Dugout Discussion

Antonio starts up front for West Ham and Saint-Maximin returns to Newcastle side

There are no big line-up surprises for the two early Gameweek 35 kick-offs this afternoon.

Michail Antonio (£6.9m) continues in the striker role for David Moyes’ West Ham.

The FPL midfielder looks set to be flanked by Pablo Fornals (£6.0m) and Jarrod Bowen (£6.4m).

Behind that trio, Mark Noble (£4.9m) returns from a minor injury to retake his spot in midfield – alongside Tomas Soucek (£4.8m) and Declan Rice (£4.7m) – as Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.2m) drops to the bench.

Daniel Farke has named an unchanged Norwich XI from the GW34 defeat to Watford.

However, Todd Cantwell (£4.5m) is fit enough for a place on the bench after completely missing that 2-1 loss with a hamstring problem.

Norwich will be relegated if they suffer defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers West Ham, while a draw and Watford avoiding a loss to Newcastle will also seal their fate.

Nigel Pearson’s team, perhaps less surprisingly, is also unchanged after an acrobatic Danny Welbeck (£5.8m) goal saw the Hornets sting the Canaries for all three points on Tuesday.

The ex-Manchester United and Arsenal forward was only behind fellow goalscorer Craig Dawson (£4.8m) for transfers in of Watford assets ahead of this morning’s deadline.

After a 5-0 drubbing away to Manchester City, Steve Bruce has reverted to a more familiar looking 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 formation with Fabian Schar (£5.0m) expected to take up a central midfield role again.

There is a return to action for both Jamaal Lascelles (£4.3m) and Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.4m), who were both absent for that Etihad hammering.

Dwight Gayle (£5.0m) starts up front, with Miguel Almiron (£5.8m) set to play beside or behind the striker.

Both Gayle and Almiron were substitutes in Gameweek 34, with Javier Manquillo‘s (£4.3m) replacement of Emil Krafth (£4.3m) at right-back making it five changes in total for the Magpies.

Before kick-off, Bruce said:

What we’ve all had to do with the amount of games we’ve had is hope you can keep a few of them fit. We’re delighted we’ve been able to freshen the team up which will give us more up top.

Norwich XI: Krul; Lewis, Klose, Godfrey, Aarons; Tettey, Vrancic; O Hernandez, Stiepermann, Buendia; Pukki.

West Ham XI: Fabianski; Creswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Soucek, Noble, Rice; Fornals, Antonio, Bowen.

Watford XI: Foster; Masina, Dawson, Kabasele, Femenia; Hughes, Capoue; Welbeck, Doucouré, Sarr; Deeney.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Rose, Fernandez, Lascelles, Manquillo; Ritchie, Schar, Shelvey, Saint-Maximin; Almiron, Gayle.

1,665 Comments Post a Comment
  1. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I Captained Antonio by mistake.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Season over

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Those are mistakes you should be happy about.

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      16 points x2 nice so far

    4. Guy Demel
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I captained Antonio on purpose.

    5. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Who’s watching over you?

    6. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Some mistakes work out well for some. I mean I was born so...

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        😀

    7. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hahaha

  2. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    For god sake Moyes. Please take Antonio off for a rest

  3. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Such low ownership. Genuine differential Antonio.

  4. Guy Demel
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Antonio (c)

    \o/

    1. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Legend username that

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Played

    3. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Well done!

  5. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Delighted by Diop. Hold on to that CS!

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nice pick

  6. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Loooool cba. This season should’ve just ended. Dropped from 4k to 30k since restart.

    Been looking how to get Antonio for Norwich, pussied out and made a move for Vardy instead then Willian next week.

    Can’t make it up. Vardy blank incoming.

    1. Jones Town
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I also cant seem to make a single decision right since the restart! Very frustrating I feel you

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Why would anyone make that up?

    3. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Used all your chips before?

  7. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Lol kept mahrez rather than getting antonio.

    1. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I kept Foden and started lmao

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Bournemouth and Norwich in GW37 and GW38... if he plays!

      1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Hope he does haha, I think he will e rested v Bournemouth

      2. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yep thats why i kept City x 3 lol.

  8. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Early Liverpool team news?

  9. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Need a Chelsea asset now.

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Need two of them

  10. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pulisic for captain vs Norwich?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nah Tammy

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I am going Puli 😀

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Or Willian?

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Azpi

    4. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thinking this but not sure who i'd lose in Midfield. Would be between Salah or Mahrez

    5. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Barkley 😆

    6. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Alonso 😉

  11. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Took a hit to bring in Vardy. Now seen the guy chasing me in ML has him TC. Don't know if I want him to score or blank!

    1. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Blank obviously

  12. beric
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Well played those you own Antonio, your courage has been rewarded.

    Foster on wildcard a few weeks ago has been a fkn nightmare

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I genuinely hate Watford now... Picked Kabasele on my WC few weeks back.

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      KiKo not been great either for me.

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Well Patricio over Pope hasn't been great either

  13. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone else capped Bruno by mistake?

    1. JJO
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah Pogba

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      My entire team is a mistake

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Haha this is what i thought this morning contemplating my moves

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah.

      I meant to bring in and captain Antonio.

  14. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Well done to everyone who nearly got Antonio!

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Haha, theres a few of them ey

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Me 🙁

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      This!

      So many good midfield options, can't have them all. Well done to those who did actually get in Antonio!

    4. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Most people with nothing to lose i guess? Still a great call. Especially those who captained him. Hatty incoming

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Brilliant for those who own him, for sure.

    5. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He was my first post-lockdown transfer, corrupt FPL bribing everyone with unlimited free transfers ruined it. 😥

    6. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      They are true legends, its the thought that matters!

  15. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone have rewind button for 2 hours so can bring in Antonio do what I wanted to do all week.

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'll try

  16. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pulisic, Willian and Tammy/Giroud on my FH this week confirmed

    1. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pulisic/willian both to be rested

      1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Fingers crossed for early team news

    2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I agree with first 2 but Azpi not tempt you over a striker?

      1. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Maybe, we should get the early team news which will help massively

        1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah that's going to be key.

  17. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Fair play to anyone gambling on Antonio(c) this week. Was the move to make that a ML leader might not do given the choices in midfield.

  18. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Guy chasing in my ML, has Antonio, Fernandez & Fredericks in his starting 11, can’t write it haha

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You just did.

    2. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Buendia will score or assist.

  19. fplking14
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    TC Pulisic against Norwich?

  20. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Looking at free hit next week. Triple up on Chelsea against Norwich, hope we get early team news for that one. Then load up on whoever is benched for city today, triple united, digne, a random keeper. Sorted.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      38 is the best week for it for me

      1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        38 is good as well. For me 36 looks best bet at the moment. I have double pool away at arsenal, no chelsea and I think KDB and mahrez could be rested

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          It when it suits your side best I suppose. Double pool away to Arsenal is no issue. They could have 2 or 3 there it’s still pool. 38 Chelsea have wolves United have Leicester, it’s just tougher to navigate than it looks.

    2. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yup I'm with you there. Will. Just be hard picking the right City players, hoping the minuted they get today will us some clues

  21. wantsharptv
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I had choice of Willian Pulisic Antonio and went Pulisic

    1. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I think you should have gone Antonio

    2. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Next few games look good!

  22. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Giroud nailed on? Don't have a midfield slot to give up and after watching Norwich first half, I want some Chelea.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Wouldn’t be buying till Rockstar tweets.

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Ah, it's the first game as well. Hope he posts the leak then.

        1. Pep Roulette
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          That's what I'm hoping. Iheanacho to Giroud/Tammy for free!

  23. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Wow, Az and Andy know!

    1. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Why just Andy and Az? There are loads who brought him in. Are you a little star struck? 😉

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Come back to me when you are a Pro Pundit mate, no one cares about nobodies!

        1. Yozzer
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Definitely star struck. They are just normal people you know 🙂

    2. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Andy sold Salah for a hit last week. Behave.

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Andy is a legend of the game... you behave..

      2. Greek Freak
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I sold him for two hits this week 😆

    3. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Know what ?!

  24. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Right, now need to be brave: Salah DCL > Willian (NOR) Giroud (NOR)

  25. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Lol that Antonio brace has jumped my rank up to 53 OR, I'm scared

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Wow nice one dude

    2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Congrats, our head to head contender against you has antonio too. So even stevens in the You're Ropey play off!

    3. SomewhatPleasing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Excellent stuff, well played.

  26. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any Liverpool line up rumours?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No Trent or Salah according to team news.

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Trolling?

          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            What do they know

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I would call it something else like being a ...... (fill in the blank)

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Damn rubbing my wounds not doing Salah > Antonio

      3. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Post the link

  27. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    No specific article on it ever before (at least not that I have seen), but there is a FPL strategy that is just about 'relegation chasing'

    Similar to Lateriser12's 'lottery ticket' for Man City assets, just bring in players who are playing against the teams who are adrift in the table (there are six this season - Brighton, West Ham, Watford, Bournemouth, Villa, Norwich). If they are playing each other then there needs to be at least a 6 point difference between the teams and then you choose the one that is higher in the table.

    What isn't clear is how well this works when taking hits to bring the players in. Type of thing FFS should be doing the analysis on during pre-season (effectively August this year). They have the data from the 3 previous seasons and so the analysis must be possible.

    1. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've got two Watford players. Not sure I'm doing it right.

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Not sure that is right. Because Newcastle are a 'mid-table' team playing a 'relegation team'. So you would have gone with ASM probably from Newcastle. Antonio from West Ham.

        Next week, assuming they all stay in that bottom 6 that are crapper than the rest:

        Chelsea (Pulisic)
        Man City (take your pick!)
        Everton (Richarlison)
        Southampton (Ings)

        Note, West Ham are playing Watford, but the points difference between them does not suggest that West Ham are sufficiently better than Watford to justify getting a West Ham asset in.

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I think Joe/Jonty posted about this a while back, when Villa were 20th a few seasons ago. It generally works quite well.

    3. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Find I always get burnt .... many 2 points away to NOR this season, no CS against Villa etc.

      3 points from 2 Spuds against BOU being the latest

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I think the strategy requires persistence. Because there will be blanks. I don't think it necessarily works defensively either (it is more about attack).

        That is why I mention the concept of 'lottery ticket'. You don't win often, but when you do you hope it either ties you over or you hit it massive.

  28. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Wats the story with livefpl?
    Can't log in.

    1. SweepaKeepa
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I just logged in. I’m on one point and a green arrow?

  29. davies
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who to bench next week?

    Salah KDB Bruno Mahrez Pulisic
    Vardy Ings Greenwood

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      None, loan one to me

  30. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jesus Christ! Wanted Antonio, went for greenwood godamnitttt

    1. wantsharptv
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Didnt want him bad enough

    2. Rojo's Modern Life
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Obviously you didn't want him enough, or you'd have bought him.