Dugout Discussion

Injured James and Antonio miss out as Lampard benches Havertz and Giroud

The final Premier League fixture before Christmas is a London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Bringing Gameweek 14 to a close, Chelsea v West Ham United kicks off at 20:00 GMT.

The Blues will be without Reece James (£5.3m), with the widespread media reports that hinted at his possible, injury-enforced absence proving to be accurate.

The long-serving Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.6m) comes in at right-back and is one of three changes that Frank Lampard has made from Gameweek 13, with Jorginho (£4.8m) and Tammy Abraham (£8.2m) replacing the benched Kai Havertz (£8.2m) and Olivier Giroud (£6.7m).

Speaking of those last two changes ahead of kick-off, Lampard said:

It’s just a rotation and looking at different attributes of players against the opposition.

With Tammy, some energy in the team from the front. Oli’s been fantastic and can come in from the bench.

With Kai, similarly. I’ve got midfield players who are competing, I have to have a good level of competition. Nothing against Kai, he’s finding his feet and he will find his feet.

There is still no Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) in the Chelsea squad despite the Moroccan returning to training at the back-end of last week but another recent absentee, Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m), is on the bench.

West Ham have their own injury problems, with Michail Antonio (£6.2m) absent yet again because of a hamstring problem.

David Moyes said of the forward ahead of the match:

He’s getting closer but not ready for the game. He’s a big miss for us, undoubtedly, but hopefully, we’ll get him back soon.

Manuel Lanzini (£6.4m) misses out with a similar issue.

Fabian Balbuena (£4.5m) has recovered from a minor groin problem to start, at least, with the Paraguayan ousting Issa Diop (£4.3m) from the Hammers’ starting XI.

Mark Noble (£4.6m) also makes his first start in the Premier League since September as Moyes looks to bolster his midfield for this tricky away trip.

Said Benrahma (£6.0m) is the man to make way to accommodate the West Ham skipper.


Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Thiago Silva, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, Werner, Abraham, Pulisic.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Noble, Fornals, Haller.

Lessons learned from FPL Gameweek 14

1,979 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    9 players now allowed to be named as Subs. Zylch and James out injured. And Marcus Alonso still can’t even get onto Chelsea’s bench.

    That is some massive fall from grace.

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

      Lampard always hated him. Seems to be some sort of statement to distance himself from the teams of the previous managers.

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        If your tesms arent built to defend, playing a fullback who cant defend is a bad idea

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

          Hes a better left wing than Werner

      2. Patio Kev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Played more than Emerson last season but Emerson now seems to be the 2nd choice left back and Alonso 3rd choice.

        I guess you only need 1 left back on the bench.

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Murderous

      1. Brehmeren
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Tasteless

  2. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Can get this team for 19 how does it look?

    McCarthy
    Robbo Ayling Taylor
    Salah Bruno Son Soucek
    Vardy Bamford Adams

    1. HD7
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Think it needs a Wham defender

  3. GoonerSteve
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Come on Chilwell!

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      His 24th birthday today.. give us a present

    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You jinxed it......

  4. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Keep FT this week or move Vardy to someone else ?
    Maybe Firmino punt ?

    Martinez
    Robo/Chilwell/Dallas
    Salah(c)/Bruno/Son/Grealish
    Vardy/DCL/Bamford

  5. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Come on Kurt, time to stake a claim for the golden boot tonight my friend.

  6. james 101
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Predict points this week from:

    A. Chillwell

    B. Zouma

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      7
      8

    2. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A. -12 after he gets a red card for insulting the refs wife and scoring an own goal.

      B. 27 points

  7. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Need to figure out how I am going to get Puli after his brace today.

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He's playing on the right so no chance of that. 2 pointer incoming.

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Don’t fall for the trap

    3. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Permacrock

  8. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Come on you Irons !!

    1. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Big Scunthorpe United fan ?

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Don't even know where Scunthorpe is...

        1. Dr Van Nostrand
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          No one should

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

    I’m sure it gets said every week but will tonight finally be the night Timo Werner finally finds his groove ?

    He is definitely gonna haul sooner or later.

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not tonight.

      " Sufferings of young Werner"

  10. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    James suffering from bad defending injury?

  11. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell broken ?

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

      No? Why?

      1. Brehmeren
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Ankle done

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hyper extended right ankle ligaments. He done similar a week or two ago also

      Suffering from the same injury on the same ankle myself at the minute!

  12. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Taylor losing his clean sheet. Awful.

  13. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    This doesn’t look good for Chilwell.

  14. yalala
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I have 50 quid on Bowen to score first

  15. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Oh, that’s unfortunate on Chilwells ankles, could be game over here.

  16. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chil not doing well :'(

  17. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea Fullbacks ended

  18. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bad birthday for Ben Chilwell.

  19. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Doesnt look good for Chilwell. Typical!

  20. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Magic spray out.

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

    Chilly twisted ankle?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Back on pitch.

  22. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    That looks like it hurt. I dont need this, I need a Chilly return for a century.

  23. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell injured. Beautiful

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Come on man, not nice wishing injury.

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        i own him. That was sarcastic.

    2. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      How can you even say that

  24. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell will be fine. He goes down injured every game and never gets subbed off. Plus they used the magic spray!

  25. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell going to try and continue but definitely doesn’t look right.

  26. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Just brilliant....I have 4 flagged players after 1 GW!!!!!

  27. yalala
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Are creamy mash and peri chips decent sources of fibre?

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Na, you need garlic bread too

  28. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    🙁 Chilly

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

      This is a joke. First Lamptey, then James and now Chilwell.

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

    Well, that’s James and Chillwell out for me tonight, can’t wait to transfer em out

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

    Rice G

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

      Offside?