Dugout Discussion

Giroud benched as Willian and Pulisic start at Sheff Utd

Olivier Giroud (£6.7m) finds himself on the Chelsea bench for the Gameweek 35+ trip to Sheffield United.

That will be of huge frustration to his increasing ownership and those looking to him as a differential option.

The Frenchman had scored in each of his last two outings, both of which were starts, but will have to watch Tammy Abraham (£7.4m) lead the line from the sidelines today.

That arguably places a question mark over Giroud’s credentials for the Gameweek 36+ meeting with Norwich, which may have been on the radar for anyone considering a reshuffle of their Fantasy forward line.

Meanwhile, Willian (£7.3m) and Christian Pulisic (£7.3m) remain reliable starters, each one positioned either side of Abraham for the trip to Sheffield United.

The 13.7%-owned Mason Mount (£6.1m) retains his place in the side, making his fifth start from a possible six since the Premier League restart.

Meanwhile, John Lundstram (£4.6m) is on the bench for Sheffield United once again, Chris Wilder opting to keep his central midfield trio the same as Gameweek 34+.

That means further starts for Oliver Norwood (£4.7m), Sander Berge (£4.7m) and Ben Osborn (£4.7m).

David McGoldrick (£5.4m) comes back into the team following a fitness test, forcing Billy Sharp (£5.3m) back onto the bench.

Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): D Henderson; O’Connell, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Osborn, Norwood, Berge, Baldock; McBurnie, McGoldrick.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, R James; Mount, Jorginho, Barkley; Pulisic, Abraham, Willian.

1,411 Comments Post a Comment
  1. supperspout
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Sterling a differential?

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

      Yeah 17% EO

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

      My (c). Can't say I'm confident, but no choice but to go for differential captains unfortunately.

  2. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Chelsea are a Jekyl and Hyde side

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

      Nah. Just bad in defence. And if you keep it solid against them, then overcommit and leave gaps to exploit.

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

      They are.

      Just have to hope that both them and Norwich read the script for Tuesday and stick to it.

  3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What a miss by mousset

  4. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WOWWW HOW MOUSSET MISS THAT

  5. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Misset

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

      10/10

  6. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Of course with my luck Foden's 1 point cameo about to block my Lascelles points off the bench...

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

    Mousset puts it wide from a one-on-one

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

    Nooooo

    The trinity nearly did it.

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

    Mousset misses 1v1 on kepa.. Must be embarrassed.

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

      Put off by his imposing figure.

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

    Chelsea determined to play in the Europa?

  11. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What hair gel does Giroud use? Header and still look so good.

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

      Au naturalle

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

        Au revoir.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Concrete

  12. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Third place now very much on the cards for United if they keep their form up.

    1. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Absolutely... Will be a close run in now

  13. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who has managed to get the very worst out of players this year?
    Frank and Jose for me.
    Who has got the best?
    Sean and Wilder.
    About 10 million GBP difference in wages too.

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pep has to be up there

      Took a squad that scored 95 goals and got 98 points last season...

      Added KDB back into it after effectively missing the prior season through injury, added Rodri & Cancelo to it for 100m, only lost Kompany (to retirement)...

      And they are now on 69 points 34 games later, despite scoring 86 goals

      (Conceded 23 last season vs. 34 conceded so far this season)

      1. Markus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Laporte?

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          A massive loss. But he’s still gotten 11 starts out of Laporte this season, and even putting that to one side...

          To get that type of regression from that collection of high-calibre, high-cost, and (previously) high-performing players is an eyebrow-raiser

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Very good point.

      3. Pedersen
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Disagree, last season his mission was to win the league. This season it is all about champions league. Simple prioritizing

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Possibly, possibly not... and let’s not forget he could still finish the season with the champions league & two cups

          But either way - in the league - he has overseen a pretty massive regression (vs. their previously demonstrated levels) from his squad

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Disagree. At the start of the season Chelsea squad was Peru shallow and to be challenging for top 4 was better than I expected. Managerial inexperience is telling though.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Fair enough. But sorry, there would be a lot of managers who could get a lot more from the Chelsea skill set.

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Oh and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize Giroud makes a difference.

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

      Moyes. I really can’t believe he keeps getting jobs

  14. UnitedFan
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Rudiger's assist points not added yet. Error?

  15. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Not long till I lose my Stevens cs 🙁

    1. DMP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hope so.

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

      Ending 3-0 this

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

      It’s in the bank

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

      Would love it... sorry kuqi:)

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

      Chelsea ain’t scoring tonight.

  16. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Almost a Trinity againat kepa

  17. JonSnow
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Scout article convinced me to do Dilva instead of Antonio, regrets

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

      Take ownership of your calls... good or bad

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

        true true, fair call

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

      Don’t be that guy

      1. Kellz86
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Whenever an outside pick blows up everyone comes out saying “Man I was gonna pick him!”

        Except they never were going to... own it.

        1. Kellz86
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Not directing at you just adding onto your comment

    3. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Rubbish! Dilva was always gonna be benched having played 90 previous game

    4. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Surely you knew saliva wouldn’t play two games In a row with their options!

  18. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pukki(C) next gw?

  19. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On your Mouss
    Get Set
    Sh*t

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      1/10

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

        10/100.
        Not bad!

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

        😆

  20. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Chelsea play Norwich on Tuesday and then Utd on Sunday.

    Given tonight’s starting line up, Giroud to start midweek? Tue to Sun is enough time to recover. I’d be willing to bet Alonso gets a go against Norwich and Willian takes a rest. Pulisic coming off makes me think he can start again Tue put in a shift and then rest for Sun.

    Just my uninformed 2 cents

    1. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      True, considering Pulisic TC

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sounds about right

    3. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Abraham might start if he wants to get his confidence up before next season. Giroud not in his long term plans.

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

    Stick it in Chelsea without Willy involvement.

    1. DMP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      This.

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

      Lord divine intervention

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Poke it with a rude finger

    4. Gashead9
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Haha me too, purely only to rub salt in my rivals already large wounds

  22. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    That '3' on the Chelsea jersey is a curse.

  23. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Kepa getting the sack before GW 38?

  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Really bad header from Abraham

  25. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Sheff Utd defence EO anyone?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      21%

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

        Ty! Higher than I thought

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

    Abraham with a gift

  27. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Own KDB and Sterling. Sterling to haul and KDB to get 1 assist only

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Kdb show tonight

      1. Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        🙂

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not this week, KDB to run riot

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Selfish. 😀

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

    Any help please? What to do with this lot?

    DDG

    Trent - Aurier - Holgate

    Salah - KDB - Pulisic - Fernandes

    Ings - Vardy - Rashford

    Henderson, Saiss, Fernandez & Hayden.

    1. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sell Pulisic first

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

        Is he not guaranteed a start against a woeful Norwich team though?

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Needs Martial/Greenwood

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

        Rashford > Greenwood is an option but waiting until the Utd game to make that decision.

    3. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nothing

    4. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Get Pope/Greenwood

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

        Pope was going to be one of my next moves but wanted to avoid the Pool fixture.

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

    Premium defense delivering. Trent and Alonso giving me 2 for 2 so far.

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

    Hopefully Project Restart has shown that the UK is better off if 15.00 KOs can be shown on TV.

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

      It doesn't affect any country that shows the matches live on TV