6. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Willy wonder

    7. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      And Spurs CS is gone...

    8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Aurier is a terrible defender

    9. tm245
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Wow, Willian

    10. FIRMINOLOOKGOAL
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Willyyyy rocket!

    11. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Great defending from the essential Aurier.

    12. Eleven Hag
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Hopefully this will wake up spurs

    13. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Mount assist????

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Kovacic

    14. Zilla
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      no assist?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Kovo I think.

      2. CRO KLOPP
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Kovačić

    15. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 25 days ago

      Aurier is shocking

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        In what way?

    16. Party time
        6 years, 25 days ago

        Aurier kept a dirty sheet

      • Gobigorgohome
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 25 days ago

        this game has 4-4 written