Dugout Discussion

Cooper return sees Struijk drop to Leeds bench for Yorkshire derby

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has made just one change to his side for the Gameweek 30 meeting with Sheffield United.

Captain Liam Cooper (£4.3m) returns to the starting XI for the first time since Gameweek 27, named alongside Diego Llorente (£4.4m) at centre-back.

With Kalvin Phillips (£4.9m) reestablished in midfield following a positive international break, there is no place in the team for Pascal Struijk (£4.0m).

The budget defender drops to the bench for the first time since Gameweek 14, having only missed the Gameweek 27 defeat at West Ham through injury.

That will be of some disappointment to Struijk’s 5.6% ownership considering Leeds’ latest opponents Sheffield United are the Premier League’s worst goal-scoring side on the road this season.

In 14 away matches, they have found the net just six times, working out at 0.4 per game.

Stuart Dallas (£5.1m) will be relishing this afternoon’s encounter though, considering more time on the bench for Mateusz Klich (£5.2m) should make for another outing at central midfield alongside Tyler Roberts (£4.6m).

The 13 goals conceded by Sheffield United in their last six matches has put some of the Fantasy focus on Raphinha (£5.7m) and Patrick Bamford (£6.7m) this afternoon.

They are the differential captains among the top 10,000 Fantasy managers for Gameweek 30, earning the backing of 3.6% and 3.2% at that level respectively.

Gameweek 30 Line-ups

Leeds United XI: Meslier; Alioski, Cooper, Llorente, Ayling; K Phillips; Harrison, Dallas, Roberts, Raphinha; Bamford.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale; Stevens, Jagielka, Bogle; Osborn, Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram, Baldock; McBurnie, McGoldrick.

Gameweek 30 so far…

West Bromwich Albion executed a shock win at Stamford Bridge in the lunch-time kick-off, making a mockery of recent claims about the Chelsea defence.

Matheus Pereira (£5.3m) and Callum Robinson (£5.2m) both found the net twice in a shock 5-2 win, Thomas Tuchel’s first Premier League defeat after a streak of two goals conceded in 10 matches.

The Baggies were helped by a sending off for Thiago Silva (£5.6m) in the first half but were arguably the better side throughout.

There was mixed emotions for those invested in Chelsea, whose line-ups are increasingly becoming as hard to predict as Manchester City’s.

Antonio Rüdiger (£4.7m) was benched for the second time in three Gameweeks and remained there for the duration while Mason Mount (£ was also among the substitutes, although the midfielder came on to grab a second-half goal.

While Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) beat the Tuchel Tombola as predicted, he ended the afternoon with just three points.

He did add plenty of attacking threat, hitting the post twice and coming away with an assist but he lost two points due to the number of goals Chelsea conceded.

Provisional bonus points

  • 3 – Matheus Pereira
  • 2 – Callum Robinson
  • 1 – Mbaye Diagne

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767 Comments Post a Comment
  1. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    What the actual f#&K?

    Mendy/Rudiger/Havertz on my WC.

    The were rock solid at the back until I got them ffs

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Tuchel honey moon over

    2. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Name of the game. Everything we touch become shiiit

    3. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Have you heard of a weekly FFS article called “Rough with the smooth” ? You should win that this week at least.

    4. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Who did u get rid of? That be more annoying if they got more points

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        It was a WC a couple of wks ago so I forget. Havertz was a punt and almost got rid this wk but gave him West Brom lol.

        Oh wait got rid of Martinez 🙁

        1. Tango74
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 24 days ago

          As someone said Rough and smooth.

          My best week was last week, back to normal this week with Brighton and WH players lol

  2. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Jesus nailed on Sunday?

    1. Bojan ye gud ting
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Nope, that was Fiday. He is due to rise on Sunday.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        Nailed it

    2. Superflymonk
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Wow the most secured clean sheet pre-deadline. 5-2 My God! It's opposite week. Now watch Newcastle win 1-0. Lol!

      1. Superflymonk
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        Sorry reply fail.

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      It was on Friday

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        Ah yes. It's "Chill on Sunday"

  3. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Will take that Alonso 3 pointer. Now for Leeds to run riot.

  4. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Up the Jesus

  5. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Etc

  6. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Need Raph & Bamford to turn up today and score big pls 🙂

    1. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Everyone has em

      1. GoonerSteve
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        I don't have Bam Bam.

  7. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Any other incredibly lucky people that were going to bring in a Chelsea defender but didn't this week?

    I changed from a Chelsea defender to swapping Bale to Son instead...

    If Son ends up with points then I've massively lucked out.

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Alonso and havertz for a hit. Looking for a bale no show and coufal red card to break even

    2. SteJ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Alonso in for a hit as I felt Tierny will concede vs Liverpool. -1 from the transfer along with whatever Tierny gets.
      Seems to have happened a lot like that this season. Ah well, nearly over

    3. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Yep almost took a hit brought in Kane instead

    4. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Was going to do Dunk > Rudiger but also the did Bale > Son move.

  8. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    0 from 2

    You can only laugh really, utterly dreadful start to the game week

    Now for bam bam captain

    1. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      1 frm my 3 chelsea players. Unreal.
      No Leeds either.

  9. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Alonso’s time at Chelsea has come to an end.

    1. beetlejuice
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Why so? 10 men in a team that needs goals

      1. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        Alonso can’t defend - Chilwell can.

        1. casual69
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 24 days ago

          he can join willian n Luiz at Arsenal's retirement home for chelsea players, Oscar been invited to by Luiz I hear on the grapevine!

      2. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        He's horrible

  10. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    The Lord to rise a couple of days early?

    Feels like a 0.5% dream team week in the making

  11. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Haha. Thank god I didn’t captain Alonso. Only VC.

  12. Kaneyonero
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Took a break from this for a while but had to come to say wtf Chelsea lol

  13. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Happy with that as a Kane capper this week. Big result for Spurs.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      On paper, as long as no RC involved

  14. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    If injury time didnt exist, Chelsea walk away with a point today.... not so bad now is it

  15. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    So what are thoughts on bringing in Chelsea players on a WC?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Mount.

  16. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    all Azpi hypes down the drain.

    1. Elfozzie 42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Tell me about it!
      Was weighing up either Azpi or Digne to bring in this week and as an Evertonian I couldn't bring myself to face double disappointment, besides Tuchel's Chelsea don't concede goals do they...

  17. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Tucel probably kicking himself for benching Rudiger.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      I'm pleased he did.

      It was predicable.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Except that not only did he play 3 matches for Germany he was really poor for them

  18. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Brilliant goals at Stamford Bridge.

    WBA blew Chelsea away.

    Some sweet finishes.

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      What a beating that was!!

  19. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Struijk to come on before 30?

  20. beetlejuice
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    I have just completed my WC team and realized I have

    2 Spurs
    2 Liverpool
    2 Leicester
    2 Wolves
    2 Arsenal
    2 United
    2 Chelsea
    1 Southampton (bench GK)

    Am I missing or investing too much on any of those teams?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Looks about right.

      Son and Kane
      Salah and Jota
      Soyuncu and Iheanacho
      Coady and Neto
      Tierney and Lacazette
      Shaw and Fernandes
      Mendy and Rudiger
      Forster

      1. beetlejuice
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        From those picks I would only discuss that Vardy is missing even with Iheanacho. Salah and Jota could be overkill, I would get Gundo or KDB for either of them.

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Arsenal and Wolves could be better down to 1 each. Maybe keep Raphinha instead of Neto?

      1. beetlejuice
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        Raphinha will come back straight to my team once his fixtures turns OK
        I cant think of a decent GK and considering getting Leno
        I think 2 Wolves is the way to go

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Doubt the two Wolves bit but seems a reasonable balance overall

      (There was a post earlier today that Jim has put himself back into his own FPL side!)

      1. beetlejuice
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        He is expensive imo. I would prefer Neto over him. And a defender definitely.

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 24 days ago

          Oh I wouldn't get him in but it's an intriguing development.

          Neto I don't see personally and would go West Ham attack over Wolves despite slight mismatch in fixtures. Also think with bench City mids are a very viable option - by a distance the form attack in the league.

  21. Elfozzie 42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Just got back in from my boy's football practise - WTAF?
    Little bit late for an April Fools surely Thomas?
    Still, good to see the entire Chelsea defence getting in on the joke.

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Not Rudiger, or Chilwell though

      1. Elfozzie 42
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        I know, as an Azpi owner I was especially delighted to see those in my mini-league who'd gone for the 'cut-price' option were spared. Grrrr.

  22. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    How many of you have WC active?

  23. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Is Leeds’ Cooper first choice when fit?

  24. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    A manager of Tuchel's experience tinkering in defence

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      He has done in literally every game though

  25. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    If only we were given a clue about Chelsea's performance in the last Premier League match... 😉

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      *FA Cup even!

      (Just kidding, obviously a mad result!)

  26. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    What's the time?

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      5-2 three

  27. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Someone somewhere has Rudiger in his team, and Pereira 1st sub

    That would be the smoothest of smooths

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      then I hope for his (or her) sake that he/she played 4 defenders.

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Someone earlier posted Christensen starting and Pereira 1st sub. Around OR 400.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        Oooof

  28. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Time to hide with no Leeds players

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Hide in another country then mate

    2. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Only their dodgy pitch can save you.

      If they score early there won’t be a sofa big enough

      1. Firminooooo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        The pitch looks Ok now. Lets go Dallas, Raphinha and Bamford.

        1. TheDragon
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 24 days ago

          I’ve got that triple up too - it’s make or break for the gameweek

  29. bobfest
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Scoring question: I have Silva and right now his score is -4, but that includes goals WBA scored after he was sent off. Is that a mistake or is he responsible for those goals?

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Yes it’s right

      If you get sent off as a defender you lose points for goals scored after you were sent off as the sending off directly impacts

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      He is responsible for the goals

    3. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      It's like that, always.

    4. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Regardless of the sending off he will also be deducted points for every goal conceded as if he was on the pitch.

    5. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      It is correct. If the defender is sent off, they continue to lose points for goals conceded. Effectively it is their punishment for getting sent off and putting their team in a bad position.

    6. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Yep

    7. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      If he was on the pitch they wouldn’t have conceded 5 goals, so yes it’s all his fault

    8. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Ratioed...

    9. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      -2 goals conceded
      -3 red card

      1 point starting

      1. bobfest
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        Thank you all. Tough way to start the week.

        1. Tango74
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 24 days ago

          Only a game, we all been there done that lol

          1. bobfest
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 24 days ago

            I have Harrison, so things are looking up.

  30. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 24 days ago

    Lets be honest , Alonso owners were very very unlucky not to haul in that game ! No doubt I would have got him in if I still had a wc in hand . Bullet dodged

    1. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 24 days ago

      Such a shame isn’t it ? 🙂

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 24 days ago

        aye 😆