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. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Taylor no BAPS?

  2. Greek Shamrocks
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Giroud worth a punt? Great fixtures. How long is Tammy out for?

  3. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Antonio looks interesting

  4. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Benched Pope 🙁

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

      Why!

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

      Really dumb move tbh

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        😉

    3. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Started Button?

    4. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hendo?

    5. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      For Hendo 😀

  5. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    #shouldhavecaptainedpope

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

    Pope better get them 3 baps.

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

      He will

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

    Alonso is such a filthy punt.
    Bound to end in tears of course

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

      This

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

    What a terrible week so far . 2 2 2 1 0 minus 4.
    Doesn't look too hot.

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Splendid game

    Pope 3 BP, Fernandez 2BP. Get in !!!

    Now the fear against Traore begins

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Closer and closer to top 10K. Earlier WC works for now

      1. beric
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Nice dan, im not too far behind you mate

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Congrats Beric. Let's do it 😉 go for top 5 K 😉

  10. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I just know that the moment I get Pope he will go back to conceding goals .

    Might just do it to upset all current owners.

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

      That is true

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

      Planning to do it to ruin him.

    3. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bugger off 🙂

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

    Pope 3
    Fernandez 2
    Tark 1

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yummy

  12. Jullepuu
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Picking Lascelles over Taylor 2 weeks ago went the wrong way. Not a huge deal though

  13. marquinhos
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    VERY interested in Antonio. Looks extremely lively and threatening up front

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bad first touch, shite passing looks off form.

  14. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso 6.8 points per match + todays BAPS

  15. sglancelot
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Not willing to take hits to transfer Pope out has turned out to be one of the best things that have happened this season.

  16. Lemongrab
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who else sold pope before his 'tough' fix? Need some solidarity its cost me about 40 points

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

      I did but Guaita hasn't lost that badly compared to Ryan

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

      There are loads of us - Bubz and me for a start

      1. Lemongrab
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        It's such a massive swing for what seemed like a sensible move. Gutting.

  17. mitro
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pope is fpl gold

  18. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan vs pope since the week most made the switch

    Ryan 11 pope 49

    Good lord

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

      And they say GKs are not worth it.

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

      I feel sick. I avoided doing the sums

  19. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    get lost burnley boring boring team

  20. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    First time I ever get clean sheets from 2 opposing defenders

  21. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso points from the last 8 game weeks he's played in:

    16, 8, 11, 6, 14, 5, 5

    Why is he not starting regularly?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Can’t defend

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Frank is more concerned about real football than fpl

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

    That is an absolutely massive win for West Ham

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah. Chuffed for bowen too

  23. beric
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Nice one burnley newcastle. 20 from 5 😎

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Great game
      22 pts me 😉

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      13 with 7 to play thanks to Pope

  24. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Bowen - 3
    Haller - 2 🙂
    Antonio, Fornals - 1

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

      Bowen great pick for the run in after wc.

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Looked class in all aspects of his game today. Very promising and important for this stage of the season

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

    Cahill+Lascelles clean sheets

    Not to bad

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

    Well this game is make or break for me, 5 players in it.
    Foster, Deulofeu, TAA, Salah and Bobby. Need a Foster pen save so bad, and a Bobby haul. There is no chance in the world of Deulofeu getting anything more than an assist

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

    1.7m in my bank reserved for Vardy to Auba.
    But damn Ryan to anyone or Soy/Holgate/Stephens to Alonso or Doherty now look tempting.

  28. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ugh.. Pope, Fernández and Tarkowski will get bonus points, and I own Dubravka and Taylor

  29. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ings youre stats are bad and now your being benched

    ITS TIME TO GO

  30. Sif
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Foster out for Pope -4 last week = 14 points better off so far 😀

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

      Ben saving Salah pen soon.

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

        My gut instict for like 2/3 weeks now has said Foster hauls in this. So many times this season keepers hauled vs top teams and I dodged all those hauls, so this week I was like hmmmmm maybe Foster will be good 😀