Dugout Discussion
15 December 2021 2020 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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We were meant to be enjoying four Premier League matches this evening but Burnley v Watford has become the second Gameweek 17 fixture to be postponed, leaving us a game short.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace v Southampton and Arsenal v West Ham United do go ahead, however, with the match at the Emirates getting underway half an hour after the two 19:30 GMT kick-offs.

As for the team news, all eyes were on the Brighton starting XI after a number of players tested positive for Covid-19 in the run-up to tonight’s fixture.

It’s not a bad-looking line-up despite the raft of injuries and illnesses, with Neal Maupay, Pascal Gross, Jurgen Locadia and Jason Steele among the previously undeclared absentees.

Robert Sanchez is available and starts, despite rumours suggesting he was one of those affected by coronavirus.

Graham Potter has actually only made three changes to his team from Gameweek 15, with Maupay, Gross and the suspended Shane Duffy dropping out.

In come Jakub Moder, Solly March and Aaron Connolly.

Potter’s opposite number, Wolves boss Bruno Lage, has made four alterations from his side’s last outing.

Raul Jimenez is suspended after his red card at the Etihad, while Leander Dendoncker and Adama Traore drop to the bench.

Daniel Podence, Hwang Hee-chan and Francisco Trincao come in to make it an all-new front three.

The fourth change wasn’t planned as Rayan Ait-Nouri injured himself in the warm-up, with his place taken by Marcal.

As for the match at Selhurst Park, Patrick Vieira’s only change is an interesting one: Vicente Guaita drops to the bench and is replaced by Jack Butland between the posts.

Joachim Andersen is among the substitutes after recovering from injury, while Christian Benteke is on the bench too.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has made four changes from Southampton’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal, with Lyanco, Oriol Romeu, Will Smallbone and Mohammed Salisu brought into the side.

Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Ibrahima Diallo and the injured Adam Armstrong drop out.

In the 8pm kick-off, Arsenal are unchanged from Gameweek 16, so that means another benching for Emile Smith Rowe. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is, of course, absent from the squad for disciplinary reasons.

David Moyes has made just one change to the West Ham side from the 0-0 draw with Burnley, with Pablo Fornals brought in for Said Benrahma. There’s again no Aaron Cresswell among the Hammers’ squad.

GAMEWEEK 17 LINE-UPS

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Sanchez, Burn, Moder, Veltman, Cucurella, Mwepu, Bissouma, Lamptey, March, Connolly, Trossard.

Subs: Scherpen, Lallana, Roberts, Alzate, Leonard, Mac Allister, Richards, Turns, Ferguson.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sa, Saiss, Coady, Kilman, Marcal, Moutinho, Neves, Hwang, Semedo, Trincao, Podence.

Subs: Ruddy, Hoever, Boly, Cundle, Moulden, Traore, Silva, Dendoncker.


Crystal Palace XI: Butland, Ward, Guehi, Tomkins, Mitchell, Kouyate, Hughes, Gallagher, Zaha, Ayew, Edouard.

Subs: Benteke, Andersen, Riedewald, Olise, Guaita, Milivojevic, Schlupp, Clyne, Eze.

Southampton XI: Caballero, Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Salisu, Livramento, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Smallbone, Redmond, Tella, Broja.

Subs: Bednarek, Djenepo, Diallo, Long, Perraud, Lewis, Valery, Walcott, Elyounoussi,


Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tierney, White, Partey, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard, Lacazette, Tomiyasu, Xhaka, Martinelli.

Subs: Okonkwo, Smith Rowe, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Pepe, Tavares, Lokonga, Elneny, Nketiah.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Fornals, Antonio, Lanzini, Dawson, Bowen, Diop, Masuaku, Soucek, Rice.

Subs: Areola, Yarmolenko, Vlasic, Noble, Benrahma, Kral, Oko-Flex, Alese, Ashby.

  1. Pompel
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    At least I got the customary save point from Sanchez

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      That is a luxury my friend!

      1. Pompel
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Now if only those filthy Ramsdale owners could be brought down to earth

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

    Absolutely no one can give me a reason why Masuaka is a footballer, can't kick a ball, can't tackle, can't defend

    1. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Can't cross either! They go in the goal

  3. COLLIN QUANER
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    White own goal plz

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Shhh

    2. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yes please

  4. Hooky
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Need ESR to come on to stop Livra off the bench!

  5. HonestBlatter
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bowen close

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

      0 pts for close

  6. MikeS
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bowen equaliser coming, then ESR to come on and score 90 +4 winner

  7. Oggle22
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Worst decision ever to bring in Antonio and Bowen

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

      One was plenty

  8. WVA
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ramsdale saves Bowen shot

  9. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bowen close

  10. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Oh f*** off ramsdale

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

      Absolutely despise him

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

        Why didn't I just get him over DDG 🙁

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I bought keepers two weeks in a row and neither was ramsdale

          Trying too hard

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

          I hear ya man haha

  11. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    ESR warming up?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Gloves & hat on

      1. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        He's certainly warm, but not up

  12. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Can’t believe some people thought Wet Spam would get a result v the mighty Arse.

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

      Arsenal into the top 4!

  13. WVA
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    They need to get Masuaka off ASAP!

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

    Was there a time where you could collect 10 crisp packets and become a pro footballer?
    If so..........Masuaku milked that!

  15. MikeS
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ramsdale 11 pointer coming

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

      Yep, figures

    2. FredUpAlready
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Not today

  16. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Antonio haul protected.

  17. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bissouma clean sheet locked

  18. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Antonio red incoming

  19. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Laca wins Ode ranger.

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

    Cup opponent with Ramsdale and Tierney. Damn, hammers are not scoring are they

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      My cup opponent has Broja off the bench. Was a good cup run while it lasted.

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

        Harsh. You might turn it around yet!

  21. Duke Silver ☑
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    This season needs a safety car right about now.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      *red flag

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Yes even better.

  22. COLLIN QUANER
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Glad I didn't fall into the Bowen trap. Amateurs

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      West Ham have run out of creative ideas. Teams are giving them more respect and they can't create good chances. They are falling back on long balls to Antonio.

    2. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Proper

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      You soooo smart whooooo

  23. DandyDon
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Wow literally only have Sa doing well tonight and moving up over 100k places! Watkins really was a good transfer in.

  24. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ramsdale really does love a save for the cameras doesn't he

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Can’t wait for them to bench/sell him next year

  25. WVA
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Arsenal player's made of paper

  26. Kodap
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Really need an Antonio goal

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

      It won't happen

  27. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Martinelli yc

  28. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Martinelli silly YC

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Taking after Raphinha.

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

      Ah ffs

  29. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    The defending on the Martinelli goal..

    My word.

  30. JONALDINHO
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bowen playing as a forward. Antonio rb