Dugout Discussion
29 December 2020 2330 comments
Colm Hayes Colm Hayes
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Heavy rotation has struck Fantasy Premier League managers once again as the gap between Gameweeks 15 and 16 takes its toll.

Owners of West Ham and Brighton assets are suffering the most from Tuesday’s team selections while Southampton and Leeds have proved the more reliable squads to rely on.

David Moyes has dropped Vladimir Coufal (ยฃ4.7m), Jarrod Bowen (ยฃ6.4m), Issa Diop (ยฃ4.3m) and Ben Johnson (ยฃ3.9m) to the bench, where they are joined by the returning Michail Antonio (ยฃ6.2m).

Sebastien Haller (ยฃ6.1m) still leads the line supported by Pablo Fornals (ยฃ6.1m), Manuel Lanzini (ยฃ6.4m) and Andriy Yarmolenko (ยฃ5.5m) in attacking midfield, while Ryan Fredericks (ยฃ4.2m) occupies Coufal’s right-back berth.

By contrast, a relatively unchanged Southampton have kept key Fantasy assets such as Che Adams (ยฃ6.1m) and Kyle Walker-Peters (ยฃ4.8m) in the starting line-up, where there is also a relatively surprise return of Danny Ings (ยฃ8.3m), who missed the last match with a hamstring problem.

Marcelo Bielsa has gone for a similar approach for Leeds’ trip to West Bromwich Albion naming a completely unchanged side, which means another start for Patrick Bamford (ยฃ6.5m), Raphinha (ยฃ5.4m), Stuart Dallas (ยฃ4.8m) and Illan Meslier (ยฃ4.6m).

West Bromwich Albion line-up in a 4-4-2 formation with Callum Robinson (ยฃ5.4m) and Karlan Grant (ยฃ5.8m) leading the line.

FPL midfielder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ยฃ11.4m) returns to the Arsenal line-up for the first time since sustaining an injury ahead of Gameweek 14.

The Arsenal star is set to lead the Gunners’ line ahead of attacking midfield trio Gabriel Martinelli (ยฃ4.9m), Emile Smith-Rowe (ยฃ4.4m) and Bukayo Saka (ยฃ5.2m).

Aubameyang is the sole change to Mikel Artetaโ€™s line-up from the 3-1 win against Chelsea in GW15, as Alexandre Lacazette (ยฃ8.2m) drops to the bench.

A positive Covid test rules Gabriel (ยฃ5.0m) out of Gameweeks 16 and 17, at least.

Graham Potter has made six changes from the XI that began the 2-2 draw at West Ham on Sunday.

Alexis Mac Allister (ยฃ5.3m), Pascal Gross (ยฃ5.8m), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (ยฃ5.4m), Davy Propper (ยฃ4.8m), budget defender Bernardo (ยฃ3.9m) and Joel Veltman (ยฃ4.3m) are all drafted in for the Seagulls.

Adam Lallana (ยฃ6.2m) misses out through injury while Ben White (ยฃ4.4m), Solly March (ยฃ5.0m), Leandro Trossard (ยฃ5.8m), Neal Maupay (ยฃ6.1m) and Danny Welbeck (ยฃ5.5m) are all on the bench.

Tariq Lamptey (ยฃ4.7m) is still sidelined with a hamstring injury. On Sunday, Potter said of the right-back:

“Tariq is going to be a few days, maybe weeks. He won’t be ready for the next game [Arsenal].” – Graham Potter

Chris Wilder has made just one change to the Sheffield United XI for their clash with Burnley at Turf Moor.

Lys Mousset (ยฃ5.8m) replaces budget midfielder Oliver Burke (ยฃ4.4m), with the Scot only fit enough for the bench due to an ongoing back issue.

That means Rhian Brewster (ยฃ4.5m) earns a third consecutive start in the Sheffield United forward line.

Having announced today that they recorded a number of positive Covid-19 tests, the Blades name seven substitutes out of a maximum of nine.

The Clarets also show just one alteration to their Gameweek 15 line-up, as Robbie Brady (ยฃ5.0m) replaces Josh Benson (ยฃ4.5m) at right-midfield.

Sean Dyche had hoped to also have Dwight McNeil (ยฃ5.7m) available, though the winger is not even fit enough to make the Burnley bench.

On the two widemen, the Burnley boss said in his pre-match press conference:

โ€œWith the two games in three days, we had to make a judgement call. We think they both have a chance [of facing Sheffield United] but we just felt the fatigue element of two games and what it might do, when you are coming out of a minor injury, we just had to make a decision.โ€ – Sean Dyche

Gameweek 16 Line-ups

Brighton and Hove Albion XI:ย Sanchez; Burn, Dunk, Webster; Bernardo, Propper, Bissouma, Veltman; Mac Allister, Gross; Jahanbakhsh.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Tierney, Mari, Holding, Bellerin; Xhaka, Elneny; Martinelli, Smith-Rowe, Saka; Aubameyang.

Burnley XI: Pope; Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; Pieters, Westwood, Brownhill, Brady; Wood, Barnes.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale; Robinson, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Osborn, Ampadu, Baldock; McGoldrick, Mousset, Brewster.

Southampton XI: A McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, J Stephens, Walker-Peters; Walcott, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Djenepo; Adams, Ings.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Dawson, Fredericks; Rice, Soucek; Fornals, Lanzini, Yarmolenko; Haller.

West Bromwich Albion XI: Johnstone; Gibbs, Ajayi, O’Shea, Furlong; Diangana, Gallagher, Sawyers, M Phillips; C Robinson, Grant.

Leeds United XI: Meslier; Alioski, Ayling, Struijk, Dallas; K Phillips; Harrison, Klich, Rodrigo, Raphinha; Bamford.

Article written by David Munday and Colm Hayes.

  1. Budweiser
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    This is the last of Southamptons clean sheets for a while

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Kind of agree

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Certainly is

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Conveniently looks nice after the DGW, if it happens

    4. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Probably the last time they will play for a while.

  2. Party time
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Wow so Bamford got 2 assists. Lovely!

    • Pukki Party
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Soucek cs

    • TomSaints
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      As a McCarthy, cresswell and Soucek owner that 0-0 is lovely.

      As a saints fan, why can’t we score?!

    • gryffsonofarthur
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Dallas absolute Legend.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        this

      2. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Alioski mate

    • Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      KWP and Creswell owner, 0-0 is perfect!

    • Svidde
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Bottomed, do you guys reckon taylor will be out for a long time with the hamstring?

    • ivantys
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Burke booked nice

    • FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Dallas getttinnn, an absolute legend. One of the best transfers of mine

    • Pedram
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Bruno captain let's go

      1. Party time
          5 years, 4 months ago

          We Feast!!!

      2. Chucky
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        McCarthy 9 /10 Pointer in this GW from Hell. ๐Ÿ˜€

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 16 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Chucky in heaven

          1. Chucky
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            lol no... Zouma,Dias,Taylor,Vardy,Adams,Son,Stephens roasting me in hell....

      3. gryffsonofarthur
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Taylor and Coufal clean sheets. Nice.

        1. CRO KLOPP
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          And Balbuena

        2. Kane and Ablett
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Always looked inevitable

      4. Rolls-Royce
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I think I will just get McCarthy in for doubles to stop him from scoring 20 points in a GW.

        1. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          the hero we all need

      5. Ha.
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Taylor injury so annoying, especially when basically every defender has a CS

        1. dshv
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Yes ... same
          Here

        2. WVA
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          THIS FML I am the unluckiest FPL player in history, this week of all weeks

          1. Miniboss
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            cheer up little one, there's a new day tomorrow

      6. ZLNR
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Antonio back just in time for the doubles

      7. Reeker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Man Coufal and Taylor really could of hauled big for me

      8. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Congrats Burnley defence owners
        Good call by Mark with Pope

        1. WVA
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Guaranteed clean sheets, why I picked Taylor

      9. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Alongside Cancelo & KDB - Coufal & Taylor.

        Oh how it could have been ๐Ÿ™

        Somehow still on a green till Rashford scores tonight.

      10. Salan
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Dallas halfly saves my gameweek.

      11. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Sick of Southampton keeping clean sheets. Avoided when Vestergaard was injured.

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          They’re so unbelievably irritating

      12. 272MK
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Shame Taylor injured. Could have gotten 5-7 pts there. And if CS next week, 11-13pts

        1. Paqueta Rice
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah and I only brought him in

      13. Paqueta Rice
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        23 from 7 any good. Fml....

        1. Duke Silver โ˜‘
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Not great, not terrible.

      14. moment
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Remember when we all though Ramsdale would rip it up in the SHU nets?

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Can't have been a man alive that thought that

          • diesel001
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            We didn't think that. We saw him at Bournemouth.

          • Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Not many people thought that.

          • George Sillett
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            We never did.

        2. Londongeezaa
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Struijk delivering from the bench 2 weeks running.

          Bamford and Dallas thank you yet again.

          Triple up Leeds the way to go ๐Ÿ™‚

        3. Kodap
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Lol, Burke gets a yellow meaning a 0 pointer... so I’m now technically fielding 10 players, but 9 if you count the 0 from Burke!

          1. WVA
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Coufal Lamptey DCL KDB missing for me already so far....

          2. Lubic87
            • 16 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            I was desperate for that Burke 1 pointer!

        4. FPL Daniel
          • 16 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Holding on 3BP. I am considering getting him in for Lamptey

          1. Paqueta Rice
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Course he is another sub for my ml rival

        5. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Dier, Son, Kane, Dias and DCL owner, if Spurs game is called off I'm down to 8 players this GW.

        6. Salarrivederci
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Those Dallas & McCarthy/KWP/Bednarek points hurts extra this GW.

          Bamford + 4 blanks (Martínez, Grealish, Mitchell & Brewster).
          At least the premiums are left to save me (I hope): TAA, Robertson, Rashford, Son, Bruno, Salah (C)

        7. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          LMS safety score around 18 with autosubs.

        8. badgerboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Dallas has been a shining light in a season of gloom these last few weeks.