Dugout Discussion

Ings benched as Ritchie starts out-of-position for Newcastle

Fantasy Premier League managers have been hit with another surprise injury in Blank Gameweek 28.

This time it’s Danny Ings (£7.2m) at the eye of the storm as he was named on Southampton’s bench for the trip to West Ham.

His 33.9% ownership will likely be rather miffed with Saints manager Ralph Hasenhüttl, whose pre-match quotes certainly indicate that he knew of this injury problem when he gave his midweek press conference.

As it stands, whether Ings is involved at the London Stadium may depend on what the score is at half-time.

“Danny (Ings) had problems during the week and I wasn’t sure if he would be able to make the bench. He trained yesterday for the first time. If I don’t need him I will leave him on the bench, but you never know.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

The frustration is not just for Ings owners though, as David Moyes took a turn at trolling the Fantasy community too.

Despite contributing to a spirited performance at Anfield on Monday night, Robert Snodgrass (£5.3m) finds himself on the West Ham bench, replaced in the starting XI by new signing Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m).

Meanwhile, Sebastien Haller (£6.8m) comes back in to start up-front, so Michail Antonio (£6.9m) is shifted to the left flank of attacking midfield.

Chelsea have lined up in a 3-4-3 formation for their trip to Bournemouth, featuring Marcos Alonso (£6.0m) and Reece James (£5.0m) as the wing-backs.

Mason Mount (£6.1m) and Pedro (£6.8m) flank Olivier Giroud (£6.5m) in the front-three as Tammy Abraham (£7.6m) misses out on a place in the match-day squad entirely.

Bournemouth’s bench features Harry Wilson (£5.8m) and Diego Rico (£4.3m) as Ryan Fraser (£6.8m) and Josh King (£6.1m) occupy the flanks, and Adam Smith (£4.3m) holds down a left-back berth.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has finally made good on his suggestions of a new shape, as his side line-up in a 4-4-2 formation to match Burnley.

That features Matt Ritchie (£5.3m) playing out-of-position in a midfield presided over by Jonjo Shelvey (£4.9m), who makes his first start since Gameweek 23.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale; A. Smith, Aké, S. Cook, Stacey; King, Billing, Lerma, L. Cook, Fraser; C Wilson.

Chelsea XI: Caballero; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori; Alonso, Kovacic, Jorginho, James; Pedro, Giroud, Mount.

Newcastle United XI: Dubravka; Rose, Lascelles, Fernandes, Manquillo; Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Almiron; Joelinton, Gayle.

Burnley XI: Pope; C Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, Bardsley; McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Hendrick; Vydra, Rodriguez.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, J Stephens, Ward-Prowse; Armstrong, Smallbone, Højbjerg, Boufal; S Long, Obafemi.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Ngakia; Noble, Rice; Antonio, Fornals, Bowen; Haller.

1,251 Comments Post a Comment
  1. dansmusen
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    On a WC and have 11 from 6 at the moment. What a time to be alive.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Good score that.

  2. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Laselles grab one please

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A card?

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      If they play this game for another 6 hours, Newcastle won’t score.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Lol

    3. nolard
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      yea, one pint for me as well

  3. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Worst decision I've made all season was selling Pope.

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yup, I'll never doubt Pope again once I get him back

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yep, for Fabianski who then got injured and then to McCarthy

    4. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Join the club. It seemed innocuous at the time

  4. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone watching the Newcastle Burnley game?
    Is there any chance Pope concedes or not?

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Zero chance basically

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Always a chance but doubt it to be honest.

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No chance

  5. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Best mid up to 5.8?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      There isn't a decent one, take a gamble on saka

    2. ow00019
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same problem. Jonjo Shelvey could be worth a punt at 4.9m

  6. olidooley
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    3 points from 6 players. Above average?

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah. Yesterday's average.

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bang on

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      About average

    4. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Below
      Average is 12 points top 10k, 8 points overall

    5. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No one likes a show off...

    6. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      You've got enough bench-wankery going on to get you through.

  7. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Newcastle will score

  8. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Newcastle will score BELIEVE

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

    Alonso is a forward

  10. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    OMG Alonso

  11. Mo Salah No Mane
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    ALONSO ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL

    1. One More Hit
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Double essential

  12. Dannyb
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I really should get Alonso

  13. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso 2nd ...

  14. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    ALONOSSOOOOOO

  15. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    F me.
    Alonso - amazing.

  16. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Goalonso at it again

  17. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Almost again

  18. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Chelsea are so lucky

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      We have been battering Bournemouth

  19. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Wooww alonso again

    Will be essential at this rate

  20. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Feels horrendous

  21. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    No Gomez in tge squad? Ffs tgis gameweek is worse than the Corona virus.

  22. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso is a weird player

  23. nolard
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso...

  24. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I NEED ALONSOOOOOOOO

  25. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    All aboardddddd!

    Hopefully Alonso isn’t driving the wagon.

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ouch

  26. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    13 from 3, captain gone on Perez already. On a -4 so it woulda been 17. Ok I guess, but the remaining caps will be damaging

  27. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    If Alonso was a guaranteed starter then I think we'd all get him!

  28. Pinky Blinders
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    God bless Pope, this wonderful man has been carrying my team for weeks!

    1. Marmalade Forest
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Of all the bad decisions I’ve made, keeping him is one good one.

  29. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Cmon Alonso one MO

  30. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Damn Alonso, 2 goals in a match is just too much.