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, 4 months ago

    Thiago Silva goal !!!!

  2. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Looks like a syndesmosis for Chilwell. 4-8 weeks

  3. osceola31909
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Good grief. I came into this week with Chilwell, James, and Lamptey

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Same. Was finally happy with how my team looked

  4. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Silva G

  5. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Genuine question: How has Moyes turned it around so much with West Ham? He looked out of his depth last season.

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      good players finally playing good

    2. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No one knows, really.

  6. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Christmas off for Chilly

  7. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    James and Chillwell out of my team tonight!!!!!

  8. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Silva G
    Mount A

  9. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell to Taylor this GW. Oh Benson

  10. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Can't believe my luck. Chilly you just had to get injured didn't you?

  11. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    In the space of 30 seconds... Coufal cleanie wiped and Chillwell off injured. Yay

  12. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Kurt, these are your balls mate!

  13. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell off. Zouma is the last highly owned Chelsea defender left on the pitch.

  14. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    And .... the one Chelsea defender nobody's got!

  15. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Gotta ship both Chilwell & James now 😆

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Defo, doing it tonight man!

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      same

    3. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yep, who you thinking?

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

        Have to have a think really. Want Robbo, but only 4.1m for the other slot.

        Was thinking about downgrading Grealish > Raphina, so maybe a hit Would prefer not to though.

        1. waltzingmatildas
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Exactly the same here. Have my wc so could go early but means losing kdb

  16. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Emerson for the DGW could be fantastic

  17. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    missed the century 🙁

  18. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    And bye bye Cresswell clean sheet

  19. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any chance I get Dias points off the bench for Chilly?

  20. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Amazing. Chilwell off and Cresswell clean sheet wiped straight after hahaha

  21. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Are all teams having a DGW in 26 going to blank in 29?

    1. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not necessarily. If available, they could put one of the currently postponed fixtures in 26 and those teams would have a 29 fixture.

  22. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell James Lamptey my def this week.

  23. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Free Alonso, Frank!!!

  24. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Semedo and Chilwell today 🙁

  25. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Oh God Chilly nooooooooooo

  26. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Thunderbolt from silva..

  27. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Interesting 2 mins for Chelsea defenders. One off and one scores
    Your turn now Zouma to score

  28. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Goalllllll Thiago

  29. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell dead & Coufal CS gone in the space of a minute. So ends my interest in this match.

  30. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Had literally just looked at Chilly to Robertson as an option.