Dugout Discussion

2pm kick-off team news: Bernardo starts, Foden and Gundogan benched

There are still three matches scheduled to be played in the Premier League today despite more Covid cancellations on Saturday, with two of those kicking-off at 14:00 GMT – Newcastle United v Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola makes three changes from Gameweek 17, with Joao Cancelo, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus coming in for John Stones, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, all of whom drop to the bench.

That means Ilkay Gundogan is a substitute once again, with Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva – who features despite being substituted in the 7-0 win against Leeds United with a muscular problem – selected in the attacking midfield roles.

At Newcastle, Eddie Howe makes five changes from the midweek loss at Anfield, as Ciaran Clark, Matt Ritchie, Joe Willock, Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson replace Fabian Schar, Jamal Lewis, Javier Manquillo, Jonjo Shelvey and Allan Saint-Maximin, who was withdrawn at Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel makes two changes from their 1-1 draw against Everton, with N’Golo Kante and Trevoh Chalobah in for Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jorginho.

As a result of their Covid outbreak, Chelsea can only name a six-man bench, which includes two goalkeepers, with their request to postpone today’s match turned down by the Premier League.

“It is exactly like this, we thought we had a strong case regarding the security and health of players, we have seven positive cases, we were made to be in the bus and travel together for three hours, were in meeting together, in dinner and lunch and the situation does not feel like it will stop.

We applied to not play and put the situation under control and it was rejected. It is very hard to understand it, we are concerned about the health of the players. We end up with players who play coming from injuries and we take the risk.

I am worried from a medical point of view, we have had four days of consecutive positive tests. How will it stop if we are in a bus together and in meetings together? We are disappointed, we are a bit angry.” – Thomas Tuchel

As for Wolves, Raul Jimenez returns from suspension to lead the line, with Hwang Hee-Chan dropping out, while Ki-Jana Hoever and Leander Dendoncker also replace Nelson Semedo and Francisco Trincao, who are both on the bench.

GAMEWEEK 18 LINE-UPS

Newcastle United XI: Dubravka, Murphy, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie, Hayden, Willock, Joelinton, Almiron, Fraser, Wilson

Subs: Darlow, Schar, Saint-Maximin, Hendrick, Krafth, Anderson, Longstaff, White, Gayle

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus

Subs: Steffen, Ake, Stones, Wilson-Esbrand, Gundogan, Fernandinho, Palmer, Grealish, Foden


Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sa, Kilman, Coady, Saiss, Hoever, Neves, Moutinho, Marcal, Dendoncker, Podence, Jimenez

Subs: Moulden, Ruddy, Jordao, Trincao, Semedo, Traore, Cundle, Bueno

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Thiago, Rudiger, James, Kante, Chalobah, Alonso, Ziyech, Mount, Pulisic

Subs: Kepa, Bettinelli, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Sarr

1,564 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    1-0 wolves Podence

  2. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Wolves G

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ah balls

  3. Grand Thibauto
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Wolves G offside

    1. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Offside?

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Flag up

    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Wahoo

  4. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I am so bored of owning double chelsea defence, had no choice this week but my god.. when was the last time they kept a clean sheet?

    1. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Take this back, offside haha phew

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Won't be taking it back for long

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

        Your point still stood and wasn't dependent on the offside

    2. 2999 - Lady of Legend
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Alonso got one last time 🙂

  5. 2999 - Lady of Legend
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Dias party day! 🙂

  6. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    if you have cancelo, jota and cr7 please show me your team..... 🙁

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Check my team last week.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Sold CR7 for Laca

    2. GoonerSteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Check my team linked.

    3. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      see mine

    4. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      thanks for that - great stuff

      HTH

  7. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Podence ruined my Chelsea cleanie a while ago, not this time hopefully

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Phew! I have triple Chelsea. Not for much longer though.

  8. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    One of Alonso or James gotta go. I'd rather have mount.

  9. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Wolves G or nah?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Neigh

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yay.

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Nope. Jimenez was the intended target and he was way off.

    3. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Nah

    4. Podge
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Nah

  10. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    City are going to concede a couple in this game.

  11. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Podence goal ruled out?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

  12. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Diassssssssssssssss

    Sorry I'm late guys.

    1. 2999 - Lady of Legend
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      2 goals recently 🙂

  13. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Joelinton looking Brazilian today...

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Has he got transparent shorts on?

  14. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Cancelo(c) - shame I had Dias also on my FH but swapped him out to afford Son. Still I’ll take it!

  15. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    City looks like they won't keep clean sheet today

  16. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    One of the guys in my h2h match up has someone playing on his bench and no hits. How the hell do people pull stuff like that off in a week with 4 games and no way to plan without taking hits?

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE FOR THE LAS…
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Luck, same reason for doing well/bad in the rest of the game

    2. Drexl Spivey
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      What's their rank?

      1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        God awful rank of 5 million but that makes it worse right? I mean I have the most points in this league but I am 5th because crap like this happens every bloody week

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      My cup opponent save a transfer and has a full 11.

      1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Bloody bustard

    4. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day.

  17. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Can’t see City keeping a clean sheet here. They look very shaky at the back.

  18. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Geez Chelsea look so shaky at the back

  19. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea on the ropes.

  20. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ederson loves teasing fpl teams

  21. Philosopher's Stones
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    If Foden doesn't come on, seems I'll be down to 9 players.

    1. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Not the worsworst thing this week.

      1. Philosopher's Stones
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah, but I brought him in for a hit this week

  22. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Need Chelsea cleanie busted and City to keep theirs

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Chelsea will find a way to concede, don't worry.

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Pretty sure you'll get your wish

  23. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Gonna end with a draw or Wolves win this one

  24. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    That should be a penalty for Newcastle

    1. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      (As a non biased Wilson owner haha)

    2. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      As someone not watching that's is definitely not a pen.

    3. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      The Ederson jump? If so, behave.

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

      Never, ever.

  25. Mr. O'Connell
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bilva limping

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      KDB limping

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      My FPL team limping

    3. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Get gundo on.

    4. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No he isn’t

  26. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bernardo and James wont ever score again will they

  27. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    NewC dirty bustards

  28. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Of course this is the first game in an age where Newcastle are going for it and ASM isn't on the pitch

    1. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Newcastle actually looking ok. Shame ASM got kicked off the pitch midweek

  29. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bernardo dancing.

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

      Bernardo singing?

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

      Strictly or on Ice?

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Bernardo farting

  30. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Zinch waste BS assist back row